The weekend that was... markets as far as the eye can see

To be honest it seems like everywhere you turn there is a pop up store or market happening! I managed to make it to two of these events that ran over the weekend. One was  The Design Files  Open House which ran for 4 days in a private residence on Eastbourne Street in Windsor. 

The other was  Peoples Market in Collingwood, which could be summed up as shipping containers, hipsters as far as the eye can see! Food, drink, music, flea market & crafty finds. 

64 – 68  Stanley street, Collingwood, VIC 3066. Those in the rag trade would know the Max New warehouse on Stanley street it's next to that! It's operating from Thursday to Sunday through summer & is basically open from breakkie through to dinner. December 1 to April 28 2013.

I used to work in Collingwood in the about 15 years ago so it to see the changes in the buildings & the street scape. In terms of retail it is exciting that there are these events being put on & interesting use of space. Spaces that have been idle that have been re-purposed. So it must be asked it is all getting to be too much the same? How is this affecting bricks & mortar retail spaces? Also what's going to be next?

Needless to say I think it is giving retail a shake up and giving consumers more variety. I do think mass market retailers need to give their customers more credit as they are savvy. Certainly the sameness & cookie cutter mass produced has made shopping just a bit dull in stores of late. Even with the economic climate it seems that if something is special enough there will be some one who wants it & will spend the money on it. 

There is also another market being run by the same organisers of Markit at FedSquare called The Big Design Market coming up. I'm not taking part but will definitely be going along to check out the goodies on offer - some buddies have stalls there. Will be nice to go as a shopper as will actually get to see the market. The Big Design Market runs 7/8/9 of December at the Royal Exhibition Building Carlton.  Facebook event page here 

I would encourage everyone to try to buy local and handmade this festive season if not the present maybe the card, wrapping or an element of the gift. There is some amazing talent & crafts people locally so get out there & shop!! 
 
Love Miss FOO XXX

ships and sealing wax....and a sneaky cellar door visit

I have a piece in the Yering station Sculpture prize which is part of the Yarra Valley arts programme. I have just returned from setting it up & of course I had to stop by the I  cellar door wine and produce store.....  Also I am really rather partial to the Yarra Valley Farmers' Market Held on the third Sunday of each month 

Future Market Dates

October 21st, 2012

November 18th, 2012

Open 9.00am - 2.00pm

the website http://www.yering.com is great and even has a handy driving instructions

"ships and sealing wax. of cabbages and kings" by Sai-Wai Foo

The sculpture is a balsa wood sailing ship with sandal wood cut-work sitting upon a pleated paper cabbage. All contained in a glass dome. Based one of my favourite Lewis Carroll poem. I have always been a bit partial to "the Walrus & the Carpenter" full text here. 

"ships and sealing wax. of cabbages and kings" is the resulting piece born out of a moment of panic! I have to admit this was one of those pieces that didn't come together until the last minute...again the pressure of the deadline really helped. I didn't have a clear idea of what I was doing or where it was going until the 11th hour.

I've linked the Disney clip of the poem from Alice in Wonderland & also the Kevin Smith "dogma" take on the poem's subtext. Enjoy!

 

the Disney version 

 

Matt Damon as Loki in Dogma (1999) written by Kevin Smith

Love Miss Foo XXX

 Work is on show at Yering Station from October 28 to 2 December 2012 

see below for invite or website for more details http://www.yering.com

 

Finders Keepers market & other bits and pieces!

After my visit to the Finders Keepers in April this year I was really keen to take part in their next event. So I am happy to say that I have a stall at the upcoming October market, it opens of the Friday evening & runs all day Saturday! Going from the last market it should be a busy, fun market. Here's are the links to the designer directory  and the Facebook invite 
Just a gentle reminder the when the market is on it will be just over 2 months to Christmas.... seriously it feels as like it is just getting faster & faster!! ARGH!
If you can't make this market there are always my regular retail stores see my facebook for the listing of stores that stock my work.

Also I will be taking part in Markit at Fedsquare again on 25th of November... by that stage it will be exactly on month before Christmas so the panic should really have set in eep! For both markets I will have market specials and stock exclusively for the markets so pop by & grab a bargain - it is a reward to getting your chrissy shopping done early!

Also if you are thinking about getting portrait of your fluffy creature for yourself or as a gift you can contact me on pleatybunny@gmail.com if you want a quote or have any questions.

I love working on commissioned pieces as the subjects are always really fun and I do like the reactions I get to the finished piece! 

Here's are some images of comissioned work that I have completed recently: 

"Pinot"

Pinot looking handsome!

Pinot the handsome - a commissioned portrait of a very loved and handsome Chi/Jack Russell. The brief was for a portrait with airmail collar, I think he looks rather dashing with his starched collar and his little pearl button!

"A bad bad Bunny"

"A bad bad bunny" - a commission for a birthday gift, the brief was for a sweet but bad-ass bunny who had a bit of attitude witha vintage map paper collar.

"Oliver"

"Oliver" - a gift for a fresh baby, request was for a sweet looking bunny with patterned blues

love Miss Foo XXX

lovely long weekends

I love long weekends - the June Queens birthday holiday is the last before the drag through the cold & gloom of winter. Also we have to wait months until the next in one in November.

It turned out the holiday on Monday was a beautiful Melbourne day which makes me utterly grateful for the fact I live in Melbourne. The warm sunshine and the wonders of vitamin D in the winter definitely helped stave off the winter blues. 

Here's  a couple of things we got up to:

A wander up to the local shops North Melbourne we are spoiled as we have great food coffee on our door step. One gem is Grigons & Orr  anywhere that has nanna crochet and knit blankets at the ready is ok by me. Besides the coffee andfood there is delish! 

a lady like coffee

Mini wondering where her breakfast is

mmmm Menu!

Uncle Bennies

Coddled eggs with cheesy toast soldiers

Followed by a wander around Collingwood and Fitzroy, nice to see the yarn bombers from Yarn Corner are keeping the trees warm...

 

Wandering works up an appetite to off to Naked for Satan for a nibble! MMMM pintxos... 285 Brunswick Street  Melbourne VIC 3000
Can't wait for their roof bar to open - Naked in the sky

After all that eating best to take ourselves & Madame had not had a big adventure  to the dog beach - Burns Reserve (Altona Dog Beach) Altona Rd Altona VIC 3018.

If you do go - go at low tide http://tides.willyweather.com.au/vic/melbourne/altona.html &  the road there is pretty potholed if you are coming via ...best to do a  bit of a detour & save your axels!

 

After all that it is back to the studio to start on some artwork. I am taking part in a few  group exhibitions.  One of them is the "Feather your Nest"exhibition at the Stairway to Nowhere Gallery- which is part of Gleaners inc. It opens at the on Friday, August the 3rd and runs through to August the 31st, will be part of the calender of events for the Craft Victoria Craft Cubed Festival.

& just a quick shout out to cherryandme.com for the write up on the blog! check it! 

Thanks to the lovelies at http://www.cherryandme.com for the photo from Markit @FedSquare

Love Miss Foo XXX