My Creative Space

The pre-market panic continues over in the Augustin household. I had a wonderful and successful day at the BIDM last Saturday (Yah!), but that means that I have needed to make more stock for the three (yes you read write, this crazy woman has booked herself in for not one, not two, but three) markets this weekend.

Much of the activity however has been only going on in my head, but I have managed...

... a couple more make up pouches...

... and a number of reversible kimono wrist bags... I have so much fun combining the fabrics so that with a quick flick, these bags look like...

... this!

More to be made tonight and tomorrow morning.

For more creative spaces, and the last of them for the year, head over to Kootoyoo.

If you're local... those three markets are:

Fri 11th - Boutique Twilight Market, Porstide, 5pm - 9pm

Sat 12th - Blackwood Street Christmas Market, Mitchelton, 4pm - 9pm

Sun 13th - Boutique Market, Portside, 8am - 3pm

How Well Do You Know Japan?

For quite a while now, I've been meaning to name my bag ranges, give a name to the styles. I've played around with a few ideas but until tonight, none have stuck with me. As I was playing with some pairing some patterns I had the thought "This is rather Harajuku".

The mind kept running as I thought, some of my obi bags are a little Ginza. So, the naming process began. While I don't except everyone to fully "get" the names, I'd still like them to have some meaning to fellow Japanophiles.

So I'm wondering, what places in Japan do you associate with different styles or feelings? Not necessarily city names, but rather, areas within the cities. Here's a few quick thoughts of my own...

Harajuku - young and funky with patterns and colours all mashed together

Ginza - up market and sophisticated

Ohara - quiet and tranquil

Pontocho - geisha

Any thoughts anyone?

My Creative Space

I'm in a pre-market panic now... So many things I want to get made and only a very limited number of hours left. Tonight I'm working on a bunch of zip purses and make up pouches. I need now to try to find a balance between being efficient to minimise time spend on changing colours of thread and sewing machine feet and making sure I actually don't get left with a large number of purses, but none of them actually finished...

And then there is always the siren's song of the new idea that I just want to try....

For more creative spaces, drop by Kootoyoo.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa

I've been really good this year. Could I please have one of these Kimono Benches? They are really pretty.


Love from Melanie

PS My dad always told me that you didn't really like milk, but actually preferred beer. Is that true?

Kimono Bench found and photo borrowed from here.

Tall and Slender

... not a description of myself I'm afraid, but of my new pendant shape. Oh so elegant and willowy. They will be ready and hot off the press (well, hot off the resin curing table) for this Saturday's BrisStyle Indie Designers Market at St Augustine's church.

Thea and Sami Eye Candy

A couple of weeks ago I went along to the fabulous Thea and Sami's Open Studio Day. How I love getting a sneak peek at other creative spaces. Her airy studio was filled with gorgeous hand-printed patterns and way too many temptations for someone who is trying to use some of her existing stash before she buys anymore. My mum however was not on such a fabric-buying diet and came home with some lovely pieces (which I forgot to photograph). Instead, her are some photos of a few of the scrumptious patterns in her space.

Thanks for the demo and the lovely morning Thea!

My Creative Space

Ahhh... if you look at this photo, you may believe that my creative space is not currently total and utter chaos.


... but it is. My creative efforts are rather unfocused at the moment as I continue to be undecided about what stock to make for markets next month. I don't have time to make everything on my ideas list, so instead, I pop from one project to another, hoping that I'll come to a decision soon. There are coin purses with frames, purses and pouches with zips, reversible kimono wrist bags and padded ipod cosies, just to name a few before I really embarrass myself.

At least I have a decent amount of pendants ready to go.

While I can't tell you yet exactly what will be there yet, but I can tell you there will be lots of vintage kimono fabric goodness and I can tell you the markets I'll be doing...

Dec 2nd - 12th(ish) - kimonos and work on sale at Kazuyo's Collection. The address has moved a few doors up and is now at 98 Latrobe Tce, Paddington.

Dec 5th - BrisStyle Indie Designers Market, St Augustine's Church, Racecourse Road, Hamilton

Dec 11th - Boutique Twilight Market, Portside, 5pm - 9pm

Dec 12th - Blackwood Street Market, Mitchelton, 4pm - 9pm

Dec 13th- Boutique Market, Portside

Recently, my creative space has spread out even further and now invades DH's hospital room. I joke to him that he thought he could escape my creative mess, but alas, he can't. Then the other night I looked up from the kimono I was carefully taking apart and saw him smiling at me. I asked him why, his reply?

"Watching you do that makes me feel happy and like I'm home."

**Ooops... forgot to say, if you want to check out more spaces, drop by Kootoyoo.