Crafty Business hit the ground running at the beginning of this month and returns to Churchills Public House (441 Colombo Street in Sydenham, Christchurch) at 7pm this coming Monday, 2 March.

This month we’re looking at the big picture – what’s involved in running a crafty business and how to make it work for you. Please bring along your creations for show and tell – we’d love to see your work!

Crafty Business is a chance for Christchurch crafters to get together and exchange ideas, make new contacts, collaborate and socialise with like-minded people. Come and join us for a healthy dose of inspirational crafty company, business planning advice and a glass of wine at Churchills in Sydenham at 7pm on Monday 2 March. Email me at admin@felt.co.nz for further details or check out the Crafty Business blog for the latest.

The lovely Sue of Craft2.0 made her crafty debut on TV One’s Good Morning last week, showing Steve some styley projects for Valentine’s Day.

You can check out the videos and tutorial pages here on TVNZ’s website:

Sue Tyler makes pinatas for Valentine’s Day (video)

Sue Tyler’s craft – Mini pinatas for Valentine’s Day (tutorial)

Sue Tyler makes photo blocks for Valentine’s Day (video)

Sue Tyler’s craft – Photo blocks for Valentine’s Day (tutorial)

So yay for Sue! She did an awesome job.

Three days ago Felt reached a milestone: 2000 registered users. I was moved to reflect on how far Felt has come in just 18 months and how exciting the future looks. It also occurred to me that 2000 people have a significant voice and might like the opportunity to use it.

On February 28 the Guilt Upon Accusation law Section 92A is due to come into effect unless immediate action is taken by the National Party. The new law calls for internet disconnection based on accusations of copyright infringement without a trial and without any evidence held up to court scrutiny.

Wondering how this affects you? Well for example, it means that if someone accused me, even falsely, of copyright infringement, Felt would be removed from the internet without question. If this sounds as ridiculous to you as it does to me, sign the petition and find out what else you can do to help our MPs make a good decision at creativefreedom.org.nz. Felt will be taking part in the Internet Blackout on February 23 in protest against Section 92A.

“So many people tut and say “Someone should do something”, but so few step forward and say “…and that someone is me.” –Terry Pratchett

And while I’m up on my soapbox…

It seems timely to make mention of the distinctly Kiwi flavour Felt is developing. It’s great to see a selection of high quality handcrafted items with a sense of Kiwi pride (some subtle, some…not so much).

From left to right: elegant koru designs in an oval pendant by laserline; the ultimate in patriotic hats by wildcoast; always remember your place with a Kiwiana necklace by blackswan; a modern twist on the traditional tiki by islandstyle; upcycling at its finest, a new look from old currency by forthebirds; and a pretty pukeko poncho by bellathreads.

Featured seller: rethreads
Based in Oxford, Canterbury, Briar has exciting plans for her clothing label Rethreads. Read more…

Crafty Business returns
After a successful launch earlier this month, Crafty Business returns to Churchill’s Public House in Christchurch at 7pm on Monday 2 March. Find out more on the Crafty Business blog.

World Sweet World
World Sweet World, issue 5 comes out on Monday 2 March – don’t forget to get your copy on Felt!

With all the talk of the global downturn and economic strife, it’s easy to get caught up in the doom and gloom and overlook the great things happening on a small scale – the opportunities to buy and sell locally, the gorgeous products that are being made right here at home by people you know, and the sense of community that comes with supporting each other’s ventures.

While there may be tough times ahead, there are also exciting times. I look forward to seeing Felt reach new milestones as New Zealand’s creative community flourishes.

Happy making,

I’ve just become aware of some major proposed changes in NZ law that will have a huge impact on artists, businesses and general members of the public: basically anyone that uses the internet.

Section 92 of the Copyright Amendment Act assumes Guilt Upon Accusation and forces the termination of internet connections and websites without evidence, without a fair trial and without punishment for any false accusations of copyright infringement. We should speak out against injustices like Guilt Upon Accusation being done in the name of artists and protecting creativity.

The countdown is on: we have until 28 February 2009 to influence government.

An organisation called the Creative Freedom Foundation has been set up to specifically represent artists’ voices on these issues. Check out their website, creativefreedom.org.nz, sign up and help our MPs make an informed decision about S92!

Based in Oxford, Canterbury, Briar has exciting plans for her clothing label Rethreads.

What do you make?
Reconstructed clothing. Also called ‘upcycled’, it’s the process (or obsession) involved with taking nearly new but unloved and boring garments and transforming them into something funky, stylish and eminently wearable.

How did you get into selling your craft?
Through trial and error really, and I’m still getting into it (anyone know any good retail outlets for this stuff?)

A better question for me is why? And for that I have two clear reasons. One is – to make money. I love the process of buying and selling, the exchange that happens between two total strangers who would otherwise have nothing to do with each other.

The other reason I do it is to justify the wall of banana boxes containing fabric, clothing and textiles in my garage, and to have an excuse to shop for even more.

Your favourite tools, materials and processes?
Working with fabric this way is like sculpture. I work on the floor because I need the space. My tools are a pair of scissors, a pile of stuff to cut up, and a couple of sewing machines. No paper patterns, no measuring. One day I’d like to teach these methods, because sewing can be so overly complicated, and it doesn’t have to be.

What inspires you?
Putting my stuff out in public and seeing the response. A problem to resolve. Being alone. Being curious. The feeling of fabric, folding it, sorting it, washing and ironing it.

Does your work have an ethos – is there more to it than fashion?
Definitely, and it’s not fashion! I call it ‘guerilla clothing’ or ‘antifashion’. To me, fashion is an industry, clothes drawn on paper made cheaply somewhere else and worn for a season then tossed. These clothes – are made locally to last. I want rethreads garments to become favourites, to be worn until they fall apart. Then, being made from natural fibres, you can snip them up and use them to mulch your garden.

Where to from here?
I plan to keep designing and creating for a very long time. If I could find a business partner or two and a couple of machinists keen to take on recycled materials I think rethreads could grow very nicely indeed.

Visit Briar’s Felt shop to check out more Rethreads items.

What better gift to give to someone you love than something made with love? It’s not too late to order something beautiful from Felt for your sweetheart.

On Public Address tomorrow, Felt is giving away this gorgeous prize pack featuring a beaded heart by teribear, rose-scented teardrop candles by roseinthorns, a lavender heart by sweetmary and kimono fabric brooches by podflower.

Details of how to enter the draw will be announced tomorrow in Russell Brown’s Hard News column on Public Address.

But don’t leave it all to chance – check out the Felt Valentine’s Day showcase here!