Second Edition Extra Curricular

Extra Curricular is a publication dedicated to showcasing people who do interesting creative projects in their spare time as well as encouraging those who wish they did.

Whether they have a 9-5 job, a fledgling business or a young family, the people profiled in Extra Curricular are connected by their passion for keeping the right side of the brain active in their off-hours. They do it for the love of it - driven by a creative urge, they stay up late and work weekends in order to complete their latest side project.

This issue includes a wee illustration featurette, an article about the craft craze and whether it's possible to make a living selling your wares, interviews with a leather tooler, a jewellery maker, a paper artist, and the girls behind 'Martha Goes Green' talk about self-publishing their vegetarian cookbook. There are a few other treats to be discovered too.

Extra Curricular is printed in full colour on beautiful recycled stock. The 2nd issue is out on April 1st 2010.

Rosie Flo's Colouring Books on toggle.co.nz

These colouring books are FANTASTIC! My kids just love them...excellent, witty, whimsical drawings for the colourist to add arms, legs and heads to. Have a look at the range HERE.

First Thursdays

First Thursdays Auckland debuted in St Kevin’s Arcade on 3 Dec last year when Cleo organised a line-up of artists including painters ranging from street style to pop surrealists, Brazilian dancers and even a glass blower to captivate what turned out to be a more than 900-strong audience of onlookers and buyers who turned up throughout the evening.

The 2010 schedule for First Thursdays Auckland kicks off on Thursday 4 February with a similarly impressive line-up of artists featuring exhibitors such as Amy Walker whose work is described as a cross between Picasso and pop art, Frida Kahlo-inspired crafter of jewellery Miriam Ramos and live hip hop-based band Numbers.

“It’s a platform for emerging artists who may not otherwise get into galleries which gives them confidence," says Cleo, “and it’s fun for established artists, because it offers them a different type of space.”

Kits for Kids

Great activity for these schhol holidays...felt birds kits from Ruby In The Dust.

Kraftbomb this Sunday

Woop Woop, birthday Kraftbomb. I will be doing fabric badge making on the toggle table. See you there!

Faux You

I have been enjoying crocheting these mad faux baubles. Just listed one on ETSY.
I have to force the boy to be my hand model. He is very reluctant as I shout "more girly pose", "not so butch". Bless!

Sock Monkeys from Miss Millie

During the Depression, store bought toys were desirable but unattainable extravagances. Thrifty mothers, accustomed to using materials over & over, refashioned worn socks into various toy creatures for their children to play with. The sock monkey was born! See Miss Millie's range HERE

Handmade Nation

Get along to the Auckland screening of Handmade Nation, Auckland 4th August 6:30pm, Academy Cinemas, 44 Lorne St Auckland, Ph 373 2761
It is then in Wellington at the Paramount on the 10th August.

Lucky Penny Crafty Club

The Lucky Penny Crafty Club will be having its inaugural get-together next Tuesday night (4th).

It’s an informal get-together for crafty people, crafts optional on the night. They’re meeting at Mezze Bar, Durham Lane from 7.30 onwards (until about 9.30).

Should be a great night.

Check out the blog:

http://luckypennycraftyclub.blogspot.com/

Hot Diggerty Dog

I had great fun making this for a toggle.co.nz customer. What is it about fake food? I love it. Lots of debate about the correct colour for the sausage in our house. Esther

Floppy Fabulousness

Discovered on ETSY this notepad made from an old floppy disc. Great! One is winging its way from Spain for me! Esther

Sushi Satisfaction

I am having the best time making this crocheted sushi. I was on a promise to my daughter Ruby to make her some as I keep snatching it of her to sell at Kraftbomb. I have extended the range to include that inside out Californian Roll and a wizard Panko Crumbed Prawn Ngiri. I haven't put a magnet in these ones and thought maybe listing them as sets of playfood? Esther

De Cat Pitation Heads

Love these, had to buy one from ETSY, the maker is Spellwell.

My cat usually leaves the arse of the dead creature rather than the head.

Dude Art

More cool pillows...
Genius! Think what else you could imprint on the dude, the possibilities are endless. Whoah.
If you can't track down the embossed pillow, what about a Sharpie pen?

Anti-Emerald Ring

We do enjoy a piece of soft jewellery.
behold this wonderful embroidered and beaded ring from Recycled Rings on Etsy.com

Soft Logs

These are hot!

Felt log kit sets available on Etsy.com from Myimaginaryboyfriend

Super Radical Ukes

We were so plaesed when Lady Milagro got in touch with these beauties! Decorated Ukuleles for y'all.

See them here

Trixie's Record Cushion

Finally completed, a T Rex record cushion for Ms Trixie. A very late birthday present!

Rock On

More recycling on toggle.co.nz!

When we thought more about it we realised there were many more artists on toggle.co.nz who use recycling (or as some say, 'upcycling'....hhhmmmmm).

Let's see...Crafthouse makes bracelets out of old movie film found on a street in NYC. The movie is about about Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician and humanitarian.




Cheek Pinchy makes her beautiful collaged cards and wall blocks from all sorts of old imagery.



Su McPherson makes jewellery out of beer bottle tops and bread bag tags


Bags Knot are fantastic bags made from knotted plastic bags on a kete base.


Stuck On You Magnets are made from baby food jar lids!

Among the cool stuff that Luxford St makes are bracelets made from plastic cars:


And Rachelle Pedersen is making gorgeous tiny artworks on found fabric badges.

toggle.co.nz artists who recycle...

Several of our artists use recycled materials and we thought they deserved a special mention:

Trixie Delicious with her fantastic funny plates, Bryce Bowen Glass who makes large bowls out of patterned old found glass sheets, Rekindle with teacup bangles and teacup handle pendants, and Crown Lynn Toki pendants.