Artist Interview: The Grizzly Peasants

The Grizzly Peasants is a whimsical label based in Auckland, Jasmine who is the lady behind it is inspired by nature and all things natural. We love her cosy knits and wooden buttons!

How long have you been doing your craft? 7 wonderful years.

How did you get started? My parents encouraged me to be as creative as I liked and allowed most of my school work to focus on creating.

Describe what you create? Handicraft for the everyday ruffian... which is a kind of vibe I weave into hats, sketches, books, paintings, banners, stationery...

Artist Interview: Bonjour Sweetie

Bonjour Sweetie is a gorgeous label that makes sweet hair accessories. Jayne Stewart makes each one by hand and they are beautifully finished with beads and lots of hand sewing. She is a regular at many of the Auckland markets and her table is full of bright, jewel colours. We love the simplicity of her work and the careful attention to detail! It's just beautiful.

How long have you been doing your craft? I have been making my bobby pins and brooches for over a year now, but before that I was obsessed with beading. For years my weekends were consumed with finding beads and then making necklaces and earrings. In fact, I had so many necklaces I could have worn a different one every day for three months!

How did you get started? I had a haircut and my fringe was so short it wouldn't go behind ears and I couldn't stand it being on my face (it tickled) so I started to wear bobby pins. I found them so plain and boring that I just had to make them pretty and that is when I started to make the little flowers you see on all my bobby pins, hair clips and baby brooches.

Artist Interview: Topography

Greta Bertenshaw is the lovely lady behind designer children's label, Topography. Her cute t-shirts are all hand appliquéd with typography based designs and simple silhouettes in the most gorgeous fabrics. Topography is based in Auckland and is relatively new — we just think they're too cute!


How long have you been doing your craft? I have been playing around with applique for a while, but didn't start doing baby t-shirts until my son was born last year.

How did you get started? I decorated some baby t-shirts for my son, not really knowing what I was doing, and then did a lot of research into materials as I realised there must be a better way! Once I had a process, I made gifts for babies of friends so they could be road-tested, and then people started asking if I could make more.

Describe what you create? Using handcut stencils and fabrics, I applique children's shirts with either a personalised symbol (like a letter or number) or one of my own designs. My original concept was that each client would choose their own design and fabric, but I also enjoy making ready-to-wear items that look different to what you would see in regular children's clothing stores.  

One month to go....

That's right, only one month for to to wait until you can shop up a storm at the very first Auckland Art & Craft Fair! It's pretty exciting and all coming together nicely.

We have been getting deliveries from our lovely supporters, Eco Store with their prize that they have donated to give away on the day — and soon we will be getting our amazing prize back from our amazing sponsors, Frankie Magazine! I won't say too much yet, but each prize back is valued at over $175AUSD — and we have three of them to give-away, not to mention a very large amount of Frankie back issues! Now, to come up with something creative to decide who gets them.....

Ooh la la, the latest issue of Frankie Magazine....

Our lovely prize-pack from Eco Store!

Artist Interview: Emma Walsh Design

Emma Walsh creates a certain mood with her designs. She is inspired by where she lives — in beautiful Waihi Beach. Her use of vintage and salvaged materials is something that we loved and we welcome her at the Auckland Art & Craft Fair! 

How long have you been doing your craft? About 8 months now.

How did you get started? I’ve always loved to do things with my hands. And as a self-confessed magpie I absolutely love hunting around emporiums, vintage clothing shops, quirky boutiques, antique markets and thrift stores for hidden gems which seems to fulfill my inquisitive nature. Through my study at architecture school, my assignments would pivot around the notion of sensuality and the sixth sense in design. I was struggling to find a creative outlet thought-out my university study — I was positively exploding with inspiration for smaller scale design — home wares, jewellery, fashion and artworks that I wanted to create but with no time between lectures, studios and assignments to follow through with these ideas I was becoming more and more frustrated. That was almost a year ago now and I havnt once looked back. In June last year I moved up to the beautiful Waihi Beach in the Bay of Plenty, where my parents have a bach and have spent the past year transforming the garage into my studio and the downstairs areas into display rooms! 

