Support Handmade - WA style

Afternoon all you shiny thing lovers out there - Lotta here again!

Being a fervent online shopper (that's probably putting it mildly) I often spend hours searching for handmade goodness. Have a look at some of these wonderful examples of WA crafters and designers, found on Etsy.com

From top, left to right.

Top

Melbourne Peacock Feathers Extravaganza Fascinator, YJPaw

Hippy Shake Pouch, PetitPalais

2010 Dodecahedron Calendar, Paper2Rock2Scissors

My Treetop home recycled notebook, littlemoandfriends

Meandering Copper Wire earrings, GetSilvered

2nd

Tatiana Handbag, by ShazandCazHandbags,

The Vicki Casserole Carrier, PrettyinPurple

Orange Bouquet earrings, CocoaPod

Sydney Tote (Anna Maria Horner fabric), EllaAndLily

Verity Necklace, Osier

3rd

Chaos in your soul, FattyDeMonsey

Balloon Ball Cover, smithandbird

Siren Button Bouquet - customised, Letters4Lilly

Patchouli handmade soap - vegan, DelightSociety

XL Baby Blanket in CosmoCricket fabric, Christopherandme

Bottom

Soul archival print, AussiePatches

Beaded Fan Necklace, NeveandSole

Set 4 PaperandFabric flowers, SweetVintage78

Monster Baby Rattle, ollierose

3 elephants canvas art, champ+rosie

More goodness on it's way!

Art n About Call for Stallholders

Dear Art and Craft Enthusiasts!!

Art 'n' About is back for the second and final time in 2009! (Sunday 25th October 2009)
As part of the new Wanneroo Library and Cultural Centre opening, this next ART 'N' ABOUT (now on ROCCA WAY) promises to be the biggest ever.
The City is calling for artists, clothing, leather or textile designers, toy makers, photographers, preserve chefs, art and craft enthusiasts or someone with a bit of talent such as a caricaturist or henna-tattoo artist to be a part of our markets.
Please find the Information and Application form attached. Deadline for applications and payment is the 9th of October 2009. Please feel free to forward this email to friends and colleagues!

Any further queries, don't hesitate to give us a buzz!

Sabrina Bruni
Events Officer
Communications & Events
City of Wanneroo

T : 08 9405 5362
F : 08 9405 5363
E : sabrina.bruni@wanneroo.wa.gov.au

23 Dundebar Road, Wanneroo WA 6065
Locked Bag 1, Wanneroo WA 6946

wanneroo.wa.gov.au

Guest Blogger: Lotta

*Welcome* to Made on The Left, I will be your guest blogger for the next few weeks! Sit down, strap in and prepare yourself for one fun ride!

I am known to many as Lotta, aka princesslotta and I wear many hats…. mother, wifey, daughter, designer, crafter, employee, friend, volunteer and collector of all things shiny. (And not so shiny).

My day job with the government sees me working on shifts predominantly nights to allow me to be fulltime(ish) mum to my two awesome sons. You can read more about that stuff in my blog.

I came into the handmade world early 2008 when I discovered Etsy… a turning point in my creative life. I did papercrafts prior to that but longed for something more dimensional.

I now have two jewellery labels, one being Lotta (Steampunk and neo-Victorian inspired jewellery) and princesslotta (Jewellery for the everyday princess).

My life is hectic to say the least but I wouldn’t change it for the world.

SOME OF MY SHINY THINGS!

A few random snippets…

• I turned 30 this July gone, and spent it with friends at Sugar Blue Burlesque club. What a wonderful way to kick off my thirties!

• I want to learn Burlesque. And live burlesque.

• I am a sucker for glomesh, anodized aluminium kitchen stuff, keys, locks, old records, 50’s style fashion and furniture design, doilies and Doctor Who (mostly in David Tennant form thanks for asking).

• I love op-shopping, council collection week and weekend markets

• The smell of briny salty ocean air brings me to tears.

• I want to grow old disgracefully.

