Pegasus Post: August 27, 2020

PEGASUS POST Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Thursday August 27 2020 9
News
Craft studio gives disabled independence
Myriad groups help
keep our community
moving. Reporter
Bea Gooding speaks
to the Handmade
Studio manager Tori
Peden about how the
trust helps people
with disabilities gain
independence and skills
in the craft industry
Tell me a bit about the
Handmade Studio Trust and
how it came to be what it is
today.
Handmade Studio started in
the early 80s as a place disabled
people could go to be creative,
help build their skills and gain
independence. Over time, skills
have been perfected and new
opportunities have become
available. Our completed
garments are for sale in our
showroom and at The Tannery
in Wool Yarn and Fibre. We are
hoping to build relationships
with the fashion design schools
as our fabrics are handmade and
one of a kind. Many hours of
love and care go into each piece
that is made.
What items are made at the
studio?
Woollen garments are created
by our artisans using New
Zealand wool woven through
a loom and made into many
different design fabrics. Once
the fabric is complete our
volunteers turn the raw product
into garments such as jackets,
capes, ponchos, and shawls. Any
left-over fabric from this process
is made into soft toy kiwis,
rabbits, and bears. At different
times scarfs have been created
on the looms. Other crafts are
also made in the studio, and
currently, we are working on a
group project creating a handstitched
quilt, to be donated
to another local charity when
complete.
Why is a place like this
an important asset in
Christchurch?
Places such as Handmade
Studio provide more than just
a place to work, it gives a sense
of belonging. Many different
community organisations help
support different groups within
Christchurch. Elderly, disabled,
refugee, youth, and parenting,
all have special requirements
and without these organisations,
our community would be
fragmented and cold. A real
PRIDE: Handmade
Studio manager
Tori Peden (left)
and artisan Fiona
Berry believe
the craft studio
provides a sense
of belonging
for people with
disabilities.
PHOTOS: GEOFF
SLOAN
sense of belonging and purpose
helps someone get out of bed in
the morning, be somewhere, and
be part something.
What are the current
issues impacting people with
disabilities in the craft scene,
and why?
There are a couple of issues
facing all people in the craft
space, that is having outlets
to showcase their work, and
funding to be able to provide
space for artists. Our artisans
are special in that they have a
few extra hurdles to jump when
a comes to being an artist, but
they all do it with dignity and
passion. You ask all of them and
they will tell you they love what
do and they love having friends
around them. It is a bonus to see
their creation being turned into
a garment and then going to a
home to be worn with pride.
Funding at times can be hard
to secure for a lot of community
groups and ours is no exception.
Without the generous support of
funding providers, Handmade
Studio would not be available
for our artisans. We will keep
ticking along, this year like
every year we will continue
applying for grants and hoping
to get money to carry on doing
what we do. We are incredibly
grateful for the support and local
donations we receive; it does
make a real difference.
How can the community
better support people with
disabilities wanting to enter the
craft industry?
As we have all been reminded
lately to shop local but also be
okay with spending that little bit
more on something handmade
because each handmade item
not only has a story but has been
made with love by someone who
really treasures what they do.
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