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Ten shops you must
visit in New Zealand
By Emma Bradst
ock
Map by Susan Cadzow
On the east coast of the North Island, you’ll find the Hawkes
Bay region, known for producing some of the best wine in the
country. The historic Art Deco town of Napier was devastated by
an earthquake that struck in 1931, shifting the coastline while
destroying almost every building in the area. The town was
rebuilt in the Art Deco style, and that is what makes Napier so
famous now its the Art Deco capital of the world.
Journey down to the South Island to discover more
spectacular and diverse scenery. The Christchurch/Canterbury
region has some stunning landscapes, from ocean to alps,
plains and peaks.
Further south is the stunning city of Dunedin, which is known
for being a little taste of Scotland with its beautiful Victorian
and Edwardian architecture. A visit to Larnach Castle, the only
castle in the southern hemisphere, is a must. The region is also
home to three varieties of penguins, the Little Blue Penguins,
Yellow-eyed Penguins and the Fiordland Crested Penguins.
With such vast and varied landscapes, there is so much to
see and do in New Zealand. Whether you love shopping and
indulging in cities and towns, exploring history or admiring the
breathtaking landscapes, this little country has it all.
What’s On
3 September 2011–31 December 2012 Victorian Tales
of Love and Enchantment, Auckland Art Gallery Toi o
Tamaki, Auckland CBD, North Island.
www.aucklandartgallery.com
13–17 February 2013 Geon Art Deco Weekend, various
locations, Hawkes Bay, North Island.
www.artdeconapier.com
1–16 September Feast of Canterbury, various locations,
Canterbury, South Island. www.feastofcanterbury.co.nz
21 October Spring Fling, Larnach Castle, 145 Camp
Road, Otago Peninsula, Dunedin, South Island.
www.larnachcastle.co.nz
27–28 October Kumeu Art In The Garden, 49 Main Rd,
Kumeu, North Island. www.kumeuartinthegarden.co.nz
18–23 July 2013 Taupo Symposium, various locations,
Taupo, North Island. www.tauposymposium.co.nz
Follow the needle and thread, button by button, as we discover 10
of the craft shops you must visit in New Zealand.
N
ew Zealand, the land of the long white cloud, is
mainly known for its stunning and diverse landscapes,
many of which can be attributed to the high levels of
seismic and volcanic activity.
The North Island contains the country’s capital city,
Wellington, as well as its largest city, Auckland. Auckland
has some fantastic shopping, both in the city’s main shopping
district and the selection of boutique and art shops in
Devonport, which is only a short ferry ride from the CBD.
In the middle of the North Island is the Taupo region. It
is known for its spectacular geographical features, such as
stunning Lake Taupo, the raging Huka Falls and its high level
of volcanic and geothermal activity.
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The Country Yard
N
estled in picturesque gardens,
this American-style craft barn
at Maungatapere on the outskirts
of Whangarei is a beautiful place
to visit in the North Island of New
Zealand. The Country Yard is owned
and operated by passionate crafter
Kerryn Walker who, when she opened
this store in October 2003, made her
dream of running a business centred
on her love of quilting and patchwork
a reality.
The Country Yard stocks a great
range of patchwork supplies with
over 1000 bolts of fabric, patterns,
books, country-style gifts and
homewares. Kerryn also runs a variety
of workshops, clubs and block of the
month programs suitable for all skill
levels. On top of stocking a great range
in a wonderful location, the staff at the
Country Yard are friendly, helpful and
experienced – and Kerryn is always
on hand to offer an expert’s advice
and opinion, making for a delightful
shopping experience.
Apart from being a fantastic craft
shop, what really sets The Country
Yard apart is the garden. It is such a
popular attraction on its own that it
features in garden tours and is also a
popular wedding venue. Garden tours
are welcome by arrangement, and it
truly makes for a stunning shopping
experience combining crafts in a
gorgeous garden setting.
Address: 229 Mangakahia Road,
Maungatapere, Wangarei 0179
Phone: +64 9 434 6748
Email: kerryn@thecountryyard.co.nz
Website: www.thecountryyard.co.nz
All Things Patchwork
F
or five years, Cheryl Houston has
been running All Things Patchwork
and the 215 sq metre floor space of
the store in Waimauku Village Centre
certainly makes a fantastic location for
a patchwork shop. There is great light
and space, with plenty of car and bus
parking, and the wonderful, helpful
service and excellent range of stock
are still the same as always.
