Made By Hand - TV series starts tonight on Channel 31 Melbourne

Above picture taken from Twirling Betty blog

Made by Hand is a new, documentary style, television series that showcases the world of beautiful and unique handcrafted works made by the crafts people of Melbourne. From hand blown glass to chainsaw carving…from taxidermy to coach building and everything in between! Hosted by craft lover Tracey Wightman, Made by Hand takes us on a journey each week exploring Artisan Crafts, Community based craft projects and initiatives, and hands-on style, demonstration crafts by visiting with crafts people in their workplace, to see what they do and how they do it. Our aim is showcase the skill and talent of Victorian Crafts people and inspire our audience to flex their creative muscle – whatever their medium might be!

Madeit was approached by Tracey from Made by Hand to appear in the 9 part series, we couldn't make it down to Melbourne so our lovely seller Christen from Twirling Betty chatted to Tracey on behalf of madeit.com.au. You can read Christen blog post about the shoot here.

Made by Hand series start tonight on Channel 31 Melbourne at 8.30 AEST and will be available from the Made by Hand website from online at 9.00pm.

Thank you to Tracey from Made by Hand & Christen from Twirling Betty! We just love Australian Handmade!

For more information check out the Made by Hand website

Canberra Small Business Summit & Expo 2011. Discount for madeit followers!

Tell us a little bit about the summit?
The Small Business Summit & Expo 2011 aims to bring together designers, small business owners, employees, business experts and stylists to discuss the latest in business strategies in a not-to-be-missed day of practical business building and ideas exchange.

Some of Australia's best corporate and motivational speakers who have built their businesses from the ground up will be providing us with insight, invaluable information, intellectual stimulation and many “light bulb” moments. Attendees will enjoy the opportunity to learn important information about retailing, merchandising, customer service, Social Media, IP and marketing, as well as attending our Small Business Expo.

Why did you start the summit?
We had the idea for the summit after realising we spend a lot of our time answering questions on "how and why" from designers and other small businesses. We have a small group of friends that have expertise in e areas and we identified that there was a great need for s a small business summit particularly aimed at designers and craftspeople. The summit will be an annual event that we will grow each year. One of the key areas that is becoming very important to designers is IP, Intellectual Property, the summit will end with a panel discussion on IP.

What is the favourite part about running the summit?
Gathering all the fabulous people together that have helped me over the years and being able to present them at the one event. Knowing that if you have a small business or are thinking of starting one then this event will help you. Our keynote speaker, Debra Templar, is amazing. Debra will deliver all the how and why of great customers service and merchandising.

Why do you love helping small businesses?
Handmade Canberra itself is a small business and along the way I have had so many people that have helped me. Owning a small business can be very challenging but really rewarding. I love that we may be helping other small businesses reach their goal of running a successful small business.

Name 5 reasons why visitors should attend the summit?
Knowledge, Intellectual-Property, Customer - Service, Social - Media, Branding/Marketing

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Friday the 10^th June 2011
The National Convention Centre Canberra

For more info on this great event visit the summit page on the Canberra Handmade website.

Madeit special: Handmade Canberra & The Small Business Summit & Expo 2011 are offering madeit readers a discount to attend this wonderful event. Price is normally $130 - for madeit followers you can attend this event for $95 (although the day is worth over $800).

To take up this offer please book on the student page and put "madeit" in the student number section.

Thank you Handmade Canberra & The Small Business Summit & Expo 2011 for supporting handmade & small businesses!

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Tess McCabe talks with us about the Creative Women’s Circle - a Melbourne Collective for Creative Women

Tell us a little bit about your collective?
The Creative Women’s Circle is a group of women working in creative industries. We hold regular events featuring an invited speaker in a creative field, and she shares with us the challenges and opportunities she has faced in her career, and offers advice and insight into running a successful business as a creative woman. The events are informal and a fun way for creative women to network, share their information and resources, and learn from the experiences of other women who are balancing work, family, their creative pursuits outside of a ‘day job’, and everything in between.

