+ Harvest Textiles +

all this in a day

2012-02-05T12:43:00.003+11:00

The Learn to Print in a Day workshop was lots of fun yesterday and despite the heat (which was great for drying off the screens) all of the students were very productive. I didn't manage to get photographs of all the extra pillowcases, tshirts and extra fabric that they printed on but they certainly made the most of their time in the studio which was good to see.
You can see more pics of the class here.
Em x

local cloth project - day 5

2012-01-25T09:40:00.002+11:00

I have finally got myself onto the print table here at Harvest.
Once again I responded only to what was already at Harvest Workroom (or from the local area) for my materials and design process. My colour choice was decided from the Permaset print ink colours that past Harvest students have left behind and I used a range of fabrics to print on including the household linens (embroidered tablecloths, hand towels) I found at the local charity shop. I also sneakily treated myself to some beautiful new European linen!
Using a simple print technique of cut-out cardboard shapes (inspired by fellow bricoleur Naomi’s recent experiments with her Albers cushion range) I played around with repeat patterns and some simple one off designs that combined print with bondaweb shapes and will be finished with some hand embroidery.
Once I return to London, I will finish some of these pieces and I hope to show some outcomes along with some written reflections on the while process.
Were these simple prints local textile patterns? I’m not so sure, but I do know my process has definitely been informed and inspired by the Harvest resources, both physical and human, and I have so enjoyed being part of the community here at Harvest.

I also presented my findings to a small audience on Saturday morning and we had a very engaging conversation following my presentation about local textiles and about the role of the textile designer in seeding and facilitating social change. We also reflected on the growing centre of Harvest Textiles in Melbourne as a hub for creativity, an alternative education space, a model for a new form of social innovation and a lovely place to hang out!
Thank you to the Harvest girls, for allowing me to play in your space for a week and may the conversations continue!
Clara x
Clara Vuletich was the designer in residence at Harvest Workroom in January 2012.
For more information on her residency see here.
For her photographic updates see here.

local cloth project - day 4

2012-01-25T09:08:00.002+11:00

“We believe the future is small. Worldwide, the hyper-local is gaining importance, and the  car-fuelled tomorrow is grinding to a halt. Small cities - and the small cities within cities - are re-emphasising the importance of community. People are returning to the corner store ….” Collect magazine, Australia

Zooming back out from my intimate exploration of fabric remnants in the last few days, today I explored the ‘macro’ view of Harvest Workroom and its location in Brusnwick. There is a range of retailers and small shops along the street where Harvest is located including a Cypriot Community Centre, an organic grocer, a shop selling equipment and information about keeping bees and living self-sufficiently, and the renowned local café which serves coffee that has come from small holdings on mountains in far off regions and roasted on site in a huge roasting machine that is proudly on display at the back of the café.
I interviewed Robert, the owner of Bee Sustainable, who founded this business last year as he has seen more people becoming interested in keeping bees, growing their own food and general domestic food production. I wanted to know what he felt bees could teach us, and for him, the bee is integral to the whole ecosystem of domestic food production and it is vital that we nurture and celebrate them.

I also began to develop a visual lifecycle of a Melbourne cloth and what it would be – could the raw materials for it come from an alternative to cotton, as the Australian cotton industry is reeking havoc on the major inland Eastern river the Murray Darling? There is a range of new sustainable fibres, mainly regenerated cellulose, that are being developed in Europe and China using fast growing eucalyptus trees – why can’t Australia develop its own production?
There are still the last remaining knit and garment factories around the Brunswick area who were part of the thriving Melbourne textile/garment industry. What would it take to revive this industry? I saw a fabric pleaters, a gold foiling and embossing place, a knit manufacturer and an ‘Ethical Clothing Australia’ accredited screen printer. Could Australia begin to produce quality, high end specialized garments that the consumer is willing to pay a premium for? Like Raleigh Denim in North Carolina that is giving employment back to local people.
All of this was food for thought, with more questions emerging out from my questions than answers.
Clara x

Clara Vuletich was the designer in residence at Harvest Workroom in January 2012.
She presented her findings, thoughts and textile samples on Saturday 22nd from 10:30am in the Harvest Workroom.
For more information on her residency see here.
For her photographic updates see here.

reflecting

2012-01-23T16:28:00.000+11:00

There is nothing quite like seeing a new year in to stop and reflect on your past/present and future.
Seeing the article on Harvest Textiles in the latest Dumbo Feather this afternoon gave me pause for reflection on Jess, Lara and I and what we have created with our wonderful business over the past two years. It is a special bond that we have forged with each other and the number of amazing people that we have had the opportunity to meet through it has been more than enough to keep the fire in our bellies well lit. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of our journey and we look forward to many more adventures.
And thank you to Dumbo Feather for including us in your ever inspiring publication. We feel humbled by the company we keep in Issue 30 (including the likes of Alain de Botton, Del Kathryn Barton, Alan Rabinowitz, Brene Brown and Robyn Davidson - yikes!) which is available now.
Em x
PS - Check out this link to download your own cloudy mobile pattern.

screen printing supplies heads up

2012-01-21T10:58:00.018+11:00

Our good friends at Melbourne Artists' Supplies are having an awesome sale next week from Jan 21 - 29.
They will take 30% off everything. It's a great opportunity to stock up on all your screen printing goodies!

Melbourne store: 34 - 36 Little Latrobe Street phone:(03) 9639 6622
Hampton Store: 916 Nepean Highway phone: (03) 9553 3663

xx J

little leggings

2012-01-20T17:59:00.000+11:00

These kid's leggings are fresh off the print table and available to buy from our online shop.
They look terrific just as they are or under a dress or skirt to give it a lift. Some kidlets even use them as super hero tights.
Using a 90% certified organic cotton/10% spandex blend and handprinted by us using water-based inks they are super soft and have unisex appeal.
Keep your eye on our facebook and here on the blog for announcements of the adult sized versions of these.

summer school wrap

2012-01-20T15:27:00.000+11:00

We have had a flurry of activity over the past couple of weeks at Harvest Workroom with the marvellous Fran taking two weeks of Summer School.
How nice for everyone to relax and immerse themselves in four days straight of summery screenprinting.
As per usual a great variation in the designs and prints with everybody in good spirits and eager to learn.
See some more pics of the group here.

Due to the success of the Summer School and the amount of requests we have had from people who couldn't fit into the January dates we have scheduled an Autumn and a Winter Screen Printing School.
It really is a great way to learn all sorts of printing methods in a very short period of time plus gain familiarity with the print studio as you experience full immersion for four days straight.
Bookings for workshops here.
Em x

local cloth project - day 3

2012-01-19T12:40:00.001+11:00

Today I focused on the textile scrap box here at Harvest Textiles.
Rummaging through it I remembered how content I am when I have a pile of old fabrics to discover. I feel the stories and past of these scraps so strongly. I even recognize some of them – my dear friend Emma’s (who runs Harvest) old Japanese kimono, chopped up with the arm sleeves the last remaining remnant of its old life as a garment. And a piece of upholstery fabric that we bought together at a flea market years ago.
I needed to make sense of this pile though, this mess of colour, print, weight and memory. So I began to sort, and iron and create some order. I began to develop a taxonomy of colour and print from the these scraps, using my favourite set of tools – an iron, Bondaweb, and a pencil and ruler.

I have been inspired by the set of wool samples from the Plant Craft Cottage I visited last weekend, that were tests of the different colours created by using eucalyptus dyes.
We then experimented with making a Stop Animation movie of me sorting the scraps for the beginnings of a textile quilt. While Emma filmed, I chose fabrics and cut them up. The outcomes were surprising lovely – rather than concentrating on the colour combinations as I normally would, I was focused mainly on being a good, slow hand model! Serendipitous design, created accidently. I’ll call them my Stop Animation Quilts.
Clara x
Clara Vuletich is the designer in residence at Harvest Workroom in January 2012.
She is blogging every day this week and will then present her findings, thoughts and textile samples on Saturday 22nd from 10:30am in the Harvest Workroom.
To book and for more info go here.
For more information on her residency see here.
For her photographic updates see here.

local cloth project - day 2

2012-01-18T11:55:00.004+11:00

Today I began a visual mapping of Harvest Textile's resources.
I began with the physical resources of the workshop, observing and watching how the workshop was run, the paraphernalia gathered by this group of women who have set up a business that also supports their lives as mothers. There is a kitchen, a shared eating table, shelves full of lovely vintage crockery, a 10m print table, many silk screens with the faded memories of once-glorious pattern, two large containers of textile scraps, two baskets of dirty rags etc. It is like a commercial print facility combined with a home. I love this contrast and the way this is managed.
I also had the idea of lifecycles in my mind as I worked, the lifecycle of some of these objects as they exist and are used, or not used, in this workshop. The old paper cones from yarn, the collections of tools for classes, and the lifecycle of one of those old textile scraps – where did it come from? Who owned it and used it? How did it end up in there? Can it be bought back to life? Is it still of value?
I guess I was trying to uncover the hidden meaning in this flow of resources.

I then began a visual mapping of the macro view of Harvest Textiles. The street it exists on, and the other shops and traders who make up this small area, on a main street in Brunswick. The history of the neighbourhood as a hub of textile and garment production in the past and what still remains.
I will continue to investigate both these micro and macro views of Harvest, along the way starting to develop a small set of textile samples.
Clara x

Clara Vuletich is the designer in residence at Harvest Workroom in January 2012.
She is blogging every day this week and will then present her findings, thoughts and textile samples on Saturday 22nd from 10:30am in the Harvest Workroom.
To book and for more info go here.
For more information on her residency see here.
For her photographic updates see here.

madame macrame

2012-01-17T14:38:00.000+11:00

Madame Macrame (a.k.a Andrea Shaw of Stampel) blessed our studio over the weekend with an enthusiastic group of knotters by hosting her inaugural Macrame Hangers workshop at Harvest Workroom.

Everybody got the hang of things pretty quickly and before too long were stringing together all sorts of fabulous creations.

Andrea enjoyed her time so much she has agreed to host a one day workshop in May.

Bookings here.

Em x

local cloth project- day 1

2012-01-16T21:42:00.007+11:00

“I love quality. I love longevity. I love good design. I love ideas. I love this town. But most of all I love that I can wrap all these things up into a pair of jeans.”

This quote comes from David Hiatt, the founder of sustainable clothing label Howies, who is now setting up a new venture called Hiutt Denim based in a town in Wales in the UK.
It encapsulates what I am trying to do during this short residency here at the Harvest Workroom in East Brunswick – to explore through textiles and cloth, larger ideas around quality and craftsmanship, emotional attachment to products and what it means to feel connected to a place, a location and to a community of people.

