Saturday was fantastico!!!

What a beautiful day was Saturday!! I was trying to avoid the weather maps all week, although I did ask the weather gods to be nice, and thankfully they were listening. The market really seems to be thriving and evolving in lots of positive ways right now which is really heartening. The handmade wave is certainly in full swing, another of my mixed metaphors, and it really is the time to try and promote Newcastle's artisan community.

                                                       Diana Bower Camera brooch

I've been trying to think of new ways to get the word out about The Olive Tree Market so on Saturday I had filmmaker Neil Mansfield come to the market to make a little film about our talented community. I'm very excited about it as Neil has a great eye, and not only makes films, but as I've learnt of late is a very talented photographer. So... I'll hopefully have a lovely film to share with everyone very soon!! Some things from Saturday!!!

                            The Lovely Grace Turner

We were very lucky to have the lovely Grace Turner singing for a good few hours. She really has a gorgeous voice and hopefully she may have a CD some time soon so you can buy one the next time she plays at Olive Tree!!

                                                                  Copyright Tom Croft

We were also very lucky to have Indigenous Artist Tom Croft at the market for the first time and judging from the overwhelming response Tom received he is going to be a very popular stall-holder which is really fantastic!

                                                                        Elkorn Design

Elkhorn was at Olive Tree for the first time with their beautiful screen printed pillows and fabrics with flowers and feathers. Its great that we are starting to have a strong section dedicated to hand screenprinted work- both fashion and special things for your home. I really don't like the word 'homewares' it sounds like a word from a 80's housewife with big hair!!! Anyway... we seem to have more and more talented people wanting to join the market and thats fantastic!!

keeping up is a little tricky!

                                     Copyright Tom Croft

All the good intentions for blogging sometimes just go pear shaped!! Perhaps the problem is taking on other projects and spreading the love a little too thin! It’s that time again with the August Olive Tree just two days away. We have some first time stallholders this Saturday that I'm a little excited about!! Local Indigenous painter Tom Croft will be under the COLA and I'm really looking forward to seeing his beautiful paintings in the flesh and also to having an Indigenous artist at Olive Tree. Thats one of Toms' artworks above. We will also have photographers Frost and Roxburgh Studio with their unique photo booth which should be a lot of fun! You can dress up in some of their quirky gear, be photographed on the spot, then have a photograph or postcard printed. You can be your own work of art!! I'll post one after Saturday’s market! We will also have Elkhorn who design and screen-print lovely home wares and fashion and the fun and vibrant The Hare and the Tortoise who make gorgeous kids softies, clothing and other fun things!! So, lots happening people… Earthen Rhythms are playing as is the gorgeous Grace Turner and the talented strings trio Sorella Strings. There will also be some yummy new food including Indonesian, Spanish and gorgeous Cupcakes from The Sweet Boutique!! Hope to see you at Olive Tree!

looking forward to reading about stallholders!!

Copyright Robyn McPherson

One of the reasons for starting this blog was to have a space to talk about the stallholders that make The Olive Tree Market what it is. I sent out a list of questions to the stallholders a few days ago and their answers are starting to trickle in. It's actually rather exciting, as sometimes running a market, actually leaves you being the person who doesn't get to know the clever artisans. My brief glimpses on market day do reveal the lovely relationships that have sprung up between the stallholders. These relationships have grown outside of The Olive Tree Market and real friendships and collaborations have been made. Think Makespace in the Hunter St mall, which is a co-operative of artisans, many of whom met at The Olive Tree Market. But back to the surveys... I'll start to use the stallholders words to introduce them to 'blogland' what do you actually call this process??!! What I mean is I would like to create a dialogue that highlights all the incredibly talented people that belong to Newcastle's handmade community. Before I go, the images in this blog are by a talented lady by the name of Robyn Mcpherson!! She is one of my favourite local illustrators. Check her out at Olive Tree.

Copyright Robyn McPherson

It's amazing how many talented women there are...

