Tomorrow why not pop out to the very lovely PATAKA in Porirua for the Day.

Because as well as their very lovely Japanese garden you can have a bit of a shop and a browse at all sort of Crafty goods.

Why? Well it just so happens that from 10am till 2pm Crafting is being held.

Think fun, funky, unique and you've got an idea of the range of crafty things for sale at CRAFTING.

There will be jewellery, crochet, dolls, stuffed toys, cushion, clothes, badges, bags Russian dolls, and all sorts great things for sale from a bunch of crafty types from around the wellington region.

You can find PATAKA on the corner of Norrie and Parumoana St, Porirua.

And heck I bet if nothing else you'll find some great inspiration for entering our competition to win a phone from Vodafone.

Saturday 14th of June 2008 is Worldwide Knit In Public Day. As we all know knitting is not a crime, but very much an activity people mostly do on their own.

In Wellington why not fully embrace the outdoors and head along to the Bucket Fountain in Cuba Mall where the lovely Tash will be from 2pm with her needles (or at the Southern Cross if it's raining).

Yay for knitting in public!

And speaking of knitting in public, how much are we all loving, loving, loving the urban knitting that is appearing around town. Finally Wellington is experiencing a fashion renaissance of the woolen variety. Every day I keep hearing and seeing reports of subversive knittyness around the city, and honestly I don't think Wellington has ever looked more beautiful.

Sadly someone disagrees as nothing seems to stay up for too long.

Which makes me wonder, if you could see subversive knitting anywhere, where would it be?

Sunday, this sunday from 11am till 2pm Craft2.0 is on at TheNewDowse.

It's a free event and promises to be the biggest fair yet, with over 70 different crafty types selling amazing stuff.

If you want to get all your Christmas presents in one place, Craft2.0 is the place to attempt such a feat. Plus buying locally handmade presents allows you to feel a little smug.

And did i mention the 123 FREE gift bags being handed out at 11am?

Local start-up and Friends-of-Wellingtonista Ponoko (among other connections to us they're also part-sponsor of our awards this year) have their picture at the top of an interesting article in the tech section of today's New York Times. The article talks about the rise of internet-aided design and making and describes Ponoko thus:

Ponoko, a company based in New Zealand, allows customers to upload designs for flat shapes that can then be snapped together like Ikea furniture. Making a prototype can be as simple as cutting shapes out of cardboard. Users then create a digital version and send it to Ponoko, which cuts the pattern out in metal or wood with a laser.

There's a fair head of global buzz building up around Ponoko, whose potential extends far beyond the Times' fairly neutral description of what can be achieved with them today.

And as for us: well, we were very excited to note what looks like a prototype of the highly sought after 2nd Annual Wellingtonista Award trophy visible on the table between Dave and Derek. So maybe this means we've made the Times as well?

All you budding young clothes designers out there should be getting whatever it is you use to design clothes ready for The Hinitiative and Wellington City Mission T-Shirt design contest that kicked off this week.

Open to all Wellington high school students, entries will be judged by a panel that includes Wellington fashion designer, Robyn Mathieson, clothing stores Fusion Surf & Skate and Rex Royale, and The Church design company. The first place winner takes home $300 in store vouchers. Second, third also get store vouchers, but not quite so many. In addition, all four finalists will have their winning designs produced into t-shirts by The Hinitiative and sold by selected stores in Wellington to help benefit Wellington City Mission.

Do good, and look good doing it.

More info at the Hinitiative website, and here's a direct link to the design brief. Contest deadline is Saturday 11 August.

Jo dared me to do this!

Martha, Sue, Jo (briefly) and Hadyn (me) are here at Pataka in Porirua. Home of art and culture and stuff.

It has been a slow day but, y'know,it's nice to get out and stuff. But today isn't about art appreciation it's all about the dollaz!

Amy's here to with her loverly stuff and Sam Broad with his funky 'tache!

We've been trying to somehow get photos from Martha's Bluetooth phone to my laptop but the tech has defeated us. Aren't we very 21st century?

For the third year in a row, the New Zealand Comics Weekend is up and running from at Graphic Comic Shop (106 Cuba Street), and the Southern Cross Garden Bar (39 Abel Smith Street, Wellington.)

