Keven Fisher has been collecting American license plates as a hobby for the last few years, and in 2011 decided to try his hand at using the license plates to make guitars. "I had seen someone making similar pieces in America, so thought I'd give it a go", says Keven.
His hand crafted guitars are a tribute to Jazz, Blues and Country music, and his work is this months Feature at The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House. Anyone with an interest in music, guitars or Americana will love Keven's guitars. They are genuine artworks purely for display and can't be played. Keven can make the guitars from license plates from almost every state in America - the options are almost endless. Every state in America has different design of license plate, most are bold, colourful and many have vibrant pictures on them. many people enjoy collecting a license plate from each state in America. Keven will be happy to discuss different options with you. Click here for Keven's own website

Susie Scarlett is a self taught photographer who originally took up the hobby to occupy a lot of lonely weekends while her husband was completing an Iron Man. Ideally Susie would like to solely photograph her pets and nieces however she soon realised that this was a niche market and before long iconic Taranaki landscapes and kiwiana ranges were added to her collection. Each photoblock is handmade with many fingernails sacrified and a lot of bad tan lines created during the sanding process. Her ranges are popular with both locals and ex-pats who like to have a little piece of home with them. Visitors to Taranaki or Aotearoa also like packing a reminder of our beautiful province with them when they leave.

The Feature Artist for the month of March at The Raised Eyebrow Art and Coffee House, 501 Mangorei Road, New Plymouth, is Fibre Artist, Janette Theobald. Using the techniques of fine-felting and nuno-felting, Janette has combined both natural and dyed wool with new, up-cycled and found fabrics to produce an exciting collection of high quality artisan garments, including tunics, wraps, scarves and accessories, which are striking and innovative in both colour and design. The ability to refer to and borrow from a range of different creative disciplines adds a distinctly individual dimension to Janette’s work. There will be a demonstration of nuno-felting at The Raised Eyebrow between 1 and 3pm on Monday 12th March.

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Hey I'm Bridget Tyson and I grew up in Oakura. I have always loved to draw and paint, this passion lead me to study at Whanganui's Quay School of Art, UCOL. I graduated in 2009 with a Bachelor in Painting. My graduation works were all about fabric constructing three dimensional fabric sculptures.  During the years of study I made clothing for myself, these garments would always catch peoples eye, they were always admired and commented on. When I graduated I decided to start my clothing label 'bridget and walrus'. Bridget and walrus are unique garments, very vibrant 100% hand dyed cotton. I love how each piece is very individual in colour, no two are the same. The stretch fabric works for many different body shapes from size 8 to a 12 can fit the same dress. My collection consists of dresses, hoods, scarves, singlets, and tops. These fabulous styles are easy care and can be mixed and matched to create your own wonderful look. Come and try it on.

An idea, found objects, a walk along a beach, someones comment, all inspiration to create my creatures and insects with copper (and bits of anything) and an 80w soldering iron. I can visualise clearly the artwork then love the challenge of creating/bringing it to life. I live in New Plymouth with my daughter, dog, cat and two chooks named Doris and Mabel. My studio has oozed out of the back of the shed and is slowly taking over my house. My artworks have ended up far and wide from Canada to England. Very nice.

Sitara turns rocks into weather proof colour bursts with a great amount of detail, using an old Dutch folklore dot painting technique called Staphorster stipwerk.
She also creates digiphoras, a kind of euphoric, opulent, optical musical, combining her own photography, photos of her art works, words and digital skills. The resulting images are authentic and unique, one-off creations, of which only one individual print in the world exists. They are printed in different sizes and individually framed. Examples of her mosaics can be found in the streets of New Plymouth, where she moved 10 years ago, amongst others at 31 Durham Ave, as well as in front of the Raised Eyebrow Art and Coffee House, and on the driveway of The Temple of Original Happiness.

Click here for a slideshow of samples of Sitara's digiphoras

Alongside a growing intuition to understand and live fully the human condition, Sally has developed a range of vibrantly coloured nuno-felted scarves and wraps, each one bearing the wairua, or spirit, of her Divine Awakening. Vibrantly coloured, soft  and  subtle  in texture, warm  and  nurturing to  wear, she has been successfully marketing these in a number of retail galleries selling NZ artworks for almost a decade. An invitation to be part of the Taranaki 5 exhibition at the Pataka Gallery in Porirua last year, consolidated her initial foray into Art Dolls, as she explored and expressed the celebration of her personal journey into "cronehood", and of the Breath of Life Itself.

Click here to view some of Sally's dolls online and to read more.

