kalliopi

spring time ! (well almost...)

2010-08-31T10:47:00.001+10:00

Hello friends!

So the baby lambs are now 5 days old.

They are not so shy anymore .. I think they like the camera!

They are so adorable ♥

Making it Handmade : market + film!

2010-08-29T19:43:00.000+10:00

Making it Handmade, the documentary is screening again THIS Saturday (4th Sept) after a sellout screening at the 2010 MIFF.

Screenings are at 2pm and 4pm.

The lovelies from Craft Cartel have organised a craft market at the same time (I will be there selling my crafty bits) .. the market starts at 2pm.

You can buy film tickets here
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
And a bit about the film here:

Think craft is for grannies? Think again.

A seditious and subversive subculture is gaining momentum in Melbourne. But rather than wielding megaphones and placards, they’re cross-stitching slogans on hurricane wire and constructing plush female genitalia from craft supplies.

Following four local women who’ve taken a seemingly staid past-time and injected it with a youthful, modern aesthetic, filmmaker Anna Brownfield shows a side of craft more closely aligned with punk DIY culture than with Martha Stewart and ‘home sweet home’ tapestries.

“I wanted to show that craft was no longer daggy but had moved into a new era and was being reclaimed by women who had been brought up as feminists.” – filmmaker Anna Brownfield
::::::::::::::

Even more info here

spring lamb!

2010-08-29T14:03:00.001+10:00

wow!

On Friday night I got to see the birth of 2 baby lambs.

As a city slicker living in the country, I have never seen anything like this before :)

So it was very different to your average Friday night of drinking with your friends!

These photos are of the 2 babies on Saturday morning. They are so cute. They kind of fumble along on their funny little legs while their mum watches over them.

ahh.. so cute!

and it means SPRING is nearly here!!

I absolutely cannot wait for winter to end!

yay!

What type of fruit are you?

2010-08-23T17:40:00.000+10:00

I had to share this cute little apple drawing

drawn by my friend Fe from Studio Pounce .

It's a Kalli-Appi!

Kalliopi - Kalli-Appi ... hehe

polka dots + the colour red - 2 of my favourite things!

I ♥ I Dream a Highway

2010-08-13T16:06:00.000+10:00

I just dropped off some new stock at I Dream a Highway....

I Dream a Highway

259 High St

Northcote

supporting local Australian designers

hard rubbish score of the week!

2010-08-09T13:02:00.000+10:00

hard rubbish score!

I always seem to find funny and/or cool things on the side of the road.

Some of my favourite finds have been a timber desk (which is now the meeting table in my studio); a collection of red stools; some bench seats; plastic toy animals, etc.

Last night some of my friends found this Hello Kitty stereo on the side of the road and picked it up. They wanted to give it to a friend who had her birthday party last night. She didn't want it so I inherited it!!

It actually works & it means I can play my tapes (yes i still own tapes ha!) while working in my studio! EXCITING! Ahh funny... although I might have to hide it when I have client meetings!

p.s. the tapes below are from my own tape collection & were not found in the street!

i ♥ strawberries!

2010-08-04T14:44:00.001+10:00

i ♥ strawberries!
they remind me of summer and also of the sweet little strawberries that used to grow in my grandma's garden when i was a kid.
you can now find a variety of strawberry themed brooches and earrings in my etsy store ... with more to come

etsy update ...

2010-07-21T14:37:00.003+10:00

Have you visited my etsy shop lately??

After a looonngg break, it is full of some new goodies again!

Have a look: http://www.etsy.com/shop/kallliopi

guitar pick cufflinks
strawberry guitar pick brooch
black polka dot earrings
strawberry earrings

Our backyard!

2010-06-22T10:19:00.002+10:00

Sometimes I forget that there are 750 olive trees in our 'backyard'.

Especially in winter when I run straight from my car to the warm fireplace inside the house! I really need to get out and walk around more in winter but it is so freezing up here.

Here are some winter photos of my partner's olive grove....

(photo by Fe)

(photo by Daz)

(photo by Fe)

Autumn garden picks..

2010-06-08T14:05:00.005+10:00

Here are some of the things that are growing in our garden at the moment...1. Lovely crunchy apples that taste the way REAL apples should taste
2. Tomatoes - they are still growing in our garden!
3. Silverbeet - lovely colours in the vegie patch!
4. Strange little stump carrots - but they are tasty!

