wimcee

Memory Lane

2012-02-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

Memory lane can be a pleasurable, sometimes poignant, even a little challenging place for an amble. Last week I caught up with a friend who I haven't seen for perhaps 15 years - she lives in Murwillumbah, and we spent our time at her local, the extraordinary Tweed River Gallery. Trish and I have never been close friends because we've never lived for long in the same place, but our paths keep crossing and we share mutual passions, acquaintances, and some similar life experiences.

Above all, we both paint. I have a lino print that she made from one of her son's drawings of sharks watched from the jetty at Broome, WA, when they lived there; she has an oil still life that I did a hundred years ago for my first exhibition ever, when I lived on a Darling Downs farm.

Highly Commended, Michelle Dawson, Sparrow Man

The Tweed River Gallery is such a marvel - we had gone there to see the Stuart Cussons exhibition, that included an exquisite hand-made book reverencing his father, but there was also an extraordinary collection of 50 printmakers' works by a collaboration of Chinese and Australians, and the Portia Geach Memorial Award for 2011: an incredibly diverse range of portraits by contemporary female artists.

For me though pick of the pack was "Bessie Gibson: an artistic life". My mother feels that my grand-father knew Bessie from his time at Brisbane Technical College, and her work speaks of that earlier era of dynamic Australian female artists. And also has something of my grand-father's feel about it - the palette as well as the gestural brushwork of her larger oils.

Bessie Gibson, Untitled (Lady with Pearls), oil on paper

I think we all need the odd day out of our usual lives like that, and an amble down Memory Lane. My friend Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate talks about the pleasure of keeping art dates with yourself, and I enjoyed meeting up again with Trish so much - revisiting memories of my years in the country and finding out about how she's meeting the same sorts of challenges that life throws our way at this stage in our lives where ever we live.

I came home feeling a little challenged, wonderfully stimulated, and utterly refreshed - although that last might have been partly to do with a nice long drive in My Lovely Car's air con too, with Brisbane rejoicing in a typically sultry February!

Have happy days!

Bridging moments

2012-01-31T13:45:00.000-08:00

Terrific Trev took me to Sydney for the January "long" week-end - to see the Picasso exhibition at the Gallery of New South Wales, to scour Oxford Street, the sales, the city arcades, to visit the markets, and to dine wonderfully at hand-picked venues. He is the king of travel planning, and I am a very lucky crafter as a result.

Before we left we walked along the Harbour Bridge feeder road, overlooking Circular Quay, to the foundation stone above The Rocks. The bridge was opened in March 1932, a week before my mother was born, so that was a bit of a moment as she, and the bridge, turn 80 next month.

And she is eternally grateful that her parents decided NOT to call her 'Sydney Bridgette'.

This week-end I have my first market - the very special Heavenly Harvest in the grounds of St Mary's Church above the southern reach of our very own Story Bridge.

If you have a fondness for Jane Marple's village of St. Mary's Mead, or the Parish of Didley, this is the market for you! You can take tea in a pot with its own eccentric cosy accompanied by home-baked scones seated high above the river on the Kangaroo Point cliffs, rifle the jumble, browse hand-made wares, take a self-guided tour of the church, and go home with farm-fresh fruit and vegies, sweet treats and great bread. It's a bit of a hike, and far from extensive or over-crowded, but that's part of what makes it so special.

And the site fees and other funds raised go straight to the restoration fund for the church.

My other bridge moment coming up is an exhibition in which I'm participating of paintings and other works inspired by our very own Brissie icon, the Story Bridge - not as monumental perhaps, but in its own way as structurally impressive as its southern cousin. I have contributed ten bags and pouches - no paintings on this occasion because I simply ran out of framing time, but thematic sewing is lots of fun, challenging to start with but in the end self-perpetuating. The exhibition opens on February 14th at the Robyn Bauer Studio and Gallery, Paddington (the Brisbane one) and includes work from ten artists.

Enjoy a Fabulous February!

Vintage Vignettes

2012-01-15T13:30:00.000-08:00

For the first time in a few years my sister hasn't brought her family out from London to spend Christmas with Mum and Dad and the rest of us here.

And why does one say "out from London" - are we some sort of outer space in Oz, or do they get let out of a wintry UK, as from the penitentiary?

And does speaking of Oz loudly proclaim my own vintage?

We missed them all, as much as one does miss one's favourite little sister and her lovely hubby and dearest chickadees. But I had a lovely time shopping, in London as it were, on-line for their Christmas and birthday presents (my niece and nephew were born on the 1/1 and 2/1 respectively). I roamed Harrods and Fortnams, browsed Designers Guild and Zara, and shopped at the London Science Museum and Accessorize.

My cyber visits to London reminded me of how much I am drawn to English crafting, English vintage, and English quirkiness generally. I'm not particularly anglophile, but no one does eccentric quite like Britannia.

Example: Seaside Sisters - who neither live near the seaside, nor are they related, but they work magic nevertheless. The sisterhood comprises three superlative craftspeople: Gillian Elam of Fabric Nation, Linda White of Handmade to Measure and Xtina Lamb of Printed Wonders.

Handmade to Measure

Fabric Nation

Printed Wonders

Example: Supermarket Sarah, whose walls retail to the world her chosen makers.

Vignettes are the name of the game on a visit to London - our visit in 2010 was like a sequence of snapshots - eye-popping or intriguing, kaleidoscopic or misty-viewed.

Viva la quirk!

Rule Britannia!

'Twas the Night before Christmas, and time to take stock...

2011-12-22T12:11:00.000-08:00

Mum and Dad

I've been feeling so blessed this year.

My big boys are all finding their paths in adult life, my parents have stayed in excellent health as they both turn 80, Terrific Trev is mellowing and enjoying life more than he has allowed himself to for years!, and I've had the most wonderful time all year ignoring housework and exploring creative avenues in all sort of directions.

small Harry

I've met great people through the markets, both fellow marketeers and also wonderful marketers. I have had good times with old friends and spent wonderful moments with my sister, brother-in-law and their children when they visited. I nursed new great-nephew Harry within hours of his birth - how special does that feel! - and spent time with all of Trevor's wonderful family, including my first visit to his home city, Adelaide, where his 90+ year old Dad still lives. Life is pretty sweet, and I really do feel privileged to be able to say just that.

when my sister came out to visit

Thank-you, dear followers of this blog, for keeping up with my ramblings this year! Have very happy Christmases and stay safe and healthy for 2012!

A twilight affair

2011-12-08T11:26:00.001-08:00

"The city" is a pretty magic place in the nights leading up to Christmas...somewhere I took my boys when they were little to see the lights, the giant Christmas tree in the square, and the Myer windows, and it's where my own parents also took me and my brother and sister when we were small, for much the same purpose.

Debra Lidster's photo of the Myer Christmas windows

It's great fun to be part of the Christmas events with the Christmas BrisStyle indie Twilight Market this coming Friday night...not just about offering our hand-made goodies for sale as stocking fillers and presents for under the tree in a world where we all have to search harder and harder to find something a bit unusual, a bit special.

It's also about sharing the buzz with the city workers, the families come to see the lights and the tree, those starting out their Friday night festivities, those on their way to pick up trains or buses to get home...the chat is always interesting and stimulating and we all love talking to people who are interested in what we do and why we do it in the happy crafting collective world that's BrisStyle. And the many others we've got to know - the customers, the suppliers, those from allied fields, the extended families, the new babies, those who have faced illness, even a few we've lost along the way. The hand-made world is like a very large, disparate family and I feel very blessed to be part of it.

In BrisStyle we have a little band of special, special people who dedicate a great chunk of their "spare" hours to organising and promoting us and what we do - arranging markets and seminars and workshops, liaising with government agencies and business organisations, supplying us with all sorts of info and suggestions to help us all along our chosen paths, and at the same time still trying to find the time to ply their own crafts.

Peppermint Magazine's photo of a BrisStyle indie Twilight Market in full swing.

So if you are local, come and visit us in King George Square from 5 p.m. - have a chat, and by all means look around at our wares for some Christmas shopping that's outside the parameters of normal retail shopping. Look forward to seeing you!

