We are so excited to bring you a new feature on our blog this season, aimed to showcase each of the cities we adore bringing our market to! As we hit the road this Autumn/Winter, we’ll be chatting to three magic makers on their home towns and how to make the most out of a weekend at Finders Keepers!

First up we get to know Sydney through the eyes of Carly – the all mighty one woman show behind popular Sydney ceramic business Public Holiday! Keep reading as Carly takes us on a clay journey while also sharing her top tips on jazzing up a weekend in Sydney and joining us for Finders Keepers Sydney AW19 back at The Cutaway, Barangaroo! For slow living love and fun times please read on..

P.s Melbourne no need for FOMO, Public Holiday will be joining Finders Keepers Melbourne AW19 for the first time in July, RSVP here! We don’t want you missing out on the much coveted travel cup!

What’s does your perfect Sydney weekend look like?

Spending time in our courtyard gardening or going for a bush ramble (there are so many beautiful walks around the harbour – some of which are dog friendly!) are my favourite ways to soak up some vitamin D.

Afternoons in the studio making followed by catch ups with friends at one of our local breweries is the perfect way to end the weekend. My favourite is Grifter which is just a short ride from the studio! 

This city is big, beautiful and diverse and full of creatives hustling to make their dreams come true!

How does your city inspire you?

“I think more than the city itself, it is the people inside my city that really inspire me! From urban bee-keepers to multidisciplinary artist studios, Sydney is full of talented makers with big ideas! There are inner city gardens bursting with vegetables and an endless stream of workshops on how to make your own pickles, how to screen print, how to take care of your houseplants.

This city is big, beautiful and diverse and full of creatives hustling to make their dreams come true. Collaborating and working together to make spaces/objects/experiences that are unique and special. It is really inspiring to be surrounded by that! 

Tell us about your work space. 

My studio is a converted corner shop (that was once a butcher) attached to our home in the creative suburb of Marrickville in Sydney’s inner west. 

I was super lucky to have my friend (and incredible artist) Georgia Hill mural the outside of the building in her signature black and white patterns when we first moved in. It definitely makes it hard not to miss!

Inside it is bright, airy and filled with plants – I find that natural light is such an important aspect for a creative space and really makes a difference to my productivity. I also like to fill the space with some of my favourite handmade things: an incredible neon light (which was gifted to me by my fiancé Joe when I first started Public Holiday), a beautiful brass mobile made by Sarah Perez and a stunning image of Death Valley shot by my friend and talented photographer Myles Pritchard, to name a few.

Who’s on your not to miss list for the upcoming Finders Keepers Sydney AW19 market?

There are so many amazing makers at this upcoming market!! Clay making mates Arcadia Scott and Sit Still Lauren are definitely high on the list, as well as the raddest accessories for dogs Nice Digs (Our sausage dog Bam has one of their leads). I also can’t go past some treat yourself goods from Yalu Apothecary, Posie and Maya Sunny Honey. As below!

Fill up your travel cup and grab some pastries from a local cafe and wander the streets!

What’s your fave mode of transport to take in the Sydney sights?

I think a really fun way to take in the Sydney sights is with multiple modes of transport! Take a train from the city over the harbour bridge to Milsons Point. Jump off there and wander down to the harbours edge (where you’ll find Luna Park!) Fill up your travel cup and grab some pastries from a local cafe and wander the streets! I actually really love to walk, it is my favourite way to discover a city! Stroll through the suburbs of Kirribilli, Neutral Bay, and Cremorne Point, spying on cute gardens and taking in incredible views of the city!

Find your closest stop and jump on a Ferry, you’ll get a whole new perspective of the Sydney Opera House as you pull into Circular Quay and it is a really fun way to get back into the city and complete your round trip of Sydney sights!

An object that has been made with someones hands and is worthy of being kept for a lifetime.

Can you share your top three tips for Out-of-Towners visiting The Cutaway, Barangaroo for Finders Keepers?

1. If you’re kicking around the CBD after the event then a fun place to visit is Cantina Ok a cosy little hole in the wall full of an impressive range of mezcal! Start there and then continue your Mexican fix with delicious food at the newly opened city location of Chica Bonita (just a short walk from The Cutaway!) – or if you’re feeling adventurous, take the ferry across to their Manly location.

