Meet the makers #1.... Shh by Sadie

Today is the first of what is to become a regular slot on the emma blog!
We ask a few questions of the designers/ makers/ general clever crafty types whose wares we stock in our emma boutiques.
There'll be fashion designers, jewellery makers, card printers, scarf knitters and more!
First up is the lovely Sadie whose nothing but bones necklaces have been a best seller since we first started stocking her jewellery brand Shh By Sadie back in March this year.

Where do you call home and make your jewellery? 
 I’m lucky enough to call two places ‘home’ – here in Wellington and south Wales in the UK.
In NZ I make my jewellery at my kitchen table in Oriental Bay, with a pretty awesome view of the harbour in front of me. I take a lot of my beads with me to Wales when I visit (I’m yet to learn the art of travelling lightly!). When I’m there and making necklaces my mum kindly acts as my ‘dummy’. She loves jewellery as much as I do, but doesn’t understand my obsession with skull beads! I call my dad my bead scout. When I recently visited Wales he took me on daytrips so that I could visit the bead shops he’d found. It was a LOT of fun!

 Tell us about your latest collection/pieces and the inspiration behind it. 
I love attention-seeking jewellery and I’ve recently become a big fan of layering necklaces. My latest pieces are chains and necklaces that can be mixed and matched - worn alone or layered together to make a statement. I want people to have fun with the pieces.

What is your favorite piece and why?
 My favourite piece is my Chunky Chain, in Barbie pink. I find myself wearing it way too often, but I do love a splash of pink!

If you had to choose three words to sum up the spirit of your label what would they be?
Fun, colourful and playful.  

Thanks Sadie, we love your fun and playful jewellery and think it's great teamed up with our new summer collection too.

Summer 2012 shoot - Mimosa Sundays

Had such a great shoot for our latest collection Mimosa Sundays 
(check out our collections page for all the pics) and really enjoyed the day spent with an awesome team of  crazily creative and clever Wellingtonians.

We were shooting in the middle of winter and didn't want to battle the Wellington wind/rain/cold so set up racks of summer samples, shoes, accessories and the major prop
(peacock chair, yep it's a beauty:) at Boxtale Studio.
Photographer Louise Hatton found us some sunshine with sultry yellow and lavender backdrops (genius:)  and Emma M from Red 11  looked oh so beautiful as she drifted into a sultry Mimosa Sunday circa 1950, somewhere exotic perhaps a very secluded Asian hideaway:)
We wanted the look of the shoot to be part resort glam/ part holiday ease with relaxed styling and it was really nice to work with stylist Sopheak Seng for the first time to achieve that. He had the best finds, like the gorgeous gem brooch and 'cats eye' sunglasses from Emporium Vintage, shoes from Ultra and much more.

Of course,  Lisa Ussher of The Powder Room came to the party and worked her magic with the hair  and there was stunning, sunkissed make-up by Hayley Nees.
I grabbed some brightly coloured Shh by Sadie necklaces off a display in-store on my way out the door and they fitted in so well with some of the lookbook shots, as did one of my grandmother Airini's glass bead necklaces from some exotic location she had travelled to.
It all added up to a create our very own emma look for summer and with production underway styles will be in-store soon.
Don't forget to join the mailing list if you want to be the first to hear about new style drops and other such handy titbits!

Summer 2012/13 inspiration

Seeing as we're in the depths of winter thought it might be nice to 'escape' the chills and ills and share some of the images that inspired me for summer 12/13. Loving 1950s resort glam, prettiness, vintage prints and parasols!! (also just saw this blog from Jennie http://alittle-vintage.blogspot.co.nz/...we used some great vintage cats eye glasses in our summer shoot,  will post very soon)

Summer opening hours for emma boutiques

This will get you in the Christmas spirit!

We already adore She & Him and to make this time of year even better they've put out a Christmas album. It's kind of mellow at times (maybe better for chilly northern hemisphere yuletide action, supping hot toddies and watching snowflakes fall) but this track is one of my favs.

