New Tricks

Want to learn a new skill in 2010? DoMore.com.au has a wealth of short courses around Australia not only in arts and crafts, but also food, languages, recreation and more. Here's a quick link to their selection of crafty courses around Melbourne.

If that's whetted your appetite, take a look at courses available through some of your local neighbourhood houses and community centres:

Thornbury Women's Neighbourhood House

Holden Street Neighbourhood House North Fitzroy

Preston Neighbourhood House

Jika Jika Community Centre Northcote

Brunswick Neighbourhood House

Fawkner Community House

Nicholson Street Community House East Coburg

Sussex Neighbourhood House Coburg North

Image by Ballymena U3A

See you on Saturday.......

It's almost market day and after months of preparation, hours of stitching, painting and gluing, we are proud as punch to be presenting an awesome selection of handmade products for you this Saturday at the first and definitely not last, Northside Makers Market .

Check out all the fabulous crafters that will be displaying oodles of handmade wonder at our October market. (in alphabetical order):

Amanda O'Donnell

Blue Blue Patches
Buttonlicious
Celia Adams
Chuckles Designs
Cosmetic Cat Creations
Curlypops
Custom Culture

Daneeta Hennessey
Elmie

Ffarff Art
Finki Handmade
Flicketty Splits
Found and Bound
Hawthorne Cottage
Jenny Anderson
Jo Woodberry
Kazzalblue
Konstant Kaos
Lauren Williams
Light of the times
Little Cooties
Little Ray
Little Waltz
Luise Adams
Made by Sarah
Mecino
Mee and M'lee
Melbourne Epicure
Mrs Beckinsale
Pepperberry & Co
Piccolamia
Pivotal Xpressions
Polly Pratt
Retro Print Revival
Ros Chambers
Samantha Ramage
Selina Bayliss
Slap Cosmetics
Stitch in Time
Tinniegirl
Tirese Ballard

Vintage Sew and So
Whittaker Rose Designs

Not everyone has a website or blog to link to so you'll just have to come by on market day for an up close view of the real thing. (if we've missed you just shout and we'll fix it right up),

There will be scrumptious gingerbread cookies, tarts and more... made by the lovely Cathie at Melbourne Epicure, delightful coffee and eats from Cafe Koula and a sausage sizzle to raise funds for the local Girl Guides.

And don't worry we haven't forgotten the kids....there'll be a face painter around from 10.30 - 2.30, free craft table activities and balloons all set up in the courtyard so you can sit and relax with your coffee and cakes whilst the kids are entertained.

The stage is set, the weather forecast is sunny.....the stallholders are preparing a feast for the eyes.....all we need is you.

Blog about it, Facebook it, tweet it, text it....whatever your method is just make sure to tell all your friends to come support your local crafters this Saturday.

See Yah there
Jennie, Jay and Margaret
xx

Meet the Northside Crafters: Flickettysplits

We thoroughly enjoyed putting together this "crafters" post .. I am sure that you will enjoy reading Flickettysplits response to our probing questions!

Tell us about what you sell ...
I think what I really sell is colours and stories. Those are the things that make each of my pieces unique, and I think it's fundamentally what my customers want to buy. Craft customers don't want a mass-produced item made on the other side of the world and shipped here inside tonnes of packaging - they want something original, something local, something special. Every one of my pieces has a story I can tell you, whether it's about where I found the fabrics, or how I put them together, or what I was doing at the time - boy troubles, work stress, a trip away - it's all there inside my work. It might be just the name, or it might be something deeper. So on the surface it looks like I make softies as well as cushions, tote bags, doorstops, pencil rolls, fabric buckets and whatever else takes my fancy .... but really what I'm selling you are the colours and stories of my life.

What inspires you?
I am fascinated by colours and patterns and textures. There is no way I could ever live in a minimalist house of beige colours with a polished concrete floor. No, if it was described in a catalogue my style would be "Versace Threw Up" - prints and patterns and colours wildly clashing all over the place. But that's what makes me "me", and it's what my customers love. I am never afraid to take risks with material.

