We just heard from one of our musical friends from the North, Barebones & Cabaret (they were one of the gifted guys who appeared on our last year’s “Summer mixed tape“). They released their self titled début album early this year and it’s very worth listening to. Care-free, summery, camp-fire tunes – check them out for free, make a donation, listen to them, and enjoy!
-Thomas
We were stoked to get the chance to talk to Celia about dressing sustainably while still looking snappy as a Councillor. Especially in the lead-up to the Wellington Mayoral elections, it’s great to see how an environmental conscience doesn’t stop at the fashion gate (so to speak), and, at any time, it’s refreshing to see politicians do what they preach. Celia, you got my vote!
What is your motivation behind making sustainable fashion decisions?
Getting ready for the Mayoral campaign has been a learning curve I’ve relished. As well as explaining new policy and good achievements like safer cycling, light rail, computer access for refugees, cleaner city harbour, ultrafast broadband, Fairtrade Capital and community gardens, now I have to dress to show I can lead the city, without sacrificing my values – or over-spending. Fortunately, choosing clothes can be fun and sustainable!
How do you go about finding the right stuff?
After a few colour tips from Samantha Hannah, I met some very sympathetic Wellington fashion designers and added to my op shop collections. A quick explore when I’m passing the Salvation Army in Rintoul St, Taranaki St or Tawa is usually worthwhile, even for basics like jeans. In more up-market spots in Cuba Street like the Recycle Boutique or, for something really special, Ziggurat, I often find a beautiful bargain. Jewelry is either a few well-loved pieces from my mother, made by myself or sourced from Trade Aid for a splash of colour.
What did you score in your latest quest?
I wanted smart pieces in cream so I enjoyed choosing a linen jacket from Untouched World, a silk shirt from Starfish and an end-of-line bargain from Voon. I’m sure these choices will last me for many years. Janet Dunn has set up ReDunn Fashions to up-cycle pre-loved clothing and I bought this amusing jacket at her first soirée. Natural fabrics, recycled gear and new ethical items make a happy combination -lovely clothes and good businesses.
Left: Full-length-jacket $17 from Salvation Army, Taranaki St. Suit from Secondo, Tinakori Rd. Beads from my mother. Shoes – I think I got married in these!
Right: This was at the Brooklyn Community Gardens last weekend, planting a tamarillo I took from my home garden. Andrea Moore top from the Brooklyn Frock Schwap. Scarf from mother. Trousers from some Salvation Army store.
Left: Janet Dunn jacket
Right: Jacket from the 6th Annual Preloved Fashion Sale. Silk blouse (feels fabulous!) from Starfish. Beads from Trade Aid.
-Thomas
It’s time to give you guys out there a little (very little) update. As some of you may know, we’ve had a recent addition to our team a few weeks ago now, and his name his Otis Forrest. He’s still pretty small, so can’t do any editing jobs yet, so bear with us over the next while if our blog is a bit slow. He’s provided us with great joy already and we’re looking forward to all the future time with him.
-Thomas & Hannah
Freakin amazing embroidery by Jenny Hart of Sublime Stitching
I’ve just received a very exciting email from the incredible Leanne Prain who wrote Yarn Bombing: The Art of Crochet and Knit Graffiti. After being interviewed for The knitty-gritty of craftivism in issue 8 of WSW, Leanne has gotten underway with a new book project . She’s really keen to have submissions from all over the world for her new title, Hoopla, The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, and asked me to pass this on to all keen stitchers:
Do you design unusual or unexpected pieces of needlepoint? If so, you should design a pattern for Hoopla, The Art of Unexpected Embroidery, to be published by Arsenal Pulp Press in autumn 2011.
Hoopla: The Art of Unexpected Embroidery rebels against the traditional notions of quaint embroidery with motifs of flowers and songbirds. The book will feature unusual stitch work on a variety of surfaces and textures. With off-beat patterns including subway maps, feminist Girl Guide badges, and metal band letterforms; Hoopla will demonstrate that modern embroidery artists are as sharp as the needles that they work with. If you describe your stitch-work as arresting, subversive, quirky, or conceptual, Hoopla should feature your design work.
Yeehaa! Check out the unexpected embroidery site for more info on how to get involved.
We just determined our final subscription winner in a ceremonial draw. Jamin Vollebregt, from Island Bay in Wellington, you won the book “Martha goes Green: A Vegetarian Cookbook”. Yay!
Dear all readers,
It’s two years ago this month that we published the first issue of World Sweet World, and the speed at which our little mag for makers and doers was embraced by the creative, crafty community of New Zealand (and beyond!) just blew our minds.
We wanted to make World Sweet World an inclusive, sharing sort of publication, and that baton has been taken up and run with by so many of you. Since the third or fourth issue, we’ve had a constant flow of new content pour in, supplied almost entirely by people we’ve never met. It’s been incredibly exciting to open our inbox each morning to read messages from people wanting to share their ideas with our readers.
