I wear my heart on my tee exhibition

 

So, last night saw the launch of the Town Hall Gallery's third I Wear My Heart On My Tee exhibition, a yearly event showing off tshirt designers' works. This celebration of all things tee illustrates how much we use a tshirt to say things about ourselves - political statements or cute pictures? I think my personal collection tends towards the latter, although - horror of horrors from a tshirt designer's perspective - I actually have a lot of plain tees - yes'm, without any embellishment at all! What can I say, I'm a jewellery designer - sometimes I like a blank canvas to show that stuff off.

As well as having all the walls covered in tees, there was a long table in the middle with extra items that could be picked up and purchased on the night. Great idea to help out those 'struggling artistes'! One issue that was mentioned on the night was that it was a shame that the colours tended to be grouped together on the walls. Eg one wall section had all red tees, another had all grey ones, etc. I thought originally that it was quite a pleasing composition, but as it was pointed out to me last night, it meant that you didn't look as closely at each individual tshirt design. Ahhh, very true!

Mardi Nowak, curator, tells us of her love of tees

I went along to check out the work of local Aussie designers T-Shirt Garage, Tomorrow Never Knows and Ruffbat Creative, and also got to check out some new names I hadn't heard of before: Well, Almost Human, Silly Pear, Bike Path, Maru design, Amy Canal, Persistently Plastic, Bronze Temple, Indie, Bad meets Evil, 7 Breaths, Best Fiend, Georgia Thorpe, EDAR, Jessica Dib-Newberry, Grumpy Tommi, Ray L Design, Freyart, Malamoop, Ging...er Ellie, Kristy Brown, & Yvette Phipps. Lots of good stuff!


A great night was had by all, always good to see local galleries showing some interesting works. I have to admit I have been increasing the collection of tees with some sort of iconography on the front, but I'm still pretty attached to a plain tee that I can mess about with, too. Pass me the scissors!

Loved in particular this sweet image!

Liked this one too!

I wear my heart on my tee exhibition

Anne-Charlotte Menegaux's Playing Cards

Ever since designing the Third Time's The Charm collection, I have had a special interest in beautiful and unusual playing cards. These ones from illustrator Anne-Charlotte Menegaux are truly magnificent. How I'd love to own a set of these! *covet covet covet* Don't you think they are lovely?

Anne-Charlotte Menegaux's Playing Cards

Lion Necklace Giveaway

This week's competition is to win a lion necklace like the one being worn in our Style Melbourne "Wear The Wild Things" shoot!

This beautifully bright necklace has been nicknamed by one of my friends, "Aslan Dipped in Sunshine". Isn't that a lovely name?
Its easy to enter! Just leave a comment here, or on our fan page, to have your name entered in the draw.  Please remember to leave me some contact details if you're going to comment on the blog - otherwise it can be quite difficult to let the winner know they have a prize! Always check back to see if you're the winner as I will announce it here and on the fan page :-)
Winner's name will be drawn the evening of Tue 15 Feb.

Lion Necklace Giveaway

Onya Aid shows support for our northern cousins

One of my favourite Aussie publications, Onya Magazine, is hosting a fundraiser next Wed (Australia Day) to raise money for flooded Queenslanders. Lots of wonderful companies have jumped on board, donating all sorts of goodies to the event.
If you'd like to help out with this great cause, then contact the Onya team via their website, and of course please show your support by going along to Honey Bar in South Melbourne next Wed - it kicks off at noon, with lots of wonderful auctions, silent auctions, live music and more.

Onya Aid shows support for our northern cousins

I've listed over $1300 of joolz on ebay for the Qld Flood Relief

Hi there everyone,

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, the situation up in Queensland is pretty dire.

I've been watching the news reports, feeling competely helpless, and decided to donate via a joolz sale on ebay. I've listed over $1300 worth of stock , and every single one has a starting bid of just $0.99 All proceeds will be donated to the Qld Flood Relief.

Check it out, and happy bidding!

Ltd Edition Qantas Playing Card Butterfly & Pearl Necklace RRP$499 -

starting bid $0.99

Pale pink resin necklace RRP$45 - starting bid $0.99

Silver Cameo Drop earrings RRP $35 - starting bid $0.99

*Please note these pictures are only some of the items listed. You need to click on the link to check out all the fundraiser items.

I've listed over $1300 of joolz on ebay for the Qld Flood Relief

First joolz competition for 2011

HURRAH!
Its the first Joolz competition for 2011! And its very easy to enter: to win these pretty pearl and crystal bracelets tied with ribbom, all you have to do is leave a comment here or on our Facebook page, telling us why YOU are a pearls girl. One response will be chosen and the winner notified next week. You will receive three pearl and crystal bracelets, with the colours pictured: champagne pink, moonlit black, and amethyst.
Good luck everyone - the competition starts NOW :-)

First joolz competition for 2011

Shop Review: Curious Oyster

Mrs Peterson

Little Bubalishka

Owl & Fox

Hibou

Pirdy

Pirdy & Snow Fawn

Brooches by Priya

I'm a fan of jewellery, yes that is a given. What you might not know is that I'm also a fan of owls. Not in a full-on collector-y way like a friend who shall remain nameless, but I like 'em enough to be very pleased with the delightful collection of our hooting friends to be found at The Curious Oyster Shoppe at 776 High St, Thornbury.

Filled with vintage furniture, it is very much like taking a wander around your coolest aunt's living rooms. Clocks and handbags jostle for space on the walls, chests of drawers are left open to reveal hand-painted cards nestled beside laser-cut earrings, open a cupboard and you'll find handbags and frilly knickers hanging side by side with knitted gingerbread dolls.

Made by Jo

XOX by Borrowed Earth, inner tube bag by Nearly Roadkill

Soy tea cup candle by Serene Tresider

With the chesire cat grinning at Alice in the front window, I knew straight away this was going to be a fun place to visit. Annaliese van Oosterwijck, proprietor of this treasure trove (and also maker of divine Nilla Nilla Pout Balms), tells me that "people love that this doesn't look like a shop, it's like going into someones home." There is lots of handmade jewellery (hurrah!) strewn on tables, perched on pretty teacups and dangling chandelier-like from lamps & cocktail glasses. Yes, the Curious Oyster Shoppe is a Joolz stockist! I've found my next clock - an adorable laser-cut woodland image to adorn my wall and keep time. There's some gorgeous crockery too!

Image courtesy of Mother Maria

Clothes made using vintage fabrics are on racks in the back room, and I found some awesome hand-printed, made in Melbourne leggings hanging over a cupboard door (yes, the stylist in me screamed out loud - fingers crossed we'll see some appearing in a photoshoot soon!).

Image courtesy of Captain Robbo

All the designers have been hand-picked by Annaliese, each chosen carefully to represent the mad hatter's tea party that is the Curious Oyster Shoppe.

Why so curious? When they were growing up Annaliese and her cousin Veronica watched Alice in Wonderland over and over again, and as she says, to new visitors the shop looks a bit like a curiosity shop, hence the "Curious Oyster Shoppe" was named.

Butterfly dictionary print by Hello Handmade, vintage glass soy candle by Serene Tresider

Drink Me Alice

This is certainly not a shop that caters to just one age bracket - you can find something to delight at any age, I'd say. And coming soon: a Moorish Tea Room, plus a delivery of fabulous vintage coming in from Europe (when they can get planes flying out again, I'd assume). I'll be hustling back there for that, let me tell you!

Shop Review: Curious Oyster