What's your favorite medium to work in?
I am a fabric hound. I live inside a fabric house and I eat fabric food and I breathe fabric air (it's quite thick and hard to force down).

What would you be lost without ....
Well, obviously my Bernina!

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
The aching, weighty sound of silence in the house. Punctuated by the occasional snip of scissors, the whir of a sewing machine, and the never-ending stream of babble inside my head.

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
I'm afraid I'm a completely unfaithful blog reader. One week Blog A is my next best friend, next week I've turfed it outside to sit quietly sobbing by itself, while I'm shimmying up alongside the new and sparkly Blog B. I love you all, you crafty blogs you!

Whats up next for you on the craft front?
I think I'm going to take a detour into clothes for a bit. Every time I wear something I've made I get a nice comment on it, so perhaps that's a talent I can bring to other people as well. It's all about the colours, naturally.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
Well, there's this dress I tried to make in my first ever sewing class, which is a complete and utter abomination - the pattern was WAY beyond my skill level - so I butchered it, but I love the fabric so I can't throw it away, even though I can't finish it either. I'm thinking of cutting the good fabric out to use for something else.....

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
I'm on Etsy along with the rest of the craft world, and you can visit me on my blog All Toile And No Reward. Plus if you haunt craft markets in the Northern Suburbs - Northside Makers, Made N Thornbury, Sonny & Coco, Shirt and Skirt Market, Northcote Town Hall markets - you're bound to bump into me somewhere. Please come and say hi and I will tell you a story

Meet the Northside Crafters: Pepperberry & Co

Northside Makers are excited to have Pepperberry & Co at their market. Sandra has built up her business over the last year and her drive and enthusiasm is truely inspiring ...

Tell us about what you sell.

Pepperberry & Co. is my boutique textiles store specialising in earthy, natural products. My products are crafted by hand using natural cotton & cotton/linen blends, use unbleached fabrics where possible & are 100% Vegan and Cruelty Free. My signature items include Notebook Covers and Passport Covers, and I am looking to expand with a Baby Range shortly.

What inspires you?
My mother, who passed away when I was 14, is a constant inspiration. She worked so phenomenally hard and achieved so much even though, as a non-English speaking immigrant from the war in Poland, she had so little. I am growing up to be just like her, and I love it! I am also inspired by the broader crafting community. I spend a ridiculous amount of time each day browsing Etsy, blogs, and great crafty websites, just soaking up the talent, creativity, passion and inspiration.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
I have two core addictions: fabric and paper. It's not a wonder I have two shops that celebrate each one! I believe you can create anything with these two mediums and a touch of creativity.

What would you be lost without?

My family! My partner Sharon and our five fluffy rescued cats and dogs are the reason I get up each day and live my dreams. Without their love and support, none of this would be possible!

What's your fave crafty read (linked to Amazon)?

As a crafter who wanted to transform a hobby into a business, I got a lot out of Craft, Inc. by Meg Mateo Ilasco. I would highly recommend it! The book I'm saving up my pennies for at the moment is Re-Bound: Creating Handmade Books from Recycled and Repurposed Materials by Jeannine Stein. I've got my fingers crossed it appears under the Christmas tree!

What do you like to listen to when you craft?

Silence! I've never worked well with any kind of noise, although I do tend to enjoy the purrs that emit from my cats as they sleep on my sewing machine... and on my fabric pile... and on my laptop keyboard...

What crafty forums do you lurk in?

I'm a regular in the Etsy forums, as I find I gain so much from my chats with other crafters there. I also pop up in the forums for the Etsy teams I'm on- the Australian DUST Team, the EtsyVeg Team, the Cruelty-Free Team, and the Vegan Etsy Team. (editor: Sandra also has a good post on crafty haunts ..)

What's up next for you on the craft front?