Artist Interview: Rose in Thorns

 Rose from Rose in Thorns is a Christchurch based artist, she makes gorgeous candles. Rose has been making her handmade candles and selling them on-line since 2008. With a large range of soy based candles she makes all kinds — floating, citronella, scented — there is something for everyone.

How long have you been doing your craft? I learned how to make candles at science class at high school. Then I got some books out of the library, took over mum's kitchen and some of her old pots, and taught myself from there. My mother taught me how to knit, sew, crochet, spin and weave I was a young girl.

Describe what you create? I create candles from recycled and natural waxes. I make some of my moulds completely by hand, such as the tear-drop shape candles. Others are mades from re-purposed household containers. I also make purses and other objects from old cassette tapes.

Artist Interviews: Plastic Fairy

Samantha Dew is the creative artist behind Plastic Fairy — a maker of interesting curiosities and is based in Wellington. The Auckland Fair will be her Auckland début and we are very excited to have her join us. We love her super cool brooches!

How long have you been doing your craft?I have been taking photos and mucking about with animal collage for years. I started making badges about nine years ago, then doll jewellery, t.shirts and purses. Over the last year I have been making "book" brooches, cards, magnets and necklaces, as well as hand stitching an assortment of stuffed fabric brooches. I tend to go through phases with my craft and have just rediscovered my love for purse making over the last month. I also tweaked my old doll bracelet design and like it a lot more now.

Artist Interview: Victoria n' Bird

You may already know Victoria n' Bird AKA Amy Clarke — she has been featured in Viva and Frankie Magazine and is a shop I regularly visit to add things to my wish list *sigh* Her clothing is simple, beautifully finished and gorgeous to look at. She has an effortless style that is classically inspired with cute hemlines and flattering necklines all combined with practical design. Amy is currently based in Auckland and we are so proud to have her join us for the first Auckland Fair.

How long have you been doing your craft? I have been sewing ever since Barbie needed new hand-stitched fluro outfits, but have been working under the Victoria n' Bird label in it's various stages for over 3 years.

How did you get started? One day I made a couple of things and decided to try my luck selling them on Trade Me. Thought it was about time to stop photographing, drawing and collecting images of clothes and actually start making some!

Artist Interview: The Binding Studio

The Binding Studio is run by Louise James and is based in Sandringham. Specialising in hand made books, portfolio's, folders and photo albums — Louise's work is all about presentation and attention to detail. She is so passionate about what she does, it's almost contagious!

How long have you been doing your craft? I started binding in 2001. Starting from scratch, I spent the first 6 months cutting materials. And now, 9 years later... I teach bookbinding and have my own company!

 How did you get started? I started bookbinding in 2001, at Auckland’s top designer bindery, under the tuition of Anna Caithness and Helen Everest. They took me on and with a lot of  patience and faith I learnt a combination of traditional and modern binding skills, to create binding solutions with strong design aesthetics. They made me team leader in 2003, and successfully ran the bindery for 5 years. During a brief break from binding, I worked for one of NZ’s top jewellery designers, but decided that my passion was in bookbinding, and so I created The Binding Studio. Presently, when I'm not working as the bookbinding technician at AUT University, you will find me working from home, with some rare but beautiful equipment.

Artist Interview: Ferrit

Ferrit (AKA Erin Dunn) is a quirky little character that has been receiving a bit of attention as of late. Having been featured in Extra Curricular magazine and Viva, Erin is a creative lass from Auckland that you can usually find at most of the Auckland markets. We love her unique wares and are very pleased to have her at the first Auckland Fair! 

How long have you been doing your craft? Ferrit has always enjoyed many crafty endeavours like sewing, drawing, embroidery and  printmaking and has been making things since she was a wee one. Her Mum taught her to sew from a young age and Ferrit has always liked to make her own clothes. When she went to high school she learnt to screen print but it wasn't until university that Ferrit started using screen printing to create a variety of things.

 How did you get started? At the end of 2009 Ferrit had finished her university studies for the year and was thinking how she could have a productive summer break. She had always wanted to be involved with craft markets and so finally made the decision to give it a go.

