tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60416296637995450602024-03-13T11:47:02.575+13:00nz green buttonsnz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.comBlogger702125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-86654355291086155902017-07-01T19:03:00.000+12:002017-07-01T19:03:20.838+12:00Twig + Tale - Driftwood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BAev_EN0ss/WVdEKbq_vAI/AAAAAAAAHrk/-rTdMJt0WOwe_WXN64XRdYOWBbJTbJSZACLcBGAs/s1600/P6046055_new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2BAev_EN0ss/WVdEKbq_vAI/AAAAAAAAHrk/-rTdMJt0WOwe_WXN64XRdYOWBbJTbJSZACLcBGAs/s640/P6046055_new.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was fortunate to be a pattern tester for Twig + Tale recently, testing this versatile pattern - Driftwood Blouse and Dress. </div>
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I made a dress version, with long gathered sleeves. I forgot to add a little more length when I cut it out, the perfect excuse to use some cotton lace that I have saved for such a long time. The pattern calls for elastic through the waist, but I chose to leave it out. It makes for a nice loose, relaxed fit. </div>
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There are so many options on this pattern, short and long sleeves,ruffle neckline, dress and blouse! It was amazing to see all the tester pictures coming through, each with such a different look. </div>
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The pattern is currently on a launch special, <a href="https://www.twigandtale.com/collections/girls/products/driftwood-blouse-dress">check out this bundle</a> it's the best way to buy it!</div>
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<br />nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-36844110790127137282017-02-21T23:26:00.000+13:002017-02-21T23:26:35.758+13:00Upcycle - Twig and tale tours <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm not going to lie, I find much more pleasure browsing racks of clothes at an op shop (Thrift store) than rolls of new fabric at a store. There seems to be so much more of a challenge in taking something and changing it into something else, than taking a big sheet of fabric and cutting it up. What started as a way of crafting while on a single income has become "my way"of crafting!<br />
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I found these fabulous flannel pants that I thought perhaps my husband would wear, but alas a bit too adventurous for him. Perhaps too adventurous for the original owner too as they were in perfect condition. They seemed perfect for upcycling. </div>
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I set about deconstructing them, they are a quality piece of clothing and had beautiful details and trims that I carefully unpicked.<br />
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Then the exciting part, what to make?<br />
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It seems like after such a dry spell of friends having babies that there is a new wave of life coming into the world. I used to crochet most of my baby gifts, small booties and hats, I used that as a starting point when choosing something to make.<br />
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I chose two patterns from the <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/">Twig and tale website</a>, two patterns I've never sewn before. The <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/collections/footwear/products/classic-reversible-indoor-shoes">Wayfarer Shoes</a> and the versatile <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/collections/boys/products/atlas-bonnet-with-bonus-wild-things-animal-elements">Evergreen Bonnet</a> (So many options!)<br />
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I forgot to take a photo of the lining fabric, but it was a soft wool vest. I added a few extra snaps on the bonnet to give it maximum wear.<br />
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I used some of the trim from the pants as little pulls for the back of the shoes, making it easier to get them off and on. I was so surprised how quickly they worked up! Such a fabulous pattern that I can see will be my "go to"pattern now to make for gifts. I'm about to make up a stash of them!<br />
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I used the wool vest for the soles and lining of the Wayfarer shoes too. I had thought I'd cut into a leather jacket for the soles, but the wool has more stretch to it and perhaps will be worn just that little bit longer. But if I was making them for older kids ie walkers I think leather would be a much better option.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4KeiErASgw/WKwM1OQejjI/AAAAAAAAGv8/FSjy8_iYlHg1tCedrD4w0JjOYO-baOVZgCEw/s1600/shoesandbonnet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k4KeiErASgw/WKwM1OQejjI/AAAAAAAAGv8/FSjy8_iYlHg1tCedrD4w0JjOYO-baOVZgCEw/s640/shoesandbonnet.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm about to wrap up this little "Welcome to the world!", knowing my gift will be as original as the wee babe that will wear it!<br />
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My post is just a small part of a fabulous tour of bloggers and their upcycled Twig and Tale creations. <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/blogs/twig-and-tale-blog/upcycle-blog-tour-it-is-all-in-the-details">You can read more about it here</a>.<br />
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Rafflecopter:
<a class="rcptr" data-raflid="80e22a6f3" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/80e22a6f3/" id="rcwidget_mmysl4s5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Link up:
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Day one: <a href="https://sewshellysew.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sew Shelly Sew</a> - <a href="https://handmadeboy.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Handmade Boy</a> -<a href="http://nap-timecreations.com/" target="_blank">Nap time Creations</a> - <a href="http://boevenbende.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Boevenbende</a>
Day two: <a href="http://www.stylinstacy.com/" target="_blank">Stylin Stacy</a> - <a href="http://thecraftingfiend.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">The Craftingfiend</a> - <a href="http://gaafmachine.nl/" target="_blank">Gaafmachine</a> -<a href="http://whileshesleeping.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">While she was sleeping</a>
Day three: <a href="http://www.huisjeboompjeboefjes.com/" target="_blank">Huisje Boompje Boefjes</a> -<a href="http://2girls1orca1pukeko.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Life in our busy household</a> - <a href="http://www.thecrazytailor.com/" target="_blank">The Crazy Tailor</a> - <a href="https://sewsophielynn.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sew Sophie Lynn</a>
Day four: <a href="http://craftylikearox.com/" target="_blank">Crafty like a Rox</a> - <a href="https://www.thewolfandthetree.com/" target="_blank">The Wolf and the Tree </a>- <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">NZ Green Buttons </a>-<a href="http://vera-luna.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Vera Luna </a>- <a href="http://www.paisleyroots.com/" target="_blank">Paisley Roots</a></div>
nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-39370839835380467302016-12-27T22:17:00.000+13:002016-12-27T22:17:04.370+13:00Adventures in chippy paint<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM_Khishx6w/WGIpszm_dkI/AAAAAAAAGpg/tZ53b5p-sE4DJCJ47d5SoUuD0IDDtPf0gCLcB/s1600/PB201226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZM_Khishx6w/WGIpszm_dkI/AAAAAAAAGpg/tZ53b5p-sE4DJCJ47d5SoUuD0IDDtPf0gCLcB/s640/PB201226.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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At least 3 years ago I hauled this chest home on foot from an inorganic roadside rubbish collection, I know what you are thinking, I have ZERO shame! I had my preschooler son with me and we tried to balance it on his balance bike on the walk home from preschool. He thought it was the funniest thing ever and was not at all interested in balancing it with me and zoomed off ahead of me. So I carried it home. Many stops later, (cause it's heavy) and just as I was at my driveway a car pulled up and asked if I wanted a hand! Garage space is currently at a premium and it's now or never to give it a makeover.<br />
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I've slowly been building up confidence in upcycling or making over furniture with Voodoo Molly Vintage paint. I decided that although I went to a huge effort to retrieve this piece that I wasn't worried in how it turned out, giving me a chance to experiment. Enter - the chippy paint technique!<br />
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So here are the progress shots and a quick explanation of it's transformation and final results. I'm not entirely convinced it's how I want to paint every piece of furniture I own, but everything is worth trying at least once right?!<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-quoqgC0woWQ/WGIpsbGZRvI/AAAAAAAAGp8/luaLEJga-1wpCtqFG1Tu4odfVYH50BvDACEw/s1600/PB201231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-quoqgC0woWQ/WGIpsbGZRvI/AAAAAAAAGp8/luaLEJga-1wpCtqFG1Tu4odfVYH50BvDACEw/s640/PB201231.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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First step a light sand, you can easily see the difference, it was really just a light sand to remove the flaky old varnish.<br />