There is so much coming up! I have yet to fulfill half my ideas for Pepperberry & Co., and I'm sure there will be even more as the time goes. At this stage, I'm working on Christmas Cards and Baby booties, but I also have plans to expand my travel and baby ranges and release a Pepperberry fabric range. So much to do, so little time!

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects)? What are they?

I have too many to count! I even have a special box set aside for these, so that it sits there and taunts me from the bookshelf. Right now, I'm in the middle of making a Softie Mouse, hand-carving a stamp set and making a Coptic-Stitched Journal- oh, and learning how to draw!

Where else can people shop for your goodies?

I have two online stores on Etsy: Pepperberry & Co. and Papers By Pepperberry. I'm also a regular at Yarraville Markets and the Made 'N Thornbury Market. An up-to-date list is always available on the Pepperberry & Co. blog, and I always hold specials for Fans of my Facebook Page and my Followers on Twitter.

Meet the Northside Crafters: Me and M'Lee

Me and M'Lee are a new collaboration and their first market is at Northside Makers this weekend. They have a wonderful range of practical products for your home.


Tell us about what you sell ...
Me & M’lee is only 3 weeks old however I’d been doing this sort of thing for my kids school carnival until a friend suggested I try my hand at selling these products at the markets, (thanks Andi); Lavender Wheat Bags with removable, washable cotton covers, Adjustable Aprons, Any occasion Fabric Greeting Cards, Cot Sheet Sets, Cot Comforters, Hand Creams and Lip Balms, Hand Knitted Neck Scarves, Kids Hair Accessories

What inspires you?
The end product! I just love to shop for gorgeous fabrics and then see it turn into something mum and I are really proud of and hope others will love too.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
Textiles and Yarn

What would you be lost without ....
My MUM! and her Necchi sewing machine (mines a Janome).

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
We usually just chat and enjoy each others company however anything relaxing is best.

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
Need some free time to surf the net and investigate.

What’s up next for you on the craft front?
Seeing as this is our very first market, we’d like to get some experience at the Northside Market and see how buyers react to our products. We’ll also be making shopping/tote bags which we would have loved to have on offer next Saturday but we’re running out of time to make all these items.

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
Northside Makers Market

Meet the Northside Crafters: Konstant Kaos Designs

Konstant Kaos Designs make a range of crafty things with an alternative edge to them. Margaret is also one of the crafty ladies behind the Northside Makers.

Tell us about what you sell ...

When I first started to make things to sell I started with baby shoes and bibs. My daughter was 9 months old and it was really out of necessity more than anything else. Since then I have made pouches, wallets, bags, pendants and of button hair ties . I tend to go where the fabric takes me. I will buy a gorgeous piece of fabric and then spend days working out what I am going to make with it. I tend to make things with quirky fabrics, I don't sew with natural linens or pastels. Mostly blacks, reds and purples.

What inspires you?

Functionality inspires me. Having a beautiful hand made object that is functional rather than superfluous. So when I make my bags, I make them with a clip for keys and pockets inside. When I make baby shoes, I make them with a little tag to help the parents put them on. I try and develop each product so that I meet my customers needs.

I am currently working on a design for a new wallet, so for a few weeks I will take my notebook everywhere and sketch shapes, textures and ideas for my product. Then I generally work through the design life cycle about four times until I am happy with the product. Then I sew, sew, sew for markets!

What's your favorite medium to work in?

I am definitely a lover of textiles, but I have also done some jewelry and resin casting work. I love the Kokka range of japanese fabrics.

What would you be lost without ....

My stitch unpick! I generally always have pile of things sitting there to be unpicked. Maybe they are prototypes I am working on, or perhaps they are combinations of fabrics that didn't work out too well.

What's your favourite crafty read

I quite like to grab a copy of Australian Homespun from time to time and I love going through older vintage sewing books such as Golden Hands. I am an avid reader of Frankie and Peppermint. I also have a number of blogs that I subscribe to ranging from local gals to international quilters.

What do you like to listen to when you craft?

