Handmade Christmas Gifts

I have decided to try to buy all of my Christmas gifts from individuals who have lovingly handcrafted them or things that are secondhand. I think people go crazy at this time of year, buy too many things and things that only have a short life span.
So here are a few of my gift ideas (hopefully my family aren't looking at this)...


  My sister is pregnant so I thought of these lovely little booties from Tiny Happy on Etsy

For a manly someone...The Apothecarium on Etsy

I love the prints and stickers of Melbourne artist Catherine Campbell of My Folk Lover for little or big ones.

 

 

OR for me if I had loads of money from the Agent Gallery in Chicago

Lovely Things #1

Jon Drypnz Street Art

Some cool street art by Jon Drypnz

The bottom poster was my friend's shop open in Nelson- great place.

Dudley Benson and the Dawn Chorus

I recently had the pleasure of attending a performance by New Zealander, Dudley Benson as part of the Nelson Arts Festival. Wow! What an extraordinary man- he created a totally unique and brave new world on stage which combined choirboy a'capella, dance moves, beat boxing by Hopey One. A genius mix of Pakeha and Maori worlds that was natural and unconstructed.

Pina- dance film

Oh as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival I recently saw this beautiful dance film by Wen Wenders showing the work of German expressionist dancer / choreographer Pina Bausch. The 3D was just incredible in the water scene and leaves coming out of the screen and bouncing off audience members heads.

 

 

Reading

I have been reading this lovely autobiography of the New Zealand dancer, Douglas Wright. When I saw studying dance at university he dance work Gloria was one of my first inspirations. I really like that there are some very well written autobiographies coming out recently such as the Keith Richards and Patti Smith ones.

Stories

I love the art of telling and creating a wonderful, engaging story. I wish I was a better writer and hopefully with time I will be. Here are a few stories either with words or images that I have recently discovered.

The last clip is for a children's book written by Colin Meloy the singer of The Decemberists.