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As the wood was quite light I added some dark stain to the edges and other parts I might be sanding back. It also helped cover up some damage around one handle in the front.<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGi120E02LY/WGIp_HXs5JI/AAAAAAAAGqA/M1IscQnCnOUQQbvU-laQdaU1PQ_OUgutgCEw/s1600/PB201257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sGi120E02LY/WGIp_HXs5JI/AAAAAAAAGqA/M1IscQnCnOUQQbvU-laQdaU1PQ_OUgutgCEw/s640/PB201257.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then I added colour to show through at the end, I used small amounts that I had left over from other projects, Green Tea, Dragonfly, Pistachio, <a href="https://www.voodoomolly.nz/category/135984">you can find the paint here</a>.<br />
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Then I applied some <a href="https://www.voodoomolly.nz/category/134966">Vintage wax</a> with a palette knife in the areas I wanted the colours to show through, the edges mainly. It allows larger chunks of paint to peel off, leaving it looking more worn than if you just sanded back without wax.I must admit I had trouble trying to do it randomly, I'm perhaps not suited to this style of painting!<br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWtOlVKvD8M/WGIwr_rXkCI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/7zHQ-GRRbwQobf8HtF_MkGMgqeCYGjIuwCLcB/s1600/PB211265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aWtOlVKvD8M/WGIwr_rXkCI/AAAAAAAAGqQ/7zHQ-GRRbwQobf8HtF_MkGMgqeCYGjIuwCLcB/s640/PB211265.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Then a coat of white over it all! Then I just sanded back over the waxed areas.<br />
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Complete! It looks worn and weather-beaten and I'm not precious about it being bumped or knocked around, perfect style of painting if you have children!<br />
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I finished it off with a light buff of Vintage Wax to protect the surface.<br />
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If you are looking to try it, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C133q5-1FQ8">check out this quick how to video from Voodoo Molly</a>, I love the look of brightly coloured chippy paint. Perhaps for the next blanket box I carry home?<br />
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<br />nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-71480665143692152252016-10-11T23:10:00.001+13:002016-10-11T23:11:26.718+13:00Twig + Tale - A blog tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now you might not of heard of <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/">Twig + Tale</a> but if you've been reading my blog for any length of time you will know of "Big Little". Big Little has gone through a little transformation and is relaunching as <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/">Twig + Tale</a>, same great patterns just a new name and a new place to get inspiration! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">I love these patterns so much, in fact I could bore you with how much I love their patterns, but I think <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/">Twig + Tale</a> sum it up perfectly. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"Twig +Tale is a place where imagination runs wild and is for everyone who shares a love of creativity and an adventurous spirit—beginner sewers especially! It's a celebration of the innocence of childhood and the wonder of nature. It's about comfy clothes and warm things like hugs and capes and coats. It's about handmade, love, and imaginary play—featuring classic, simple patterns that inspire us all to tell a story".</span><br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMIy-fVNrhY/V_wOvtqiymI/AAAAAAAAGoE/BECmylbLIRwz0O3XsdHRvLML8flKkC-WACEw/s1600/PA010935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iMIy-fVNrhY/V_wOvtqiymI/AAAAAAAAGoE/BECmylbLIRwz0O3XsdHRvLML8flKkC-WACEw/s640/PA010935.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">I've long admired the <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/products/wild-things-coat">Wild things coat</a>, but the climate here means the number of days a full Winter coat are needed are few and far between. So combining the Wild Things features with the <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/products/pathfinder-vest">Pathfinder vest</a> is the perfect combo, I'm not alone in thinking it is a great combo, you can actually <a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/products/wild-things-vest">buy that pattern combo</a> !</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">My daughter decided that a fox was the "wild thing" she wanted for a vest. The very next day I spied a large woollen lightweight wool shirt at my local thrift store. It seemed perfect, I just hoped that it was going to yield enough fabric! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Fortunately there was <i>just</i> enough. I carefully cut around the pockets and reattached them in a new position. The only compromise was a join in the front of the band of the hood. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;">Twig + Tale have also released a free Dragon add on for the Wild Things patterns, cool wings, tail and horns. </span><a href="https://twigandtale.leadpages.co/%E2%80%A6/1463fe%E2%80%A6/5702666986455040/" target="_blank">Click here to download Free Wild Things Dragon add-on</a> . It's super cute and might just be the next version I try perfect for a Pete's Dragon fan! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">You might have noticed the beautiful lining fabric,<a href="http://www.artgalleryfabrics.com/"> Art Gallery Fabrics</a> has generously sponsored the Twig + Tale blog tour. I had such a hard time choosing something from the <a href="http://www.artgalleryfabrics.com/">Art Gallery Fabrics</a> collection, so many beautiful fabrics! In the end I went with this beautiful print from the Forest Floor collection, <a href="http://liveartgalleryfabrics.com/forest-floor/">Nature Study Ridge</a>. I don't often work with new fabrics so it was a real treat<span style="font-size: 14px;">, thank you Art Gallery Fabrics! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What would a Blog Tour be without a giveaway! </span></div>
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<img alt="" height="100" src="//cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1083/5260/files/AGF-LOGO_medium.jpg?v=1475965043" style="float: none;" width="200" /><img height="100" src="https://scontent-syd1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/14600945_10153758563130836_7679070634012597575_n.jpg?oh=76a927763ec7e2bb7dd9c38cd3073df9&oe=58A7D0F9" style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" width="200" /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://liveartgalleryfabrics.com/fabrics/fabric-collections/" target="_blank">Art Gallery Fabrics</a> is kindly sponsoring <b>2 yards of Art Gallery fabric of your choice</b>. To make the prize extra sweet, we are also adding a collection of<b> 5 Twig + Tale patterns of your choice.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">International entries are very welcome. Our bloggers come from every corner of the world to celebrate the global nature of Twig +Tale too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enter using the rafflecopter below. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(The winning entry will be checked to ensure all criteria are met).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a class="rcptr" data-raflid="80e22a6f2" data-template="" data-theme="classic" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/80e22a6f2/" id="rcwidget_14h1eced" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a></span><script src="https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js"></script>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do check out the other Bloggers taking part in the tour, I've seen their finished projects. So many stunning versions of <a href="http://twigandtale.com/">Twig + Tale patterns</a> and it really shows that the patterns are just the beginning - let your imagination run wild! </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.twigandtale.com/blogs/twig-and-tale-blog/blog-tour-announcement" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Blog tour overview page</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Monday: <a href="http://www.falafelandthebee.com/" target="_blank">Falafel and the Bee</a> - <a href="http://handmadeboyblog.com/" target="_blank">Handmade Boy</a> - <a href="http://www.sewalittleseam.com/" target="_blank">Sew A Little Seam</a> - <a href="https://sewshellysew.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Sew Shelly Sew</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tuesday: <a href="http://naeh-connection.com/" target="_blank">Näh-connection</a> - <a href="http://khadetjes.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Khadetjes</a> - <a href="http://www.paisleyroots.com/" target="_blank">Paisley Roots</a> - <a href="http://vera-luna.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Vera Luna</a> - <a href="http://inspinration.nl/" target="_blank">Inspinration</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday: <a href="http://skirtfixation.com/" target="_blank">Skirt Fixation</a> - <a href="http://www.mendandmakenew.co.nz/" target="_blank">Mend and Make New</a> - <a href="https://idlesunshine.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Idle Sunshine</a> - <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">NZ Green buttons - </a><a href="http://www.candiceayala.com/" target="_blank">Candice Ayala</a><a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.nl/"></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thursday: <a href="http://vaahtokarkkimonsteri.