A Christmas Carol

2011-11-21T10:32:00.001-08:00

The St Augustine's Christmas Community Carols is something I used to do with my boys when they were little enough to go bathed and in their pj's, ready for bed straight after we'd headed for home via a quick viewing of the city lights from Bartley's Hill. Grandma came too, and we feasted on sausage sizzle, were directed in song by the legendary Hugh Cornish, and all waved around real live candles, stubby ones with little cardboard collars to protect small hands from hot wax, without burning down the church or the congregation.

Which suggests the singing went on inside that magnificent old building, but in fact we were gathered on rugs in the equally magnificent grounds of the church.

Not sure how much the boys enjoyed the carolling, but they had a lot of fun being boisterous around the trees and bushes and flower beds in the late spring twilight, and Mum and I did the singing, which we love!

Last year I went back with my market goods to support a brisStyle twilight market extension of the carols. I had such an enjoyable time of it - everyone who I spoke to was cheery, if rather hot and sweaty, and many good parents and grand-parents, having watched children performing in school choirs, and fed children sizzled sausages, wandered into the hall for a browse and some comparative calm, leaving their young to be boisterous amongst the trees and bushes outside. No stubby candles these days, but most things don't change all that much.

Wimcee will be at St A.'s this coming Friday night again (25/11) for the Racecourse Road community carol service/sausage sizzle/twilight market - can't wait! If you are local, and especially if you have children, come along and share the festive cheer.

Head-dressing

2011-11-17T11:32:00.001-08:00

Love hats! Rarely wear them - hate hat hair almost as much as I love hats - but love hats, head-dresses, wreaths, crowns, tiaras, head scarves, and wonderful Audrey-esque hair-do's.

Think that I must have got this from my Dad, who tends to grace the suburbs wearing a straw boater in summer and a large felt fedora in winter. He has an extensive collection: can at a moment's notice produce anything from a fez to a deer-stalker. And he and Mum have always loved a good dress-up event...my first exposure to the press came as a grubby faced babe-in-arms cradled by an Arts Ball bound bambi look-alike mother (why? still remember the feel of the foamie antlers of her costume but have never understood the reasoning.) Really doing a far better impersonation of a deer caught in the head-lights than my glamourous Mum I made it into the Sunday papers in the days when there wasn't a great deal going on in Brisbane, obviously. Maybe hence Dad's predilection for the deer-stalker? Moving right along...

Gail Davis as the original female super-hero

I was many things out of the dress-up cupboard, but my favourite alter-ego of all was Annie get-your-gun Oakley. I had the fringed vest, the cute skirt, the cowb'y hat, and the six-shooters, with holsters, to match, and stalked around the flower beds of our family home shooting imaginary baddies for hours at a time. How healthy is that! We're talking early 60's here, when the world was in love with the USA, Disney ruled the hearts and minds of Australia's young, and we could all sing the theme song of Davy, Davy Crocket, king of the wild frontier, without have any idea where the wild frontier was, or even what it was.

This early love affair with a happier period of American influence lead me to make a number of stylised wig-wams to sell at market, and from there, naturally, to papooses and feather head-dresses. And of course, best fun of all has been the feather head-dresses...they take a disproportionate amount of time, but are much, much fun to make.
Annie's put her side-arm to bed long ago, but then I always actually preferred the more colourful side playing Cowboys and Indians on the state school oval at lunch-time, and bows and arrows are so Robin Hood (with the Richard Greene American accent) after all

Wimcee will have a full compliment of feather head-dresses (plus lots more) at the Mathilda's Christmas Market tomorrow (19/11) at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane.

BiECO - the green BrisStyle market.

2011-11-08T23:15:00.000-08:00

Of all the wonderful markets that the BrisStyle collective holds through the year - all hand-made, all local...not sure where else in Brissy-land you find that combination of wonderfulness - of them all, my favourite is the BiECO: the BrisStyle indie Eco market.

This only happens once a year, and this is only the third ever. This year the green and leafy grounds and hall of St Augustine's church at Ascot will be bursting with recycled, upcycled, repurposed, and vintage wonderfulness, as well as take-and-make kits, demonstrations, workshops, seconds sales, and supplies.

There is a lovely, laid-back vibe that attaches itself to the BiECO that speaks to the once-upon-a-time hippie in me; and because it has different criteria the BiECO is a market in a class of its own...this is less little girls' skirts and Amy Butler-esque hand-bags, and more quiet forrest coloured boiled wool, the dinky-di retro-ness of old linens, op-shop collectables, re-worked memorabilia, and Melanie's superb vintage kimono silks and crepes.

my journal cover with brooch

Come and visit us on Saturday, 12th November, from 9am until 2 pm.

vintage fabric cushion from Collecting Feathers

upcycled and pre-loved

pre-loved wardrobe gems from Ruby2gogo

memorabilia notebooks from Meggy Green

Day and Night, Night and Day...

2011-10-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

This Friday night sees the staging of another BrisStyle indie Twilight Market in King George Square, Brisbane - fingers and toes crossed for a perfect Brissy-style balmy spring evening under the non-daylight-saved stars! Something a little dia de los muertos about this one too, being just around the chronological corner from Halloween. (If day-of-the-dead over-the-top calavera-chic tickles your fancy, take a stroll and visit the Crafty Chika here, or Calaverita Mexicana here.)

This print for sale from etsy here: Mariposerfuerte

see more of Carmen here: chica chica boom chic

Things Latino - a la Carmen Miranda and Frida Kahlo - have always had a fascination for me...all that colour and pattern, the symbolism and multi-cultural references, the whole outrageously, joyously, ketch-chi kit-and-kaboodle!

Iconic Frida

So wiggle on down town to King George Square this Friday night - I'll be doing my bit for the festive vibe with lots of new bags, aprons, headwear, childrens' wear, soft toys and accessories, plus a couple of recycled and upcycled pieces for grown-up chicas! (boom-boom)

Shopperific

2011-10-01T04:13:00.000-07:00

Going shopping with etsy, browsing the mother and child sweetness that will be reflected at the ALL hand-made BrisStyle indie Mother and Child market happening next week-end in Brisbane.

From divine hat designs

From BrisStyle's Rod 'n' Lil

From Summerlee808

From miasunique

From Not Limited

From His Blessings

From GallerieAnais

Go shopping
with other BrisStylers here!

From BrisStyle's Bubba Chenille

Have a great week-end!

My creative space...fab felt flowers.

2011-09-29T13:43:00.000-07:00

I felt like I'd returned to my roots this week (former teacher, former mother of youngsters, former volunteer instructor at school art lessons) taking a school holiday workshop at piece together sewing studio for children 8 and older in embellishment making.

We had a lot of fun and they made some beautiful hair slides and brooches to take home - really lovely stuff and so creative in their choices (right from the start we did a sort of musical chairs thing as they settled on which colour they wanted their piece of felt to be).

We made several different fabric pieces, but the felt flowers was least pre-prepared...it's a simple activity, only required some hand sewing, a few stitches, but looks so professional when sewn onto a hair slide and worn over a pony tail!

First step is to draw five identical flower shapes onto a piece of felt,
using a cardboard template of a simple flower shape

Place one of the pieces flat on the work top and folding the second piece,
lay it on top of the first. Hold them lightly at the central point.

Repeat with each of the flower shapes, laying each
at right angles with the previous folded shape.

With all five pieces in place, now secure
the 'petals' with pins.

Using embroidery thread and an embroidery
needle, sew a few stitches through the centre
point, making sure to catch all segments to secure.

Finally, remove pins and sew a button or two over
the central stitches. Finish with a knot at the back.
Attach the flower to a blank hair slide, hair band,
brooch back, or even a large safety pin.
Easy-peasy!!

Good fun. Looking forward very much to taking a workshop, 'Rags to Roses' under the auspices of the Brisbane City Council Art Bites programme, in November. The emphasis will be on recycled materials, and the workshop will take place at BrisStyle's indie Eco Market.

The BiECO is an annual event - this year it will feature not only recycled, eco-friendly and vintage wares, but also craft supplies and kits, and workshops - everything to encourage and inspire handcraftiness! The workshops are free, but participants need to book through qtix to ensure a spot.

