Autumn Knack craft market kicks off this Saturday 20th March from 9.30am till 2.30pm at Berhampore School Hall. Knack is full of beautiful, original, NZ made craft, including handmade treasures from the likes of Juli Hunter, Poppetto, Lovestitches and The Sewphist, accompanied by delicious food, fresh coffee, live music and even a swimming pool (1.15-2.30) if you’re brave enough!

Eftpos is available on site and there’s plenty of parking. Head along and check out South Wellington’s lovely craft market! Berhampore School is at 105 Britomart Street, off Adelaide Road. For more information, contact Justine.

1 Felt Fantail Embellishment by Fix Design | 2 Piwakawaka (Fantail) Copper Brooch
by HKerrigan | 3 Fabric Drum Shade by MyDesign | 4 Fantail wall clock by Laserline
5 “F is for Fantail” Long-sleeved Onesie by Miss Ellie May | 6 Fantail Brooch by
Muzroom | 7 Black fantail brooch by Black Swan Designs | 8 Fantail Card by Furchin
9 Fly Little Fantail: Victorian Rose Wall Decal by Bam Bam Creative

It is with sorrow that we say goodbye to World Sweet World. Hannah and Thomas have made this their final issue, as they prepare for a new arrival later this year. They’ve done an amazing job producing a beautiful magazine for the last two years and we’ll miss it heaps! Luckily they won’t be disappearing completely – long live the World Sweet World blog!

The final issue is packed full of cool projects and stories, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations of Devon Smith and Sarah McNeil. Shelley Gardner of Sweet William shares tips and advice on the craft of iron-on transfers, Johanna Knox literally spins a yarn with treadle power, Anton Berndt casts light with a repurposed fishing rod, there’s a Crafty Business article on how to sell your crafts online, by Miss Millie and yours truly, and heaps more.

Make sure you get your copy of the last ever issue of World Sweet World – it’s available now on Felt. Thank you Hannah and Thomas for creating an awesome mag, and all the best for your new adventure!

I’m off to Wellington in the morning to join more than 40 talented crafters from the capital and beyond at Craft2.0 tomorrow, and I’m taking with me this lovely bundle of crafty goodies from Felt which you could win! Come along to Craft2.0, check out the awesome array of handmade goods on offer, then swing by the Felt display and enter the draw.

Tucked away in this precious parcel are beautiful things from Copper Red, Relique Vintage Jewellery, imba design, Herc, Soft Earth Art, Honey Design, Candy Retro, Rose Among Thorns, hjrd Design, Ec-Sling and Songbird Designs.

Rumour has it that this Craft2.0 is going to be the best yet, with a free making station, spot prizes for shoppers, The Amazing Travelling Photobooth and for Friends of Craft2.0, all sorts of super specials!

The first Craft2.0 of 2010 kicks off at 11am this Saturday 6 March at TheNewDowse in Lower Hutt, and it’s not to be missed! As well as your regular favourites, there’s a few new faces from Wellington and beyond – in amongst the array of handmade gorgeousness, you’ll find the crafty stylings of Bad Animals, Whskr, Madame Cake, Ruby in the Dust, The Sewphist, Bam Bam Creative, Honey Design, Wyrcan, imba design, Miss Millie, Marian Smale, Poppetto, Black Swan Designs, Sweet William, Smash Palace and heaps more.

And Felt will be there too! Swing by and say hello, and put your entry in to the Felt prize draw – lovely handmade goodies will be up for grabs, watch this space for more details.

This Craft2.0 is pretty special, being part of the 2010 Fringe Festival, and there’s some great exhibitions on at TheNewDowse too, so it’s a fab opportunity to make a day of it, soak up some culture and indulge in some handmade shopping with some of the best and brightest of the New Zealand craft scene.

This fair also sees the launch of Friends of Craft2.0. A subscription gets you all kinds of crafty privileges, but the coolest thing is the VIP shopping time before every fair, so you don’t miss out on your pick of the handmade awesomeness that is Craft2.0.

See you there on Saturday!

It’s finally here! The Christchurch premiere of Handmade Nation: The Rise of DIY, Art, Craft, and Design, a documentary by Faythe Levine, is screening on Thursday 4 March.

Brought to you by Miss Millie, in association with Felt, this is sure to be a highlight on the 2010 Canterbury craft calendar, so don’t miss your chance to see Handmade Nation on the big screen. There is only one screening – be quick, get your ticket now!

Doors open at 7pm on Thursday 4 March at the Hollywood Cinema in Sumner – the movie will start at 7.30pm. Tickets are $20 per seat and your ticket price includes a glass of wine and nibbles on arrival. (Wine can only be served to those 18+ so please bring your ID if you think you might look underage).