2. One of my favourite spots in the city is the cactus garden in The Botanical Gardens. Grab some sushi or bring a picnic and have a wander through an impressive collection of prickles! Each species is named with a botanical name and the area of the world it comes from!

3. Explore some areas out of the CBD, catch a train to Newtown and explore the inner west suburbs of Enmore, Erskineville and Marrickville, there are tons of great cafes, restaurants and bars. One of my favourites is Cairo Takeaway in Enmore which has mouth watering Egyptian food.

You’re a master of the ‘travel cup’. What does the word ‘keep’ mean to you?

The word keep has very precious connotations to me, and actually really ties in to the handmade community. We’ve been surrounded by such a disposable culture in the last decade that I think investing in something handmade has become a really special thing. An object that has been made with someones hands and is worthy of being kept for a lifetime.

The travel cups have been a truly great way to embrace this concept – a special handmade piece that you can ‘keep’ on you at all times, fill with your favourite beverage and enjoy over and over again.

Finish this sentence. If I’ve learnt anything about creativity it’s this…

That sometimes it moves in unexpected directions. One of my favourite quotes is from designer Stefan Sagmeister’s book “Things I’ve learnt in my life so far” that says “Having guts always works out for me”.

Creative practice can be inspired by so many different things and is rarely something you can plan for but I’ve found that it is necessary to take creative risks and embrace unexpected outcomes.

itsapublicholiday.com
instagram.com/itsapublicholiday
facebook.com/itsapublicholiday

The post A Sydney Weekend with Public Holiday first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

All of the designers featured will be setting up shop at the Adelaide Showground, Jubilee Pavilion on the Friday (evening) 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th August!  Yes, three huge days of market festivities!

For a more comprehensive list, you can also find out Adelaide market Directory here or better still, download our brand new FREE smartphone app, and hold the keys to the markets in the palm of your hand!

Homewares Highlights: 

1. Fleurs de Nadia Flowers
2. Susan Frost Ceramics
3. Seedleaf Designs
4. Alfie & Audrey
5. Emma Sadie Thomson
6. Fictional Objects
7. Nice Digs
8. 2K Labware

Accessories:

1. B.Ties
2. Leatherworks Adelaide
3. Hey Reflect’o
4. Truso
5. Julie White
6. Peggy and Fin
7. Tohl
8. Archon Design

Images featured have been sourced from the designers listed.
Products picked by Monique Plunkett

Follow along our Instagram page for live updates during the market and tag your own snaps with #adelaidefinderskeepers #thefinderskeepers.

The post Adelaide AW16 Market: Shopping Highlights 1 first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Not only do we have a bigger venue, we will be opening the doors at 5pm on Friday 10th November, giving you longer hours to shop and more stalls to choose from, now over 200!  Market continues at the Brisbane Showgrounds all weekend from 9am – 4pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November.

We’ve sourced some of the best local talent Brisbane has to offer, and some of our Finders Keepers favourites will be making their way across the country to join us in Brisbane.  We’ve rounded up just a taste for you below, and you can keep exploring our Brisbane market directory here.  See you next weekend!

Australia:

1. Starfish Studio
2. Busy Head
3. Bonnie Hislop
4. Kara Rosenlund
5. Pixie Nut & Co.
6. Julie White
7. Pure Nut
8. Two Warm Hands

Fashion and Accessories:

1. Saltys
2. Alice Nightingale
3. Doops Designs
4. Gertie & Belle
5. Naomi Murrell
6. Magpie Goose

Kids:

1. Inkling
2. Babee & Me
3. Have a Nice Day
4. Kookaburra Kidswear
5. Gather & Moss
6. Dukes and Duchesses apparel

The post Brisbane SS17 Market: Shopping Highlights #1 first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Not only do we have a bigger venue, we will be opening the doors at 5pm on Friday 10th November, giving you longer hours to shop and more stalls to choose from, now over 200! Market continues at the Brisbane Showgrounds all weekend from 9am – 4pm on Saturday 11th and Sunday 12th November.

We’ve sourced some of the best local talent Brisbane has to offer, and some of our Finders Keepers favourites will be making their way across the country to join us in Brisbane. Check the highlights below, and for a more comprehensive list, you can also find out Brisbane SS17 Market Directory here.  Better still, download our brand new FREE smartphone app, and hold the keys to the markets in the palm of your hand!

We hope you can join us for a celebration of independent art and design, good food, live music and beautiful Brisbane sunshine!