A combination of music if I am using the machine through to podcasts if I am just cutting things out. Then it depends on whether my daughter is upstairs asleep. Anything from VNV Nation through to Tori Amos

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....

Etsy Forums, Dust team, Craftster, Meet me at Mikes

Whats up next for you on the craft front?

I want to try my hand at some children's clothes, I just have to the momentum up and running. I have done a number of customs so I have patterns that I have developed and graded and they are ready to go, just need the right fabric!

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?

Many of them. The crafty graveyard is full of embroidery, crochet and sewing projects gone wrong. I have a little bag full of the prototype's for the shoes that I made, I should really take a photo of how far I have come with those.

Where else can people shop for your goodies?

Konstant Kaos has an etsy shop, we keep a blog, we will also be at Northside Makers and Made n Thornbury.

Social Craftworking

Have you caught up with Northside Makers on Facebook? Our fan page is a great place to connect with other local crafters, share news and post photos of your latest craft success.

We've also created an event listing for Northside Makers Market, which you can use to invite all your favourite people along on Saturday 10th October. Just click here and start sending invites! The more the merrier.

Meet the Northside Crafters: Pivotal Xpressions

Pivotal Xpressions makes unique paper goods that are sure to delight ...

Tell us about what you sell ...
Pivotal Xpressions sell organisational stationery, gift wrap, cards, and paper craft items.

What inspires you?
I find if I go shopping down Brunswick Street, that always inspires me and gives me a boost, (I always take a camera with me). Also everyday activities and events. Recently I went to the Pink concert which had a circus / fun house theme. The event inspired me to design a trapeze greeting card. Inspiration appears at the oddest of times for me.

What's your favorite medium to work in?
Pixels and paper. I design a lot on my trusty computer, thus the pixels. I love to also create with paper. There is nothing like working with paper that has beautiful textures and patterns on them. I'm also starting to have an interest in working with ribbons as well.

What would you be lost without ....
I would be lost without my husband, who has given me lots of encouragement. Also be lost without my creativity and my computer.

What's your fave crafty read

I enjoy reading 'Mixtape', Real Living Magazine (Australian version) and Computer Arts.

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
I tend to listen to the radio through the Internet. Often listen to ABC News Radio or the BBC News Radio. Yes I am a news junkie.

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
I don't venture into the crafty forums, however I read a lot of paper / stationery blogs that are from America. I have noticed there seems to be a lot more paper blogs originating from the US than Australia. My favourite paper blog would have to be 'Papercrave'.

Whats up next for you on the craft front?
I want to tackle making notepads and develop my gift wrap more. Also want to venture more into crochet. I found more success with crochet than knitting.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
I have too many unfortunately. I have this terrible habit of starting a project, leaving it aside and starting on a new one. Not very productive. A personal project that I have worked on over a two year period, is a mask.

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
People can go to my etsy store www.pivotalxpressions.etsy.com.

Meet the Northside Crafters: Tinniegirl

We are all getting excited about the first of our markets on Saturday the 10th of October, only a few places left so please email in your applications if they are still kicking around!

Today's crafter is Tinniegirl, a Melbourne craft legend! She produces the most amazing original pieces of artwork and is famous for her tinnies, filled with crafty goodness.

Tell us about what you sell ... Tinniegirl
I sell original collages that incorporate paint, paper, felt, fabrics and embroidery.

What inspires you?
I'm really inspired by nature, and especially birds. I think underlying that are ideas about freedom and flight that I often feel manifest themselves in nature.

What's your favorite medium to work in?
I think I would have to say paint. Almost everything I do involves painting. I have become quite enamored by embroidery and stitching lately and this seems to be showing up in my work a lot more.

What would you be lost without .... Gel Medium, my partner and our cats, and creative friends

What's your favourite crafty read I love craft magazines and particularly some of the publications out of the US. Cloth Paper Scissors and Artful Blogging are my two favourites.

What do you like to listen to when you craft? I often listen to Craftcast podcasts when I'm crafting.

