But what happens if it rains........

That was the question on everyone's lips last night when heading off to the first Kris Kringle night market for the season at Northcote town hall.

The girl with the most colorful umbrella by: the dreamy giraffe.

I left work at 2.30 just as the heavens decided to open up, thunder included, and pelt down for 40 mins. So I too pondered the question....What do I do if it rains?

and what can you do.....

I can't control the weather, the organizers would love it if they could control weather....but the reality is, it all comes down to mother nature and even the best attempt at planning a big event can be marred by the forces of nature, so unpredictable and so unforgiving.

So what can you do:

The easy option is to cancel, stay at home on the couch and think of what could have been.

Or

Buck up, be prepared and wear a smile.

Cause you know what....the organisers have gone to a hell of a lot of effort to promote the event and you won't make any money or friends, sitting at home on the couch.

I chose option two and I'm so glad I did.

Margaret and I shared an outside stall which was a lovely big space to set up in, we brought tarps, marquees, raincoats and a can do attitude.

Apart from the bit of rain during set up, the weather eased up and served us a great night out.
It was a profitable venture for both of us and when i asked each customer if they were just passing by or if they came intentionally.....every one of them said "a friend told me about the market and I really wanted to come to the first one and get a head start on my x-mas shopping."

Come rain, hail or shine, the customers come...... so come rain, hail or shine, the sellers should be there too.
See you at the next one on the x-mas market calendar this Sat, 28th Nov Northside Makers market, 251 High st, Northcote.

Thanks so much to Jen, Cathy, Louise, Lou, Claudia and mum, Rachielle, Liz and all the other lovely peeps that popped by to say hello. It ended up being a fun night for all......

Finding Finki a home in retail land.....

Check this out.....

'Finki' is now available at 'Olive Grove'.

What's Olive Grove......

Only the best retail space for handmade fans, in our neighbourhood.

It's is run by 9 fabulous artist/crafters. Including me.....Yay.

The studio/retail space at 159 Sydney rd, Brunswick has been going strong for over 10 years situated down at the oh so funky end of Sydney Rd. They run screen printing classes and represent the handmade work of all the co-ops members.

The products created, range from huge paintings and screen printed art, to bags, kids and adult clothes, accessories, soap, stationary and more.


I handed in my work for assessment last week and lucky me, they said yes! So far I have only put a third of my range in store, including some:

bobby pins, button bracelets and bill books,

fabric covered pendants,

'Finki' art pendants,

and some of the retro tea towel covered stools.
(looking fabulous in the window)

All my goodies look really at home, and I can't wait for my first shift.
Just to be able to sit and craft, whilst surrounded by so much loveliness.......

I can't think of anything better.

Gettin' ready...

Lots and lots of exciting things happening in the world of Finki....
too many for one blog post so I'll try my bestest to come back often this week, for updates.

My little study has been a blur of activity as I prepare for an abundance of markets through Nov, Dec. Lots of new fabrics and papers to work with and plenty of ideas running around, so it's been non stop action.

I really do wish the days were longer, or maybe that my body didn't really need eight hours sleep a night ,cause there is so much I want to do....

But, save giving myself an artistic meltdown.....and brain melt....I have reverted to writing lists, lots and lots of lists.
It's the only way I can move forward with a sense of achievement. Ticking as I go.

So on the drawing board this week has been lots of new art journals,

and a little time away from the study, for some sea breezes.

I'll be back soon with more pics of all the other new stuff as well as the goss on my very exciting foray into the world of retail....right here in Melbourne!

My little patch of heaven......

Handmade heaven that is.....

I have just joined all the fabulous Queensland handmadies and rented myself a space at Handmade Heaven.

I'm so happy with my decision to be there.....and I'll tell you why.

I've often been tempted to stock in retailers, but I'm really put off by the equation of having to figure out a wholesale price that makes you a fair profit, so that a retailer can then double it to sell on to the customer.
Of course this is totally viable and common practice. They have overheads to pay....big ones. They have to make a profit too. Only natural.

But it means my customer, the average Joe, would be paying double. That kills me.

