Jacqui Fink (pictured below) has gone to her hand-made little black book and marshalled a wonderful group of makers and a special collection of Christmas decorations and gifts for our last Hand Made Market for 2014. We are so grateful for Jacqui's sure sense and keen eye - and fans of her work will also be pleased to hear she has just launched her own online store at www.littledandelion.com. Happy Hand Made Christmas! 

My favourite time of year is fast approaching and it's more than time to start getting serious about your festive preparations. Shopping for Christmas presents and a few new decorations for the house and tree is the highlight of my year. I work hard at giving thoughtfully but the hunt for gifts is never stressful, always fun. It won't surprise anyone to know that giving "thoughtfully" for me means seeking out beautifully crafted, handmade pressies and decorations which have been made locally and lovingly by makers and artisans. They exude meaning and a uniqueness that no mass produced item can ever replicate. For our Christmas Market, I have selected a wide range of sensational gifts and Christmas paraphernalia to make your hunt effortless and joyful. Thank you for you generous support of our Handmade Market series this year. I wish you and yours all the best for the festive season ahead. 

 

Fiona Kate
Fiona Kate is a lovely Northern Beaches local: a super busy mum of four, stylist, visual merchandiser and graphic designer. Incredibly, Fiona Kate also manages to find the time to nurture her great love of painting, under the name Fiona Chandler. With a degree in Visual Arts and a Masters in Design, Fiona is passionate about sharing her particular gift for water colours and has dedicated herself to creating beautiful works at an accessible entry point so that we can all enjoy original art on our walls. Fiona Kate is a teacher at The School in Rosebery and has a "Water Colour 101" class coming up on 15 November 2014 (sold out - sorry). Fiona is also exhibiting her recent works at the Warringah Creative Space from 20 - 30 November. For our Christmas Market, Fiona Kate has kindly created original artworks in sensational festive colours. She has been working on these paintings for months now and I'm so grateful for all that effort. Thanks a million Fiona Kate.

Follow Fiona Kate on Instagram @fionakatesimplegorgeous



Kylie Johnson - Paper Boat Press
I first introduced you to the fabulous Kylie Johnson in our Artisan Market earlier this year. Formally trained in visual arts and film, Kylie has four poetry books to her name and her work, in all its varied forms, now sells in over 80 stores around the world. Kylie's range includes the ceramic Christmas decorations and gift tags, jewellery, functional vessels and original illustrations, most of which are imprinted with Kylie's letter pressed words. Kylie has had an incredibly busy year with some large-scale corporate commissions under her belt, running an extremely busy retail store and writing her fifth poetry book "Melancholy and Bright", which is filled with quotes of wisdom and wonder. "Melancholy and Bright" will be launched on 7 November at the Gallery of Modern Art in Brisbane. Congratulations Kylie on a highly productive year. I love your "can do" attitude and your indefatigable creative spirit. A great inspiration for all. 

Follow Kylie on Instagram @paperboatpress



Jennifer + Smith
I love young creatives. I find their energy so motivational and inspiring. Bekka and Jen of Jennifer + Smith are no exception. They are Sydney based Kiwi designers who manage the madness that is a hand-made creative business on top of regular jobs with great aplomb and determination. They create a bold, happy and bright textiles based homewares range which is designed, screen printed and sewn by hand in a "creatively chaotic" and super cute studio in Paddington.



Bekka and Jen have drawn on thier backgrounds in landscape architecture, finance and fashion to design products for longevity, both in terms of their timeless appeal and the quality of their fabrication. Importantly, all elements of their design process reflect a low impact environmental ethos and a preference towards supporting other local businesses.  Bekka and Jen are impressive young women and I have no doubt that their handmade business is destined for greatness.

Follow Jennifer + Smith on Instagram @jenniferandsmith



Bespoke Letterpress
I love Christmas cards in all their glorious manifestations but there is nothing like the craftsmanship of luxurious thick cotton papers which have been letterpressed the old fashioned way. Cue Bespoke Letterpress:  a leading edge specialist printing studio established by Alischa Herrmann in 2006 and run from a 1930s cottage in Bowral. They design and print a range of stationery including limited edition prints, greeting cards and custom stationery using a number of antique cast iron letterpress printing presses - affectionately nick named Charlie (1893), Polly (1950), Helga (1972) and Herbie (1973).



Bespoke Letterpress started out as a passion project for Alischa who, after a 10 year career as a commercial graphic designer, decided to listen to her drive to get "inky" and fulfil her yearning for a quieter life. While the "inky" box has certainly been ticked, I'm not sure Alischa has achieved a quieter life as her business now has a sizeable team of letterpress devotees in offices in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. It's a wonderful success story and hugely inspirational.