When/why did you start your collective?
Interior & accessories designer Dearne Herrenberg (www.mainichi.blogspot.com) started the group in 2004. She organised a small group of Melbourne-based women and they met every couple of months to discuss their businesses and share their creative work. I joined the group (after hearing about it online) upon moving to Melbourne in 2007. As a graphic designer working in-house at a government department, I wanted to connect with other like-minded women who enjoyed design & craft, and to experience and discover the creative hubs of the new city I lived in.

When Dearne had her son in 2008, I offered to take over the organising of the CWC. The group had helped and supported me a lot as I ventured out to start my own graphic design business (www.tessmccabe.com.au), and I could see the group’s potential to reach many more women in Melbourne and help them on their creative business journeys.

Since then, the CWC has evolved to regular events with an invited speaker, a larger audience and an active blog – and our database of talented ladies just keeps growing.

Above image taken by Pauline Abordi www.paulineabordiphotography.com.au

What is the favourite part about running your collective?
Hearing the career stories of successful and interesting business women who I respect and admire is a fantastic thing. But just as fun is meeting the women who attend the talks. Our events are quite casual but with a fabulous energy. The women who attend our events are engaged in all sorts of creative businesses, from photography to jewellery design, retail, graphic design, styling and fashion - at both amateur and professional levels, start-ups and established ventures.

It can be isolating working for oneself, and despite the active blog and social networking community in Melbourne (and internationally), nothing beats meeting up with people face-to-face and sharing an inspiring experience.

Above image taken by Pauline Abordi www.paulineabordiphotography.com.au

Why do you love craft/art/design/handmade?
It’s in my blood. My mum has always made things (her passion when I was growing up was patchwork quilting, which she taught extensively and even wrote a book on the subject). My dad also has a keen eye for quality and well-designed products, especially in print as his background is in publishing.

Like most creatives, I’ve always had the need to make things for myself, and I get immense satisfaction from doing so. In terms of my career, I fell in love with graphic design at a young age and looking back, it was so obvious that it was the career for me. I’m sure my primary school teachers would not be surprised to learn I do it for a living now – my school projects were always presented in an overly artistic way .

I think the best thing about handmade products, is that they have not been ‘market tested’ or factory-made, aren’t bland or a carbon copy of another product. Most often than not, handmade products are imbued with a sense of passion for good design, attention to detail and a story to accompany it, which makes it worth so much more than a chain-store bought version.

Name 5 reasons (single words) why your creatives should join the collective?
Resources. Motivation. Insight. Encouragement. Community.

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For more information on the collective please visit www.creativewomenscircle.com.au or www.facebook.com/creativewomenscircle

Madeit Meet-Up Hobart & Launceston!

During our trip to tassie we had the opportunity to meet up with a few of our Tassie madeit sellers. It was great to meet everyone and have a chat about their creative pursuits. We hope to do it again soon (not just Tassie!)

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Hobart Meet-up

















Left to Right: Marita (loopeedesigns.blogspot.com), Jacquie (madeit.com.au/ShadeOfABonsaiTree), Luisa (madeit.com.au/DanceInMyGarden), Rebecca (rebeccaroth.com.au), Michelle (madeit.com.au/Elle), Joyce (madeit.com.au/Rejoyce) and me (Bec from madeit.com.au)










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Launceston Meet-up

















Left to Right: Sharon (madeit.com.au/ShazzasKnits), Jenny (madeit.com.au/littlejennywren), Susie (madeit.com.au/BlackEyedSusie), Sophie (madeit.com.au/ThatVintage), me (Bec from madeit.com.au) and Stalley (madeit.com.au/Stalley)

Once Upon The Exhibition

Tell us a little bit about your event?
Once Upon is a celebration of Leeloo’s 2nd birthday and our ongoing support for Australian artists. It will feature the artwork from 38 artists from all over the country, where each artist has been given their own fairytale to interpret as a basis of their work.



