Craft Love Festival - The Super Camper

Sometimes, but not always we have to look further afield to feel inspiration within ourselves - I often utilise Pinterest as a source of inspiration - picking ideas of things I somewhat like and spinning them into ideas of my own that I love too much. 

When I came across this gorgeous Travelling Wares caravan by Kara Rosenlund, I knew it would be one of those inspiring pieces that would and could potentially recreate many an idea in many a mind. 

I love all of the different possibilities it opens up for it's use in markets and events up and down the countryside. 

Who is this Kara Rosenlund? Who is this wonder stylist? You'll have to pop on over to her website to find out more - full of many a gorgeous image and many more fabulous ideas! All of these fabulous images were found on this equally fabulous website.

CRAFT LOVE FESTIVAL - APRON STRINGS

My name is Tessa Bowden and I have recently started up my very small business making clothing. Mostly this is girls’ skirts and dresses plus accessories, but I am venturing into maternity skirts and have had many requests for grown up versions… I’ll get there eventually! I make everything at home in a small sewing room, with my two trusty colleagues (my sewing machine and my overlocker) in lovely Lyttelton. 

I make skirts because the other mums at my girls’ school kept asking me to! I started by just making skirts for their girls for birthdays and got pestered into doing it for real. I have loved to sew since I was at primary school, and particularly love mixing and matching fabrics. My skirts are full of colour and I like to match up unlikely prints and encourage kids to wear fun things. 

I haven’t been to many markets so far, but I love the sense of camaraderie I have experienced with other craftspeople and the gorgeous things to admire and appreciate. But selling at a market also pushes me out of my comfort zone to a place where I get feedback on what I do. I love that markets are having a revival, because they sure beat the mall for a pleasant shopping and social experience! 

For me ‘Indie Design’ implies a modern take on traditional craftiness. That is, making something beautiful and useful out of not much, using things we have locally or using usual materials in an unexpected way, making something for our needs rather than buying mass-produced items. Craft is cool again! 

Find Apron Strings on Facebook

CRAFT LOVE FESTIVAL - Crazybird Design

Are you excited about Craft Love Festival? I know that I sure am! Today we get to meet the lovely Bryony of Crazybird Design, not only will you get to see her fabulous work at Craft Love Festival, but she is also one of the founding designers of Pay It Forward!

I live in Canterbury, where there is no shortage of inspiration. I love to work with recycled timber which I source from quake damaged houses that have had to be demolished. Using  colour, texture, vintage imagery and nature's shapes is a great way to show off the natural tones of the wood.  

In some of my work I'm inspired by antique nature art and the beautiful flora and fauna of New Zealand; capturing their shapes, textures and colours by hand burning the images into recycled rimu, kauri, cedar  and sycamore or by intricately cutting their likeness into paper. Other pieces have been inspired by vibrant colour and patterns or vintage whimsy-  whether it be  images from a storybook from years gone by, antique china and artwork or kitsch retro.

What makes your craft unique? I think using materials that have come from such a life changing event such as the Canterbury earthquakes lends a unique quality to my work. Add to that the ever changing elements of the other materials I use, such as re-using vintage textiles, means my collections are always evolving.

Who is your muse? Sometimes my muse is a person or event, spending time with creative people is always inspiring and gives me energy. A lot of the time inspiration comes from shape, colour or texture in nature or in the materials I find. I also love the feeling of giving something old, new life.

What do you love about selling at markets? I love getting to meet the people buying my stuff! Hearing what they like or what they would like me to make. It’s also a buzz, spending a day at a venue where it’s chokka full of awesome things people have made.

What does the term ‘Indie Design’ mean to you? Unique, hand-made, creative, eclectic. The support of the individually hand-crafted item...stepping away from the mass produced.

Where can we find you? On my website, Facebook page or email me - bedggood@clear.net.nz

Anchored in LOVE...

Every now and again an Indie designer will absolutely surprise me! Stop me in my tracks and make me go 'WOW'! And Lee from Pretty Birds did exactly that when she showed me these gorgeous pendants.

