A Visit to Tattoo Parlour

Outre Gallery have just launched a new book, 'Tattoo Parlour: Artists from the World of Tattoo' and a simultaneous exhibition of the same name.

I have a thing for the art of Angelique Houtkamp, and I really wanted to see what pretty new ladies she had on offer - I already own a couple of her prints. Needless to say, I was not disappointed...

Some of Angelique's original pieces, all but one have been sold.

Oh, how I adored Shirley, and she's available as a print!





I also discovered a new artist to keep my eye on, Christoper Conn Askew. He had a couple of awesome pieces in the show, but ALVB (above) was my favourite.

Outre Gallery has three Angelique Houtkamp books for sale- the line drawings book is copyright free & chock full of embroidery ideas - and 'Tattoo Parlour: Artists from the World of Tattoo' is now available through Outre Gallery in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and online.

The exhibition continues in Melbourne until November 30th.

-Tamara

Market Wrap-up

Regular readers will know my stall at the Thread Den market was this Sunday. 

Sadly, it was a bit of a wash...

My little stall, just before packing up.

I arrived in North Melbourne a little later than intended and was still doing some setting up at 10am, not that it mattered, it was really quiet. It made for a long, slow day and some stall holders even left early. My blue pinup shoes (top right) attracted a lot of attention but there were no takers. I ended up selling a dress I had made - not the leopard print - and $50 worth of patterns, barely making a dint in my inventory.  

It wasn't all bad though, there was a cupcake stall selling bite-sized peanut butter cupcakes - oh buttery goodness - and a stall selling the cutest little 'tooth fairy' pillows. Here are a couple of my other favourite stalls... 

What a difference a clip makes!

Eliza Jane Clips are handmade here in Melbourne by a mother and daughter team, and are a cute way to make your shoes dazzle! With just one pair of clips you can completely change the look of many shoes. Clip on some beads, bows or roses and turn your day shoes to night in a snap!

Eliza Jane Clips sell at markets around the Melbourne area and are also available on on etsy - and they ship internationally!

Just look at all those belt buckles!! Being a 1930s fan, I was a little horrified to see them being used as brooches but there are some really adorable combinations here. Unfortunately, this lady doesn't sell online so keep an eye out for her at markets around Melbourne. 

Here are my purchases for the day: a decent sized piece of bright blue silk for $5 and an adorable wooden pinup girl brooch ($10). Just look how cute she is! The detail has been burnt into the wood using a heated piece of metal, an art form which is apparently called pyrography. it's so old fashioned, I didn't know anyone still did this! Surprisingly, this piece was done by a girl in her early 20s and she's very good at her craft.

Oh, and before I forget, thank you to the reader who came and said hello. I don't tend to get a lot of comments here so guess I never really thought I'd see anyone in person. It was a pleasant surprise! 

Hope you're all having a good week!

- Tamara

Lest We Forget

Remembrance Sunday has just been commemorated in the UK, so I thought I'd take the opportunity for a quick catch up post.

Remembrance Day was commemorated here in Australia on the 11th November (Friday), the anniversary of armistice. It was a lovely day out so I decided to take a much needed break from my market sewing and headed off to the local town of Kilmore. A small crowd gathered at the Hudson Park War Memorial for the ceremony; the recitation of 'In Flanders fields' by J.M. McCrae (1872–1918) and the Last Post (bugle call); and to observe one minute silence - a custom suggested by Melbourne journalist and First World War veteran Edward George Honey.

Here are some pics of my day...

A white cedar soldier guards the Kilmore cenotaph,
carved by local chainsaw artist Ray 'Redgum' McLean

The medals of a highly commended ex-serviceman.

Roses, poppies and rosemary - for remembrance - on the cenotaph.

'They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.'

- The Ode, extract from For the fallen

  by Laurence Binyon (1869–1943).  

- Tamara