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;

✨ Give - Give yourself permission to be terrible at something new. And give my thanks to you for being here, honestly it means a bunch 🥹

✨ 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!) 🤜🤛

✨ 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, that’s the whole point of life 💖

​Peep the themes here​
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...

C.x ✨

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Wednesday 8th October

📖 Book Launch - Eddie Sparkle’s Bridal Taxi by Frankie McMillan​
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!
​Where: Scorpio Books (BNZ Centre, Hereford St)
​When: 5:30pm-7:30pm (2hrs)
​Entry: FREE (and there's refreshments)​
​Info: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/book-launch-eddie-sparklers-bridal-taxi-by-frankie-mcmillan/christchurch-district​

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Thursday 9th October

💠 Beginners Mosaic Evening Class​
Smash stuff on purpose and call it art - this beginner’s mosaic class lets you turn chaos into something gorgeous (and possibly functional). No experience, just vibes and grout.
​Where: Blooms & Brushes Studio (Victoria St, Rangiora)
​When: 7pm-9:30pm (2.5hrs)
​Entry: $60
​Tickets: https://www.bloomsandbrushes.co.nz/book-a-class/p/mosaic-october​
​*I've agreed to stay up past bed time and booked this one- will give you a rundown next week!

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Friday 10th October

🩱 Adults Only Pool Party​
A pool party without rogue toddlers or soggy plasters - just grown-ups, hydroslides, and a suspiciously flirty game of pool tag. BYO floaties and emotional maturity (optional).​
​Where: QEII Leisure Centre (Travis Rd)
​When: 6pm-8pm (2hrs)
​Entry: $54.55
​Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/adults-only-pool-party/christchurch​

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Saturday 11th October

💍 Beginner's Weekend - Spring Session (2-day jewellery making)​
Forge, file, and flirt with fire - this two-day jewellery workshop is your gateway to turning shiny scraps into wearable bragging rights. You’ll leave with a handmade ring, possibly a new obsession, and a dangerous confidence around blowtorches.
​Where: Workspace Studios
​When: Sat 11th-Sun 12th (both 10am-1pm)
​Entry: $248
​Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/beginners-weekend-spring-session/christchurch​

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Sunday 12th October

🦋 Butterfly Fun Run (Fundraiser)​
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 you’re chasing PBs or good vibes, you’re in the right race.
​Where: The Groynes Reserve (Northwood)
​When: Sign in from 8:30am, briefing at 9:10am
​Entry: $23.25
​Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/6km-butterfly-fun-run-2025/christchurch​

🤓 CHC Geek Market​
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.
​Where: Richmond Working Men's Club (London St)
​When: 10am-2pm (4hrs)
​Entry: $2 at the door (proceeds to I Am Hope)
​Tickets: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/the-christchurch-geek-market/christchurch​

🏄‍♂️ Lads Without Labels X Cuba - Party Waves Surf Lesson​
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...
​Where: New Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club
​When: 8am-10am (2hrs) (lesson approx 1hr)
​Entry: $5 (Party Waves is free if you wanna head along without a lesson)​
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/surf-lesson-at-party-waves
​More info: https://www.ladswithoutlabels.org.nz/events/party-waves​

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Monday 13th October

👯‍♀️ Adult beginner hip hop class - Have a go!​
As if you needed an excuse to shake your butt and strut into the week like the Pussycat Dolls loosening up some Buttons...
​Where: Rolleston Community Centre (Rolleston Dr)
​When: 7:30pm-8:15pm (45min) (happening again Mon 20th Oct, if you miss out)​
​Entry: FREE
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/adult-beginner-hip-hop-class-have-a-go​

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Tuesday 14th October

🧺 Harakeke and Weave​
Learn the foundational techniques of raranga (weaving) to create glorious harakeke (flax) pieces. Then maybe take it further with a Māori & Indigenous Art (Weaving) diploma or certificate?
​Where: Te Wananga O Aotearoa - Campus and Gallery (Colombo St)
​When: 10am-1pm (4hrs)
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.eventfinda.co.nz/2025/harakeke-and-weave/christchurch-district​

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​Fire through your upcoming events here!

Get the full picture at MetService​

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⚫️ Give Bowls A Go​
Turns out lawn bowls is less “retirement hobby” and more “Friday night chaos with snacks.” $5 gets you bowls, BBQ, and bragging rights - what else are you doing that’s this wholesome and cut-throat?
​Where: Hampstead Bowling Club (Ashburton)
​When: Fri 10th Oct, 5:30pm-8:30pm (3hrs)
​Entry: $5.45
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/give-bowls-a-go​

🧶 Adult Craft Club (monthly)​
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.
​Where: Hampstead Bowling Club (Ashburton)
​When: Tue 14th Oct, 6pm-7:30pm (1.5hrs)
​Entry: $5 (on the day, but you need to pre-register)
​Info: https://events.humanitix.com/adult-craft-club-halloween-gnome​

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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 “Wisteria whisperers” (they should totally call themselves that) 💚

Here's the full schedule for this month: https://www.facebook.com/events/1529190694782348/1529190774782340​

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Word Jumble: (hint: related to the events above)

EHSYODILDR
OORIPCS OOSKB

(Answers at the bottom of the newsletter)

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💅 Become a certified nail tech ninja, and create tiny talon arts?!
Spend 3 days with ✨Jamie from Beauty HQ✨ 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.
​Where: Beauty HQ (Marine Pde, South NB)
​When: Fri 10th-Sun 12th Oct, from 9:30am
​Cost: From $1290, which includes a kit to get you started
​Enroll: https://vampnail.com/pages/gel-polish-soft-gel-biab-course​

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🌷 Make candles? Wanna make floral ones? How about a whole dang bouquet of silicone molds?

👁 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).

👾 OG Gameboy DMG1 in transparent (iconic) to add to your (two-tone ski jacket) pocket?

🧊 Breeeaaaathe sloooowwww - if you need to practice, this ice bath might "help"...

🏘 Need more places to stash all your hobby gear? How about a studio-sleepout or studio-garage?

🪑 Inversion tables... It's giving Final Destination X Saw collab, but also just what your back is craving...? Quite the conundrum.

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🚨 "✨Becky✨ 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".
- ✨Jade✨
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Thank you again, look after yourself and your brain this week (well, every week) 🧠. Catch you out there!

Here are your quick links:​
Got a community event/fun thing to share? That's this one [free]​
Classifieds, paid events or newsletter sponsorship? Intro offers active [paid]​
​​Got a vacancy to share or need a volunteer? Chuck it here, too [free]​
Keen to share your deepest hobby-love? Brag away here [free]​
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Now go make a carrot cake (and send this email to the mate you’d share it with 😉).

C.x​
​Publisher, The Dabbling​
​Ōtautahi’s Unofficial Hobby-Hypewoman

Fun answers:

HYDROSLIDE
SCORPIO BOOKS