Sounds Crafty: Minuit's Ruth Carr

Top: Ruth Carr, the voice of Minuit.
Above: Rocking out in Wellington.
Below: Members of the band with their woollen Minuit banner, knitted by Heather.

Check out other Sounds Crafty showcases on Felt:
• Ruth Carr, Minuit
• Flip Grater
• Fleur Jack, The Twitch
• Nathan King
• Hannah Curwood
• The Phoenix Foundation
• Hera

Ruth Carr is well known for her distinctive sound and enviable style as the voice of Kiwi electronica outfit Minuit, but her creative talents don't end there. Before taking off to headline at the MAG Music Festival in Hanoi, Vietman, Ruth took time to pick some Felt favourites and reveal to us her crafty inclinations...

Did you make stuff when you were a kid?
Kinda, I used to mainly un-make things using scissors, like the seat belts in our car etc...

Are you crafty or do you make stuff now, and if so, what do you make?
I love making stuff. I love building furniture and wood stuff, I made myself a a swing seat that can fit a pot of tea on one arm and a 6 pack of beer on the other. I have a Felt shop that I'm very lazy with. When I don't have it on hold I sell up-cycled notebooks. I find cool retro books like Mills & Boon or Sweet Valley High, or Classic Penguins and take them apart, and sew in new, blank pages that you can write on. I leave 4 or 5 of the 'juicy' pages in the Mills & Boon books...

Assuming time, materials and cost were no object, if you were given the opportunity to make anything you wanted, what would you make?
A set of Louis XIV chairs complete with carved legs and backs and with hand tapestry covers.

Hot glue gun, needle and thread or hammer and nails?
Er... can I use my Makita rattler drill instead?

Do you think craft suffers from pre-conceived notions of lace covered coat hangers and toilet roll covers? If yes, any suggestions for how craft can improve its image?
Probably, but I think that is okay. It's a pleasant surprise for people when they find out what diversity there is.

What's the best handmade thing you've ever been given?
A painting.

Have you ever worn something you've made on stage or in public?
Yeah, I wear lots of rings and brooches I make.

If your music took physical shape what would it look like? What would it be made of?
A confused ball of many kinds of wool.

Do you think people should make more stuff (...instead of buying it)?
It's cool when people feel confident to try making things for themselves, and the sense of achievement you have is great.

Why would you buy something handmade?
It's amazing the cool stuff that people think of and make, and it is nice to get something unique and original for people you like.

What was the last handmade item you bought? A birdie necklace for my friend's birthday.

Are crafty boys hot? Let's face it, the whole truth of the matter is that crafty guys are hot.

Is it really the thought that counts or do you think people who make gifts are cheap?
It is the thought that counts, but sometimes people's thoughts are lame.

Read more about Minuit's recent Vietnam adventure on nzherald.co.nz. Their brand new album,
"Find Me Before I Die A Lonely Death dot Com", comes out on July 20. See them live at Monte Cristo Room in Auckland on June 19, or catch them on the album release tour near you.

www.minuit.co.nz