When Snells Beach sewing aficionado Brenda Howson of Zealous Design was a child she had a precious big rag doll that she loved to pieces. Now she makes beautiful handcrafted dolls and soft toy animals so that a new generation of Kiwi kids can love a unique doll that’s made with care and love.
Yeong Kyung is an Auckland-based illustrator and artist, originally from South Korea. Yeong creates vibrant images with stunning precision and attention to detail, which she then transforms into beautiful stationery and publications. She studied art in Korea and now finds her inspiration in the flora and fauna of Aotearoa and the the daily life of people and places.
Sally Herbert of HerbertandWilks Jewellery is a designer and maker of contemporary mixed metal jewellery. While first being captivated by the sculptural properties of cast glass and the lost wax process, she fell in love with jewellery making early on. She considers the medium similar – only on a smaller scale. Her pieces are modern and sculptural, with an emphasis on surface and texture.
Frances O’brien, also known as The Stitchy Kiwi, lives on Auckland’s North Shore with her husband and two young children. She makes modern and contemporary embroidered hoops, inspired by the world around her. When she isn’t sewing, she can be found at one of the … Read more »
Swimming strongly against the tide of fast fashion, Wainui maker Rachel Hindley of OneMe makes one of a kind, eco-friendly children’s clothing and soft toys from beautiful, high quality vintage and rescued fabrics and notions. She says she loves to make things that make you smile, and evoke a bit of nostalgia – and her sweet products certainly achieve that aim!
Cathie Wedekind lives in Auckland with her husband, one of her daughters, and two teenage grandchildren. Home doubles as production headquarters for her range of babywear and toys, Mimi and Rufus, and having recently retired from full time employment as a commercial project coordinator, Cathie is looking forward to spending more time designing and crafting her products.
After a career in New Zealand’s fashion industry, Rachel Moore felt it was time to combine her textile knowledge and and artistic creativity together – leading to the creation of her Ingredients Design brand (also known as texdesign here on Felt). Rachel works with 100% linen fabric for its environmental and tactile qualities, and sees her work as providing the ingredients to make a space a home.
Christie Rishworth’s laundry doubles as a busy production unit for her Earth Bar vegan soaps and haircare. Her own journey to find soap recipes that were gentle on skin and the environment, combined with her interest in traditional skills, has resulted in an Auckland-based business that fits her ethical approach and her family life.
Artist Cathy Hansby is passionate about Aotearoa’s beautiful fauna. Working from her Auckland home, she loves creating stylish, vibrant and modern artworks featuring local birdlife from New Zealand and Australasia, using traditional and digital tools.
Mark it in your calendars Auckland crafties, because the General Collective Lifestyle and Design Market, Christmas Edition is coming up!