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By Arts Writer Edna Heled. An initiative that started 10 years ago at the Whangaparāoa Library has made its way to Auckland’s CBD.
On Thursday, June 4, Claire Conza, founder of Make Give Live, will bring a community event to The Button Factory – a creative hub and event centre in central Auckland – to mark the venue’s expansion. Participants are invited to help transform the space into a colourful, welcoming haven.
Make Give Live is a community of makers who knit or crochet a collection of beanies with the principle of “sell one, give one”, donating to New Zealanders in need through a number of different charities. Groups of avid knitters meet regularly to make wool beanies and socks, at the same time connecting with each other to become a family of like-minded, generous creatives. (Check out their short-term pop-up shop at Re-Circle in Whangaparāoa’s Coast Plaza, with wool products for all ages at sale prices.) You can also register your interest in joining a group on www.makegivelive.com.
Knowing the positive impact of crafting and community, this special Crafting the Commons afternoon and evening event at The Button Factory aims to bring connection, rhythms, playfulness and nurturing kai. By sewing, decorating, yarn bombing, sharing food, listening to music, making things together, and slowly transforming parts of The Button Factory and Abbey Street, participants will make a statement at the entrance, spilling into the street, that creativity lives there.
Participants are invited to create together, in a massive Craft Jam, a colourful string art and bunting that reflects that special feel-good vibe that The Button Factory is all about, softening the hard edges of society and welcoming people into their warm, inclusive, safe space, where they can connect and express themselves, organisers said.
As The Button Factory enters a new chapter, the founders hope to gather ideas for future transformations of the space and invite everyone to take part in their vision of collective stewardship, shaping the kinds of spaces we want to exist in with colour, warmth, and creativity.
A full event list is on their website www.thebuttonfactory.co.nz What’s On, or on Facebook and Instagram. It is also available for private bookings. Crafting the Commons event details: https://thebuttonfactory.co.nz/events/crafting-the-commons
