Well, hello again!

It's been a crazy time in the Cultiverse over the past few months, so I hope you can forgive the lack of blog posts and newsletters.

It's down to a one-woman machine here in the new digs at 181a and I'm still working out how to do it all by myself now that Bec has had her tiny baby. (Yes, he's here...and he's beautiful!)

I haven't had the chance to thank everyone publicly yet for their help, well-wishes and outstanding support in the midst of the stressful months we had. It was not easy and without the help of that handful of amazing folk who carried, painted and hugged I don't think I would be here.
So thank you lovely people, you know who you are.

Along with the big move across the road have come some big changes to the way Cultiver exists on a daily basis. Our hours have changed a little, there are some new amazing products on the shelves and everything has gone YELLOW!!

That's right...time for a makeover, head to toe! A new logo to start with, something that echoes my love of modern design and simplicity...

If you haven't visited the new store (right across the road from the old one) at 181a Brisbane st yet, pop in for a peek. There are still piles of great handmade things, a little bit of vintage and some papery-stationery goodness. 

Here are a few shots of the new space...here's hoping I can pop another post up in a few days featuring all the beautiful new things we have in store!

xxxKyla

PS...If you pop in and find me napping behind the counter, please wake me with a gentle prod and a cup of coffee. Much appreciated.

Our Big 2nd Birthday Giveaway

It's been 2 years since we opened Cultiver! Yep, that's right, two whole years of creativity, fun events, workshops, crafter noons and cups of tea.

To celebrate and thank all the lovely people like you who have kept us going, we are having a lovely giveaway of some fab things. To join in you will need an Instagram account...it's our fave app for sharing awesome photos and videos. You can download it in the App Store and use it on your smart phone or tablet.

What can you win? Well...
A one of a kind gift package full of handmade goodies will include...
A Cultiver Candle Company package, a cuddly cactus from the new Little Bird line, one of Little Brown Dog's new vintage zipper purses, a screen printed Artwork produced in the Cultiver workshop as well as some added goodies from our fabric and habby stash.

Here's what you need to do...
1. Make sure you follow us on Instagram @cultiver
2. Wish us happy birthday with a creative/fun/totes hipster photo or video post on Instagram. (Make it cool. Yes, we will be judging you)
3. Make sure you hash tag your post with #cultiverbday (otherwise we won't be able to find your post, silly)
4. Share our original photo, with the yellow background, with your pals by re-gramming.

Entries close on Sunday 7th July with the winner announced on Tuesday 9th July.
This comp is open to Aussie and Kiwi residents only.

Winter frock swap - this Saturday

How it works

• Buy a ticket - pre purchase at Cultiver or buy on the day
• Clear out your wardrobe for four to six garments you think others will value, but you no longer wear. Give them a wash, press (if needed) and fold neatly so they are ready for the swap. The number of items you bring along is the number of ‘new’ swapped items you can leave with.
• You can deliver your swap items to Cultiver the week before the swap or bring them with you on the day (please arrive promptly at 2:00pm if you are bringing garments with you). You will receive a token for each quality piece you contribute.
• Grab a hot chocolate and churros while the pieces are sorted.
• SWAPPING STARTS at 2:30.
• Select your items you like, try them on and swap your tokens at the checkout for your chosen pieces.

 The rules:

1. please check items for spots, minor tears or missing buttons as these can be repaired by the fixit bitches on the day
2. all items must be clean and presented neatly – no wrinkly pieces please, a quick iron would be fab
3. style diversity is part of the fun and we welcome different styles not just current fashions
4. no t-shirts unless they still have tags
5. no items that are worn out or visibly pilled
6. no long gowns
7. no bras of any types
8. don’t bring anything with stains

The 'fixit bitches'

Lovely gals who can fix things will be on hand to help with minor repairs and alterations of garments including:

• hemming if items are too long/short 
• replacing or restitching buttons

Jen of Damned Soles will be available to give an extra spit and polish to any neglected shoes and you are welcome to bring along bigger shoe repair jobs and consult with Jen about what she can do for you.

We will also have a few jewellery mending supplies and at least one person who knows what they are doing to have a look at any quick repairs that you need to extend the life of your favourite pieces.