I almost disappeared for a while there...

2010-05-29T17:24:00.005+10:00

Well...

I have been way too busy for the crafty stuff over the last 3 months.

But after a long craft-break & because the weather is colder & I think I (and maybe you!) might need some new brooches of other bits of colour to brighten up your chilly days I will start making some new stock soon.. so stay tuned!

My long craft break was mainly because I have been super busy with my main business as an architect.

Even without my jewellery making I have still managed to get glue all over my fingers by making models of houses that I am designing!

This photo is a sneak peak of a small detail of one of them ..

I have been exploring the 'craft' of concrete. I love the texture, tactility, colour, tone, simplicity, stark but warm nature of concrete. This house will be located in an area where there are a serious of old large elm trees. The pattern of the window cutouts mimic the shadows which are cast by the leaves of the trees. This concrete surface forms the walls around the bedroom areas to create an enclosed private sleeping space.

More to come soon... xx

Edible things that grow in Gisborne...

2010-02-21T09:04:00.004+11:00

hello!

In November last year I said goodbye to my one bedroom shoebox flat in Clifton Hill and moved to the country with my partner. This meant that I went from growing a few herbs & flowers on my balcony to a whole 10 acres of land to grow things on! The actual property is an olive grove but we also have a fab little vegetable patch and herb garden .. oh and 4 big plum trees and a few apple trees too.

These photos are of the food I picked last weekend - plums, garlic, basil, peppers, capsicum, the sweetest of sweet cherry tomatoes, eggplant and lettuce. Tasty treats that are now in season!

And our bigger tomatoes should be ready this week too.

Yay!

Summer!

2010-01-06T19:20:00.004+11:00

Hoorah for summer!!

This is where I spent my Christmas/ New Year's holiday - at the beach.

I'm back to work + crafty-ness on Monday 11th January 2010.

hope you are having a fab summer too xx

Mid Century Modern holiday houses

2009-12-07T12:34:00.005+11:00

Vacation Home by Henrik Bull (illustration by Bob Wandesforde)
Three Stage Beach Cabin (no architect listed)
Two Stage Expandable vacationer, by Walter Wiedmeyer

These images came from a promotional booklet from the Douglas Fir Plywood Association for 18 holiday houses built with fir plywood by various modern architects.

I love the illustrations as well as the designs. Ah.. I wish I could present drawings like these to my architecture clients! They are so much more beautiful and expressive than any flashy 3D CAD perspective I've seen!

New stockist in Wollongong, NSW

2009-11-29T17:45:00.002+11:00

A new art and design store is about to open in Wollongong next week.

Milk Thieves Art & Design is a mini mart of handmade art, design and craft.

It is also my newest stockist! The four brooches above will be in store as of Dec 3rd - the official opening day!

It's Raining! It's Pouring!

2009-11-26T15:11:00.003+11:00

All this rain is great for my little balcony garden and great for Melbourne but not so great for the stall that I was supposed to be having at the South Melbourne Night Market tonight.

Uh oh.. it is not the weather to be doing an outdoor night market.

But... instead I will be joining Charlotte from Cserpent Art at the Northcote Town Hall Kris Kindle Market tonight. Yes - 'tis INDOORS and slightly closer to my home.

Yep, warmness, dryness + proximity are a winner!!

Rose St Market - this Sunday!

2009-11-20T14:13:00.003+11:00

hello hello!

I have a stall at the Rose St Market this Sunday (22nd) yay!

I will be sharing a space with Charlotte from Cserpent Art

The Spanish Festa will also be on this weekend so there will be lots to see and do this weekend in Fitzroy!

p.s. have you looked at my new online shop yet? Click here: http://kalliopi.bigcartel.com/

(image source: http://www.rosestmarket.com.au/ )

My Big Cartel Store

2009-11-17T17:57:00.004+11:00

In an attempt to keep everything in the ONE place I have created a Big Cartel Online Store!!

Check it out here: http://kalliopi.bigcartel.com/

I only have a few things on there for now but I am hoping to fill my shop up soon (well, at least before Christmas!). I have brooches, earrings and cufflinks all over my studio and not enough of them have made it online yet.

Here are a few of the goodies online...

