Meet the Seller - Helene from Happy Go Knitty

 

Meet Helene Dehmer. Helene has had a stall at the market since the market opened last year. Famous for being able to ‘knit and walk’ at the same time, we thought you would like to find out a little about what makes this knit-a-holic tick!

Happy-go-knitty – where did you come up with the name?

I have just re-branded my knitted crafts and I'm very pleased with the name. I wanted a name that is fun and clearly describes what I'm doing. As a person I'm quite happy-go-lucky but most of all I'm happy-go-knitty!

Where did you learn your craft?

My nana taught me how to knit when I was 11 years old and I have knitted since.

I have always made things and have tried a lot of different crafts - sewing, knitting, tapestry, pottery, silver smithery, glass blowing, beading... Nowadays I stick to the knitting and I'm a knittaholic! I can walk and knit so a lot of my crafts are made walking to and from work!

What can people expect from Happy Go Knitty?

Various knitted things! I make knitted cuffs from NZ merino and alpaca. A few years ago I learned how to do beaded knitting so some of the cuffs are bead knitted. It's a traditional craft from the early 1800s. Wealthy women used to wear bead knitted cuffs to cover the edges of their worn-out dresses. Nowadays they are used as a warming and beautiful accessory.

I also hand-dye cotton yarn and make knitted kid's beanies. The yarn is soft and nice to wear and the colours are bright and beautiful! I also make knitted flowers from the cotton and put them on rings, brooches, hair clips and hair ties.

I recently dyed a big lot of cotton yarn so now I have my yarn for sale at the market.

There is one other thing that I do..... Some people might have noticed knitted graffiti around Devonport and I have to admit that I’m the person behind most of them (not all of them though). Why I do it? To make people smile! Haven’t seen them? Check out my 'other blog' www.knittygraffity.blogspot.com

Where do you get inspiration from?

New ideas pop up in my head all the time. While working on one piece I'm already working on the next ten pieces in my head! I love colours and my big stash of yarns and beads is a big source of inspiration for me.           

Your favourite books and food?

I really enjoyed the Millenium trilogy by Stieg Larson.

Mmmm, I like thai and indian food. And sushi. And Spanish tapas. And Italian food is yummy...

Do you find inspiration online?

I love my sister's blog, she is such a clever crafter.

Yarns and colours en masse can be found at Yarn Inspiration

And I keep an eye on many blogs by my crafty friends, links can be found on my blog.

When you are not at The Devonport Craft Market – where can people find you?

I sell at other Auckland Craft Markets – check out my blog for details.

I will in the near future list my crafts on felt.co.nz and I can be contacted via email happygoknitty@hotmail.com

Knitting and Crafting Social!

Looking for a social way to learn some craft? or perhaps knitting? Check out the Knit/Craft Night being organised by Trish of Fireworks Agnes!

Knit/Craft Night

Where: Mecca Cafe, 1 Victoria Road, Devonport.  Table reserved under Trish - Knit/Craft.

When: Monday, 14th June, 7.00pm - 9.00pm

Contact: Trish  for details or to let her know you are coming along.

 

Come and join us for a relaxing evening, being creative, chatting and winding down after the day.  Bring along your craft  i.e knitting -  that is appropriate for a cafe.

 

If your new to knitting and craft - come along and have a look through some books and talk to us about what and how to start.  Or if you would like to learn to knit bring along some needles and wool, and will start you off. Or just come along and chat.

 

Don't worry if you don't know anyone else that is coming,  wander down to Mecca and ask for the table reserved for " Trish Knit/Craft" 

 

This is our first night  - the plan is to meet once a month - and confirm the next date at the end of the night.

 

We are appreciative that Mecca has reserved a table for us - as a courtesy can we suggest purchasing something i.e tea/coffee/wine/food etc.... ?

Please also no big craft items - or anything that could cause damage or be messy.

June Market

The June Market is fast approaching. Just in case you haven't yet noticed, we changed the date of the Market to the 6th June which falls during Queens Birthday weekend.