Big changes are ahead here at World Sweet World HQ, and we’ve been having a big think about the future of our mag over the last couple of months. We’re excited to announce: we’re having a baby in July! So this really made us re-evaluate what we’ll be able to manage over the next years. While we utterly enjoy putting World Sweet World together, the magazine has been a labour of love (and not money) for the last couple of years. We don’t see ourselves being able to put nearly the amount of time and energy into it once we have another little project to pour our time into. It’s been an absolute pleasure, lots of fun, and a great learning curve, but we have decided to put the mag to rest, with this being our last issue.
We’re keeping the blog ticking over, so if you have projects or articles you’re still busting to share, do get in touch. We’ll also be adding projects and articles from past issues, plus, due to popular demand, we’re working on enabling you to buy digital copies of sold out back issues. One of our favourite parts of putting each new issue together has been commissioning new artwork by such incredibly talented illustrators. We’ve drooled over Devon Smith’s work in Swonderful here in Welly, and were a couple of excited children when she got in touch two months ago to say she’d like to contribute. We’re thrilled with the work she’s done for the cover, and also the adorable illustrations by Sarah McNeil for the Crafty Business article. Hopefully you’ll enjoy them too, along with all the other content we’ve rounded up in this issue.
We’ve been truly proud of each new issue we put out, and we hope we have been able to inspire the makery scene in New Zealand and to make a positive difference to the world we live in. Thanks once again for the overwhelming support you’ve shown us over the course of this adventure.
Thank you, and goodnight – Hannah & Thomas
I don’t shy away from it – I’m a tea fiend. I love the variety of tea available, the little rituals I associate with sharing a pot of tea – but I’m also not afraid to say that I do enjoy a good cup of coffee.
It gives me a boost, and I don’t really care if it’s just a placebo effect. But what I like is a good coffee – be it plunger, espresso or filter. My definition of a good coffee comes down to the sugar test. If it needs the sugar, it’s probably burnt and not to my taste. I also like a splash of milk to temper the flavour down. My usual cafe order is a soy flat white – I like the creaminess of soy. Yum.
Yet, deep down, I’ve always hankered to be a long black drinker, but the idea of it seemed so scary. Until last week when I discovered Customs Brew Bar at 39 Ghuznee Street. 
This cafe is revolutionising coffee as we know it. No take away cups here (the trees whoop in delight) for this is about the experience of true coffee. The cafe invites you to linger, really taste your coffee and chill out. It blends my love of tea rituals with the boost of coffee. You’re not going to order from a strictly espresso menu. The lads and lasses at Customs have 4 different methods of coffee brewing to keep any coffee connoisseur happy. These methods bring out the best flavours from their single origin coffees – no blends here! (For real coffee lovers, check out their blog for more information)
I enjoyed a Clover pot for two of the Kenyan roast – a tarty citrus tasting bean – and as the lovely manager Charlie saw our interest, she explained the process in full. Our cups and pot arrived on a lovely wooden tray, with milk to add if desired (which I didn’t need….yay! Black coffee tasting accomplished). My friend and I lingered an hour or so, tasting some real coffee and doing the general coffee catch up reminisce routine and soaking up the relaxed vibe.
I’ve since been back to try more chocolatey beans, also very very tasty. But I must say – it’s not just the coffee that has me hooked. I really love the attitude of taking time to really savour life’s little treats – flavours, friends and a relaxed atmosphere. I guess it’s the ethos behind the cafe that will draw me in everytime – hopefully this idea of slowing down the pace can spread, bit by bit…
Check it out if you get the chance, otherwise I’d recommend looking out for cafes that encourage the able loiterers…get in and soak up the atmosphere.
xx Libby
P.S I stole all the photos from the blog link above! Credit due elsewhere…
by Libby Callander
A new year, and how lovely it can be to have a fresh start! I won’t harp on about New Year resolutions – I’m just enthused about the symbolism we can take from a new beginning and look at what change we want in our lives.
Summer has been an interesting mix of vacations, activities and roundabout weather. I found this awesome letterbox in Paekakariki (whilst making the most of a beautiful sunny day to have a picnic) and thought ‘What a great idea!’. This is just a neat example of a creative way of dealing with unwanted waste…plus I’m always a sucker for the mere mention of a cup of tea!
And I suppose I should quickly introduce myself – I’m Libby, the newbie intern helping out with World Sweet World for awhile as part of my ‘funemployment’. I’ll be casting random blogs into this internet ocean about all things makeable, edible, crafty and environmentally aware. You may have seen a few of my tips about natural house cleaning, so I’m sure there will be a few more that slip in here as well. Keep an eye out – and feel free to share ideas!
Libby
It is a couple of weeks ago now, but I just found these few pictures from our last subscription packaging and labeling gig. Look at how fast their fingers are moving!
Thanks, Libby, for making this job such a much more pleasant experience 
.
This is a pretty descriptive video on how ‘cap and trade’ (the emissions trading scheme) may not be the be all and end all:
