"Εtautahi locals - This newsletter will RUIN your free time... in the best way" π₯
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* β‘οΈ Fresh workshops & events, weird hobbies & advice, creative deals & career possibilities, and meeting local legends doing cool sh*t along the way. π‘ Plan your weekend, accidentally reinvent your life. π Inspiration drops every Wednesday at noon.
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Feeling nostalgic with Pool Tag π, Gameboys πΎ and Star Wars Lego π§±
Published about 1 month agoΒ β’Β 6 min read
Guten Tag Dabblers!
This week is mental health awareness week, and amongst thinking about what that means for me, a couple of themes stood out to me in relation to this whole (newsletter) project;
β¨ Give - Give yourself permission to be terrible at something new. And give my thanks to you for being here, honestly it means a bunch π₯Ή
β¨ Connect - Celebrate each other, bring people together and create new relationships. And for you to help spread the word by flicking this newsy on to your mates (including those who have started a business around their hobby!) π€π€
β¨ Keep learning - the whole dang point is to offer you opportunities to PLAY, to explore, to be curious and DO stuff. Every single thing we do is for experience, thatβs the whole point of life π
βPeep the themes hereβ Also, don't know about you, but Sunday felt like the ideal day for life admin/movies/ dishes/booking future activities/generally hibernating? Or maybe I was being a nana and missed stuff- what did you get up to? On the flip side, this week also sees us (adults) elbowing kids out the way for a hydroslide takeover, and pining over action figures and comic books (I sense a theme - we love some nostalgia), let's see what else is on the cards...
π Book Launch - Eddie Sparkleβs Bridal Taxi by Frankie McMillanβ We love celebrating other peoples' dabblings, and sending a book out into the world is peak-dabblature (not to mention the previous SIX books Frankie has released). This is for those that like their prose short, their drama deep, and their emotions served slightly unhinged - go say hi! βWhere: Scorpio Books (BNZ Centre, Hereford St) βWhen: 5:30pm-7:30pm (2hrs) βEntry: FREE (and there's refreshments)β βInfo:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/book-launch-eddie-sparklers-bridal-taxi-by-frankie-mcmillan/christchurch-districtβ
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Thursday 9th October
π Beginners Mosaic Evening Classβ Smash stuff on purpose and call it art - this beginnerβs mosaic class lets you turn chaos into something gorgeous (and possibly functional). No experience, just vibes and grout. βWhere: Blooms & Brushes Studio (Victoria St, Rangiora) βWhen: 7pm-9:30pm (2.5hrs) βEntry: $60 βTickets:https://www.bloomsandbrushes.co.nz/book-a-class/p/mosaic-octoberβ β*I've agreed to stay up past bed time and booked this one- will give you a rundown next week!
π Beginner's Weekend - Spring Session (2-day jewellery making)β Forge, file, and flirt with fire - this two-day jewellery workshop is your gateway to turning shiny scraps into wearable bragging rights. Youβll leave with a handmade ring, possibly a new obsession, and a dangerous confidence around blowtorches. βWhere: Workspace Studios βWhen: Sat 11th-Sun 12th (both 10am-1pm) βEntry: $248 βTickets:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/beginners-weekend-spring-session/christchurchβ
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Sunday 12th October
π¦ Butterfly Fun Run (Fundraiser)β Grab your sneaks and run, walk, or flutter your way through 6km of heart and hope, to support Miscarriage Matters NZ. There are prizes for speed, style, and spirit - so whether youβre chasing PBs or good vibes, youβre in the right race. βWhere: The Groynes Reserve (Northwood) βWhen: Sign in from 8:30am, briefing at 9:10am βEntry: $23.25 βTickets:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/6km-butterfly-fun-run-2025/christchurchβ
π€ CHC Geek Marketβ Trade, sell, buy all the geekery (action figures, comic books, movie and TV merch, vinyl, Lego and a bunch more), or simply vibe in a room full of people who get your Star Wars references. βWhere: Richmond Working Men's Club (London St) βWhen: 10am-2pm (4hrs) βEntry: $2 at the door (proceeds to I Am Hope) βTickets:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/the-christchurch-geek-market/christchurchβ
πββοΈ Lads Without Labels X Cuba - Party Waves Surf Lessonβ In honour of Mental Health Awareness week, LWL are hosting a sunrise swim/surf sesh. Bonus, you get a board/wetsuit to borrow (or BYO) and there's brekkie and coffee on site (thanks to Bacon Bros and Supreme Coffee). Optional 'Extra for experts', there's a 40min run/walk happening at 6:30am, if you feel like getting up earlier... βWhere: New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club βWhen: 8am-10am (2hrs) (lesson approx 1hr) βEntry: $5 (Party Waves is free if you wanna head along without a lesson)β βTickets: https://events.humanitix.com/surf-lesson-at-party-waves βMore info: https://www.ladswithoutlabels.org.nz/events/party-wavesβ