Even Ellen agrees:)

flying south little bird, then join the FLOCK here...

It's had a tough year in Christchurch but they're definitely finding their feet again, which is fantastic:)

Our stockist FLOCK in Sumner, having managed to stay open through most of the shakes, is celebrating the arrival of lots of lovely new season summer clothing (including yours truly of course, emma) and gorgeous gifts!

Well worth the drive out their way and well worth your support ( and there's even an Emma in residence so you'll really feel at home)

Berri clever crochet fingers!

Excuse the word play but Berri Drum is very clever with crochet and we at emma are really excited to now stock her gorgeous crochet collars.

Based in Melbourne, Berri's Hand Hook Yarn is the first non-NZ label we have stocked but thought her work was so lovely we couldn't be without it. Her views on making/ creating and manufacturing really resonate with us and think you'll agree...

'remember(s) a time when things were made with love. When we labored over tasks and enjoyed the results. Possessions were fewer and we treasured them, cared for them, and they became heirlooms.'

We hope you will love her work as much as we do (we're stocking her awesome tassel and suede neckpieces too:)

We're open on Cuba Street!

Yep, it was a hot and steamy night (well actually it was a pretty typical chilly Welly spring evening) shared by loads of lovely folk who well and truly celebrated the opening of our new shop and the release of our summer collection Vacationer.

We had sensational wine sponsored by Te Mata Estate and yummy nibbles from Martha's Pantry.

Thank you to all for welcoming us into 'town' and especially my family and friends for supporting, believing and helping me live my dream.emxx

Charming Cuba Street, emma is beguiled.

We think Cuba Street is the best street in Wellington to discover independant, individual and interesting shops so we are very very excited to be opening a new shop at #268 next week.

There's some gorgeous neighbours suchas The Powder Room, Madame Fancy Pants, Particles of Time and the wonderful Martha's Pantry just around the corner, for when you need a sustaining cuppa, or even better a cupcake, so there's plenty to make the stroll up Cuba Street well worthwhile.

We're so lucky to have found a beautiful vintage space with loads of character (it was once a butchers shop, just like our Berhampore shop) so pop on in, say hi and BRING ON SUMMER!

Vacationer collection - first drop in store this week!

The daffs are out, the sun is shining so the time is ripe for some new season styles at emma.

First drop in this week there's goodies galore... dianne strappy silk sundress in a stunning 'tiger eye' print, tori denim skirt with the cutest sailboat contrast tie belt, farah pants, frida cuffed shorts and more!!

Grab some clogs, a big floppy 'Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver' 70's hat and your favourite emma style and come say 'hellooo' to summer with us,

emx

Behind the scenes at summer shoot

Love this time of year as one (fashion) season becomes another.

I know, so the temperatures might not be that summery yet but at emma we're thinking about where we want to go on holiday and what we want to wear.

I really like this emma season ahead with lots of 1970's inspiration in the range.

Great colours like orange and purple, striking stripes, a cool beachy print designed exclusively for us by Karin Amdal :) and a very cute ship-shape cotton print that I totally love (hope you will too)

Thought you might like to take a peek at what's ahead for emma and we made a little movie of behind the scenes at our shoot for the new season.

Feel the warmth and imagine the sunshine, emx

summer 2011 vacationer collection

Final fling for summer sale

We want to clear the decks so having our first ever sample & seconds workroom sale in Berhampore.

Please spread the word and hurry on in-only lasts for a week.x

Busy, busy blossoms...

Where are the days going in 2011??

Busy times at emma so not a lot of blog time but winter production is in full swing, yippee!

So no time to waste, but thought you should know about lawyer/passionate cook Delaney Mes of blog Heartbreak Pie . She makes tasty food that's sure to inspire and she's a fan of emma!

So being that we share a love of food/baking/cooking & eating with her we thought it great she wanted to wear emma on her first TV appearance on Good Morning.

She looks very kitchen chic in our Blossom dress teamed with an adorable apron from her sister.

