Kia Ora Dabblers!

If you guessed “things I’d defend with my life but never thought I’d say in the same sentence,” gold star for you.

Lots happening around our city this week, and looks like some chilly overnight temps, so rug up if you're heading out (see you at Illuminate!) and 🤞 stock up on sun for the next couple of days.​
Also, I tried 'the thing' (Kintsugi workshop) for you, so you don't have to - but do I recommend you do? Read on to find out 😉

C.x ✨

Wednesday 13th August

📈 Foundations of Investing​
This one is a 'twofer' hobby - We know some of you love numbers, and also investing means more money to spend on other hobbies later! Plus, everyone should know more about money, so you really can't lose here.
​Where: Craigs Investment Partners House
​When: 5:30pm-7pm (1hr30min)
​Entry: FREE
​Info: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/foundations-of-investing-christchurch-registration-1450858068539​

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Thursday 14th August

🕺 Morning People feat. Jousey​
For somethin' a bit different to your morning exercise class...how about a rave? They'll also ply you with Altezano Brothers coffee, All Good bananas and Karma drinks - bonus before brekkie. (Also loving this ethos - "mission to move both bodies and boundaries")​
​Where: Hide, St Asaph St
​When: 6:30am-8am (1hr30min)
​Entry: $27
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/chch-morning-people-feat-jousey​

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Friday 15th August

🐮 Paint & Sip Studio turns 11 (go celebrate by painting cows (not painting on cows))​
Remember when our mums thought "don't have a cow, man" was like, the most offensive thing to say, ever? Anyway, it's P&S Studio's 11th birthday, and you're invited to their pop-art cow painting party (plus, they've got snacks).
​Where: Paint & Sip Studio, Arts Centre
​When: 6:30pm-8:30pm (2hrs)
​Entry: $50
​Tickets: https://www.artscentre.org.nz/whats-on/paint-and-sip-studio-celebrates-11-years/​

⛳️ Winter Couples' Tournament​
This mini-golfy-tourney will either bring you closer together or highlight your competitiveness. Could go either way, but hopefully you can make amends and share the prize. (Doesn't specify type of partner 🤠 (howdy)...)
​Where: Fillin' Holes (Tuam St)
​When: 6:30pm-9pm (2hr30min)
​Entry: $21.71
​Tickets: https://events.humanitix.com/winter-couples-tournament-2025​

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Saturday 16th August

😌 Self Hypnosis for Relaxation and Results Workshop​
"Let go of old habits and form new ones, brighten your future, excel in your career and create an easier path forward. This is an experiential workshop. Ideal for beginners and the curious".
​Where: Risingholme Community Centre
​When: 10am-4pm (6hrs)
​Entry: $90
​Tickets: https://www.risingholme.org.nz/product/self-hypnosis-for-relaxation-and-results-workshop/​

👽 The Strange Market​
"Hosted inside an industrial warehouse bursting with personality and some epic local businesses. This market brings together food, flash tattoos, fashion, art and curiosities". Plus, Grumpy's Donuts grand opening, yummm!
​Where: Sydenham Underpass
​When: 11am-3pm (4hrs)
​Entry: FREE
​Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/747857107878610​

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Sunday 17th August

🔫 Modelling/War Gaming Bring and Buy​
Buy/sell your models, books, toys and war gaming gear (clear the way for more!)
​Where: Woolston Club (Hargood St)
​When: 11am-3pm (4hrs)
​Entry: Gold coin entry or rego as a stallholder (cash-only buyin')
​Info: https://www.facebook.com/events/624164310496093​

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Monday 18th August

🧺 Weaving Club​
If you've got a handle (pun somewhat intended) on basic weaving, this is your space to practice the over-under craft.
​Where: Rekindle (Avebury House)
​When: 6pm-9pm (3hrs)
​Entry: $10
​Tickets: https://www.rekindle.org.nz/collections/craft-clubs/products/weaving-club
​Bonus: Peep Rekindle's full calendar here, they run a bunch of classes!

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Tuesday 19th August

📵 Tech-free Tuesday X Crafted Meeples​
Shove your phone between the couch cushions and do something analogue. Board games on offer if you're feelin' it, otherwise feel free to read/draw/chat/lie on the floor.
​Where: Crafted Coffee Company (Blenheim Rd)
​When: 6pm-8:30pm (2hr30min)
​Entry: FREE (koha appreciated and/or buy somethin to eat and/or drink)
​Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/1758249011735183/1758249015068516​

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💡 Special mention (coz it's all weekend and tickets are still available for various times) - Illuminate Light & Sound Festival
​Giant, inflatable, lit up dinosaurs - what more could you ask for?
​https://www.illuminateshow.co.nz/light-festival-christchurch​

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​Fire through your upcoming events here!