Artist Interview: Dear Colleen

Dear Colleen is relatively new to the New Zealand craft arena — but boy, is she making waves. I remember seeing her typography based work for the first time and was blown away, so I sent her an e-mail telling her how awesome her work was. Since then she has been featured in some rather awesome places. Not only is Colleen clever, but she is lovely to boot. Based in Wellington the Auckland Fair will be her Auckland début.

How long have you been doing your craft? I started doodling as soon as I could hold a pencil, I've been doing grown up design work for boy, thirteen years now and I've been running Dear Colleen for three months.

How did you get started? I started Dear Colleen after quitting my day job, having no job or money really is the best incentive I've ever found. As for becoming a designer luckily I was just never any good at anything else so it was an easy decision to make.

Artist Interview: Debra Fallowfield

Debra Fallowfield is a Christchurch based jeweller that creates handmade precious metal contemporary jewellery — from conception to completion, completely by hand. Stunning, organic gold and silver. Chunky rings, wedding rings, and engagement rings. 

How long have you been doing your craft? Forever....


How did you get started? Accidentally... My computer course was cancelled so as a consolation

Describe what you create? Objects of beauty-wearable gorgeous jewellery-rings, neck-pieces, bracelets etc...

A sneak peak....

Here is a sneak peak at the beautiful market-money that Sarah McNeil has designed for us to use on the day of the Fair. If you want to see the rest you will have to come along on the day!

Artist Interview: Devon Smith

Wellington based Illustrator, Devon Smith is joining us in Auckland — and we are rather excited about it! Having recently completed the cover for very last printed issue of World Sweet World Magazine, and working on a joint t-shirt range with Wellington clothing label, Paper Cup — we love her work and are very proud to have her showcasing at the first Auckland Art & Craft Fair.


How long have you been doing your craft? I have been painting and drawing forever, but just started having my works made into prints and paper goods last year.

How did you get started? People had enquired about whether they could purchase prints of my paintings. Then I opened a small etsy store and a lovely boutique called Swonderful (based in Wellington) asked if they could stock my prints, so I started producing them on a larger scale. This lead to having cards, badges, postcards and other bits and pieces made.

Artist Interview: Millicent Crow

Millicent Crow (Emily Cater) is a maker of fine and intricate Gocco prints. Having been off the Auckland market circuit for a while and focusing on her new, delicate Gocco prints, we are so excited to have her showcasing her work at the Fair!

How long have you been doing your craft? I have been doing craft in some form or another for as long as I can remember. Even as a child I can remember having that feeling of not wanting to go to bed because I was too excited about making things (which ranged from puppets to clay dragons to a knitted jersey for the dog). In terms of the work I am making now for Millicent Crow — I have had my print Gocco for about a year (a lucky Trademe find) and have been using this to make prints for Millicent Crow. 

How did you get started? I have always loved printmaking and have done screen printing with stencils for a long time.  I have had stalls with screen printed work at some of the Craftwerk markets. I started to get a bit frustrated with not being able to make images that were as detailed as I wanted with stencils (I'm the kind of person that loves to use really tiny paintbrushes) so I bought a print Gocco and taught myself how to use it from tutorials on the Internet.

Artist Interview: Evie Kemp

Textile artist, Evie Kemp is a really exciting addition to our list of Fair vendors — her work is very bold and strong, while being interesting and clever at the same time. We love her work and are very proud to be showcasing her at the Fair with her public selling début this July.


How long have you been doing your craft? I'm a relative crafting newbie, I started designing and printing fabric in about June last year (2009) and have only really approached it as a product and business since the end of February this year!

How did you get started? I've always been 'crafty' — dabbling in a bit of everything and spending way too much money on beads and things for projects that never eventuated. I've also always had a passion for pattern — fabrics, wallpapers, designs etc. Even when I was little I adored watching Antiques Roadshow and home renovation shows. It was only in my final year of my design degree, when we had to come up with an idea for the exhibition that I realised what I really wanted to do was to design fabrics. So I did. It was a great epiphany for me, as I felt really lost about what I wanted to do. I'd gone into design, like many, wanting to work in magazines but realised that it wouldn't satisfy my creative urges, and that I wasn't very good at typography anyway!