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Vaahtokarkkimonsteri </a>- <a href="http://luluandceleste.com/" target="_blank">Lulu & Celeste</a> - <a href="http://sproutingjj.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Sprouting Jube Jube</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- <a href="http://2girls1orca1pukeko.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank"><span data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><span class="UFICommentBody">Life in our busy household</span></span></a> - <a href="http://elephantdimples.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Elephant Dimples</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friday: <a href="http://patternrevolution.com/" target="_blank">Pattern Revolution</a> - <a href="http://milkmonstermomma.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Milk Monster Momma</a> - <a href="http://poole.kiwi.nz/" target="_blank">Small Steps Big Noises</a> - <a href="https://fliegfederfrei.com/" target="_blank">Fliegfederfrei </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Saturday: - <a href="https://made-by-sara.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Made by Sara - </a><a href="http://sopoposew.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">So Popo Sew - </a><a href="http://biglittletales.blogspot.nl/" target="_blank">Big Little Tales - </a><a href="https://needleandted.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Needle and Ted</a></span></div>
nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-17330231863845173802016-10-11T13:17:00.003+13:002016-10-11T13:17:53.211+13:00make it merry! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think most people fall into two camps, either they love the lead up to Christmas, or loathe it. I think I actually fall in the middle, though I used to love it perhaps it has something to do with how organised I am. </div>
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A few months ago when Christmas felt a million months away, I was invited to take part in a media launch of <a href="https://www.spotlightstores.com/nz">Spotlight's</a> 2016 Christmas range. </div>
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The room was decked out beautifully! Just like an European Christmas market, think mulled wine, fur trees and all those good things. It made me nostalgic for my one Christmas in Germany. There was biscuit decorating, flower arranging, gift wrapping and my "stall"of card making. The guests got a chance to have a go at creating too! So much fun having free reign with crafting supplies and I loved watching the different ideas come together.<br />
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Melissa from <a href="http://thebestnest.co.nz/">The Best Nest</a> was my neighbour and came up with some easy ideas for making your presents look fab under the tree.<br />
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Now I'm armed with ideas for decorated biscuits, artful flower arrangements and handmade cards. Now just to find the energy to make it all! Make it merry!nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-59971665066160048862016-07-30T16:59:00.001+12:002016-07-30T16:59:36.988+12:00draws or drawers?I belong to a couple of "freecycle" and "buy and sell" pages on Facebook. I've lost count of the times I've seen people offer up draws" for sale or for free. I get a tiny little "grammar twitch" inside every time! Yet this time it's kind of accurate, these drawers have actually been drawn on!<br />
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So this is what I started with, not great. I can see why someone decided to put them out on the roadside rubbish collection, but my eagle eye could spot the Rimu sides and Oak fronts and the potential! They are solidly built and are perfect for the transformation I had in mind.<br />
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I nailed and glued them together off centre from each other, creating an ever so slight zigzag effect. I found some little wooden legs on Trademe and my husband helped me get them screwed in the right spot. A quick sand and filled in some Borer holes (the Borer long since departed!). It's not perfect, the sides/ends of the drawers were not designed to be viewed and I could have spent hours trying to get them looking perfect, but as an upcycled piece I don't think perfection is really a factor!<br />
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Choosing the colour for the interior panels was a tough choice, in the end I chose <a href="http://www.voodoomolly.nz/">Voodoo Molly Pistashio</a> with my favourite Classic White for the rest. I painted the interior first, then decided that it would be nice to keep the wooden edges of the drawers unpainted, keeping the beautiful tones of the Rimu and the lighter tone of the Oak. I finished the wood with <a href="http://www.voodoomolly.nz/Vintage-Clearcoat.html">Voodoo Molly Vintage Clearcoat</a> (low sheen) it's waterbased and gives such a lovely finish.<br />
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I'm really glad I kept the natural wood edges, it blends in well with my Punga Vase collection and is a nice little reminder to their original state!<br />
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nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-33197159399577595892016-07-12T21:57:00.002+12:002016-07-12T21:57:52.038+12:00Crossroads<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So yesterday I shared <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.co.nz/2016/07/pathfinder-vest-pattern-release.html">the Pathfinder vest I made for my son</a>, today I'm sharing the one I made for my daughter. I find my children don't like to be too hot and the climate here means that big bulky jackets have very limited wear (if at all!). These vests seem to be the perfect compromise. I chose the longer length for both of them, keeping their lower backs warm as the climb tress and run about. </div>
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I was part of the pattern testing group, and for this vest I chose the "Crossroads"front option. It's not actually part of the <a href="http://www.biglittlepatterns.com/collections/outerwear/products/pathfinder-vest-1">Pathfinder Vest pattern</a>, but a free add on for Big Little Newsletter subscribers. <a href="http://blogspot.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4f9cc3bb12d15a6561c3c54f5&id=3770addc39">You can sign up here.</a> </div>
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I've had this woollen blanket for a number of years, quite thin and a bit stained on one side, perfect to transform into a cozy vest. I chose the pleated back and I'm kicking myself that I didn't line up the darker stripe with the middle - but you probably didn't notice till I pointed it out!<br />
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My daughter has had her eyes on these buttons for ages in my stash (yes I seem to be a crafting hoarder) and they matched the colours in the vest perfectly. She arranged them artfully and I stitched them down. I love the "crossroads"front as it gives a extra layer of warmth across the chest, perfect for the windy weather. I'd quite like one in my size!<br />
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Want to make your own Pathfinder Vest? <a href="http://www.biglittlepatterns.com/collections/outerwear/products/pathfinder-vest-1">You can find the pattern here</a>, Make sure <a href="http://blogspot.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=4f9cc3bb12d15a6561c3c54f5&id=3770addc39">you sign up to the newsletter</a> to get the Crossroads front option! I can see many more in my sewing future!nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-28520190280246615982016-07-11T22:29:00.000+12:002016-07-11T22:29:05.788+12:00Pathfinder Vest - Pattern release<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I love sewing for children, not just my own, but making small clothes is so satisfying don't you think? They take very little fabric, often fast to sew and they seem to fit so much better than trying to sew for an adult body!<br />
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I recently was a pattern tester for Big Little, testing this fabulous and versatile pattern. Let me introduce you to -<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><u><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">The Pathfinder Vest from Big Little!</span><span style="line-height: 19.32px;"> </span></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mix and match styles to achieve over 70 stunning combinations, for both girls and boys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Curved Dropped back option - keep those kidneys warm</span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yoked Pleated Back option</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Two lengths - Classic & Extended for extra warmth</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Flutter sleeve</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Pixie hood & Classic Round hood</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Collar</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">V-neck & Round neck</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 Pocket styles</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Optional overlapping button stand</span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Numerous options for closures!</span><br />
