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Conversations w/ Good People: Nobuko Okamoto

19 Jul, 2021

Conversations w/ Good People: Nobuko Okamoto

The word ‘Kintsugi’ has quite a simple, literal meaning. Kin means gold and tsugi means to join or fix. Christchurch creative Nobuko Okamoto has been practising Kintsugi for over seven years and still considers herself a novice in the art. Alongside her studies and work, she’s been fixing ceramic pieces for clients here in New Zealand for about a year now. We visit her in her home studio to chat about the slow and delicate process of Kintsugi and what she loves most about it.
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Conversations w/ Good People: Michael Gilling

03 Jun, 2021

Conversations w/ Good People: Michael Gilling

Michael Gilling has been designing and crafting wooden things since he was a little boy. From his first toy boat to recent commercial projects under his business XYLO Woodcraft, Michael has always shown an eye for detail and simplistic form. Despite his talent and achievements, he's also one of the most down to earth people around. We sat down with him to chat about his passion for good craft and what he's been working on.

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Conversations w/ Good People: Matt & Dan

17 Nov, 2020

Conversations w/ Good People: Matt & Dan

Friends Matt Andrews and Dan Baxter started Matt & Dan's Campervans four years ago and has seen it grow from a single ("shitty") van to a fleet of seven beautiful, modern and comfortable vans. Currently working on Van No. 7 , Nelson Van-dela, the two have certainly changed the campervan scene and what travelling around New Zealand looks like.
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Conversations w/ Good People: Nathan James

21 Sep, 2020

Conversations w/ Good People: Nathan James

Nathan James runs one of our favourite blogs, Adventures from the South. It provides in-depth guides to some of the most beautiful hikes and huts in the South Island, with topographic maps, weather guides and section by section descriptions so you don't get lost. We caught up with the intrepid man himself and asked him some of the key questions we've wanted to ask since day one. 

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Conversations w/ Good People: Dominic Ellett

24 Jul, 2020

Conversations w/ Good People: Dominic Ellett

Dominic Ellett is passionate about heritage and workwear, and clearly has an eye for curating some of the coolest brands and products around town. We sat down with the man behind Indigo & Provisions to chat about how things began for our favourite Arts Centre store and some essential pieces we should be picking up this Winter.

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Where we would rather be this long weekend

13 Apr, 2020

Where we would rather be this long weekend

New Zealand is officially two weeks into its nationwide lockdown and it’s exciting to see how well we’re flattening the infamous curve. Gratitude to Jacinda aside, we’re still a little disappointed about losing a long weekend to coronavirus - so much so that we’ve made a list of the places we’d rather be.

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Knife making in barrytown

27 Nov, 2019

Knife Making in Barrytown

Thirty years ago, Robyn and Steven Martin chose Barrytown as their home and 15 years later they started offering workshops for people to make their own knives out of a piece of red hot steel. People from all over the world are now coming to take part in their workshops and it's an experience that's classically West Coast and unlike any other.

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Fabric wax New Zealand

09 May, 2019

How to Wax Canvas and Fabrics

Applying waterproofing wax to fabric is a fairly straight forward project. Not only does it protect and waterproof your fabric, it also helps develop a great vintage look that keeps improving the more you use it.
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A Christmas Gift Guide for the Adventurous

04 Dec, 2018

A Christmas Gift Guide for the Adventurous

With a focus on buying less but better, we've put together a guide for gifts with long lasting quality. Naturally, we've sought out our favourite items that make life better while out at camp, but we also included a few great gifts for around the home.
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Noteworthy tools for planning your next adventure

16 Nov, 2018

Noteworthy tools for planning your next adventure

There's a certain satisfaction in pouring over a worn old paper map, imagining yourself exploring valleys and crossing rivers. However, you can get a whole lot more information from a few very useful online tools. Regardless of how much planning you like to do before your trips, there's sure to be something useful in this list of our favourite resources.
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Carving an axe handle

24 Oct, 2018

Carving A Replacement Axe Handle

Why carve an axe handle when you can easily pick up a cheap and decent axe handle from your local oversized hardware store? Well, carving your own is a very simple and satisfying woodworking project that can be done with just a few basic tools.
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Storm Lantern NZ

15 Oct, 2018

Feuerhand Lanterns - The Story

The Feuerhand story begins in the 1870s in the Saxon Ore Mountains in Eastern Germany. Here, Hermann Nier, operating out of a small silverware workshop, made miners lamps and household lanterns.
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Just Peoples - A great initiative with a big impact

08 Oct, 2018

Just Peoples - A great initiative with a big impact

Just Peoples uses a crowd-based approach to raise funds from businesses and everyday New Zealanders to make a direct impact on global poverty. Started in 2015, they have already successfully funded 48 poverty-reducing projects and have had a major impact on thousands of lives.
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Helko Werk Axes NZ

28 Sep, 2018

Introducing Helko Werk - Premium German Made Axes

Founded in 1844 by the Helsper family and originally known as the ‘Helsper Werezeugfabrik’. Hello Werk quickly earned a reputation as a manufacturer of premium quality axes, hatchets and forestry tools. Based in the Rhine Valley in Germany, today they are one of a handful of axe makers producing the Rhineland Valley Axe Head. 
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