This annual festival of independent comics runs alongside the Armageddon Pulp Culture Expo in order to showcase and highlight the underground talents in New Zealand Comics.

More info here at Feeling Great.

Down at the City Gallery on Friday night they are running another one of their Late Night Sessions, where you get to cruise around the big exhibition (this time it's the biennial Prospect show) in relative peace and listen to lovely live music while you do so. And all for free.

City Gallery's popular late night Friday returns. Wander through Telecom Prospect 2007: New Art New Zealand to a backdrop of independent and electronic sounds by local performers. Featuring Peneloping, Tc Wedde with Luke Buda, and Aspen.

The lovely Luke Buda is of course in The Phoenix Foundation, as is (the equally lovely) Tc Wedde. Aspen is also lovely and also known as Signer, and is one half of Over the Atlantic and one half of Skallander. And the "medium-core girl-boy plinkpop!" Peneloping also have a very good reputation as a live act.

Having experienced Late Night Sessions many times before - from the point of view both of a performer and a patron - I can heartily recommend this event.

Start counting your coins people, because Craft2.0 hits the Hutt in four days. For those of you who can't count, that's this Saturday March 17th aka St Paddy's Day.

The fair kicks off at 11am with the first 200 people scoring a Craft2.0 bag of awesomeness full things like:

• The Craft2.0 Poster
• Badges from SuperVery
• Babylicious candy and discount vouchers
• The latest Idealog - whose contributors include Craft2.0's most favorite blogger
• Discount Vouchers for Beckon
• A surprise from Reka Cafe
• Big Bang balloons
• K-bars!!!!
• Your very own personal leprechaun.

And just for Wellingtonista music fans, here's the band schedule:

• Jason McIver at 11.30am
• SpartacusR at 12.45pm
• Ryan Prebble at 2pm
• Monobasic at 3.15pm.

And did I mention there were crafts, loads and loads and loads of crafts all for sale? Just loads, people!

Just quietly my knowledge of Craft2.0 is so vast you'd almost think I was one of the two crafty divas making it happen.

Oh wait ;)

Note: all Craft2.0 Leprechauns are invisible to human eyes

Only a week to go....

Where: Craftwerk - Dia de los Muertos
When: Thurs 23rd November 5-9pm
Where: Southern Cross (R18 unless with a guardian)

Including....

• Mexican arm wrestling tournament!
• Margaritas!!!!!
• Pinatas!
• Bands!
• Mix tape stall!
• Band Merch!
• Naaaaaaaaachos!

These crafty kids will be there....

• Super Very
• Two Annas
• Kelly O'shea
• Papertin
• Electric foxes - Crochet Gorey bits.
• Fiona Duffy vintage fabric - Retro wall art & gift cards, made from genuine vintage fabric of the 50s, 60s, 70s.... & 80's!!!! sourced worldwide.
• Neon Sleep - multi-layered acrylic jewelery. From animal friends to large block letter necklaces. Super limited colorways and combinations.
• Shirley and Cherub - essential non-essentials for the modern girl and freakin' awsome-o stuff for the modern boy. Screen-printed shirts and hoodys, aprons, ceramic and crocheted brooches, hairpins, photography and bags.
• The Kiwi Diary 2007: authentic Aotearoa-style publication hot off the press
  from Wellington's Kakariki Media and LOADED with inspiring artwork, design,
  words and photography. Grab one now for yourself and your whanau - it's a
  limited edition so be quick to covet this beautiful lil' gem.
• Dandylion
• Cute as a button - Badges, crocheted goods and custom 1.25" badge making!
• Cupcakes of Delight
• Sha wray - Funky hand printed clothing inspired by fairytales and fables.
• Babylicious - Top notch goodies for the youngest members of the clan.
• Scrappers - the original fighting bears, on t shirts, blankets, cushions and as awesome toys.

Continuing Wellingtonista's love affair with Craftwerk*, here is an update on who and what else will be there (Monday 23rd October, 2-5pm, Southern Cross).