I'm not sure what it's like in other cities but I'm always amazed in Newcastle by the sheer number of creative woman that exist here. Not merely exist but who who dedicate themselves to their artistic life and careers with full force. So many of these women create their own luck in a city that doesn't offer up much in the sense of support or opportunities. We have some fine institutions but after being a student, and for those who may not have had that opportunity, people either fly the coop for bigger cities or have to make some big decisions about living in Newcastle. Most of the creative woman I know juggle many hats, I think I've mixed my metaphors there, and do some really amazing things. But it really is a long hard slog. I ran into one of our old stallholders at Bank Corner in Newcastle West this morning- check it out if you haven't. They have great coffee, play very cool music and the people that work there are lovely. Anyway...Kim Long of Clay http://clayaustralia.blogspot.com/ is a ceramicist who makes simple but beautiful pieces. We were talking about the situation that faces a lot of artists and is really hard to negotiate. Kim decided to take a break from ceramics this year to create space in her life for inspiration and to build up some funds by working in a cafe. She still has pieces in shops and galleries around Australia and at Make Space in Newcastle but is taking a breather from Markets etc. Kim decided she needed to reassess everything after her experiences last year having success on a larger scale- she started doing bigger venues, like trade fairs, and her work really took off but in a way became too big. It was really difficult to keep up with the orders and she was faced with the difficult situation of either employing someone to help create the pieces or stopping. She chose to pull the pin for a while which I can imagine was a really difficult decision. Riding that wave must bring up so many questions as an artists and I'm not sure what the right way to go would be??? Do you employ an apprentice/assistant to help produce your work, and if you do, does the work still feel like yours and how does your art feel when it becomes a serious business as opposed to purely 'art'. I don't know the answer but I could really see the quandary. Maybe some of you out there have some good answers/suggestions... Anyway I've seen a number of women over the years stop practicing their art because of falling between the cracks of just surviving and 'success' ..... Back to Ms Kim Long. I know she has a kiln in her house in Islington and I hope she starts to use it again very soon.

A very creative family....

Miranda Earle Designs

Whew! It's been a big week and it's only mid way through! Market week is always massive.. perhaps a bit of meditation is in order! My blogging brain is not in the sharpest of form so I'll only be brief!

We have some lovely new stalls coming this Saturday which is exciting and I always look forward to seeing what our new artists and designers actually have on their fabulous tables!! Its always a dangerous time if I have money in my pocket!!

I'm also excited that this Saturday Miranda Earle http://www.mirandaearle.com/is returning to Olive Tree after having her second child. Miranda and her partner Justin Montefiore are incredibly talented people and not just in one area. Miranda teaches, performs in theatre and is a screen printed/designer/textile artist. They are only the talents I know about so there is probably a whole other bag of things she does. Justin is a musician and makes amazing instruments and we are very lucky when he plays some of them at the market. Notice I say some!!

Anyway I'm very glad Miranda is back because she does such original work and Olive Tree is a more interesting place when she's around.

Oh dear! I'm burnt out already so it's over and out for tonight!

Miranda Earle Designs

I must say 'Blossom & Cat' are a big favourite at the moment!

Blossom & Cat has been a regular stallholder this year at The Olive Tree Market. I really love what creator Helen does with her handmade 'creatures' and sewing kits. You only have to take a little look at the images below to see how cute her work is! Blossom & Cat uses new, rescued and vintage fabrics which you can either buy as little works of art or as sewing kits to create for yourself at home. I'm really looking forward to getting in first this Saturday so I can buy one of Helen's new brooches myself!! To celebrate winter she has created heart and owl brooches from recycled winter blankets and they are totally gorgeous!! Come and check them out- but I wouldn't leave it too late!! If you would like to have a look at the Blossom & Cat website click herehttp://www.blossomandcat.com.au/#!

Recycled Blanket Heart Brooches

Sewing Kits

I Heart You Brooches

Miss Di Jones is very clever!!

Ice Skating Fifties Princess copyright  'Sketch & Jones'

Well its been a bit of a crazy week in the lead-up to next weeks market but I had a little reprieve when I visited two of our talented stall-holders for a little bit of help with my blog. Di & Anita happen to be sisters and I went to their house for the very first time and was mightily impressed by their hive of creativity!! Di is the clever lady behind 'sketch & jones' and Anita is the alchemist behind the delicious macaroons and cupcakes that you find at olive tree. 

So!! into their house and through a magic curtain I entered their kitchen/living room. In front of me were trays of glimmering macaroons- very glossy and delicious did they look!! I was lucky enough to sample the chocolate and pink ones and I really think you should head on down to the next market and snap some up!!

But I'm getting off track. My visit was partially for Di to give me some pointers on how to work the design panels that must be mastered for successful blogging. I'm ashamed to say I walked away not having written down more than a few words. Di very nicely said I should come back another time with a project to complete. Miss Jones kindly solved one of my problems, last night she worked some magic, and the pretty flags you know see on my page were rendered by her crafty hands.

Anyway... You should flick on over to Miss Jones blog to look at all her wonderful illustrations, images and fabric artworks. http://sketch-jones.blogspot.com/ Her illustrations are some of my favourite things at Olive Tree and often evoke favourite childhood memories with a twist.