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Monday 13th October
π―ββοΈ Adult beginner hip hop class - Have a go!β As if you needed an excuse to shake your butt and strut into the week like the Pussycat Dolls loosening up some Buttons... βWhere: Rolleston Community Centre (Rolleston Dr) βWhen: 7:30pm-8:15pm (45min) (happening again Mon 20th Oct, if you miss out)β βEntry: FREE βTickets:https://events.humanitix.com/adult-beginner-hip-hop-class-have-a-goβ
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Tuesday 14th October
π§Ί Harakeke and Weaveβ Learn the foundational techniques of raranga (weaving) to create glorious harakeke (flax) pieces. Then maybe take it further with a MΔori & Indigenous Art (Weaving) diploma or certificate? βWhere: Te Wananga O Aotearoa - Campus and Gallery (Colombo St) βWhen: 10am-1pm (4hrs) βEntry: FREE βInfo:https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/harakeke-and-weave/christchurch-districtβ
ROADIE?! (I'll bring those pea crisps that taste like burger rings)
β«οΈ Give Bowls A Goβ Turns out lawn bowls is less βretirement hobbyβ and more βFriday night chaos with snacks.β $5 gets you bowls, BBQ, and bragging rights - what else are you doing thatβs this wholesome and cut-throat? βWhere: Hampstead Bowling Club (Ashburton) βWhen: Fri 10th Oct, 5:30pm-8:30pm (3hrs) βEntry: $5.45 βTickets: https://events.humanitix.com/give-bowls-a-goβ
π§Ά Adult Craft Club (monthly)β Ashburton Library have got the goods! Monthly craft nights to try different stuff, just for adults! This month sees you making a Halloween (of course) themed gnome. βWhere: Hampstead Bowling Club (Ashburton) βWhen: Tue 14th Oct, 6pm-7:30pm (1.5hrs) βEntry: $5 (on the day, but you need to pre-register) βInfo: https://events.humanitix.com/adult-craft-club-halloween-gnomeβ
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THE QUIET, THE SLOW, THE LOW-KEY, & THE CLOSE-TO-HOME STUFF π
Our beautiful Botanic Gardens have (probably equally as beautiful) guides guiding guided walking tours every day this month (at 1:30pm (and also through Mona Vale on a few dates, same time)) - worth leaving the house to go and hang out with βWisteria whisperersβ (they should totally call themselves that) π
PERMISSION TO CHUCK THE CORPORATE LADDER ON THE BONFIRE
π Become a certified nail tech ninja, and create tiny talon arts?! Spend 3 days with β¨Jamie from Beauty HQβ¨ learning (day 1) Gel Polish, (day 2) Soft Gel Extensions, (day 3) and BIAB (Builder in a Bottle) ...and maybe 3 more days practicing hand-steadying exercises, and you're good to be let loose on the world (kinda)! There's also online courses if you can't make it in-person, or want to do a more focussed style. βWhere: Beauty HQ (Marine Pde, South NB) βWhen: Fri 10th-Sun 12th Oct, from 9:30am βCost: From $1290, which includes a kit to get you started βEnroll:https://vampnail.com/pages/gel-polish-soft-gel-biab-courseβ
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FROM ONE HOBBY GOBLIN TO ANOTHER
π· Make candles? Wanna make floral ones? How about a whole dang bouquet of silicone molds?
π This might be the coolest LOTR Great Eye(Sauron's, obvs) garden ornament we've ever seen (it might also be the only, but husshhh).
πΎ OG Gameboy DMG1 in transparent (iconic) to add to your (two-tone ski jacket) pocket?
π§ Breeeaaaathe sloooowwww - if you need to practice, this ice bath might "help"...
π¨ "β¨Beckyβ¨ made me look after her 120-year-old sourdough starter for the weekend while she went away... It has a name, a bedtime, and a better social life than I do... It's "Doughly Parton", if you were wondering". - β¨Jadeβ¨ β
Thank you again, look after yourself and your brain this week (well, every week) π§ . Catch you out there!
Here are your quick links:β Got a community event/fun thing to share? That's this one[free]β Classifieds, paid events or newsletter sponsorship? Intro offers active[paid]β ββGot a vacancy to share or need a volunteer? Chuck it here, too[free]β Keen to share your deepest hobby-love? Brag away here[free]β β
Now go make a carrot cake (and send this email to the mate youβd share it with π).
C.xβ βPublisher, The Dabblingβ βΕtautahiβs Unofficial Hobby-Hypewoman
"Εtautahi locals - This newsletter will RUIN your free time... in the best way" π₯
Your weekly nudge to be a delightfully terrible beginner at something new π€Έ
*NEW FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER* β‘οΈ Fresh workshops & events, weird hobbies & advice, creative deals & career possibilities, and meeting local legends doing cool sh*t along the way. π‘ Plan your weekend, accidentally reinvent your life. π Inspiration drops every Wednesday at noon.
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