Homewares Highlights:

1. Kirralee & Co
2. You, Me & Bones
3. ML Ceramics
4. Maker & Merchant
5. Corner Block Studio
6. Posie
7. Erin Lightfoot

Art and Paper:

1. J.F.A. Hynd
2. Studio Sue
3. Leah Bartholomew Art
4. Kait D’Arcy
5. @MCRT.Studio
6. McMurtrie Illustrations
7. Empty.Room

Fashion / Accessories and Jewellery:

1. Blacbrail Atelier
2. Olas Supply Company
3. Frank & Dollys
4. Ingo
5. Sienna Byron Bay
6. Will & Bear

The post Brisbane SS17 Market: Shopping Highlights #2 first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Back in Brisbane!

Get ready for stop two of the Finders Keepers East Coast Tour in sunny Brisbane, kicking off Friday from 12 noon! We’re thrilled to once again bring you a HUGE weekend of Australian art + design plus live local music, delicious food and interactive activities just for the kids. The Finders Keepers team along with our 200+ stallholders can’t wait to see you back at The Marquee, Brisbane Showgrounds!

From 12 noon, Friday is a winner for escaping weekend crowds. Perfect for families as well as parents n’ prams to conquer Christmas shopping with extra room for the little nippers to roam. An absolute hit in Melbourne, we welcome our new supporter Castle & Cubby to Brisbane who will be activating an exciting interactive zone for the young ones. The kids and their imaginations can run wild thanks to these incredibly cute cubbies sourced from recycled materials.

It wouldn’t be Finders Keepers without entertainment from some amazing local musicians and DJs, team Friday night drinks with live entertainment and shopping ’till 9pm! Following Friday’s fun we’ll be open all weekend – check for hours below!

In Brisbane we also celebrate and welcome our Indigenous Program recipient Anindilyakwa Arts, an arts and community centre for the remote communities of Groote Eylandt; Angurgu, Umbakumba, Bikerton Eylandt, as well as some from 4 mile outstation located by the beach and nurturing art and culture. Known for their bush dyed fabrics, weavings and jewellery made from collected shells and seeds, we cannot wait to have Anindilyakwa Arts at Finders Keepers Brisbane. Support Anindilyakwa Arts this weekend by visiting them at stall 106.

Finders Keepers Brisbane Spring / Summer 18
Brisbane Showgrounds, The Marquee
Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, Brisbane

Friday 9th November : 12pm – 9pm
Saturday 10th November : 9am – 5pm
Sunday 11th November : 9am – 5pm

Finders Keepers Highlights:

Young Squad, Kingston Jewellery, Mennie, Comfort & Calm,
shuh., Anindilyakwa Arts, Notely, ROVE,
Julie White, Theclaysmith, Gather & Moss and Kirralee & Co

Just a sneak peek of some highlights on offer from our clever stallholders – bringing the summer feels with plenty of colour! Finders Keepers are so thrilled to bring you over 200 independent stallholders all under one roof, making shopping small business in a BIG way easy-peasy this Christmas. Get excited by the full designer directory here or download our app below!

Frankie Magazine:

Right in time for summer and a brand new year, the frankie stall will be chock full of papery goodness. There’s the 2019 diary and calendar for starters, as well as issue 86 (hot off the press!); a one-off, food-focused issue of frankie, frankie food!; the pretty, patterned gifty wrap book; and all the usual goodness, including Smith Journal, Look What We Made, and their cute-as-can-be stationery range. Pop by and say hi, and don’t forget to make the most of their exclusive Finders Keepers subscription deal.
frankie.com.au

Food & Drink:

Bottom left Finders Keepers Brisbane AW18 photo by Samee Lapham.

We would never let you go hungry, and this year we have an incredible line-up of local food vendors to keep you fuelled for more shopping. Drool over the full line-up of what’s on offer here.

Entertainment Program:

Tunes time.

Friday 9th November
12pm – DJ James Wright
2:30pm – Jeremy Neale
3:30pm – DJ Firstbourne
6pm – Asha Jeffries
7pm – Rainman (DJ)

Saturday 10th November
9:00am – Seja (DJ)
11:30am – Poppy Galactic & The Beat (Kids)
1pm – O’ Little Sister
2pm – Dana Gehrman
3pm -Rainman (DJ)

Sunday 11th November
9am – Seja (DJ)
11:30am – Poppy Galactic & The Beat (Kids)
1pm – Megan Cooper
2pm – Hazlett
3pm- DJ James Wright

If DJ James Wright kissing a disco ball isn’t enough to make you want to get your dancing shoes on, we don’t know what is. Read all about this years super fun line-up of music and entertainment here.