In Hiatt’s case, he has set up a small denim brand in the town in Wales he lives in. He discovered the town had a heritage of producing denim jeans – it had the last denim jeans factory to close in the UK - and has decided to revive the dying industry and bring back employment and skills training into the local community. He will only sell jeans – beautiful quality, well-made in the UK, jeans. Simple. The press images on his website, pre the launch of the collection, are not of models in sample garments but are of his farm, and his Landrover, and the owls that live in the barn next to his house.
His UK-based customers (although no doubt it will attract a cult following world-wide like many of these small, niche denim brands) will be willing to spend a premium amount to own a pair of jeans that have been made in their own country. The customer will feel connected to the jeans because they probably know someone very like the person who made these jeans in Wales, and they may even know the town. They understand the culture, the location and the way of working that produced the jeans. They may even feel a sense of national pride.
Hiut Denim is not the only clothing brand that has gone local. There is also Raleigh Denim in North Carolina in the US, set up by a young creative couple, to nurture the local denim industry, notably the Cone Denim Mill which has a very long history in the area. There is even a young guy in east London, near to where my studio is, who has set up ‘London’s first micro mill’. He has installed an industrial loom in his London studio, rescued from a closing mill up near Manchester. It’s called the London Cloth Company and he is teaching himself how to weave woven tweeds.

Here at Harvest Textiles I’m going to try to map these ideas of the local and what it means for Harvest and for the neighbourhood they exist in.

In a way this is a relatively easy site for investigation. Harvest are already a textile printing enterprise, who are aware of their ‘footprint’, and who have a positive impact socially (through their workshops and encouragement of local creatives). Also the neighbourhood of East Brunswick was actually the original site of most of Melbourne’s early textiles and garment production.

All of this is rich pickings for a design researcher. I have my new desk, and am sharing the space with a lovely group of people who are on the Summer School printing class for the week. You are welcome to come by and say hi if you are in the area and I would love to get any feedback or share a conversation about what local cloth means for you.
I will be blogging at the end of each day this week and will then present my findings, thoughts and textile samples (and hopefully get any input from locals) on Saturday 22nd from 10:30am in the Harvest Workroom.
To book and for more info go here.
Clara x

local cloth

2012-01-10T23:47:00.004+11:00

Our January 2012 designer-in-residence Clara Vuletich (UK based Australian textile designer, Bricolage Project member and researcher at Textiles Environment Design) arrives in Melbourne this weekend to begin her second stint at Harvest Workroom (from 16th - 21st January).
The residency will explore the concept of 'local textiles’. Clara hopes to combine her knowledge of sustainable textile print and dye processes with her interest in new forms of design and community activity that promote ‘home-grown’ knowledge/skills and encourage well-being.

Clara outlines the goals for her residency below:
"We live in a globalised world where most of our clothing, textiles and objects are made abroad and we are disconnected to the making of most of the products in our lives - how can we re-connect?
The idea of ‘local’ has gained prominence in most urban cities with slow food, farmers markets, the sprouting of an urban agriculture movement and the re-emergence of independent retailers and companies, who offer us trust, loyalty and a sense of community. But what does this mean for textiles?
Historically, all our textiles and garments were made locally or by ourselves.
If they were made locally, the distance between the producers and the users of textiles was minimal. If we made our own textiles we were closely connected to the growing, collecting and creating of materials and plants that were used to produce them. Both these scenarios meant we had a more intimate relationship and they created a vastly different dynamic to the fast, shallow relationship we have to our garments today.
Using Harvest Workroom's location in East Brunswick I will explore what a local textile could be. What does a Melbourne cloth look like? What colour is it? Who made it? Where have the raw materials come from? Utilising a range of techniques and ideas, such as natural dyeing using local Melbourne native plants, sustainable printing techniques and creative upcycling I will attempt to develop a taxonomy of ‘local textiles’ for Harvest Textiles."

Clara will document her residency with daily blog updates and host Local Cloth - a presentation of her residency findings on Saturday January 21st from 10.30am - 12pm to be held at Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick. She is a charismatic speaker with a great depth of information and enthusiasm for her subject (as her seminar last year attests). An event not to be missed.
Bookings here - only $15.
Em x

sun shower

2012-01-03T13:20:00.002+11:00

Thank you to all the lovely ladies who helped us celebrate Lara's baby shower this past Saturday! It was stinking hot at the Workroom but we kept cool with an endless flow of yummy drinks made by Lara's sister Sarah. Lara got some gorgeous pressies including a beautiful Sunday Ganim blanket - lucky baby!

We can't wait for the new little bundle to arrive!

xxx Jess

summer school

2011-12-30T15:57:00.002+11:00

I hope you all had a lovely Christmas and Boxing Day. All the Harvest ladies have been enjoying the break with our families and we are now getting the studio ready for some Summer School fun...
Our Screen Printing Summer School has been so popular this year that we had to put on a second week running from the 16th till the 19th of January. Spots are filling up fast so please book in to avoid disappointment. Week one is well and truly booked out - sorry guys (we have been getting a lot of e-mails about this!)

Students screen printing at Harvest Workroom

We also have some amazing guest teachers presenting a variety of other Summer School workshops. Clara Vuletich who visited us last year from London will be our January artist-in-residence at the Workroom from the 16th - 19th January. Clara will then present a class about natural dyeing called Local Colour on the 21st & 22nd of January. In the class her students will experiment with natural dye processes using native Australian plants. Stay tuned to the blog for more info about her residency. I can't wait to see what she makes during her stay.

Clara teaching her Geometric wallpaper workshop for Harvest in 2010

Also Andrea Shaw from Stampel will be teaching a weekend long class where you will learn how to make Macrame Plant Hangers on the 14th and 15th of January. You may have lusted over Andrea's work as she is stocked at some super cool retailers around town. I know all of us at Harvest are dying to do this class however babies and weddings are making it difficult!


Make these beautiful Macrame Plant Hangers at Summer School with Stampel

I am heading off to have a baby any second now. I promise to post some pics of the newborn in cute Harvest leggings (I have stockpiled quite a collection!)
We all look forward to seeing you at the Workroom or at our new retail space - Harvest Storeroom - in the New Year. Stay tuned for our 2012 opening hours.
Have a great summer everyone!
x
Lara

2011-12-24T15:45:00.002+11:00

Thank you for such an amazing 2011 - we'll see you in 2012!

The Harvest Girls

xxxx

xmas market a hit

2011-12-19T09:04:00.002+11:00

A big thanks to all who came along to yesterday's Harvest Xmas Market...it was a rocking turn out with a stellar line-up. There was so much hand-made love in the air that our studio was literally heaving with goodness.
A whole lot of hungry tummies filled up on tacos and home-made ice cream (amazing flavours such as pumpkin pie, black sesame, chocolate milo - YUM!)
Loads of extra pics here at our flickr.
Don't forget if you still need to pick up some last minute goodies our Harvest Storeroom Xmas Shop will be open for business all this week!
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #7 - douglas and hope

2011-12-13T21:50:00.001+11:00

Most folk around Melbourne town would know Cath Hope who has been designing product and fashion for 17 years and is responsible for establishing the institution of Douglas and Hope.
Well Douglas and Hope has recently closed it's retail doors as Cath makes a move out of the big smoke but the great thing is she will continue to design and manufacture a whole range of goodies. She is the next profile for our Xmas Market which is fast approaching this Sunday 18th December at Harvest Workroom.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Douglas and Hope was established in 1999 where I designed and manufactured a large range of products including garments, bath products, quilts, cushions, bags, purses, jewellery, tea towels, lampshades and most recently in the last 3 years - melamine.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Textiles, color and utilitarian design

What is is that people would expect to find at your stall? A little piece of Douglas and Hope!! Melamine plates, cushions and tote bags.

We look forward to spending the day with you Cath.

Em x

new summer school dates

2011-12-13T11:37:00.001+11:00

Our 4 day Summer School workshop has been super popular and has almost sold out.
So we have decided to host another week of Summer School to meet demand. The new dates are 16, 17, 18 and 19 January 11am - 4pm.
The workshop will take you through the steps of creating multi-colour placement prints and repeat patterns. You will learn how to draw motifs, make hand drawn repeat patterns and create registered placement prints.
You will be printing your patterns onto lengths of fabric and tea towels while learning about screenprinting, stencil cutting and how different types of ink can dramatically change your designs.
Come along for four action packed days of printing. Book here.
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #6 - miniscapes

2011-12-12T23:01:00.002+11:00

Our next Harvest Workroom Xmas Market profile is Clea Cregan from Miniscapes. Miniscapes merge desktop gardening and design to produce beautiful living sculptures.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Miniscapes create miniature gardens in glass. It was founded in 2008 in my downtime from working in the film industry.What began as personal projects for around my home and for friends has quickly gathered momentum and now I am installing personalised miniature gardens in some of Melbourne's most creative businesses. A sustainable alternative to floral arrangements, these miniature gardens bring a slice of nature inside.

Where do you draw inspiration from? I find inspiration in all nooks and crannies of nature. Anywhere that plants grow really. From forests and landscapes to urban forgotten spaces.

How long have you been working as a designer? I studied Design and Multimedia over 10 years ago. Since then I have been working in film production and in 2009 I left the film world behind and morphed into a miniature garden designer.

What is is that people would expect to find from your market stall? My stall will be selling a variety of styles and shapes of terrariums to suit every budget. Miniscapes are the perfect christmas gift for the person that has everything.

Thanks Clea. I am looking forward to seeing what mini scenes you have created for our market. See you there.
Em x

harvest storeroom is open for business

2011-12-12T18:17:00.006+11:00

We have had a great day mooching around in our new space - Harvest Storeroom - with all of the lovely goodies that have been coming through the door from some of our favourite local makers.
The shop features products from all of the talented people who have taught workshops at Harvest Workroom during 2011 or have collaborated with us in some way.
Ex teachers that we have mustered up include Maryann Talia Pau, Monolog, Sunday Morning Designs (Dylan Martorell taught Summer school for us in January 2011), Greg Hatton, Leila Sanderson, Emily Green, Dawn Tan, Abby Seymour of GoldenInk and Beci Orpin.
Collaborative friends include Tess McCabe who we did a CWC talk for this year and Ask Alice stationary who we donated an artwork to for the Japan Relief fund calendar released a few months ago.

We also are stocking some people's work that will be teaching at the workroom in 2012.
Stampel Studio is teaching a summer school class for us teaching people how to make macrame hangers.
Ceiba Tree will be teaching a toy making and dyeing workshop and have just dropped off heaps of naturally dyed and hand sewn toys. They work with co-operatives in South America who use traditional weaving and natural dyeing techniques to produce their designs.
We will also be featuring the ERM press range of books including the latest publication on Beci Orpin and Jen Booth's South for the Summer headbands for a touch of class.

Last but not least we will be selling our Harvest Textiles hand printed textiles. People can expect to find our full range of cushions, tote bags, organic cotton pillow slips and doona covers, new kids leggings in bright neon's, as well as adult leggings and Christmas decoration kits.
We will be open from Wednesday 14th December till Christmas Eve 11-6pm.
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #5 - inklet

2011-12-11T19:50:00.000+11:00

Inklet has had a great 2011 - hatching earlier this year when Dana Leviston of Twiglet joined forces with Lara Cmaeron and Teegan Rose at Ink and Spindle.
They will be one of our stallholders this year at our Xmas Market and will give people the opportunity to purchase all sorts of organic jersey goodness to swathe their little ones in.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Inklet came to life when Dana moved her children’s wear label Twiglet into the Ink and Spindle textile printing studio. It only made sense to combine our skills and produce this little range for you to enjoy!

