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Fabric of the Week – Ti Kouka me Harakeke

Harakeke
Harakeke (NZ Flax) on the path to the Petrified Forest in the Catlins

As much as I curse them as they try to slap my face as I’m cycling along the waterfront on my way to Wellington, I think that harakeke in bloom are a thing of great beauty.  In fact, I might even be a little bit obsessed with drawing them – if you ever come across a page of my doodles, you will almost certainly find a few of them.

I also love the statuesque forms of cabbage trees (ti kouka) striding across the landscape. Even in utero I had an obvious affinity with them – my mother’s waters broke while she was at an art gallery looking at a painting of a cabbage tree!

So, when I did a introduction to screen printing class last year at Wellington Makerspace, and needed an image at short notice, it’s little surprise that this is what I came up with.

Ti kouka me harakeke
Oops, I only have a tiny camera phone picture of it!

One of my current business objectives is around starting to create my own fabric designs. Now, this is definitely a bit of a stretch goal for me, for although once upon a time I was going to be a primary school teacher specialising in art education, somehow over the last 20 years I’ve drawn less and less.  I guess this is going to force me to draw more!  I also have a bit of upskilling to do in terms of my digital image manipulation, so I can begin designing fabrics for digital printing as well. But in the meantime, I’m looking forward to rekindling my teenage love of printmaking.

All this brings me to the first fabric of the week for 2014 – my own design, Ti Kouka me Harakeke, screen printed onto calico or upcycled heavy white drill, in chocolate brown or dark green.  Products you can have made from this are:

  1.  Simple calico tote, Height: 40cm, Width: 35 cm – $25
  2. Market bag, white cotton drill, reinforced flat bottom, Height: 35 cm Width: 33 cm Depth: 10cm – $40
  3. Small piped cushion, calico, with vintage button closure on back, Height: 35 cm, Width: 35 cm – $60
  4. Lampshade, calico, design printed multiple times around circumference, Diameter: 30cm, Height: 27 – $90

Here’s what it looks like made up as a cushion.

A handmade cushion featuring my Ti Kouka me Harakeke print
Ti kouka me harakeke (Cabbage tree and flax)

 

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I <3 Felt Wednesday Showcase - It's the little things

Opps, look at the date! How did July roll around so quickly?

I’ve always thought of July as treat month. Not just because so many people I know have birthdays around now, but also because I think we all need the odd little treat in July just to remind us that Winter isn’t really that unbearable. So I’ve put together a few little treats that I found on Felt, little luxuries to make life a little easier as we wait for spring to roll around (and I’m ever adament that spring starts in August!)

Honey and Spice make delicious sounding lip balms, for a very reasonable price, and given what winter does to my lips, little luxuries like this are pretty much a necessity.  As is a good hand cream, to stop the cold air taking its toll.  I’m on my second lot of Sabine’s No Snag – it really is such a nice moisturiser, I thoroughly recommend it.

I’ve picked a cuff by Fireworks, a local Wellington jeweller.  I love looking at her work, as the shapes are so intricate and beautiful.  I think I would feel incredibly elegant wearing any of her pieces.  Speaking of feeling elegant, one mustn’t forget beautiful lingerie.  By Nature Bamboo Lingerie did a photoshoot recently, and I love the old-worldy feeling they created with their bush boudoir setting.

I tend to spend much of winter feeling sorry for myself because it’s so cold.  Until I remember my mum telling me that you lose 50% of your body heat through your head.  At which point if I’m lucky I also remember to put a hat on.  Isn’t this one by poppy&bee snuggly looking!

Which leaves Little Ladies’ Vogue Ladies.  I would love to one day add one of Anmea’s originals to my collection of tiles that I’ve bought from her.  One day.

And oops, look at the date.  Apparently we’re one day further into July than we were when I started this post.

Night all!

 

~ Spearmint Lip balm ~
$5.00
3 Metal Cuff #3
$225.00

NO SNAG KNITTER'S HAND CREAM
$16.00

SHEER ELEGANCE
$85.00

Vogue Ladies
$450.00
Piha Newsboy
$75.80
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I <3 Felt Wednesday Showcase - Dress me up!

I have a new way of doing things in my wardrobe – dresses!  I’ve especially been loving the versatility of knit dresses.  If I ever manage to actually make it to the gym before work, they’re a lot less hassle when it comes to getting dressed.  Or on the odd occasion that I bike the 18 km to work, they pack down nicely in my panier.

I’ve also been trying to be much more conscientious in my fashion choices, buying predominantly NZ or Australian made clothes.  And now it’s time to take it one step closer, and start buying handmade (when I’m not making something for myself, of course).

I took a look on felt to see what is available in the way of dresses, and this is what I found.  As you can see, I’m torn between sleek merino dresses and pretty feminine dresses.  Merino won out this time (it being winter and all) and I’m having one custom-made by harpie-girl!

