My Items

Fibre Artist, Hand Knitter, Hand Quilter- Casual to Couture

Design has been my passion from an early age.
I use yarn and fabric like an artist uses paint.
The myriad colour combinations in knitting and quilting are limitless, the textures eye-catching.
Put these two elements together and the result is always fresh, innovative and appealing.
My creations range from casual to couture with the reward that every hand knit and quilt is unique.
You can be confident that you are either wearing or decorating with a Maxwell Hunt, one-off original.

I was taught how to crochet by my aunt when I was a teenager, staying with her so I could work. At that time, I enjoyed making rugs. When I retired from the library world 3 years ago, I decided to revisit and explore the many facets of crochet. I made rugs for my grandchildren at first, entering them into crochet competitions at the local Agricultural Shows with encouraging results.
I then decided to find out if it would be feasible to offer crochet items for sale in Make it by volunteering in the shop to see if there were any gaps in the market not covered by the current 'Makeitteers". I noticed that there were very few items available that were suitable for men and boys. I started by making beanies in male friendly colours and have since diversified a little.

Timber and working with my hands has been a lifelong passion that began by "helping" dad in the shed. Over time my interest progressed and upon inheriting tools from my grandfather I decided that I was interested in furniture making. Before long I had built my first workbench using recycled pallets.

I in 2018 was fortunate to obtain an opportunity for classes with the world-renowned cabinetmaker Geoffrey Hannah. This has been instrumental in propelling my practical skills and design work. Having moved to Tenterfield in 2021 I am currently establishing a workshop from which to produce furniture and explore creative ideas.

Paper art/pressed plants

Following a successful career in the Sydney graphic arts and advertising industry David his wife Dean and son James moved to Maleny on the Queensland Sunshine Coast. After retiring four years ago he took a course with popular artist and friend Gary Myers where he started painting with acrylics on canvas, and then joined the Artists Alliance Australia group, entering a number of exhibitions in Brisbane and the coast. David’s inspiration comes from a strong interest in nature and the landscape as well as a creative imagination, photographic references and a love of birds, flowers and animals. Having recently moved to Tenterfield he and his wife have been busy renovating their lovely old cottage and restoring it’s gardens, he is looking forward to getting back to the brushes and easel and to meeting other members of Make It Tenterfield Inc.

My passion comes from connecting, appreciating and painting animals in nature from ocean to bushland. Taking my watercolours with me while travelling in my van to spend time connecting with animals and the environment. On my travels I always end up making friends with the wildlife. My intention with my art is to connect the human to the eye of the animal and feel a sense of respect and love for all mother nature’s creations big and small.

Art experience: Grade 11 & 12 Fine Arts & Cartoon Illustration. TAFE Cert II & III of Contemporary and Fine Arts.

I am an outdoors and beach lover by heart, so my craft tends to reflect this. Any shells I've used have been collected on family camping holidays. My airplants have been purchased either locally or from an Australian online company. I am an all-round crafter and prefer to dabble in a lot of different projects rather than mastering in one.

I also love any form of origami, for a multitude of reasons. It's unique, colourful, portable, inexpensive, sustainable, keeping my mind active, as well as passing on a skill to future generations.

“I have always been a maker. I’ve intuitively sought new creative interests and, I’ll readily have a go at anything to build new skills and satisfy my curiosity. I then reflect, edit, adapt and combine ideas to create pieces that are truly my own.”

Kylie combines the traditional techniques of slab building, pinching and coiling to create beautiful ceramic wares. Hand building, as opposed to wheel throwing really allows the ‘hand of the maker’ to shine through in each finished item.

Every piece is slightly different.

Every piece is perfectly imperfect.

​

BANJO AND ALICE
Designed & made by Dianne Rissler and Erica Hammond. Created off grid in Tenterfield. A partnership respecting collected treasures from times past—hand crochet and embroidered pieces, vintage jewellery and lace garments feature original printing with romantic and thoughtful words, french
labels and images of vintage French boudoir dolls.

Banjo married Alice in a little church in Tenterfield and we hope to keep that romanticism alive as you tell the story of your piece of wearable art. There is poetry in every piece.

"My background is in book illustration and my artwork tends to reflect that. Illustrative work and quirky drawings are the kind I most enjoy. But whatever the subject matter of my artwork or it's ultimate purpose, it's drawing that underpins everything I do. I just love drawing!

I hope that my drawings and paintings will find an audience and delight others as much as it delights me to produce them."

Finely crafted handmade leather goods