Where do you draw inspiration from? We are inspired by nature, the ocean and our hometown of Melbourne. At Inklet we’re all about doing what’s best for our environment, our community and your little ones.

How long have you been working as designers? Prior to Ink and Spindle, Lara worked for many years as a web and graphic designer. Feeling somewhat frustrated and limited by the digital medium, she began experimenting with surface design and textiles, receiving lots of feedback and support via her blog Kirin Notebook. From there, the progression to starting Ink and Spindle was a natural one, and so much more fulfilling.
Teegs studied Fine Arts for 5 years then completed a postgrad in Education and became a secondary school teacher. During her second year teaching, Ink and Spindle came to life, and although teaching is the best job in the world, it is emotionally and creatively exhausting. Teegs found leaving teaching (or more specifically, her students) really difficult, but has found running Ink and Spindle to be so rewarding on many levels.
Dana has been a makeup artist for 13 years and now operates a hair and makeup business called LadyDay. Patternmaking, dressmaking and craft has run in her family for generations and her love of sewing and designing has always been prominent. Having two children of her own in the last 5 years, the creative bug bit back again and Dana began designing and making childrenswear, toys and nursery linen. This led her to Ink and Spindle, collaborating with the textile designers to form Inklet, in which her role is product design, sampling and production.

What is is that people would expect to find from your stall? The range consists of T-shirts for babies and children, baby blankets, bibs and onesies. Prints include "Pirates and Sea Creatures", "Trams and Bicycles" and "Little Forest". All Inklet products are locally made with certified organic cotton fabrics and are screen printed by hand with water based, environmentally friendly inks.

Thanks ladies. Looking forward to having you all at the workroom.
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #4 - dani m

2011-12-11T18:37:00.000+11:00

Dani M has been handmaking contemporary jewellery and delicate porcelain wares since 2001. A self-confessed dedicated follower of fashion Dani's work is often designed to be fashionable with a twist of minimal timelessness. She will be one of the stallholders at our Xmas Market next weekend.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I'm a woman of little words. I make stuff and if I was unable to I'd be empty inside. I do it for the love and the buzz I get when someone else digs my work.
Where do you draw inspiration from? No particular place - sometimes it is the modern world. Lately it has been egyptian art and jewellery. Other times I play with the material and let the ideas flow through experimentation.

How long have you been working as a designer? Since I finished my Industrial design degree in 2000. I taught myself slip casting and basic ceramic techniques and did a jewellery short course when I needed to know more about turning my work into wearable objects.

What is is that people would expect to find from your stall? Lots of really wearable everyday pieces, some fun and refreshing ideas. And my new range of rock inspired ring holders for the bedside table.

Thanks Dani.
And if you are in Melbourne's CBD be sure to visit The Quick and The Dead - Dani's popup shop at the Nicholas Building.

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #3 - the hungry workshop

2011-12-11T09:32:00.002+11:00

Jenna Hipgrave of The Hungry Workshop is the next Xmas Market Stallholder on the profiles list. She and her husband use a vintage Heidelberg Windmill - a big clunking and wooshing old letterpress machine - to create all of their printed work. They have just arrived in Melbourne from Brisbane and this is their first local market. We are very pleased to have them on board.

Tell us a little bit about yourself The Hungry Workshop is a contemporary letterpress printmaking and graphic design studio. We create unique printed works by exploring every aspect of the letterpress process – from design to paper stocks, ink and plate surface. We are a husband and wife team who love what we do. Simon worked as an art director in advertising for the past seven years, while at the same time I was a graphic designer in a boutique studio. About a year ago we started The Hungry Workshop and it’s been full steam ahead ever since. Simon has quite the imagination, a wicked sense of humour and is always seeking out the big idea. I have attention to detail, a penchant for paper engineering and sensibly priced wine with well designed labels. Together our enthusiasm for the craft of letterpress printing combined with an expertise and love of design, typography and illustration ensures that every project, big and small, is imbued with heart and soul.

Where do you draw inspiration from? Australia has phenomenal talent, you don’t have to look very far to see incredible work. So everyone is already surrounded by inspiration, if you want some – just get amongst it. We surround ourselves with good people who are creative, funny and witty. We buy good food (and wine) with nice packaging, we visit good galleries with interesting art, we collect old books with fine type and illustrations and we read good blogs with intelligent commentary on design. I guess the theory is if we surround ourselves with enough good some of it will rub off onto us.

What is is that people would expect to find from your stall? At our stall you’ll find carefully crafted letterpress cards, prints and other paper goods printed in bright (occasionally fluorescent) colours with a modern design aesthetic. We will sell a selection of our letterpress printed greeting cards - with an emphasis on the holidays - along with sets of cards that can be given as gifts. We will also sell gift tags and limited edition prints.

Thanks for your time Jenna. See you down there.
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #2 - sweet polka

2011-12-10T22:42:00.000+11:00

Our next stallholder profile for the Harvest Workroom Xmas Market is Sweet Polka - a group of designers, illustrators, artists, writers and musicians who meet regularly for craft night. They snack and chat and make all sorts of things.
They definitely won the prize at our market last year for "the most stallholders squeezed behind a trestle" as their collective came together for the day to peddle their wares.
I spoke to one of the Polka's - Marion Singer - about their group and what we might expect from them at the market.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. As a group we have such a huge range of skills but the one thing we definitely all have in common is that we thrive when our hands are busy making something. It is so much fun coming together regularly, stepping out of the day-to-day and getting each other excited about different projects we are working on at any point in time. We are also all very interested in food so our get togethers generally involve a whole lot of recipe talk and something super tasty!

Where do you draw inspiration from for your designs? Well it is difficult to say as we are such a large and varied bunch but I would say that a playful sense of colour is a common thread. We all have huge stashes of fabric sourced from all sorts of places but regular visits to Patchwork on Central Park are not unusual as is the occasional purchase from PurlBee. You know those beautiful Japanese pattern books? They are also handed around generously between all of us.
Anna Zagala (one of the polkas) is a really talented writer and keeps our namesake blog that is well worth checking in on and she often goes into detail about different artists/exhibitions/fashions/recipes that are inspiring her.

What is it that people should expect from your stall? Homewares, stationery, beautiful bunting, letterpress cards, liberty cotton scarves, pincushions, cloud cookies and things that bring happiness to you.

Thanks Marion.
Em x

harvest xmas market 2011 stallholder profile #1 - stampel studio

2011-12-10T09:30:00.000+11:00

Over the coming week we will feature profiles of some of the stallholders at our fast approaching Harvest Xmas Market (next Sunday people!) They will be bite-sized overviews of the designers and what it is that keeps them ticking in order to bring you their fabulous wares.

To get things rolling is Andrea Shaw of Stampel Studio.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. Stampel Studio encompasses textile design, paper and wood art, jewellery design and macramé - an eclectic mix of practices! Since finishing Textile Design at RMIT, I have worked across a range of design mediums. It’s this love of creative diversity, sustainability and an ode to colour that inspired the label which began in late 2010.

Where do you draw inspiration for your designs. Reclaimed materials such as timber off-cuts and second hand fabric along with natural jute and cotton fibers are used within the range. Exploration of these mixed raw materials and an expanding bag of craft and woodworking skills inspire designs. Where the technique calls for ‘new’ materials environmental factors are carefully considered.
I grew up in a very crafty and very sporty household in the bush in Central Victoria. I'd come home from running or tennis on a Saturday and often find my mum sewing, knitting, crocheting, puff painting an elaborate bouquet onto my t-shirt for the school photos or making timber planter boxes. I'd often join her, and it's strange how slow those afternoons felt. It's taken me a long time to realise how special the skills she taught me were and I'm glad I am now getting to put some of them to use as a professional artist and designer.

I ran away from the country in my late teens, attempted a few degrees, did a lot of travel and finally returned to Melbourne with a passion for art and design and finished my Textile Design Degree in 2008 at RMIT. I think my love of colour, pattern and constructed textiles are all attributed to my years of study and I am now really enjoying learning to work with timber and other unfamiliar materials. As I've already mentioned I love pattern, and am constantly inspired by surface design seen across textiles, ceramics and furniture.

Woven Bauhaus textiles amaze and inspire me as do Paul Klee paintings with their unexpected little details and beautiful use of texture and colour. Japanese ceramics and culture remind me to be more patient with my work, often keep things simpler and that imperfections are beautiful.

How long have you been working as a designer? Since graduating in 2008 I have worked for a couple of local Melbourne accessories labels designing textiles and jewellery along with a little freelance work and beginning my label. So I have been working as a professional designer for about three years now.
What is it that people should expect from your stall? Handmade timber jewellery and vessels for flowers, macrame plant hangers full of foliage and smiles.

Thanks Andrea. We are looking forward to having you at the market.

We are also very pleased to announce that Andrea will be hosting a January workshop at Harvest Workroom called Make Your Own Macrame Hanger. Students will gain a sound foundation of the basic knots used across all macrame projects and with Andrea's guiding hand will make their very own little jute plant hanger! (see above pic)
Once these techniques have been mastered macrame will be a world of possibilities!
Students are encouraged to bring along their own vintage tea cup to use as a vessel for their plant hanger. Find out more about it here.
Em x

harvest storeroom

2011-12-09T15:13:00.003+11:00

We are still fussing around receiving goods and setting things up in our xmas shop at the brand new Harvest Storeroom.
It will be well and truly ready by tomorrow - we promise!
The store will feature handprinted Harvest Textiles products as well as a selection of the talented local makers who have spent time as guest teachers and artists-in-residence at Harvest Workroom this year - Greg Hatton, Dawn Tan, Beci Orpin, Leila Sanderson, Maryann Talia Pau, Emily Green, Monolog, Two Ruffians, Golden Ink, Sunday Morning Designs and Ask Alice.
More pics to come once we have organised everything just so!
Be sure to pass by and see the fantastic bits and pieces on offer.

