Gifts By Bella

Where did you come up with the name “Gifts by Bella”?

My name is Clare, and growing up mum always called me Clareabelle, which was then shortened to Bella.

What are five words that describe your work?

Handmade, pretty, practical, colourful, fun.

What was your favourite toy as a child? And now?

I used to have a Santa Bear that I took to bed. I used it as a pillow, so it ended up flat and worn out. Now I am a preschool teacher, so get to play with lots of different toys. I am usually drawn to wooden toys.

What is making you happy right now?

Fabric shopping, even though everyone says I have enough. You can never have too much fabric.

What did you dream about last night?

It’s a bit boring, but I hardly ever remember my dreams. Although I have had a recurring dream in the past that I can’t open my eyes, and am desperately trying to see something.

What is something that can always make you feel better?

Sunshine, family, sewing.

Do you do anything crazy to inspire creativity?

I don’t think it’s crazy, but I spend lots of time looking on Felt, Etsy, and Pinterest. I get inspired and want to start sewing lots of new things straight away.

Were you popular in High School?

I had quite a big group of friends, but was never in the “cool group.”

What is your favourite quote?

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass; it’s about learning to dance in the rain”                          – Vivian Greene

What do you hope to be remembered for?

I hope to be remembered for kindness, generosity and cute baby gifts.

Sly Fox Jewellery

Twin sisters Megan and Christie Webber from Christchurch grew up in a house that that their dad built and their mum painted. Their mother is an artist who had paintbrushes in her daughters’ hands as soon as they could hold them, so it’s no big surprise that both Megan and Christie like to create. Sly Fox Jewellery is inspired by nature and geometry, and is handmade from a variety of different materials including glass, metal, clay, wire, and paint. Many of their items are handmade from beginning to end. The twins hand sculpt, mould, and paint these pieces making sure each one is a little bit special. 

Where did you come up with the name? Megan: I came up with the name, it was one that popped into my head and stuck with me. We both adore animals and nature, and foxes are such wonderful creatures.  

What are five words that describe your work? Whimsical, creative, distinctive, quality, and handmade. 

What was your favourite toy as a child? And now? Christie: We had a really large dolls house that our father built for us, filled with beautiful furniture that our mum made. We used to play with it from the moment we got up until after we were put to bed! I used clay to make all of the food that they would eat, and Megan used a shoebox to create a bank with accounts and even credit cards. This was a pretty high tech system! Now we still enjoy all sorts of toys, my favourite would have to be my insect pinning kit. 

What is making you happy right now? Megan: My swan plants. They are looking much healthier following some rough weather and now I’m pretty excited to attract some Monarchs with the warmer weather.

What did you dream about last night? Christie: A zombie apocalypse, it was terrifying. I think I have been watching a bit too much of The Walking Dead.

What is something that can always make you feel better? Megan: Our little dog Felix. No matter how I am feeling he is always ready to give cuddles.

Do you do anything crazy to inspire creativity? Christie: I wouldn’t call it particularly crazy but sometimes I go to the art supplies store and buy things which then inspire creations. It might be a tube of sparkly paint, a block of coloured clay or even some new sculpting tools. 

Were you popular in High School? Megan: I’m not even sure if our high school had well defined groups like in films. If it did then we were probably geeks! We took all the science subjects and a bunch of arts. We were also both in the orchestra and the jazz band. Too cool for school!

What is your favourite quote? Megan: “Do not squander time for that is the stuff life is made of.” - Benjamin Franklin. Christie: “Equipped with his five senses, man explores the universe around him and calls this adventure Science.” - Edwin Hubble.

What do you hope to be remembered for? Christie: We would love for people to think of our work as something that they can enjoy and treasure.  

Remember when you used to be a rascal

Where did you come up with the name Remember When You Used To Be A Rascal? My name comes from a song by the Arctic Monkeys called Fluorescent Adolescent. Years ago it felt like the theme song to my life…

Discarded all the naughty nights for niceness

Landed in a very common crisis

Everything's in order in a black hole

Nothing seems as pretty as the past though

That Bloody Mary's lacking in Tabasco

Remember when you used to be a rascal?

What are five words that describe your work? Up-cycled, playful, unique, bento-tastic and BAD-ASS   \m/(>.<)\m/

What was your favourite toy as a child? Orange Blossom doll, Barbie and The Rockers.  

And now? MacBook Pro

What is making you happy right now? The days are starting to get just a little bit longer… Summer is coming and that makes me very happy. I love long summer days, bbqs with friends and wearing jandles!! 

What did you dream about last night? Ryan Gosling, I always dream about the Gosling.

What is something that can always make you feel better? A New Zealand Natural chocolate thick shake will always makes me happy and Ryan Gosling…

Do you do anything crazy to inspire creativity? Nope

Were you popular in High School? Didn't really notice… But my Mum thought I was cool. 

What is your favourite quote? 'Goonies never say die'

What do you hope to be remembered for? My baked raspberry cheesecake. 

Don Harkness Wood Turner

I work with exotic and native timbers to create turned and sculptured items.  These include bowls, boxes, goblets, candlesticks, dolphins, wands and more.  My latest works are mosaic trays with over 20 different types of timber in each piece, all set into resin.

For 28 years I worked out of a successful studio at The Arts Centre of Christchurch until the earthquake of 22 February 2011.  Since then I’ve been working from home. 