A while back I explained a theme I was looking for to a graphic designer, and while the projects was awesome it came back slightly different to how I'd imagined (different perception and interpretation). However THIS design is exactly what I'd imagine all of those months ago! 

I love (pardon the pun) how the toughness of the design, pirate tattoo anyone! Is softened by the use of the word 'LOVE' and then modernised by the use of the blue and white stripes!

This piece perfectly fitted the LOVE theme at the 'Craft Love Festival'! I 

What do you think?

Do you LOVE?

{CRAFT LOVE FESTIVAL} The Photo Bomb...

Just a snippet of photos from the night, more can be seen on our Facebook page.
Look forward to seeing you all at {CRAFT LAB} 8pm tonight! x

{CRAFT LOVE FESTIVAL} Count down is on...

The Countdown is on to 'Craft Love Festival' only FOUR more sleeps until we celebrate Canterbury's finest artisan's!! So I thought I'd give you a sneak peek of who you can expect to see!!

Locket 

Piece - For Creative Minds

Crazy Birds

Pepin

Little Fritter Design

Pretty Birds

Fabric Fixation

Genevieve Robinson - Stylish Handkerchiefs & Accessories

Buttoflies

Clay & Clay Doll

Denise Alty

Art by Ira3

Les Pommes Rouge

Once Upon a Time

Ameliorate

Little Drop Design

Rosie Miller 

Michael & Maisie

Stitchology

Rose in Thorns

In My Backyard

Dolls Clothing Co

Green Jean

Sly Fox

Just a Little Bit Cute

Crazy Cake Girls

Stone Artz

StudiOstar

Hello Lovely

Muse 

All Your Stars Are Out

RePurpose Me

Wired Love

Paper Chains

Ami - Henna & Beauty

Mosaica Group

Mad Milli Designs

The Red Delicious Journey

If you're not as excited by that line up as I am, then I think you may be reading the wrong blog!!

Hazel Loves Design in 2013

I have recently come to realise, that although I am super busy in the real world, I haven't been sharing all of the things I have been doing often enough on the blog. So today, I thought I'd start telling you about some of the great initiatives I am involved with this year.

Sharing indie design of the kiwi flavour with our friends across the ditch, care of the fabulous Gallop Lifestyle blog. Annie is a fabulous advocate of new and emerging designers, I loved her webstore and was always proud to see the mentions in local magazines! I feel proud to be able to showcase the work of our nation on this gorgeous decor site!

I'm also involved in helping to launch 'Around the Table - Blogger's Connecting'. So excited to be a part of this weekend and can't wait to meet the other sixty bloggers who will also be there!! If you aren't already registered, you should definitely check out their website ASAP, I think there may be three spots left?

As part of 'Around the Table', Hazel Loves Design is involved in bringing together 'Craft Love Festival' our first ever indie design market here in Christchurch!! Super excited, just as you should be!! Check out the event page on Facebook for more information!! I really do hope that you all can come!!

On a personal level, I am only one assignment away from finishing my 'Diploma of Interior Design'... PHEW! That feels like it has been a long time coming, hoping to have it finished by the end of the week, and then I'll finally be able to start on the task of launching our online emporium! 

We are planning on making the online emporium a showcase of some of New Zealand's favourite indie designers, with the goods being shipped direct from the maker's studio to your home. Stay tuned for loads more details!! - If you are a designer interested in being involved, we would also absolutely LOVE to hear from you: hazellovesdesign@yahoo.com

Not to mention it looks like 'Pay It Forward', the co-operative store that will be launching in Mairehau is pretty close to getting its' funding, so won't be long until you can get a taste of all the fabulous Cantabrian designers in one place!

Of course we are also still chugging along with Hazed Magazine, if you haven't already, you really must check it out! Such a great way to celebrate the makers here in the isle of the long white cloud.

So, that is what we are up to, alongside being a Mum and working full time! Phew, makes me tired just thinking about it all!! 

What are your plans for 2013? And how are you going with reaching your goals?