FRIDAY FRENZY - NICHE & APRON

Well Launceston, congratulations for coming out in droves!  Two at once - success!!

Lyn met me for drinks first at Mud - how civilised - then we perused the offerings at the inaugural Apron Design Market .  Lots of others were looking too and the weather was fine...a bit windy but the shelter created by those white marquees ensured that stall holders and visitors alike were comfortable. The atmosphere was great. I was pleased to chat to Loz with her beautiful Grandeliers and enthused over the stunning 9 Fruits - flat pack fruit bowl from young designer Adam Aberle - a finalist in the 2009 Design Awards. Impressed also with Bek's lovely cards and linen aprons.  But they were all fantastic. All of them.  Look at the website for stall holders.

So then we jumped in the cars and tootled down to the Tramsheds to the third Niche for 2010 and oh boy!  The crowds were stupendous.  Loved the venue Liz - best yet - and think yes, the second room is a  must for next time!

I spent a happy time shopping for THE NEW SHOP and talking to the host of wonderful makers - old and new!  Was really liking Margaret's lamps as well as AdoreU Design's security card holders  - great to see some design going into these mundane accessories we are forced to wear.  Lovely!!  Who else ? Well just look at the Niche blogspot and you'll see who.  All great, all being patronised and the venue chokkas with people shopping!  St Giles will benefit, Liz will be stoked.

So then we went off to Blue Cafe .  I had the prawn and avocado salad and my assistant had a yummy wood fired pizza, but the desert was to die for : dark chocolate bouchon pudding with caramel dirt & vanilla bean
icecream. OMG !!! I took a photo of it for here but the wine had made my hand shake and it's not quite suitable for publication LOL. We staggered off into the sunset, shopped out and replete.

KILLIECRANKIE FARM CHRISTMAS TREES for TASMANIA 2010

Killiecrankie Farm's beautiful, and specially-grown for you, fresh-cut Christmas Trees are available for order now at The Mill Providore and the Atrium Cafe in Launceston.

Tended by Lee and Chris in the tantalisingly beautiful Tamar Valley close to Launceston, your family needs to experience the scent and ambience these ecologically sustainable Christmas Trees will bring to your festive season this year!

Guess What - it's exciting, and very very scary!

I've been a bit busy lately....check it out....Oatlands handmade

To Market, To Market.....Latrobe Truly Tasmanian

Well I braved the wind, the rain, the thunder and lightning and piloted Ronnie Rav down to Latrobe on the Sunday of the longweekend of craft to check out the Truly Tasmanian Craft Exhibition and Fair!  Never having been before, I was anxious to see what these rebelious lot were up to. Fonz (aka Fonz's Woodcraft 354 Main Road, Spreyton) started the Truly Tas Exhibition several years ago as a reaction to not being accepted at Deloraine.  A small group started off and this year there were almost 40 stalls offering a wide range of handmade Tasmanian art and craft exhibiting at the Latrobe Memorial Hall.

Despite the apalling weather, a steady crowd patronised the event and by just after lunch, the rain had gone!   I bought some beaut soap from Natures Force from Kimberley, some lovely silver grey fleece, a paca batt with bling, some bunny and some hoppy fur from Cheryl of Fibres & Threads, a beaut brooch from Rita and a pair of stunning maille earings from Lyn's Maille. 

I had a great time hanging out with the girls and enjoyed looking at a wonderful new range of Tas handmades.

Standouts : Rino and Howard up from Geeveston in the deep south of Tasmania with their stunning sterling silver and glass bead serving wear and jewellery!

Market Sunday - Deviot's Turn

We're off to Deviot Market tomorrow!  Hope it's fine and lots of people come out to buy fabulous Tasmanian handmade art craft.

Just shopping tomorrow...........

TRULY TASMANIAN HANDMADE

I've had confirmation from the beautiful Lyn  of Lyn's Maille who knows all about this one :

The 2010  Truly Tasmanian Craft Exhibition and Sale will be held at Latrobe on the November Longweekend : 30, 31st October and 1st November.

You will see an exhibition of high quality handmade craft by Tasmanian craft persons held in Latrobe.  There will be working exhibitions and fine Tasmanian made produce as well.