Handicraftiness abounds these days - go here to get a zillion other bites of inspiration from crafty folk!

Have creative times!

Eye of the storm!

2011-09-25T14:33:00.000-07:00

My beloved Nanna was a great believer in the short break long before they dedicated magazines and newspaper lift-outs to the concept. Not long before she died I took her, at Mum's instigation, for a short break at The Boolarong. This was a bit of a landmark hotel at Mooloolabah - the restaurant made a whole cuisine style out of fresh fruit, put together with lashings of cream, icecream, and synthetic fruit sauces. How bizarre!

This was in the days (70's) when the greater part of the adult population still regarded fresh fruit and veg as slightly suspicious, suggestively primitive - my other grandmother had a habit of stewing the colour out of any edible vegetation before she would serve it up for human consumption, for example. Nanna, who'd grown up in Western Queensland, and who with my grandfather ate the rather stringy mangoes harvested from their own garden, as well as gooseberries and mulberries, and Queensland nuts (later know as macadamias - hah!), had no such reservations, but it was uncommon to find anywhere commercially serving up fresh fruit until a little more recently.

The short break is allegedly as good as a long break, only less disruptive and less expensive. The dashing Trevor is not good at restful and restorative holidaying I suspect; we only seem to do short breaks, or the one wonderful and exhausting longer trip to see my sister in London last year. What I miss in longevity of holiday he does see is made up for in quality...lovely restaurant dining; long, leisurely buffet brekkies; I'm sent off to the day spa for something wonderfully rejuvenating. It is a treat, and it IS (probably) almost as good as a week's time out.

We spent this week-end just past on one such mini-break, celebrating our eighth wedding anniversary. And it was lovely. The eye in the storm at this time of year - I have almost no market-free week-ends between now and Christmas, and they start to double up in November, so it does get a bit frenetic, if not plain frantic.

New Hilton, Surfers Paradise, 'FIX' bar

Tomorrow I'm taking a group of kids aged 8 upwards in an embellishment workshop at Tammy's 'piece together' sewing studio. She also has some special hand-made items for sale, and the studio itself is worth checking out...maybe some early Christmas shopping, or even gift-vouchers for sessions next year? And set in the Woolloongabba Antiques precinct there are plenty of other interesting retailers to browse, and some superlative lunching or snacking to be had nearby.

Have interesting and productive weeks!

My creative space: bags of bags!

2011-09-20T15:32:00.000-07:00

I love making bags because it's the ultimate functional art-craft - part blank canvas, part utility, and often quite clever the way the bits fit together and offer little surprise pockets. It's a way for me to mix up fabrics - always an amazement as to what can work together - or indulge in a little applique or patchworkery, while, hopefully, avoiding anything too derivative.

And then there are bag charms! So much fun! Embroidered felt shapes, stuffed fabric hearts, tassels and pom-poms, key ring fobs, bracelets and beads...

I have recycled favourite dresses that no longer fit into bags; or used opshop finds, including jumpers and tablecloths - lots and lots of potential for repurpose and reuse. Other times I have used my most highly prized new fabric finds, as a bag tends to showcase in a way a garment won't.

I make collaged pouches inspired by the work of Japanese collage artists - Hanasho Flower and Art at West End stock these now and I'm so happy they've found a stage that suits their smallness and intricacy. Early in the year I participated in the Reincarnated Kimono Project at Hansho and made five quite different bag-like constructions using pieces of a vintage kimono as the basis for each and exploring different aspects and qualities of the fabric, and again mixing it up - with modern Japanese fabrics and vintage Western fabrics, some applique, some patchwork, some embroidery...

Little 'happy bags' are another favourite of mine - they're small enough for young girls to enjoy and I can match them to dresses or skirts that I'm making, but not so much so that they're not equally fun as a stand-alone acquisition. And they equally lend themselves to beautiful, sombre pieces of silk print and emerge with exquisite dignity as an understated grown-up evening purse.

This is my most recently finished piece of art-craft...okay, just another bag, let's not go over-board, but so much pleasure to work with the echino prints and such a delight to find the bits and pieces - crocheted flower, floral print lining - to complete the picture, out of my chaotic workspace.

Next year I'm contributing to another exhibition, using fabric construction and possibly some conventional artwork as well (family cheers)...more soon on that note.

Visit some other very creative space inhabitees here

Enjoy the rest of your busy weeks!

Shop-shop-shopping!

2011-09-16T19:20:00.000-07:00

Due to a muddle of my own making I am not at the markets for a couple of week-ends and as a result have the time for a few special projects, as well as some fun - such as going shopping with brisStyle ! All these spring flowers faves are available from the etsy store links for these brisStylettes.

Super-useful pocket mirror from designs of the heart

Cute insulated lunch bag from bontons

Fabulous firework flowers purse from Sybella Boutique

vintage-feel wimcee spring flowers dress

pretty brooch card from alipink

Happy spring Saturday!

Hair today...

2011-09-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Hair-dresser day!

I am off to spend the morning with Breah, Alyssia, Violetta, and Cinnamon (at La Moda), which is something I've done consistently for years, ever since I stopped being someone who didn't have a regular hair stylist and thought the whole dependancy cycle ridiculous. Then I found out Breah did my hair better than anyone else - cut it, coloured it, styled it - and I became hopelessly dependant.

Anyone who grew up with frizzy hair will empathise...anyone who grew up with frizzy hair through the Sandy Shaw/Maryanne Faithfull/Jean Shrimpton era will now have their own Breah, a GHD, and quite probably a keratin treatment thing happening. Like me.

This is a lovely book that I saw at Mary Ryan's at Milton a few weeks ago, which I want to go back to buy. Not that I want to replicate a Lucille Ball poodle do, but we're watching series 4 of Mad Men on DVD at the moment and you do start to hanker for french rolls and beehives...to go with accepting a more mature body shape and concentrating energy on finding a look to flatter! Yep...foundation garments and great make-up might be the way to go...

wimcee will be at St Mary's, Kangaroo Point, again this Saturday, from 10 am until 2 pm, for 'The Sounds of Music' Festival in the church which will celebrate St Mary's birthday. Market stalls, including Gino and his fruit and vegies, will be dotted around the grounds of the lovely church, and as usual proceeds from site fees etc. will go to the church's restoration fund.

I'll be the one with the fresh cut and colour.

Aprons: a journey!

2011-08-22T13:22:00.000-07:00

Making aprons is where I started with wimcee in 2007. I used gingham and added ruffles and frills and deep pockets, with extra long, extra wide ties to make a big bow at the back, but the first aprons were already over-the-top, using a slightly mad combination of prints and a liberal application of pom-pom braid and rick-rack. Not a lot changes. My aprons are still much to the same formula; I've tried different techniques along the way to gather and attach frills and to secure the apron and improve the fit, but the look is much as it always has been...aprons with attitude.

Why?

I grew up in a 50's/60's environment, at a time when there was a great deal of spoken and unspoken conflict about a woman's role in the world. My childhood was populated by some interesting, intelligent and gifted women who nonetheless subscribed to a view of society as male-dominated. This may have been confusing, but it was all certainly interesting - the dynamics were never dull!

My aprons are part retro reference, part social dialogue - no answers, just questions, with certainly some humour but also a great deal of affection thrown into the mix. Not everyone gets aprons, but if you do then I hope that mine will sing to you!

wimcee has aprons for sale, and all the usual accoutrements as well, online at etsy and madeit, as well as personally at not one but two lovely Heavenly Harvest markets at St Mary's, Kangaroo Point, in September and the Mamma's Market at Buderim later in the month, so watch this space for more details!

Already August!

2011-08-12T14:40:00.000-07:00

August is my favourite month - my birthday and the Brisbane ekka have always coincided, plus spring tends to be creeping in, in a glorious, sunshine-packed, blue skies-abounding, Brisbane way. With family members arriving for a visit from London, all these said August attributes have come together with interest and I am feeling very blessed!