Harvest Storeroom 510 Lygon Street, East Brunswick
11am - 6pm, Thursday to Sunday, December 10th - December 24th

Em x

finders keepers wrap

2011-12-05T21:17:00.001+11:00

I had such a great time at Finders Keepers in Sydney over the weekend. Not only did I get to catch up with family and friends in my hometown but I also got to meet some lovely Sydneysiders who had very positive things to say about our Harvest Textiles goodies.
Carriageworks is such a lofty space and the perfect venue to while away a couple of days behind a trestle table without feeling hemmed in. The bonus was the fresh produce market held every Saturday at Carriageworks that kept all of the design market stallholders well fed and I must admit to having the best chocolate brownie I have ever tasted with raspberries hidden inside - YUM!
Before I hopped on the plane back to Melbourne I dropped an order at Koskela in Potts Point. What a gorgeous shop it is - wedged in amongst all of the action. Be sure to visit if you are in the hood.
I can't wait for the next excuse to visit Sydney under the Harvest banner...a very welcoming place indeed!
Em x

the design files open house & finders keepers

2011-12-02T11:46:00.004+11:00

If you are in Melbourne this weekend then it is mandatory that you pass by The Design Files Open House.
The Design Files and The Project Agency have claimed a gorgeous home in Fitzroy for four days only and fitted it out with the work of 75 local designers. Everything in the house is for sale!
We have some of our cushions and totes in the "kid's bedroom" which look great crammed in with all of the other goodies.
There is a great gallery of pics by John Deer here where you can get an idea of the amazingness of the setup. (The above photographs are by John.)
Remember the house is only open until Sunday afternoon so make sure you don't miss out!

In other news I have flown up to Sydney to represent Harvest Textiles at the Finders Keepers market.
It opens today (6pm - 10pm) and will continue again tomorrow (10am - 5pm) at the Carriageworks. Come along and say HI Sydneysiders!
There are loads of great designers on board!
Em x

harvest xmas market mega-lineup

2011-11-28T18:47:00.002+11:00

Check out our mega-lineup for the Harvest Xmas Market here.
Put it in your diary now - no excuses!
Em x
PS - Feel free to copy and paste our poster to help us spread the word - ta!

cubic creations

2011-11-28T13:04:00.001+11:00

Thanks to Nick from Two Ruffians for hosting the Printed Wooden Storage Cubes workshop over the weekend.
Students printed their own designs onto ply and then constructed these great little storage units.
See some more pics here.
Thanks Nick for spending these last few weeks with us as artist-in-residence.
It has been great having you down at Harvest Workroom...you have definitely kept us on our toes.
Our children have fallen in love with you and Jack the dog so please be sure to come and visit us for some more madness soon.
Em x

conversations with creative women

2011-11-25T23:21:00.003+11:00

Congratulations to Tess McCabe of the Creative Women's Circle for the launch of her fantastic new book Conversations with Creative Women.
Tess launched the book tonight to a large and enthusiastic crowd (of both women and men) at Harvest Workroom. The book includes insightful interviews with local creatives including Maryann Talia Pau, Lucy Feagins, Kristen Doran and Pip Lincolne to name a few and is a collection of exclusive interviews with some of Australia’s most talented female creatives, from industries as varied as millinery, textile design, blogging, architecture, retail, writing, weaving and fashion design.
The women in this book are at different stages in their careers, with varying responsibilities at home, as an employee, as a self-employed freelancer or as a business owner. They talk about their careers and creative lives with insight and generosity.
Grab yourself a copy now as it is a limited edition run.
More pics from the launch at our flickr.
Em x

rainy day workshop

2011-11-20T12:18:00.005+11:00

Yesterday was the second day of our latest Design & Print your own fabric workshop. What a great day we had - these girls sure can print! Thanks to all the students for such a lovely workshop and a big thank you to Gus who came and filmed us for a little Harvest movie we have in the works!

More pics on our flickr.

xx Jess

two ruffians at the workroom

2011-11-18T22:52:00.004+11:00

We have enjoyed more than the odd laugh over the past few days with uber-geezer Nick Young from Two Ruffians as he prepared himself for his residency at Harvest Workroom and we are really looking forward to spending the next ten days with he and his slightly chubby sidekick - border collie Jack.
During his time with us Nick will be printing in an open studio, running a popup shop featuring his printed goodies and of course hosting the Printed Wooden Storage Cubes workshop (for which there are a few places still left).
Drop by Harvest Workroom this week to see Nick work his magic or better still enrol in his workshop and wheel away your own handprinted contemporary storage unit!
Read our recent interview with Nick to learn more about his residency.
Em x

watercolour food fun

2011-11-12T11:30:00.001+11:00

Our super duper studio mate Dawn Tan - artist, art teacher and avid home-cook all rolled into one - will host a great workshop in December called Watercolour Food Fun at Harvest Workroom.
During this fun three hour class students will get to learn the tips and tricks of watercolours and paint a collection of their favourite foods.
Students will need to bring along ten printed pictures of the food items they would like to paint.

So if you're interested in making a herb painting - bring along pictures of different herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, coriander, etc. ) If you want to paint a picture of sweet things - bring along 10 different pictures of sweet things (cupcakes, macaroons, chocolate tart, fruit flan, vanilla slice, biscotti, etc )
The results of the class will make a great christmas gift as everyone loves a hand painted original made with lots of love! : ) Paintings could also be turned into tea towels and greeting cards.
No prior skills are needed so all beginners are welcome to sign up!
Come along - it is time much better spent than in a shopping mall at this potentially crazy time of year!
Bookings here.
Em x

the baby quilt

2011-11-10T11:26:00.000+11:00

Lara and her dear friend Rose have been working on a baby quilt for a little bundle that is due to arrive at the end of the month. They have used some of the offcuts from our Totem Collection and it is coming up a treat. I can't wait to see the little creature lounging around on it!
Em x

how bazaar!

2011-10-31T16:18:00.000+11:00

Well Bowerbird Bazaar is over and we have really enjoyed our time down here in Adelaide.
Harvest Textiles was sandwiched between Indie from Monolog and Dawn Tan (who also sold items from our collaboration) so we felt extra cosy with our studio-mates along for the ride.
Apart from meeting some fantastic stall holders and all of the friendly Adelaide-ians the best part was getting out of town and having some very yummy meals at Coriole Vineyards and Fino.
It is good to be home though...we have so many exciting events to prepare for and we are really looking forward to getting our teeth into things.
Em x

learning to print

2011-10-23T09:49:00.002+11:00

Yesterday was spent at Harvest Workroom with a very relaxed group of printing students for a Learn to Print in a Day workshop.
We had folk from all over the place (Italy, Germany and the Blue Mountains) but we also had a lovely local lass from Brunswick! Nice to know that we appeal to people both near and far.
One of our students Angie was celebrating her birthday so we sneaked in a cup cake for her to have as a reward for all of her hard work printing.
Check out more pics from the day at our flickr.
Em x

studio space for rent

2011-10-19T07:59:00.001+11:00

We are looking for some new studio mates!
Our upstairs studio has been home to the Harvest Textiles office over the past year but we are moving downstairs to set up our own street frontage retail outlet/showroom/office over the coming months - exciting! (Stay tuned for more on that one)
As a result we have two desks available from November and one desk available from December to share with our current awesome tenants.
As you can see it is a very pleasing space with loads of natural light and a lovely ambience.
If you would like to find out more drop us an email. We would love to hear from you.
Em x

napkin sample

2011-10-17T16:47:00.000+11:00

Today we sewed up a sample linen napkin for Shelley Panton's Studio Dinner fast approaching in mid November. We really like how it looks with the silverware and some fresh flowers.
Can't wait to see them all lined up next to Shelley's gorgeous stoneware plates!
Em x

weaving the pacific way

2011-10-16T22:14:00.002+11:00

It was such a pleasure to have Maryann Talia Pau back at Harvest Workroom for a two day Pacific Weaving workshop held over this weekend. The work tables overflowed with fabric scraps, shells, raffia, scissors, cups of tea - a whirlwind of activity.
I think the photographs from the workshop do all the talking...visit our flickr to see more of the beautiful pieces created by the students.
Thank you Maryann for blessing our studio with your wonderful energy once again...and to the students for helping us to use up our printed fabric scraps....what a fantastic way to use them!
Em x

our print table

2011-10-14T22:54:00.001+11:00

Lately we have been using up any spare moments we have around here to print, print, and you guessed it, print!
With the silly season around the corner, a long list of markets to attend (and host - more on that later) and a steady stream of orders coming through we haven't really had much time to stop and smell the roses.
And that is why it was so nice to put our squeegee down for just a moment yesterday and admire the shaft of evening light that streamed onto the table when we were printing our aspen raindrops for some doona covers.
It is the simple things in life sometimes huh?
Em x

hand printed linen napkins for studio dinner

2011-10-10T20:57:00.000+11:00

Shelley Panton is one of those marvellous people who imbues everything they do with absolute grace and polish. And that is why we are so honoured to have been asked to provide bespoke table linen for her November Studio Dinner series.
Set in the century-old butcher’s shop that houses her home based studio-come-store Shelley will collaborate with foodies to celebrate all things artisan for the table from the produce, to the plates, to the linens and the wines. The dinners will feature 4 courses plus canapés created by chef Daniel Schelbert of Eat Drink Man Woman and wines by Dave Fletcher of Fletcher Wines & Maddens Rise vineyards.
Meals will be presented on stoneware clay plates made by Shelley especially for the dinner and the table linens we produce will be for guests to use at the dinner table - to then take home and enjoy.
We will also be producing a short run of bespoke linen for Shelley's store to accompany the range we produce for the dinners so stay tuned for that. We look forward to showing you them in situ!
The dinners will be hosted from 7 - 11pm November 14 & 15 at Shelley's Store in Middle Park.
Email Shelley to find out more.
Thanks to Shelley for the above images taken at previous Studio Dinners.

printed wooden storage cubes and those behind them

2011-10-05T21:49:00.004+11:00

Come November we will have the super duper dynamic duo Nick Young of Two Ruffians and Clair Wayman (both pictured below) with us as artists-in-residence and guest teachers at Harvest Workroom.

Not only do these guys make us laugh (a lot) they are also really talented folk who will inject our studio with a whole lot of sass and style.
Between them they wear so many hats but essentially Clair is a highly sought after stylist and Nick is her printmaking partner in crime and when they come together they are Curio & Curio. They have a pint-sized shop down in Flinders under that very name that they will essentially be partially relocating for their popup appearance here on Lygon St.
Whilst under our roof Nick will lead an uber-DIY workshop (with Clair as his sidekick) called Printed Wooden Storage Box - Printing and Constructing (see Nick's examples above). Nick will take student's through the steps of how to print and make a ply storage cube on wheels. Students will learn to create a print design suitable for application onto ply and be guided through the appropriate use of inks and the printing methods. Everyone will then screen print their cube and Nick/Clair will assist with the construction of the storage unit.
Nick conjured up some answers to a few quick questions to give you a little more insight into who he is, his work practices and the workshop.

Tell us a little bit about yourself. I grew up in Cheltenham in the Cotswolds and played a lot of sports. In my late teens I got a Saturday job in a cool local fashion store and at the same time I met Clair. I started reading magazines like The Face on a Saturday in the shop and I would help Clair cut stencils and watch her paint while she finished her art exams. We both started taking trips down to London and would walk up and down Neal St in Covent Garden and go up the Kings Road always as far as the Vivienne Westwood shop. Clair went off to Uni to study Visual Art and later did a post grad in Textile Design at Leeds Uni.
I started going to London with friends to watch Acid Jazz bands like the Brand New Heavies and early Jamiroquai. It was amazing. We would go to Camden on the Sunday to chill out and pop into the Jazz Café before heading home. In my early 20’s I moved to London to study Business and Finance and lived with a graphic designer Ali Augur (still one of my best mates) a furniture designer and an animator. It was Ali that took me to see the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition at the Serpentine Gallery in Hyde Park - that really opened my eyes.
Clair would come and stay whilst she did work placements with Homes Magazines in London until she started assisting interior decorators and moved to Shoreditch in East London. I lived up the road in Highbury and eventually we moved in together and lived in Islington for a few years before moving to Australia.

