Hero photograph
Jackie and her son Ryan modelling one of her handcrafts.....NB: It wasn’t her knitting it was the wool!
 
Photo by Jackie Pigou

Beeswax Wraps – fundraising for Camp Purple Live

Jackie Pigou - Parent —

Meet Jackie Pigou. Jackie works tirelessly creating crafts and fundraising for Camp Purple Live!

In September 2017 after months of various doctors appointments and tests - my son Ryan was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. This came as a bolt out of the blue and for a 13 yr to take in - a complete shock. At that time my sister was working with Richard at the Boulcott Hospital so we quickly registered for Camp Purple and the Parents Seminar and were lucky enough to attend the camp in Auckland the following year.

What impressed me was how well everything was organised. From flights to accommodation, activities, dietary requirements and handling of medication. The volunteers who all donated their time to look after everyone were lovely. I just thought it was awesome and wanted to make a contribution in some way.  I’m one of these people that can’t sit still so having something to do keeps me out of trouble.

In early 2018 Beeswax wraps were becoming popular so I thought why not give it a go. So off I went to get some material, blocks of beeswax and started my little industry. The folks at work are my testing “audience” so anything that I make, I hit them up for sales first and then make more! I’ve since been selling these through the Dowse Art Gallery shop and the California Garden Centre in Lower Hutt.

When plastic bags were removed from supermarkets I started knitting market bags - 100% cotton and machine washable - again a great hit at work as we are situated between a Pak 'n save and Countdown. Very handy.

Then came lockdown. Lying on the couch trying to balance my tablet on my stomach I thought - I need a tablet stand. I got together the material off cuts from the lunch wraps, dragged out the sewing machine, bought a ton of rice and stuffing and threw these together.

If you happen to be in Petone - lookout for the Outpawed Indoor Market as I’ve been selling the above items plus other bits and bobs there. Occasionally I sell through Trademe but word of mouth or Facebook seems to work better.

Now that I’m mostly working from home, the spare room has become an office/work room so I’m just waiting to win lotto to build my 'She shed' and expand on my leather crafts. 

So far, at a guess, I think I have raised about $2400 for Camp Purple Live and it has been a pleasure.

Some of the many crafts Jackie has made and sold to fundraise for Camp Purple Live. — Image by: Crohn's & Colitis New Zealand Charitable Trust