In 1984 Christopher Doig, newly appointed Director of The Arts Centre of Christchurch Trust was on a mission.  His goal was to populate the former University of Canterbury buildings, then empty, with creatively talented arts tenants.  Thus in 1984 he found me, a young self-taught woodturner, whom Doig deemed ideal for the fledgling arts facility.  The Arts Centre Trust was formed to foster local artists and craftspeople, providing a supportive affordable setting in which they could work.  I slotted right in – raw, enthusiastic, talented and broke.  Gratefully (and quickly) accepting Doig’s invitation, I served my internship at The Arts Centre of Christchurch in a humble studio.  Later on I moved to a bigger space which not only accommodated my lathe, but also a retail showroom.  From here, visitors could see me at work and view my finished pieces, which reassuringly, they often bought.

During my time at The Arts Centre I cultivated a reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading woodturners creating both turned and sculptured works.  International and local visitors rewarded my efforts with return custom from around the world.  I continued to enjoy the supportive environment of The Arts Centre of Christchurch for nearly 30 years.  It was a place to fulfill my creativity and provide a living for my family.

That livelihood literally came to a shuddering halt on 22 February 2011 when the Christchurch earthquake devastated the city, including the historic Arts Centre site.

Professionally inexperienced at anything other than woodworking, I have since set up a workshop at our severely damaged eastern suburbs home. An unlikely source of timber has been my own backyard, as we live next to the South Brighton Estuary Reserve where countless trees have been felled by continuing aftershocks and subsequent tidal flooding. 

5 words that describe my work:

1 - wooden

2 -  there

3 -  are

4 - no

5 - rules

Favourite toy as a child:

the teddy bear I got on my 1st birthday - I still have it

And now:

toss up between my chainsaw and my telescope

What is making me happy right now:

Watching my children grow and develop into wonderful, beautiful, original little people.  Oh and Prozac.

What did I dream about last night:

I can't tell you that!!  But the other night I dreamed of sailing a yacht down a busy street.

Something that can always make me feel better:

Re-reading a favourite book.

What I do to inspire creativity:

Inspiration is never a problem.  I have so many ideas that its more a matter of what to leave out in the short space of time I have, rather than needing new ones.

Was I popular in high school:

Girls seemed to like me.

Fav quote(s)

"Do not be so open-minded that your brains fall out"

"Never play leapfrog with a unicorn"

"Nobody goes there anymore, it's too crowded"

"When two opposite points of view are expressed with equal intensity, the truth does not necessarily lie halfway between them.  It is quite possible for one side to simply be wrong"

I want to be remembered for:

My steak & cheese pie.

Box of Softies

Where did you come up with the name Box of Softies? It's not really a great story, I just started creating softie dolls and decided I wanted to give it a go selling them. I was trying so hard to come up with a name and Box of Softies just popped into my head.

What are five words that describe your work? Fun, creative, useful, well made

What was your favourite toy as a child? And now? As a child I would have to say dolls and now I would probably say the same.

What is making you happy right now? That SPRING is here!

What did you dream about last night? Stationary.... I have a weak spot for beautiful stationary hehe

What is something that can always make you feel better? Giving my girls cuddles.

Do you do anything crazy to inspire creativity? If I'm having a blank moment I do like to have a dance around the lounge with my girls, that can sometimes get a little crazy. They are my inspiration...

Were you popular in High School? No not really.

What is your favourite quote? "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." 

― Bernard M. Baruch

What do you hope to be remembered for? Being passionate about what I do, and have my items be useful in everyday life.

Can you spot yourself amongst the crowds?

Thank you to all who attended and made the Vintage Encraftment Market a resounding success, with more than 2000 people through the doors and more than 60 stall holders we are so grateful to have the support of so many different individuals. Thank you.

Photography from Jen at Utterly in Love.

Country Cottage Crafts

Hello, I am Janette Ritchie of Country Cottage Crafts and I make Enchanting, Magical Fairy Houses. I have created Fairy Houses to fulfil the imagination of adults and children. These Fairy Houses are made from mostly natural materials and take hours and hours to create. All furniture and decorations are made by me. They are about the same size as a dolls house. The idea to build Fairy Houses came from my niece, Nicolette, who gave me a Fairy and I thought she needed a home to live in... 

Handmade goods for sale at my stall are; Fairy House Kit, Fairy Houses, Fairy Dust Bottle with Magic Wand, Fairy Dust with Charms, Fairy Doors, Fairy Gardens, Fairy Wishing Stones, Fairies, Fairy Charm Bookmarks, How to make a Fairy Garden book, Fairy House Furniture, Fairy covered Journals and more...

The lovely Janette

These are three large Fairy Houses that will be for sale at my stall...

I have created a “Fairy House Kit” which will be for sale at the Encraftment Market. The kit comes with everything you need to build your own “Fairy House”. They come in 3 colours, pink, purple and lime. The full colour instruction book included explains every step of the way, with photos, to build this fantastic Fairy House with a Fairy to make as well. Adult supervision is recommended, THE BEST GIFT TO GIVE YOUR CHILD IS TIME! Comes with a FREE FAIRY CHARM. Also I will be running a raffle to win one of these “Fairy House Kits” $2.00 a ticket.

 

I live in and old cottage in the country, where the name “Country Cottage Crafts” evolved. I have a fantastic studio room in the cottage where I build Fairy House and things.

My craft is creative, imaginative, detailed, magical and amazing.

My favourite toy as a child and now is Fairies and the Magical Realm of which they live...

My happiness comes from creativity in life, whether it is in my craft studio, out in my huge garden and spending time with my partner, friends and family.

When I dream, I dream of Fairies...

I have found the secret to dispelling down times – get busy!

I get up very early each morning, about 4 am to work on my ideas and creations, which is a little bit crazy?

High School, well it was quite a long time ago, but I don’t think I was popular, was too shy.

My favourite quote in life is ... “Plan the Work, Work the Plan” think about it...

To my family and friends I want to be remembered for my love and kindness.