Paul Burgham from Eltham designs and crafts copper foil lamps, stained glass windows and solid wood furniture started his working life with an apprenticeship in draughting. He traveled and worked overseas, restoring interesting historic buildings in England and Germany. Back in New Zealand he helped restore and conserve old and historic buildings and he naturally moved into joinery from there, designing and building a range of woodwork, from staircases to intricate jewellery boxes. "I then moved on to stained glass windows, which led to lights, which has kept me occupied for the last seven years. My main influences were Art Nouveau and Art Deco, closely followed by the natural beauty of our land. My first exhibition was Earth, Wind and Fire at the Percy Thompson Gallery in Stratford. So far, my work has been exhibited from Auckland to Wellington. I am also a member of the South Taranaki Arts Trail. I continue with my woodwork making jewellery boxes and other small joinery pieces from solid wood."
Read more and view some of his magnificent lighting designs currently at the Raised Eyebrow

When Bernice Mitchell, now a passionate Fibre Artist, attended a National Creative Fibre Exhibition in Taranaki in 2007, she was gripped by Nuno Felt and the intriguing process that creates the textured yet beautifully soft drape. “I love making what is truly ‘wearable art’ for women and children, making unique one-of-a-kind garments and accessories including funky handbags, jewelry, flower brooches and beautiful soft scarves.”

Read more and see Bernice's work displayed

Every since Franziska von Huenerbein can remember, there were two things in life which got her really passionate: collecting colourful materials and developing the skills to work with them. So where ever she finds herself, she will be looking at what her environment offers her, and start thinking and experimenting to create something out of it. Franziska was born in Germany, studied handweaving and textile arts in Cologne and became a teacher. With her husband and children she then moved to China, where she enjoyed the brightness of Chinese handcraft and a lot of free time to work with her hands. Two years ago they decided to make New Zealand their family home and it was love at first sight. So here they are: a house, a garden, two cats, four hens, four children, Franziska and her husband and cupboards full of nice materials waiting for the artist to turn them into necklaces, mosaics or felted art. Says Franziska: “For me the most exciting part during the creative process is to combine the colours in a way so they help each other to bring out their unique luminance. A strong red and all shades of green are my favourite colours and I admire the contrast between them. New Zealand's nature offers heaps of it and I am in love!”

Click here to see a sample of Franziska's work, from her jewellery line 'Babuli'.

Born in South America, colour and vibrancy for life and art have always been a significant aspect of Aileen's life. Part of that richness has been found in travel to  far flungplaces including India, Israel, South America, USA, Australia. Says Aileen: "Spirituality has also been a guide from an early age, with spiritual entities caring and nurturing me through my journey." Residing now in coastal Taranaki between the mountain and the sea, Aileen's inspiration comes to her, she says, "through the spiritual energy that sits strongly in this place."

Be happy and please listen carefully to your fairy, she will whisper her name to you! Enjoy!"

Aileen Katanella's fairies on display

Jude Barnes is an Inglewood artist, who works in pastels, acrylics, oils and watercolors. She paints a wide range of subjects including portraits and animals, and exhibits with the Taranaki Society of the Arts, the Stratford Art Society and kauri Cottage in Egmont Village.

Rachel Tobin is a self-taught artist, currently living in Wellington. She has had exhibitions at the Dux de Luxe and Over the Top Gallery in Christchurch and at the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland. Around Wellington her work has been shown at the Academy of Fine Arts and the Kapiti Arts Trail. Rachel’s art is eclectic, often inspired by the curve and beauty of the human form, and is an expression of her intention to celebrate life colourfully and to the full.

Read more & see works

Michelle Amirault is a Canadian born Artist now based in Waitara, Taranaki. A love of history and mystery combined with a passion for the sea is what sparked the idea for her jewellery made with sea glass.

Michelle explains what inspires her jewellery: "It’s hard to deny there exists but one Artist in the world that tops every other Artist, and that is the world itself. Call it what you will, Evolution, God, Mother Nature, … but it is Nature itself that creates the greatest mysteries and masterpieces. The brilliant unimaginable colours created by a setting sun, or the glow of a full moon creating diamond ripples in a black sea. The millions of different hues of red, orange and yellow painted upon autumn leaves, or the rainbow reflection created by an Amazon waterfall. Each day, everywhere I look I see Art. I see tiny Korus, brilliant blues and there amongst the blaze brown of sand and rock I see the tiny multicoloured diamonds just waiting to be found that are Sea Glass. I have always felt a connection to the Sea and now I have found a method to share that love with others.