YOU CAN GET FREE SHIT!
First 50 people through the door will get a goodie bag from Juniper Gallery in Newtown! Trust me, There's some sweet stuff in these and last time they were very popular. I'm sure these babies caused the 'Craftwerk riots '06' the last time round.

F*CK THAT SHIT!
That Tommy Ill shit. Tommy Ill will be joining the all ready mind blowing entertainment scheduled. Making sure everyone has a good rark before dinner.
Jazz to Hip Hop in one afternoon? It'll work, you'll see.

WHO THE HECK IS THIS GUY?
'DJ Elk Pai??' Will be spinning some discs/pressing play in between the madness, or perhaps he is the madness?

GET FAMOUS!
partyphoto.co.nz will be snapping away. Apparently they're "going up" this season, which means so will you. Which of course means everybody that reads 'Sunday' will be hang from your nuts.

PINKBAT SHEEP?
Props by PPC!

Much better than the Big Day Out this year, huh? pssht YAH.

What: Craftwerk, Wellington's best craft fair EVER!
When: Monday 23 October (Labour Day), 2-5pm
Where: Southern Cross Tavern

*(can a website have an affair with an event?)

And by "Babes" I naturally mean those sexy Craftwerk babes:

Hey kids,
It's time to get excited again, because Craftwerk is only a week away!

These cats will be there...

• Electr!c Foxes - Crochet stupid bits.Think anatomical hearts, intestines, vaginas, dead bunnies and the like.
• Super Very - Pin up girl magnets and jewelry. So hot.
• A Low Hum - Camp Low Hum tickets, compilation CD's and Zines packed full of rad.
• The Neo Cons - Laser Cut Badges Zines and cds. Grayson Gilmore + So So Modern merch and other things.
• Triangle - Gloves and sleeves, Fimo Badges and 'Jean Bling'.
• White Fungus and Tim Bollinger - Independent publications: full range of White Fungus back-issues and comics by TIm Bollinger.
• Babylicious - Screen printed goodies for the little ones. Made by one of our Wellingtonistas!
• Toast! - Cute one off garments made in Nelson.
• Guillotine Zeens - Locally made Zines and comics. Felt me up Brooches.
• Noisywerks - Messenger and Tote bags made from retro and recycled fabrics. Felt purses and friendship bracelets.
• ISHLAND and VideoBlood - DVD's and badges. Find out what these crazy kids are up to next.
• Tacit - Badges, Brooches, hairpins, bags and notebooks - all crafted from everyday and discarded objects.
• Ard's Cards - Cute, fun, Iconic, photographic Cards.
• Tiny Happy - Bags, babies shoes and pants, all hand made from recycled fabrics.
• The Kitchin - a collection of kitchy bits and bobs.
  

Don't leave town this Labour Weekend, and if you do, make sure you're back by Monday 23rd October.

From 2-5pm at the Southern Cross, there were be a plethora of fabulous craft, beer and rock n roll baby.

More detail as soon as it emerges.

Here is my companion piece to Martha's recount (AKA"drunken ramble") of the evening.

I could not believe it when I walked in. As Tom would describe it later, the scene was craft fair meets MOSH PIT!!!!

The Paramount looked to be filled well above it's legal fire safety limit. People were packed wall to wall, shoulder to shoulder. Obviously the advertising worked (we got to four updates). The crowd was quite diverse with ages ranging from 8 to 80 and piercings ranging from nose to undisclosed.

The stalls had all kinds of crazy stuff. From battling cakes (by Desperate HouseWife)...

...to crocheted pink bits to hundreds upon hundreds of badges. Unfortunately I was only able to wander around with the camera after the throng had cleared (which was only a few minutes before the end). This meant I didn't take photos of any stalls as they had been mostly picked clean by crafty shoppers.

Cupcakes and beer (or bubbles) seemed to be the order of the day but Tom, Che and I decided to drink and eat somewhere quieter and headed out leaving the girls to bring in the dollars. We returned only when slightly soused and when we figured the crowd would have thined a bit.

Anyone would think I have some kind of vested interest in Craftwerk...

Anyhow, last minute reminder.

Tonight, the Paramount, 5.30-8.30.

Craft, booze, music and big screen Atari.

Hot baby.