Wimcee was at St Mary's "Heavenly Harvest Market" last Saturday, tomorrow (Sunday 14/8) I'll be back at Boutique Markets at Hamilton's Portside, and next Friday night (19/8) I head into the CBD for BrisStyle twilight market in King George Square.

Lots of spring lovlies - little dresses, new skirts, over-the-top aprons, statement piece cushions. Come and visit me, be-friend wimcee whim's on facebook too, and very soon my web site will be up, up and away!

Winter in Brissieland!

2011-07-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

This lovely shot, not just of wimcee's market stall but also of the idyllic setting St Augustine's provides, especially in winter, comes courtesy of Bristylette Sandrine. Such was the July BrisStyle indie Designers Market - wonderful weather, green lawns, delightful shoppers, exceptional colleagues, seamless organization from the volunteer BrisStyle committee.

My next market is my first Billycart Market, a hugely successful hand-made only market from southern states that this year is extending to Queensland. This takes place on July 30th, 9am - 2pm, at northside Sandgate - can't wait!

Also looking forward very much to holding some workshops with the newly opened piece together , a sewing studio, meeting place and retailer in the Woolloongabba Antique Precinct, rubbing shoulders with some of the funkiest stores and swankiest cafes in town...lots of fun to be associated with this venture, and with the creative brains behind it all, the lovely Tammy!

Loving having a few weeks off from the markets to play around with some new fabrics and new ideas. I have just delivered new pouches to Hanasho at West End, and I'll be contributing to their special fundraiser exhibition during the first week of August, so do please visit and support this very worthwhile cause - there will be a great many donated items and all funds raised will got to help the Japanese earthquake victims.

And, finally for this post, a peak at some of the new brooches I'll be dropping into my little cube at Bleeding Heart gallery-gift shop-cafe on Ann Street in the city.

Until next time,

see you later alligators!

To market, to market...

2011-07-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

Two months and one week and a bit since our break-in and I have my replacement camera...it's just neck-and-neck as to whether the a.w.o.l. vehicle comes home before the new laptop arrives. Much techno catch-up in store!

On Saturday morning (9th July) BrisStyle goes back to its Hamilton home with the first day-time indie designers market for the year, in the hall and grounds of St Augustine's church at Hamilton. This is a beautiful venue, especially in the Brissy winter sunshine, and there will be a host of hand-madees lined up to thrill with hand-crafted hotness. Check it out in detail here .

I have stock with a few very select retailers around town now - Hanasho at West End, Bleeding Heart Gallery in the city, the Collective Store at Wynnum, and now at piece together studio in the antique precinct at Wooloongabba - so while I'm feeling a bit over-stretched at the same time the impetus is there to come up with new fun pieces to take to market. Having a ball with fabrics, putting together new aprons, new cushions, new bags, new children's clothing...!

On Sunday morning wimcee sets up in the white tents of Portside's Boutique Market , on the river, also at Hamilton - also a lovely place to be on a fine winter's day. I have been involved with this market since it's early days in the marquee at Everton Hills and seen it grow into filling a significant role in the market fabric of Brisbane.

So - back to the sewing machine in order to be ready for a busy week-end - hope to see some of your friendly faces at either or both market-places!

Asset-less!

2011-06-19T15:14:00.000-07:00

Not really - one only has to reflect for about 2 seconds on the lot of so many locally affected by floods and cyclone, not to mention further away catastrophes this year - but a little robbery at home has left me without my laptop, my camera, and our second set of wheels, which did feel a bit personal at the time and has kept me on my toes for the past 6 weeks chasing up bits and pieces of insurance claims. (Photograph your techno treasures, reader dear, and then keep the photos somewhere other than on your laptop!) Did anyone say: "back up"? One moves on, but it's hard to blog without images, so I'm going to resort to my pinterest boards to liven up this post.

Pinterest is a site for cyber pin boards - collections of images. For someone who makes a full time occupation out of collecting images in hard copy it's one of my favourite down-time past-times to go on a hunt for a new pinboard on pinterest, my own or someone else's. My latest has been 'fibrication' - things crocheted or knitted, for example:

the knitted wedding party from Elizabeth Anne Designs

Check out Pinterest for further collections of images from across the world.

News for wimcee is that I will be joining the wonderful collective of hand-madees again at the BrisStyle indie Designers Market, the first day-time market that they have held for 2011, on July 9th. Get all the details from BrisStyle at BrisStyle on Facebook

One of the beautiful resin necklaces from BrisStyler, Strat Designs, who will be at the July BiDM.

And immediately following the BiDM, Piece Together will be launched on July 11th, a wonderful initiative from some of Brisbane's super sewers and craftees, which will offer sewing and crafting workshops for all levels as well as a gift shop and gallery space, and embracing the lost arts of handiwork combined with an environmentally friendly ethos. Wimcee will be providing workshops in bag-making and embellishment, but there will be a range of opportunities to learn skills and develop interests at piecetogether

Insurance front suggests that I may be getting my camera back shortly so hopefully back to more reliable blogging soon. Apologies in the interim!

To market, to market - Adelaide style.

2011-04-25T20:14:00.000-07:00

Adelaide, Adelaide, ever-lovin' Adelaide, as any Guys and Dolls fan will remember - city of churches, home to Hans Heysen, capital in the land of the Murray's mouth, ghost gums, picturesque villages with German names, a million or so cellar doors, grape vines horizon to horizon...wimcee's Easter get-away.

The pier at Glenelg on dusk, Easter Sunday

And apart from a cook's tour of most of the above, plus some wonderful meals, not one, not two, but three different Easter week-end markets!

The first in Adelaide city was the famous Central Markets - unbelievable fresh produce, Chinese cabbages three times the size of what's available to us in Brisbane, and chrysanthemums the size of entree plates - plus cheeses, cold meats, fish, and so on and so forth, all of amazing quality. This was reflected to in the fruit and flowers sold from street stalls in Rundall Mall.

The second was really, not to mince words, a pretty miserable excuse to charge the public an entrance fee and the stall holders who knows how much for a four day event, and left me feeling sad for everyone involved (except the organisers).

But the third was vastly different. Located in historic Port Adelaide, the Fisherman's Wharf markets are an enormous collection of dealers in antiques, bric-a-brac and collectibles on a scale I've yet to come across in Queensland. Interspersed are some handcrafts - crocheted wooly hats and granny square quilts of awesome authenticity - a whole shop of handcrafted doll's houses, with and without furniture, as well as coin shops, metal toys shops, military regalia and uniform shops, extensive collections of old linen and lace, and books to bursting. I had about 20 minutes allowed to me and I felt I could have spent days exploring there!

Vintage aprons!!

Now THIS is a market.

Wimcee's next markets will be in early May - more about those shortly.

From Boutique to boutique!

2011-04-11T21:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Reader,

I have found one of the nicest hand-made outlets in s-e Queensland, The Collective Store of bayside Wynnum, and wimcee is now in store with the lovely Leonie, the owner and manager of the collective. Thanks also to the BrisStylers for the tip via their blog a few weeks ago.

I got lost (nothing new there) on my way to deliver my little load of stock this morning and ended up driving in north from Manly along the esplanade, with the sun playing on the bay and boats bobbing in their moorings - so contageously contented. Love it! Always want to move to be by the water when I see it like that, not mad school holiday coastal resort living, but sleepy sea-side village-like.

If you are over that way, Reader, drop by and visit because Leonie really has been very selective about what she has - wonderful hand-made craft, and a huge range of different genres and forms, all screaming care and quality.

My next market will be the launch city market at Bleeding Heart early in May, but more of that in another post. Have a wonderful week!

Window shopping to match the week's mood!

2011-04-09T00:32:00.000-07:00

Etsy shopping that reflects this week's Kimono Reincarnated Project opening with a smattering of offerings with a Japanese theme...

Luuurve Japanese craft and sewing books...

Japanese Craft Book

From DramaofGiftedChild

...have just made a little padded jacket for a one-year-old out of the crocodile and hippo cousins of these elephants....

Japanese, Large Elephants on Grey, FAT QUARTER

From Sweet Dearly Loved

...super-cute capri pants...