Castle & Cubby in Brisbane!

Finders Keepers Melbourne SS18 photo by Samee Lapham.

A huge hit in Melbourne for the first Finders Keepers Spring Summer stop, these interactive cubby houses by Castle & Cubby are a brilliant distraction to keep the youngsters engaged and entertained! Come play!

Castle & Cubby handcraft eco-friendly play spaces for little kids with BIG imaginations! They think that the best play is imaginative play. All products are made by hand in Melbourne using sustainably-sourced and recycled timbers.

Get Social!

Finders Keepers Melbourne SS18 photo by Samee Lapham.

Don’t forget you can follow along from the market or from home on our social media pages! This season be sure to look out for (and get involved with) our new Artists Walls, handmade in collaboration with a line-up of very talented local artists, you’ll find them scattered around the venue ready for fun live event photos with your friends. We also have our Facebook Event here (hint: invite your friends!) as well as our Facebook page. As always, we will be posting live updates from the Finders Keepers market all weekend on our Instagram page and we’d love you to do the same.

Use the hashtag #brisbanefinderskeepers and #thefinderskeepers to join in!

The post Brisbane SS18 NOW OPEN! first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Hitting the Brisbane stage Saturday June 22 and Sunday June 23 from 11:30am, the second round of frankie panels for the season features a super-clever mix of makers – keep reading to find out who’s chinwagging in Brisbane! 

Saturday June 22

• Claire Ritchie
• Love Mae
• Paper Boat Press

Sunday June 23

• Jericho Clothing
• Erin Lightfoot
• Busy Head

About Leta Keens
Leta Keens is a long-term member of the frankie press family. She has edited issues of SPACES, Smith Journal and frankie food, and is a regular writer for both frankie and Smith Journal.

Psst!

You can also find a super exclusive frankie subscription offer in your sitemap on entry + keep your eyes peeled for FREE frankie magazines scattered around the Brisbane Showgrounds Marquee as part of #frankieinthewild! FINDERS, KEEPERS!

The post chinwags with frankie hits Brisbane! first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

What was the inspiration behind starting your business?

I’ve always been a mess-maker. My parents had their own businesses, so it always seemed like a viable option to me. I wasn’t the best employee either, with my head constantly half on my next creative idea and the other half on lunch.  When my own daughter was born, I read “Dear Ijeawele, or A Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions” by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, in which she talks to her friend about how to raise a daughter as a feminist. One thing that really stuck with me was the need to be a role model. If you want your daughter to feel that she can have her own career in something she loves, then you need to show them it’s possible. So sure, it was a lot of work and ups and downs, but I’m also not sure it was that inspired an ah-ha moment kind of way. I’ve always made it, and I’m incredibly lucky that I’ve found a way to do that for a living!

How has your business evolved over the past year?

I had to put the Bea Bellingham personal business into hibernation over COVID. I was heaps preggo/with tiny baby no 2, launching Clay at Home, opening a second studio, then a third for Clay Sydney (my other business), and didn’t really leave much personal creative time.
Reopening my own personal studio was anxiety-inducing – could I even remember how to create a range?! But I think I was able to distil what I wanted it to create over the break, which in essence, is to make folks feel a little bit more cheerful and interact with others. My work has always used typography, but now this is the star of the show. I’ve tried to contrast cutesie designs with less-than-cute sayings, and if nothing else, it makes me laugh.  

What is your creative guilty pleasure?

I like big pots, and I cannot lie. 

What’s something people might not know about you?

There are very few things people don’t know about me, as I am a chronic over-sharer and talker. If it’s in my brain, it’s coming out. If you’re swinging by my stand at Finders and we’re having a chat it’s highly likely you’ll get more than you bargained for. Sorry, not sorry!

What do you love about Sydney, and who are you looking forward to visiting at the markets?