Location:

Cultiver - 181 Brisbane St. Ipswich

Cost: 

$15/head - includes hot chocolate and churros from fourthchild and helps us fund the fixit gals

When:

Saturday 29th June

2:00 - 4:30pm

secret garden party

A snap shot of our day at the Ipswich Festival Street Party.

Big, huge thank you's to:

Kate and Jen who helped make hundreds of recycled bottle flowers

Our wonderful performers - three blind mice, Kasey Michelle, Sound and Vision and Shoot! the piano player (links under pics)

And

Greg and Emma from Tangible Media for the snaps (Kyla took some too in between the crazy craft activity action).

three blind mice

Sound and Vision

Harry Brown (ok not on our stage, but he's my bro and we got him to play so he totally counts as part of the Cultiver family)

Kasey Michelle

Shoot! the piano player

Thanks also to all the gorgeous people who came and made stuff, we hope your UPcycled plastic flowers are brightening your day.

xx Bec

Workshop - using up you fabric scraps and sewing machine maintenance

Want to come along and sew with me? Next Sunday I'm running a 'sewing with scraps' session at Cultiver. If you've been hoarding gorgeous bits of fabric and looking for just the right project to use them for, then this is for you. 

The sess is split into two so you can either come and play all day or just come along for the morning. If you have little ones you are welcome to bring them along as we'll be in the workshop space upstairs and have a few things to keep them occupied.

And as an extra bit of awesomeness we'll have Jen from Damned Soles along to run you through some basic sewing machine maintenance too.

Here's all the deets:

24 February 

9:30 - 12:00 and/or 12:30 - 3:00

COST:
Full day
Members $40
Non members $50
Half day
Members $25
Non-members $30


WHAT you'll make - your choice of items including cushion covers, pencil cases, baskets, infinity scarf, head bands etc from your fabric scraps
Stay and make for the whole day or have a couple of creative hours on a Sunday morning.


TAUGHT by - Bec and Jen


MATERIALS required:

• A sewing machine (we do have a couple available to use if you don't have your own - please advise at time of booking if you need a machine)
• Basic sewing kit - scissors, thread, quick unpick, measuring tape etc
• A selection of scraps from your sewing stash in a variety of sizes and weights (we will also provide fabric bits and pieces for you to rummage through and use)
• Any extra sewing bits and embellishments - zips, buttons, ric rac, pompom fringing, old doilies etc - that you think you might need.

Yard sale

THIS SATURDAY - 13th APRIL 8AM - 12PM

the digital mag (eeeeek)....

With our lovely pals from Tangible Media we have been crazy busy over the last six months developing a Cultiver digital magazine for iPhone and iPad.

A whole bunch of amazing people have contributed their ideas, their time, their writing, their recipes, their handmade goodies and their support. And after many photo shoots, buckets of coffee, a couple of BBQs and a lot of late nights (especially the last one waiting to see if we had approval) we are finally able to let you all know that it's done and ready to download.

HUZZAH.

The Cultiver Xmas app is a fully interactive arts and craft digital mag, chock full of handmade goodness. It includes a couple of fun tutorials incorporating a bit of lino printing, a wee bit of crochet and needle felting and of course model railway figures. We feature a vintage film review and craftisan interview plus some fun interactive interludes. We've also thrown in some poetry, a recipe and a photographic essay which will evolve over further issues.

We are stupidly excited about it and eternally grateful to the Tangible Media team who have made it all possible.

You can head over here to download it for just 99c and if you need want a sneak peek of the cultiverse on iPad then head over to vimeo here.

To celebrate the release of the app we are offering a $15(AU) iTunes card to one Aussie resident who helps us spread the word about the app. You could share the link on Facebook (those who've already shared will go in the draw) or perhaps pop it in a blog post. Whatever you do, it will be greatly appreciated. To go in the draw for the iTunes please leave a comment here to let us know.

Now it is most definitely time for a power nap and a regroup. We hope you love it as much as we've loved making it and be sure to stay tuned as we are working hard on ideas for the next issue.

xx Bec and Kyla