{"id":46873,"date":"2025-11-27T10:55:33","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T08:55:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/?p=46873"},"modified":"2025-11-25T10:55:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-25T08:55:54","slug":"oddballs-misfits-and-a-little-bit-of-magic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/highway-berea\/blog\/2025\/11\/27\/oddballs-misfits-and-a-little-bit-of-magic\/","title":{"rendered":"Oddballs, misfits and a little bit of magic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Meet Maita Garrett – the creative mind stitching together smiles, one quirky character at a time.<\/p>\n

When life handed her lockdown instead of lemons, Hillcrest\u2019s Maita Garrett dusted off an old sewing machine and created something extraordinary. What began as a boredom-buster during the pandemic has blossomed into Oddballs & Misfits – a collection of wonderfully weird, one-of-a-kind fabric characters that celebrate everything perfectly imperfect about being human.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d been a conference organiser for years,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen everything came to a standstill during Covid, I just needed something to keep my hands and mind busy. I made my first doll from scraps I found at home – she looked like she had a few chromosomes missing, but she had character! That\u2019s where it all began.\u201d<\/p>\n

Soon her home filled with an assortment of peculiar, loveable creations, each with its own quirky grin and offbeat charm. The name Oddballs & Misfits seemed inevitable – and utterly perfect.<\/p>\n

\"\"By day, Maita still runs her conference business. But in her free time, you\u2019ll find her tucked away in her sewing room (formerly a guest room), surrounded by colourful fabric offcuts, loose threads and half-finished little creatures.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not work for me,\u201d she smiles. \u201cIt\u2019s my happy place where my imagination runs wild.\u201d<\/p>\n

No two Oddballs are ever the same. Maita never works from a pattern – each character evolves as she sews, developing a distinct personality along the way. Many of her creations come with a cheeky saying or a note of encouragement – reflections of life\u2019s imperfections and the beauty in embracing them.<\/p>\n

\u201cGetting older, going grey, putting on a few kilos – these are all just part of life,\u201d she says. \u201cNone of us are perfect, and that\u2019s what makes us special.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her materials are mostly offcuts, second-hand finds and donated scraps – a testament to creativity and sustainability. \u201cI love giving new life to things that might have otherwise been thrown away,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Over the years, she\u2019s made hundreds of Oddballs & Misfits – from zombie-like monsters to gothic teens, and wine-loving aunties to whimsical bats with big messages. She\u2019s even done custom characters for priests, plastic surgeons and artists, each one telling its own story.<\/p>\n

This festive season, the Oddballs are getting into the holiday spirit – Maita-style. Forget your traditional elves and angels – her Christmas range is packed with mischief and personality.<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThey\u2019re all a little weird, a little wonderful – definitely not your usual Christmas d\u00e9cor,\u201d she laughs. \u201cEach comes with a cheeky message, like \u2018Be naughty, save Santa the trip,\u2019 or \u2018I\u2019m sweet but twisted – does that make me a candy cane?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Perfect as stocking fillers or gifts for friends who appreciate the quirky side of life, every Oddball & Misfit is unique – no duplicates, no factory-made perfection. Just laughter, warmth and a reminder to not take life (or Christmas) too seriously.<\/p>\n

Maita\u2019s creations appeal to teens, adults and anyone who could use a smile. Her goth-style Oddballs are always a hit with younger buyers, while her South African-themed characters – complete with local sayings – find fans both here and abroad.<\/p>\n

If Oddballs & Misfits had a festive slogan, Maita says it would be: \u2018Because normal and perfection are overrated – especially at Christmas\u2019.<\/p>\n

Her hope is simple: That each little creature she makes brings joy, laughter, and maybe even a little perspective. \u201cI\u2019ve had people send me photos of their Oddballs travelling the world,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing how something made from scraps can mean so much to someone.\u201d<\/p>\n

And that, perhaps, is Maita\u2019s real Christmas message – that beauty, humour and connection can come from the most unexpected places\u2026 even a wonky little doll stitched together on a quiet day during lockdown.<\/p>\n

You can find Oddballs & Misfits at the Festive Market in Watercrest Mall, at various local Christmas markets, or by contacting Maita directly via Facebook or Instagram (@OddballsandMisfits). Prices range from R160 to R350, depending on size and design, and she\u2019s already taking Christmas orders for personalised pieces.<\/p>\n