The beaches, the parks, the food, and the creative community. After a while, you start to know most ceramicists, who are gorgeous, supportive groups. At the Finders Keepers Markets, I’m always keen to see new makers and folks I’ve known for years! My first studio neighbour Hayden Youlley is travelling back down from his new home in Northern NSW with his stunning porcelain work, Liz Lau and Albatross have possibly the cutest ceramic stalls known to man, and my current studio neighbour, Ann Howe will be there with her gorgeous glazes for the first time. My other brand Clay Sydney will be there, and it’s always great to have a break from my stand to do some demos and chat about the mud behind the mugs!

What can we expect from your stall at this event?

Most people react in one of two ways at the stand: titter like a naughty school kid or cackle like the filthy ratbags I know you all are. So, expect more of that. More Kath and Kim. More Australianisms. More excuses to shout “mole” over your morning coffee. 

Connect with Bea Bellingham:
instagram.com/beabellingham
beabellingham.com

See you at the markets!

Meet the makers at the Sydney/Eora Market this 9 – 11 December at the Cutaway, Barangaroo. Tickets are available here, or you can grab them at the door.

The post Creative Catch Up with Bea Bellingham first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Fall in love with Paxxy & Flora this Friday as we gather again at Brisbane Finders Keepers! Ceramic artist Cas will be stopping visitors in their tracks with her dreamy homewares from functional kitchenware, through to pots and decorative pieces!  Inspired by a world made up of black and pink, beautiful textures, and anything and everything to do with flowers, we think you’ll find something special at her stall!

Read on as Cas shares what you’ll discover at Finders Keepers and some considered tips on styling and selecting ceramics for your home.

Can’t make it to Brisbane? You can shop Paxxy & Flora 24/7 at Finders Keepers Online here.

After a year away from Finders Keepers what are you looking forward to most on your return?

The buzz! Finders Keepers has this special market electricity in the air made up of excited shoppers, and equally excited stallholders. It’s an environment where everyone truly appreciates small and local businesses in a way that I’ve not experienced before. I also can’t wait to see that all unfold even more in the new venue!

What can shoppers expect from your stall?

I’m so excited to be bringing my new range of flowery products to this event. Flowery cups, flowery plates, flowery bowls, flowery keyrings. Flowery everything… just the way I like it!

I’ll also have a select range of my popular rainbow plates, as well as the ability to preorder your own custom designed rainbows and snack sets.

What do you love about Brisbane and what other Makers are you looking forward to visiting at Finders Keepers?

I absolutely love the James Street precinct in Fortitude Valley – everything from the architecture to all of the beautiful plants and trees, through to the many independent and unique stores; it’s such a beautiful area to wander, have some food and feel inspired. 

I always like to check out the Finders Keepers maker lineup in advance… I’m a sucker for fine silver jewellery so I am keen to check out Alice’s Earth by Cath.

Can you share your top three tips on how to decorate at home with ceramics?

You might picture the perfect spot for it, or find yourself daydreaming about the slow moments it will bring you.

The main thing for me is selecting pieces that you have a connection with; the ones that you see and simply can’t walk away from. You might picture the perfect spot for it, or find yourself daydreaming about the slow moments it will bring you. These are the pieces you will treasure for years to come.

I also love versatile pieces that allow you to switch up how you use them i.e. a bowl that you can use for your keys and random bits by the door, but is also perfect to bring out at a dinner party with fancy desserts.

Lastly, consider incorporating different textures and finishes. Adding simple, pared back pieces can sometimes be a statement in itself.

Why is it important for you to be creative?

For me, creating is freedom. It is the opportunity to take something from ‘just an idea’ to real life. I am also a huge overthinker so creating is a great way to get me out of my own head. In that moment it’s just me and the clay, everything else dissolves away.

Connect with Paxxy & Flora
Instagram: instagram.com/paxxyandflora
Website: paxxyandflora.com
Shop FK: thefinderskeepersmarketplace.com/shop-directory/paxxy-flora

The post Creative Catch Up With Paxxy & Flora first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Tell us a little bit about what you do and how you got started?

Voluptuary Ceramics is a ceramic brand making colourful anthropomorphic forms and objects that play with a contemporary representation of the feminine body. I started Voluptuary with a desire to create joyous, handmade objects that blend beauty with something more visceral and emotive. I love that in the transformation from clay to ceramics, objects appearing soft, gelatinous and jellylike can become rigid and strong. This process is totally mesmerising. A few years ago, I was making from a desk in my living room, driving hours to and from clay firing studios with a car packed with fragile pots. Now I have my own studio space in Botany with two kilns. A terrifying jump, but never one I regret taking!

