Artist Interview: Chan Andreassend

Karen and Ronald are object designers working in ceramic, resin casting, screenprinting and painting.  Their background in the interior design industry gradually led them to creating their own ranges of lighting, homeware, accessories, jewellery and original artwork which is hand crafted in their workshop in Ponsonby. 

Their designs are both decorative and functional, incorporating a multitude of  textures, patterns, colours and detailing drawn from organic and traditional

motifs.

What inspires you? Inspiration is drawn from their Chinese and European origins  whilst incorporating elements of Pacific culture and the New Zealand landscape. Their work often reflects the New Zealand environment and increasingly explores family history, stories and cultural origins while researching family connections.

Along with their unique view of design, many of the pieces have become instantly recognisable in New Zealand and cherished momentoes for

 visitors from around the world. 

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? Karen and Ronald plan to produce object based exhibitions with concepts generated from discovering family history, stories and connections.

Where are your favourite places on-line?www.thecarrotbox.com, www.modamuse.com, www.stylehive.com

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? Experimenting with materials and new ideas. Researching family history and connections to places in New Zealand as well the countries of origin. Expanding the family websites, restoring documents and photos. www.andreassend.weebly.com, www.barronUK.weebly.com, www.robbfamily.weebly.com

Artist Interview: imp`ish

I like to be called Joanne but most people call me Jo I'm a mother of 6 and designer of imp`ish. When i first left school in Sydney I studied fashion design but have never used it until 2 years ago after closing my retail store in Devonport -Organic Island Baby which i have run for the past 5 years online 2 of those in our store. I learnt what shoppers really wanted from Organic Cotton baby and kids clothes and it got me keen to create my own range. The range has non gender specific styles and colours, the cuts stay the same every year I add a new colour way and cut, basics to be used for more than one child. imp`ish is timeless, long john leggings, boat neck tops and prints/ stripes that will make you reminisce and smile at its naughty-ness. All Certified Fair Trade and Organic Cotton.

What inspires you? I get inspiration from so many things on my Island but mostly my children's art work there's plenty of that flying around with 5 daughters who love to draw...oh and vintage story books which i collect.

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? I had a amazing trip to India in February to work with my manufacturers meet the workers and visit the farm where some of my cotton comes from. I was so inspired by my first visit to India and changed by the poverty in the slums, yet joy and beauty at the farm and their families. I'm working on plans to set up a small school near the slums that my factory workers live for their children and a seed exchange. Big plans motivates me more than designing and selling clothes.

Where are your favourite places on-line?uumm unfortunately I don't get much time to check out on line research except checking out what my friends are up to on Facebook.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? Walking on my favorite beaches on Waiheke Island where i live, getting togeather every Monday night with my friends for our Knit, Stitch and Bitch. Oh and going to the community cinema for my weekly dose of foreign films or doco's which is like being at your second home full of couches! 

Artist Interview: Maymay Chung

MaymayChung is a collaboration between three New Zealand-born Chinese sisters trained in the different disciplines of fine arts, graphic design and architecture, they have pulled their experience from living and working respectively in Hong Kong, London, and New York, to create a range of New Zealand-made homewares, stationary for children and adults. 

 

Their first range is themed around New Zealand native birds and you can view more of these works at MayMayChung.com. Keep an eye out for their new range of clothing, bags and linen.

What inspires you? Artists, Illustrators, nature, animals, beaches, country,  friends and family

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? Clothing, linen and bags.

Where are your favourite places on-line?www.presentandcorrect.com, www.marimekko.com, www.etsy.com, www.kittyasapicture.com.

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? cooking and eating, looking after neices and nephews and children, travel, films, family, quilting, ceramics, 

Artist Interview: Native Creative

I care deeply about our environment and try to tread lightly on this amazing planet earth. The native birds that have motivated my creativity will be seen and heard less if we humans don't co-exist in harmony. It is my wish that collectively all humans can make a commitment to enjoy - not exploit - nature's richness.

I create limited edition collages, prints, 3D “slot-togethers” and jewellery of native birds – all made with sustainably grown plywood which is hand-sanded to a beautiful smooth finish with the lovely wood grain becoming part of the finished product. 

What inspires you? Nature, bird song, beautiful handmade items, clever upcycled products, people who care about each other and the planet, good humour, plywood (love it!), light & shadow, autumn, my gorgeous children and talented husband... I could go on and on!

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? I have lots of ideas for what I can do with my digital artwork such as getting into textiles and printing onto canvas blocks, tea towels, bags, lamp shades, etc. I've only just begun exploring jewellery so I'll see where this leads me. I have two preschool aged children so it's all a matter of the available time!

Where are your favourite places on-line?ETSY is amazing!!

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? We live near a beautiful lake in Rotorua and I love to go walking in the forest with our dog, mountain biking the amazing Rotorua trails, yoga, soaking in the hotpools in the winter time and swimming every day in our lake during summer.

Artist Interview: Sweet Little Days

I am passionate about european antique fabrics and making homeware out of them. I am from France and have been collecting fabrics and antiques since the age of 15... I started my own business with a homeware range made from vintage fabrics back home 4 years ago and ended up writting a book (in French) that has since been translated to Korean.

We moved to New Zealand  2 years ago with all our beloved belongings and of course stock of fabrics for me to play with. I recently left my job here to go back to what I love doing the most!

What inspires you? I love the unique feel of the materials I source,  you just can not find anything similar in quality and beauty in modern ranges.I basically love everything salvaged that has history, patina, uniqueness, traces of time all over it and is imperfect.

There is probably a bit of romantism behind what I do... I like to take my time when I sew, put some nice music on and sit in a comfortable armchair, finish everything by hand and make sure it is strong and will last.

Do you have any future plans for your work, could you describe them? I would be keen to stock a few shops... actually lots of shops! Developing my online presence is my big goal for this year as well.

Long term I would also like to start introducing antiques we import from France and Belgium, and maybe supplies of vintage materials for Kiwis to make ware for themselves!

Where are your favourite places on-line?I write an "everyday life blog" where I have got a long list of links to lots of cool blogs (in French and English) www.lamaisondouce.canalblog.com

To name a few :

www.espritchampetre.canalblog.com

www.sweetpaul.typepad.com/my_weblog

www.borddescene.canalblog.com

www.cabbagesandroses.wordpress.com

www.moderncountry.blogspot.com

What do you enjoy doing when you aren't busy making your wares? We recently bought a little puppy... Violet, a French Bulldog, she is awesome but hard work and very stubborn, so when I am not playing with her or picking up the "business" she's done inside the house, I am probably trying to get rid of her jaws on my pants...