Front Porch

Fiona Lenord is the beauty behind Australian label Front Porch. From her home in the mountains she collects and repurposes all kinds of textiles from local op shops. Along with her pretty amazing mum they are whipped into shape and given new life as dresses, cushions, ponchos, and my favourite, wool blanket bunting!

I was lucky enough to work with Fiona when we designed prints for homeware textiles. Her eye for colour and pattern is the best bar none, full stop.

To find her, just visit The Front Porch Facebook Page where she holds online sales between peddling her wares at Sydney and Blue Mountain markets.

 

Images by Fiona Lenord & Family. 

 

Alex Falkiner: Textile Maker and Colour Connoisseur

If you are in Sydney in the coming weeks and require an injection of joyful colour and texture, I prescribe a visit to any of these exhibitions or workshops Alex Falkiner (aka Alfaky) is involved in. Or if in need of a quick top up, go over to her website and Instagram feed as soon as possible!

Alex Falkiner's felt, crochet & grosgrain necklaces. Photo by A. Falkiner.

Alex Falkiner's studio and baskets. Photo by A. Falkiner.

Alex Falkiner's rope and felt necklaces. Photo by A. Falkiner.

Alex Falkiner's Baskets. Photo by A. Falkiner.

Prescriptions can be filled here:

 

The Curio Collectors Cabinent, Gaffa Gallery
281 Clarence St, Sydney, NSW
7th - 18 March 2013

Knit | Knot | Weave, Gallery Lane Cove
164 Longueville Rd, Lane Cove, NSW
4th March - 1st April 2013
* A few of my talented friends - Paula do Prado and Brook Morgan are also in this show!

Workshop: Knot and Twist: Fabric Necklace Creations with Alex at
85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery NSW
Saturday 6th April

 

Textiles Meet Up

Happy New Year Friends! I'm finding the days whizzing by already and it's only January.

My year spent in midst of my Masters of Design has resulted in lots of thoughts and ideas percolating, ready to be put into making action over the next couple of months. Another splendid outcome is a small arrangement of textile-inclined people that I've begun to spend time with. I've always wanted to be part of a textile collective - and this one is of the highest calibre.

Yesterday was the first catch up of the year, which was planned around a visit to the Dank St Gallery in Sydney, and supplemented by excellent coffee and cake. Our conversations floated around possible future collaborations, making-tips and other odds and ends, and left me feeling ready to tackle some creative problem-solving.

Alex lives here. Paula lives there. And I'll have to find out where the others reside and update this list.

Here are a few shots of Bridget Kennedy's work that we stumbled upon - a beautiful collection of beeswax rings available to peruse and take home for a small donation. Mine now reside on my glove-mould.

 

The Depot GalleryJust help yourself why don'tcha 23 January - 2nd February 2013An installation of 10,000 rings by Bridget Kennedy. 

Materials - zinc, silver, lead, coal, gold in beeswax

 

Walks with Wilton

 

Posted with Blogsy

Textiles Workshops & Pop-Up Store, Sydney

A few of my talented COFA companions are having this very good-looking Pop-Up Store at Gaffa Gallery from the 12 - 17th November.

The workshops, ranging from zine-making to crochet are sure to be creatively inspiring. Make sure you book yourself a place!

Head over to Alex's site to do so.

COFA Exhibition Announcement: Art, Design, Textiles, Sculpture, Ceramics and More!

In two weeks I will be showing my work in progress at the COFA Half-A-Desk group show. It is the first time my small samples of felt and small drawings will be shown outside of my studio in the flesh.
It's also a great chance to see the work that goes on at The College of Fine Arts as there will be 59 other students with half a desk to fill with their creations.

Consider this your official invitation. Hope to see you there!

Publisher Textiles Sale - Today & Tomorrow

Nabbedd myself some great cushions and printed fabric meterage at the Publisher Textiles Sale today. If you're in the area and pop by you are in for a treat!

Walter G Pop Up Shop at Barometer Gallery, Paddington

I had an invigorating conversation with Lauren and Genevieve from Walter G today. I scooted past their Pop Up Shop to see their beautiful products in person.

They were so generous in telling their stories of working with artisans in India where they live for 3 months of the year working to produce raw and beautifully patterned fabrics. Not only are they skilled textile and product designers with an amazing sense of aesthetic, but have deep knowledge of traditional block printing and dying and collaborative skills.