And don't forget to buy handmade this Christmas. Shop local to support our economy.. and handmade things are nicer too! xx

phonebook dress

2009-11-04T09:26:00.004+11:00

I love this dress!

Designed and made by a young designer called Jolis Paons, the whole dress is hand made with paper from a phone book.

More photos here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jolispaons/sets/72157604766091529/

more markets!

2009-10-28T18:48:00.003+11:00

Ah it's market season madness! Busy, busy time.

Following yesterday's blogpost I will also be sharing a stall at the Rose St Market (Fitzroy) with Charlotte from Cserpent Art on the following Sundays:

- 22nd November 2009

- 29th November 2009

- 6th December 2009

Hoorah!

Now I better get my butt into action and make some more BROOCHES!

market days!

2009-10-26T12:39:00.001+11:00

Hello!

I will be attending a few markets before Christmas so come along and start your Christmas shopping early (says me the most unorganised Christmas shopper ever!).

Below are the market days:
- Thurs 29th October: South Melbourne Market - Style After Dark, 5:30 - 9:30pm
- Thurs 12th November: South Melbourne Market - Style After Dark, 5:30 - 9:30pm
- Thurs 19th November: South Melbourne Market - Style After Dark, 5:30 - 9:30pm
- Thurs 26th November: South Melbourne Market - Style After Dark, 5:30 - 9:30pm
- Thurs 10th December: Revolver Upstairs Designer Market, 6pm - 10pm

I am also going to try to squeeze in a Thursday night at the Northcote Kris Kindle market ... date TBC

oh and if you are a blog, facebook or twitter follower you are entitled to a 10% discount when you buy something from a market between now and Christmas!

Style After Dark Market - this Thursday night in Sth Melbourne!

2009-10-20T17:04:00.002+11:00

I will be selling my brooches at the Style After Dark Market ... the South Melbourne Night Market this coming Thursday (22nd October).

Come and say hello ... and maybe buy a brooch or some earrings while sipping a glass of wine? Unfortunately I am a bit low on cufflinks at the moment because they have been very popular (yeah har!) but you will be able to buy some of them at my next stall on Thursday 29th October.

wearable miniatures ...

2009-09-16T18:32:00.004+10:00

miniatures.

little things.

mini things.

cute things.

All of the photos above are today's new listings in my online etsy store ( www.kallliopi.etsy.com ).

I realised after posting all of these that my love for cute miniature versions of things is pretty obvious in my brooches! Strawberries, pianos, musical notes, roses, records ... bright, colourful, kitsch cuteness!

I wish I was in New York right now...

2009-09-14T14:38:00.003+10:00

above: Peaceable kingdom (evening land), by lane twitchell, 2008. collection of marylin and larry field. photo: christopher burge
above: the story of art by georgia russell, 2006. courtesy of england & co. photo: england & co gallery, london
above: eddy by mia pearlman, 2008. photo: jason mandella

I wish I was in New York right now so that I could visit this exhibition at the Museum of Arts & Design.
It is an exhibition dedicated to paper and will feature paper based art works by 50 artists who explore paper as a medium rather than surface for art. Here are some photos of some of my favourites.
If you are lucky enough to be in New York, here are the exhibition details:
Slash: Paper Under the Knife
Museum of arts and design, New York
October 7, 2009 - april 4, 2010

New Stockist: Sprinkle, East Brunswick

2009-09-14T14:29:00.005+10:00

Sprinkle is a Melbourne based fashion designer with a beautiful range of clothing made in Melbourne. Her background in costume design is expressed through her carefully detailed designs. Each design is produced in small batches so they become a unique limited edition piece of wearable art.
The decadent interior and thoughtful placement of vintage items inside the store tie in well with the garments making it a lovely space to visit.
Sprinkle also stocks a range of accessories also made and designed in Melbourne. The photos above show some of my stock that is in store now.

You can find this treasure trove of Melbourne made marvels at:

Sprinkle Emporium
108 Lygon St
East Brunswick VIC 3057

opening hours:
Wednesday: 11am-6pm
Thursday: 11am-6pm
Friday: 11am-7pm
Saturday: 11am-6pm
Sunday: 11am-6pm
or by appointment

new stockist: Blue Attic, East Brunswick

2009-09-10T17:46:00.002+10:00

Blue Attic is a shop which supports local artists and craftspeople as well as an organic cafe. There is a lovely mix of handmade clothes, accessories, skincare and other great stuff. Oh and there are some chocolates in there too!