Size 2 Japanese Print Capri Pants

From AH4649

...and some very Japanese-like bagging

Japanese Robot Artist Tote Set in Linen

From Henry and Zoe

The Reincarnated Kimono Project plus Boutique to go-go!

2011-04-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

Thursday night is the Artists' Night at Hanasho at Brisbane's West End, for the Reincarnated Kimono Project. The inspirational and exciting project of the lovely Melanie from Kimono Reincarnate, this has brought together a group of artists/crafters in a collaborative project that involves each in producing a special piece or pieces using they exquisite vintage Kimono fabric that Mel has provided. Although the exhibition has been open to the public since Saturday I have yet to view it or see more than a few hints of what's been provided from the other participants - I am, to be quite frank, just a bit scared about how my work will stand up in such illustrious company. However, Thursday is V-day (for V-iewing by me) with no where to hide, and, now we're told, a speech to deliver!

Not sure about that one...I have much to say about working on this project - what really blew me away in dissecting the fabric was how totally universal colour and pattern really is, way beyond our fairly closed concept of cultural, chronological and geographic differences. But whether I can stand up and talk about this remains to be seen...! The exhibition will run for all of April, so if you are local do drop by and have a look.

Then, on Sunday, my first big 'marquee-market' for the year, at Boutique Markets Portside, Hamilton. Being on a bag-roll so to speak, more bags ready to go at Portside, each embellished with charms and created from some really special fabrics; but also aprons, quilted jackets, birdie brooches, children's skirts, soft toys, woolly hats - the usual spread of chic unique from wimcee. Looking forward to being back amongst it, catching up with stall-holders and shoppers alike! And hoping for less cyclonic and more sunny autumnal conditions!

Work space

2011-03-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

I have just read somewhere that one of the most important things to do if you want to create via sewing is to keep an organised work space.

Hmmm.

I try.

I have numerous units from IKEA with wire baskets filled with colour-coded or texture-coded fabrics; plastic trays with various braids, tools, beads and so on; even paper patterns semi-sorted into type, market gear stacked up in crates according to type and importance, magazines and books in shelves, clothing hung on racks....

But when I really get going the organisation goes out the window and my work space quickly becomes a jumble of everything I am using or have used in the last couple of days, all at arm's reach, and so it goes until the jumble threatens to frustrate even me, penetrate the zone I'm in...I can no longer find any of the four pairs of scissors I've been using, nor either of my two current seam rippers, and buttons and braid have been swallowed up by bottomless piles of fabric scraps. So a half day is sacrificed to tidying it all up again...and here we go round the mulberry bush all over again.

Not efficient, but this is the way I work, and it probably works as well as anything for me. I've even stopped being embarrassed about it, mostly - people may as well know what my husband copes with, generally with great patience and good humour!

Wimcee will be at the Mamma's Market again this coming Saturday, April 2nd., and I am hoping for a really lovely Autumn day, because as beautiful as Buderim can be in the rain it really was tough on those how came out last time in the deluge, so time for a bit of sunshine!

Beautiful Buderim!

2011-03-13T16:46:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we go back to Buderim for another Mamma's Market, held in and around the historic Buderim RSL hall. This is such a fabulous market to be involved with - the organisers, and many from the local community, are crafters and creators themselves, so the mood is excited and interested in everything on offer. And Buderim itself is so pretty - Mum took my grandmother and we kids there one school holiday to stay in a local motel for a few nights, to give my dear Nanna a little holiday, and I have had really fond memories and experiences since in the area ever since.

After all the rain that we've had this summer Buderim is a bit like one of those scenes from science fiction of vegetation taking over, so green, so lush, so blowsey! If it rains a little, as with the last market I was there for in February, little wafts of cloud float over the hill, and the steamy, messy business of unloading in wet weather is forgiven, especially once the air-con in the hall cranks up and the stalls come alive...

....images from the launch market for Christmas...

...and the wonderful 'Mad Hatters' string quartet!

I have a lot of new stock ready to go - more jackets for winter, new bags, new skirts, and for those who asked last time I will bring tea cosies for this market...pretty ones and funky ones!

Happy Monday everyone...looking forward to the week-end already!

Hot Fudge: Let's Go Shopping

2011-03-12T12:07:00.000-08:00

Hopping into shopping Hot Fudge: Let's Go Shopping pursues an attractive amphibian theme!

Let's go shopping!!

2011-03-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

Wimcee is going shopping, or window shopping at least, via etsy, favouring a tea party theme. Go shopping with BrisStyle too - follow the link to visit the Saturday blog over there.

Early Bird Apron

from pig and company

Childs Vintage Tea Set

from whuppets

Vintage Silverware Silver Plate Tea Honey Spoon Set

from wooden hive

Gourmet Lilac Sugars in Lavender

from sugar plum dreams

Tea Time Lariat Necklace - Sterling Silver

from untie untie

English Rose Tea Dress

from dig for victory

Happy shopping - and don't forget Mamma's Market coming up next week-end at beautiful Buderim for some more Saturday shopping!

Waltz on down...

2011-03-10T20:02:00.000-08:00

Mathilda's Markets is on between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at Eagle Farm Racecourse in Brisbane tomorrow, and I'll be there with bells on - hadn't realised just how much sewing I've done in the last 3 or 4 weeks until I put it all together ready to pack up and take to market in the morning, including a string of new stretchy long-sleeved tops...

...some way over the top skirts...

... and a lot of smart new padded jackets ready for winter...

Plus some new aprons and bags for Mums, aunties, and others!

Come and visit - I'm in The Tote, right down the corridor - and sign up for regular wimcee news while you are there to go in the April give-away draw...more about that soon.

Have a happy week-end!

Tuesday twitters

2011-02-28T20:39:00.000-08:00

Waltzing on to Mathilda's. I'm leaving the fabric collage to one side for a little while...would love to explore that more soon...and focusing now on Mathilda's Market, first round, Brisbane, Saturday 12th March at Eagle Farm Racecourse.

This is the first Mathilda's I've done for a while so can't wait! Plenty of new kiddie couture to present, all in the wimcee boho-chic style, with heaps of colour for Autumn, but some new styles like embellished and appliqued stretch tops with long sleeves, as well as the usual quilted jackets, skirts and trousers. Knitted goods too...just a little cooler weather would be conducive to more enthusiasm for working with wool!

Two new skirts with ruffles.

New camera is teaching me how it works too, added bonus...still early days!

Have a great week.

Hot in the city...

2011-02-20T20:36:00.000-08:00

Monday musings...today is a sewing day, but having lurked in the air. con. in Woollies doing groceries for as long as I possibly could this morning, I have only managed to cut out a bag that it's really too, too hot to sew. If my camera's battery wasn't found to be flat as a tack I could photograph new quilted jackets that I have ready for winter, but could you bear to look at them in this weather anyway? My adult jumper is almost finished in an extraordinarily complicated pattern that I can now call my own because I didn't follow the pattern I had properly...looks like an intentional design, amazingly...but way too hot to finish that off now either.

Instead a look at the St George's craft market in Belfast, and a tee-pee like no other! Made by Emma, a textile artist with a stall at the market, it is the result of years of work, lovingly hand-embroidered and embellished with beads, mirrors, metallic threads and other memorabilia important to the artisan.

This from arbeecards where there's more information about this historic market.

So while we sizzle in Brizzy my sister languishes in London - she actually loves London, but not when it's max. a couple of degrees. She would probably give eye teeth for some good old-fashioned Queensland summer weather right now. Storm's a-coming anyway...I've had my weather alert, the spousal variety a well as the BOM one.

Wimcee at Bleeding Heart

2011-01-27T15:32:00.000-08:00

From next week whims from wimcee will be on sale in the gift shop at Bleeding Heart, a cafe, retail and gallery space that is not-for-profit and located in the historic School of Arts, 166 Ann Street, in Brisbane's CBD. (For more information about opening times etcetera see Bleeding Heart)

I plan to install a series of pouches, inspired by the collages of Nami Ogihara, amongst other things, so please visit Bleeding Heart and have a look at the work of a number of local crafters featured in their gift shop display.

collage pouches and candlesticks by wimcee

These little pouches are made partly or fully from recycled and vintage fabrics and it's my intention that they are the first in a number of projects for 2011 exploring different vehicles for fabric/paper collage. However, they're also pretty cute!