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I'm known for my love of upcycling and try not to buy too much new fabric so it will be no surprise that I made this <a href="http://www.biglittlepatterns.com/collections/boys/products/pathfinder-vest">Pathfinder vest</a> for my son using a wool suit jacket that I thrifted for just $3.It was lovely and light weight wool, more suited to our mild climate than a thicker wool. Keeping to the thrifted theme, I used a men's shirt for the lining. I kept the original pockets from the jacket, cutting the pattern pieces out carefully. The pockets were so skillfully sewed that it seemed a waste not to use them!</div>
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In my haste of cutting out I didn't quite line the pockets up on either side, so I added some applique to hide that a little and distract the eye from my glaring mistake! The applique has actually turned out to be my favourite part! </div>
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It was hard to choose a pattern combo from all the different options, but for this one I chose a Pixie Hood, a curved drop back for added warmth and a pleated back so it wasn't too tight and straight.<br />
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The verdict is that it's an instant favourite! We were away for the weekend and it was hardly taken off. Perfect for exploring the Red Wood forest. He seemed quite at home like a woodland pixie.<br />
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For a limited time the pattern is on sale, you can find <a href="http://www.biglittlepatterns.com/collections/boys/products/pathfinder-vest">the pattern here at Big Little</a></div>
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I also made a vest for my daughter and I'll share that one tomorrow! <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Once I can workout how to get the photos onto my new computer. </span>nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-46348905289491544512016-06-01T20:41:00.001+12:002016-06-01T20:41:33.606+12:00Sunday Shawl<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sunday-shawl">Sunday Shawl is a crochet pattern by Alia Bland, The little Bee</a>. I started seeing them popping up all over the place on Instagram and thought I'd like to give one a try, not really thinking how much yarn it would use! Cue a mild panic attack. Luckily (but not really) our local yarn store was closing down and I got a great deal on some Paton's Jet a lovely mix of wool and Alpaca. The yarn was 12ply a bit thicker than the pattern called for so I changed some of the stitches to shorter ones, the pattern calls for a few more colour changes but my choices were limited so I repeated some colours. So it's not a faithful version of a Sunday Shawl. Lucky I made the changes too as it ate up a wee bit more yarn than I thought and I ended up with very little left over.<br />
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It works up extremely quickly, I'd happily make another if I could find some budget friendly yarn, I've got my eyes peeled! <br />
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The weather has taken a turn for the cooler, after what must have been the warmest Autumn ever, it makes it the perfect time to snuggle up with a shawl. I thought my Nana might need something cozy for her shoulders, turns out it was very well received!<br />
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Any snugly knits on your needles, or on you hook? You can find out more about <a href="http://thelittlebee.co.nz/">The Little Bee here</a>.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-74371884958825953912016-05-19T20:30:00.000+12:002016-05-19T20:30:55.567+12:00A transformation! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I dragged this poor chair home from down the road in our last inorganic collection. It screamed potential to me, but it screamed "Put it back out!" to my husband. I strongly believe he struggled to see it's potential, but he will tell you that the garage was already full with projects that "screamed potential" to me! He might have had a point, but I think I've shown him the light. </div>
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I started with a quick sand of the chair, I think it may have been out in the weather and most of it's varnish was already gone so a light sanding was all it took. I'm kicking myself that I didn't take a photo of the back plywood panel before I started. Let me tell you it was all splitting and looking like it might have to be replaced. I squirted a generous amount of PVA down all the cracks and used some strong clips to hold the edges together. It worked a treat and I didn't end up replacing it at all. </div>
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<a href="http://www.voodoomolly.nz/product/1303308">Voodoo Molly Vintage paint in Antique white</a> was my paint of choice, transforming it. The turned legs really came to life! </div>
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Next up I tackled the chair back. I love this fabric from <a href="http://www.umbrellaprints.bigcartel.com/">Umbrella Prints</a>, it's my favourite shade of green and perfect for my lounge (where the chair now resides). A layer of Mod podge on the wood and I eased the fabric on. Once dry I trimmed it with a scalpel. Then about four coats of Voodoo Molly Vintage Clearcoat. I love that it's waterbased and so easy to apply and clean up! </div>
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The Umbrella prints fabric is only quilting weight and not designed to be used in upholstery type projects. As the chair is not in everyday use, it resides in my lounge ready to pull to our small dining table if an extra guest comes so I just ironed on some very thick Vilene on the reverse side. This meant I could upholster the seat without the fabric stretching. If I was going to use it everyday, I could have used that clear plastic tablecloth type stuff that they have at fabric stores to protect the fabric and make it easily washable.<br />
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So there you have it! A total transformation! I'm pretty smitten with how easy it is to use the products from <a href="http://www.voodoomolly.nz/">Voodoo Molly</a> , watch this space as I transform some more unloved items and give my husband back some garage space!<br />
<br />nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-5644499470396743612016-04-28T20:17:00.003+12:002016-04-28T20:17:58.977+12:00"I will always write back"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/I-Will-Always-Write-Back/9780316241311">I will always write back by Caitlin Alifirenka and Martin Ganda</a> first landed in my hands last year. As I started reading I was transfixed by the story that unfolded in it's pages. It's a story of two pen pals, Caitlin an all American teenager and Martin a top of his class student in Zimbabwe. The lives that they lived couldn't be more different, yet they develop a bond over their letters that changes both their lives forever.<br />
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I don't want to give too much of the story away, but it's a tale of stark contrasts. The carefree life of Caitlin is in contrast to Martin's life that is a constant struggle. After reading it I thought it would be the perfect book to read aloud to my children (7 &10). I'm always looking for ways to open their eyes to how others live, not to take for granted what they have. They hung on every word, listening to the life that Martin lead they couldn't quite believe how different it was to their own. They were engrossed in the story and the lives of Caitlin and Martin, by the end of the book they felt like friends. I did edit a few passages as Caitlin mentions a few teenage topics that weren't quite the messages I wanted to give to my children, like hopping into a car with a stranger and lying to her mum! I don't think these few passages detract from the overall heartwarming story or the true life outcome of these amazing people - just a warning if you plan on reading aloud to your children.<br />
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It's a story that needs to be told and held up as example of if everyone helped someone just a little bit, how amazing the world could be! Little good deeds are often easy to dish out and make a big difference! It's certainly made my family look at little ways that we can help others. It's a fabulous read!nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-41375219527667893002016-04-24T22:42:00.001+12:002016-04-24T22:42:53.974+12:00Commemorate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A year ago we were preparing for Centenary commemorations of the Gallipoli landings. I crocheted what seemed to be a ton of poppies to give to friends who wanted something a bit more than the bought ones. I took a wee project bag of them with me all over the place, stealing a few moments here and there. It's possibly the only way to complete anything these days! Also pretty satisfying to see how those stolen moments add up.<br />
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My son was also invited to an Army themed party on Anzac day. I had some "jungle green" pants in my "upcycling" collection of clothes and I scaled them down using a pattern from Melissa Wastney's Book - <a href="http://www.bookdepository.com/Sweet--Simple-Handmade-Meliss-Wastney/9781607056652?ref=grid-view">Sweet and Simple Handmade</a>. I cut the pattern pieces out making good use of existing details, like pockets etc. The pattern is so easy they were whipped up the day before in an hour or so.<br />