There are a large number of new stall holders this month so there will be lots of new things to see.

If you aren't a subscriber to our newsletter, make sure that you sign up on the right hand side of the blog!

Look forward to seeing you at the market!

Applications for June Market now open!

Thanks to all who came along yesterday for the May Market and to celebrate our first birthday.

Applications for the June Market are now open. You can apply via the Sellers Information Page (above).

PLEASE NOTE: The date for the June Market is 6th March - it has moved from the date previously advertised.

The Market will also have opening hours of 10am-2pm over the winter months.

Introducing Sarah Bird of Cotton Kiwi and Devonport Craft Market Co-ordinator

Its taken me a while to get to this Meet the Seller but it is well worth the wait!

Read below to find out all about the brains behind the Devonport Craft Market and the brand Cotton Kiwi.

Introducing Sarah Bird

How did you come up with your stall name?

It was one of those 3am moments of inspiration. My stall was originally called TOTO (which means 'child' in Swahili) but I wanted something that was more catchy and reflected a little bit more on what I made. I googled the name and was amazed to find noone else was using it and relaunched as Cotton Kiwi last October.

How long have you been crafting?

Since I was little. My Mum is very creative. I grew up travelling the world with my parents and we often couldn't buy nice clothes where we lived. Mum would make all of our clothes and all of hers so I learned how to sew and knit by watching her.

What is your craft?

Sewing mainly with some knitting and the occasional bout of painting.  I started off making childrens' applique t-shirts, bibs, aprons and soft toys (particularly sock monkeys and babysafe toys) but then branched out to include a few bits and pieces for adults. My most popular item is probably the Tape Measure Rose Brooches I make. I also make tea-towels appliqued with tea cups and cupcake and coffee cup pincushions which are made using felted sweaters.

How did you start creating?

As with many crafters out there, my Mum had me crafting from an early age. I was constantly getting in trouble for cutting great big holes out of the centre of expensive pieces of fabric to make a dolls outfit or messing up her embroidery threads and patterns. She was very supportive though and taught me a great deal (still does!). I was given my Nan's old sewing machine when I left home but rarely had the time to use it when I was living in London. Since having children, I've been inspired to make things for them and comments and requests from friends and families started the whole ball rolling. I've been actively crafting for about 2 years now and make time to learn as much as I can. There is so much information to be found online from fellow crafters and bloggers, it's really easy to pick up new skills.

What inspires you?

My children, my Mum, other bloggers, pictures, books and photographs from 1950s- 70s (I'm a big fan of retro and vintage items), old sewing patterns and seeing what other people are making all over the world online.

What is your favourite book?

I love sewing books by Emma Hardy. Her instructions are so easy to follow and are always beautifully photographed.

I have so many other favourite books but recently read The Time Travellers Wife and loved it. I seem to spend most of my time these days reading Milly Molly Mandy and Cat in the Hat stories!           

What is your favourite food?

I do love sushi but most food is a hit with me if it eaten with friends or family and a few glasses of wine.

Favourite inspiration site; blog or online shop?

 I have so many but these are favourites:

ETSY (American based handmade website)

FELT (NZ handmade website)

And these bloggers are favourite places to visit for inspiration:

International:

Rosy Little Things

Pink Tea

The Crafty Crow (this is aimed at kids but I still love to visit!)

At home:

Mon Petit Poppet

Domestic Bliss NZ

Polka Dot Daze

The blogs of many of the Devonport Craft Market sellers are very inspiring too. You can find them in the side bar of the blog.

Aside from the Devonport Craft Market, Where can people buy Cotton-Kiwi?

Online at my FELT store or my ETSY store and I usually sell at Crafternoon Tea Market in Kingsland as well as the Devonport Craft Market. I also get a lot of orders from people just emailing me so feel free to do that on cotton_kiwi@hotmail.com

Sarah has a giveaway over on her blog this week to celebrate a year of being online. Why not pop over to the Cotton Kiwi blog and enter to win some lovely goodies?