Fabulous Book....

I'm so glad to have this knitting shop, because I'm encouraged to look at reading material I'd otherwise never pick up, being the fashion knitter and all. I think this new book we have in at Gather; "How Tea Cosies Changed the World", by Loani Prior is really fantastic. Knitted sculpture on a tea-pot!! - I LOVE IT!

Our January Tumblr

On our Tumblr page this month we channeled Persephone, walking the landscape to gather and soak up the heady atmosphere of Summer's nature, blissed with warmth, inspired to make cool stuff.

Our Natural Dye Workshop is on 17 January at the workshop of Aroha. We have a Summer Knitting Construction Class this Sunday 3 Feb.

Finished the holiday season with an early morning coastal bushwalk. After an hour of walking, we crossed paths with a group of little boys, under pack, (maybe 10'ish) who had spent the night out there sleeping under the stars. What awesome little troopers!!

Folk Art

I've got a couple of framed pieces of antique needlepoint cloth in the store on display, and they attract so much attention. I'm not sure how old my pieces are, but I had a lovely customer bring her own personal collection in to show me, and what's remarkable about hers is that they are 18th century patterns, from which she creates the needlepoint cloth herself. Here she had this delicate folder of tattered pages of patterns tucked away in her bag, with pieces of perfect, colourful cross stitch cloth in bright new threads. Sure, they didn't have the patina or wear of age, but here was a poignant statement about this art still being well and alive, as cross-stitch is one of the oldest embroidery Folk Art forms. In the shop we do have some awesome re-inventions of Cross Stitch; like the Helvetica Cross Stitch Kits by Tamara Maynes, and a project book by Cath Kidston called Stitch. And taking it up a level, Textile Artist, Jane Denton has some framed stitch art in the shop for sale. Jane will be exhibiting new work at Gather in March, the opening details of which we post soon.

Images above are 1. Antique Needlepoint on Display at the Gather, 2. Customer with her 18th Century Pattern Needlepoint. 3. Helvetica Cross Stitch Kits by Tamara Maynes. 4. 'Stitch' needlepoint project book by Cath Kidston available at Gather. 5. 'XS' stitch art by Jane Denton, available as framed finished art at Gather.

Kids Learn to Crochet Workshop

Spent a delightful morning with Anneliese teaching girls to crochet and make sweet little necklaces and hair braids using colourful wool and beads.

Natural Dyes

At Gather, we have dyed up some beautiful Hand-Spun Tussah Silk samples with our range of Natural Dyes, to show the lovely hues of colours that can be created. The following extract from the 'Why Natural Dye' essay by Ethel Mairet, helps explains my obsession with this world: "William Morris says "all degradation of art veils itself in the semblance of an intellectual advance." and nothing is truer than this with regard to the art of dyeing. As a tradition it is practically dead in Britain, and is threatened with gradual extinction all over the world. It will not recover itself as an art till individual artists set themselves to make beautiful colours again, and ignore the colour made for them by commerce and the chemists.

New Tableware

We've got some beautiful new handprinted linen tableware in store, from Bonnie and Neil, Melbourne design duo; just arrived at Gather.

Workshops

Our 'Learn to Crochet' Workshops this Saturday 19th Jan is full, but we do have some places for the afternoon's class "Crochet Granny Squares". This Sunday we have our Social, 20th Jan; so drop in anytime between 11am to 2pm and claim your spot on the pink couch. Below are images from a new book in store called "Granny Square Crochet; 35 Contemporary Projects" by Catherine Hirst.

Camping

Coromandel Peninsula; what a spot to camp; freshly shucked oysters along the way, rugged coastline drive, fishing off snapper rock, tent in dense native bush by the water, hot sun, cold ocean swims and falling asleep to the sound of lapping waves - HEAVEN!!

Good Magazine

A feature on Gather in NZ's Good Magazine, the January issue out this week. Good mag is about 'the good life; features on lifestyle with a sustainability focus.

Knitwear Sale

Knitwear Sale at Gather for 1 week only. Up to 75% off Nikki Gabriel samples, seconds and previous season stock, starting this Wednesday 9th January, and finishing Saturday 12th January.

Merry Christmas

The Gather shop and Studio will be closed from 23 December, and we reopen on Wednesday 2nd January. Christmas wishes to all; I hope it's beautiful, and your New Year's celebration is merry!! And so we welcome our Summer with open arms; and like I say below, only sheep think that knitting is just about wool. So people; our shop is stocked with summer yarns to spark your creativity; think cool cottons, crisp linens, and wild and flowing silk and bamboo yarns!! We kick start our new year with the KIDS FELT JEWELLERY WORKSHOPS on Friday 4th January, our first SOCIAL KNITTING AFTERNOON on Saturday 5th January, and a SUMMER KNITTING WORKSHOP on Sunday 6th January. SO!! - Thank you to all our Gather patrons, I've had an amazing year with this new project. Its been a lot of hard work with shop renovations, branding, and sourcing products; amongst all the studio activity of overseas workshops, new collections, a book release and a new book contract, amazing costume design projects and improvising the shop to function for our locals and visitors. I look forward to seeing you again in the New Year.

Natural Dye Workshops

Hey Gatherer's of old and new, we are hosting Natural Dye Workshops during Summer; on Sunday 27 January, and on Sunday 17 February, to be held in the print workshop of Aroha & Friends. Experience how to use dyes from the wildest of nature, trees and forests, derived from ancient recipes. Recipes made from berries, flowers, roots and insect resins that are steeped in history. Experience the stories of the Ancient Dyes; Stories of secret recipes coveted by spies, of cargo that traversed continents and created countries, colours which robed Vestal Virgins, clothed Robin Hood and his Gang, and uniformed Armies of Ancient Kingdoms. Once forbidden and still sacred Colours, Colours that are still grown, harvested, gathered, smoked by fire and blessed by ancient deities. Can it be any more enticing than this, even if its to just absorb the heady fragrances of this old, old world. Register at Gather for the workshops. email info@thegathershop.com, or telephone 06 835 1384.

Above images from Gather's Tumblr Site. Various images sourced from the Gather Journal, Kinfolk Magazine, and India Flint's book Eco Colour.

Above / Plant Dyes available at Gather.

$50 Gift Suggestions at Gather

If you're like me and leaving your Christmas shopping to the last minute, but still want something reealllyy special, I've got some Gather gift suggestions for you for around $50.

1.Porcelain Butterfly Wall Ornament. 2.Bird Notebook Journal. 3.Rimu Knitting Needles. 4.Handspun Silk Yarn. 5.CrossStitch Kit. 6.Handmade rabbit by artist Katherine Quinn. 8.Last Minute Gifts Pattern Book. 9.Wide Bow Scissors. 10.Handwoven Flax Basket. 11.Knitted Cactus. 12.Handspun Art Yarn. 13.Felt Necklaces. 14.The Paper Garden book by Molly Peacock. 15.Porcelain Dragonfly Wall Ornament. 16.Handknitted Zebra. 17.Graphic Notebook Journal. 18.Box of 5 types of Pins.

SUMMER WORKSHOPS

We are hosting a range of great workshops over summer. Bookings and registrations for all workshops are through the Gather shop. Email us on info@thegathershop.com, or telephone us on 06 835 1384 to reserve your place. Classes are small, so book in early to avoid the disappointment of missing out!!

Any questions / please call us 06 835 1384, or email info@thegathershop.com.