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About
Me
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I was brought up with crafts - my mother sewed and knitted, and
did crochet and embroidery. My sister and I did too. I continued my craftwork as an adult, knitting, doing cross-stitch
and embroidery, in what spare time I had with full time teaching and then as a stay-at-home mum to my twin
daughters.
Then I re-discovered my sewing machine! I
discovered a whole new world - I began quilting and dollmaking.
After my (now teenage) daughters were born, I made dolls, bears, bunnies
and small quilts (which are now their treasures). I gave some away and even sold one or two.
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Finally
I took a dollmaking class and fell in love with the infinite possibilities that dollmaking presented. I tried
patterns, read magazines and developed my skills, learning and experimenting as I went.
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Red Hen Designs began as a small local craft business, which I started with
a dear friend, in the late 1990s, after my girls had started school. We were The Little Red Hen and sold dolls at
local craft shops here in Rotorua. I took over the business a couple of years later and started selling more
widely, running workshops, holiday classes and increasing my skills.
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It
was a natural progression to start writing my own patterns from my own designs. I now have over 60 doll, bear,
critter and quilt patterns, and more still in my head, just waiting to be born. I sell dolls, patterns and supplies
throughout New Zealand at craft shops, craft shows and on-line.
I love fabric, ribbons, trims and laces. A new
doll or quilt will come from a piece of fabric, a new trim, or a daydream. I am
never happier than when I am deciding on fabrics and trims for a new
project.
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My current
life is just lovely. We live on a small piece of land in the country with a large garden. We have fresh
eggs daily from our girls and fruit and veges from our garden. Our house (and my studio workshop) overlook Lake Rotorua,
so I can watch the lake as I work. I am fortunate to be able to combine the things I love- tutoring High School
English part-time, my doll and quilt making, and my husband and girls. |
Ten years
ago, I would never have dreamed my hobby would take me around the country meeting so many wonderful talented creative
people, and doing what I love.
Who knows
what the next 10 years will bring!!!
Raewyn
Parker
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