Contributor Series: Melissa Wastney

Plantago by Melissa Wastney for Extra Curricular

No doubt many of you will need no introduction to Melissa Wastney's work. Melissa has been keeping a blog for nearly six years now, where she writes about creative and family life in Norway, Nelson and Wellington (Melissa is originally from Nelson). Tiny Happy is popular around the world and perhaps it was because of her large US readership that she was noticed by a publisher in the States.

Melissa's first book Sweet and Simple Handmade: 25 Projects to Sew, Stitch, Knit and Upcycle for Children published by Stash Books (C&T Publishing) has just been released (and should be available in your local bookshop right about now!) Long-time fans will be excited to see that she's included patterns for her much-loved baby shoes, velveteen rabbits, and her popular bag design among the 25 projects. The book is divided into three sections- babies, preschoolers and school-aged children, and comes complete with full-size tissue paper patterns.

Melissa has contributed her particular brand of Tiny Happy goodness to the magazine several times over the past few years – most recently you will have seen her illustrations in issue 10 alongside Anissa Ljanta's article on plant medicine. 

Not one to rest on her laurels, she's also recently completed a post-grad journalism diploma. Bravo Melissa!

And just in case you don't have it bookmarked –

www.tinyhappy.typepad.com 

Contributor Series: Kate van der Drift

Kelly O'Shea – Glue Gallery

Kate van der Drift makes art and works as a freelance photographer. A chance photographer emergency and Facebook introduction had her coming to the rescue and taking some great photographs for the latest issue (she photographed Kelly O'Shea and the folks of Glue Gallery). Unfortunately, we wrote her surname incorrectly in the credits (terrible, but true - and coming from someone who's always going on about proofreading!) A thousand apologies Kate!

Remains of Their Music and Laughter Float In The Air

After graduating from art school in Dunedin in 2010, she spent time travelling through Europe, the Middle East and South East Asia... then ended up back in Dunedin for a bit until the City of Sails called... and now Auckland is home. 

Over the past year Kate has been teaching photography and working as a freelance photographer doing portraiture, events and fashion photography, and says she's excited about the creative possibilities in Auckland, with so many new people to collaborate with.  

Kate's most recent photography exhibition was called They Could Have Stayed Forever. Under the name We Are Optimistic, she has been collaborating with Clare Fleming, working across performance, installation and curation to make hopeful art that inspires social change.

They Could Have Stayed Forever

There Will Be New Life (But Not In This Sea)

Up next is a performance and exhibition called One Day Wonder at Pearce Gallery (in front of the Whitecliffe College of Arts). We Are Optimistic will be doing a performance and artist talk from 5.30pm on the 10th of May (the exhibition will be open from 10 – 1 on the 11th of May).

Kate will also be part of a show of new work at the Morrinsville Wallace Gallery at the end of July with Rohana Weaver and Clare Fleming. Sounds like an exciting show – featuring sculpture, drawing, watercolours and large scale photographs.

Check out more of Kate's work at www.katevanderdrift.com 
and www.katevanderdriftphotography.com

Park

Legs eleven

The Autumn issue is out at Easter and in keeping with our theme of 'new beginnings' there are a few changes – a bit of a design refresh and a new textured cover stock (it was so fun poring over paper samples and choosing the perfect one!) Our cover artist this time is Angela Keoghan – about whom I cannot say enough wonderful things – go and check out her latest work.

Number 11 is bursting at the seams with great content from the likes of Olivia Coote (who created a sweet housewarming gift tutorial), Martha Goes Green (who overcame the difficulties of being in different countries to put together their set of recipes for a sweet baby shower), Sonya Nagels (who photographed and interviewed recent returnees for Homecomings and an amazing converted hotel in Raglan as well as contributing more sweet illustrations). Joanna Davies researched what it takes to turn your hobby into a business, Ike Levick interviewed Pia Jane Bijkerk, Jenn Hadley Photographed Olivia Neveu of Lucille, Kate van der Drift snapped Kelly O'Shea & co from Glue Gallery, we visited Julia Atkinson of Studio Home at her new pad in Auckland and we compiled the first in our new series of cheat-sheets on promotion and marketing.

You can pre-order your copy here or here. 

Sneak preview below:

Contributor series: Jenn Hadley

Jenn Hadley is a Wellington-based photographer and graphic designer with a passion for all things photo-related, and we're lucky enough to have her working with us for the first time on issue 11.

After studying photography at Unitec, she headed south to Nelson and worked with the good folk at Craig Potton Publishing. Her OE back to her homeland, England, saw her working on travel guides at Penguin Books. Jenn (seriously) started her photography business at the end of 2011 upon her return to Wellington. She has a particular affinity for portraiture, fashion and weddings – if there are people involved and the chance to snap a great moment she'll be there with camera in hand!

Jenn also loves a good op-shop hunt to find more gems to add to her royal celebratory tea cup and souvenir spoon collections.

That's Jenn at the top, and check out some of her portrait & wedding work below (the last two shots are a preview of the shoot she did for issue 11) :

 

Amazing Babes

We love finding out about what past contributors are getting up to, especially when it involves a great collaboration! Amazing Babes is the brainchild of Eliza Sarlos, who originally created the book for her son, so that he would grow up admiring people who have done incredible things, regardless of gender. She wisely got Grace Lee on board to illustrate some of the many women – from a wide range of backgrounds – who have influenced her throughout her life. Eliza and Grace just started a crowdfunding campaign to raise enough money to do a small print run, and 11 hours in, they made their target! But they would still love your support to get the book out to a wider audience, and hopefully get it into bookshops – so click here to pre-order your copy (or choose one of the other great rewards).

Three of the women featuring in Amazing Babes; Kathleen Hanna, Tavi Gevinson & Aung San Suu Kyi.

Contributor Series: Vanessa Parker

Vanessa Parker is our go-to Nelson photographer – her latest work features in the article The Kitchen Sink School of Medicine.

When Vanessa isn't busy contributing to Extra Curricular, she photographs people in their day-to-day lives, and the objects that surround them that can convey so much. Much of her work focuses on family life, capturing small moments and finding beauty in the domestic and seemingly mundane – this work has been the subject of several exhibitions in the past.

Last year Vanessa upped sticks and moved her family and business, The Box Brownie Finishing School, from Auckland to Nelson. From her base in central Nelson at The Bridge Street Collective, Vanessa brings her ‘quiet documentary’ style to her wedding clients, extending her natural shooting philosophy to capture these important celebrations. 

Hello Sandwich Tokyo Guide

After selling more than 3000 copies of the first edition, it'll come as great news to Hello Sandwich fans that Ebony Bizys has a new Tokyo Guide zine out. If you are heading that way soon it will no doubt be an invaluable addition to your suitcase. Featuring Ebony's favourite Tokyo suburbs, this is a guide for people who like to travel like a local and want to discover places off the beaten track. It includes tips on biking around the city, the best parks, coffee, cafes, shops, rooftop bars, pizza and izakaya, the cheapest drinks, the coolest hotels (plus cheap and cheerful ones) as well as language essentials, travel tips and maps. Available through the Hello Sandwich Shop.