Showcasing unique and special Christmas Art Gifts.

This is a cash and carry exhibition.

A great chance complete some Christmas shopping, purchase some unique and special Christmas decorations or just treat yourself!

A great selection of giftware and art will be on sale.

Artists include:

Camille Alabaster

Shona Bain

Robyn Creighton

and guest artist Marcanui

Robyn Creighton is one of a group of women who gather in the evening twice monthly at Alexandra Community House.

The Alexandra Sewing Circle is a do anything group - sewing, knitting, patchwork, craft and more.

While Robyn specialises in mainly Christmas Craft, which are being exhibited, some recycle and repair clothing.

The patchwork quilts produced are especially fabulous.

The group welcomes new members, who are offered any help they need.

The Sewing Circle vary from young mothers to grandmothers and even the occasional bloke has rolled on up to learn new skills from the core group of experienced sewers.

Shona Bain, an experienced crafts person, enjoys all aspects of sewing.

She loves the ancient art of hand smocking.

Shona is exhibiting a small range of her hand smocked little girls’ dresses.

Smocking is making a comeback.

The technique is a method of embellishing, providing texture and interest to any part of a garment.

Small pleats are drawn together to add fullness - the pleats are anchored into place with the smocking.

Each garment is machine stitched using a range of techniques and is made from 100% cotton giving body to the smocked pleats on the bodice whilst the finish on the skirt remains crisp.

Camille Alabaster is an award winning artist residing in Alexandra, working in clay and paint media.

She is exhibiting her latest paintings which are demonstrating her transition to abstracted realism.

She is an alumni of CVP - Creative Visionary Program 2022 and 2023 where she has learned to trust her own artistic voice while honing her skills in painting techniques.

In 2023 she won a place in the Cold Wax Academy which is expanding her understanding of cold wax medium paint techniques and media.

Alongside a selection of this year’s paintings, Camille is exhibiting her “little darlings” – ceramic figures and items made with frivolity to celebrate Christmas with Nativity characters (including the Holy Cows from the stable) and gift giving ideas.

Marcanui has whakapapa to Te Kapotai of Waikare in the Bay of Islands and Te Pōpoto of Utakura in the Hokianga.

In 2010 my journey took me to Unitec to study a Certificate in Traditional and Contemporary Maori Weaving.

Only six of us graduated that year and only three of us still weave now.

I found weaving to be calm and relaxing, a connection to nature, to history, to culture and to my ancestors.

I met Mereraina Uruamo (nee Murray) daughter of Sanna Murray (Ngati Kuri),.

Mereraina taught me many things but most of all she taught me what weaving can do for people and communities.

Now I am living in Central Otago.

I am not a master weaver, I am a person who has studied weaving, I want to grow my knowledge, I want to share what knowledge I have, I want to gain experience.

I am not a teacher, I am a person who likes to share what I know about all sorts of things, I talk way too much, you might learn something from me, I will learn something from you.