This Weeks Event's...

A BIG handmade welcome to our newest member ... Anya of Bellbird Designs, designer of beautiful resin and glass dome jewellery.

22 May 2013

Creative Recycling

Since I have quite a number of small tools for my art work I am always looking for good storage where I can have everything close by. In the past I have used favourite ceramic cups which I didn't want to throw out just because a handle was broken off or small tin cans.
But small items just disappeared and 'out of sight, out of mind' was the rule.

With the purchase of a sturdy juice bottle made from plastic I had an idea which I wanted to share with you: a storage container which has compartments, saves space and shows quite clearly where all these brushes, pencils and small utensils can be found.

All I used was a marker, a craft knife and a pair of scissors.

The first line was made at the top of the bottle where it reaches the widest part, and another one right in the middle. The craft knife was used to make a cut so the scissors could be inserted.

The bottom part of the bottle was cut off along the line. My bottle has a square shape, so my next cut went straight up along one corner to the next line. The top part was cut off, which left the very top part of the bottle- that part has found itself to become a funnel!

To make the compartments so that the tools stay upright the middle part of the bottle was cut in half. I put the two halves on top of each other and cut through both layers along the two black lines. Taken apart, with the bends pointing to the outside the pieces are connected by inserting the cuts of one piece into the cuts of the other piece. This is a bit like a puzzle game but once you got it you can place the "inners" into the bottom part of the bottle, even out the tops with the scissors and voila, this is it!

The bottle didn't need to go into the recycling box and I got a handy and helpful container!




If you have a smaller bottle you cut the top part of the bottle only once (in the centre) and not twice like in the bottom left photo. After inserting them against each other it will give you the shape of a cross which will give you four compartments for your container. And: to re-use 100% of your plastic bottle you can drill a hole in the side of the lid, insert a piece of wire to shape a loop on the outside, a kind of hook on the inside, fill the lid with a photo, little shell, glitter etc and pour resin over it to make a pendant. Or use it while crafting with white glue if you need a small portion only or to mix paint or collect more lids to make game pieces or......?

Have you got recycling ideas for plastic bottles? Share your ideas with us!

19 May 2013

Member Showcase - Spence Jane Design

If you're looking for truly unique accessories with a NZ flavour - Spencer Jane Design can oblige!  Featuring funky and striking designs using NZ stone and other unusual components, here are just a few examples of this creative family's work...










Spencer Jane Design can be found on-line here:

http://www.spencerjanedesign.com/
http://www.facebook.com/spencerjanedesign

15 May 2013

Handmade Makers Blog Hop No. 19

Welcome to our fortnightly creative Blog Hop!

So tell us - What have you been up to lately? This fortnight's Handmade Makers Blog Hop is now open to receive your wonderful blog post links from wherever you live in the world.

We would love to hear about your recent  creative happenings and musings - link up your blog post below to share with our readers.   And please feel free to share our hop with your own readers too - let's share the handmade love!

Open for submissions from 15 May through to 10am 23 May - but readable always. You can view past Blog Hops here.



12 May 2013

Member Showcase - Silly Goose

Tessa of Silly Goose makes beautiful garments from New Zealand merino wool including adult and children's leggings, hoodies, swaddle wraps, hats and more.  Here are just a few examples...










Silly Goose can be found on-line here:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/SillyGooseNZ
http://www.facebook.com/Sillygoosenz

02 May 2013

Handmade Makers Blog Hop - Add your blog posts here!

Whoops - we're a day late! Apologies all, we've been so busy running THE Gorgeous Mothers Day Gift Showcase over on the New Zealand Handmade Facebook page ... here if you want to take a look, but get in quick, it closes tomorrow (Friday 3 May)night So tell us - What have you been up to lately? This fortnight's Handmade Makers Blog Hop is now open to receive your wonderful blog post links from wherever you live in the world.

We would love to hear about your recent  creative happenings and musings - link up your blog post below to share with our readers.   And please feel free to share our hop with your own readers too - let's share the handmade love!

Open for submissions from 2 May through to 10am 15 May - but readable always. You can view past Blog Hops here.



24 April 2013

A New Zealand Handmade Mothers Day Showcase



New Zealand Handmade proudly presents the Gorgeous Mothers Day Showcase featuring quality handcrafted products from our members for your Mum, Grandmother, or other special lady you buy for on Mothers Day

This showcase is open from Saturday 27 April, 7pm (NZ time) through to Friday 3 May 8pm (NZ time).  But you can browse the photo album right now by clicking on the photo above or copying the following link to our facebook page into your browser. http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.510933808942315.1073741826.119025698133130&type=1&l=45a39e4c4a.  No purchasing till we open though!!


We're adding to the album every day until official opening on Saturday so keep checking back to make a note of the items you're going to purchase :)

We hope you will all support handmade this Mothers Day.
from the team at NZHM - Mel, Kya, Ingrid and Joy

17 April 2013

Handmade Makers Blog Hop

Hello creative bloggers, or maybe that should be bloggers who create!  This fortnight's Handmade Makers Blog Hop is now open to receive your wonderful blog post links from wherever you live in the world.

We would love to hear about your recent  creative happenings and musings - link up your blog post below to share with our readers.   And please feel free to share our hop with your own readers too - let's share the handmade love!

Open for submissions from 17 April through to 10am 25 April - but readable always. You can view past Blog Hops here.