Handmade Nation documents the new wave of art, craft and design that is capturing the attention of the nation. It is the feature film debut of director, author, artist and curator Faythe Levine. Levine traveled to 15 cities and covered more than 19,000 miles to interview artists, crafters, makers, curators and community members.

Today’s craft world has emerged as a synthesis of historical technique, punk culture, and the DIY ethos, also influenced by traditional handiwork, modern aesthetics, politics, feminism and art.

Director Faythe Levine captured the tightly knit community that exists through websites, blogs, and online stores that connect to the greater public through independent boutiques, galleries and craft fairs.

Interviews were conducted on-location in artist studios, homes, boutiques, offices and craft fairs, giving the public an exclusive and rarely seen look into the lives of these creative individuals.

“Levine gives us just enough to get your interest peaked and makes you want to blaze your own trail of entrepreneur fame.” — Meg Griggs, Salt Lake Underground

“The opening credits alone will make you so proud to be a creative, crafty person alive today.” — Sarah McColl, Pink of Perfection Blog

“The movements effect on mass culture may seem inevitable, but Levine also hopes to capture the intellectually provocative character of the artists and how they use craft to create awareness about social issues.” — Valli Herman, Los Angeles Times

Tickets are available here on Felt and will be sent you to by post so please double check that your postal address is correct when you complete your purchase. Screening time is 65 minutes.

Need transport but don’t have a car? Take the Number 3 bus direct to Sumner! Check out the timetable on Metro’s website.

1 Smoky Blue Journal Set by Bibliographica | 2 Cushion by April May | 3 Owl
Doorstop – Little Blue by Zippity Doodah | 4 Blue Floral Oven Cloth by Juli
Hunter | 5 Crown Lynn Plate Clock by Plateclocks | 6 Fabric Drum Shade by
MyDesign | 7 Listen – original 4 x 12″ painting by Erin Carver | 8 Black & White
Designer Rug by Design & SKC | 9 Little Blossom Cup by The Busy Finch

Click here to check out more suggestions in the Felt Wedding Gift Guide.

We use over a billion plastic bags a year here in New Zealand, which results in 40,000 bags ending up in landfill an hour. Supermarkets in New Zealand have been particularly slack about reducing their use of plastic bags, and we haven’t seen a lot of action from our Government either, so it’s down to us to make the change.

Luckily there’s some really clever crafters out there making great alternatives to plastic bags which are not only reusable, durable, and often made from recycled or upcycled materials, but they’re also really stylish – social responsibility aside, these bags are gorgeous!

Featured above is a small selection from the Bags & Purses section on Felt: Eco Girl tote by Rosa-Mayde, Three Cats tote bag by In My Backyard, Beanbags Clean Coffee Tote Bag, Long Lean Tote with leather detail by Annie Dry, Tote-tastic! by Emma McCleary and Paisley Tote Bag by SoChic.

Feel like you need to do more? As well as making a statement by taking your canvas bags to the supermarket, you can support campaigns like noplasticbags.org.nz and GetReal to help reduce plastic bag use in New Zealand.

In the words of Tim Minchin in his awesome environmental anthem: “Just think about the world and how the world would be fantastic if we could get rid of all the plastic!”

Crafty Business is back! Monday 1 February is our first session for the year, and due to renovations underway after a change of ownership at Churchills, we are temporarily shifting to Our City O-Tautahi for the February and March sessions.

For this first session we’re very lucky to have Jenna-Lea Philpott coming along to speak to us about her experience working in the UK craft sector over the last two years.

Jenna-Lea is an experienced arts advocate, creative business advisor and craft consultant who has founded several charitable trusts and groups such as the NZ Creative Industries Trust, the Christchurch Music Industry Trust (CHART), the Christchurch Creative Industries Network, and has supported the development of other organisations such as the UK-based Heritage Crafts Association.

Employed by Creative & Cultural Skills UK, Jenna recently led the public consultation and co-wrote The Craft Blueprint: A Workforce Development Plan for Craft in the UK which was launched at the House of Lords in London last year. Establishing and developing close working partnerships with craft makers, guilds and societies, and organisations such as the Crafts Council, Craft Northern Ireland, craftscotland and others, Jenna helped to pioneer new research and qualifications in the UK craft sector.

Now back in NZ, Jenna runs her own business, Tango Creative Consultancy, providing business advice and support to arts organisations and creative practitioners. She’s keen to support the development of the NZ craft sector and work with craft makers, so we hope to give her a great introduction to the Crafty Business community.

Come along to Our City O-Tautahi on the corner of Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace at 7pm on Monday 1 February, meet Jenna-Lea and join us for your monthly dose of crafty company!