Why did you start the event?
After attending Renee’s exhibition in July (Art4Friends) where there was poor attendance, I felt that between us we could come up with something that was done the way we’d like it. We put our heads together and the pairing proved successful, and our collaborative process organically grew from there.



What is the favourite part about running the event?
Initially reviewing the work from the artists’ submissions, now as the completed works trickle in, seeing them in their glory!



Why do you love handmade so much?
It has heart. Since being so heavily entrenched in the handmade industry I find it really difficult to find things that I even like in chain stores and department stores. I take one look at labels in stores, and when I find it’s not made in Australia, as is often the case, I consider how high the profit margin must be and how many of these items are in the world and I actually have quite an irksome visceral reaction.



Name 5 reasons why visitors should attend the event?
To support the floundering Sydney art scene
To help us in our efforts to change the “art crowd only” rules
To see extraordinary, beautiful (and affordable) artworks by talented young Australians
To experience the lovely atmosphere on opening night of friendship, support and community
To check out the Leeloo pop-up store (Fri to Sun only) and see some of our online goodies in person (and maybe grab some Christmas pressies!)

Visit the once-upon.com.au for more information on the exhibition, plus a list of artist.

Opening night - Thursday November 19^th 2009 at aMBUSH gallery from 6pm to 9pm,

Exhibition open daily from 10am to 5pm through to Sunday 22^nd November.

Boutique Markets :: Information Rendezvous

The business of Trend Based Industries (Fashion, Homewares, Accessories, Design) is tricky! Competition is fierce and money is tight!

This high energy workshop reveals the Competitive Strategies Approach to Success. Delivered by Serena Beirne, Head of Consulting at Australian Fashion Partners (AFP) – Australia’s premier Marketing and Business Strategy firm – reveals AFP’s highly sought after Competitive Strategies Approach to Fashion Success.

Serena mentors and consults to established and start up retailers Australia wide on marketing, sales and customer service strategies in order to help retailers grow their businesses. In addition, Serena is a marketing columnist for Ragtrader, Australia’s premier Fashion Industry Publication as well as the Education Chair of Fashion Group International (Sydney) and the Fashion Industry Liaison for the Design Institute of Australia (Qld).

In this session Serena will offer real life case studies of fashion success stories to highlight to fashion designers and retailers how employing Strategic Thinking in their businesses can take their business to the next level. This session is a must do for business owners wanting to survive and thrive in today’s cutthroat markets. We would love you to join us to hear this…

DATE Wednesday, 25th November, 2009
TIME 7pm – 9pm
WHERE InTransit Gallery @ Portside Wharf, Hercules St, Hamilton
COST $18 pp – includes drink on arrival and nibbles supplied by IGA
RSVP Friday, 20th November, 2009

Pay here to secure your space OR Email here to register your interest
Visit the Boutique Markets website here

pop-up store

Three designers are launching a new idea in an old building next week – Georges on Collins will host its first pop-up store, thanks to Airdrie Makim (Joolz), Kristy Barber (Kuwaii), and Nikolina Kucan (Nikolina Concepts). The threesome met as the winning designers of the The Spirit of the Black Dress competition, which exhibited its winning designs at Georges during Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.

The idea of having a pop-up designer space is not a new one, but its certainly new to Georges. The initiative, named to represent the transient nature of the space, will run for one month, and takes advantage of the skills of a jewellery designer, dress designer, and millinery designer to provide a ‘one-stop-shop’ for Spring Racing enthusiasts who want to dress in designer threads that won’t be found everywhere you look, trackside.

Tue, Wed, & Sat, 11am – 5pm
Thu – Fri 11am – 6pm,
13 Oct – 12 Nov 2009
Shop 5, Georges on Collins, 162 Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Ph: 0424 063 385
Email: insertname.here@y7mail.com