So next time you are in East Brunswick visit Tani, order a coffee & browse through all the crafty goodness.

Blue Attic

323 Lygon St

East Brunswick VIC 3057

I Dream A Highway

2009-09-10T17:26:00.003+10:00

I Dream A Highway turns 2 today.

Actually they are having a birthday party tonight with wine and pizza and helium balloons..nice!

Here are some photos of new stock that I left with them yesterday. yay!

new brooches on etsy...

2009-09-08T12:40:00.005+10:00

have you visited my etsy shop lately??

If not, here are some of the new brooches you will find in there....

click here to see more: http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5823659

Father's Day Gift Packs at Leeloo!

2009-08-18T17:54:00.000+10:00

RIP Les Paul

2009-08-14T15:49:00.003+10:00

The legendary Les Paul passed away yesterday at the age of 94.

He was an inspiration to the world of guitarists and one of the greatest electric guitar designers.

However, he was also an inspiration for my brooches. In April 2008 my partner, who is a Luthier, gave me a toggle switch destined for a Les Paul guitar that he was repairing. I had just started selling my brooches and my challenge was to turn this toggle switch into a brooch. He also gave my an orange capacitor. From there my first ever toggle switch brooch was made (see photo). People would always comment on it. Boys would say "hey, you are wearing a Les Paul!" so I slowly began making more & selling them.... and the rest is history.

So thanks Les Paul for inspiring my craft. RIP

new stockist: Shop Sui, Gertrude St, Fitzroy

2009-08-11T16:25:00.004+10:00

You can now find my brooches inside Shop Sui on Getrude St, Fitzroy. Shop Sui is run by Sylvia Tai and stocks a range of cute and colourful items. It is full of bright, playful and graphic accessories, clothing, cards, kids toys and other bits and pieces.

Pop into the store if you are in the area. I'm sure you'll find something lovely to brighten up your day!

Shop Sui

227 Gertrude St, Fitzroy

www.shopsui.com.au

(open 7 days a week)

Sunday signs in Melbourne...

2009-08-10T21:27:00.003+10:00

Julia Deville exhibition

2009-08-10T21:13:00.007+10:00

i went to see the Julia Deville exhibition the week before last week. Julia is a taxidermist and a jeweler. I love her work! The little details in her work are amazing... they also make you want to touch them (but its ok, i was good... i didn't touch them)

new stock at Charles & Calypso, Nth Melbourne

2009-07-20T18:44:00.004+10:00

Did you know that Charles & Calypso was my first ever stockist? It is a boutique store on Queensberry St in North Melbourne with a lovely range of art, homewares, body care and accessories. There is always something new in the store and the layout is constantly changing.

I love dropping off new stock in there because Rita, the owner, is one of those people who absolutely loves what she does and you can see this every time you visit her little store of goodies.

I dropped off some more brooches, cufflinks and earrings there last week. If you are in the area drop past and say hi to Rita... I'm sure you will find something you love in her store!

Julius Sherman

2009-07-20T10:47:00.006+10:00

1. Case Study House #22, LA 1960. Piere Konig, Architect.

2. Julius Shulman photographing Case Study House #22
3. Case Study House #22, LA 1960. Piere Konig, Architect.

One of the first things I do every morning before I start my working day is read two of my favourite blogs, Meet Me At Mike's (for my craft fix) and Contemporist (for my architecture and design fix).

This morning I read Pip from Meet Me At Mike's blogpost about the death of mid-century photographer Julius Shulman, aged 98, last week.

Shulman captured so much of the fabulous architecture of the era after beginning his career in 1936. His photo of the Pierre Koenig's Case Study House #22 (photo 1 above) seems to be one of the most well known photographs of our time. His photos expressed the notion that the architects of mid century modern architecture focused on the relationship between the indoor and outdoor environments.

RIP Julius Sherman. Thank you for leaving a wonderful legacy of photographs which captured the architecture and fashion of Modernism.

I Like You World

2009-07-10T12:43:00.003+10:00

one of my favourite things about Melbourne is all the awesome little shops we have everywhere! I have been having lots of fun in the last few weeks approaching some of these shops about my brooches. Here is one that is right around the corner from my studio. I Like You World (80 Johnston St, Fitzroy) currently stocks some gorgeous winter clothing and some cute little accessories from local designers. The only hard thing about visiting all of these shops is that I need to control myself from the temptation of buying lots and lots of things!

