My name is Kirstee Griffiths, and my title to the outside world is often along the lines of 'Upcycling Extraordinaire' or 'Creative Genius'.

Truth be told, I am a stay at home Mama of ten years to two beautiful souls who graced us with their presence 10 and 3 years ago.

And I am a rebel.
With a gargantuan cause.

I regularly don my Super Hero Save the Planet cape in my 'me' moments, and it's at these times that I can feed my creative soul and nurture our planet with the care and respect it so rightfully deserves. Call me a hippy (many do), but in today's forced commercialised society, I am the revolutionary who will never give up creating for her cause. 

I have, if you like, a fairly hefty beef with society as a whole in the 21st century. Between the in your face advertising (it's everywhere isn't it?!), and commercialism dictating our growth toward 'throw away-ism', there often isn't much room for us, nor our children (you know, the ones who will be caring for our future planet), to just, breathe.

This, coupled by my insane attraction to fabric and the extraordinary magic it holds (coupled again with my non ability to form any kind of relationship with a sewing machine), led to my business, Hibiscus, to be born.
Hibiscus encompasses my vision of the future, whilst utilising relics of the past, and created within my work shop walls are wondrous pieces filled with history and love, whilst revealing a new and improved modernism, which can fit in with the most eclectic or subdued decors. I use a lot of fabric decoupage on furniture, create real working bird houses out of vintage books and have recently turned my hand to the creation of stunning clocks using long ago listened to LP's as a base. 

I have taught my up-cycle skills at amazing conferences, such as Handmade in Wellington, to four year olds at my son's kindy, and places in between.

I see knowledge as the utmost power, and speading mine, sprinkled with my creative genius, equals food that nourishes souls...
So, in a nutshell, that is me.
Dreamer.
Believer.
Creator.

​I am Christchurch born and raised and moved to Auckland as a teenager to attend AUT. Halfway through my studies I became interested in leather while doing an essay on leather jackets. I was told about the ‘leather lady’ who had a workshop nearby and thought I should stop by with my CV.

Kerrie (the ‘leather lady’) offered me a job and I decided to leave university to take up the opportunity to follow my passion. Kerrie allowed me to spend my spare time in her workshop and it’s there that I made my first leather handbag, from scraps of leather. It’s the most cherished bag I have ever made. She taught me much of what I know about working with leather and I worked for her until I returned to Christchurch after the earthquakes in 2011.

I started The Little Leather Co from a spare bedroom in early 2013 and now have a workshop at home in Kaiapoi, where I’ve been for two years. It’s a constant struggle trying to keep it neat and tidy because I spread things from one end to the other when I’m working.

Working with leather is very different from using fabric, both the equipment and techniques. I have a variety of tools and machinery but I tend to just use just a select few. It’s important to keep the tools sharp and the machines well-oiled to do a good job.

I use a variety of leathers but use only New Zealand fur. I am also introducing some leather with wool bags to the range for the upcoming fete’s in Culverden, Geraldine and Winton.

Each handbag is designed and made by me, from the first cut to the last stitch, and I get a real pleasure from making quality, functional bags. I love the patternmaking too, it’s the important step that transforms the idea into reality and is often the longest part of the process as it involves a lot of problem solving.

Little Leather handbags are not made in huge quantities; usually a customer will pick a style and colour and I’ll make it to order just for them. A lot of time goes into each piece and it’s satisfying to craft handbags which will last for many years.

Lee began Pretty Birds four years ago as a way of having some "me" time in the midst of being a stay at home mum to her three children, who are now 10, 8 and 6.

She is also one of the founding designers of Pay it Forward, having been involved from it's beginning.
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At present Pretty Birds is in hiatus as Lee and her husband Dennis take the family on a 6 month long trip to Laos. They have friends who run a not-for-profit English language and vocational school in the southern town of Pakse and they are volunteering their time to teach English to youth and young adults.

 "It's an exciting trip for us and really different to how we live life in New Zealand. There's lots of adjusting going on as we adjust to the heat, the humidity, and the lifestyle. Definitely simpler in many ways and less convenient in many others. For instance, all fresh food shopping is done in open air markets, rather than a supermarket, and bargaining is all part of the experience.

A few years ago, we, along with a group of our friends, sponsored a vocational scholarship at the school for a student called Si. Si was from a hill village where education is scarce and job opportunities are lacking - and she wanted to learn! Through the vocational course Si now has a job in the bakery cafe attached to the school and is learning English. It's been so nice to meet her and get to know her and know we did something to help her have more choices in her life.

Laos is a beautiful country. Last weekend we had the opportunity to take a trip to swim at a waterfall on the Bolaven Plateau and to visit a coffee plantation. The plantation is part of a coffee co-op growing organic, fair-trade coffee. It reminded me so much of the ethos of Pay it Forward - supporting and buying local, from owner-operated, small business people. I'm not a coffee drinker, but according to Dennis the coffee was
excellent (he had two!)"