What crafty forums do you lurk in .... I haven't discovered any forums, which is probably a good thing given how much time I already spend on the computer!

Whats up next for you on the craft front? I ponder that question pretty much on a daily basis. I'm not sure where I want to take my art next. I want to make sure that I give myself plenty of room to explore mediums and ideas, and to enjoy the journey of being/becoming an artist. I definitely want to keep selling my work and I'd also like to try and exhibit work next year. I'm also interested in teaching workshops and encouraging other people to explore their creativity and different techniques.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they? I've got a few, not too many I'm pleased to say. I don't like to have too much unfinished business lying around. I've got a beautiful hand-pieced patchwork quilt that I started about 3 years ago that needs to be finished and a handful of collages that are in progress, and I think that's about it. Well OK, there's a couple of others but I'll let those sleeping dogs lie!

Where else can people shop for your goodies? My Etsy store is closed at the moment but it should be back up and running in the next few weeks (fingers crossed) - www.tinniegirl.etsy.com

Meet the Northside Crafters: Finki Handmade

Jay from Finki is a Northside Makers Committee Member, that will also be a stall holder at Octobers Northside Makers Market.

Tell us about what you sell ...
I have a rather eclectic range. Spanning from art pendants, rings and hair bobbies to stitched baskets, journals and vintage tea towel stools.What inspires you?
All things retro, vintage and wildly colorful.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
I would have to say fabric. 50's, 60's and 70's prints are just out of this world. I still get ridiculously excited when i find good lengths of retro fabric at oppies.

What would you be lost without?
The computer...that sounds so nerdy I know. But I do a lot of graphic design. My images begin on paper, but come to life with the magic of illustrator and photo shop. Not to mention my latest addiction to blogging. Where would I be without that.

What's your fave crafty read
I just bought 'Handmade in Melbourne'.
So inspirational to read about so many talented people that I might even bump into at my local Woolworths.

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
I'm a bit of a silence girl. Is that odd. I get into the zone when I'm the only one in the house and it's dead quiet.....Bliss.
If I'm doing something that's a no brainer and music won't distract me, then I'll go for 'Ministry of sound' or Triple J's like a version.


What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
Are blogs forums... I read lots of blogs. Real people, real experiences. I love the human connection.
I'm such a visual person too, so if i find sites full of art, design, and good taste then I'm lost for hours.
Whats up next for you on the craft front?
A big crafty Christmas.
I have a market every 4 weeks or so, and always challenge myself to have a new product on the table each time. So this month I have funky little 'weekly bill ledgers' and next month I'll have my knitting bags ready to go.
Having this personal challenge is what keeps it interesting.

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
Lots and lots and lots. Mainly, I would have to say it would be clothes i tried to make for my self. I'd see stuff on other people and think I could make that! I sort of overlooked the little fact that maybe I also needed that hot bod, to pass it off. I'm not always too good on the visualizing part...


Where else can people shop for your goodies?
www.finki.etsy.com
I also do the sisters market, www.sistersmarket.com.au
Made n' Thornbury market www.madenthornbury.blogspot.com
and of course our new Northside makers market www.northsidemakers.com

Meet the Northside Makers: Celia Adams

Continuing our showcase of the crafters that will be having a stall at our Northside Makers Market, allow us to introduce the glorious work of Celia Adams.

Tell us about what you sell ... Hand embroidered and appliqued dolls, toys and jewellery made from up-cycled woolen jumpers and other natural materials.

What inspires you?
Looking at all those amazing crafty blogs on the internet. People are doing some fabulous stuff out there.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
Wool!

What would you be lost without ....
Family, friends, my dogs and CREATIVITY!

What's your fave crafty read?
1970's books on handcrafts... oh, and blogs!

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
Radio National and Regina Spektor

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
Flickr, Mimi Kirchner's blog, Whip Up, Feeling Stitchy, Etsy...

Whats up next for you on the craft front?
Trying my hand at market stalls

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
Rose Street on Sundays at the moment