tis the season....

^Eve getting busy at the beautiful wooden workshop table at Koskela^

Yep.

Its December.

Do I sound excited?

Mmmm... youre right. 

Im actually really tired and slow on my feet at the moment after a frantic start to the month.

From my previous past you would have seen a few images from my tiny pop up studio exhibition that I held a week or so ago. Well - as it is a crazy time at the moment - I thought I would make things even crazier by running my last workshop for the year on the same weekend! 

Yep. Im hilarious. Just ask my worn out body!!

Lucky for me I love teaching - especially when im in a lovely space surrounded by a whole lot of new people. Truly - I have met some amazing people through all my workshops this year. And this final wreath making class at Koskela's was no exception. 

As it was a small class I was able to have a chat with everyone and learn about their creative passions and pursuits. So by the end of the two hours I had really got to know a lovely group of people, that I will hopefully meet up with again at another workshop soon.

But here are a few images that I took at the end of the class.

And I hope you can see that making wreaths, decorations, and presents at this time of year can really be a worthwhile experience - especially if you share that experience with a group of family and/or friends.... over a few stories and a lot of laughs.

^ Foraged finds that were given to me by the lovely Nicole Robins -
an amazing Sydney based weaver who loves to work with
natural fibres in her weaving practice^

^ A wreath being constructed with a mix of coloured raffia and pods^

^Raffia in many amazing colours....^

^The start of another beautiful wreath using wool and raffia
in yellow, purple and blue^

^Four of my lovely students from my workshop Koskela this month ^

^ A few little bits n pieces that were floating around the table while we were making^

time to get excited.

^Forest. coil weaving. 2013^

If you feel as though your head in the sand at the moment, and you have NO IDEA of what's going on beyond the boundaries of your family/home/work sphere - let me just say - you're not alone.

These past few months have moved like the speed of sound. 

So much so that I feel like I have a touch of whiplash! 

Its true. 

This year has confounded everyone with its speed and insatiable intensity. 

I believe that the only ones that are not feeling the effects of it all - are the quiet and meditative souls living in beautiful ashrams in the foothills of Northern India. 

But seriously - this year is insane.

And the only way I can stay on top of it all is to try and take a walk... when I can. 

Talk to a friend over a coffee... if I can. 

And to play in the studio....when I can. 

Oh - and be surrounded with as much colour and texture as I can. 

As that is what inspires me.

In last month Ive been incredibly busy in the studio surrounded all things green, as Ive been quietly making the woven forms you can see in these images (above and below) for a beautiful design/art store in Sydney called Small Spaces. Last week I handed all seven of them over to Sarah, who is the lovely owner of this beautiful store in Redfern, and Im really excited to have my woven work represented in such a lovely space.  (You can take a look at the Small Spaces website here...)

The other bit of exciting news I had to share with you today, is that I am teaching a week long summer school coil weaving course at STURT in January!!! woo hoo...

For those who have never seen or heard of Sturt before, it is a beautiful craft and design college in Mittagong, which is a town in the Southern Highlands, south of Sydney. It is a college that runs courses throughout the year, in all types of art, craft and design. And in Summer and Winter they invite artists' to teach week long courses, so people can make, create, and submerge themselves in the craft of their choosing, while meeting all manner of interesting people.

I am completely humbled to have been invited to teach what I love. 

And slow down for a week while meeting a whole new community.

If you would like to know a little more about my course please take a look here...

And all I can say is...

Bring on January! 

Im sure it will be here in... oh... a nanosecond!

x

^Interwoven Tree Scape. coil weaving. 2013^

^Green Spaces. coil weaving. 2013^

The new collection of weavings,
 that is now available at Space Spaces Store in Redfern, Sydney.

details from dreaming

Details from Tracey Deeps beautiful exhibition at Koskela

It's difficult to write about this exhibition that I went to see at Koskela last week.
Writing about it would be similar to describing Vegemite to someone who has never tasted it before
You know that conversation that carries on forever until you say  - 'You've just got to try it!'?!

Well - it's the same in this situation.
I could talk on and on about Tracey Deep's exhibition entitled Dreaming - but - you just have to see it!
If not in person than in photos.

Tracey's work is amazingly beautiful from up close and 20 metres away.
Its textural, complex, thoughtful and in many cases - HUGE!
That is why the industrial walls of Koskela seemed to be made for her.

Its rare to see a gallery space and an artists' work match each other perfectly.
But when it does.... its magic.
...........

Dreaming by Tracey Deep is on show at Koskela until July 2.
And if you would like to know more about Tracey , her artwork +  new workshops at Koskela,
please have a look here...

This was one of my favourite pieces by Tracey...

So so many different textures...

... and they seamlessly blended with Koskela's industrial walls.

Oh - to have this on your wall!

A wall view of Tracey's beautiful exhibition.

in the detail

second koskela weaving workshop

its true what they say...

it's all the details.

I had another brilliant time on Saturday for my second weaving workshop this month at Koskela, as I was privileged to meet another lovely group of people who were keen to create a handmade object of their very own.