How long have you been working as a designer? I’ve been a designer in my head for years but talking only gets you so far. In 2006 I bought a basic second hand Apple Mac which I’m using now. I bought Adobe software and thought I’d be a designer over night. Wrong. I thought that somehow the Mac and software would translate my ideas instantly as I thought that that’s how designers designed.

I went back to basics - picked up a pencil and drew. Once I had the design I had to teach myself how to scan and then get the design ready to be exposed onto a silk screen to print. Someone once told me that as a designer it’s important to know the process from start to finish. I can't remember who told me but I took it literally. In 2008 I had a small range of handprinted t-shirts and home wares that I was happy to show. I also designed my first website/shopping site. I didn’t exactly take the world by storm but I was happy with where I was at and knew that I would improve.

Three years later and I’m still improving...I’ve got a shop and designs in some high end stores in Australia and am looking to expand into Europe in 2012 - all being well!

I think it’s important to start and not be scared because the more you do something the better you become...so you’ll always be a better designer tomorrow, that will never change.

Where do you draw inspiration from? I’ve been lucky enough to have friends in both the UK and Australia that have inspired me. Creatively just through hanging out and watching and learning. Where we lived in London had a massive influence. There were Banksy Stencils popping up on bridges or walls outside the clubs we went to and the music and fashion was amazing. One bar we went to was the inspiration behind my ‘London Electric’ zig zag print. This time last year I was thinking about the London Electricity Showrooms bar in Hoxton - a place my brother once described as looking like a school canteen. I just designed an irregular zig zag print to look a bit like lightning/electricity which I thought would look good. It’s now our most popular design.
What is that people would expect to gain from your workshop? A printed ply storage cube and a fun positive experience and access to Clair and I where we will help and answer any questions for the duration of the workshop.

Thanks for that Nick. Look forward to having you guys at the Workroom.
More details to come about Clair and Nick's residency but be sure to book in to the workshop if you are at all keen - we don't want you missing out.
Find out more about Clair here and Nick here.
Em x

piece by piece

2011-09-26T22:51:00.001+10:00

Here are some updated snaps as promised of work produced by the students from Monolog's One Piece Printing workshop at Harvest Workroom.
It has been lovely hosting Indie in the studio as a guest teacher...she really bought out the best in her students. Thanks so much Indie...we look forward to having you back at the studio for another workshop soon.
Em x

a colourful little film

2011-09-19T21:46:00.003+10:00

Craft Tv: Emily Green from Craft Victoria.
Enjoy this short film compiled by Craft Victoria featuring Harvest Workroom's very talented Ms Emily Green. A fantastic insight into her artistic practices, her fabulous fashion sense and a sneaky peak into the very colourful corner that she occupies here at Harvest. Check out those nails!
Em x

I scream, you scream....

2011-09-18T08:38:00.003+10:00

It's no secret that I'm a fan of giant ice creams - both the real and plastic varieties. Tokyo has both in plentiful supply. Heaven.

xx Jess

chorus and echo giveaway

2011-09-15T22:12:00.003+10:00

Skip along over to Chorus and Echo to read an interview with Harvest. It is a great place to dwell - all sorts of interesting articles on all manner of things. A couple of my faves are the Genetic Portraits by Ulric Collette and the fantastic bespoke book popup shop - Numabookface.
Chorus and Echo are also running a giveaway for one of our Totem Collection Tote Bags.
You've got to be in it to win it!
Em xo
PS - Thanks to the gorgeous Olga Bennett for the pic.

hey batter batter...

2011-09-15T18:51:00.003+10:00

As I'm sure you can tell by my ample bum - I'm not a sporty girl. At all. So, when the opportunity arose to attend a Tokyo baseball game I was skeptical. But it was so much fun! I decided to support the Marines (they had the cutest mascot) and it was impossible not to get swept up in the excitement of the crowd. The game was great but my favourite part were the girls walking up and down the aisles selling beer, icecreams, snow peas and various other yummy things. Plus, they had cheerleaders dancing to Billie Jean - what's not to love?

xxx Jess

swan lake..

2011-09-14T23:01:00.003+10:00

After spending a fantastic morning exploring the Gibli Museum I stumbled across these amazing swan pedal boats!

It was exactly what I needed to cool down on such a hot day. Thankfully I didn't fall in, despite my pathetic steering/pedaling skills...

xxx Jess

friendly faces...

2011-09-13T23:34:00.003+10:00

Some lovely new pals I came across today...

xxx Jess

fleas & scrunchies

2011-09-12T14:00:00.001+10:00

On Sunday morning I woke up excited to visit the Hanazono-Jinja flea market. I spent the train trip to Shinjuku trying to figure out how I could hire a shipping container to bring back all of the amazing vintage bargains I was about to procure! The flea market consisted of five small stalls nestled in the gardens of a beautiful shrine. It wasn't quite what I was expecting but it was a lovely, peaceful little oasis right in the middle of busy Shinjuku. I bought some vintage fabric and an obi from these lovely ladies....

We had a pretty impressive chat considering we didn't speak the same language - they even gave me that great robot to give to Milo! Needless to say, the shipping container will not be required, but it was still a lovely adventure.

And on the way home I saw a bunch of cats wearing scrunchies. Obviously.

xx Jess

big in japan

2011-09-11T21:06:00.007+10:00

Ok, so Tokyo is.......Super. Duper. Amazing.
I spent yesterday and today walking around in a daze just soaking up all the awesomeness and taking way too many photos (see above!).
I really expected Shibuya to be claustrophobic and crazy but it's not at all. It is such a fantastically organised, colourful hive of activity. I thought I might feel strange being alone here but everyone is so unbelievably sweet and helpful - and styled to absolute perfection.
I've been getting stared at a lot. I'm 99% sure that it's because I'm such a bewitching temptress and not because I'm chubby and a redhead.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to the hotel bar in the vain hope of running into Bob Harris...

xxx Jess

the creator, the process, the goal

2011-09-09T20:03:00.006+10:00

Last night was the first session of Monolog's One Piece Printing Workshop at Harvest Workroom.
Indie kicked off the evening in her popup shop with a mini-film about Monolog (check out some excerpts from the film below) and the visual tale really set the scene for the inspired design session that followed. Indie guided students through her personal creative process and then everyone got stuck into their own concepts. It will be great to see what everybody comes up with for their own Furoshiki piece - check back here over the coming weeks.
Em x

tokyo story...

2011-09-09T01:45:00.001+10:00

This is the view from my loo.

Over the years, I have literally spent hours gazing at this map, daydreaming about Japanese adventures. And today my dream is coming true.....I am FINALLY jetting off to Tokyo!

I know blogging ain't my strong suit but I will do my best. Stay tuned.

Jess xx

fresh florals

2011-09-04T15:45:00.000+10:00

Bella Cooke of Make Merry hosted her inaugural Floral Design for Children workshop yesterday at Harvest Workroom. What a colourful and happy little bunch of budding florists (all puns intended!)
Check out Bella's blog post on the workshop here. Photos above by Bella Cooke.
Em xo

monolog launches

2011-09-03T12:43:00.002+10:00

The Monolog Popup launched last night at Harvest Workroom to a happy and vibrant bunch of people.
Indie has hand painted the store window with one of her graphical designs and it looks beautiful - like you are peeking through a magical fantasy forest of pattern. Her garments hang so elegantly on bespoke racks and the space feels so light and airy - the perfect mood for the launch of her spring collection.
Indie bounced around the room with her contagious energy (that is her in the pic above) and showed a captivating film about Monolog made by Yongho Moon. The film gave us a glimpse into Indie's creative process that will be explored even further by students of her upcoming workshop at Harvest Workroom - "One Piece with Monolog".
Be sure to swing by Monolog's store if you are in the hood. The opening dates are 3 - 4 September and 7 - 10 September from 10.30am - 5pm.
There are still two spots left in Indie's workshop for anyone who is interested in signing up. It starts this thursday evening. To book go here.
Em x

super melody

2011-08-31T17:42:00.004+10:00

Our dear friend James Cecil of Super Melody fame has been beavering away at Harvest Workroom hand printing CD covers for his up coming USA tour with Darren Sylvester.
For all of the Americans who visit our blog Super Melody comes highly recommended (show dates and venues listed below). James did an awesome job last year DJing for our xmas market and really set the tone for a fantastic day.
See a recent live performance here and read an interview with James on his album "Destination Unknown" here.
Get on down to a show - even if it is just to get your hands on one of those handprinted bongo fellow CD's. How great is that little character?
Em x

stepping aside

2011-08-30T00:04:00.000+10:00

I spent last Saturday with a very relaxed group of first time printers who had signed up for our Learn to Print in a Day workshop.
The weather was gorgeous so we opened up the big roller door and some of us lunched in the courtyard and there were moments when I just stopped to soak up the atmosphere in the Workroom and felt very content.
Everybody comes along to our workshops for individual reasons but one thing I have observed since we have been hosting them is how much people enjoy stepping aside from their daily routine to immerse themselves in creativity, get a little messy with the inks and produce something touched by their own hands...very satisfying. I think it is also lovely watching people have some quiet time to get lost in the process.

Thankyou to the folk who came along on the weekend...I truly enjoyed your company.
Em x

saffron's sampler

2011-08-29T23:40:00.006+10:00

Popcraft's final window installation before closing up shop on Wednesday (sniff, sniff! boo hoo!) features Saffron Lily Gordon's "Lace Sampler" made from polypropylene, wool, silk, cotton, stainless steel/silk, found & recycled objects. It is really fabulous and almost everyone who walks by stops to take a good look. Saffron uses such an unlikely combination of materials in a very thoughtful fashion...a fresh and engaging piece that I have really enjoyed.
Below is Saffron's description of the work:
"In this work I’m experimenting with seemingly conflicting techniques and materials, juxtaposing natural, traditional & hand-made with synthetic, modern & mass-produced. For example, artificial op shop flowers are given silk stigmas and set against a traditional crochet net ground, and silk and wool flowers are given plastic stamens and set on a background of mesh from a bag of oranges. The warmth of the orange lacy polypropylene safety fencing used to ‘frame’ the sampler informs the colour palette which includes commercially dyed yarns and plastics alongside natural fibres hand dyed with madder, passionfruit and rust."