Stay tuned for some more Lotta goodness!!!

www.princesslotta.etsy.com

www.princesslotta.blogspot.com

www.lotta.com.au (under construction)

enquiries@lotta.com.au

City of Joondalup Market Stalls - Friday night Markets & March Festival

Dear Stallholder,

Please find below requested information regarding the 2009 Sunset Markets season and the 2010 Joondalup Festival Markets.

SUNSET MARKETS

The Sunset Markets are a Friday night market that take place in the Joondalup CBD preceding Christmas. The markets feature stalls, entertainment and children’s activities.

Details for the upcoming Sunset Market season are still being finalised. Information for stallholders including how to submit an application and terms and conditions will become available in late September on the City of Joondalup website www.joondalup.wa.gov.au

However the following basic information will apply to stallholders and may be useful in your planning for the 2009 Sunset Market season:

• The Sunset Markets take place in the Joondalup CBD (Central Walk and Reid Promenade);
• The 2009 season will be for 5 weeks only taking place on Friday evenings from 6.00pm - 9.00pm from 20 November to 18 December;
• Site pitches are approximately 3m x 3m;
• Stallholders must supply all stall infrastructure including tables, chairs, marquees, lights and display materials;
• Power is available on-site, although each stall is restricted to 1 x 240v outlet only;
• Final stall pitch locations will be determined by the organiser in the interests of the entire market. Previous attendance is not a guarantee of a particular stall pitch location;
• Indicative stall fees are as follows:

• $200.00 (inc GST) site fee for 5 week season for stallholder with public liability insurance;
• $245.00 (inc GST) site fee for 5 week season for stallholder without public liability insurance; and
• $310.00 site fee for 5 week season for a food stallholder (all food stallholders must carry their own public liability insurance).

• All types of stalls will be considered for admission into the markets but the organiser reserves the right to select stalls that have the greatest potential to create a vibrant diverse market;
• A limited number of ‘Not for profit’ stalls may be allowed to trade however, full stall fees will apply. ‘Not for profit’ trading may include:

• Distribution of information; and
• Fundraising.

The final decision on the inclusion of ‘Not for profit’ stalls will be at the discretion of the organiser;

• It is yet to be determined whether casual stallholders (week by week) will be able to trade as part of the 2009 market season.

JOONDALUP FESTIVAL MARKETS

The Joondalup Festival is the largest community festival in Perth’s northern corridor and attracts 50,000 patrons to the Joondalup Central Business District over two days of entertainment, rides, activities, music, parades, street theatre, fireworks, children’s activities and much more.

The Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday the 27 and 28 of March 2010 and the Festival Markets traditionally operate from 1.00pm-9.00pm each day – although exact timing for 2010 are yet to be set.

Nearer to the event, the City will call for applications for participation in the markets and full information will be available, including costs, stall locations and terms and conditions. This information will be available on the City’s website at www.joondalup.wa.gov.au

We look forward to your involvement in the Sunset Markets and Joondalup Festival Markets.

Kind regards,

Kelly Price

Event Support Officer

City of Joondalup

Tel: 08 9400 4926

Fax: 08 9400 4928

Email: kelly.price@joondalup.wa.gov.au

Living an authentic life or how did I get here?

(I have been working on this post ALL WEEK, editing, deleting, and generally pondering so bare with me. Been harder than an essay for Uni!)

I made this piece recently for a friend's 21st. She is half my age and yet I don't feel any different to when I was her age. It has got me thinking. I have been thinking more and more about living an authentic life. This is not a new expression, mind power facilitators and Christian leaders use it but I am talking about it from a purely creative point of view. What am I if I am not being creatively productive? If I don't have my work out there for sale?

So firstly how did I get where I am now? I started working with resin about 4 years ago when I was forced to give up working fulltime due to illness. Through the internet I began to read creative blogs. My very first was the gorgeous talented local girl Nicole of Craftapalooza and I have connected with many other local bloggers since(check the list on the right). Through this network of bloggers I have have made wonderful friendships and there is nothing like discovering new suppliers and getting all excited over shiny things with like minded souls, yes you Lotta!. I have found so many people willing to share their time and their expertise, thanks silversmithing guru Pam!