I loved watching everyone pick up their materials and click their hands + fingers into creative overdrive, while chatting with new faces seated round them.

Many had never tried weaving before. 

So it was amazing to see everyone leave the class with the beginnings of a beautiful object.

It was a really lovely morning. 

Within a space that is so inviting and inspiring. 

After I had packed my car with all my materials I decided to unwind by walking around Koskela's showroom floor, so I could take in all the beautiful colours, textures and patterns that are displayed on every surface. 

And as you can see from these few photos, I got inspired by all the details.

In even the most humblest of surfaces. 

It really is the little things...

That make me happy.

weaving workshop at Koskela...

Koskela weaving workshop, Sept 2012

Doesn't this look like a happy place to create? 

Last Saturday I had the absolute privilege to run a weaving workshop at Koskela. And for all of you that haven't been out to visit them in Rosebery, Koskela is an Australian design company, located in a truly amazing converted warehouse in an old industrial suburb in Sydney.

When I was asked if I would like to be a part of their new series of weekend workshops, I did not have to think before I said yes! I mean, how could you say no to teaching a class in a beautiful space, surrounded by amazing people, Indigenous and Australian artworks and weavings,  custom furniture and homewares, and LOTS of colour and texture?! 

Yep - there was only one answer!

A couple of weeks ago I ran a weaving workshop at The Pop Up shop, and it was so much fun I thought I would recreate the same feeling and atmosphere at Koskela by filling the big wooden table in their cavenous workshop room with LOTS of colour, lots of fabric and lots of materials to experiment and play with... 

And with a sold out class, I knew the big group of lovely people would be able to enjoy each others company and feed off each others own unique way of weaving.

Which is exactly what happened! 

After giving a demonstration of how to begin a simple woven bowl using plarn (or recycled plastic shopping bags), everyone went off in their own direction - creating the beginnings of a woven bowl that would be unique and special to them... 

And that is why I loved the day. Everyone picked up the techniques so quickly that before I knew it, the table was a' flurry of activity, with hands working overtime to create something that was in their own colour palette and in their own beautiful, creative style....

A detail from Anna aka Rummey Bear's weaving piece.
I loved that everyone created their own colour  palette and own weaving style straight away...
(photo courtesy of Rummey Bears)

The table was FULL of colour and texture as I wanted to provide lots of different materials and ways of creating and playing with their weaving....
(photo: Rummey Bears)

Everyone looks so serious in these photos! But with only 2.5 hours to learn and create,
everyone wanted to get into it quickly!!

I filled the table with as many materials as I could, so each person could
explore and see what was going to work for them and their own unique style of weaving...

And there had to be tons of colour!!! I covered the tables with bits of vintage material
that I have been collecting for years...

The workshop room at Koskela was so amazing to work in! The big wooden tables, the wall of tools,
the friendly staff and the morning tea all make the experience truly lovely...

By the end of the class people had started to get the hang of the techniques
and were well on their way to creating some amazing woven bowls.
Koskela had made everyone a bag to put all their materials in,
and I know that many of them were filled to the brim with materials
to play with when they got home!

Thank you Koskela and everyone who came to the class.
I loved it and I hope you did too...
Hope to see you at the next workshop!

industrial Sydney goes creative.

The new Koskela in Rosebery, Sydney, 2012

Have you ever noticed that in the blink of an eye everything around you can suddenly change? 

After years of subtle shifts and bemoaning that nothing ever moves on, everything can suddenly be completely altered in a few short months. 

Im noticing this phenomena right now. 

And no - im not just talking about the weather.

Jobs changing or finishing, friends moving or having kids, galleries renovating or closing... and whole suburbs moving on and changing their vibe...

It is all happening, and all happening this year.

One example....

Surry Hills.

In 2005 this inner city suburb of Sydney was undergoing a major revamp. The area was becoming the 'place to be' with fashion stores, artists' studios, and restaurants all moving in and deciding that this was the creative and designer hub for the urban and creative sophisticate - or anyone still at art school! 

I was working at the new Object gallery space at the time, and i remember thinking how great it was to find all these industrial warehouses and factory spaces of ye ol' Sydney being re purposed into functional public spaces, that had a soul and a character....

And one space in that ilk was was the Koskela furniture and design showroom on Campbell st. 

It was on the first floor of an old space and it had all the old characteristics and soul of its original existence as a Surry Hills warehouse. Fantastic old beams, steel struts and peeling paint, and in the centre of it all, an Australian design business run by Russel Koskela and his partner Sasha Titshkovky. 

The massive factory space also houses the businesses of Megan Morton, which
includes The Propery, The Studio and The School which runs creative workshops
for children and adults alike.

Well... times have changed and the Koskela business has now moved out of Surry Hills and into the another old factory ... this time in the suburb of Rosebury. It only opened a short time ago but on a wet and dreary Monday I thought it was time to go on a little reccy mission and have a look at this amazing space. 

Koskela design has transformed the old Four 'n Twenty Pie factory into a mecca for anyone creative with a love of old buildings! And along with Megan Morton and Kitchen by Mike, they have done an amazing job at restoring the space. 

