Crafty Tarts
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We are a group of women in the Motueka area who are interested in learning and sharing craft ideas, skills and techniques that once were commonplace in Kiwi homes.
Our group was set up by Val Armstrong, who until 2009 operated a soft furnishing business in Christchurch. Having moved here and met Motueka women who had interests and skills in a variety of crafts, she decided to use these connections to bring talented and beginner craft people together to share knowledge and skills.
We meet at 10am every Monday, usually at Val's home studio at 3 Avalon Court, Motueka. We hold workshops in various crafts, put on usually by our own members. Sometimes we have field trips or joint meetings with other groups and at other venues.
Most meetings include "show and tell" sessions, where the participants bringing something they have made, or something they have bought which they would like to learn how to make. This usually creates interest among others, which gives them ideas that maybe they would like to learn how to do that.
Other meetings are based around teaching sessions by members or friends who have skills in specific crafts, such as felting, fabric crafts, knitting, crocheting, paper crafts, quilting, stone mat design and recycling old fabrics and clothing. The programme is worked out month by month as suggested or requested by those attending.
If there is interest in a craft which none of the group has expertise in, we can hire a tutor for a meeting and run small classes for an extra fee to cover expenses.
We are also building a good library of art and craft books on teaching various topics which members are lending for browsing and use by others. We are also encouraged to use the Pinterest website for ideas, patterns and suggestions.
Regular newsletters are sent out by email to the database of active members, and there is also a database of 'friends of Crafty Tarts' - people who take an interest but can rarely attend - who receive newsletters every month to 6 weeks.
We also have weekly quilting sessions during the winter where we make quilts for charities, and often contribute our time and skills to other voluntary community activities such as making the 100th Anzac Day poppies in 2015. We have also made large quantities of flowers crafted from fabric and paper for community events.
There is no joining fee or formal registration. At meetings, a $2 donation is requested to cover expenses. For further information, phone Val at or email .