The first thing you notice about All
Things Patchwork is the explosion of
bright, glorious colour from the fabrics
and furniture, a friendly welcome
and the scent of delicious vanilla in
the air. The shop is well-known for
its extensive range of Westminster
fabrics, Amy Butler and especially
the largest range of Kaffe Fassett
collections in New Zealand. There
are also Moda, Clothworks, Yuwa and
Birch 100% organic cottons, Echino,
Whangar ei
Waimauku
NZ fabrics, and FreeSpirit
fabrics available, as well as
a fantastic range of pastels,
brights for children and lots
of boy fabrics, to name but
a few.
All Things Patchwork is a
dedicated Bernina Sewing
Centre and offers full sales
and service. A range of
classes is offered, from
beginner to advanced, in
embroidery and patchwork,
and bus trips are welcome
by arrangement. Cheryl
has many customers
compliment her wonderful space and
range of bright and contemporary
fabrics, so it’s little wonder why Cheryl
describes her shop as “All Things Bright
and Beautiful”: and when you drop in
for a visit, you’ll understand why!
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Address: Waimauku Village Centre,
Factory Road, Waimauku 0812
Phone: +64 9 411 7618
Email: allthingspatchwork@gmail.com
Website: www.allthingspatchwork.co.nz
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Cushla’s Village Fabrics
C
ushla’s Village Fabrics in
Devonport has been a popular
sewing destination for more than 17
years now and, in July 2010, store
owner Cushla was thrilled to open
a second shop under the Cushla’s
Village Fabrics banner. The new store
is located in the historical gold town
of Waihi and carries the same fabulous
fabric selections that the Devonport
shop is famous for, along with specialty
haberdashery required for patchwork
and quilting projects.
Cushla’s Village Fabrics stocks a
large selection of batiks, New Zealand
fabrics, Japanese gold-overs and
indigo fabrics, as well as 1930s and
reproduction prints. Also available
are exclusive kits, BOM programs and
classes in machine quilting, appliqué,
bag and doll making.
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Although both shops share a similar
product range, each store has its own
unique personality and flavour and, as
the shops are within an easy drive
from each other, it’s worth visiting both.
Address: 38 Victoria Road, Devonport,
Auckland 0624; 49 Haszard Street,
Waihi 3610
Phone: +64 9 445 9995 (Auckland);
+64 7 863 3419 (Waihi)
Fax: +64 9 445 9926
Email: cushla.fabrics@xtra.co.nz
Website: www.cushlasvillagefabrics.
co.nz
Sundday School Singers is available from
Cushla’s. The finished quilt measures 71!/2in
x 81in. Please contact the shop for further
details.
Quilters’ Patch Cambridge
or an amazing seven years,
Quilters’ Patch in Cambridge has
had owner Bev Johnson just as excited
to run the shop as she did on the first
day she opened. A lot has changed
in the last couple of years though,
including the move to the current
site in the main shopping street of
Cambridge.
This bright and spacious shop
stocks a wide variety of fabrics and
provides friendly and helpful service,
making Quilters’ Patch a popular
shopping destination. They have
several thousand bolts of fabric in store
with something for everyone, from
the fabulous Kona Bay and Robert
Kaufman oriental prints, to a large
selection of black and whites. Then
there are the tonal fabrics across the
colour spectrum, several hundred
novelty fabrics, beautiful Moda fabrics,
gorgeous florals, Thimbleberries
fabrics and of course the ever
popular Kiwiana fabric range.
They also stock wide quilt backers
and batting and offer a longarm
machine-quilting service.
The wonderful and talented staff
members, Jennifer and Jenny, are
more than happy to assist customers
and share their knowledge and
experience. On Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday evenings they run the
popular Sit ‘n’ Sew sessions, and new
quilters are more than welcome to
attend.
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Address: Shop 5/39 Victoria Street,
Cambridge 3434
Phone: +64 7 823 5878
Email: quilterspatch@vodafone.co.nz
Website: www.quilterspatch.co.nz
Taupo Symposium
S
ituated in the North Island of New
Zealand is the town of Taupo.
The centrepiece of this town is the
spectacular Lake Taupo, which is
a great attraction for tourists. From
July 18 – 23, 2013, Lake Taupo will
provide the backdrop to the Taupo
Symposium Fabric Art Festival. It is the
perfect combination — all things fabric
and crafty in such a spectacular part of
the country.
Tutors from around the world,
including New Zealand, Australia,
the UK, the USA and Africa will be
attending to share their tips and tricks
with those lucky enough to be there.
