This is a pretty descriptive video on how ‘cap and trade’ (the emissions trading scheme) may not be the be all and end all:
Archive for the ‘Other stuff’ Category
The Story of Cap and Trade
Wednesday, December 9th, 2009A new issue of World Sweet World magazine
Monday, December 7th, 2009Hi everyone,
we proudly announce that the latest issue, #8, of World Sweet World magazine is out now, in shops around the country and some shops in Australia, and available from our website. Here’s a little sneak preview!
We have a picnic-set project in store for you, in time for summer – have your own kit stowed in your bag at all times for emergency picnic breaks. We talk about crafty businesses again, in Miss Millie and Lucy Arnold’s article on selling at craft fairs, which is full of inspirational tips to help you get the most out of your crafty day. Also, we’re excited to report that Wellington now has it’s very own weekly craft fair – Frank Kitts Market, starting Dec 12th, underneath Frank Kitts Park on the waterfront. We’ll be there most Saturdays, so do pop by to stock up on mags for gifts, to renew your subscription, or just to say hi.
Last not least, summer is never complete without a soundtrack, so we’ve rounded up a few of our favourite New Zealand musicians and compiled a summer mixed tape (free download!) for you to bike, swim and play to. We’re absolutely stoked to have such talented artists on board and are proud to be able to support their music.
Have fun, and we hope you have a good summer! xx Thomas and Hannah
Victorian Victoria, and Vancouver, BC
Friday, October 30th, 2009Before we forget all about it, we should really tell you about our little visit to Victoria and Vancouver in British Columbia.
Getting into Victoria by ferry from Seattle was really nice, and arriving in Victoria felt quite a bit like coming home. It feels very similar to Wellington, with its Victorian style houses, and its seaside setting. Once you’ve done the touristy stuff around the waterfront, it’s probably a good idea to head towards Fernwood, up the hill.
Cornerstone Cafe (cnr Gladstone Ave/Fernwood Rd), run by the “Fernwood Neighbourhood Resource Group“, is a good starting point to explore the Victorian neighbourhood, around Gladstone Avenue and Fort Street. Apparently, Italianate and a Folk Victorian houses still live peacefully side by side here:
Downtown Victoria is quite cute and has nice Cafes and Galleries and shops, especially around Pandora Ave and Government Street. Smoking Lily (569a Johnson St) is the tiniest store in Victoria, literally a whole in the wall, and has great, locally made clothing. Next street over is Solstice Cafe (529 Pandora Ave), which has free wireless, which was a lifesaver for us 
.
Next street over again is Victoria’s China Town (or should I say “China Street”?). Walk through the cute Fan-Tan Alley, where you find Boucherat Gallery, which had a fantastic exhibition on when we were there. “Seeker teacher dancer dreamer”, by Vancouver’s Peter Taylor; beautifully made, enticing drawings:
Victoria also has its own nood shop, 546 Yates Street, and Capital City Cycles, 1419 Broad Street, which sells nice dutch style city bikes. Aah, so much to see/get and not enough time/money/baggage allowance.
Alright, if you do want to get out of the city a bit, go to East Sooke Park. It was a drizzly day, but seemed to be perfect for sea wildlife - we saw whales, seals and a sea leopard, all in one afternoon.
Ok, it was off to Vancouver for us after a few days, and unfortunately we didn’t have much time at all left for Vancouver. Our main goal for the afternoon we had was to find a nice, cheap (as we had 20$ left) place to eat, and we were rewarded by stumbling upon Donburiya, 1329 Robson Street/West End. Absolutely yuuuuummy, friendly, and affordable! And their lamps were a true craft-work, made out of bowls with their bottoms cut off:
We walked once around the waterfront, and came across red men and a snowy wonderland. We left just before the storm hit, knowing we’ll be back in the creative Northwest again sometime.
Thomas
Maranui surf club needs support
Friday, October 16th, 2009
The Maranui surf club needs your help! They are collecting signatures to make a strong case for having the building repaired – all details here: http://maranui.co.nz/. This weekend (17th and 18th October) they’re collecting signatures outside of Moore Wilson’s on Tory Street, and, I think, Deluxe.
This iconic Wellington building has to be saved, so make your voice heard!
RE Store in Seattle – a good catch
Friday, October 16th, 2009
A pity that you have to travel all the way to Seattle to find a really well sorted building demolition yard with amazing finds.
But, boy, do they have amazing stuff – a problem we were facing was: how do we get those floorboards back to New Zealand? Or, how exactly do we manage to take those wooden children’s lockers as hand luggage? There is a fantasmic range of materials, and amongst it, brilliant pieces. We recommend anyone who’s going to Seattle to visit this store.
Hannah’s favourite: the wooden lockers.
My favourite: the phone booth.
But see for yourself (below).
While in Seattle, you should also visit Anthropologie. The overall style is an eclectic mix of urban/eco/restore, and they present a collection of fashion, accessories and furniture. The displays are put together in very intricate and clever ways and often are design pieces in themselves. Very nicely done, I could have easily spent the whole day in there.
Seattle has a lot going for itself, and would even more, if the Alaskan Highway viaduct right on the waterfront was finally gone. If you can’t help it, go on one of the Underground tours, which will give you access to an entertaining show on Seattles history and an insight to what people will dump into sideways if they can. But, ahem, don’t expect any amazing underground shop fronts, with wonderful antique window displays (with skeletal mummified cats), that’s not gonna happen.
No no no plastic bags
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009A cute little clip from the bay area:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSD21zp89zM&hl=en&fs=1&]
Furniture recycling
Friday, October 9th, 2009This just flew in from Refugee Services:
“RECYCLE YOUR FURNITURE – GIVE TO REFUGEES!!
We accept good quality furniture (no stains, rips or holes please) to give to refugees arriving in New Zealand under the United Nations quota program. Beds, couches, dining tables and chairs, and chests of drawers are what we need most.
Sorry we don’t accept personal items or bric a brac. Aucklanders can drop off clothing at the Mangere Refugee Reception Centre – please contact (09) 276 6423 for details.
Offices are in Auckland, Hamilton, Palmerston North, Porirua, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Nelson, and Christchurch – go to www.refugeeservices.org.nz for contact details of your nearest office. Some offices have a van and drivers to pickup furniture.
Interested in volunteering? Go here.”
Wellington NZ's first Fair Trade city
Wednesday, September 30th, 2009Good on you, Wellington – a great achievement to beome officially recognised as a Fair Trade city. Now we have to continue to make the right choices when buying our coffees and other trade products.
"The last knit"
Tuesday, September 29th, 2009Knitting is dangerous.
Our latest issue
Friday, September 25th, 2009Kia ora!
Just in case you haven’t heard, issue #7 of World Sweet World Magazine is out in shops. It came out earlier this month, just before we left for our well deserved holiday (see Hamburg is crafty below). Another absolutely beautiful cover by gifted Greta Menzies (the gal behind Hotchpotch and Gruelboy):
As a side note, we were interviewed by Nikki Whyte for the latest peppermint magazine (issue 03) – peppermint is a great Australian eco fashion magazine; have a look! We also heard that we got mentioned in the Listener, please, someone, reserve a copy for us til we’re back .
We’re in Seattle at the moment and will soon post about cool shops in the Northwest. Til then,
ciao
x T from WSW