Thanks Saffron and thanks to Popcraft for all of the fantastic artist's window displays that have featured in your store over the last few months.
Em x

tangled journeys

2011-08-22T17:22:00.003+10:00

Just over a week to go for Pop Craft's popup store at Harvest Workroom in 2011.
The pompom message "yarn bombed" outside the front door this morning says it all really. We LOVE Pop Craft and will be very sad to say goodbye.
Luckily Pauline Tran-Cecil from Pop Craft has organised one more great event before she heads off into springtime...see the interview with Pauline below for more info on Tangled Journeys - presented in conjunction with Treadlie Magazine, The Squeaky Wheel and Harvest Workroom.

What is Tangled Journeys? Tangled Journeys is a day celebrating the art of decorating your ride with yarn/textiles. Whether it is practical pieces, like skirt guards, saddle covers, maybe even handlebar bags, tassles, pom poms, tube covers. It could even be items to wear! There will be examples to see, a kick-start with a crochet expert setting people off on their first project, patterns, yarn and to keep tummies from growling Raff's famous Taco Truck.
How did it come about? Faith Hunter - editor of Treadlie Magazine - came into Pop Craft to procure some yarn for one of her projects for bike riding. She proceeded to tell me about crocheted skirt guards and other knitted bike accessories. It was from that point that Tangled Journeys was conceived.

What should people expect to find when they come along on the day? Numerous bike nerds and textile aficionados - what an explosive combination! Cool DIY projects, yarns and delicious tacos.
Who will be displaying work? Pop Craft will have a range of yarns used for the projects. Amy from Wovenspoke will have some of her reflective scarves. Angelina from CultureCycle will show her products via CycleStyle so there will be reflective arm warmers, trouser cuffs, snoods and beanies. Some very impressive skirt guards will also be on display. Harvest Textiles will be presenting a prototype sun cover for their Christiana bike.
Isobel Knowles - the animation genius - will also be screening her series of animated bikes incidents.
Anything else to add? Come along and join in the fun as this will be the last Pop Craft event for 2011.

Thanks Pauline. Looking forward to the event.
Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick 10am - 4pm Sunday 28th August
Em x

PS - Check out another interview about Tangled Journeys at The Squeaky Wheel.

harvest textiles totem collection 2011

2011-08-19T23:50:00.001+10:00

Above: Cushions available with two sided handprinted designs/colours in 100% Natural Linen or 100% Certified Organic Cotton with or without inserts.

Above: Tote bags two sided handprinted designs/colours in 100% Natural Linen or 100% Certified Organic Cotton.

Above: DIY MakeKits in both tote bags and cushions available in 100% Natural Linen or 100% Certified Organic Cotton.

Above: Cloud Cushions available as a ready made item or as a DIY makeKit.

Above: Single Doona Cover available in a variety of designs and colours in 100% Natural Linen or 100% Certified Organic Cotton.

Above: Handprinted Fabric by the Metre available in 100% Natural Linen or 100% Certified Organic Cotton.

We are very pleased to announce that we have posted all of our new goodies from the Harvest Textiles 2011 Totem Collection on our online store.

You can also view our lookbook for the range here.

It was loads of fun taking the product shots...because we always have so many bods coming in and out of Harvest Workroom we had a bevy of models to choose from and for a couple of days nobody could walk through the doors of the studio without getting roped in.
Thanks to them all: Emily, Dawn, Pauline, Indie, Pete, Ziggy, Kelly, Jess and Shelley.

You can also see a whole lot of shots from the photoshoot on our flickr.
Em x

jess' place

2011-08-18T08:58:00.005+10:00

Yesterday Jess' gorgeous home featured on The Design Files...go take a peek and see why all of us here at Harvest are planning on abandoning our places filled with chores and everyday grime to soak up a bit of her domestic bliss!
Em x
(Thanks to Lucy Feagins for the bottom two images)

one piece with monolog

2011-08-17T12:29:00.004+10:00

In early September the dynamic local label Monolog will officially launch at Harvest Workroom. While at the Workroom Monolog will present a popup shop showcase with a limited edition range. Despite having been around for almost a year Monolog hadn't stopped for long enough to celebrate its emergence as one of Melbourne's "labels to watch" when it comes to fashion and textile design so we are looking forward to popping a few corks!
During her time at Harvest Workroom Indie Ladan of Monolog will also host what promises to be an exciting series of intensive workshops called One Piece where she will guide students through her design process. Students will design bold flowing graphics that will be exposed onto a silk screen and they will then print their own Furoshiki on 100% certified organic jersey.
A brief interview follows with Indie about Monolog, the launch and what students should expect from her workshop.

Tell us a little about monolog. At first Monolog was just a side project to break away from working in front of a computer. Over time it flourished into something more conceptual. Modularity and graphic driven pieces seem to be the common theme that I always come back to. One thing led to another and late last year I decided to work on Monolog full time.

You have a very contemporary approach to your designs. Can you tell us where you draw inspiration from? I really don't look far for inspiration – my surroundings and basic daily activities never fail to spark ideas. My design approach varies and tends to be random. Most of the time I just let ideas develop organically. For example my exploration of fluid movement and arbitrary forms in Monolog's current prints are drawn from my messy working space. However origami also heavily influences the way I see design. It is amazing how a few simple foldings can transform a humble piece of paper into myriad forms, structures and functions

How long have you been working as a designer? Have you spent all of this time in textiles?
I have been working as a graphic designer for more than 5 years. However I longed for something
more tactile and hands-on. I have always been interested in textiles but never thought I'd be designing for it. Early last year I stumbled upon Harvest Textiles and I experienced hand-printing fabric for the first time. I really enjoyed it and decided to carry on.

What is it that you like about working as a textiles fashion designer? I like the fact that through Monolog I can still integrate my skills and process as a graphic designer. I approach fashion/clothing like packaging design – the product is the person. Therefore functionality and simplicity in Monolog pieces are the main focus. Plus I get to wear them myself!
You will be moving into Harvest Workroom to officially launch your label in early September. Can you tell us a little about what you will be doing while you are there? One thing I would like to do is share the fruit of my hard-work on printing tables to old, new and potential friends. In addition I think the arrival of Spring is only appropriate to release the new and fun colours of Monolog pieces – 'officially'.

You will be hosting a workshop called One Piece to coincide with your time at Harvest Workroom. What will people expect to gain from attending your workshop? You will get a glimpse of my design process in creating bold flowing graphics drawn from random found images/objects. The design will be exposed onto a silk screen which will be theirs at the end of workshop so they can continue to use their design over and over again at home. Then I will demonstrate printing and making your own Furoshiki – a Traditional Japanese wrapping cloth. Similar to origami we simply need to fold and tie a few basic knots here and there to transform a Furoshiki into bags, cushion covers, scarves, turbans and many more. You'll soon realise how versatile a piece of cloth can be. Less is indeed more.

Opening night on the 2nd September from 7pm – 9.30pm. All welcome.
Popup shop opening dates are 3 - 4 September and 7 - 10 September from 10.30am - 5pm.
To book into the One Piece workshop go here.
Hope to see you down there.
Em x

budding florists take note

2011-08-09T14:05:00.003+10:00

The super bubbly Bella Cooke of Make Merry will be hosting a Children's Floral Design workshop in early September at Harvest Workroom.

The workshop is well timed as it falls the day before Father's Day so instead of running wildly around town seeking the perfect socks, ties and after shave you could just drop your little one off at Harvest Workroom and then have a quiet coffee next door while your mini florist conjures up an arrangement for daddy dearest.
I wanted to find out more from Bella about what she plans for the workshop and what other fun stuff keeps her ticking along.

Tell us a little a bit about yourself. I have always considered myself as a Jill-of-all-trades when it comes to all things creative. Even though I have a background and training in Fine and Visual Arts I have always felt more comfortable in Camp Craft and as such have embraced all things handmade and homemade. My current obsessions are Hydrangeas, Chevron Stripes, Wall Vases, Design Blogs, Opals and my new project "The Little Village Market Elwood" set to open in October.

How long have you been working as an artist and florist? My working life as an artist and as a teacher has taken many forms for the last 15 years but my love of Floral Design really took hold after I signed myself up for some formal Floristry Classes a couple of years ago. Until then I was relying on some tricks I had picked up from watching my mum arrange and wrangle interesting and unusual foliage from our NSW Farm garden to get by. Since then I have been able to continue experimenting but with a more solid understanding of structure and technique in order to design commercially.

What do you like about working with flowers and floral arranging? Working with flowers is the perfect combination of colour and design. No two flowers are the same. They are complex, delicate, robust, subtle, sophisticated and humble. They change and reflect each season and they help mark some of the most monumental moments in our lives. I tend to be less impressed by modern or contemporary design styles and instead favor loose and simple arrangements that appear effortless, soft and comforting. To me a room or a home feels empty and a little lonely without the presence of flowers or plants in some way. There is no need to spend a lot of money on flowers or vases. I am easily satisfied with an old vegemite jar with a posy of lavender pinched from the neighbours front yard.

What is is that you like about working with children? There is very little that separates me from the children in my classes. I am basically a 37 year old child. I share their enthusiasm for experimenting and fascination with colour and get just as giddy and overexcited as they do when they show off their finished products. What you learn or are exposed to as a child, shapes and influences what you pursue creatively as an adult. I can still remember very clearly the first time my Mum showed me how to thread a needle, when my Dad helped me make the flags and learn the arm signal combinations for my Semaphore Brownie Badge or when my Wood Work Teacher taught us to Plane and Turn a piece of wood. These are small skills that have added up to be invaluable and have given me the confidence and practical knowledge to try new things without hesitation.

What can little ones expect at the workshop? The workshop is going to be great fun. The children are going to have a lot of beautiful flowers to choose from as well as some interesting fruit and foliage options to add to our designs. They will be taught a little about the botany of each variety as well as how to care for their arrangements so they last as long as possible. Along with their own arrangement each child will take home some flower seeds to plant and watch grow over the next few months.