Follow Alischa on Instagram @bespokepress

 

Nest the Label
Nest the Label is the design studio of another two young Sydney based creatives, Audrey Won (above) and Brigitte May (below). Audrey and Brigitte have collaborated on a range of delicate and quirky homewares which have been printed with Brigitte's exquisite illustrations. Audrey and Brigitte met while studying at the Whitehouse Institute of Design and it was here that the concept was conceived in response to an assessment.



Since graduating in 2013, this dynamic duo has launched their first collection of gold edged Tea Cup and Saucer sets. They are adorned with adorable, whimsical and playful illustrations meant to brighten up a table and create sparkle in lieu of conventional tableware. Audrey and Brigitte are on a quest to deliver lifelong pieces of functional art to be treasured and loved. I think they've nailed it. Well done Lovelies.

Follow on Instagram @nest_thelabel



Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran
Melbourne based artists Rowena Martinich (above) and Geoffrey Carran (below) work both independently and collaboratively to create giant public murals and collectable artworks. Rowena is an abstract expressionist well known and admired for her prowess with creating "riotous cathedrals of colour". Geoffrey is a contemporary and representational artist much loved for his references to Australian wildlife and his contribution to community. Their art has adorned buildings, commercial interiors and outdoor spaces throughout Australia as well as being included in prominent international commissions and exhibitions.



Rowena and Geoffrey also collaborate on a range of vibrant homewares informed by their individual artistic practices. These pieces are very special and made in limited runs. It's been an epic year for Melbourne based artists Rowena Martinich and Geoffrey Carran, the highlight being their marriage, and so I am very grateful for their participation in our Christmas Market.

Follow on Instagram @rowenamartinich and @geoffreycarran



One Two Tree
You know that saying  "necessity is the mother of invention"? Well, it couldn't be truer for Lucy McNamara and Antony Aris of One Two Tree, a family run business making handmade eco-friendly Christmas trees from sustainable timbers. When it came to celebrating their first family Christmas with baby Ziggy, Lucy and Antony struggled to find a stylish alternative to a plastic Christmas tree and they didn't have the heart to cut down a plantation tree. So Antony, who had been working with hoop pine slats on a project, made a makeshift tree from the offcuts and it's been in use every year since.



When friends kept asking for a tree of their own, the entrepreneurial couple realised there was a market for their design, and One Two Tree was born. Featuring a contemporary design, the One Two Tree is flat packed, easy to assemble hand-crafted wooden tree - made from sustainable Australian timbers, hoop pine and Tasmanian oak. Perfect!

Follow on Instagram @onetwotree_



Sow 'n Sow
I must confess a deep and abiding affection for the entreprenerial spirit behind gardening label Sow 'n Sow – Michelle Brady. I met Michelle in 2011 when we lived in Melbourne for a year. It was a tough year for my little family and Michelle was one of a handful of much loved people who helped us through it. Michelle had already launched Sow 'n Sow by the time we met but the business was still in its infancy. In the three years since, I have watched Michelle turn her love of plants and design into a successful creative enterprise. Made in Melbourne, Sow 'n Sow offers a range of thoughtful and innovative Gifts of Seeds – beautifully illustrated, eco-friendly gift cards containing seeds of much loved flowering plants like poppies, sweet peas and forget-me-nots, natives and herbs. Each packet is an affordable gift that grows. Michelle also provides a design and production service whereby you can customise a Gift of Seeds for special events and promotions. Michelle believes that you donʼt have to be a keen gardener to enjoy what the garden has to offer and, to this end, chooses seeds that are super easy to grow. Sow 'n Sow is Michelle's loving contribution to making the world a greener place. Big love Shell xx

Follow on Instagram @sownsow



Carter & Brown
I suspect Brisbane based Emily Carter of Carter & Brown is a bit famous in the world of crochet. With over 20,000 followers on Instagram, a sizeable fan base on Facebook and over 47 Boards on Pinterest devoted to all things crochet it's obvious that Emily knows her way around a crochet hook. A mother and crafter extraordinaire, Emily's passion for quality and vibrant and bold colour shines through every creation. Not surprisingly, Emily is frequently privately commissioned to create large scale works such as ottomans and coffee tables with countless hours devoted to each piece.  For our Christmas Market, Emily has worked her magic to create the most special Christmas decorations and ornaments. What is a Christmas tree without an ornament made by the hands and heart of another? Thanks so much Emily for sharing your special skill with us all.

Follow on Instagram @carter_and_brown