I went to a workshop with these girls run by the Art Gallery facilitated by David Walker. It was amazing, David took us through the exhibition and talked about his inspiration behind some of the pieces. We then went into the workroom where he asked us to explore various alternative materials like plastic, wood and paper. It really pushed us all to see our practice differently. The white piece is made from milk bottle plastic and a heat gun. I took inspiration from his work along to my latest casting class and created the piece in the picture. I find attending these kind of events so inspiring. A few months ago I went to a workshop run by Creepy, at Distracted. Again we were asked to step outside our normal practice and to explore, size, proportion and character. It was the first time in a very very long time that I had picked up a pen to draw.

So getting back to where I am now? Without an outside occupation what do I define myself as when the question is asked "what do you do?" Selling my work at half a dozen markets a year and a couple of exhibitions hardly qualifies as an authentic artistic path? I am not a jeweller even though I make jewellery. I am not an artist even though I can draw a picture. If I am not selling my work or actively pursuing my practice full time am I living authentically? My work doesn't cure cancer or end world hunger but it makes people smile, (actually it makes them laugh when the look at the Sumo pendant) and that has value. This is my last post as guest blogger, sorry I haven't been very good. I have had a killer cold. See you.

Great things on Etsy!

So why is it you do what you do?

So as I said, I sell my work primarily at Markets and Exhibitions. My first ever market was at PICA in 2006 (?). It was the strangest experience, they wanted us to sell literally from the boot of our cars! quite a merchandising challenge. I clearly remember the fear in the first half hour where I didn't sell anything, then almost hugging the first stanger who bought my work and then the stunned feeling when it was all over and my apron pocket was bursting with the most cash I have ever made (still) at a market :-) The downside is that for a long time after that I compared all markets to that first one and no two markets are ever the same, even year to year the same market varies, especially in Perth.

So the decision to sell at markets and not through stores? The way I see it is there is quite a leap to be made from markets to wholesale not just the administration and financial side but the shift from Artist to Manufacturer. You with me? for example let's look at this ring I made yesterday, as an Artist if I was to sell it, I would factor in the gram weight of the sterling silver and my time to achive a price. As Manufacturer I would have to include the price of the packaging, the labeling, the website that supports it, the registration of the business name, the travel time to the class, the class cost, the administration time, time spent meeting with retailers, inventory recording, interest on a business loan, etc the list goes on and on.
So can you be both? I don't see many examples, many Artists supplement their income with teaching. The search is on for that lovely middle ground :-) That is where I am now, searching. Any ideas?

Learning new skills...

The bails on my pendants have previously been made using a simple craft wire but I decided that I wanted to do them in sterling silver so I took a few classes and became completely hooked on Metalsmithing, particularly working with Sterling Silver.



I can highly recommend the classes offered at the Fremantle Art Centre. They have weekend, weekdays and evening classes so you are sure to find something to suit.

Thank you to everybody who signed up for my resin classes at the recently MOTL market. I am making progress on finding a venue and really looking forward to sharing with you all the wonderful sticky and stinky world of resin jewellery. If you would like to sign up please visit the Planet Lime website and sign up for the newsletter.

Hello from Planet Lime

Hello Earthlings! This is my first post as guest blogger here on Made on the Left. First, a little about me. Born and bred in Perth, I have had a VERY wide variety of jobs/careers but none have been as much fun as the one I have now as the creator behind resin jewellery label Planet Lime - accessories for life as we know it.

I will talk about how I came to work with resin, selling and exhibiting my work, learning new skills and living the life of a creator/object maker/artist/ insert adjective of your choice here. So come back later with a cup of tea and let's chat.

Photos from the July Made On The Left Market

Here are a few photos from our previous Made On The Left market. Unfortunately we couldn't get more photos (to be honest we forgot!). I think in the future we may hire some budding young photographers around Perth to come along and take some photos.

We are so proud of the last event, and can't wait for more in the future.

Wedding Dance...

I am sorry that I have not been posting. I have been busy preparing affidavits for work at the moment.

Anyway, a friend of mine sent me this video via Youtube and I thought I might share it with you. You may have seen this because it was on the news the other day but to those of you that have not seen it yet, I hope you enjoy.



I bet you that they are creative people like you and me. To think up of something unconventional like this is brilliant. It made my day. :*)