Northside Makers Market : An illuminated page

f we can think of one person or group's craft experiences as a story, be it adventure, romance or comedy, then each project or event can be thought of as a chapter, and the end result as a single page in that story. A beautiful page with illuminated lettering and a gilt edge, written painstakingly in ink by near-blind monks.

The inaugural Northside Makers Market was such a page in the burgeoning story of the Northside Makers. A delight to read, to behold, to experience. The sun shone warmly and birds sang in the trees. The only smudge on the page was the very late cancellation of the sausage sizzle, but our other food suppliers Melbourne Epicure and Cafe Koula rose to the challenge and liquid papered over the mar. (Can I shelve this analogy now?)

We organisers were genuinely moved by the number of stallholders who arrived first thing in the morning to help us set up. After all the tables were set up we hurried off the set up our own tables. The first time we returned to the hall and saw the visual offering our stallholders had prepared, the sight was breathtaking.

With all the months of planning and organising we had put into this day, it would have been for naught without the talent and quality our stallholders brought to the event. You are what makes us great!

Of course our outdoors stallholders were equally a delight to behold.

One innovation of Northside Makers Market was to offer our members the opportunity to display their work even if they didn't have enough to fill a whole table themselves. The result was a diverse Collective Table with six makers contributing stationery, accessories, screenprinted bags and more.

We received a lot of comments about the family-friendly vibe of the day, which was one of our top goals. The face painter and kids craft table proved a valuable distraction while parents shopped or relaxed in the shady courtyard with a coffee!

We'd love to post every photo from our new Flickr Pool here, but they would cripple your bandwidth. Instead we invite you to click through and take a look for yourselves, and even join up to contribute your own market day photos. It would be satisfying to sign off this post with a photo of we exhausted yet happy organisers - anyone take one?!

See you again on November 28th.

Jennie, Jay & Margaret

x o x

Last chance for some school holiday fun before it's back
to school on Monday.

'Spring open day 2009'.
Don’t miss the FREE events on offer, including:
- Live music
- Lots of children’s activities
- Garden discovery walks
- Secrets of the Herbarium tours
- Behind the scenes of the nursery

'Dreaming of spring' by Sascalia.

Check out the full events list here or visit www.rbg.vic.gov.au

Most importantly be sure to visit 'Markets in the Gardens' for a Sneak preview of some unique stalls featured at Markets in the Gardens this summer.
*10am – 2pm, Observatory Gate precinct where you'll see our 'Northside Maker' baker....Cathie from Melbourne Epicure selling some of the most scrumptious gingerbread, olive loaf and more....

*Don't Forget Victoria's daylight saving will start on Saturday night/Sunday morning. So don't forget to move clocks forward one hour.

Meet the Northside Crafters: Melbourne Epicure

Why do craft markets have food stalls ... to keep the crafters fed and happy of course! When we started to plan this market, the first thing people asked was "will you have cupcakes there ..."

Tell us about what you sell ...
A variety of baked goods, olive & herb bread, haloumi & herb bread, fruit muffins, gingerbread men, variety of cupcakes, sesame & nut bars and the occasional savoury delites as well.

What inspires you?
Food wise I love tastespotting for a variety of food blogs and of course recipes.
A lot of blogs inspire me as well with their wit, commitment and I LOVE great images on blogs.

What's your favourite medium to work in?
Photography has always been my true love though I would love to get back into printmaking.

What would you be lost without ....
oh my...my CAMERA!!!

What's your favourite crafty read
I love a good cookbook and have soo many, favourites are Apples for Jam
and anything Donna Hay

What do you like to listen to when you craft?
Some quiet at the moment.

What crafty forums do you lurk in ....
None at the moment but I love blog surfing around the world.

Whats up next for you on the craft front?
Like to go beyond baking and try a little sewing and patchwork

Do you have any UFO's (unfinished objects),what are they?
There are a lot of things that I'd like to start on besides the baking but with my two little cheeky monkeys around all the time it's a little hard to get started at times.

Where else can people shop for your goodies?
We are at Bundoora Farmer's Market on the 1st Saturday of the month and The Garden's Market on the 2nd Saturday of the month from November till April, Made n Thornbury and of course Northside Makers Market.