Meet the Seller - Chrissie from Run.cutie

Meet Chrissie McKain from run.cutie Jewellery + Design who has been designing and making for... well... forever!

What is it that you create?
I like to craft in all different mediums... hand drawn and digital illustration, jewellery making, sewing, painting and graphic design. Right now I am most interested in turning my illustrations into wearable art jewellery and some secret kids 'stuff'  that will be revealed soon!! "I have always been a 'creative' person with a passion for drawing and design. It helped to have a wonderfully creative mum who was always at hand to help with the next DIY project!

How did you get started creating?
I also completed a degree in Media Arts from WINTEC, Hamilton which gave me an opportunity to explore the arts, and develop my own style of design." Books, adventure, people and places.....but mostly its believing that its possible to make almost anything you desire. Sure, you will always be restricted by availability of supplies, money, time etc... but I find this the most rewarding challenge. 

What are you inspired by?
The people who inspire me the most are those that have made their own way in the creative industry, finding new and innovative solutions to the challenges they face.

Tell us about you favourite book:
The Character Encyclopaedia, by Pictoplasma. Its a beautifully crafted book, with little vector characters stamped into its shiny black vinyl cover... I have a number of illustration books in my precious shelf at home, but this one trumps the lot!!  I think they were wrong when they said 'never judge a book by it's cover'... go and see for yourself at: http://publishing.pictoplasma.com/books/the-character-encyclopaedia"


And what about your favourite food?
Anything sweet, but mainly chocolate... 
Chocolate cake, Chocolate muffins, Chocolate mousse, Chocolate milk, Chocolate ice cream, Chocolate yougurt, Chocolate.... you get the idea!
I think M&M's are the best creative chocolate. While sitting at the table with my notebook pondering all the new and exciting creations that are about to be made... it seams quite therapeutic to make (and eat) my little rainbow coloured m&m smiley faces"

Where you find inspiration online?
Some of the places I like to visit online are: 
http://idnworld.com/mags/
http://www.computerarts.co.uk/
http://www.thread.co.nz/

How did you come up with the name Run.Cutie?
The name run.cutie was created to sound girly & quirky... but more importantly to be memorable. I also have a range of 'cutie clutches' and will soon be launching the run.cutie kids range.

Apart from the Devonport Craft Market, where can we buy run.cutie?
Run.cutie  is available at the following places:
Misty Lang Boutique, Newmarket and the The House of Hedone, High Street, Auckland
You can also purchase from my FELT store or at Foxes.


You can contact me at my run.cutie website and on Facebook.


Run.Cutie has offered the most AMAZING and EXCLUSIVE offer to readers of this profile. For any readers of the profile who purchase a Run.cute necklace at the August Devonport Craft Market and you can choose a pair of 12mm studs or french earrings for free. Earrings are valued at $22.50 per set.
While stocks last. Offer exclusive to Devonport Craft Market.

Meet the Seller - Leanne from Feel at Home

Meet Leanne from Feel at Home. A maker of soaps and other scrumptious items for the last 5 years. Leanne is a regular at the Devonport Craft Market and we love to have her around. Learn all about what makes this lovely lady tick.

What do you make?
I make natural soaps, skin care, bath products, lotions, lip balm.... anything that goes on the skin - I make.  I use only natural plant oils, only pure essential oils for fragrance, no artificial colours.  I do my best to support other NZ businesses, I use only organically grown NZ Olive  and Avocado Oils - and all of my products are strictly palm oil free.

How did you start creating?
Here in New Zealand, I began creating out of need.  My son has allergies and had eczema and I was frustrated by the lack of choice offered, and so it began...
I must say, I am a comforts kinda girl, and love to feel like I am being pampered, and found that many natural products didn't satisfy my desire for the indulgent, and so that's the direction I have taken with my range.

What inspires you?
Beauty.  Broad term, I know, but there is beauty EVERYWHERE!  I love the beach, in all its moods, I love fresh flowers, I love how nature seems to know what we need, and then delivers!  I will often take my camera out and get the close up lens on, I find when things get too much, or overwhelming, it helps to focus on something small and beautiful, a water droplet on a leaf, blossoms on a lemon tree... whatever.  I often put those up on my Facebook Page... Then everyone nows I am having a rough day, and have taken time out to focus!

Tell us about your favourite book
That is such a hard question!  I read ALL the TIME!  Emotionally,  one of my favorite books is "The Alchemist" which basically is a wonderful story of how often our treasure is right where we are, but we have to travel away from where we are to appreciate it...  But what many people won't know is that I am a Sci-Fi Fantasy girl - no Romance novels for me, I loved Lord of the Rings, and will often read books under the pretense of making sure they are ok for my boys to read when actually I like reading them myself!  Anything with Dragons is good for me! Ha!

