Enjoy the colours of summer flowers on your tree this festive season. The Kiwi Christmas has little to do with snow and sleigh bells and everything to do with sunshine, beaches, barbecues – and flowers. The pōhutukawa tree (Metrosideros excelsa) is a much-loved feature of the
Fostering your creativity for greater health and happiness. We can’t all be creative all the time, but with encouragement we can boost our potential for imaginative thinking and become more confident at expressing ourselves. And it’s a spark worth nurturing, as new research confirms what we intuitively know
Here's how to make a delicious spicy ginger cocktail Method Fill a large glass with ice. Add the rum and ginger wine. Top with dry ginger ale. Use a potato peeler or sharp knife to cut a long, thin slice of fresh ginger root and garnish your drink with ginger
Words and styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick Acrylic pouring is a fun way to get your creativity flowing and make something beautiful. This technique involves pouring fluid paint onto the canvas then using a straw to move it around. Use Resene testpots diluted with a
Photography Amanda Reelick Fancy a new set of oven mitts to use next time you’re baking? You can make some easily using a woollen blanket and an old towel. Check out your local opshop for thick blankets. I chose this one because I especially loved the
Words and styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick. Basic knitting involves three essential parts: casting on, knitting each stitch back and forth and casting off. Get the hang of these three techniques and you’re a knitter.It’s that simple! Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can knit your
Styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick Turn classic cane into stylish woven wall art. Cane is a natural fibre derived from the rattan (or ratan) species that includes around 600 species of climbing palms. It is an enduringly popular interior design textile, thanks to its extreme versatility
Styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick Transform a basic cabinet using four simple steps. This simple cube cabinet had outlived its dark look – but not its usefulness. Still a sturdy piece of furniture, the cabinet was easily transformed using fresh paint and a set of castor
The pressure is on us all to constantly work smarter and faster – but doing nothing from time to time can nurture our imagination, and may be the best thing we can do for our mental health. So slack off this winter and discover the
Styling Sarah Heeringa. Photography Amanda Reelick. Whip up your own smart working tunic or simple dress. The Tessuti Apron is a one-size-fits-all cross-back tunic. The sewing level is easy to moderate. Use the pattern to make a practical smock or use a light fabric and cut extra