HARPIE GIRL ROSETTE MERINO/THERMAL TUNIC DRESS sz 8
$70.00

Wren Dress in Zara
$84.00

One-Shoulder Dress Trimmed with Feathers
$178.00

Tunic dress in olive linen
$80.00

1950's inspired white and gingham pinup dress - custom made to fit
$95.00

Rockabilly Rules
$120.00
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I <3 Felt Wednesday Showcase - It's getting cold in here...

It’s mid-May, and it’s getting a bit chilly around here.  According to @HuttWeather on twitter, it’s somewhere between 7 – 10 degrees tonight just a couple of suburbs along the hill from me.  Brrrr!

So tonight’s I <3 Felt Wednesday Showcase is bought to you by the word “WARM”.  Something that my heater is struggling with tonight…

I especially love the eiderdown.  It reminds me of something I would have snuggled into as a kid, with associations of my Granny.

 

Beautiful Hand Made Crochet Shawl/Wrap
$55.00
queen size eiderdown.
$475.00
neckwarmer
$30.00
Lynsey Champion Seed Beret
$85.00
Super Awesome Slouch Crochet Hat - Tam - Beanie
$26.00
lace-up fingerless gloves
$45.00

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And sometime I must really get around to checking out those Energywise subsidies.

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I <3 Felt Wednesdays - *cycled

So, we have a new guilty pleasure in our household. We’ve found one show on new channel U that has us glued to the set each week. It’s called Junk Raiders: 2 freecyclers have been teamed up with 4 traditional construction and design professionals.  There’s a demanding client, who wants a barren warehouse turned into a sleek modern luxury loft appartment, on a budget of $5000. Reality tv melt-downs guaranteed.

It is possible that this is the epitome of trashy tv!

However, freecycling is a laudable pursuit, as are upcycling and recycling. So this week’s I <3 Felt Showcase features items made from upcycled or recycled materials. Remember, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

white lace romance wrap skirt in upcycled doilies
$395.00
lovebirds & extra hearts deliver "a history of courting" - magnetic art set
$42.00
Nanas vintage peggy square cushion
$48.00
Cufflinks by Zippitydoodah
$22.00
Mosaic Puzzle     (AA2-VND)
$23.00
Claret and White Cassette Purse
$29.00
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I <3 Felt Wednesday - surrounded by water

It’s Wednesday, and time for me to browse through the awesome goodness that is Felt.co.nz.  This evening’s selection was inspired by the Back Benches Summer Tour on Channel 7 – tonight they were in Kaikoura, so I went looking for sea, whale and beach related items.  Here’s what I found!

(I am very tempted to buy myself new togs…)

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I <3 Felt - Summer days

Well, it’s been a while, but I’m going to try and get back on track with Wednesday Felt Showcases, where I show you some of the lovely work that is for sale by other talented makers on Felt.co.nz.

Given the lovely sunshine we’ve been seeing recently, I felt it was time for a celebration of summer.  I found all these items by searching for the keyword “summer”, and then I found myself being drawn to a whole lot of sunny yellow!

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I <3 Felt - and it's A Craft Affair

I guess it’s no secret. I <3 handmade. And this weekend I’ll be making that love public at A Craft Affair in Christchurch.

This week I feature some of my fellow sellers at A Craft Affair. Many are from Christchurch and Canterbury, and then there are few from further afield (like me). A Craft Affair has taken over the mantle of Craft2.0 in Christchurch, so all the sellers are handpicked and everything there is guaranteed to be amazing.

Official a craft affair flier

Do come along and say hello, and check out all the lovely handmade wares, such as those below, on offer this Sunday, 11am till 3pm, at Our City O-Tautahi, corner of Worcester Boulevard and Oxford Terrace, Christchurch.

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Felt like sharing the I <3 Felt love!

Yes, it’s that time of the week again, when I share some of my recent favourites from Felt.  I’ve got a wee holiday planned, so I looked for what holiday and travel-themed items other NZ crafters.  Check out what I found from Amy Fletcher,  B alarm,  aromaticals, sewfunky, victoria, and honeydesign.

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Just a quick reminder…

…that tomorrow is the mid-winter knack market!

This friendly craft fair is a great way to find out who is new on the Wellington craft scene, and of course there are always lots of your favourite sellers there too 🙂

So, can you guess where I’ll be from 9.30 until 1.30 tomorrow?

Here’s a hint… this is my stall from the autumn knack.

A quick snap taken during a lull. Proof that my favourite sales assistant is a total hunk!

There’s a new venue this time, so make sure you check the details and head to South Wellington Intermediate tomorrow to indulge in some crafy shopping therapy.

Make sure you check the details so you turn up to the right place!

See you tomorrow! <3 <3