There will be 250 workshops, over
30 merchant stalls, quilt exhibitions
and challenges, lectures, the chance
to catch up with old friends and make
new ones, some scrumptious food
and delightful evening entertainment.
With so much to do, not only
at the Symposium, but in the
stunning town of Taupo, it is
the perfect chance to take a
little holiday.
To register to attend
the Symposium, you will
need to fill in a registration
form. Registration forms
can be found on the
Symposium website at www.
tauposymposium.co.nz/
Registration.aspx and visit
the website www.tauposymposium.
co.nz to find more information. Email
is the preferred method of registration
and newsletter delivery, however, a
snail-mail option is available with a
small payment for postage. With plenty
of time to start planning your holiday
to Taupo, this is one event in 2013 that
you simply can’t miss out on!
JJ’s Crafts
J
Taupo
This gorgeous quilt was designed and made
by Margaret Boyt of Taupo, showcasing the
local talent of the region.
Address: PO Box 1149, Taupo 3330
Phone: +64 7 376 8269
Email: info@tauposymposium.co.nz
Website: www.tauposymposium.co.nz
s
G r eenm eadow
beads, a great variety of embroidery
J’s Crafts’ owner Jan Gilray has been
threads, embroidery kits and patterns,
in business for 23 years, specifically
patchwork kits and patterns, and
moving into patchwork eight years
accessories. Kits include Christmas
ago. “I have always been a crafty
projects, a mystery project of the
person, with an interest in spinning,
month, and a brilliant range of
weaving, embroidery and now
BOM programs.
patchwork,” Jan says of her decision to
Twice a week, JJ’s Crafts holds
get into the industry. “As my customers
patchwork classes and an embroidery
wanted something more challenging,
class. There are also classes with
the challenge for me then was to give
visiting tutors. Monthly, there is a
them greater opportunities.”
Christmas Club and Mystery Block
The welcoming shop is best known
Club, with a 6in Charm Square Club
for its range of stock and the great
now available.
colour choices that this affords its
customers, as well as for the wonderful Address: 14 Gloucester Street,
Greenmeadows, Napier 4112
staff always willing to lend a hand.
Phone/fax: +64 6 844 0680
Jo, Sharon and Wendy have all been
Email: jjscrafts@clear.net.nz
with JJ’s for years and have a great
Website: www.jjscraft.co.nz
knowledge of product so you will
always get the best advice.
The lovely Remember When BOM by
Along with over 3000 bolts of
Libby Richardson is one of the many great
projects available from JJ’s Crafts.
patchwork fabric, the shop carries
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The Quilter’s Barn
S
ince August 2006, Anne Murchison
has been the happy owner of
The Quilter’s Barn, which has been
operating since 1997. Situated amongst
other boutique shops in The Vines
Village, a popular tourist complex, this
gorgeous barn has everything a quilter
needs — and more!
Step inside and be amazed by the
size of the store and the huge amount
of stock. They have over 2000 bolts of
fabrics in a wide range, as they want to
provide fabrics for all tastes and needs.
They also have a large range of New
Zealand fabrics, fat quarters, books
and are expanding their range of wools
to help make the store a complete craft
heaven! They are more than happy to
help customers in many ways, one of
which is offering their own Jelly Rolls,
which are made out of combinations
that customers request, such as
children’s, pretty pinks, black & whites
or anything else a customer needs.
There is also a range of classes on
offer such as stitching days on Tuesdays
and Thursdays, UFO days, Fabric Club,
Blocks of the Month, Friends of the Barn
group who make quilts for charity, and
new in 2012 is their Christmas Club.
Anne loves the location of the store.
“Because of our situation in The Vines
Village, we get a large number of
travellers – visitors from around the
world, bus tours, cruise ships docked
in nearby Picton, and many more,” and
with the great selection of products
Watercolour kits from Whims
and friendly service, there is no
Watercolours are available from The
surprise why they attract so
Quilter’s Barn. These great kits come
with 2in pre-cut squares, instructions,
many visitors.
layout plan, and other fabrics for
Address: 193 Rapaura Road, RD 3
appliqué (border is excluded). Suggested
Blenheim 7273
product to be used with the kit is a prePhone: +64 3 572 7240
printed 2in grid fusible webbing, making
Website: www.thequiltersbarn.co.nz
the construction much simpler.
Stitch
A
lthough the mother and daughter
team of Penny and Fenella Jameson
have only been running their shop
for two years, their passion for their
business has helped Stitch grow into a
thriving store in the city of Christchurch.