Check out how great she looks, bet Sarah was jealous-hee,hee!

http://tvnz.co.nz/good-morning/s2011-150211-delaneymes1-video-4028615

Happy New Year!!

2010's going to be a great year and we're happy to say, that after a lovely sunny holiday in Waikanae, our Berhampore shop is open again!

We are back to normal trading hours from today (Tuesday 11th Jan) which are 10am to 5pm all week and 10am-4pm on Saturdays.

There's lots to look forward to this year with a new season release just around the corner but before then there's still quite a lot of summer fun to be had.

Thanks to all you lovely ladies, and some lovely lads too, who have helped 'emma' along the way and look forward to seeing you all again this new year.

emx

Santa's coming!!!!

In our shop window this week, taking centre stage to welcome in the festive season and looking cuter than ever, it's Filiokus!

We have a fantastic selection of this beautiful, locally made children's playwear label in store now, let your child's imagination take flight ( & smile as they look super cute whilst doing it).

Strawberry & watermelon sun-hats, santa suits, sunrise dresses and dinosaur romper suits- ohh our munchkins never had more fun dressing up.

Oh so-pretty...

Just arrived at emma!

Poppy so-pretty dress in silk spotty stripe (o.k.- it can be a tunic top if you're not up to getting the pins out just yet:)

It also comes in the sweetest cherry dot silk print and our very favourite teeny tiny cotton floral print as a blouse.

Numbers are limited so check it out at emma in berhampore now.

Lovely local jewels

Anna from Quail design has just brought in some more of her beautiful skeleton leaf necklaces:)

They all have very special vintage blossom beads hanging either with the leaf or at the clasp as an extra treat.

We loved them so much we featured them in our summer '10/11 collection look-book, so pretty, we know you'll like them too.

Love that sale

Don't miss out on the first ever 'all garment' sale at emma.

Yippee-do, it's all good. At least 25% off!

Snap up a 'if it's homemade it rocks my world' top that you've had your eye on all summer,

a party dress to shimmy the night away in or

snaffle up a cosy merino number in preparation for the cooler days ahead:)

Stock is limited so don't dally ladies, the Berhampore crowds are crazy!

Summer 09/10 peek

...of my new season collection called Stitchbirds.

Named because I love birds and I love stitching things and what's even cooler, put them together and they make the name of a beautiful native New Zealand bird, ahhh....

This summer I continue to develop elements which are becoming touchstones of my label

colour, comfort, prettiness & practicality.

Just above you'll see the Biba bell sleeve dress and it is one of my favourite pieces.

With it's wee peek of contrast petticoat and new feature print it's great for all sorts of summer fun (comes as a top version too:)

For when you want to dress-up pick'n'mix dresses are brilliant.

We gave retailers a chance to play and create their own special pick'n'mix mixture.

Pick a frill sleeve combine with a sweetheart neckline add pockets you get the drift.

Pump up the plumage with the twinkle glitter skirt (second pic down)

Ohh it's so glittery and magical makes you want to grant wishes:)

Wear it with my cute crafty tee and you'll be the belle of the bbq, hee, hee!

Sorry for only showing a few pics here but am updating my website with the full range at the mo so won't be much longer.

In the meantime you can fly to your nearest stockist and see everything in-store now!

See you tweetie

emx

(Check out the cute Shelley shoes we used for shoot, thanks Shoe Connection, Cuba Street)

Wellington designer fashion show

Ok, so I'm addicted to shows it's official!

Hot on the heels of ANZFW is the Buy New Zealand Made Fashion Show next Wednesday 22nd October 7pm.

Hosted by Samuel Marsden school with 100% of proceeds going to Canteen, go team, you'll get to see the new season collections from great designers (like ME!) throw some money around at a charity auction and groove with a performance by hip-hop group Emerge. Nibbles and goodie bags included,yah!

So get your ticket today from fashionshownz@gmail.com or from the office at Marsden.

Only 25 bucks.

Please support this event as it's been a real community effort and is a great cause.

Cheers and see you there.