Archive for March, 2008

Craft2.0, TheNewDowse, this Saturday, see you there!

Wednesday, March 19th, 2008

If you’re in the Wellington region this weekend, TheNewDowse is the place to spend your Easter Saturday!

craft 2.0 flyer

Among the many talented craftspeople selling their wares will be:

nibbles
lop
trixiedelicious
supervery
artdivine
whskr
minu
mbellish
rosieposie
showyourwork
sarahbear

Hannah and Thomas from World Sweet World will also be there launching the inaugral issue of their awesome mag for makers – if you can’t make it to Craft2.0, order your copy through Felt.

world sweet world, issue #1

These are just a few of the lovely things you could win in the Felt prize draw:

sock monkey by pinkpinafore shaky isles felt brooch greenie delish scarf by elwert

And as if all of that wasn’t exciting enough, Sue of supervery has organised a badge-making stand – you can make your own badges!

How much fun is Craft2.0 going to be? HEAPS!!!

Featured Seller: amiana

Monday, March 17th, 2008

baby bonnets flower pattern hooded scarf sleeveless hooded cardi

What do you make?
Funky crochet fashions!

Your favourite materials, tools and processes?
I love to use large plastic crochet hooks! – they help make things up just that much faster. I love smooth, silky, heaven to the touch type gourmet blends that glide through your fingers and over the hook or basically yarns or wool/wool blends that crochet up fast and make crocheting blissfully enjoyable (more so than usual that is). Favourite processes? Uh, I just try to think of things that I would like and that I would wear – oft times I make things that I have been looking for in stores and unable to find, I simply get tired of looking and decide to make it myself!!

How did you learn to crochet?
My husband’s Grandmother taught me to crochet and had me crocheting peggy squares the very same night and so for quite some time afterwards I was convinced that crochet was the easiest thing ever to pick up (with the help of a great teacher of course!).
I then set to work crocheting up a storm following all sorts of funky patterns that I sought out in crochet books from the library and from opshop bought stitchcraft magazines – mostly from the 60s and 70s. Along the way I started going to a market at the insistence of a friend, and eventually after a while discovered that I could not only figure out how to make things from pictures but could even make up my own patterns which is what I do now. I also never write down any of my patterns – all in my head!
Its funny to think that I used to ring Grandma for help with crochet queries and now she often rings me! (Incidentally she is very proud of me and loves to brag to all her friends about me).

What inspires you?
Flowers – icons of the South Pacific! And their colours – surprising – surprising colour combinations that work, unusual, bright! Nature – green foresty colours, earthy browns, rusty reds, colours of the Sea – blues, greens, turquoise. Asiatic themes, colours and fashion trends.
- also whats happening in my life – making a few more baby things at the mo for instance ;)
And of course…all the usual influences – music, current fashion scene, tv, movies etc….

Describe your workspace:
Just about anywhere that I can (and am allowed to) crochet really but basically – somewhere that’s comfy to sit and has good back support.

Five words that describe your mind:
Super-Busy, multi-tasking, Creative, Thinks out of the box (in terms of fashion) – and I’ve by far exceeded my limit so I’ll leave it there!

What are you currently listening to?
Ribbon in the Sky – I’m an old skool gal.

Recommend an album:
Practically any of our highly talented kiwi artists or…anything by Jill Scott…

Your favourite childhood book?
I think it was called Book of Brownies by Enid Blyton

Your hero/heroine:
Kim Hill – its the only time I have ever heard Winston Peters speechless.
Patricia Grace and Margaret Mahy – such awesome home grown writing talent!!
Grandma (my hubby’s) – she just keeps on going!

A favourite quote:
God put me on this earth for a purpose – right now I am so far behind that I will NEVER die!

Do you have any pets?
No and neighbours pets who use your property as kitty litter doesn’t count does it?

Visit amiana’s shop

World Sweet World – coming soon!

Friday, March 7th, 2008

Keep an eye out for brand new mag World Sweet World. New Zealand finally has its own magazine for makers! World Sweet World is full of fun projects using recycled or re-purposed materials, and features inspiring articles and interviews with makers from New Zealand and around the world.

World Sweet World makes its debut at Craft2.0 in Wellington on 22 March and will also be available on Felt.

New Zealand Jewellery Making & Beading Designer Awards

Saturday, March 1st, 2008

beads

The New Zealand National Creative Jewellery Making & Beading Designer Awards is a new nationwide competition open to anyone.

Completed artworks and entry forms must be in by 5pm on Friday 30th May 2008. Winners will be announced on Beadaholic NZ on 20 June.

Download the entry form as a PDF here. You can enter as many pieces as you but they must all be companied by a separate entry form.

The competition is sponsored by Beadaholic and winning entries will be displayed on the Beadaholic website.

Categories include:
- Junior Open for young jewellery designers under 16 years old
- Creative Merit
- Technical Merit
- Wire work
- Non-jewellery Beadwork
- Poly-clay
- Precious-metal Clay
- Mixed media
- Glass bead – handmade