When you first step inside the store,
you’ll be greeted by the latest quilt
project hanging in their foyer, then into
the main store, you’ll be grabbed by
the delicious scent of vanilla orchid,
the fresh colours of the fabrics, the
laughter and chatter from their classes,
a great range of Husqvarna sewing
machines and their centre island
smothered in brightly coloured Kaffe
Fassett fat quarters, Jelly Rolls, books
and pincushions. The store is dotted
with towers of kits, samples, baskets
of giftware and specialty fat quarters,
and they have the largest range of Kaffe
Fassett fabrics and Debbie Bliss yarns in
Blenheim
Chr istchur ch
The Practical Guide to Patchwork book by
Elizabeth Hartman is available from Stitch
for $39NZD. It’s such a fantastic book,
Fenella was inspired and couldn’t resist
making the Valentine quilt from it.
Christchurch. The wonderful staff are
always there to provide service with a
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smile, and will certainly help you with
any questions you may have, or advice
you need.
Their spectacular service doesn’t stop
there. They run an extensive selection
of classes ranging from bags to skirts,
wallhangings to large bed quilts – they
really have something for everyone!
The casual and free coffee groups that
they run are very popular, while in May
this year they held their first retreat.
Meetings of the Canterbury Modern
Quilt Guild, founded by Fenella, are
also held at Stitch. So, drop in on the
happy ladies at Stitch for a fresh and fun
shopping and class experience.
Address: 27a Colombo St, Cashmere
Christchurch 8022
Phone: +64 3 332 1820
Fax: +64 3 332 1823
Email: fenella@stitchplayroom.co.nz
Website: www.stitchplayroom.co.nz
B
on
Annie’s Country Quilt Store Ashburt
ased in a cute 100-year-old
pioneer cottage in Ashburton, one
hour south of Christchurch, Annie’s
Country Quilt Store has been owned
by Rachel Maw for 10 enjoyable years.
Rachel combines her love for antiques
and collectables with her excellent
range of products.
When you step inside this charming
shop, with its friendly and inviting
atmosphere, you will absolutely love
the treasure trove of products to tempt
quilters, patchworkers, embroiderers
and crafters alike. There is a great range
of fabrics, DMC and Cosmo threads,
hundreds of patterns, kits, samples of
quilts, dolls, table runners, cushions,
pincushions, wool and so much more,
including a special Christmas room.
You’re sure to find the best range of
fabrics here with Moda, Kaffe Fassett,
batiks, Fossil Ferns and a selection of
fabric themes to choose from.
There are also fantastic weekly
classes run at the store, and in August
they will be playing
host to internationally
renowned designer
Sue Spargo. They also
hold an annual retreat
at the beautiful French
heritage seaside village
of Akaroa. Rachel likes
to travel to different
trade shows and source
different and hard
to find items, so you’re sure to find
something special in-store.
Address: 167 Archibald Street,
Ashburton 7700
Phone: +64 3 307 6277
Email: rachel@anniesquilts.co.nz
Website: www.anniesquilts.co.nz
Nelly Applebys Quilt Store
Gore
W
ith something for all fabric tastes
and excellent service, Nelly
Applebys Quilt Store is a wonderful
shop with character. Owner Bronwyn
Rabbidge finds real joy in meeting
and helping customers, resulting in
a relaxing ambience that gets those
creative juices flowing.
The shop has more than 3000
patchwork fabrics, many displayed
in wooden bookcases that decorate
the interior of the old villa along with
baskets containing cut pieces and
bundles. There is truly something for
every taste, from lots of brights and
kids’ designs to flannels, country,
batiks, oriental and minkee prints.
Nelly’s offers sewing machine
repairs, a night class, and regular
sewing days for patchwork of your
own choice. There is also a Teddy
Bear Group to represent Bronwyn’s
first love (she originally sold
teddy bear fur and related
products from home).
Other products include
patterns, books, dolls,
tablerunners, wallhangings, quilts,
foundation piecing, bags, cushions and
stitchery designs. The shop’s friendly
environment is perfect for browsing
and having a chat; you will feel at
home in no time!
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Buttons cushion
pattern from
Sally Giblin of
The Rivendale
Collection
available for
NZ$17.
Address: 71 Hokonui Drive, Gore
9710
Phone/fax: +64 3208 6306
Email: info@nellyapplebys.co.nz
Website: www.nellyapplebys.co.nz