My Items

Hello, I'm Donna Wightman, a chef by trade and a passionate pen maker. My journey into pen crafting began in an unexpected place – Antarctica. While working there as a chef, I would spend my spare time visiting the woodworking shed where I discovered the lathe. Fascinated, I began turning my first pens, and a new creative outlet was born.
In 2021, I moved to the Tenterfield area, bringing my passion with me and purchasing my own wood lathe to keep creating. Now, I craft each pen with care, using both wood and acrylic to create pieces that are as beautiful as they are functional. My collection offers a range of styles, from classic wooden designs to bold, colorful acrylics, with something to suit every taste.
I hope you enjoy these handcrafted pens as much as I enjoy making them!

Hi, I’m Tara. I’ve been beading since about 2006. I started out with mostly glass but now I am also into gemstones. Love the look, feel and various types. The fact that they come from the earth and many have felt the healing benefits of them fascinates me.

My style, it changes with whatever beads I am working with. I can kinda get hippy, corporate, classic, simple, casual, whatever happens happens.

I try to stick to affordable! It is important to me personally, but the beads are getting much more expensive these days to purchase.

Want something specifically made just for you? Contact me, happy to do that. I love helping someone jazz up their wardrobe. A $50 necklace can help to keep those old favourite outfits keeping on.

If you want something here that is too long or too short, ask, I can probably alter for a small fee.

Some gemstones that I use: Amethyst, Amazonite, Agate, Aventurine, Carnelian, Jaspers, Onyx, Hematite, Citrine, Rose Quartz, any Quartz, Obsidian, Lava, Turquoise (very hard to get affordable turquoise these days that is real), Tanzanite, Opal, Prehnite, Rhodonite, Lapis Lazuli, Larimar, Aquamarine, Pyrite and Pearls and Coral. So much more, just have to find them.

Thank you for looking at my stuff, hope you find something you like!

My name is Kay Gray, I am 76 years young.

I have lived in Tenterfield for thirteen years and love the seasonal changes of the area. I have always loved plants of all kinds.

I was introduced to Eco Printing well into retirement and was fascinated by the endless possibilities of using leaves and plants both for colour and printing on fabrics. I have enjoyed printing on paper and silk scarves.

More recently I have been exploring printing on items of cotton and linen clothing, often giving a new life to re- cycled items.  It is a wonderful journey.

My crochet and embroidery items reflect the colours of nature and my love of autumn leaves and flowers.

I create easy-to-wear shawls, capelets, bags and berets choosing unusual designs. Thistles and native flowers are stitched on a range of small bags and unique brooches. On occasion, I create cruelty-free “crochetdermy” animals with distinct personalities!

Knife & scissor sharpening service

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.

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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.