Check out I Like You World's blog... http://www.ilikeyouworld.blogspot.com/

my brooch was on the front page of etsy!

2009-07-07T14:46:00.004+10:00

Hoorah! One of my guitar pick brooches was on the front page of etsy. I love the colour scheme that BeesAndTrees (www.BeesAndTrees.etsy.com) have chosen for this front page & I'm very excited that my brooch has been included on this page. The brooch sold straight away too. It's here if you want a closer look: http://www.etsy.com/view_transaction.php?transaction_id=17440362

new stockist: I Dream A Highway

2009-07-06T11:00:00.006+10:00

Yay! I Dream A Highway on High St, Northcote now stock my brooches and cufflinks. Their fab little store stocks unique crafty bits, clothes, jewellery, art and music from local artists. It is worth a visit if you are in the hood.

finally something for the boys...

2009-06-29T12:45:00.005+10:00

About a year ago a male friend asked me to make some "man badges" so that boys could wear my brooches too. I never ended up making man badges but it did make me realise that sometimes us crafty girls make so many cute things for other girls to wear and we occasionally forget to make things for boys.

So I have decided to start making cufflinks!

I have made two types of cufflinks, one guitar themed and one piano themed.

The guitar pick themed ones have a purple Jim Dunlop guitar pick fixed to them. (Unfortunately they look like blue in these photos but they are really purple..i promise!). These guitar picks are thicker and smaller than most guitar picks so they will not bend when you are wearing them. The grand piano cufflinks have a cute black piano cab fixed to them.

Hmmm... i might be back with some more musical cufflinks in the coming weeks ( i just cant think of any more right now!).

Please let me know what you think of these xx

(oops... and i almost forgot to say, you will be able to find these in my etsy and made it shops today.. and hopefully some other shops soon too. And of course, I will have a few at my stall at the Northcote Town Hall Winter Artisans Market this coming Saturday).

Leeloo in Frankie...

2009-06-26T13:24:00.006+10:00

Do you have the current issue of Frankie? I think it came out yesterday. If you do, have a look at the Leeloo ad on page 55 ... you might see something strangely familiar (mmm... there is a small photo of my little brooches yay!)

Friday-itis & new things for the market tomorrow...

2009-06-26T12:34:00.004+10:00

oh yeeeh I think I have Friday-itis. My head hurts a wee bit (maybe because I went out last night and had to be up for an 8am meeting this morning, maybe because winter in Melbourne = gluhwwein at pubs).

But the weekend is nearly here and I will be at the Northcote Town Hall Winter Artisans Market again tomorrow (Saturday).

Here are a few of the new things I made this week which I will be selling at the market tomorrow xxoo

find me at lovely leeloo...

2009-06-15T12:49:00.003+10:00

hello friends...

did you know you can now buy my stuff from Leeloo, an Australian online store for artists and designers??

These photos are a sneak peak of what I have in my store.

There are lots of lovely things there from other designers. Have a look: http://leeloo.com.au/

what are you doing this Saturday??

2009-06-15T12:19:00.003+10:00

i'll be selling my stuff at the Northcote Town Hall Winter Artisans Market for the next 4 Saturdays.

Come along if you are in the hood!

an etsy treasury: a lighter side of dark, chosen by madebyjoy

2009-06-14T21:19:00.003+10:00

my vintage button and bead earrings are featured in this lovely Etsy Treasury by Made by Joy (www.madebyjoy.etsy.com ). I can see a few other Australian etsy sellers in there too..yay!

sonny + coco market... this Sunday

2009-05-19T17:13:00.002+10:00

i will be selling my bits (broochie and earring bits that is) this Sunday at the Sonny + Coco market in Preston.

If you come and say hello because you read this blog i might even give you a little discount x

i love autumn colours

2009-05-06T15:09:00.003+10:00

I absolutely love autumn.

It's the time of year when all of my favourite colours (reds + oranges) can be seen in nature.

A few weekends ago I was in Macedon and took some photos of the lovely trees I saw. Gorgeous.

a new little brooch for madeit.com.au

2009-04-15T21:13:00.003+10:00

this was a quickie that i made after dinner!

find it on madeit.com.au/kalliopi

new beads to play with that could have ended up in landfill

2009-04-14T12:10:00.004+10:00

My neighbour works at the tip.