Another form of fabric collage that I've really loved working has been cushion covers - these floral collages are other examples of new work for 2011.

(wimcee will be at market again soon, starting with the wonderful Mamma's Market at Buderim on February 19th. )

Vale 2010...

2010-12-26T12:34:00.000-08:00

My blog, etsy shop etcetera have been neglected in the last few weeks with so many markets, such challenging weather conditions, and the wonderful trio of events, family arrival from o/s, Christmas all together again, and a major birthday in the family yesterday.

2010 has had ups and downs for the wimcee's personally, but overall it has been a wonderful and eventful year. I have enjoyed my sewing and crafting so very much, and I have delighted in finding others really zeroing in on the wimcee stall too and getting it...not everyone, and that's why an organisation like brisStyle can be so successful, as each creative member of the collective has their own individual style and stamp, and for each there is an equivalent mind-set out there amongst market shoppers that just gets, and loves, what they do.

For one who has spent most of her life painting, thrashing about, metaphorically at least, with the challenges of portraiture in particular, I understand only too well the lack of recognition, and appreciation, that crafting can attract in its public incarnation. Thank heavens for the legions of young women and men who have a very different perception via etsy and brown owls, cath kidston and rowan, kellie doust and yarn bombers, bloggers and city farms, lovers of vintage and retro, and so on and so on...all that is wonderful and exciting out there in the world of art-meets-craft.

Fancy fronting up to a day at the end of this week with a numerical nomination of 1.1.11! That's got to be the starting point for many great things to develop out of the new year!

Happy New Year!

Twinkle, twinkle, twilight fair (for Christmas)!

2010-12-16T13:08:00.000-08:00

Lots of new creations from wimcee ready to finish the market year on a high tonight at the BrisStyle indie Twilight Market in King George Square, from 5 this afternoon. wimcee will be by the Christmas Tree so come and visit, but also check out our record number of participating etsy sellers' stalls all through the square and around into Burnett Lane. This is OUR Christmas Party - come and share the love at the hippest, hottest hand-made destination in town!

Sally sunshine sun dress (size 4)

Lots of little aprons for children!

Sensational benita boho sundress size 3

fabric covered journals, wimcee standards!

large journal with magical cover.

Deck the halls!

2010-12-02T09:50:00.000-08:00

...and every spare inch of space at the moment - what a glorious time pre-Christmas-BiDM is! The sewing machine hums, the creative neurones spark, the scissors slice through cloth, colours bounce around the room like those 'visions of sugar plums', and mama in her kerchief, or actually her jaja's, is unsettled and planning unfinished projects at 4 a.m. the day before market day! Come rain or shine the BrisStyle indie Designers Market will leap into action at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning and run all day, until 4 in the afternoon, in the grounds and hall at St Augustine's Anglican church, Racecourse Road, Hamilton, cheek by jowl with all the coffee shops, icreameries, and restaurants - the perfect market venue!

wimcee will be in a Grand Marquee in the grounds, and offering all the usual aprons with attitude and bespoke clothing, one-off accessories and lovesome softies, plus lots of smaller gift ideas, like hip jewellery rolls, funky peg aprons, diary and lappie cosies, and groovy embroidered glasses cases.

Jewellery roll

parisian patch cushion

lavender pillows

So don your wellies and join our rain dance tomorrow!

Christmas carolling coming!

2010-11-20T23:23:00.000-08:00

So I missed the Twilight Market, which from all accounts was great fun and a huge success - curse calcified shoulders to pieces, Mr Jinx!! However - wonderful markets coming up as well, including this coming Friday night at BrisStyle twilight market with a difference, being held at St. Augustine's, Racecourse Road, Hamilton, in conjunction with their carol night. And then wimcee's second T he Mummy Tree Markets at Morningside on Sunday 28th November. More bags, plus more head bands and other cute accessories in the pipeline for both markets next week-end - ideal gifts for Christmas! Come and visit!

Twinkle, twinkle, twilight fair!

2010-11-15T13:21:00.000-08:00

The brisStyle indie Twilight Market twinkles again this Friday night (19/11) in King George Square, Brisbane CBD, from 5 - 9 p.m. - the perfect venue for Christmas shopping with a big range of hand-made, everything from homewares to hats, bikinis to brooches, softies to scrunchies, and all the way back. wimcee will be there with some really cute new embellished aprons, Ava the Advent girl, embroidered felt glasses cases, fabric journals and altered skirts, as well as all the usual kiddie couture, high tea accessories and bags of bags.

BrisStyle indie Twilight Market

Home again, home again...

2010-10-30T23:08:00.000-07:00

The wimcee's are back in Bris, after a wonderful holiday visiting family o/s...lots of wonderful things to see in the craft/fabric/design/art world abroad so feeling highly motivated about the market season in full swing. The sewing machine has been humming ever since we arrived home and I did my first market today at Morningside, the brand new, local, Mummy Tree Markets ... great venue, wonderful market! Next up is the BrisStyle indie Eco Market, next Saturday, 6/11/10. More about this shortly, but for now some holiday snaps.

And the winner is....

2010-09-16T13:26:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Jill for being the randomly chosen winner of the 'flowers for frida' skirt, and a big thank-you to all those who entered their comments!

I so seldom have a photo of one of my little dresses actually being worn so I am sharing a totally unrelated image here of the lovely Indira in a wimcee original, sold at the recent BiDM.

A period of R&R ahead for the wimcee's, but lots of marketing to come in October/November/December, and a crafter/marketer itching to get back to work by then I'm sure!

Market season up and springing!

2010-09-05T10:47:00.000-07:00

The spring market season is off and running with the BiDM on Saturday - one of those strange September days when the wind whips up hot and gusty, not so pleasant, so thanks to all those old and new wimcee customers who came out to visit. Wonderful company, as always, great music, yummy nourishment, and family reunion time for the BrisStylers, the 'B' in BrisStyle indie Designers Market, those 170 of so 'crafty ladies' now immortalised in song for the occasion!

To celebrate, and because I can't do marketing for various reasons for a month or more ahead, [drum roll] the first ever wimcee blog give-away!

I am trying to develop a more obvious 'point of difference' at least to give myself some direction to pursue in 2011, so please comment here and be in the running for a very special upcycled denim skirt 'flowers for frida'. Entries close midnight Thursday 16th September 2010. The winner will be chosen randomly, and announced on this blog, Friday 17th September, so overwhelm me with suggestions!

Happy springing one and all!

The flowers that bloom at the Spring BiDM, tra-la...

2010-08-30T13:54:00.000-07:00

...bring promise of market delights ahead as well as we hit the market season proper in Brisbane - not too cold, not yet too hot to be pleasant at midday. wimcee will be in the grounds at St Augustine's Anglican Church, Racecourse Road gate, from 9 am on Saturday, with lots of new stock that I've literally made with great affection...you have to love the fabrics, and they seem to get more and more exciting all the time. This is a particular current favourite, a little dress for a 6-8 year old, with a matching happy bag - the main fabric is an exquisite print from Japan in a combination of mauve, aqua, orange, and a little mustard on a mid-tone neutral back-ground.

Some paper folding too - out of sewing commission for a week or two the family accused me of playing paper dolls at the kitchen table, and there certainly was a lot of inner child involved in choosing the 'outfits'...

There are also lots of father's day offerings from many of the stall-holders so drop by and say hi!

To market, to market...

2010-08-25T21:52:00.000-07:00

There's something about the shared buzz that associates itself with a BiDM that's unique...the hundred plus BrisStylettes, some market-active all year in other venues, others new to the whole exercise, and still others who don't come out all that often because of rich and varied other existences that leave them only limited time for their market-craft, all start to pop up again, in blogs, posts and press.

Because the BrisStyle indie Designers Markets are the number one opportunity for all these talented creators to mix, meet, compare, catch-up and generally blow each other away with new designs and directions, there is a real and genuine excitement for us all in the anticipation of another BiDM.

