Stockist series: Flock

Flock Design Boutique is a little slice of design heaven in Sumner, Christchurch run by Emma Smith and Billy Wilson. After a tough first few months withstanding the relentless shaking of the Canturbury earthquakes, they opened an online boutique in addition to their physical store. Emma answered a few questions for Extra Curricular and let us in on a few local specialties - I want one of those honeybuns!

What will customers discover at Flock? 

A really good time! And beautiful, thoughtful design. We stock innovative clothing and homewares from New Zealand, Australia, Europe and America.

What's the best thing about coming to work each day? 
Opening parcels and chatting to my regulars and experiencing their joy of discovery... and having cups of tea with my staff.

What is one thing you learnt from opening your shop?
Earthquakes are not useful for the first year of business but with dedication, hardwork and a genuine love... things work out.

What's the best-kept secret in your local area? 

Coddled eggs at The Cornershop Bistro, Jane Henry scarves made from local ultra fine merino and honeybuns at The Opawa farmers market.

Flock Design Boutique

Shop 2 / 43 Nayland St, Sumner, Christchurch

Phone: +64 3 326 6841

Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 10am - 5.30pm 

Thursday 10am - 8pm

Saturday 10am - 5.30pm

Sunday 10.30am - 5.00pm

Watchers

Before leaving Amsterdam, her home for the past four years, to return home to New Zealand, photographer Sonya Nagels has somehow found the time to put together a beautiful book of photographs in homage to her time there. The books are produced in a limited edition of twenty and are carefully hand-bound with attention to every detail. Containing sixteen archival photographic prints of the lace curtains of Amsterdam, they explore themes of voyeurism and privacy. You can buy a copy here. 

Stockist series: Blackbird Corner

Nici and Sean run Blackbird Corner, a little independent shop in Newcastle. Both creative souls themselves, they thrive on supporting local and independent makers and designers and have a real passion for the products they sell. I love that they are closed Mondays to get their making done! This morning it was more Wayward Girl skirts which have been selling like hotcakes. Nici kindly took some time out to answer some questions for Extra Curricular.

What will customers discover at Blackbird Corner?

Hmmm it's always changing, but essentially Blackbird Corner is full of everything we "Blackbirds" love. Lots of unique items created by Australian (and now some New Zealander) independent designers and craftspeople... independent publications (such as the lovely Extra Curricular of course!) ... Lomography Cameras... a stupidly large assortment of Low Brow Art Books... retro toys, lollies and gifts - all in a relaxed/no pressure atmosphere. 

We also stock women's clothing designed and made by myself and my Sister Jen. My husband Sean designs and prints tees for hims, hers and young ones; plus does greeting cards, badge sets, tea towels and stationery. 
The majority of the items we do sell are exclusive to Blackbird Corner, or at the very least, exclusive to us in the Newcastle area. We are a little family business, and the person behind the counter might have made the item you're buying.

What's the best thing about coming to work each day?

Well, we are very fortunate to now live literally a stone's throw away from "work" these days so - no commuting to a place that feels like an extension of our lounge room is just completely splendid. That's two best things!

What have you learnt from opening your shop?

To be completely flexible and open to change in many areas, but to firmly stick to our ideals. 

We do not sell anything that we aren't absolutely proud to sell (and want to keep for ourselves.) 

What's the best-kept secret in your local area?

Hmmmm that's a tricky question... I've lived in Cooks Hill on and off since I was a teenager and I cannot think of one - mindfreeze. 

The worst kept secret is easy though! Darby Street is absolutely the best street in Newcastle, full of lovely small businesses instead of the cookie cutter franchises you see in every vast shopping centre/mall. We're a community of shopkeepers here. And we love that.

Blackbird Corner

70 Darby Street, 

Cooks Hill NSW 2300, 

Australia

Tuesdays - Fridays 11:00-5:00

Saturdays 10:00-3:00 Sundays 11:00-3:00

Mondays closed to sew/print/make

Grace Lee

Designer & illustrator Grace Lee did a couple of delightful illustrations for the latest issue, but because she came on board quite last-minute, we didn't include a contributor piece on her. Originally from Sydney, Grace lives in Tokyo, and you can see this influence coming through in her depictions of everyday objects. She has such a talented hand and I wanted to share some more of her charming illustrations – the top two were done for the pieces 'Summer Daze' and 'Please Mr. Postman' in Issue 7. You can see more here.

 

Trash to treasure

Ben Galloway reminds me of the Wombles – 'Making good use of the things that they find, things that the everyday folk leave behind'. It's just him though – collecting old conveyor belts, lino samples and the like and turning these materials, once destined for landfill, into some pretty amazing-looking jandals, sandals and shoes. I really enjoyed talking to Ben about how Trash Footwear came about and where he's going with it. It's a pretty interesting story which you can read about on page 44 of Issue 7. Photographer Charlotte Ashton took photos for the piece – here's a selection of them including a few we couldn't fit onto the pages. 

p.s. Trash Footwear and Extra Curricular are both part of Artifice - a contemporary craft exhibition in Hamilton. Go along if you're in the area. It runs until this Saturday December 3rd at 27 Collingwood Street.

O frabjous day!

After being printed, bound and trimmed this week, issue 7 will be winging its way to a store or mailbox near you. Pre-order at Felt or Big Cartel to get yours first (or you could always subscribe). Devon Smith painted the jewel-inspired cover image, and we've interviewed several makers of jewellery this issue. There's also a special bonus since it's nearly Christmas and you'll (hopefully) have a stack of holiday reading to delve into – an illustrated bookmark.

The Jewellery Apothecary

It sounds wonderful doesn't it? The Jewellery Apothecary is getting ready to dispense some precious remedies to Wellingtonians that might not fix what ails you, but will at least help with Christmas present shopping. Open just for the four weeks before Christmas, the pop-up shop in Torrens Terrace will have limited release collections from local Wellington talent; Murder of Crows, The Wild, Buster Collins and Vaune Mason. 

After Christmas The Jewellery Apothecary will live on at www.thejewelleryapothecary.com.  

The first 3 images are from The Wild; the 4th is Buster Collins; and the last from Murder of Crows.

The Jewellery Apothecary

28 Torrens Terrace

26 November - 24 December

Open 10am - 6pm weekdays

10am – 4pm weekends