Hutt woman playing her cards right
A battle with an autoimmune disease that ended a Lower Hutt woman’s career in nursing has been a blessing in disguise.
Patricia Manhire, a local business owner and paper-crafter, is living her dream thanks to a career change that has seen her recognised as one of the best cardmakers in the southern hemisphere, if not the world.
‘‘I had been interested in craft my whole life but it was when I got diagnosed with lupus and had to give up my job that I really got back into card making, just to keep busy.
‘‘Over time, I started to pick up what other people were doing and improving my own work and haven’t looked back really.’’
It was that passion that inspired Manhire to open a shop, four years ago, through the About Space programme, run by Hutt City Council.
‘‘I saw an advertisement in the local paper from the council about it and while I was coming at it from a nursing background with absolutely no business experience, I went for it. I had always wanted to do a craft a collective type thing.’’
Manhire was partnered with CBD development manager Cyndi Christensen, who helped her find an space for the startup.
The programme is focused on ‘‘adding vibrancy to the central city’’ by installing temporary shops, displays and experiences into vacant commercial spaces in Lower Hutt.
‘‘We want to engage the community and bring more people in – particularly that pedestrian foot traffic,’’ Christensen says.
While Manhire initially began the shop with a group of woman, they all ended up parting ways, leaving her to decide whether or not to continue.
‘‘It was either close down or go bigger and I decided to go bigger.’’
It quickly turned out to be one of her best decisions, with the store, Gift Hutt, going from strength to strength and her profile as a cardmaker rising.
However, it’s Manhire’s relationship with American-based craft company, Heartfelt Creations, that has truly made her name synonymous with papercraft.
Earlier this year, Manhire was selected to be part of a 20-strong team who help design products for the company’s gallery, blog, trade and consumer events, as well as its advertising campaigns.
‘‘Every year they put out the call and hundreds apply but I’m the only one in the southern hemisphere on the team ... I’m still pinching myself.’’
Manhire now receives products ahead of the company’s official launch to play around with and make designs that can be used by craft-focused websites and magazines.
‘‘I can now call myself an artist and designer rather than an exnurse, which I think is a lot better.’’