Eastside Makers Market

It rained and rained and rained...but we went.  [Dedication to the market stall-holders' code - if we don't go, the customers won't come!] The Eastside Makers Market ladies were very welcoming and the little PCYC hall in Scott Street Bellerive on Hobart's Eastern Shore was bouncing with music, a juggler, great coffee, beautiful fresh spring flowers and warmth from the inclement weather outside!  Despite the day, there was a steady flow of customers and I met a cousin I had not met before!

All in all, a good day and VERY EXCITING !  handmadebyrowena took out the award for the best display and I was SO surprised and a bit embarrassed.  But thank you to Felicity, Jude and Robyn for making my trip south possible and to Linda from XTRAS DIRECT for  making it a wonderful one!  I look forward to a shopping trip with Jude to spend my voucher.

Xtras Direct  Shop 21 Shoreline Shopping Centre, Howrah  Tas  7018  for shoes, jewelry, clothing, accessories - everything we could want !

Some lovely wares were for sale with the talented and friendly designer makers attending were yet another surprise!

Linda Brown from Xtras Direct -  "Xquisite Xccessories" & Moi

 

Eastside Makers Market

We're off to Hobart on Sunday 5th for the Eastside Makers Market!  Bags packed ready and a NEW product....(watch this space ).......

Allwrappedup again!

I was just so so pleased to be able to make my donation to St Giles Launceston based on my sales for the two days just gone of Niche allwrappedup for August 2010.  I don't have much disposable - us crafts people work hard and profit little in $$s  (but lots in other benefits) - so it's a great way to share with the kids at St Giles who really need all the love and assistance we as a community can give them!  The staff are singularly magnificent in their care.  I know this from personal experience as two family members have benefited from their help!

So, how did we go ?  Well once again it was an absolute pleasure to be surrounded by such fantastic, happy and friendly designer makers from Tasmania.  We had a great time and apart from a few relatively minor hiccups out of most every one's control, everything went really well.  Saturday especially was busy and throngs filled the space to near capacity more than a couple of times!

To all those who stopped by Rowena to say hello - thanks for making my market stall a happier place and to those who liked my wares enough to purchase, I truly hope you enjoy your scarf for many wears to come!  Thanks for all the encouraging comments, the new ideas and the reinforcement of what I am already doing.  I was also encouraged by the interest in the new Superfine Tasmanian Merino Lambs wool scarves and in the Conara range made from the lustrous Wanstead Park English Leicester yarn!   It seems also that we can sell balls of Barb's lovely handspun - there was much interest.  Perhaps, if I can get guaranteed supply, I may be able to find time to hand dye and ballup the superfine and sell in small lots - wouldn't that be a pip (to quote Iggle Piggle and Upsy Daisy).

I must get busy now on my trusty AKL as there are three orders to fill and Jude and Felicity and the girls from Eastside Makers Market have encouraged me to part with the readies for a spot at the next market in Bellerive on Hobart's eastern shore next Sunday 5th September 2010. ....and I really need to update Etsy and MadeIt .

...another Niche all wrapped up!  Thanks Selena and to Zoe who looked after us wonderfully at the Academy Gallery venue!   Do hope those who were at the Boatshed venue had just a great a time!

PS...the jacket sold !  Thanks to Lee's mum for the first try-on - it was so wonderful to see the garment modelled by someone whom it suited!  And to Trish who missed out - I'll barter when I get another made.  To Pat who won the battle, do share won't you !  LOL.  Enjoy!

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS...new page on tab at top of page.  Everyone deserved a spot but thanks to those who were happy for me to take their pic and post to this blog!

Getting ready

Conara in the Darke

 Lots and lots to do....and ran out of black ink in the printer !

I decided to do new labels - sometimes I think I'm more concerned with the marketing than the work itself, but then I remind myself that it's got to look good and that includes good labels!  So I have been playing around with ideas and also working on that "range" concept.  You know, the one that makes you focus on exactly what you are trying to achieve.  I think the labels have helped !!   Rowena now has everyday and hundreds & thousands for commercial wool and synthetics and then conara and pure for the pure wools and the new spun for the handspun and woven!

Here is a lovely silver grey scarf woven from some of the Bendigo Mohair Farm persian lamb and mohair I have had in my stash for positively years!  Barb has had a great time spinning it and the result is gorgeous.  The warp is a (coned) french pure wool with an interesting finish.

And look as this stunning italian Filatura di Crosa Buffo which looks great in an open weave.  I laid it on a kid mohair warp and mixed in some good old Australian Cleakheaton Astra Khan.  The resulting wool and suynthetic mix makes it light and luxurious! This is a fashion statement scarf. 

Some of the 'pure' scarves

The finishing takes longer than it does to make them!  But there they are, all nicely steam pressed, labelled and hanging on the "competed" rack waiting for next Friday morning!    ...or at least about half of them......so I'd better get back to it. 

Launceston, University of Tasmania Academy Gallery, Niche allwrappedup Market for Tasmanian designers and makers.  10am - 4pm Friday 27 and Saturday 28 August 2010.  Supporting St Giles.

