Crafty Tarts gather to learn and share skills

April 18th, 2012

Motueka women interested in crafts have begun a group called Crafty Tarts where they will learn and share craft ideas and techniques that once were commonplace in Kiwi homes.

The group has been set up by Val Armstrong, who until three years ago 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.

The first meeting on Monday was attended by 10 people. It took on a "show and tell" format, Val says, with the participants bringing something they had made or something they had bought which they would like to learn how to make. "That created interest among others, which gave them ideas that maybe they would like to learn how to do that."

Some of the items included some unusual felting, several fabric crafts and boxes, knitting, crocheting, booties, a stone doormat and decorations on T-shirts.

"In effect, we'll be setting ourselves up as tutors and work together on various crafts to show each other what to do," Val says. "We should be able to revive a few dying arts through sharing these skills. And we can have a pleasant social morning at the same time."

If there is interest in a craft which none of the group has expertise in (for example, "tatting" has been suggested), they will hire a tutor for a meeting and run small classes for a fee to cover expenses.

The Crafty Tarts will also build a library of books on various topics which members will lend. Val has already started this with an old book (it cost 3 shillings) on smocking and several other teaching books.

A member list is being built to enable an email newsletter to be distributed monthly that will include new ideas that could interest craftspeople.

One possible development is that items that members make could be combined to sell at a stall at the Motueka Sunday Market later in the year.

Crafty Tarts will meet monthly at Val's home studio, on the second Monday of the month. Anyone interested in crafts is welcome to join. A gold coin donation is requested to cover morning tea. For further information, phone Val at or email .

Some of the Crafty Tarts

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