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See a sample of Natasha's work

Shari Corbett-Dwyer is passionate about creating colourful, ornate, busy and bright artworks: “I would say I am a collector-cum-artist and I love to enrich people’s lives with colour and vibrancy.” Shari has been making original jewellery for over 20 years, which has evolved in many directions, from glass, shells, beads and wire using reloved exquisite crystal beads mixed with modern glass, ribbon, tiny bells and chain. Alongside creating jewellery, she has been upcycling once cherished clothing and petticoats – adorning them with gorgeous hand-made doilies, linen, buttons and ribbons and using different textures to recreate an original special garment. Of which The Raised Eyebrow currently shows and sells a unique and prolific collection. Says Shari: “I am grateful that I find such fulfilment and energy when surrounded by inspiration in my bush out-look studio with the loving support of my husband and growing children.”

Pam Robinson has been fascinated with felt since 1989, when she attended a night class in Auckland. “The magical process of turning soft fluffy fleece into a strong durable fabric still excites me over 20 years later”, she says. Pam enjoys all aspects of feltmaking, but has a preference for the blending of fine New Zealand merino with lustrous silk fabrics and fibres. A workshop with renowned Australian felter/dyer India Flint introduced her to the possibilities of eco dyeing, thereby avoiding the use of dangerous chemical mordants. “Instead, I utilize as my dye source the flowers and plants which grow so prolifically in our region”.

As a child, Prasana was clever with her hands; they were always busy - and they still are! Much of the resulting prolific output of her unusual embroidery, painting and knitting are on display and for sale at The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House. However, she says: "It often takes a circumstance in life before creativity comes to the fore. Art is produced in many forms and is limited only by my own limitations. All these gifts have been given and they are a great blessing."

“I channel my creative energy by developing forms on the wheel, especially platters and bowls, using high-fired stoneware and porcelain clay bodies. I also work with large slab forms,” says studio potter Kathy Gates. “I decorate my work using Chinese style glazes, and also enjoy experimenting with ash, copper and barium. Reduction firing the work in a gas kiln to a temperature of 1300C degrees creates a variety of effects and colours.”

Kathy Gates connected with clay for the first time while attending the community Arts Centre, Invercargill, over 25 years ago. She has been potting ever since. She moved to New Plymouth in 1983 and continued with her fascination with clay by attending classes at WITT (then known as the Taranaki Polytechnic.)In 1985, she joined the New Plymouth Potters Club. She became president of the club for years and also took one of the evening pottery classes for new club members.

Denise Newland has graced The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House with a number of works. Denise is a multi-media artist who has explored and worked in acrylics, pastel, printmaking and mixed media/collage, and also has an interest in photography, jewellery making and recently, stone carving.

Denise’s inspiration comes from nature and life experiences. She has lived and travelled in various parts of the world and this is often reflected in her artworks and creative style.

Jahnu's started his prolific production of wicked woodwork in 2005, with then New Plymouth artist Peter Berger teaching him how to free form macrocarpa using chainsaw and angle grinder. Jahnu intimately works with the woods finer details, knots and patterns in the grain, to guide him in the shaping of bread boards, serving platters, knives, spoons and mirror frames, often or sometimes inlaid with shell, sand and paua. Some examples proudly stocked by The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House.

See woodwork by Jahnu Now

The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House is proud to currently display the unique jewellery by Annemarie Renaud. Annemarie has lived in New Plymouth, Aoteoroa for 27 years. Since achieving the National Diploma in Jewellery Design from Whitereia College, Wellington, she has created jewellery in her studio in Taranaki. She works mainly in sterling silver and incorporates natural materials as part of her philosophy of organic design.

The Raised Eyebrow Art & Coffee House feels privileged to show and sell you works by internationally renowned master stone carver Prem Omni Caeon. Her professional career in jade carving really began when she saw an exhibition of jadework by Donn Salt in 1988. Says Prem Omni: "I was moved by the perfect beauty and intrinsic life of his works. This inspiration stayed with me and I was very happy when, in 1989, the artist consented to teach me basic skills in carving stone. The growing passion and love for jade carving has influenced my way of life. In 1991 I was able to harness the rewards of this passion, establishing my own business working as a professional Jade carver. It is my intent to live fully conscious and carving stone is part of That."

Handmaidenz is The Raised Eyebrow's Feature Artist for July, together with Franziska von Huenerbein. Handmaidenz are Lois Parkes and Barbara Hawkins, who have lived in New Plymouth all their lives, pursuing creative hobbies. They noticed the resurgence of the retro theme and loved it themselves, so they designed toys using retro candlewick bedspreads and NZ woollen blankets, recycling them to give them a new lease on life. They are safe for children, but very popular with all ages, and sold throughout New Zealand. As gatherers and collectors, they had accumulated crockery and were reluctant to throw away any broken ones, which came in useful to make the mosaic wall hearts. They are always looking for new ways to express their creativity especially with regard to anything to do with New Zealand. They are members of the Buy NZ Made campaign and are proud to be kiwi and making kiwiana. Their label is Handmaidenz because they are two women hand making their product in New Zealand.

Where the handmaidenz' wild Things are