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Lest we forget.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-91779621965902366042016-04-21T19:40:00.001+12:002016-04-21T19:40:25.422+12:00Tic-tac-toe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have a problem with bringing things home that I think are a quick and easy fix or restyle and then they sit forlorn waiting for their turn to be transformed. I have been trying hard to either make those fixes/restyles or let them go. This little project actually was quite quick and easy once I put my mind to it, like always leaving me wondering why I hadn't done it sooner!<br />
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I saw <a href="https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/53691420535276754/">this idea on Pinterest</a> and thought it would well as a mosaic paver. I just so happened to have some white tiles (rescued from a local inorganic collection) and a large concrete paver. Keeping it simple, with a 9 year old helper we just marked off a grid pattern and filled the squares with broken white tile,easy! We spray painted some little stones to use as counters and a steamer was a happy thrifted find for a few cents to keep the stones in without keeping in the rain!<br />
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It was a great meeting place in the garden over Summer with a few fierce battles taking place. If mosaic isn't your thing, <a href="https://nz.pinterest.com/pin/53691420535128184/">perhaps this one might be more your style</a>?nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-26907186797148767592016-04-03T20:04:00.000+12:002016-04-03T20:04:04.760+12:002015, 52 and 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I want to put my hand up and say that I struggled my way through 2015, and without going into detail, I'm really pleased it's behind me! Hello 2016, yes I do realise that we are almost a quarter of the way through!<br />
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Things I haven't finished often weigh heavy on my mind and it's been bugging me that I stopped blogging my "52 things I've made". I did actually make 52 things last year, actually the number was much greater! But I struggled to get back into this space to blog about it. I'm hoping to share some making highlights over the coming weeks and just get back into blogging in general, for no other reason than to record the little things I've made and the things we've done. After looking way back deep into the archives I've discovered things I'd long forgotten and realised that it's something I really want to continue doing.<br />
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My garden is undergoing a wee make over of sorts, I've been busy pulling out box hedging and other "high maintenance" plants, going for a more simple plan with as many edibles as I can squeeze in. We've had the best fig season I can remember and I've squirreled many blackberries away for Winter apple and blackberry pies which are a family favourite!<br />
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So join me as I endeavor to return to this space more often, I've missed you!nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-64995590514925153252015-07-29T19:44:00.000+12:002015-07-29T19:44:04.931+12:00Winners! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thank you for all the comments on the book review posts, we have two winners!<br />
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Congratulations to Miriam who has won a copy of <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/maori-art-for-kids-review-and-giveaway.html">Maori Art for Kids</a> and congratulations to The Thrifty Fox who won a copy of <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.co.nz/2015/07/a-new-zealand-nature-journal-review-and.html">A New Zealand Nature Journal</a>. Let me know your addresses and I'll pop them in the post for you both.<br />
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Have you <a href="http://booksellers.co.nz/vote-childrens-choice">voted yet</a>? Voting ends on the 31st of July. Help your child <a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1234488051"></span>vote<span id="goog_1234488052"></span></a> and have the chance to win some books for your child and your child's school.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-86810229117939409362015-07-20T20:11:00.001+12:002015-07-20T20:12:10.701+12:00A New Zealand Nature Journal - Review and Giveaway! <br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was really quite excited to do this review as we had this book out of our local library last year and loved it. I think most children are fascinated about the natural world around them, exploring their back yards. Finding wonder in the smallest bits of moss and insects, so it's great to capture that fascination and wonder in journal form. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This book by Sandra Morris showcases not only a great variety of things that can be captured, think flowers, phases of the moon, a zoo visit and changes in seasons etc, but also a variety of ways that these subjects can be recorded. Each page is beautifully illustrated with ideas to inspire. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">There is valuable information about what to look out for when recording the natural world around you, like the anatomy of a flower, things that on first glance you might not notice to record. </span></span></div>
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After a quick flick through the kids were keen to start their own journals and set out to capture some of the natural things in our backyard.<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I'm on the look out now for some smaller sized journals that I can keep in my bag along with some pencils so we can sketch on the go!</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I think we are all quite inspired to capture the world around us in ways that we hadn't thought of before. </span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.6666666666667px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Interview with Sandra Morris about</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> A New Zealand Nature Journal </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A New Zealand Nature Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> was voted by children all over New Zealand as a finalist in the Children’s Choice award Non-fiction category. Sandra Morris has been illustrating books for many years, and has a particular passion for nature, so it was wonderful to see this recognised. Our Booksellers NZ reviewer Maia Gasson, who was 12 years old at the time, said ‘Overall it is a lovely book and an excellent one for your young nature-lovers bookshelf.’ </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We asked her a few questions about how she went about narrowing down her ideas for the sketch-worthy natural items within </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A New Zealand Nature Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, and what she would suggest as further reads for her young fans. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. As an author, you must have a lot of ideas floating around. How did you decide to write and illustrate this book in particular?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I decided to write and illustrate this book because I love sketching plants and animals outdoors. I have kept field sketchbooks for many years and when I discovered the work of two really great American Nature Journalists (Hannah Hinchman and Clare Walker Leslie) I decided I wanted to work in this way as well and encourage children to see the world around them in closer detail and to see that they can do this even in their own backyard!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. What was your approach to illustrating this book?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My approach was to go to each of the environments covered and to record in as many different ways possible the elements and plants and wildlife I encountered there and then to create pages that were varied in treatment with different elements and compositions and with a variety of hand rendered words.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. Tell us a bit about the journey from manuscript to published work. What was the biggest challenge you faced in publishing this book?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The biggest challenge was to cull - I had to delete some ideas as there just wasn’t enough room –I had so many ideas we could easily have made it a bigger book.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. How did you tailor this book to the age-group it reaches?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It didn’t need much changing from my original sketchbooks as anyone can appreciate this sort of recording at whatever age.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Who have you dedicated this book to, and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This book is dedicated to all my friends who come along with me on my sketching journeys. It is always lovely to share the moments with someone else.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Books I would recommend are: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">How to be an Explorer of the World</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Keri Smith</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Drawn to Nature</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Clare Walker Leslie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Draw Wildlife</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Peter Partington</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Learn to Draw Birds</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Peter Partington</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Keeping a Nature Journal</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Clare Walker Leslie</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is your favourite thing to do when you aren’t writing or drawing, and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My favourite thing to do if not writing or drawing is to go tramping or travelling- I don’t seem to get enough time for this these days!!