meet the maker

Ōtautahi rising: the Christchurch designer celebrating her city

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Christchurch-based graphic designer Donna Robertson is devoted to creating illustrations that grab people’s attention and hearts. She finds inspiration in her beloved city of Ōtautahi Christchurch, creating illustrations that celebrate city’s revitalisation. Her work has recently been recognised by the Christchurch City Council, who value her designs as as gifts for visiting dignitaries, and her beautiful designs also feature in this year’s Felt Christmas Gift Guide.

Naturally nourishing: the Te Awamutu home of small-batch organic skincare

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For Liz Neale, it all began with a desire to create something truly special for her sensitive skin – something that not only brought results, but also nourished and nurtured the skin with the goodness of nature. Seeing skincare products with extravagant claims and sometimes questionable ingredients sparked a fire within her to do better, to offer something natural, genuine, and effective. The result? Bodytreats

Work infused with meaning: the ‘slow’ stationery of a lifelong learner

Umi is a lifelong learner of all things ‘makery’, especially if they involve watercolours, paper, inks or yarns. Working out of her small shed in rural north Auckland, she makes and packages ‘slow’ stationery and art. Umi’s background in science and education fuels her desire for slowing down and really noticing the world around her – be that the path of a busy beetle or the settling of granules in a watercolour stroke.

Curiosity, observation, and experimentation: a scientific approach to an ancient craft

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Christine Brimer’s passion is to weave with naturally coloured wool from New Zealand sheep, producing beautiful textiles inspired by Aotearoa’s light and landscape. Working and teaching from her Niche Textile Studio, overlooking Wellington’s south coast, her continuing exploration of materiality and processes is underpinned by sustainable design considerations and grounded in the natural environment.

Teina of Still Milly harvesting rākau

Rongoā, sustainability, and nature: the foundations of Still Milly skincare

Teina Malone creates beautiful, sustainable, handcrafted hair and skin care products which incorporate the goodness of Aotearoa’s native rākau. Still Milly began with Teina’s desire to reduce plastic products and chemicals within her family home. Enriched with her knowledge of Tikanga-Rongoā, her ambition has led her to combine two of her passions: spending time in nature and creating natural and sustainable products.