Crafts and Collecting
Our libraries have a range of resources to improve your craft skills and give you creative ideas. If you enjoy collecting, we have guidebooks, catalogues and online resources to help you identify and look after your collectibles, whether they be Star War figurines or Royal Albert china.
Featured
Houseplant Swap
Sep 12th | 1:00pm - 3:00pm
A special event just for houseplant parents. Connect with other plant lovers or share your cuttings to help others grown their collections.
New Brighton - Papermaking and Seed Bombs FULLY BOOKED
Sep 29th | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Have you ever made paper before? Join us for this hands-on recycled papermaking and seed bomb workshop.
Pasifika Library Services - Tuvalu Vaka making
Sep 30th | 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Create your own miniature canoes inspired by traditional Tuvalu vaka, while learning about Pacific peoples climate sustainability practices.
Pasifika Library Services - Tuvalu Vaka making
Oct 2nd | 10:00am - 11:30am
Create your own miniature canoes inspired by traditional Tuvalu vaka, while learning about Pacific climate sustainability practices.
New Brighton - Papermaking and Seed Bombs FULLY BOOKED
Sep 29th | 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Have you ever made paper before? Join us for this hands-on recycled papermaking and seed bomb workshop.
Pasifika Library Services - Tuvalu Vaka making
Sep 30th | 1:30pm - 3:00pm
Create your own miniature canoes inspired by traditional Tuvalu vaka, while learning about Pacific peoples climate sustainability practices.
Pasifika Library Services - Tuvalu Vaka making
Oct 2nd | 10:00am - 11:30am
Create your own miniature canoes inspired by traditional Tuvalu vaka, while learning about Pacific climate sustainability practices.
Carter's Price Guide to Antiques
Prices of antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design.
Sewing
Whether you're making clothes, creating an amazing costume for Armageddon, or mending you'll find useful resources at the Library.
Craft Snippets: Embroidery with Julie Clemett
A report back from a Craft Snippets event with embroiderer Julie Clemett who has a strong interest in traditional Ukrainian embroidery.
Carter's Price Guide to Antiques
Prices of antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design.
Sewing
Whether you're making clothes, creating an amazing costume for Armageddon, or mending you'll find useful resources at the Library.
Craft Snippets: Embroidery with Julie Clemett
A report back from a Craft Snippets event with embroiderer Julie Clemett who has a strong interest in traditional Ukrainian embroidery.
CINCH Community Information Christchurch
Browse the handicraft and the collectors and collecting categories in CINCH (Community INformation CHristchurch) for Christchurch craft and collecting groups and organisations.
Crafts in the catalogue
Crafting
Yarn craft
Fabric crafts
Paper craft
Toi Māori – Traditional Māori arts and crafts
Arts and crafts for kids
Māori weaving for kids
Find out the different steps in weaving harakeke and different types of weaving (raranga).
Making a putiputi
Step by step instructions on how to make a simple putiputi harakeke (flax flower).
The stars of Matariki / Ngā whetu o Matariki
Instructions and video on how to make a woven star from harakeke.
Join us for school holiday fun and learning
Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Bookings are open now.
Māori weaving for kids
Find out the different steps in weaving harakeke and different types of weaving (raranga).
Making a putiputi
Step by step instructions on how to make a simple putiputi harakeke (flax flower).
The stars of Matariki / Ngā whetu o Matariki
Instructions and video on how to make a woven star from harakeke.
Join us for school holiday fun and learning
Come to the library in the school holidays for bookable programmes and free drop-in activities. Bookings are open now.
Arts and crafts for kids in the catalogue
Arts and crafts for kids in the catalogue
Websites
There are lots of websites that can help you with arts and crafts. Here are some we think you might like.
- Crayola
- Craft ideas and colouring sheets to print off or colour online.
- Creative Junk
- Rethink, re-use and recycle to make wearable arts and all sorts of other fun projects.
- Enchanted Learning
- Themed crafts for kids. Learn how to make things for Mother’s Day, Halloween, Christmas and school projects about Dinosaurs, Animals and Space
Collecting
Magazines and catalogues
Find print craft magazines by searching for the name of the specific craft and the word periodicals e.g. pottery periodicals. Locate print collectors' magazines by searching for the name of the item collected and the words collectibles periodicals e.g. dolls collectibles periodicals. For catalogues, including price guides and handbooks, do a search for the item collected and the words collectibles catalogues, e.eg. porcelain collectibles catalogues.
Collecting in the catalogue
Carter's Price Guide to Antiques
Prices of antiquities, antiques, collectables, retro, vintage and 20th century design.