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sandra runs an illustration agency for NZ illustrators: </span><a href="http://www.illustration.co.nz/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.illustration.co.nz/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For another interview with Sandra, check this one out on Christchurch City Library’s website: </span><a href="http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/sandra-morris/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/new-zealand-childrens-authors/sandra-morris/</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-64bc09d3-aa52-265e-fb13-d668abd5c20f"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Yesterday’s feature was New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame: 25 Kiwi Champions, by Maria Gill, which was featured on the Booksellers NZ blog: </span><a href="http://wp.me/p1boF0-2cn" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://wp.me/p1boF0-2cn</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tomorrow’s feature will be the final non-fiction title, </span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Waitangi Day: The New Zealand Story</span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, by Philippa Werry. This will be featured at Barbara Murison’s blog site: </span><a href="http://barbaramurison.blogspot.co.nz/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://barbaramurison.blogspot.co.nz/</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. </span></span><br />
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<a href="http://booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-childrens-book-awards/childrens-choice/blog-tour"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f_7Ilgxm3dM/VaygsrRM6II/AAAAAAAAGeg/CXZY4aDkr3k/s1600/Book%2Bawards%2Bblog%2Btour.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you haven't been following along with the Book Awards blog tour you can catch up now! <a href="http://booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-childrens-book-awards/childrens-choice/blog-tour">Click here and you can read all the other reviews. </a> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">After you've read the reviews <a href="http://booksellers.co.nz/vote-childrens-choice">take the time to vote</a>, your child could win some fabulous books for themselves and some for their school too! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a copy of A New Zealand Nature Journal to giveaway to a reader. Just leave a comment in this post and you are in the draw. Open to NZ addresses only. I'll draw a winner next week, good luck! </span>nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-1823752245373678982015-07-15T14:17:00.000+12:002015-07-20T20:13:13.576+12:00Maori art for Kids - Review and Giveaway! <div dir="ltr" style="margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 29.4400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's that time of year again, New Zealand Book Awards for children and young adults awards. This year they have a <a href="http://www.booksellers.co.nz/vote-childrens-choice">Children's choice voting section</a> which is a great addition to these fabulous awards, I love the idea of children getting a chance to vote for books that they love. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 29.4400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My children and I have had the wonderful opportunity to review two books in the Children's choice section. The first up is Maori Art for Kids by Julie Noanoa and Norm Heke.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 29.4400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Inside this book are 15 art activities for kids (I'd argue that they could be for any ages really!) and 15 featured artists showcasing stunning contemporary Maori art. As a family we really enjoyed gaining some background knowledge of the Maori art before trying our hands at making some. The artist sections give valuable</span> <span style="line-height: 29.4400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">knowledge and insight into the crafts in their traditional forms, perfect for people wanting to know a little bit more about Maori craft and culture - like us!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="line-height: 29.4400005340576px; white-space: pre-wrap;">We started off making the cover craft activity - a hei tiki or a neck pendant as we had some polymer clay at hand. What fun! We found the instructions really clear as each step is photographed (with children that are crafting), making it perfect for any crafting level and showing kids that they can do it too. </span></span><br />
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The kids were so proud of their creations and wear them now with pride. I think the next project will be the Poi dancing balls made from old t-shirts!<br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julie Noanoa and Norm Heke answer our questions about </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maori Art for Kids</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 21.333333333333332px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maori Art for Kids</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> has been voted for by kids all over New Zealand to become a finalist in the Children’s Non-fiction category.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Julie Noanoa goes first, telling us what the inspiration for the book was, and what the trickiest bit of publication proved to be. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. As an author, you must have a lot of ideas floating around. How did you decide to write this book in particular?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I researched numerous possibilities for children's books about New Zealand culture, before settling on </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maori Art for Kids</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Many of the initial ideas would have been relatively quick and easy to produce. Eventually Norm and I both decided to go with the most challenging book to make. The aim was for create something for families to connect with and appreciate Maori art.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We wanted to produce a book of high quality that would appeal to a wide audience. This book combined both my and Norm's interests and skill set, also Norms connections with New Zealand artists, and my background in museum / gallery education.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Without the generosity and support of family, friends and respected colleagues who believed in Norm and I, this book wouldn't have been possible. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Tell us a bit about the journey from manuscript to published work. What was the biggest challenge you faced in publishing this book?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our publisher Potton and Burton made the publishing journey straight forward. We met with Robbie Burton early on, he placed a huge amount in trust in us to produce the manuscript on time. Robbie and his team allowed us to 'go for it' and were always ready to support us when needed. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Good communication was the key to ensuring the project remained on track. The biggest challenge was letting go of some of the strong ideas I had envisaged. By actively reflecting and listening to insights from editors and other graphic designers, we were able to negotiate and achieve a great result as a team.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. How did you tailor this book to the age-group it reaches?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Having worked with hundreds of school groups over the years in Wellington museums and art galleries, I became skilled in breaking down art activity tasks in fine detail, to teach art classes. I would refine activities to create the best results in the shortest time. Part of my job working in art galleries was to help people make meaning of art through observation and shared discussions. I became quick at accessing group needs and tailoring workshops to suit different age groups, from early childhood to adult learner.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It was also my job as an educator to decode art curator language, into everyday language, to communicate meaning with young audiences, curators language about artist's works is often rich in layers, with multiple meaning and metaphor. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. Who have you dedicated this book to, and why?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Both Norm and I wanted to dedicate this book to our mothers. They were both important figures in our lives when growing up, encouraging experimentation in creative pursuits. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mum became very ill while I was writing this book, but encouraged me to keep writing because I had a set date to work towards. Although she didn't get to see the finished printed work, she saw the digital version and loved it and said she was very proud of my work. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Can you recommend any books for children/young adults who love this book?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recommend reading non-fiction books from all over the world about art and artist and different cultures, especially those that include activities to extend practical art skills. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. What is your favourite thing to do when you aren’t reading or writing, and why?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Daydreaming is a pastime I find relaxing, it used to really annoy my teacher in my school days. I prefer to refer to it as visualization exercises, and it's how I create.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I love family time and the natural environment. I intend to spend more time in my garden this season preparing my vegetable garden and planting things that will attract native birds. </span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1Cx5ycXVPA/VaW5uTqK6dI/AAAAAAAAGdM/zPeOEg_djcY/s1600/P7151504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-s1Cx5ycXVPA/VaW5uTqK6dI/AAAAAAAAGdM/zPeOEg_djcY/s640/P7151504.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>