Artisans work Includes jewellery, wood craft, furniture, photography, art, pottery, craft, lace making, teddy bears, fine food, lead lighting, mosaic mirrors, glasswork, ceramics, alpaca craft, hand painted silk, handmade cards, wooden toys, decorated eggs, handmade collectables and Christmas decorations.

So, check out Deloraine but don't forget this one Saturday 30th October, Sunday 31st October and Monday 1st November 2010.

Truly Tasmanian Craft Exhibition and Sale

Latrobe

Craft Craft and more wonderful HANDMADE from Tasmania

They are coming thick and fast - the run up to Christmas 2010 has a plethora (wonderful word LOL) of handmade Tasmanian fine art craft!  Here are some - there are probably many more.....

Please check the date and venue - I have collected these from various websites and blogs....

OCTOBER

24 October                         Deviot Hall Market, West Tamar

NOVEMBER

29 October - 1 November   Tasmanian Craft Fair Deloraine

October 30, 31 and November 1              
                                         Truly Tasmanian Craft Exhibition and Sale  
                                         @ Latrobe - Dates are def LWE!!
6 November                       Matildas Markets Hobart  @ Elizabeth St Pier
 
19 - 20 November              The Apron Design Market @ The Seaport,
                                         Launceston  
                                         (mentioned on a couple of blogs...
                                          more info please?)
 

19 - 20 November             Niche all wrapped up for St Giles @ Tramsheds, Launceston

21 November           http://themarkethobart.com.au/

28 November          Clarence Point Market, West Tamar

DECEMBER

5 December            http://eastsidemarket.blogspot.com/




12 December         http://themarkethobart.com.au/

Jellywares on Marshall

Well what a lovely surprise I had last week !  On chugging in (the little Toyota Ute) to the (almost) outback town of Cobar in western NSW during SO and mine's Big Trip 2010, I found the delightful Josie presiding over her shop counter, crochet hook in hand.     Jellywares on Marshall has a welcoming and delightful ambience specialising in all things home-made, home-grown and wholesome.  Lovely displays and all sorts of tempting things to buy! There is a good selection of yarns, books and accessories; hand crafted goods created by Jodie as well as fresh eggs, preserves and pickles! Handspun yarn by Jodie and the ladies of the town can also be found and gorgeous sewn dresses for us and the children all made special with Jodie's unique touches!  She does classes as well, has an online store, is a mum to two gorgeous little ones and works with her husband on their sheep station 70 kms up the road - don't know how she fits it all in.

Goodies by the dozen!



Shopfront on Marshall St Cobar



Jodie and one of her lovely daughters in the shop!

I could not resist and bought some Cascade yarn to bring home for the AKL to play with (lucky loom that it is).  SO is quoted as saying "haven't you got enough wool at home ?"  Yes, but you can always have more, besides this is cotton and alpacca, and this season's colours!!   Check out Jodie's blog here.

Notions in my (Victorian) Neighbourhood

You may have gathered by now that I have a split (ah hem....personality??) life.  Some of it is here in Tasmania - born and bred 7th generation - and some of it is in the little village of Malmsbury on the edge of the central highlands of Victoria with the remote Significant Other who is there for his work.  Near Kyneton, it's rather like our Ross in a way - big english trees and old buildings and busy with tourists.  (Also b. cold in the winter and stinking hot in the summer).

Well.....10 kms up the road, Piper Street in Kyneton is the place to go on a weekend.  The monthly Farmer's Market is a draw, but the roughly kilometer length is absolutely chokkas with cafes, providores, art, handmade and decorating.  Everything from French Provincial to vintage Australian.  I love to wander when I get the chance...which I did on Sunday.

In a previous post I have enthused about Stockroom on Piper who have occupied part of the old Meskills Wool Mill building and this was my first time back since their opening (and relocation from Daylesford) - and I was not disappointed.  Jason and Magali have added a new coffee hub complete with vintage red caravan and 1970s lounges to sit on and books to browse (I was right at home!); there were the usual gorgeous Australian designed and made clothes to peruse plus an eclectic offering of handmades interspersed with vintage collectibles and kitchenalia - not to mention the exhibition spaces and artist workshops!

So......I was absolutely exstatic (well very excited at the least) when I spied a familiar logo and recognised the work of the lovely Rosie from NOTIONS !  Wonderful to see Tassie handmade abroad and mixing it with the world!