So: new pieces from wimcee for the September 4th BiDM, a sample of new spring children's wear, still a bit retro, a bit boho, and still dancing with colour. And more aprons, bags, and brooches on their way, as well as softies and rag dolls, lots of lovely things for both big and little people.

Weeks of thematic living!

2010-08-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

First there was the Week of the Ancients - is there the remotest chance that said Ancients may read a blog post and see themselves identified as such? Elderly family members who fly in for birthday celebrations, elderly family members who fly out to remote parts of south-east Asia, elderly family member who delights in a ritualistic visits to coasts north and south during his Queensland stay, much more sadly my elderly neighbours dealing with hospitalisation and the mind-numbing difficulties of traveling across town on a daily basis when you are 93 and rely on public transport...a week of being chauffeur and tea-maker, making easy small talk and functioning at a more gentle pace.

Then there was the Week of the Wonky Wings - or Weeks, as it's on-going. I had my (right) marketeer's shoulder under the knife and number three son had his (right) wrist pinned by our friendly Ortheopod, who is just down the corridor from our new best friends the physios, and they all live together is a little wooden house, or rather a big rabbit warren of a hospital, where the nurses are lovely but the night nurses are to be feared and avoided at all costs. Life here is one great comparing of slings and stretches, remembering appointments and paying medical bills.

But finally some sewing!

I had to miss Mathida's Market, a last minute no-show for wimcee, but am all the more keen for the coming BiDM, that BrisStyle market-of-markets, taking place on September 4th, 9-2, St Augustine's church hall and grounds, Racecourse Road at Hamilton.

Apart from a full complement of little girl's skirts, I have some new boy's bermuda-style shorts, lots of new hand-made gift cards, new bunting and some forays into hand-painted, stitched, and embellished accessories like some cute lavender heart sachets.

More to come...watch this space.

Boutique Marketing at Portside!

2010-08-05T00:41:00.000-07:00

wimcee will be at Portside, Hamilton, in Brisbane, this Sunday, August 8th, for the Boutique Market, from 8a.m., so pop in, browse the new stock, or just say hello! We have been caught up with a large and happy family celebration, but I have new skirts, new bunting, and various other spring-time delights ready for the season's change.

Happy 90th, Harold!

'Boutique Markets THIS SUNDAY - NEW Retailer Sneak Peak!'

2010-07-08T13:15:00.000-07:00

'Boutique Markets THIS SUNDAY - NEW Retailer Sneak Peak!'

scrappy bits apron

2010-07-05T20:27:00.000-07:00

This jump-up-and-hit-you-in-the-eye version of a full adult's apron has been adorned with a wide selection of the scrappy bits of fabric I can't bring myself to throw out...too small for any other purpose, rescued from my own stash plus anything my friends and family throw my way, augmented with op-shop treasures, now a way to give them all new purpose! Available at my shop on etsy, or on display at the BiECO this coming week-end.

And something more for the BiECO!

2010-07-05T00:44:00.000-07:00

Upcycled cardie with buttons, puffs and embroidery!

Another etsy listing that I've just put into my shop, ready for the BrisStyle indie ECO market on Saturday.

Buzzing for BiECO

2010-07-03T19:52:00.000-07:00

There's a great big buzz of excitement about the first ever BiECO this coming week-end! Just the sort of challenging parameters to bring out the champion crafters and creators...genuinely can't wait to see what the girls come up with, including lots of genuine vintage and second-hand as well as repurposed, recycled and renewed goodies.

These cushions now available at my etsy shop are a modern twist on log cabin patchwork, with quirky applique, button backs, and complete with my own calico inserts...little party-starters in groups or singles for the mod lounge room.

Hope to see you on Saturday!

BiECO-lossal!

2010-06-23T22:47:00.000-07:00

reconstituted woollies ready for the BiECO

wimcee's next market is something very different - brisStyle's first ever eco market, on Saturday July 10th, at St Augustine's church hall and grounds on Racecourse Road, Ascot. Local etsians will be amazing us all with a wide range of upcycled, repurposed and vintage wares. While most of my usual stock is made from new fabrics and fibres, I have previously offered a few eco-friendly pieces, so the BiECO is a wonderful opportunity to devote extra time and energy to upcycled denims, reconstituted and embellished woollies, and all manner of wimcee-cal numbers put together from my supply of vintage fabrics, buttons, ribbons, trims and scraps. As usual, just never quite enough hours in the day and days in the week to make good all the ideas I'd like to try out, but so much fun -!

Mathilda mayhem

2010-06-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Another flurry of couturier activity, so to speak, with Mathilda's Market this Saturday (19/6/10) at Eagle Farm Race Course, Ascot, Brisbane, from 9 am to 1 pm...the first time I've been at Mathilda in the new venue, so looking forward to seeing how it all works, for them and for me. Lots of colour in my latest work (when was there never) with more skirts, more soft toys, more trousers and knits. Even if you have no small people yourself, Mathilda's really is an ideal shopping ground for gifts that are different and of a high quality, so worth a look. And a preview of wimcee...

chicka chic

2010-06-03T11:41:00.000-07:00

After a long but rewarding day taking part in Brisbane's Saviours of the Lost Arts Fair on Tuesday, fingers and toes are crossed for a beautiful winter's day for the BrisStyle indie Designers' Market this Saturday...and wimcee will be there with more even more fiesta-rama goodies, including more fabric-covered journals for catching the moment in prose or image form, and some new fabric brooches to dress up the most neutral woolly cardie or coat.

Fiesta-rama!

2010-05-21T13:05:00.000-07:00

Viva the fiesta! Check out the chicka chic! Limbering up for the lambada round...Baby and Kids Market (30/5), BiDM (5/6), Boutique Markets (13/6) and Mathilda's Market (19/6), plus a possible spot on the co-op tables in King George Square all day on Tuesday 1st June as part of the Saviours of the Lost Arts Fair, wimcee should be in over-drive this week but isn't...

The fiesta mood has mellowed the pace and I've been having too much fun with ruffled skirts and little embellished trews to feel too stressed out about anything at the moment. A few cameo peeks just to set the scene and go-go the co-co cabana!

Skirts with plenty of ruffles, frills and braids will warm up the coolest winter's morning teamed with leggings and boots, and are unique combinations of colourful cottons. Little trousers are embellished with frills and trims, this one in a hooty owl print on cord, and there are plenty of hand-knits in pure wool like this riotous rio shrug! Join the congo line...Mama-mio!!

May Mother's Day Week-End

2010-05-05T00:30:00.000-07:00

After the totally brilliant BrisStyle indie Twilight Market last Friday night, madly busy prepping for the BrisStyle Mother and Child market this Saturday at St Augustine's church hall and grounds, Racecourse Road Hamilton, followed by the monthly Boutique Market at Portside, Hamilton on Sunday...arghhh...so much sewing to be done, to be done!! Sneak peak, little jackets and skirts aplenty for the mother-and-child, plus some new upcycled denim and knits for Portside. Come and see wimcee for Mothers' Day week-end!

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More tea cosies with attitude for the BiTM.

2010-04-26T14:41:00.000-07:00

Something for superlative tea-suppers and tea party princesses. Tea cosies for cosy teas-for-two (or four or more).

pretty pastels

2010-04-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

A sneak peak of the range of new skirts that will be available at the BrisStyle indie Twilight Market and the BrisStyle Mother and Child Market, or go to wimcee.etsy.com.

...and head-bands to match!!

April showers

2010-04-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

We spent last week-end immersed in babies, with the out of town double christening of great-niece Annabelle and great-nephew Lachlan, made extra special as we were joint god-parents to Annabelle along with her auntie Livvy. I made La Belle's little dress, which was a bit fraught as commissions go - so tiny, so important!! - but it was all right on the night so to speak. They are both the dearest little people, as are their wonderful parents and grand-parents.

So a bit caught up in matters famille lately, but also stocking up in readiness for the BiTM...a lot of new kiddie couture to go, as well as the rest, and a few quiet days ahead now to add to the pile.

Easing into Easter

2010-03-30T20:33:00.000-07:00

Some upcycled coats and skirts in the works, ready for the BiTM - BrisStyle indie Twilight Market - coming your way if you are local, the very first ever to take place in Brisbane's King George Square on April 30th.