What’s something people might not know about you?

I’m also a professional makeup and special effects artist. Before I had my ceramics business, I worked for 11 years commercially in the film industry, most likely on some of your favourite films, tv shows and celebrities, which was super fun. It gave me an unfathomable work ethic, which paved the way for the uphill climb of running a handmade business! I started in ceramics actually to improve my sculpting skills because I was making prosthetic pieces for special effects characters. Then I quickly fell in love with clay and it snowballed into my business.

Working as a makeup artist is also what sparked my curiosity about the performed hierarchy of bodies and how we curate them to present a beauty standard, rather than authenticity. I feel like this comes through in the creation of my pieces, my belly mugs in particular, which play with desirability and the universal experience of a soft body.

What got you through the last two years as a small business owner?

The past two years have been really tough, but I think we all realised how important it is to find happiness in the small and continuous moments of everyday life. The power of handmade is its ability to bring joy to your everyday rituals, through your morning coffee mug, filling a vase with flowers or using your favourite plate at each meal. Joy in the little things is what got me through these past two years… that and reading. The mental escapism can really feel like a holiday!

What is your creative guilty pleasure? What do you do for creative play and creative self-care?

I am a guilty and self-professed workaholic. So many parts of my job allow me to really be creative in ways that fill me with joy, which means I sometimes find it hard to step away and focus on other things. I am, however, obsessed with cake decorating, and cake decorating videos. Shame I’m such a terrible baker! I also love to read and be absorbed in a good story.

Where’s your favourite place to get inspired in Sydney?

Inspiration can come from a freshly baked good, a warm latte and a coastal walk in the sun. I absolutely find inspiration in food, particularly desserts and flowers, so I love ice cream shops like Cow and Moon and Messina and, of course, visiting the Sydney Flowers Markets at the crack of dawn.

What can shoppers expect from your stall at this event?

I am super excited to be bringing a pastel treasure trove of new pieces to the Sydney Finders Keepers Market this July! A whole range of new vases, iridescent pieces and my new marbled, pastel tableware series, all handmade in my Botany Studio from Australian porcelain. I don’t want to count my chickens before they hatch but I might just be launching a brand new coloured sculptural candle too!

I love it when my stall looks and feels like a lolly shop for your home, so I’m working away on bringing as many colourful and joyous pieces as I can for you to find your perfect lifelong ceramic treasure. I’ll be in the pink and peach store dripping in flowers, and I can’t wait to see you there!

Connect with Voluptuary Ceramics:
voluptuaryceramics.com
instagram.com/voluptuary_ceramics

See you at the markets!

Discover Emma’s incredible designs at the Sydney/Eora Markets this 29-31 July at The Cutaway, Barangaroo. Tickets are available here or you can grab them at the door.

The post Creative Catch Up With Voluptuary Ceramics first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark

“From the very first time I saw Trade the Mark ceramics, I imagined it as a fabric print,” says Milk & Thistle label founder/designer Danielle Atkinson of her collaboration with ceramicist ‘mark-maker’ Christina Mclean. “Christina’s love of raw materials and dedication to slow craftsmanship was the perfect match for our product and we are delighted to work with such a true artisan.”

Milk & Thistle’s latest collaboration presents the designs of ceramicist ‘mark-maker’ Christina Mclean on suitably raw and organic materials – using hand-printing on 100% natural linen. The design explores the juxtaposition of negative space and pattern and perfectly complements the relaxed silhouettes of Milk & Thistle’s summer range. “I knew the hand-drawn etchings would translate perfectly onto fabric and create a beautiful, wearable art range,” says Atkinson.

If the Woven Grafik collection presents as the most organic print Milk & Thistle has showcased to date, that’s not just down to its genesis – as patterns etched in clay thrown and detailed by hand in Mclean’s nearby studios. It’s also reflective of a collaboration that could only have come about via slow percolation in the creative scene of Sydney’s inner west, where both artists work.

“I’ve lived in the inner west for over 20 years now, and I’d noticed Milk and Thistle on King St,” Mclean recalls. “I remember the first time she came to one of my Open Studios – we hit it off immediately. I loved that her store was up the road from my studio, that we are both inner west locals and are dogged about our passions.”