Last week a truck arrived from Myer with a whole heap of things that were slightly damaged so wasteful Myer decided to just dump them in landfill. Amongst the stuff my neighbour found 2 bags of costume jewellery.

I looked through the bags and there was a collection of necklaces, earrings and other bits and pieces that were slightly damaged. Rather than donating these to an op shop, art department at a primary school or giving them to some other crafty kid they were all thrown out. Yep. Big department stores love adding stuff to landfill. He sees this happening every week & has even found plasma TV's that work perfectly but were thrown out because of a little dint.

Yay for my lovely neighbour who saved these bags of jewellery and passed them on to me. I pulled them apart to sort out the beads as you can see in the photos. I'll have to make a few brooches and earrings with these now and feel happy that they did not end up in landfill!

cute little pussy cat...

2009-04-09T16:05:00.003+10:00

this is my boyfriend's new little kitten

how cute is she??!

i'm a twitter-er now..

2009-04-08T14:37:00.000+10:00

...come and see!

http:/twitter.com/kalliopipi

what's on my desk right now...

2009-04-07T21:06:00.005+10:00

i've done it again. yep i have had another long dry spell of blogging. i have not blogged for over a month. apparently bloggers should update their blogs nearly every day. i wish i could but i just don't have time to. i'm a very time poor girl at the moment you see.

last night i spoke at process@loop (architecture talks). the topic was "what's on my desk?" and i was invited to speak because there are quite a few things that happen on my desk.

these are the four things that happen on my desk:

1. architecture (i am currently working on 2 small alterations & additions to residences)

2. architects for peace pro bono service (helping connect not for profit community groups with designers who care and want to help)

3. swinburne design studio (i teach an interior design studio where the project is based on an architects for peace project)

4. handmade brooches and stuff

so... here are some photos of exactly what is on my desk right now. it's a mix of a few things. things that i am passionate about and things that i love doing.... architecture + craft

Craft Cartel Fashion Jam @ Sustainable Living Festival

2009-02-22T23:08:00.004+11:00

ahhh...such a fun day!

Here are a few photos from the craft cartel fashion jam.

More photos here:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?page=2&aid=80322&id=565312889

Kalliopi_handmade @ the sustainable living festival

2009-02-21T17:52:00.005+11:00

I had a stall at the Design + Maker's Market at the Sustainable Living Festival, Melbourne yesterday. Here are a few photos of the stuff I was selling. More photos in my facebook group.

I got a few nice comments about my book art so think i might need to start making some more of those!

I donated $2 from each sale to the Red Cross Victorian Bushfire Appeal 2009 xx

yay for little greek yiayia's in op shops..

2009-01-31T19:22:00.005+11:00

a little while back i was in a little op shop and overhead the sales lady talking in Greek.

I was looking through the beads, buttons and jewellry at the front counter and started talking to her in Greek too. She got so excited that I could speak Greek that she ended up saying that I could have all the beads and jewellry in the bowl on the counter for $2.. yep $2!!

These photos show you what I got for $2. Lots of new (sustainable) projects ahead i think! Upcycle! Upcycle! Just in time for my upcoming stall at the Sustainable Living Festival with Craft Cartel.

But I do feel slightly guilty for only spending $2 in an op shop... I think I'll have to take her a present!

BIG news...

2009-01-24T18:28:00.003+11:00

ok i have some BIG news...

i resigned this week. Yep, i quit my stable day job in an architecture firm!

I know it sounds like a crazy thing to be doing in the current economic climate especially because of all the recent job losses BUT this has been a well researched and carefully planned decision. I'm so ready to do this!.

So as of February 6th I will be a TEACHING CRAFT-ITECT (cant think of a proper name yet!)

that is:

- I will be using a few private architectural projects to build up my own small architecture firm

- I will be teaching a few design studios

- I will be crafting away with my little brooches and stuff

yay! yay! I'm a tad scared but oh so very excited!!

hooray the rhythm treble brooches are back!

2009-01-13T21:55:00.004+11:00

it all started some time last year...

i started rummaging around in my boy's studio (he makes and repairs guitars). I was on a hunt for new things to make brooches out of...

i found these fab things called toggle switch surrounds which are used on electric guitars. They came in black with gold text and cream with black text.

