Our fruit trees are full of fruit and we’ve got lots of herbs growing in our garden this year. We are hoping that with your help we can keep them alive and thriving through the summer holidays when we are closed.

If you live close by, will be home in January, and wouldn’t mind popping past once or twice please let us know, and we’ll add you to our watering roster.

We are so fortunate to have so many lovely volunteers involved in Alphington Community Centre. Thanks in advance!

The weather held off for our annual Christmas Makers Market, and we had a wonderful community morning on Saturday. We were thrilled to have some lovely community minded folk from Rotary helping out on the BBQ. Thanks Kevin (you may know him for his lovely bonsai trees that he has sold at our markets in the past) for suggesting that your Rotary friends might be able to get involved.

We’d also like to thank Nelson Alexander for helping us get the word out about the market with 2 signboards and some coreflutes. We really appreciate having an ongoing relationship with a local real estate agent. We couldn’t possibly do any large and flashy advertising without their help.

Thanks to all the makers that participated on the day including our local CWA. There was a super variety of things to purchase. Lots of jewellery, jam, plants, gorgeous craft and some super recycled bags … just to name a few.

Lots of kids got into our crafty Christmas project that recycled a jar lid into a nature based Christmas decoration. And we had all our community art projects out on display. It was nice for everyone attending to see what Blind Date with a Book is about, and to be able to collect an Honestly letter (sometimes it is hard to make it down to the shops in time to grab one before they all go!).

Thanks again shoppers, seller and crafty kids. Aren’t we lucky to live in such a great local neighbourhood!

Our latest Craftberry Jam kit isn’t in a jam jar at all - it’s in a fancy little bag. And Lee made a step-by-step video for anyone who collects one so that they know how to turn the little balls of fimo into a lovely rainbow lorikeet! The video is also on the front page of our website and on our Facebook page … if you get a kit and want to follow along.

** edit, we do have about 5 kits left after the market, so if you are reading our newsletter and would like one then you can pop past our office this week! They cost $3.

Collect your Craftberry Jam kit and follow the step-by-step instructions in this video to make your very own Lorikeet brooch! A bit of bright rainbow fun!

You may have seen the Blind Date with a Book stand at Station Street, but did you know that we also have a ‘home’ version that we put out on our corner? It is usually out there on Thursdays, and will also have it out this Saturday at the Makers Market. This stand also hosts our Craftberry Jam jars.

So … you can pop past for a free mystery book and a free crafty project. So much community goodness!

Here’s a photo of Scout and her owner, when they stopped to take a look last week.

This week we completed our outdoor kitchen installation. We integrated the existing sink unit into a snazzy new kitchen - with an inbuilt outdoor fridge, a BBQ bench and some storage.

We’re very excited to put it to good use at the sausage sizzle this weekend that is part of our Christmas Makers Market.

The market will run from 10am-1pm on Saturday. We have around 15 local stallholders who will be selling wares. Come along and support local makers and enjoy a morning out on the street in the local neighbourhood.