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<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Norm Heke tells us more about the photography and illustration of this book: </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Maori Art for Kids is</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> very thoughtfully photographed and illustrated. What was your approach to illustrating/photographing this book?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was in charge of the photography and photoshop work throughout the entire project. Working with the graphic design layout that Julie set up before photography began, helped me to know the exact technical requirement for photographing each segment. This approach sped up the imaging process, it's a different approach to how I've worked on other books in the past. Any changes needed were remedied quickly, because I worked closely with Julie.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Tell us a bit about the journey from storyboards (physical or digital) to published work. What was the biggest challenge you faced in illustrating/photographing this book?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Coordinating the artists’ photography of their work was a challenge. In some cases the art works had been sold and were no longer in the country, and the artists were only able to supply existing digital images of their work. I spent several hours digitally re-building those images to publication quality and to fit the book layout.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the artist works was a huge public sculpture, located in Wellington. I re-visited the artwork over two days to get the right lighting and weather, then had to re-build the street scene in photoshop to make it fit within the page layout. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The children who modelled were excited to be part of the project, I spent a lot of time directing and they got used to the cameras. I had to ensure that each of the images for the activities represented the instructions clearly and that each model looked their best. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3. How closely were you able to collaborate with the writer? Do you prefer to work this way?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I worked very closely on the book in partnership with Julie, who is also my wife. We communicated about the book every day over the few months we worked on it. We were quickly able add new ideas or access any issues as they arose to come up with the best possible solutions, and implement them straight away. We have complimentary skills and we enjoy working together.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. What techniques do you think you used to make your book appeal to children as much as their parents?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Imagery features prominently in the book. Photography is used as a visual tool to communicate a meaning that is complimentary to the text. The design brief was to make a book of fine art quality, to appeal to adults interested in art and culture. We felt strongly that having everyday kiwi kids modelling how to make the activities would appeal to children. We did this also in the hope that kids would pick up the book, and know quickly how do the activities. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I wanted all of the imagery to be placed on 'clean' backgrounds, of white, black or grey as appropriate. I wanted the artist's work to be to be a central focus of the book. As much as possible I tried to make the imagery appear to float on the page, to create depth, to show the work as if in an art gallery. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Can you recommend any other books for children/young adults who love this book?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I recommend the book </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taiawhio 1</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Taiawhio 2</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, they are books I worked which were produced by Te Papa Press, to see more examples of great contemporary Maori Artists, to read their stories and view their work. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. What is your favourite thing to do when you aren’t creating beautiful images, and why?</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I enjoy time with my family and getting out and about in the natural environment. We don't watch much TV in our house, but we love to watch movies together. I especially like science fiction. Reading is one of my passions, I am especially drawn to New Zealand history.</span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hand-carving Maori </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">taonga puoro </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">instruments is one of my hobbies. I like to learn about, play and perform with friends and colleagues who also play the instruments. I often have multiple projects 'on the go' at any one time. I'm also hoping to get on to my next digital art exhibition soon. </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.666666666666666px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br class="kix-line-break" /></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.booksellers.co.nz/vote-childrens-choice"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-C8d0wFwD0R0/VaW5YcKNoNI/AAAAAAAAGc4/n2sVhIDJ03E/s1600/unnamed%2B%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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You can c<a href="http://www.booksellers.co.nz/vote-childrens-choice">lick here to vote for your favourite in the Children's choice section</a>, all votes go towards a chance to win some books for your child and books for your child's school too!<br />
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I have a copy of Maori Art for kids to giveaway here! So just leave a comment below and you are in the draw to win. Open to NZ residents only. I'll draw a winner next week.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-62928623586785400052015-06-18T20:55:00.001+12:002015-06-18T20:55:46.207+12:00Crochet cowl (16/52)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH3C3oE1mVk/VYKCqxElFRI/AAAAAAAAGb8/tBsQlvs9LQA/s1600/P6151338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CH3C3oE1mVk/VYKCqxElFRI/AAAAAAAAGb8/tBsQlvs9LQA/s640/P6151338.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I recently finished crocheting a new cowl, I don't <u>need</u> another one. However I'm fairly sure that you can never have too many! I made it using the wool that I <a href="http://nzgreenbuttons.blogspot.co.nz/2015/02/spun-things-ive-made-652.html">spun back here</a>.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRss7ShShYk/VYKCpamtyHI/AAAAAAAAGbw/Ck3a3pXE_T0/s1600/P6151333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRss7ShShYk/VYKCpamtyHI/AAAAAAAAGbw/Ck3a3pXE_T0/s640/P6151333.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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I didn't have a pattern and with only 100g of wool I knew I needed to crochet something quite open otherwise it was not going to go very far, the plus side of that is it crochets up quite quickly.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eqli52JCLAg/VYKCzrUIF_I/AAAAAAAAGcA/mFDuVgyVFNk/s1600/P6151341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eqli52JCLAg/VYKCzrUIF_I/AAAAAAAAGcA/mFDuVgyVFNk/s640/P6151341.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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It tones in perfectly with the colours in my garden don't you think?The bright pink leaves belong to a type of <a href="https://www.google.co.nz/search?q=coleus+plant&sa=X&biw=1280&bih=685&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=DIWCVYPfMYbk8AXktYbAAw&ved=0CCUQsAQ">Coleus</a> I think, but I'm unable to find a picture that quite matches it. Many years ago my Nana gave me a bouquet of flowers from her garden with a few pieces of this amazingly, almost unnaturally coloured plant in it. It's the sort of plant that obviously grows quite easily from cuttings as it took root in the vase, not one to waste such and opportunity. I popped them in the garden and they flourished! Isn't it an amazing colour? Nature is amazing!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQQJxvJxS4/VYKC0NdL0vI/AAAAAAAAGcE/qlicj9KzrYI/s1600/P6151343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tmQQJxvJxS4/VYKC0NdL0vI/AAAAAAAAGcE/qlicj9KzrYI/s640/P6151343.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-39347433625115718022015-06-16T20:03:00.000+12:002015-06-16T20:03:18.021+12:00Thrift Tuesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thrift Tuesday, could that be a thing? I'm not sure I've got the dedication to make it a regular feature but I've been missing the <a href="http://blackbirdhasspoken.blogspot.co.nz/">Op shop show-off </a>a wee bit and I do have some thrifty finds and tips to share!<br />