So when I heard of how Liesa was planning on running Handmade Heaven a little differently to other retailers, I was eager to learn more. The business structure she's come up with, makes it so affordable for crafters like me to give it a go.

Bottom line...... this means I can stock in a fabulous Queensland retailer and keep my prices the same as I do for my Melbourne markets. That idea sits very well with me....hopefully it does with you too.

shop 11, The Old Flour Mill, Brisbane st, Ipswich.

So do pop by if your in the 'hood and support all the work on display in Handmade heaven. I'll be up there in a few weeks doing all my x-mas shopping too. I can't wait.

If you'd like to see your goodies up there in the sunshine state too, just email Liesa for all the info. Spaces start at only $5....... That's less then a mc value meal!

email: handmadeheaven@optusnet.com.a

Feathers, frocks and gigi's.......

Feathers, frocks and a bet on a horse is what its all about today, in little ol' Melbourne. Celebrating the horse race that stops a nation.

The Melbourne Cup.

For the best part it's about getting pissed and having a day off work. But in honour of the event there really is a standstill in the heart of Melbourne at approx 3.20pm on every cup day. the gun fires, the gates fly open and the gigi's (did any one else call them that)....the horsies.... pelt forward all dressed up in there colors and shiny coats.

My dad was a bit of a bookie and used the spend the year looking forward to the big race. He'd follow the horses, jockeys and trainers in there smaller races, to see how they would fair on the day. I'm not sure it helped, cause really, he'd back the whole field at 50 cents a pop just to cover his bases, but then put the big money on his guess as the sure winners.

We'd all get the color page in the herald/sun of the jockeys jerseys and circle our favourites so that dad could go to the TAB and place our bets. My philosophy was usually 'choose the one that had a pretty name. Funny how often that tactic actually worked for me.

So this year, like many others we don't bother fighting the crowds at the big event. We have a barbie at home with family and friends and all choose a horse.
Hats Optional.

At work on Monday, they hosted a chicken and champagne luncheon for us all. Which was just lovely.
We had a hat parade with various themes to get us motivated toward making a day of it.
I chose the challenge of 'scrap to fantastic' making a hat and or outfit from scrap.

First I chose one of our old work shirts, that were given away when we had our 25 years celebration. Not really of any use with an outdated logo on it.

First I cut off the sleeves and upper back to make it a halter neck.....giving me lots of scraps to play with. My next challenge was to cover the foil transfer on the bust.
So I cut all the little scraps into scales and stitched them around the neckline for a feathery layered effect.

I re sculpted the body of it to make it more of a fitted a-line look. I then used the same scales to make a little flower and feather arrangement for the hat/fascinator.

Sadly I didn't win in my category, ......up against the bigwigs, and they totally did not get how much work went into my transformation.... But I was happy with my end result, that's all that matters.

Hope you all have a super Melbourne cup Day, go easy on the champers.....

Sun, spooks and shopping...

The beautiful sun shone all weekend in Melbourne making it really feel like summer. Hot enough to remind me that I best get some of that winter weight off, if I want to fit into last summers clothes and definitely warm enough to sit on the back step with a sunny boy.

We made the trip over to Healesville to visit the markets at the race course. (formerly Yarra Glen market)
It was huge. I can't believe I hadn't been there before. Lots of foodie stalls, craft, clothes and jewellery, even a band and a little farm for the kiddies. Well worth the drive for a nice day out.

Miss Finki jnr had not one, but two Halloween parties, lucky duck. She has a busier social life than us, that's for sure. On the Friday it was dress ups and games at her friends girl guides club, then off for some trick or treating on the Saturday.
They only came across one anti - halloween person, who made a point of telling the parent in charge that she was very dissapointed that he was encouraging such behaviour! Hmmm......
Next year we'll have to remind him only to knock on the houses that have a pumpkin out.

Lots of lollies and a pussy cat tail = one happy girl.

(pardon the blurry photo's...bundle of cuteness in image one.... aka the terror, got his greasy mitts on my lens.....Thanks mstr Finn!)