And your favourite food?
That's the same as the book question!  I eat ALL the TIME!  I LOVE food!  It will be my ultimate downfall!  Fresh food... in season.  I am a salty rather than a sweet person, I head for veggies before fruit and salt and vinegar chips before anything else!  When I am good, I am very very good, and when I am bad I break open a bag of chips (and I won't share them)  Cheese and crackers....  good re wine....  excuse me, I have to go and have a snack now!

Where do you find inspiration online?
It varies - often there will be links to something that appeals to me on Facebook and I will head over and check it out.  There is SOOOOO much inspirational stuff out there to benefit from;  and for on online shop I would have to say that (just quietly) I drool over Shoes of Prey  - where you can create your own shoes!  One day... I promise myself, I will do that!  I love shoes!  

Tell us how you came about your name "Feel at Home"?
It has always been my belief that confidence is one of the most attractive things a person can have, when someone is confident, they stand taller, smile more and somehow make people want to know them more!  And Feeling at Home in your own skin, both in the physical sense and the emotional sense is the root of confidence.  And being that I make beautiful things for the skin - I thought the name fit, that plus the fact that I work from home, seemed to be the right fit to me.  

When you are not at the Devonport Craft Market where can we buy your lovely creations?
I work with the Hector Trust, so I can be found at North Shore Hospital and Greenlane Hospital on rotating Thursdays (check my website for the calendar) I also have online shopping both on my own website and on my Facebook Page.  I am heading to the Spring Gift Fair this year, so look out for Lather and Lotion by feel at home in a shop near you later in the year! Fingers Crossed!

Meet the Seller - Koyal from Koyal Kapillia

Meet Koyal from Koyal Kapilla NZ
Koyal has been bringing her beautiful creations to the Devonport Craft Market for most of the year and creating as Koyal Kapilla NZ for the last 7 years, since the birth of her first child.


Tell us a about what you create
Funky Knitwear with a touch of crochet.  I love to knit, create different textures and mixing different yarns.  I love to push the boundaries of "typical" knitted item and making it my own.  If I can knit it, crochet it, or turn it into a piece of art or jewellery - it will be done.


When did you begin creating?
Since I can remember, I have been redesigning my clothing - much to my Mums horror. I then went to uni and got a Bachlor of Arts degree in Fashion Design specilising in Knitwear and Computer Aided Design.  From there I worked for well known knitwear companies for a while.  I decided to be a Mum as well as work from home working on my own label.  It is wonderful to be able to drop and pick up your children from kindy and school as well as be a designer.  I have named my manniquinns as well as my knitting machine and our crazy cat called "Crumble Cat Rigg" who keeps me company when the boys are at school.

What inspires you?
Art, colours, nz yarns, textures, books and most importantly, people.  Expecially my best friend Niki from Odd One Out. I love watching her paint her plates and what she comes up with next. It is very inspiring.  It is so much fun for us to go to craft fairs and all the creative people there.  We have so much talented people that do craft fairs every month and great to see and talk to them every month.


A little about you - tell us about your favourite book and food
Book(s): I am a sucker for vintage romances and this one called "Kingdonm of Dreams" by Judith MacNought.  I also love Richard North Patterson - he is so dark and disturbing as well as creating great an amazing web of characters.  I especially love his series that he did called The final Judgement, Eyes of a Child and Degree of Guilt.


Food: Self Saucing Chocolate Pudding with rich Vanilla Ice Cream -yum yum yum.

Where do you look online for inspiration?
I love Etsy - its like a whole new planet with amazing work.  Very inspiring.  I also love Felt and Toggle.  Great to purchase from your fellow crafters and support them.


When you are not at the Devonport Craft Market, where can we buy your creations?
In my FELT store, on Facebook and I sell my seconds and sale items on trademe.


Koyal has been really generous and offered a $10 voucher to spend on future orders with Koyal Kapillia NZ with every purchase made at the Devonport Craft Market in August. You will also need to mention that you read this profile!

August Market Giveaway 12 - Songbird Designs

Purchase an item at the Devonport Craft Market in August and go into the draw to win one of two gift vouchers from Songbird Designs valued at $25 each.

August Market Giveaway 11 - Ruby Jude

Purchase something at the Devonport Craft Market in August and go into the draw to win a beautiful piece of Art from Ruby Jude.

AMAZING! Thanks Ruby Jude.