They are at Barometer Gallery until 1st July 2012 selling and chatting about their wares.

Barometer: 13 Gurner St Paddington.

Images 1 & 2: Emma Peters
Images 3, 4 & 5: Walter G

Wild & Windy Weekend Picnic at Strickland House, Vaucluse

Nathan and I celebrated our fourth year of being married with a picnic at Strickland House, Vaucluse. The sun managed to sneak out for a little while, but I quite liked the blusteriness of the day. There was very little company and we felt like we had the whole of the foreshore to ourselves.

We had a custom made hamper from The Sydney Picnic Company and it was more than delicious... olives, cheese, lovely salad and brownies ta boot! Lovely touches of craftiness swathed the basket and inside were hidden brown boxes tied with string, polka dote napkins, cutlery tied with flowers... the perfect combination of aesthetic yumminess, which I think reflected quite well our two loves... food and design.

Dear Beattie...

Dear Beattie,

After some years of wearing one of your dresses, reading your blog and following you on Instagrm I had the lovely pleasure of meeting you and Gladys yesterday at your shop.

It was so nice to chat to you about your journey as a designer. It takes an ocean-full of fearlessness to produce work from the heart and then hang them out for people to consider & critique.

I liked your stories of trips to the South Coast, learning how to spend time creating and entertaining yourself without the distractions of the television. What a great way to begin learning about resourcefulness and inventiveness.

Your approach to local design and the importance of daily rituals within your community speak miles about where you draw your inspiration and support from. So important as a solo designer!

I've thought a little bit about our chat yesterday and wanted to let you know it made a radiant impact. Thank you for being so happy to talk.

Have a lovely week!
xEmma

Places to find Beattie:
Website
Blog
SHOP | 182 SYDNEY ROAD, FAIRLIGHT, 2094 NSW AUSTRALIA
P | 02 9948 9557
E | HELLO@BEATTIELANSER.COM

All Images: Beattie Lanser

Grower's Markets, Pyrmont

An early morning Saturday morning at Pyrmont's Growers' Markets. Armed with coffee from Single Origin, we braved the crowds to taste and gather deliciously fresh ingredients!

Wildbirds & Peace Drums

If you're in Sydney on the 8th March this band is playing at The Church on Chalmers. They are lovely. And they're film clip reminds me of Yumi's watercolours.

Oh! And they are performing Bjork's Human Behaviour from her Debut Album, which could most possibly be my #1 favourite album of all time...

Ack! And here they are busking!

However I think this might be my favourite song...

Okay, enough of that! I have dinner in the oven and must tend to it!

St Johns Rd, Glebe. Thursday evening.

Tweedy Sunday

A fantastic morning cycling the city streets in our tweed get-up! NP, Pat and I met bright and early at Town Hall and then made our way down to the Opera House, back up into the city, and to a park in Alexandria. We had some funny looks and hoots from people... the lycra-clad speedies thought we were very odd-looking!
Can't wait for next year!

You can see more photos here!

Window shopping...

My perfect day continued with a peruse of my favourite shops in Paddington. It's not often I'm in the area and it's always nice to have a peep...

If I could choose only 2 shops in the world to create my wardrobe it would be hands down Gorman and Lee Matthews - both are Australian and work with the most beautiful fabrics.

Happily Gorman had a little sale on so I was able to snap up another organic long sleeve t-shirt with microstripes. I've been living in my other one and often get spontaneous hugs from the girls at the studio when I wear it.

Lee Matthews has relocated to the top of Paddington into another lovely space. I can't tell you how excited I was to find a bulky-knit coat that actually still smelt like lanolin... took me back to my childhood holidays at my grandparents farm. Sadly I had to leave it on the rack. 

Stomping around in the autumn leaves, looking at lovely inspiring pieces always brings a smile to my face...

xEmma

Hello Stranger!

It's been a while my friends, but I'm back on board! 

We had a day out last week with some great friends... a picnic at Shark Island to celebrate the impending arrival of Sarah + Bob's baby. The weather was glorious, and we'd never ventured out to this particular island in the middle of Sydney Harbour before. It has lovely shady areas to throw blankets down, and place to paddle and explore. A highlight was the commentary of the sights of Sydney with a very Sale of the Century-esque manner.