Lamp Love

Here are some new things I've been working on to take to market this weekend. I love how my lamps turned out and the Newcastle teatowels, bags and pencil cases hopefully will be embraced by all those crafty Novocastrian people.

I've got my sewing groove back

Wedding Birds - made from marabou feathers, crepe paper, map pins and styro balls.

New bags that double as paniers for your bike. They are double bags with a sturdy heavy zip on the back and a lighter zip under the flap. These are still prototypes and am still working on the construction of them. I will probably put some sort of velcro strips in the middle of the two bags to attach to the back of the bike.

Flat waisted little girl's skirts with elastic at the back for a more flattering fit. A floating attached heart for a bit of whimsy.

It's been a bit slow around these parts in terms of people attending the markets and people buying. It seems like the Financial Crisis has finally hit us marketeers in Newie. K-Rudd's money from last year to keep us out of recession has finally run out and people are holding on tight. Alas the sewing hasn't been as cranking as I would have liked to, but people I'm back with a renewed sense of energy and the Janome is doing double time and the ideas are flowing. I'm thinking up my new range of wares for Spring/Summer 2010 and I can't wait. My younger sister is getting married and it's going to be a handmade extravaganza. So far I had made, with the help of nieces and bride, 21 handmade birdies, destined for table arrangements. Only another 20 odd birds to go. I've finished the invites and am waiting on one other thing to include and I'll give you a sneak peek as soon as I post them all off. Good times people, good times.

Melbourne Roundup

Prahran Markets cafe.

TrunkLaurent side entrance.
Spacecraft
Dedicated bike path at St Kilda. (Very impressed) I've never seen anything like this.
Cottage Industry and Little Salon
New bike scheme in Melbourne and a cute shop on Flinders Lane.

Crochet and cuteness.

A couple of weeks ago I took myself off to Melbourne for some frigid weather and fun with friends. It was so much fun and of course I wrote down all the highlights for future reference and blogging purposes. I did quite a bit of research on macarons for my sister and her nutty mate who are currently ensconced in a macaron cooking frenzy. After much research I wrangled two boxes of macarons on the plane much to the delight of the awaiting macaron lovers.

So here is the roundup of the trip which includes places I visited but also some places I missed out on visiting and desperately want to.

Shops

Luft, 212 St Georges Road, Fitzroy North

www.luft.com.au/

Fabulous little shop with all manner of homewares, kid's stuff and lots of cute frenchy journals.

Zetta Florence, 197 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy
www.zettaflorence.com.au/
Paper galore, stamps, gift wrap, journals, amazing calendars, cards, my absolutely favourite paper shop.

Wilkins & Kent, 230 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy or 372 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne

www.wilkinsandkent.com/

Great for locally produced handmade stuff, lots of cute teatowels, jewellery, cushions, lampshades. Both shops are just lovely.

Little Salon, 71 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

www.littlesalon.com.au/

The girl said, in the shop, that about 80% of their wares are from Melbourne designers. Jewellery, clothing, brooches, cushions, teatowels. Really cute store and they also have another one in the city, Shop 1, 353 Little Collins Street, Melbourne.

Spacecraft, 225 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

www.spacecraftaustralia.com/

This is a screenprinters dream shop. Fabulous and more fabulous cushions and bedding.

Douglas & Hope, 181 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

www.douglasandhope.com.au/

Lots of cute bits and bobs. Bit of kitsch stuff and handmade stuff.

Craft Victoria, 31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

http://craftvic.org.au/

Beautiful ceramics were on display the day I was there. Jewellery and other lovely bits by Melbourne locals.

Shop Sui, 227 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

www.shopsui.com.au/

So much cuteness and locally produced teatowels and cushion covers amongst other things. Lots of cute kitschy stuff.

Mr Lincoln ( Flower Shop) 102 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

www.mrlincoln.com.au/

I only walked past and peered in, but the layout was really nice and the flowers looked fabulous.

Cottage Industry, 67 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

This was such a cute shop, right next door to Little Salon. It had lots of scout memorabilia made into all sorts of things, clocks, bags, pillows, lights. They had the most beautiful lampshades made with old pianola rolls.

Title Bookshop, Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

The most extensive range of foreign films I've ever seen. A bit pricey, but the range was amazing.

Rose Street Markets, 60 Rose Street, Fitzroy

www.rosestmarket.com.au/

Locally produced arts and crafts. Although small is packed with great wares.

