Meet Nicole from The Knitter - Tea & Tonic Matakana

Meet Nicole from The Knitter

Nicole the knitter

It was a pleasure to catch up with Nicole from one of our favourite knit brands, The Knitter

What are three magic words?

fleeting

labyrinth

commitment

What is the best piece of advice you have been given?

My nana told me that in order to get ahead in life, you must be willing to cheat a little. To bend the rules. The ones society have given us, don’t necessarily serve humanity as a whole, so best to make your own on occasion. 

If in doubt?

Meditate.

What would you love to share about that no-one seems to ask you?

I’ve been hiking since I was ten years old. It’s one of my favourite things to do. The first hike my Dad took me on as a child was around Lake Waikaremoana for four days. It’s one of my favourite places to be. Out and about in the wilderness.

If you were to re-incarnate where you would you like to be re-born, when & as what?

If time is not linear, surely reincarnation can happen in the past too, no? :)

I would love to reincarnate as Einstein in the early 1900’s, just for a day or two. It would be a profound experience. 

What's a dreamy kind of day for you?

Waking up, somewhere amongst the trees, drinking coffee and tea and having a bath after an early morning walk, eating a croissant, and reading the morning away, having snacks and giggles with my sister and driving around in my little jeep, Jim, to music so loud, you can tune the whole wide world out.

What principles guide your business and your success?

To make something beautiful, in a way that feels wholesome and good and magical. To empower my beautiful knitters with their own financial freedom. To spread love and happiness and fairy dust. 

What is your beauty regime, secrets and go-tos?

Vitamin C, on the inside and the outside. Lots of water and minimal alcohol. Yoga a few times a week to sweat everything out as well as a Trilogy hyaluronic acid and manuka face mask for a little extra hydration. I use the Dr. Hauschka rose moisturiser and Clinique moisture surge gel from time to time. Laughing and being silly helps too.

What's most important to you?

Having my freedom and independence. Whether in a relationship or not. 

What would you see has been your biggest challenge and regret?

People don’t really talk a lot about the experience of having an abortion. I’ve never spoken openly about it either, but last year I had one and it was a really hard experience for me. I felt a million and two different emotions, all at once. I think there is still some level of stigma and shame around having one and my experience here in New Zealand was quite bad; a few of my friends have said the same thing. I think we have a long way to go still.

Amanda Palmer sings a really heartbreaking song about abortion, called ‘Voicemail for Jill’, and when I heard her perform it last year, I cried so much. Afterward, I planted a tree, to celebrate life.

It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, mainly because I didn’t have the support I needed from the person I needed it from and I'm also extremely sensitive.

It made me realise how beautiful and resilient a woman’s body and spirit are.

How beautiful and resilient my body and my spirit both are.

What do you love about Tea and Tonic?

The magical woman who make Tea & Tonic the beautiful space that it is.  

What is an unfailing pick me up?

Dancing around my living room in socks and undies to ‘Friday I’m in Love’. 

Current favourite tunes and moods?

Mallrat’s, ‘Groceries’, Edith Whiskers, ‘Home’, The Cranberries, ‘Dreams’, CocoRosie’s ‘Lost Girls’ and Billie Holiday … always creating a mood.

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