A desire to produce timeless, quality children’s products lies behind the work of Lauren Butler of Needle and I. “I like the idea that less is more where kids are concerned, that it’s not about buying something new every week, but investing where you are able in well-made, considered goods which spark children’s imaginations and will last a long time….”
Bobbie Pene of Lampwork has been creative since an early age, dabbling in various arts and crafts, including basic jewellery design. As a registered nurse working in a senior role, Bobbie finds that making glass beads is a meditative process that takes her mind away from everyday stressors. She sells her beads and completed jewellery online and in selected New Zealand galleries.
Renee Coombe has a favourite mug. It’s just the right weight, sits nicely in her hand and, most importantly, holds a generous amount (because really, who has time to go back and refill in the morning?). Painted by Renee’s god-daughter Sarah, it makes her morning cup of tea something really special and inspired the creation of The Little White Box.
Leaving Auckland and relocating to Mount Maunganui for a lifestyle change was the move that helped Tanya Austen on her way to working full-time on NZFINCH.
Based in the beautiful Bay of Islands, master craftsman boat builder Craig McInnes of CMC Design used his 30 years experience to follow his lifetime ambition of furniture design. He began with his adult furniture range – exquisite, contemporary and featuring nautical ‘bones’. When his daughter Jesse came along, he began to search for quality handmade children’s furniture and realised there wasn’t a lot available. In response to this he developed his Hebe range – quality, unique wooden kids’ furniture that is made to last for generations.
Owls and tigers and lambs – oh my! Auckland-based designer Nicola McPherson is one half of the sisterly collaboration that is Zenipa. Nicola hand-draws her quirky animal images and then she and her sister Ruby screen-print them onto t-shirts. The result? The truly imaginative bestiary of the Zenipa t-shirt range.
Claire Allain of Lovebird had a moment of crystal clarity when it came to realising her ambition to be a jeweller. ” …In each box, nestled in white cotton, were a million little twinkling gemstones glittering in the light and winking at me in reds, greens and blues… that was the start of it all! It was at that moment that I decided I was either going to make beautiful things – or marry a diamond dealer!”
A recent redundancy, after working for seven years as a visual merchandiser, was a blessing in disguise for Amy Dawson. It gave her the push she needed to get Cheese Before Bedtime up and running and now she spends her days stitching in a sun-drenched Onehunga bungalow with wee dog Pepper by her side.
In 2012 we profiled twenty-two Featured Sellers on the Felt blog. All we can say is this: what a fantastic collection of truly talented makers, crafters and artists!
Originally from the United States, Londi Luce has lived in France for the last 15 years, where she created pieces for boutiques, artisan markets and art galleries around the world. Londi now calls Auckland home, and her ornaments can be found in her Felt shop, Cranberry Dreams.