1707 days ago

DIY – Terracotta Bud Vases

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Hamilton

Take on the terracotta trend and sculpt a unique floral feature.


You will need:

- Modelling clay (air-drying or baking)
- Rolling pin

- Knife
- Straw
- Fine sandpaper
- Test pot brush
- Paint test pots (we like Resene Sakura & Resene Apple Blossom)
- Resene FX Paint Effects Medium
- Small sponge
- Cord to hang


Step one: Start by rolling out your clay about 7mm thick (A). It’s important to work on a clean, non-stick surface.
Step two: Use a knife to cut a rectangle as long as you want the main shape to be, then cut a square roughly twice the width of the rectangle and two-thirds the height (B). No matter what shape you’re making, the top piece must be wider to form a dome or pocket. The backing piece always needs to be taller and have enough height to support your flora and allow for a hole.


Step three: If using air-drying clay, dip your fingers in water and wet the edges of the clay slightly – baking clay does not require any water to seal together. Take the smaller, wider square piece and make an arc over the backing piece, bringing the sides together (C). Press the sides down so the clay bonds together, then do the same along the bottom (D), making sure you still have a curved opening at the top.


Keep reading: www.curtainclean.co.nz...

Image
More messages from your neighbours
6 days ago

Poll: If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

In the Post's article on speeding penalties, the question is asked whether speeding fines are truly about road safety, or are they just a way to boost revenue for the Crown?

What do you think? Should speeding motorists receive speeding fines or demerit points?

Image
If we want to reduce speeding, what do you think actually changes driver behaviour? 🛻🚨🚓
  • 37.2% The sting of a fine (Money talks!)
    37.2% Complete
  • 62.8% The threat of demerit points (Nobody wants to lose their license!)
    62.8% Complete
912 votes
12 days ago

Some Choice News!

Kia pai from Sharing the Good Stuff

DOC is rolling out a new tool to help figure out what to tackle first when it comes to protecting our threatened species and the things putting them at risk.

Why does this matter? As Nikki Macdonald from The Post points out, we’re a country with around 4,400 threatened species. With limited time and funding, conservation has always meant making tough calls about what gets attention first.

For the first time, DOC has put real numbers around what it would take to do everything needed to properly safeguard our unique natural environment. The new BioInvest tool shows the scale of the challenge: 310,177 actions across 28,007 sites.

Now that we can see the full picture, it brings the big question into focus: how much do we, as Kiwis, truly value protecting nature — and what are we prepared to invest to make it happen?

We hope this brings a smile!

Image
3 days ago

🍦 A Challenge for the Sweetest Tooth!

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

We all love a scoop (or three) of ice cream... but the owner at Little Liberty Creamery in Taranaki is taking things to a whole new level for 2026!

Her goal? 52 new flavours this year. That’s one brand-new, experimental creation every single week! 🤯

The Great Flavour Debate: We want to know what the current "Gold Standard" is for you.

What is the crème de la crème of ice cream flavours?
🍦 The Purist: Are you a "perfect vanilla or nothing" kind of person?
🍫 The Chocoholic: The darker and chunkier the better?
🧂 The Salty-Sweet: Is Salted Caramel still the reigning champ?
🌈 The Wildcard: Are you into the experimental stuff—think lavender, chilli, or charcoal?

Tell us your absolute favourite flavour in the comments below! 👇

Image