Get the full picture at MetService​

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👃 Aromatic Dressing Workshop​
Ditch the department store perfumes and mix your own rebellious signature scent from essential oils.
​Where: 74 Park St, Ashburton
​When: Sat 16th Aug, 7pm-8pm (1hr)
​Entry: $22.20
​Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/aromatic-dressing-workshop-tickets-1559045048709​

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Word Jumble: (hint: related to the trivia below)

MLUSVINLIA EFLTTAEL

(Answers for both at the bottom of the newsletter)

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👼 Volunteers needed for an Angel baby (and premmies) sewing/knitting working bee Altrusa Intl. (of CHC Inc.) are hosting a working bee this Saturday, to make Manaaki Mat covers, Angel gowns and knitted beanies for NICU bebes. You don't need sewing experience if you wanna help out, there's tasks for all abilities 💝 ​ More info here (not sponsored or affiliated, just thought it was cool)

Interesting info: "'Manaaki' - to care
Manaaki Mats are a safe, simple, specialist and effective cooling resource for deathcare.
Valuable for pregnancy loss, stillbirth and all other deaths including babies, children, teens and adults. Suitable for hospitals, maternity wards, NICU and PICU wards, hospices, funeral homes and community settings.
Using Manaaki Mats slows down the natural changes that occur after death by keeping the body cool. They are a more natural, environmentally friendly and affordable alternative to chemical embalming".

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🎶 6-piece Harmonica set...on a (waist belt) holster. That's Metal AF.

🦷 Antique dental and medical equipment collection. Also Metal AF, but in a slightly creepier way? ...WAIT, the coffee table is included!*

🚙 1/8 Subaru WRX Nitro RC car (my inner 11 year old neeeeeeds this)

⚡️ Harry Potter charm bracelet so you don't have to announce what house you're in, you're clearly a Sly Pufferine...

🏎 Wanna get (2) matching grass karts? Dibs on the yellow one.

🥣 Kintsugi workshop - review

ICYMI: Kintsugi is the Japanese art of taking something broken (usually ceramic) and visibly mending the cracks (often with gold, silver or platinum) so they become part of its beauty and story.

This bowl and I have a short, sharp history. As in, within 10 minutes of getting it home, I swooped a blanket too wide whilst folding, and caught the edge of it- down she went. And in a classic adulting move, it sat in a box for an entire year, waiting for me to get my act together and learn this art form.

TBF, I did try to teach myself with a random broken plate (that I found in my back yard, naturally). Spoiler: it was way harder than I thought, took way longer, and my "imperfections" were lookin' more like a hot mess than a beautiful story. I knew I needed to learn from a pro before I dared touch this "precious" piece (because it’s a Keith Haring design, not because of any sentimental value, promise).

I got 4 pieces glued together in the 2-hour workshop (which FLEW by), then spent another 4 hours over the weekend to get it finished (so 6 total). And that was the "quick" version! The traditional method (urushi lacquer) can take months, which, honestly, sounds like the kind of wonderfully slow, meditative project my soul needs (…to do in future).

Ema, our amazing instructor, is based in Auckland but runs these workshops periodically across the country. If you’re needing a nudge to turn your broken things into beautiful art, keep an eye on the site for future dates. It's a seriously cool new skill to add to your repertoire, and can be used to repair other materials (like pounamu and glass).

🏆 Dabble-o-meter: 6.5/7 - a forced (lovingly) exercise in patience. There’s no getting around it. But it’s pretty neat, and I’m chuffed to have my bowl back in a single piece. It ain’t perfect, but that’s the whole point, right?

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We accidentally found this Urban Foraging app map... and it's kinda fun. Super simple, no idea if how up to date it is, but you can find freely available, communal fruit and nut trees (bushes likely included, does not specify), and add any new ones you find, too!

Forget pub crawls (is that even still a thing?), let's find some Loquats! (hint: there's one in Westmorland and one in Avonside)
​4.5/7 - a search function and list format would be super helpful. Haven't tried locating said fruits yet, so rating unsubstantiated.

What do we think, this feels like we could do something cool here as a Dabbling community project... 🤔 any ideas?

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This week's roast goes to ✨The Arts Centre✨ - where the architecture says ‘Victorian elegance’ and the gift shop says ‘$38 for a tea towel that's so decorative it repels water'.

(obvs we LOVE the Arts Centre, please go and support them soooon)

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A slightly shorter one for you this week (and likely next), as I'm frantically (not really) boxing up my fabric and fork collections (kidding, I only have 2 forks currently and need to go shopping - what's the go, all matching or is mismatched OK?), as settlement has been moved forward!
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Now go check your parents attic for Beanie Babies (I hear they're now assets).

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

Fun answers:

💡 Illuminate Festival

Nelson, Timaru and Invercargill (womp womp, sorry no Dunedin)