It never looked so good. And I could not stop taking photos... 

OK - enough talk.

Here are a few of my photos of this amazing industrial space...

Hope you enjoy...

The entrance has a beautiful old brick face with peeling paint and a peep hole into the
big industrial kitchen of cafe/restaurant Kitchen by Mike.

The entrance. Huge right?! Would not find a space like this in Surry Hills anymore!

The space is split into zones as it is SOOO big with the tendency to swallow up furniture!
This is the gardening section at the entranceway - Gnomes included!

With all this colour it could only be the children's craft section... with pom poms and big cardboard robot included. I love the green wheel barrow that could be a borrowed prop from Megan's studio?!

View back onto the massive entranceway and the cafe Kitchen by Mike - that on a weekend is completely jam packed. We went on a wet, and dreary Monday... so it was perfect for a good look around.

Book and zine zone... which is so spacious and comfortable for a good flick through at all the
titles...

Can you see the space?! We were thinking that you need to give people an idea of scale - as it would be easy to buy something, take it home, and THEN realise how big it is, even though it looked dwarfed back in the showroom!
It is HUGE.

Loved all the textures and old factory markings on the floor...
And no - im not trying the show off my new shiny gumboots!

Koskela have created fantastic workshop spaces at the back of the factory floor,
that will be perfect for demonstrations and classes...
I loved the look of these wooden modular spaces within the big concrete shell of a factory,
 as they add character and give a feeling of 'space at work'
rather than only acting as a showroom for big shiny designer toys...

The rugs by Loom also soften the space and add character. I loved this section... complete with MASSIVE indoor trees!

Colour and texture... in the form of rugs and a beautiful wooden boxes that were NOT for sale!

More props...

Lights by Bye Bye Birdy . I just loved looking up at all the exposed beams and roof...
Lines upon lines upon lines...

And finally the indoor entrance to The School by Megan Morton for all the brilliant workshops.
The Propery and the massive photographic studio are also housed in this space...
And im sure over the coming months the space will be packed with creative kids having fun... and big kids who love going back to their childhood roots for some nostalgic crafty mayhem!

Koskela
85 Dunning st
Rosbury 2018
info@koskela.com.au
www.koskela.com.au

lampshades + lime green walls

Antique centre Blackhealth 2011

You never know where inspiration will strike...

On a walk... in a friends home... in a gallery.... or in an old large warehouse of a building that stores a myriad of memories in the form of antiques objects.

Oh I love a good antique centre ... but the secret is to be patient.

Colours that were fashionable in the 50s, the pattern on an old ceramic cup, the texture on a bed throw from the 1920s... anything and everything could be the creative spark for your next project.

If you look at every tiny detail.

pure + general

Hello everyone and hello to another Monday and the second week of August. AUGUST! Crazy pants... I cannot believe we are on the home stretch with regards to Winter. And if last weeks happy sunny weather is anything to go by its going to be a beautiful start to Spring... the happiest time of the year! Well to me it is. Boy, do I sound very Disney today or what?!

With a new month comes new magazines and this new edition by Inside Out is a good one. There is a lot of colour, alot of texture, and a brilliant feature on the home of Pure + General's Linda Gregoriou.... Perfect timing too as I had recently visited this amazingly beautiful store and walked out wondering what Linda's home looked like! Now I'm very Disney AND a big sticky beak!!

Anyway Pure + General located on Brougham Street Potts Point {which is right near the Coca Cola sign in Kings Cross} is the brainchild of Linda who decided it was high time Sydney had a store that felt, and looked like the inside of a world traveller's suitcase... and it does indeed! This white industrial store, created by architect Dale Jones-Evans, is the simple frame for Linda to hang the assortment of furniture, soft furnishings, and eclectic objects she has sourced from  countries such as Japan, Morocco, India, France, and Australia's indigenous red centre...

This living room says it all really, a true reflection of Linda's aesthetic for the store. The green walls and the red textile rug work so so well, giving the space the perfect grounding  for all the objects to pop and shine...

This is Linda here on her staircase, above, looking as colourful as her space.
She definitely wears her style on her sleeve....

The old French wall cabinet in this shot was one of my favourite pieces from Pure + General. The chipped cream paint and little wooden draws are so lovely and so simple, creating a textural and functional impression on the wall that is somewhere in-between an artwork and a piece of furniture. 

Below is Linda's amazing collection of woven bags which you can find in the store too. Many are from indigenous art communities in Australia which Linda loves to promote as they are functional and autobiographical: 

Artisan, hand-made pieces have a story, and the essence of the person in them, which makes them more fascinating. 

Like any artwork, you are investing in the artist and their art practice, and that is always a good thing...

Thank you Inside Out, and Linda, for giving us a sneak peak into a world that is definitely inspirational for me! If I cant travel to all these places, at least I can take a small sample of their creative aesthetic home with me!! World traveller mash up is my type of style inspiration... always and forever!

Inside Out Sept/Oct 2011. 
Styling: Tami Christiansen 
Photography: Tony Amos 
Words: Stephanie Epiro 
Pure+ General 
114 Brougham St 
Potts Point