I made a few combinations of brooches with these toggle switches and my own vintage buttons and beads... the first few were too special to give away so I made some more to sell...

You can find them in my etsy shop (www.kallliopi.etsy.com) or in my cube at incube.8r (321 Smith St, Collingwood).

you can see a few of these rockin' little brooches below but stay tuned because there are many more to come.

Kalliopi x

yay 2009!!

2009-01-03T17:36:00.006+11:00

yay! 2009 is here hooray hooray!

i'm so excited... i just know it is going to be an exciting year.

Here is a photo of the fireworks in Melbourne as seen in ACDC Lane on NYE!!

Hmmm... now for some crafty new year's resolutions:

1. To stop procrastinating like i always do (eeee this wil

l be a tough one!)

2. To be more creative and make more fun stuff

3. To be more sustainable in my brooch making ways

4. To find more avenues to market my stuff and approach cool people in cool shops who could sell my things.

5. To be a tad more organised and to balance work, play and art

6. ummm.... can't think of many others right now

and here are this week's brooch creations:

spring holidays

2008-10-14T13:18:00.005+11:00

Yikes! i have been very quiet with my blog for the last month or so.
But i have slowly been making a few little brooches and earrings and most of these are on etsy now.
I have done a bit of op shopping and found a few pairs of lovely earrings which i have pulled apart and turned into brooches... one of my favourites is below!this is now on etsy... see: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=16190604

i am in the middle of a 2 week holiday from work so i have been a bit crafty...for more brooches have a look at my etsy store www.kallliopi.etsy.com
i spent a few days in my grandma's lovely garden and many of these new items have been photographed there... yay spring is in Melbourne!

kalliopi x

my cube at in.cube8r

2008-09-14T19:07:00.009+10:00

Yay... I set up my little cube at in.cube8r over the weekend... exciting stuff!

in.cube8r is a gallery space that supports art, craft and handmade things by Melbourne artists.

They are located at 321 Smith St, Fitzroy (near Johnston St).

My brooches will be there from now until December 12th.

Here are some photos of what you will find in there this month.

things i made on this sunny Tuesday afternoon...

2008-09-02T18:39:00.007+10:00

Well it is supposed to be Day 2 of spring and there was a bit of sun today.

I have every second Tuesday off work so here are a few things i made this afternoon while procrastinating because i should have spent the WHOLE day working on my small private architecture project...hmmm fun little crafty break.

so i did the following:

- i decided to do something with all my old magazines rather than throwing them out (the good ones went to the op shop) so i've used my flower and pear paper punch to cut out a few shapes for my future projects as well as selling them on etsy to other crafty people who may use them.
link: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14828650
and
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?ref=vl_other_2&listing_id=14828726

- i also made 4 new brooches... 2 of these are the guitar themed ones (with the rhythm treble switch thingie as these seem to be really popular at the moment)...i've also used my last two red plastic strawberry beads so you wont be seeing them anymore...unless of course i can find some more...somewhere.

2008-08-25T23:23:00.001+10:00

8 brooches over the weekend...

2008-08-24T16:00:00.002+10:00

I had a small brooch making session this morning and made 8 new brooches.

I used a combination of new creamy coloured round beads, resin beads, buttons from my mum's sewing box, long wooden beads (purchased on my January 08 road trip up the NSW coast), little red beads (reused from a daggy 90's beaded necklace) and pearly bead (also reused).
I've used wire on all of these brooches to secure all the items together. The only brooches with glue are the 2 purple resin ones, where i had to glue the brooch backing to the resin.

I will be posting a few of these on my online shop on etsy. I should have a cube with my brooches at Incube8r (321 Smith St, Fitzroy) for 3 months starting from mid-September...yay! So the rest of these brooches will be there.

Check out incube8r's website: http://incube8r.com/

the blog is here...

2008-08-18T23:39:00.000+10:00

I have decided to start a blog since i don't have a website for my brooches. A blog kind of seems easier to manage than a website.

So i will try to post things here every few days as i make them, write about the materials i have found to make my brooches, and where i am sending them to!

Most of them can be found in my 2 online shops:
www.kallliopi.etsy.com
www.madeit.com.au (seller: kalliopi)

enjoy,
kalliopi x

2008-08-18T23:00:00.000+10:00