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I've been mending so many things lately and I just decided to keep and eye out for a darning mushroom and boom! There was one tucked away in a local thrift store that I seldom visit these days. A bargain at just 50c. It's perfectly aged, I love all the scratches on the top, evidence of many a sock being darned on it.<br />
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I'm a total sucker for wooden beads and buttons, normally it's the natural ones that really catch my eye, but this time it was the floral poker-work on a few that made me buy the small bag of beads! It works out well as my daughter is in love with the brightly coloured ones and is already talking about the necklace she wants to make.<br />
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These fabulous finds are sitting on another recent thrifty purchase a linen tablecloth in just my most favourite shade of green! I couldn't believe my luck!<br />
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Would you link in to a Thrift Tuesday linky? Perhaps I could motivate myself to make it a "thing" if you do! </div>
<br />nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-31656772432588801172015-06-15T20:37:00.001+12:002015-06-15T20:37:34.865+12:00Hopping along (15/52)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My daughter is in the last few weeks of being a Brownie, next term she will be a Girl Guide. We are busily finishing off a few clauses for the last couple of patches she wants to complete before moving up.<br />
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One of the clauses was to have a family member teach you a new skill to make a toy, it could be sewing, knitting, woodwork etc. We started with knitting and quickly realised that this wasn't going to be as easy as I thought despite finding an easy garter stitch dog pattern (remember knitting isn't really a strong skill of mine!). So sewing it was!<br />
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We had so much fun making these little bunnies, we raided my stash of eyes and were both surprised how different they looked with just changing the eyes. We sat together chatting and stitching, it seems we don't spend enough time doing that.<br />
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We stuffed them with left over wool scraps, talking about how much better that was than going out to buy a bag a fibre-fill. I'm hoping those little thrifty moments will have a life long impact on her thinking. Making something with what you have (we talked about how we could have embroidered the eyes if we didn't have any bought ones at hand), passing on skills and having fun together. All things that don't cost a great deal.<br />
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I think I need to make it more of a regular thing.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-68704524879093471532015-06-12T14:12:00.001+12:002015-06-12T14:12:21.350+12:00Guava love (14/52)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Just the thought of Guavas conjures up lots of magical childhood memories. We had a Guava tree in our backyard and visits to my Grandparents meant lashings of Guava jelly. What the Guava jelly was served on I can't quite recall, but that tart but sweet flavour is like a window into my past. I also remember being fascinated by the jars sealed with wax and cellophane.</div>
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A few years ago I put in a couple of red Guava trees in our garden, this is the first year that we've had enough fruit to actually make a decent amount of jelly. Three jars, and it's absolutely perfect! It teams up well with fresh pikelets! </div>
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Do you have magical childhood food memories?nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-34813649543237850012015-06-09T21:17:00.000+12:002015-06-09T21:17:16.203+12:00Kintted (13/52)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A few months ago my husband bought a large bag of T-shirt rags from our local recycled clothing shop. It seemed we couldn't supply enough rags ourselves to keep up with his demand for them, so for a few dollars we had a giant bag of them. More than he needed so I went through and picked out some coloured ones that caught my eye, leaving him with the copious amounts of black ones to wipe up greasy car oil.<br />
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A few evenings were spent cutting them into strips, the perfect mindless activity to accompany some television time. I had some plans to crochet the strips into baskets, but in the end a new bath mat was knitted up instead. Knitting skills are seriously lacking here, it's garter stitch or nothing! I do quite like those rows of wavy garter stitch though.<br />
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There might be a few more colourful T-shirts disappearing from my husband's stash! I hope he doesn't notice.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-81762857204590428652015-06-08T20:52:00.001+12:002015-06-08T20:52:09.540+12:00Woolfest (12/52) A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of attending the <a href="http://www.creativefibre.org.nz/woolfest-auckland/">Auckland Woolfest</a> with a couple of lovely blogging friends (thanks for the ride <a href="http://kiwiatheart-leonie.blogspot.co.nz/">Leonie</a>!). The weather was particularly nasty but we landed a perfect park right out the front and of course the cold makes for perfect wool/fibre buying weather.<br />
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I set off with a buying list in my mind, and a cash budget, fibre for spinning was at the top of the list. I am happy to report that I picked up everything I was looking for as well as a few things I didn't even know I needed!<br />
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This fibre "Gone bush" from <a href="http://fibre2go.co.nz/">Fibre 2 Go</a> was spun up pretty quickly, I've got a small shawl like scarf in mind for the finished yarn, which I hope will crochet up as quickly as the fibre was spun.<br />
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Woolfest was a bit like being a kid in a candy store! So much colourful squishy goodness it was hard not to give it all a hug! I'll share more of my purchases over the coming months as I spin them up! Spinning seems the perfect way to spend these cooler evenings.<br />
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While taking the yarn photos I've discovered the little mossy world that is my BBQ table. It might need a sand and a coat of oil before the Summer!nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-64525252098325257662015-06-07T20:47:00.002+12:002015-06-07T20:47:50.938+12:00Always changing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of our favourite places to visit is the <a href="http://www.aucklandbotanicgardens.co.nz/">Auckland Botanic Gardens</a>, it's free (if we can dodge the cafe!), local and ever changing. It seems that every we visit there is something new to see, new flowers, new plantings and foliage. As long as we visit the childrens' garden first we are free to explore the rest of the gardens at leisure.<br />
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We recently took some overseas visitors with us, I was blown away by all the blue flowers, I don't think I've ever seen so many different types of blue flowers in one place. The place was teaming with bees and bumble bees, busily going about their pollination duties.nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6041629663799545060.post-31463866630666223802015-05-26T19:29:00.001+12:002015-05-26T19:29:28.990+12:00Possum Pixie (11/52)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I really do enjoy sewing things for little ones, the size means they are often finished quickly which is always a bonus! I had the pleasure of making a <a href="http://payhip.com/b/ubkp/af54dd9edf6eb20">little pixie hood coat</a> for my nephew who I met for the first time recently. He lives in a warm land and I wanted to make sure he had something snugly to wear while he was here.<br />
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I've made so many <a href="http://payhip.com/b/ubkp/af54dd9edf6eb20">pixie hood coat</a> now that they do come together so quickly, I could make one in my sleep. This one I made from a thrifted jumper, a super soft Possum and Merino blend and for the lining my daughter (a proud big cousin) chose a Kiwi print fabric.<br />
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I'd forgotten how fast little legs move, especially when they are trying to keep up with big cousins, so photos are limited, but I think you can tell it would be a cosy to wear. It's generous in size so hopefully will last a few Winters, perhaps another visit to NZ too. Well an Aunt can only hope right?</div>
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nz green buttonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14665882292968374889noreply@blogger.com4