The daphne's out

Barbara's spinning

Niche at Launceston Junction 2010 Regional Arts Festival

Well the advertising has started on TV for the Junction 2010 event.  Launceston sure will be busy if the predictions come up to scratch!  I've done the Facebook thing with the Niche poster etc and have sent details out.

Hope the University Gallery is OK for us.  I'm a bit worried we'll be in a corner and not see the passing crowds.  Hopefully all will be well.

Is this last minute nerves ?   Anyway, this time next week the cases will be packed and we'll be ready for a 8.15 am set up, bump-in or drag all the stuff out of the car exercise!   Still excited  lol.

Not long now - Niche allwrappedup August 2010

It's coming quicker than ever. August 27 is next week and I just hope we'll be ready.  So much still to do..........

Barb has been spinning for me (as I just don't have time to do it all) so in addition to the brand new  pure  range woven from Tasmanian Superfine Merino Wool and the conara scarves woven with Wanstead Park's sublime english leicester wool, we will have the stunning spun range of accessories handwoven using handspun wool !    Of course there will still be plenty from the hundreds & thousands and everyday scarf and wrap range to tempt buyers.  Hope to see you all there !



A scarf or wrap is an accessory for all the year round - Rowena accessories cater for all weather and fashion occasions!

Niche Market and Junction 2010

In just three weeks it will be all over again!  Rowena's loom is working feverishly to prepare for the next Niche allwrappedup Market which will be on Friday 27th and Saturday 28th August, 10-4 at two venues (connected by bus Yeah !) as one of the Arts Festival Mixed Bag events supporting Junction 2010: Connecting the future  to be held Thursday 26 August 2010 - Sunday 29 August 2010 in many venues throughout Launceston. 

" Junction 2010 is the seventh biennial Regional Arts Australia national conference and is presented in partnership with Tasmanian Regional Arts and the host community Launceston, is set to unleash an explosion of ideas and creativity ".

You will find  20 Niche product stalls featuring Tasmanian Designers and Makers at the Academy Gallery at the Invermay UTAS Campus in amongst the Faces of Launceston – the next generation exhibition by photographic artist Philip Kuruvita (on show at the Gallery 26 August – 15 October.  35 more designers andmakers will be at The Boatshed.    Check out  the Niche Design Blogspot for more info.

Winter 2010 Range Release

Well here are my new scarves for winter!  (See the Slideshow at the right hand side).  Lots of lovely new colours and patterns and some stunning new yarns. There are just a few left from the "Autumn 2010 Collection" so I have included them so they don't get left on the rack....it's sad being being shelved, especially when you are a lovely scarf or wrap  LOL.

This winter I am very happy to have more of the wonderful Wanstead Park English Leicester yarn represented in the collection - all items with this fabulous Tasmanaina wool in them are from my Conara range.  Likewise the partnering of Darke Doings Fine Tassie Merino with the sumptuous Noro yarns and other luxury fibres.

NEW NEW NEW are the pure Tasmanian Fine Merino scarves and wraps.  19 micon fine Tassie merino has been millspun in Roberts Tasmania's Japanese partner's mill into lustrous and lofty 2/16s yarn which is as light as thistledown. I am delighted to be able to offer truly Tasmanian garments and accessories to you.  Thanks to Eric and Roberts' Tasmanian Merino label!

Over the next few weeks I wil load selections from Winter 2010  range into my Madeit and Etsy Stores and of course, all and more will be available at my stall at the Junction 2010 Niche Market at the end of August!

Niche allwrapped up for St Giles

Just received notification from the organisers that Rowena is once again accepted for the Nicheallwrapped up Market to be held end of August.....  Yippee!

This event was astounding for me at the May venue and if I only can make half as many people happy with their scarves and wraps it will be wonderful!

This time we'll be part of the Junction 2010 event  http://www.junction2010.com.au/  which will be a fantastic spotlight on Launceston's Arts community and hopefully having Niche as part of the activities will not only raise profiles, encourage people to invest with the local artisans but bring lots of traffic past Niche stalls and raise heaps for Gt Giles !

......weaving...weaving....weaving......absolutely gorgeous Tassie 19 micron fine merino wool into fashion statements........glitzy bling scarves for everyday.........warm warm natural corriedale and Tassie english leicester wool snugglies for the coldest of winters...handspun and handwoven one-offs..........busy...busy...busy.

Another Great Day !

What a wonderful handmade community we have here in Launceston !  Thanks to Tameeka, Kylie and all my fellow marketeers for another fantastic day out at the Civic Homespun venue last Saturday - 10th April. A friendly and supportive lot we are too.  It's a fantastic way to spend a day - talking to interesting and passionate people about what they like to do best, and getting a chance to talk to prospective customers to find out what they are looking for.  Although numbers of visitors to our venue appeared to be down a little (weather ??) there were still buyers about and thanks to all those who helped Rowena have another successful market. xxxooo

Tameeka says that the next one - Saturday 24th April - will be HUGE !  More stallholders than ever.

See you there.