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.

A new phase

Are you starting something new this year, creative-wise? We'd love to hear about it! If you've had something brewing in the back of your mind for a good long while, maybe this is the year you finally make it happen – it might be a renovation project, a new business venture, or even just making something you've been meaning to. Time to get that idea off the ground!

Tell us about your pet project in the comments or drop us a line at extracurricularnz@gmail.com. 

p.s. Work has begun on the new issue, and we're looking at a few changes ourselves...

Contributor series: Anissa Ljanta

One of Extra Curricular magazine’s regular contributors, Anissa Ljanta can often be found beavering away in her home studio perched on a hilltop overlooking the ocean on NZ’s wild West Coast. In the latest issue she writes about something close to her heart, Plant Medicine. Her feature article, The Kitchen Sink School of Medicine also includes two tutorials alongside beautiful illustrations by Melissa Wastney of tinyhappy. 

Anissa does it all: she designs, makes, writes, gardens, gives workshops, consults and walks the mama path, and somehow finds time to homeschool her 5 year old boy. A familiar sight selling her wares at Auckland’s Kraftbomb market, she is also famous amongst sewing circles as the co-organiser of the Sew Fun monthly sewing retreats and workshops in West Auckland.

Her blog, GrowMama, is a simple, heartfelt endeavour, as much a part of her life’s everyday landscape as mealtimes for the past three years. She is currently working on re-designing and taking it a step further. You can find her lovingly crafted creations here on Felt. Anissa is running a plant medicine workshop very soon, and places are filling fast. You’d best be in touch pronto if you live in the Auckland area and want to attend.

Whole Larder Love giveaway

Another giveaway closing at the end of the month – you can win this beautiful book by Rohan Anderson, who was interviewed for the issue. Whole larder Love follows his journey to eat more sustainably and self sufficiently. He told us about the process of putting the book together.

"I wrote that book working six days a week – I used to photograph weddings on Saturdays too. I really have no idea how I did it! You know, if you want to get something done, you go ahead and do it. You just put all your energy into it. There were a lot of late nights and weekends; I had no social life. But the most enjoyable thing for me was learning how to acquire my own food – how to grow it, how to hunt it, new fishing techniques. That was such an amazing journey – and I'm still on that journey now, I'm still learning so much." 

Rohan was such an interesting guy to talk to – read the full interview in issue 10 (where you'll also find details on how to win the book).

Happy Summer!

If you're currently under a pohutukawa reading issue 10, don't forget to enter our summer giveaways when you get back, drawn at the end of the month! Details on how to enter are in the mag and up for grabs are:

1. KESTER BLACK nail varnish in Paradise Punch, Blueberry Tart & Bubblegum www.kesterblack.com 

2. THUNDERPANTS 'Sky Owls' print www.thunderpants.co.nz  

3. HARVEST TEXTILES 'Lucky Dip' pouches (3 to win!) www.harvesttextiles.com.au  

4. LOVEHATE Rainbow Shapes necklace www.lovehate.com.au