If you are keen for your little one to participate in Bella's workshop book in here.

shades

2011-08-07T21:24:00.003+10:00

I spent this weekend at Harvest Workroom with a lovely bunch of students who managed to design and print their own repeat pattern and then use the fabric to make up a lampshade. It was good fun, hard work and was sustained by our fabulous foodie neighbours Each Peach who were constantly bringing in plates piled high with delicious wholesome food. (This is a chance to announce that these guys make the best portugese tarts in Melbourne - I am officially addicted!)
The shades all worked out so well - check out some more pics here.
We haven't yet scheduled the next two day Print and Make Your Own Lampshade workshop but the folk in our Screenprinting Intensive will be making some soon - stay tuned for pics of what they conjure up.
Em x

priceless porcelain

2011-08-05T00:20:00.001+10:00

The folk who braved the mid winter evenings to attend Abby Seymour's marvellous Embellished Porcelain Jewellery workshops must be feeling pretty chuffed with themselves tonight having finished off the last of their sessions and hauling home a whole range of gorgeous porcelain delights.
Have a squizz here for more of the goodness.
Don't miss the next round of workshops with Abby starting mid-October and be sure to visit Goldenink - the online home to Abby's beautiful jewellery pieces.
Em x

popcraft countdown

2011-08-03T10:07:00.003+10:00

I can't believe how quickly time has flown...August has already started which means that Popcraft has less than a month left as our winter wonderland popup store.
Quick sticks...I need to get my needles clacking and make the most of having all of these fantastic yarns at my disposal.
We are really going to miss having Pauline's store at our studio - she has set up such a cosy little place for folk to gather and exchange textile knowledge. You just never know who you will meet if you plop yourself on her couch. If you haven't managed to visit this is your "one-month-to-go" reminder.
On the subject of Popcraft I wanted to share these textile earring jewellery pieces available there - the result of a collaboration between Pauline and her good friend Anna Varendorff.
As Pauline says: "These bronze donuts are wrapped in silk and mercerised cotton. Collaboration is quite an enriching process, ideas and inspiration bounce around ecstatically."
I love that she calls them donuts! Definitely not your average cinnamon donut flavour.
Em x

glamorous glaminex

2011-08-01T18:28:00.001+10:00

Some of the super cool "glaminex" brooches made at Betty Jo's (aka Liz Jones) makeUp workshop on the weekend.
Liz bought along a whole lot of her own colour coded collections of "stuff" and then the students bought their own stashes - so all up it was mad-horder mania.
The jewellery made was awesome, kooky and it was all created in a mere two hour session.
If you would like to join Liz for a more comprehensive Collection Assemblage workshop to be held this month over three evening sessions - check in here.
And be sure to head over to the Design Files Guest blog this week where Liz will share her passion for all things linoleum.
Em x

greg and the willow chairs

2011-07-30T19:32:00.004+10:00

I got such a buzz today watching Greg Hatton and his workshoppers transforming a trailer-full of willow offcuts into one-off pieces of furniture - and they were seriously original pieces, each one with a very definite personality.
The pictures tell a thousand words really...check out some more moments from the fantastic makeUp workshop here. It was a very relaxed crew of folk that had gathered for the workshop and they all went home with a brand new comfy chair for their front porch - how cool is that?
Thanks Greg for coming down to Harvest Workroom - we hope to get you back for another workshop sometime very soon!
Betty Jo also hosted a workshop as part of our makeUp series this morning and I will post some pics of that tomorrow.
Em xo

cat rabbit window

2011-07-28T09:07:00.001+10:00

Cat-Rabbit has installed the cutest window at Popcraft this week.
It features a softie version of Cat-Rabbit herself alongside two other woodland critters and all three of them are knitting up a mini storm.
And somewhere in there must be some kind of a magical yarn spider who has conjured up a web of colourful pom poms and even left a little charlotte's webesque message - "HI".

At the same time as installing the window she dropped off these little felt jewellery items of which I couldn't resist - I attached a brooch to my jacket immediately. A little colour creature to brighten up these dark winter days!
Em x

wooli & nikki's beautiful tent

2011-07-26T09:03:00.003+10:00

Last night Nikki Gabriel and her partner Anthony set up her spectacular hand screen printed tent in Harvest Workroom.
When I heard the tent was coming along for the ride I couldn't quite imagine how it would look inside the space...well it looks awesome. It feels like Harvest Workroom has hopped on a magic carpet and gone to a technicolour village in Morocco!
Nikki is visiting us as part of our makeUp series and will be hosting 2 hour workshops all this week in construction knitting - each student will be kitted out with a Construction Knitting Pattern, 2 x balls of 100g Bespoke WOOLI, and Birch Knitting Needles - all wrapped up in a beautiful hand printed bag.
The recycled WOOLI range is hot off the press and is exquisite...a rainbow of remnant fibers of cashmere, silk, wool, alpaca and possum. It’s mixed up and spun into this amazing heather yarn that has a bulky tweed look...read more about it here.
Nikki will also be selling her yarn, kits and ready made garments at the space all week so if you are feeling at all inquisitive - don't be shy. Come along.
Em x
p.s. - Nikki says the workshops are selling fast but there are still a few spots in the afternoon sessions..be quick!

updates on makeUp

2011-07-25T23:42:00.004+10:00

Leila Sanderson and Maryann Talia Pau hosted their workshops for the Harvest Workroom makeUp upcycling series over the weekend.
As you can see from the pics the teepees made from reclaimed yacht sailcloth in Leila's class were truly gorgeous and Maryann had everybody weaving up a storm using Harvest Textile's fabric offcuts. Both women have been such a pleasure to have gracing our studio space and we look forward to Maryann's next workshop in October. With any luck we can talk Leila into another class sometime soon too.
Next weekend's workshops include - Greg Hatton’s Make Your Own Willow Chair (fully booked), Betty Jo’s Make "Glaminex" Brooches (spots still available) and Harvest Textile's Upcycling Vintage Wallpaper (spots still available). And don't forget to pop into makeSHOP this weekend if you are feeling like wrangling a mini upcycling project.
Nikki Gabriel and her partner Anthony moved her fabulous screen printed tent into the Workroom this afternoon - more on her popup shop and workshops in our next post.
Soooooo much happening...we are certainly having a lot of fun with all that is going on.
Em x
p.s. (thanks to Lucy at The Design Files for the pics of Maryann's class.)
p.p.s. (thanks to Yongho Moon for some great pics of the makeUp opening party last friday evening.)

design:made:trade

2011-07-24T21:21:00.001+10:00

After four big days spent launching our new range at the 2011 Design:Made:Trade it really feels like a whole new set of friends have been made.
What a pleasure to share our stand with local potter-extraordinaire Shelley Panton (one day soon I hope to be turfing all of my mismatched crockery from Savers and swapping it for a dinner set made by Ms Panton) and ceramic jeweller Yumi Ando whose charming pieces beckoned every time I peeped at them. Be sure to visit Shelley's store/studio in Middle Park - it is an old butcher shop that is jam packed with her own work and that of a whole lot of local makers.
Thanks to all who dropped by to say hello and a super big thank you to Craft Victoria for hosting us under their banner - you guys rock.
We look forward to officially photographing the range and making it look pretty for our online store. We've got cushions, totes, fabric by the metre and a whole lot of DIY kits. Stay tuned.
Em xo

makeSHOP

2011-07-24T09:09:00.000+10:00

Looking for something to do with yourself on one of these wintery afternoons in Melbourne?
MakeSHOP has opened at Harvest Workroom for the next two weekends (23rd - 24th & 30 - 31st July) and is sure to keep your hands and minds busy.
Drop in between 12 - 3pm and choose a project off the menu that uses reclaimed and recycled materials.
MakeSHOP is part of our MakeUp event that features workshops with all sorts of talented guest designers who use upcycling in their work.
Come and say HI - kids welcome!
Em x

kid's scarf competition

2011-07-23T11:34:00.005+10:00

Our gorgeous friend Pauline from Popcraft takes genuine delight in children and their playfulness.
Despite having a yarn store filled with precious and valuable yarns she always welcomes children with open arms into the space and as you can see from these pictures I took there she really let my kids go wild the other day with some of her needles and wool!
The crazy yarn session was all in the name of capturing some images to promote a children's scarf competition that she has launched for Craft Cubed, an annual Craft Victoria Festival.
There will be two age categories (6 - 9 years inclusive and 10 - 13 years inclusive).
Visit Popcraft's blog for more details.
Time to grab yourselves some needles and yarn get those needles clacking kids! I can't wait to see those scarves...
Em x

by the light of day

2011-07-18T23:07:00.001+10:00

As promised some daytime pics of Leila Sanderson's "Shipwrecked" window display at Harvest Workroom - such attention to detail in the way she has pieced it all together.
There are still a few places in her mini teepee workshop this weekend if you would like to join in.
Em x

a tea towel type of day

2011-07-17T18:16:00.002+10:00

A busy day in the studio for a group of eager printers...these guys printed two colour prints on their tea towels...lovely prints that can be stretched over canvas or obviously used as dish cloths.
Check here for our up coming tea towel workshops.
Thanks for a great day to all the printers involved...a lovely way to spend a Sunday.
Em x

a suitcase filled with mittens

2011-07-15T16:35:00.001+10:00

Vion Fullier walked into Popcraft this afternoon with her beaten up old briefcase filled with these wild and colourful mittens.
Wouldn't it be great if all the briefcases in the world were filled with such happy and vibrant pieces?
Amazingly both my children still have both their Vion mittens that we bought many weeks ago now - thanks mitten monster for letting us off the hook! I know you are lurking!
Em x

ship wrecked

2011-07-14T21:21:00.005+10:00

I took a few snaps of Leila Sanderson's gorgeous window installation this evening.
Leila has worked with her super talented mates Katie Marx and Poppy Lane to create "Ship Wrecked" - the most polished window display so far at Harvest Workroom. The window features the exquisite teepees that Leila makes from reclaimed yacht sailcloth and is reminiscent of somewhere in Peter Pan's Neverland.
Leila is all set to host the Make a Mini Teepee workshop at our makeUp workshop series on July 23 and we can't wait to see all of the teepees that folks create lined up together!
Check out the feature on Leila and her partner in crime Greg Hatton that we featured on The Design Files last week when we had the pleasure of being Guest Bloggers for the week.
I'll post some more snaps of Leila's window in the daytime over the next few days so you can see the intricate details of this extra special set up.
Thanks Leila for putting in such an amazing amount of work...it really sets the bar high for what will appear in our window from now on! More pics of the window on our flickr.
Em
xo

studio news at the workroom

2011-07-11T23:34:00.004+10:00

It has been absolutely buzzing around Harvest Workroom lately.
We three Harvest ladies have been doing the following: preparing our new range of products that we will launch at Design:Made:Trade, teaching school holiday classes to massive packs of primary school ages kids (we are talking 50-kids-in-the-studio-in-one-session kind of massive!!!!), preparing for the makeUp workshops and just generally feeling a little overwhelmed at how busy we are.
We want to say a big thanks to Indie and our intern Lucy who have been helping us at the studio.
Oh and a few weeks back we had some photos taken by Olga Bennett who produced the book Environments. So we now have some photos of the three of us - about time really. I like this one because we were all having a giggle and being shy - none of us really like having our photo taken.

Our studio mates have been very busy also.
Dawn Tan has been busy working on some exciting illustration jobs and this Thursday July 14 she will host a number of school holiday sessions at Harvest Workroom.
In the morning there will be Art Discovery Class for Toddlers, in the afternoon Animal Tote Bags for Kids and in the evening Creative Watercolour Painting for Adults. So if you are looking for some fun activities to do with the kids these school holidays I highly recommend these sessions to fight the winter holiday blues.

Then there is Emily Green who as well as getting engaged has created a wonderful window display Polygramatic for the Craft Victoria window - it is up for the month of July. Emily will also be taking part in Design:Made:Trade.
Craft Victoria have been asked to curate a selection of Open Studios where local designers will be working in temporary studios for the duration of the trade show. It is a new event and one I am really looking forward to seeing.