The local connection also extends to the production of the garments – which are all made locally in inner west Sydney. It’s an important distinction for Mclean, whose ethos is the opposite of fast fashion and disposability. “I believe Vivienne Westwood says it best – Buy less, choose well, make it last,” she says. “The transparency in Milk & Thistle’s supply chain is transparent, and here!!”

For Mclean, this range brings together her two creative streams in satisfying resolution. She developed prints in her other guise Christina McLean Design for the fashion industry for over 10 years, this collaboration brings both passions together. “To see one of my ceramic pieces translated onto linen and with Dan’s styling, well it’s come full circle,” she says. “It’s a wonderful process, that makes completes sense.”

Catch both Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark at our Sydney market 8-10 December at The Cutaway Barangaroo Reserve.

milkandthistle.com.au
tradethemark.com

Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark

Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark

Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark

Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark

The post Feature Collection: Woven Grafik’ by Milk & Thistle and Trade the Mark first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

Today we chat with Sydney ceramist Naomi, of beautiful ceramics label Studio Enti, who finds that working with everyday objects brings a sense of grounding and purpose to her practice.  Read on to discover more about Naomi and her beautifully earthy and tactile creations. 

Tell us a bit about studio enti and what products we can expect to discover?
Studio Enti is the name for my art/design practice which currently involves a small number of ceramic products and ranges.  I work predominantly with slip cast porcelain and have been exploring the contrast between material hues, finishes and the experience this creates for the user.  Working freely and accentuating the imperfections in each piece, I create everyday objects that show their handmade origins and that have a unique character and qualities.

What is your background and how did you start working with ceramics?
I studied at The College of Fine Arts in Sydney, first beginning a Bachelor of Fine Arts but after a long deference to travel, returned and completed a Bachelor of Design majoring in Ceramics and Object Design.  My Mother had a pottery business so I have been surrounded by clay from a young age – our styles are worlds apart, but my creative assimilation into ceramics undoubtedly began there.

What inspires your work?   What keeps you motivated creatively?
I am inspired by the purity of making – the purposefulness of the craft and how making allows me to impart a genuine part of myself into the physical world.  It is a real and tangible connection between presence and purpose – also incredibly challenging (ceramics is not for the faint hearted)! as well as being deeply satisfying.

Creatively, I am inspired by colour and texture as much as conceptual problem-solving.  Most of my work for Studio Enti is simple and has a clean, easy aesthetic but has arisen from a long period of experimentation and trial and error.  I like that I have a range of products that are both beautiful and useful as a base for my business.

What is your workspace like and what is your creative process?
I am currently working in a large shared studio and have a small space to call my own within a greater organism.  I like to take my time with developing ideas and I find that they do tend to evolve quite naturally once you begin to experiment.  There are so many stages to developing ceramic pieces, so it is a slow process.  I hope to spend more time focusing on creative development of my work in 2015.

What challenges have you faced starting your own label, and what are some things you love about it?
There have been a lot of challenges… !  For me it is really about the ceramic process and getting to a point where my practice is something I get to know and understand completely.  Starting out and not having the ability to fire often and learn the subtle skills of firing and how the various pieces respond in the kiln has been by far my biggest challenge.  Having just purchased my own kiln, I am looking forward to honing my work in the final firing and building a relationship with the kiln gods!

What new projects are you working on and where would you like to see studio enti in the future?
I am very excited about a couple of lighting projects that are coming up in the near future – I have been waiting patiently to get started on some ideas that I have had for a long time, so I am looking forward to combining beautiful porcelain with light which is always a match made in heaven.  Hopefully 2015 will see Studio Enti work on some interesting collaborations and explore new materials in products as well.

www.studioenti.com.au
instagram.com/studio_enti

The post Feature Designer: studio enti first appeared on The Finders Keepers.

image features ceramics vases – handmade by Bisuketto Studio

We are a little obsessed with these dreamy ceramics by Bisuketto Studio, who will be making their Finders Keepers debut in Melbourne this weekend. 

Each piece is hand thrown by Charmian, a Victorian ceramicist who is currently experimenting with tonality and tactility through her work. Charmian thinks of her ceramics as functional art pieces, and considers how each piece feels in your hands with beauty of form in mind.

facebook.com/bisukettostudio

image features bisk firing, ceramics cups, mug and lidded vessel – handmade by Bisuketto Studio

image features ceramics bowls – handmade by Bisuketto Studio

The post Feature Product: Ceramics by Bisuketto Studio first appeared on The Finders Keepers.