The Murray

Lovin' the Murray River.
Happy Holidays!;-)

Finders Keepers was a SUCCESS!!

We had much fun at Finders Keepers on the weekend!
It was lovely to meet so many crafty and creative stallholders and get to know our customers:) 


For those that took the time and made the trip to Docklands, THAnk YOU!

(Happy customer) - wears 9-10yr Madeleine Cardigan

Definitely felt that I am slowly mastering the art of setting up and packing! 
It was totally awesome fun and can't wait to do the next market again.


Geelong! Fairy Floss Market on 24 October in 2 weeks. 
How exciting! Can't wait to show our new arrivals!
Do Join us!

Whatever happened to creativity?

Coming from a background of fine art, architecture and working in a creative industry of fine jewellery design and childrens' fashion, the Arts have always had a special place in my heart. The grey areas of copyrights, 'inspirational' research and its overall equation to economic value seems always a contestable debate between my peers and even my husband who sees the world from the other side.

I applaud Hilary Glow and Stella Minahan's article in Meanjin Quarter and just had to share it (a small section from Meanjin Quarterly - Vol 69 No. 3)

Whatever happened to creativity?

The concept of creativity from the visual and performing arts implies and act of imaginative practice intended to express original ideas. But the notion of creativity has been overused to become almost meaningless. Type 'creativity' or 'creative' into your search engine and you come up with, for example, cruise ship holidays, business leadership programs, bar mitzvahs, management systems, - everything in other words. And if everything is creative then nothing is. As 'creative' become synonymous with any new product in the marketplace, what is disappearing is any special claim that artists might reasonable make about what they do and how they go about it. The concept of idiosyncratic, distinctive creativity has been refashioned or 'hollowed out' to suit the management of commerce and industry. It is hollowed out because this versio of creativity ignores the possibility that creative activity might exist unhampered by the rational calculation of end-use. Creativity as a set of 'imaginative practices' with their own intrinsic value has lost its specific tie to culture in general and the arts in particular.

Why does it matter?

The answer is that creative practice is the defining characteristics of the arts. There is no other unifying principle to which the arts can sensibly lay claim. Not all art is innovative, or beautiful, or truth-seeking, or cutting edge. But no matter their other qualities, the arts are by definition the product of creative practices. in an environment of limited and often precarious funding, the arts sector needs to be recognized for its distinctive capacity to produce value that is cultural, symbolic, aesthetic, spiritual and expressive, but may not equate with economic value.

Melbourne's best coffee!

Breakie with my best mate at Cafe e torta. Royal Arcade - little Collins Melbourne. :) we *heart* coffee!

Adam & Eve contemplations

Melbourne Flinders St Station 830am

Waiting for a platform.
Waiting ... Waiting...
Flinders St station so near... Yet so far

Stephen Wiltshire

I spend some quiet time on my weekday mornings before work at the City Library.

Today 'Yen' Issue 45, 2010 magazine keeps me company.
Just had to share this amazing article on Stephen Wiltshire.
Diagnosed with autism at age 3, Stephen communicated primarily through his art work. Didn't learn to speak till he was 9 - encouraged by teachers who temporarily took away his art supplies so he'll be forced to ask for them. His first words were "paper" and "pencil".





See how he has captured the art world's attention. Returning after a primary school excursion to the centre of London he sat down and sketched the buildings he'd seen in astonishing detail - entirely from memory.

Talk about photographic memory! Now 36, he has his own galleries and travels the world with his sister. In Sydney, he recently recreated the view from the Sydney Tower after observing it for just 30minutes.

Amazing! Kudos to you Stephen!

We are lovin' Matilda's market Hawthorn

Enjoying this amazing day at Matilda's Market. Shopping frenzy:-)

Matilda's Market Sunday 22 August Hawthorn Town Hall

We’re frantically busy and jumping up and down with excitement, as we prepare for our forthcoming appearance at Mathilda’s Market! You’ll find us there onSunday 22nd August, and we’d love you to pop along and say hello. Mathilda’s is the home of unique, stylish and exquisite baby & kids’ products, made by some of Australia’s cleverest crafters, artisans and designers.

Anne Lewis from Mathilda’s meticulously selects the stallholders at each Market to bring shoppers the perfect mix of clothing, accessories, home wares and toys for little people.

Everything at Mathilda’s is either lovingly handmade, or manufactured in small quantities, and just too irresistible to pass up!

Most stallholders at Mathilda’s Market don’t have a shopfront, so prepare to unearth some truly original and utterly delectable finds.


Where: Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. More info at: www.mathildasmarket.com.au

Melbourne City Magazine

Was handed this at the Parliament station this morning.

Lovin' the cover! Right near the arcade where I work close by.

Go sci-fanatics! cityweekly.newspaperdirect.com

Miscellaneous Mum - Fathers' day giveaway

Thank you Karen from Miscellaneous Mum -she writes an awesome blog that I've really enjoyed following lately - www.miscmum.com

I rarely win any competitions and am thrilled to be chosen to receive this Father's day prize - we know who the gift will be going to.

(Sorry geekhusband, iPhone4 has to wait. Lets go easy on the bank for the moment okay.) I'm really excited! Can't wait to get this book in the mail and have a first peek. I love childrens books and illustrations.

Anna Walker's work is awesome!






Thanks again Karen!! You have made my day:-)

Politically correct dolls

Saw these at a French owned hypermarket (that has over 150,000 stores throughout the world) during our holiday travels in Asia last month. They are on special at about AUD$5.

So which doll would you pick? Are there clothes we can buy as well for them?? I kinda like the green one.

Bondville: Stylish Kids: Castlebox

We are so proud to be featured in Bondville this week. It has really made our day! Thank you for the post :)

Bondville: Stylish Kids: Castlebox

Castlebox is here!

Finally Castlebox is on Blogspot! 

wooohooo.... spent an embarassing amount of time 

trying to make this work and also find and buy a suitable app on my iphone. 

Please do not tell my geekhusband how much I spent and (especially how long I took). 

test test....