Amy Butler Designs

Getting crafty: A show of hands

In this day and age of all that is cheap, instant and mass-produced, it's refreshing to find that people, young and old are rediscovering and re-inventing some of the traditional hand-making skills of our nanas and great-grandmas. Some are even creating new art along the way. Yarn bombing, for example, is a mash-up of knitting and grafitti to make subversive street decorations. Taking the time to develop the skills needed to make something by hand - and teaching kids some of those crafts - is an extremely grounding experience. We checked out the boom in craft markets, fairs, shops and classes that signal the revival of the handmade.

Whether you want to learn a craft, or just find a unique piece for your home or body, there is definitely something to inspire everyone.

Craft markets

Craft markets are popping up all over Auckland, and the re-birth of all that is handmade is being celebrated. Kraftbomb in Grey Lynn and Crafternoon Tea Craft Market in Kingsland are among several markets citywide drawing large crowds, while over the bridge on Auckland's North Shore, Devonport's craft market (scheduled August 7th) co-ordinated by Sarah Bird and Sarah McCleod, will be bursting at the seams with an astounding 70 plus stallholders.

Passionate crafters, Karla Hansen and City Down launched Kraftbomb in 2008, with a budget of only $100. Their shared desire to provide crafters with a home has been a huge success, and in August this year, the market will celebrate its third birthday at Grey Lynn's Community Centre. Down and Hansen describe Kraftbomb, held on the last Sunday of each month as an "indie, alternative handcraft market, supporting all things handmade, and encouraging the use of both traditional handcrafts, and upcycling". Modestly billing herself the "NZ cupcake queen", Down sells her pretty cakes at the market, alongside her Stitch'd'Ink cross-stitch kits (she also sells through American craft website, etsy.com) , while tattoo artist Hansen collaborates with her husband, Alex, to produce a range of Geek Booteek quirky fabric toys. The Kraftbomb family is an eclectic mix of extraordinary talent, from ethical fashion, to whimsical recycled vintage, salvaged re-invented kitsch, and edibles. The youngest vendor at the market, and an inspiration to potential young crafters, is 9-year-old Fred Booker, who, under the supervision of his mum, Karen, at her fabulous fashioned frippery stall, is famous for his home-made lemonade and sherbet and his handmade cartoon-themed cards, complete with street map envelopes.

Imagine Fabric Blog: Amy Butler Fabric Fat Quarter Bundle Imagine ...

This new Amy Butler Fabric Fat Quarter Bundle features 16 beautiful Amy Butler fabric designs, all from her Midwest Modern and Midwest Modern 2 Fabric Collection.  After this Amy Butler fat quarter bundles sells out, I will not be able to cut more fat quarter bundles using fabric from this Amy Butler fabric collection since most designs are now sold out. Purchasing Fat Quarters in a set or bundle will provide you with a wide variety of designs similar in theme, style or colors and many times they include designs you may have not thought of putting together which can be inspiring.In addition, games and sets Fat Quarter Fat Quarter save time and money. You do not have to spend time cutting your own Fat Quarters and you do not have to spend money on buying all the models you want from your site.

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