Lee and her family get back in January and Pretty Birds will re-open in February, in the mean-time, we have plenty of Pretty Birds stock at Pay it Forward. If you would like to read more about their Laos adventures you can find their blog at thearthursadventures.blogspot.co.nz

I think I've always had the making bug; my lovely mum was always trying different crafts and loved passing those skills on, so I suspect my creative side comes from her!

Pepin Design only really got off the ground because I have two gorgeous friends who took me under their wings at one of their craft markets and let me share their stall at one of the first Shop Me Pretty evenings in Christchurch. I became hooked on the market vibe and have since become a bit of a regular on the market  scene in Christchurch.
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I'm a part time teacher, so Pepin Design is juggled around the days I don’t work. If I’m not teaching, I start the day by dropping kids to school, making a good coffee, and then cranking up the music while I work. I have a very patient husband and two gorgeous children who make fantastic Pepin packaging employees when needed during the busier times of the year.

Tricoter, pronounced (tree co tay) is French meaning 'to knit'. I have always enjoyed crafting, in particular knitting. I started knitting when I was 9, learning from my Mother as well as friends' mothers during the winter months.

My Grandmother was an amazing knitter and I was fortunate to inherit all her knitting needles, patterns and wool. Unfortunately she was never able to teach me as I was only seven when she passed away, but I have memories of her always busy working on projects. I enjoy using bright colours and various wool types including natural wool, possum, merino, alpaca, acrylic, bamboo and cotton blends to create clothing and accessories for babies and children.

My product range also includes toys, tea cosies and adult fashion accessories such as infinity scarves. Shopping for wool is always fun, trying to find a bargain and imagining what will be created from it. When I was young, I have memories of shopping with Mum at 'Mrs Popes' in central Christchurch, it was a haberdashery and wool shop which has since disappeared in the early 1990's. We would look in the bargain bins for balls of wool for small projects such as toys. Nowadays, when visiting other towns and cities in New Zealand and overseas, local wool shops are always on my itinerary. It is great to see knitting having a revival and no longer considered an 'old fashioned' hobby.

I’ve always loved creating and making things. I have good memories as a child spending time with my Dad in his garage helping build all kinds of things including furniture for my dolls house, then learning to sew with my Mum and making dolls clothes.

That love of sewing led me to complete a diploma in fashion and design and then I spent a few years in the fashion industry as a pattern maker. 3 children later and my creativity turned to making kids clothes, bedding and furnishings. I always love the challenge of something new and enjoy trying different creative techniques.

After the earthquakes we had no power and water for a few months, we also had a houseful of family and relatives. I took up knitting in earnest as a peaceful pastime for my mind in the midst of the chaos. I started with scarves then after trying to buy a chunky knit blanket I decided to knit my own. Many unravelled meters of knitting later and I had perfected the pattern. Family and friends started requesting them and I started selling them, originally as a fundraiser to send my girls overseas for dance competitions and it has since grown from there.

I’m currently taking painting lessons which has unlocked a past passion that I gave up while child rearing. I love the process of creating, making something from nothing, making some thing beautiful and whole out of bits and pieces. The opportunity to work with like minded people at PIF and work in the beautiful shop is definitely uplifting and inspiring.

Nicola Ellis - Rustic Love







Pop in to the shop and see the range from Nicola Ellis’ Rustic Love. The products consist of beautiful hessian bunting with a variety of words and patterns - chevron and spots, hearts or stars and "Mr & Mrs". They come in a variety of colours and can also be made to order.  There are also some yummy hearts and crosses with gorgeous lace doilies in a range of on-trend colours, as well as industrial style ones in similar colours.  Nicola says, ‘I hope to add some larger hearts and stars to the range in the next few months and maybe some birds too!’

This gorgeous collection is ideal for someone close on Valentine’s Day. Nicola is running a special for the month of February so with any Rustic Love product purchased you will receive a free small heart or star.

Rustic Love started last year for Nicola to have a creative outlet while being at home with her three children.  Nicola says, ‘I have always been into creative things whether it be cross stitch, scrapbooking or making things for my home! I tend to see something I like and think "I can make that" and usually give it a go. All my children have things in their rooms made by me. Actually all over my house are creations by me!’

Nicola adds, ‘I love rustic/ vintage things, and up-cycling  is something that works well for me. A lot of my bits and pieces are made out of old pallets and treasures I have found on the side of the road!’

Nicola became involved in Pay It Forward about nine months ago, as another way of getting visibility for her products and meeting other like-minded creators. She says, ‘I love the community feel about the shop and am very excited about the move to the new space two doors down. Working in the shop a couple of times a month means that I can see what's new and be in contact with the customers.’