And last but not least Popcraft have been teaching a steady stream of Melbournians how to knit both by hand and machine. If you are wanting to learn to knit this winter make sure you check out their classes as well as the beautiful range of yarn which will make you feel inspired. Also if you are a bloke who likes to knit make your way to Popcraft on Saturday the 16th of July to take part in a photo shoot of male knitters.
Thanks Dawn for the picture below.

x Lara

p.s - More studio news to come - an amazing window display was installed at the Harvest Workroom today...if you live in the area swing past and have a preview....

emily & louis

2011-07-10T17:17:00.006+10:00

Last night, Emily and Louis had their engagement party here at Harvest Workroom! I know Emily will kill me for posting this photo but how could I resist?? It's been so lovely getting to know them both over the past few months. They are such an awesome (and photogenic) couple and I know they have a lifetime of happy days ahead - congratulations Louis & Em!

Jess xx

p.s. Pop into Craft Victoria this month and check out Emily's amazing window installation, Polygramatic!

bye bye beci...

2011-07-05T21:47:00.004+10:00

Thank you so much to everyone who braved the FREEZING weather on Sunday and came down to Harvest Workroom for the closing party of Beci Orpin's pop up shop. It was great having so many new people in the space enjoying Beci's beautiful exhibition and munching on yummy tacos!

It was so lovely to see the beautiful new works that Beci created during her all too short time with us. We absolutely loved having her here and we miss her already!

xx Jess

printing & guest bloggin'....

2011-07-04T13:26:00.010+10:00

Ok, two awesome things happened today......

The first is that our print table is FINALLY finished! We have a beautiful layer of felt under the canvas table surface and we also have a welded bar that runs along the length of the table - yay!

Check out Lara and Indie doing the first print run on the new and improved print table...

The other exciting news is that we are the guest bloggers on The Design Files all this week!!! (image thanks to Lucy)

We will be profiling all the guest teachers in our upcoming MakeUp workshop series at Harvest Workroom. Check us out in all our blogging glory right here.

Jess xx

makeUp artist profile #2 nikki gabriel

2011-06-30T00:20:00.007+10:00

We are pleased to announce the icing on the cake for our makeUp workshops.......Nikki Gabriel will be heading over from New Zealand to present a week of Construction knitting workshops as well as launch her new recycled yarn range called WOOLI ! Nikki will host workshops from the 26-28th of July at Harvest Workroom whilst simultaneously hosting a pop up shop selling WOOLI yarn and Construction patterns, the shop will run from the 26-29th of July stay posted for more details. To find more out about Nikki we asked her a few questions about the WOOLI yarn and her practice as a textile designer.....

Hi Nikki, can you tell us about the Nikki Gabriel brand?

After graduating from RMIT Diploma of Textiles in 2001 I experimented with some lace techniques on the knitting machine and made a few garments. I plucked up enough courage to show Husk and they bought the collection. I made progress as a business after that first season, as sales grew and all of a sudden I had to employ knitters for production.

My focus from early development of the business was always to maintain an artisan hand-made and sustainable approach where possible, avoiding the traps of a manufactured look in a product that’s usually unavoidable with business growth. This is because I want to keep a balance of personal creativity and satisfaction within a sustainable business growth pattern. Essentially this means I still hand-make part of every garment that goes into store, as a lot of the finish and technique is too difficult or specialized to outsource. Part of this creative process too is in the development of new work from raw material stage by experimenting with new ways of approaching old and traditional handcrafts, such as dyeing, spinning, felting and knitting.

What is your background and what was the path that led you to where you are today?

I’ve always knitted and made things from really young; this creativity was only a pass-time in scrapbooks & notebooks while travelling, waitressing and doing fuck -all really.

I began a little business designing bed-linen while I lived in Sydney and it was reasonably successful as I sold to places like Holy Sheet, but it was really when a friend gave me her old knitting machine that got me hooked; as I started making blankets and cushions like crazy. I wanted to learn how to do more than striped patterns, so when I moved to Melbourne I enrolled at RMIT.

Your kits are based on the concept of construction and modular garments…can you go into a little more detail about this?

The construction knitting system started as a way of simplifying instructions to my knitters for my own collections by using diagrams to illustrate a construction. Because the format of conventional knitting patterns are unnecessarily complex to read, it gave me an idea to create a clearer and more minimal approach to knitting patterns. I collaborated with my husband and graphic designer Anthony Chiappin to produce a design for a DIY market. The patterns show how to transform simple geometric shapes into garments, and how to further build on those garments, reconstructing them into something new, by adding extra knitted shapes. I wanted to have a broader audience with this project by using graphic design as the communication tool. And I had a desperation of wanting to shift the perception of knitting from that of nostalgic craft that’s time-consuming, to one that’s a design concept more relevant to our everyday culture, that’s quick, gratifying and good value.

You have just launched a new range of “Recycled Yarn”. How did you go about developing this product and what raw materials go into the yarn?

The bespoke yarn project really began before the patterns; as I wanted to design the construction using my own materials. By necessity, but by entire default the process led to me sourcing fleece directly from growers, choosing it at bale stage and taking it to a backyard mill for spinning. Being so close to the production at all stages was a massive learning curve. Now that I’m living in New Zealand I have access to one of the last small spinning mill operations in the Southern Hemisphere, where I can get my wool processed according to my specifications. It was at this mill that I spied all their waste fibre that normally goes to landfill. Bales of rainbow coloured fibre just sitting there; Cashmere, Silk, Wool, Alpaca & Possum. I convinced them to sell it to me and spin it into a roving style bulky yarn, which I’ve called WOOLI. It’s a really lovely yarn as its full of good stuff / its got a lovely luster & luxurious softness from the silk and cashmere, and it’s both warm and lofty from the alpaca, wool and possum.

What colours are available in this range and what was the dyeing process used for any colours featured?

The yarn has a heathered effect with a specs of multicolours spotted throughout a base of Greige (all the colours mixed together). I have hand-dyed them in batches of black and grey / and red which makes a warm burgundy. The multicolour specs still show through the colours, which gives it a tweed effect.

Can you tell us about your studio/workspace and your relationship with it?

My studio is in my house / I live in a remote sea-side town on the North Island of New Zealand surrounded by sheep farms and the sea. It’s an rambling old terrace house and I have two rooms that I work from upstairs, and a messy backyard with a large dye vat and undercover area for yarn skeins to dry. I have an assistant that comes in once or twice a week to help wind skeins into balls and package yarn. Knitters drop in everyday to pick up and drop off knitting. I try to keep my space in a good sense of order as being naturally scatter-brained it helps my days run smoother.

Thanks Nikki for your time. We are all really looking forward to having you in the Workroom this month. For more photos of Nikki's studio check out our flickr.

x Lara

paper folk mobiles with beci orpin - day two

2011-06-29T13:26:00.004+10:00

On day two, Beci's students created paper mobiles based on the images they had collected on day one. How amazing do these finished mobiles look?

A big THANK YOU to Beci for putting on such a great class - it has been so lovely having her here and getting to watch her create all of her colourful goodies!

Also, I just wanted to mention again that Beci's exhibition opening has been changed from tonight to this Sunday. Sorry for any confusion!

See you there! xxx Jess

paper folk mobiles with beci orpin - day one

2011-06-27T22:32:00.010+10:00

Check out the beautiful colours in all of the images from day one of Beci's workshop last weekend!

Beci asked everyone to bring along a folk tale which they then used to form basis of an inspiration board. It was great to hear Beci explain and then demonstrate her process for creating her beautiful work. Every time I peeked into the classroom there were crazy colours and papers everywhere - looks like a fun day don't you think? I'll post some pics of the gorgeous finished mobiles tomorrow...

If you haven't had a chance to check out Beci's Pop Up Shop, make sure to come and check it out this week. Also, the closing party has now been moved to Sunday the 3rd of July from 1pm-4pm. Beci will be exhibiting the new works she has been creating during her time here at Harvest - I can't wait to check them out!

Snacking on Tacos and stocking up on Beci's goodies?? Sounds like the perfect Sunday to me.

xxx Jess

you are invited...

2011-06-27T15:36:00.004+10:00

the green machine

2011-06-22T16:59:00.003+10:00

Whenever I pass by Emily Green’s work area in our studio it is difficult not to stop and oooh and aaah over the colourful goings on…whether it be tempting little colour bomb clusters of polymer clay or wild clashing brooches or even her fantastic inspiration wall...there is always something to tantalise (see Dawn's post on Emily's cosy corner.)
Today she had all of these colourful brooches lined up on her desk ready to pop in the post.
The thing was that they weren’t to send to a stockist or an online customer...they were in fact the work of students who attended Emily’s Abstract Geometrics class at Harvest Workroom in May.
Aren’t they fabulous?
Emily took her students on a colour palette caravan during the workshop…printing, pasting, painting and cutting up their very own colour signatures!
How cool would it be to receive one of those brooches in the mail?

On the subject of Emily…she has been very industrious in the studio of late and her geometric pieces seems to have taken steroids!

She has been preparing for Polygramatic – an installation of large-scale versions of her collaged geometric forms at Craft Victoria. They look awesome…you must go take a peek when she installs them – the show will be on from July 4 - 30
Our lovely Jess – Emily’s Number 1 fan is eagerly eyeing off the pieces as Emily is bringing them to life. I am just imagining Jess hunched right over attempting to wear one as a brooch.
Where there is a will…
Em
xo

beci beckons

2011-06-21T21:38:00.003+10:00

The last few days we have felt a happy hum at Harvest Workroom as Beci Orpin slowly but gracefully moves herself in to set up her popup shop and open studio – which runs from tomorrow June 22 until July 3 (open 12 - 4pm every day except June 25 & 26 when the studio is open to workshop participants only).

Her gorgeous family are introducing themselves one by one as they accompany her on different drop offs and pick ups…it is something we really relate to here at Harvest having our families so intrinsically involved in what we do…nice to see it playing out with another mum maker. It will be fun having some more munchkins at the studio...more madness! (That is my son rearranging Beci's cushion display but am sure her little one's will also contribute to the visual display over the popup period.)
Obviously we are looking forward to seeing the results of Beci’s open studio where she will move freely within the studio environment for ten days to create new work – she admits to being slightly terrified of the public aspect of the open studio but also excited at what kind of work will eventuate from this fresh approach to her work.

During Beci’s time at the studio she will host a workshop based on her current obsession for hanging mobiles and folk tales. If you would like to immerse yourself in the land of Beci Orpin and the intriguing and colourful world of folktales for a couple of days there are still a few places available.

On Wednesday June 29 Beci will host an open studio night at Harvest Workroom from 6pm-9pm that is open to the general public. This will be more of a work-in-progress rather than a formal exhibition, but there will be new work and some new products on display (and possibly for sale as well). Beci’s husband Raff’s super yummy taco truck will be there too!

Keep an eye on our blog for updates on Beci’s open studio and be sure to pass by Harvest Workroom at some stage in the next week or so.

Popup shop opening times:
June 22 - 24: 12 - 4pm
June 25 - 26: closed (workshop participants only)
June 27 - July 3: 12 - 4pm

Open studio opening (to the general public):
June 29: 6 - 9pm

Em x