Urban Jungle, 155 Greville Street, Prahran

www.urbanjungleinc.com.au/
Great homewares

Kis it Better, 127 Greville Street, Prahran

A fantastic shop full of braids, trims, ribbons, buttons and fabrics. Apparently the store has lots of, one off, trims and fabrics left over from designer's ranges.

Food

Aix Cafe Creperie Salon, 24 Centre Place, Melbourne

Absolutely tiny interior, but that is the charm of Centre Place. The crepes are fantastic and cheap. $5 - $10

Laurent, 306 Little Collins Street, Melbourne

www.laurent.com.au/

This little french bakery is tres magnifique. The passionfruit tart and the passionfruit and mango macarons were the standouts for me. (Can you tell what my favourite fruit is?) Lovely interiors and food, what more could you ask for. The bakeries are dotted all around the place, but the Little Collins Street Laurent is full of charm.

Prahran Markets, 163 Commercial Road, South Yarra ( Runs parallel to Chapel Street)

www.prahranmarket.com.au/

If visiting Melbourne it is a great place to pick up your cheeses and citron tarts to take back to your hotel room to scoff on the cheap. I tasted the most fabulous dips here as well.

Terra Rossa, 87 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

www.terrarosarb.com.au/

Has stone horse carvings in the entry way. Cosy interior with some very comfy booth seats.

Delicious tapas, but we didn't order enough.

Rosati, 95 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

www.rosati.com.au/

Didn't actually get to eat there due to a cardiovascular conference. The interiors looked Fornasetti fabulous. Very impressed and the prices were really reasonable for such a fabulous looking restaurant.

Hopetoun Tearooms, Block Arcade, 282 Collins Street, Melbourne

www.hopetountearooms.com.au/

Didn't have the time to stop in for tea, but looks fabulous.

Creperie Le Triskel, 32 Hardware Lane, Melbourne

Authentic Brittany crepes and galettes. These crepes were so delicious and cheap $4.50. French speaking staff and French magazines give an authentic Frenchy experience. At the counter on a blackboard feature a couple of french phrases that you can use to give your order. Friday night is cheese night, where they offer all different cheese platters. Yes, cheese pigs out there, get your derrieres down there tout de suite.

Ladro, 162 Greville Street, Prahran or 224 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Didn't visit, but want to. Apparently some fabulous pizza to be had.

Mamasita, Level 1/11 Collins Street, Melbourne

Lined up for this place, but a two hour wait wasn't going to cut it on that particular night.

Apparently they have amazing mexican food.

Madame Brussels, Level 3, 59-63 Bourke Street, Melbourne

www.madamebrussels.com/

Hard to explain. It's like going to a tennis club/garden party at night in 1920's England. Great, weird and fabulous night out. We were ushered into the parlour out the back where there was a secret wood panelled door. We ate a chocolate fondue and a cheese platter in said parlour.

Cookie, Level 1, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne

www.cookie.net.au/

Absolutely delicious Thai food in a very cool place. Interiors I liked very much.

Vegie Bar, 380 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

www.vegiebar.com.au/

Rustic interiors, delicious food and cheap. The cafe is enormous, but still feels cosy.

Little Creatures Dining Hall, 222 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy

www.littlecreatures.com.au/

The dining hall looks fun and the menu features lots of sharing tapas style food. Didn't get there this time, but will return next time.

Mr Tulk, 304 Swanston Street Walk, Melbourne

Situated at the far end of the State Library. Great Interiors and really delicious food. I had the banana bread with honey yoghurt and rhubarb compote.

Trunk, 275 Exhibition Street, Melbourne

www.trunktown.com.au/

Cool little brick building and diner. Beautiful bar and styling.

Chinatown Dumpling, Shop 3, 254 Swanston Street, Melbourne

Super cheap and yummy dumplings. $8 for 15 dumplings.

I went to other shops and chow shops, but these were the standouts. Oh and I also went to the Tim Burton exhibition, which was inspiring. Enjoy!

New Fabric Cupboard

Finally, here is my new fabric cupboard which I just couldn't live without. It is full to the brim, but at last I have my fabrics sorted. It was getting to the point, with my old storage method, that it was easier to just buy new fabric than to try to dig through the abyss that was my fabric cupboard. I forgot to take before pictures when it was covered in a thick cream paint. It took me 3-4 layers of paint stripper to get it off. Stinky work, but I think it turned out a treat. I used paint that was hanging around the house, so it actually turned out to be a bit of a bargain reno job. I sanded it all back and then the rubbed orange oil all over. It is actually lighter in colour than the pics are showing.
p.s Sorry about the cords in the after pic, I thought about photoshopping them out, but it's rainy, I'm tired, you know the drill.