And some pretty cute woolly hats taking shape if I do say so myself...almost cool enough to knit again, and the summer cold that's lingered here makes knitting such a nice option.

2010-03-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

Summer sniffles

2010-03-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Naturally as I haven't markets to do for a bit I've now got the worst of bad summer colds, so only slowly putting together new stock for coming market days/nights. I spent way too much money at the Craft Expo on fabrics and trims, including more exquisite Japanese print cotton from the same people I have bought from at past markets...these superlative French and English design reproductions are printed on the finest of weaves in the most subtle variations of colour. Funky Fabrix are also back from a shopping spree in Japan so more joy there to be had I'm positive, except I need to not go anywhere for a bit or face financial disgrace.

Billie has a heap more of my skirts at BelleVille, and some winter jackets like this one with a custom quilted finish, so depleted racks at home. I will have more skirts again by my next market date - the very first BrisStyle indie Twilight Market on April 30th, taking place in King George Square from 5 p.m. - and I'm working on a few more upcycled adult's woollies, knitting needles also going clickety-clack with small people beanies, and a general sense of controlled frenzy happening in amongst family birthdays.

Back to the future

2010-03-22T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have just finished a caricature for a sports dinner presentation - haven't done one of these for a long time and it was good to get my pencils out and my sketching eye in again. In one of my other lives I do portraiture but I find it extremely stressful - the caricaturing is a much more enjoyable off-shoot.

March madness!

2010-03-07T12:17:00.000-08:00

Well, we all knew we were mad anyway...who else would think they could pull off a successful crafters market in the middle of an extended period of torrentially wet weather but the committee queens of brisStyle, but they did, and they did - with interest!!! And there we all were in our wellies with our shower curtains, our abbreviated supplies of stock, and our reorganised displays, and in fact the weather more or less held off for the duration before the heavens opened again for business bang on pack up time at 2 in the afternoon.

And our wonderful customers, curious passers-by, families, and friends, all came to visit and look and buy, despite the ominous clouds, sticky brissy humidity, and damp footwork. My second BrisStyle indie Designers Market, and just as much a happy, sharing, party-like atmosphere as the previous one last December.

What an extreme pleasure and privilege to be part of brisStyle! And with twilight markets, mothers and childrens markets, eco-markets, and more like Saturday as well, what an exciting year ahead of us (and SO MUCH to do!!)

wimcee in the shops!

2010-02-19T21:54:00.000-08:00

Major excitement! Thank-you Cathy, my market pal, for sending me out there in search of Belleville and the wonderful Billie! This is the most interesting and eclectic children's shop in the Annerley Arcade, cheek by jowl with a vintage comic store, second-hand book shop, retro shop, a couple of super-duper op shops and some antique stores, so well worth spending some pottering time. After an email exchange I went to visit Billie and now can boast stock in a shop like a real live couturier. Not Robinson Crusoe amongst the marketing fraternity in this step, but nonetheless a thrill, especially when my last minute inclusion, a tyrollean hat, sold within hours.

This is something I've been thinking about testing the waters with this year - love the markets, but it's difficult at the moment for various reasons so a bit of rationalisation is called for. And I must say I do like the fact that what I've taken to Belleville won't get knocked around to-ing and fro-ing to market and home - get a bit protective of some of the more delicate fabrics and constructions and hate it when things get really crushed or otherwise messed around. Fancy me getting pernickety about such things - !

But what a buzz!!

The BiDM is coming, hurrah, hurrah...

2010-02-18T11:05:00.000-08:00

Next touch down, BiDM: the fabulous brisStyle indie designers markets: Saturday March 6th from 9 a.m. in St Augustine's Anglican Church hall and grounds, on Racecourse Road at Hamilton.

And just the first of a number of really exciting events planned for the group by its [voluntary!!] committeewomen extraordinaire, including twilight markets in the city heart, an ecomarket, a mothers' and babies' focussed market, and an exhibition of work by the stylettes and our lone styler-man.

Watch this space - more information coming!

Feb Flavours...

2010-02-12T10:52:00.000-08:00

Portside Boutique Market tomorrow, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., the first of my year, and really champing at the bit to get set up again and see how everything is looking after the break...also to see fellow marketeers again. On a roll with the woodland theme still - this is a sneak peak of the new year's stock...

Away with the woodland creatures....

2010-02-09T21:02:00.000-08:00

I have just finished recycling two jumpers into a semi-chanel shaped jacket with embellishments, furthering the current crop of boho-chic (need a new term!) accessories. Wish I had the skills to extend into serious upholstery to suit - http://www.squintlimited.com/furniture/bespoke/upholstery/sofas/7/

The busy stork

2010-02-07T08:36:00.000-08:00

Happy, happy times! Our new great-nephew, Lachlan Harold, was born late in January (16.1.10) to Matthew and Danielle, and great-niece and God-daughter Annabelle Flora Therese arrived safely 3.2.10, also a first child, for Em and Al. I'd forgotten how very bewitching new babies can be!! and have fallen hopelessly in love with both.

Have been enjoying the month of catch-up and experiment,

the time-out from the markets, and now have a new selection of reversible skirts for little girls, some interesting bags and belts that are continuing in the boho chic vein, some simple but really useful little draw-string bags in a variety of colours and styles, and a really special tartan stole for winter evening warmth. And after quite a run of stocks before Christmas, a few new a

prons, with more frills and flounces than ever!

The etsy store is re-vamped for the new year (wimcee.etsy.com) and I'm looking forward enormously to the first market for me of 2010, next Sunday at Portside.

More soon.

2010-01-29T21:56:00.000-08:00

Okay - I hope to be a little more consistent with this in 2010 - my new year's resolution. January has been my month off to try a few different directions as well as just building up stock again after the Christmas rush.

Having re-located my entire workshop into the spare room and then moved it back to the lounge again so that oldest son Andrew had somewhere to sleep when he stayed over over Christmas, I've tried to be a bit more orderly, and extended my supply of Ikea shelving units to assist the goal.

I've been experimenting with adult-sized clothing, making some peasant style blouses...pieces I like myself seemed to be the way to go, and also some new styles of bags and belts. It's wonderful to have the time without the pressure to try new things, and as always, once I've got going with one particular idea a lot of other ideas follow - too quickly always!

Have also been inspired by the theme of Woodland...more on that soon...but the boho chic continues as well...

wimcee hive of activity

2009-10-04T13:38:00.000-07:00

amidst dust storms - although if that's the most of our natural trials that's looking like peanuts this week in comparison to near neighbours - and Trevor's lament: "remember the days when you used to do housework?" I have been gearing up for a busy few months of markets ahead - the usual portside and handmade expo monthlies, my first Mathilda, my first BrisStyle indie, and one other next week-end at Milton State School. Portside is sounding us out about a twilight gig as well in December, which does sound nice. I would have liked to participate at Mitchelton in their twilight market, but that week-end in December is already full on. New work has been mainly dresses for small girls as they seem to be very much in demand, and today I must make up half a dozen small hats. But with Christmas racing up I should also do a few specials - aprons, skirts and so on. To work!

2009-09-04T11:21:00.000-07:00

Those who do as I do will appreciate the pleasure I've had out of having a few non-market weeks in a row up my sleeve to fill up gaps in my stock and also try out a few ideas and new projects...I've had such a lovely time sewing and creating, and mastering some new designs and techniques. No photos yet, but they will follow once I crank up the camera and get snapping.

jumpers and jazz, warwick

2009-07-21T15:11:00.001-07:00

The trees in the main street of Warwick were all rugged up - scores of them! - for the jumpers and jazz festival. wimcee went with the Handmade Expo who were holding a market on Saturday and stayed on for a wonderful Beatles/Creedence Clearwater Revival tribute concert in the old King's Theatre. Cold, Warwick, but really good fun. Also bought some truly lovely fabric - the green leaf part of the pictured skirt - in the local quilting shop.

2009-07-21T13:54:00.000-07:00

Is there a recurrent theme? Answer: IKEA fabrics, including these wonderful farmyard chooks which I've had for more than 20 years.