thankyou and farewell

It's been an interesting bunch of years as a designer/ maker and owner of a teeny, tiny business called feedthedog. It was tough, relentless, soul-nurturing, soul-destroying, fun, stressful, exciting, energising, creatively satisfying like nothing I've ever done before and pretty much defined who I was. It was an all-consuming passion.

Met so many new people who are still friends today and many, many others - gorgeous, charming, delightful souls who felt the desire to own or gift something I'd made in my tiny studio/home in Potts Point, Sydney. I thank you all, truly, deeply.

Health is great but still challenging. On to new adventures now. I can't quite bring myself to say goodbye so let's just leave it at that.

To new adventures.

Carmel x

CHARITY CALLOUT

Would love to GIVE AWAY these rosebud lampshades I've had kicking around for a while. Would also love them to be used to raise money for a charity. So if you ARE a charity, or have a fave one and think this bunch of shades could help, please email me or leave a comment here. 

There are 14 shades in total - 5 red, 5 pink, 4 yellow. Each measures 47 cm [high] x 10 cm [diameter]. 

The bud design is from an original hand drawing which has been transformed into a hand-cut screen

decal, printed onto cotton voile and then appliqued onto hand-rendered cotton canvas. 

Flexes and/or bases are not included, it's just the shades.

The only costs involved are for postage, or courier if preferred. 

Would love to hear from you.

ALSO, a really big thank you to all who bought the last of my designs in my Etsy store. Happily, I only have a few pieces left. I really appreciate all your kind words and well wishes and I'm certainly feeling the best I have in a long time. Things are looking up. Finally.

letting go

So here's the thing. One day, what seems like a long time ago, I woke up decidedly unwell. Many, many months later I find myself still less-than-average. I guess there's only so much a witch doctor, a holiday and yoga classes can do. 

Annoyingly, regrettably, chronic health issues have got the better of me. I haven't made a thing for nearly a year now. Being homeless and studio-less doesn't help. And so, in an act of surrender I'm putting the dog to bed. Shutting up shop. 

This was never part of the plan. But I need to get my stupidly good health back. So that's what I'm doing. It consumes all of my time. Living a weird, unfamiliar life right now but this is how it has to be. For a while.

Over yonder in Etsy I'm having a SALE. All my last things. And it's FREE SHIPPING within Australia on individual items. You can find stuff like this:

And more.

I hope to be back. I can't conceive that these hands will never make another thing. Ever.

last bits

gone fishing

I've turned off the lights, pulled down the blinds, locked the door. Off to take a chill pill for a few
months.

feedthedog will be closed until next year.  See you back here in 2012. 

way to go

Summing up my year so far : got sick. recovered. went away.

Okay, haven't quite left yet .. but soon. Scary soon. Writing a blog post is really the very last thing I should be doing but unfortunately I excel at procrastination. And I do have just a couple of things I want to off load before I head off.

First up, a recent purchase. These totally, yes I'm going to say it - AWESOME - cushions, hand-crocheted in merino wool, with a linen backing and buttons from the V&A in London, if you please. Love these to bits. Made by the super talented Kylie who is crocheting up a storm of triangles over here. If you likey, go grab one of these beauties NOW before she gets all triangled out and moves on to some other amazing creations.

Secondly, just as I decide that I don't want to wholesale anymore, [not that I do much anyway], what happens? These guys below come a' knocking. How can I possibly say no to my long time favourite Sydney design shop? How? Not possible. And so it is that KOSKELA, no less, now has a range of my cushions and fabric wall panels. Pinch!

photo from August Sydney Magazine courtesy of www.koskela.com.au

If you've never stepped inside this stunning, New York loft-style retail space in Surry Hills, do yourself a favour. You will catch your breath, I swear [and not just from climbing the stairs].

I particularly love their Yuta Badayala light pendants (like the massive spotty one in the pic above) which are a collaboration between Koskela and the Yolngu weavers from Elcho Island in Arnhem Land. Each of these stunning pieces is completely unique as the weavers are free to interpret the light shade form provided by Koskela.

photography by Anson Smart, Koskela for idea11

Another Kylie has just come back from an amazing, hands-on experience with other Arrnhem Land weavers which I've really enjoyed reading about here.

Koskela also have a gorgeous rental property, Dickebusch, in the sleepy little coastal town of Pattonga on the central coast.

all the above images from www.koskela.com.au

I am just so chuffed to be leaving many of my new pieces in the light, airy, beautiful space of Koskela, surrounded by so many charming, original, well-crafted designs.

Way to go.

POP

Come August I'll be climbing into a really big aeroplane and flying out of the country to park my butt in Berlin for a month or three. Before I go, and really just to amuse myself, I've turned my etsy shop into a virtual pop up shop called FETCH where I've listed lots of stuff, new and old, and will be adding more regularly over the thirty one days of July.

Sure I should be brushing up on my high school German but you could say I've been somewhat distracted. Making new mini cushions and fabric wall panels and revamping a bunch of old lampshades.

Sure I should be flicking through travel guides and dropping pins on my maps app but I've been too busytaking photographs of old stock and going a little mental with SALE prices. If you've always wanted something feedthedog and have found yourself thinking "she's got to be joking" when you've see my prices, well, I invite you to take a squizz at my POP UP sale prices. I assure you, you'll come away thinking "she's got to be joking".

Come the end of July, I'll be closing up shop and won't be back here until next year. 

fallen

A massive tree fell over during a recent storm. We called in the guy with the chain saw.

What a beautiful sight. Many glorious afternoons spent stacking this wood, dreaming, planning. The mindless, repetitive stacking of wood sure beats the mindless, repetitive sewing of seams.

Conversation with brother-in-law after he went up the back to see my piles of wood:

Me: What do you reckon?
Brother-in-law: Looks a bit aesthetic.
M: Aesthetic! What do you mean?
BIL: The way you've stacked it. Come winter it's all just going to be burnt you know.
M: No it's not. You know I've earmarked some pieces.
BIL: To do what with?
M: Dunno. Stuff.
BIL: All going up in flames.
M: No way. I need some of that wood.
BIL: Flames!
M: Nup.

And back and forth it goes like that for some time. He's a dentist, poor thing. How could he possibly understand.

down the road

A ten minute walk down the cliched country road that is now the street I live in, there is a beautiful shop/ gallery called the Pear House. It's tucked away in the sprawling grounds of an outdoorsy cafe - Bamboo Buddha which is, unfortunately, everything the name suggests - decor direct from a Bali warehouse, excruiatingly slow service from spaced-out hippy waiters and an in-house psychic healer called Shaz Butterfly. The Pear House though is a gorgeous, self-contained shop that is worlds away from the Bali-esque horror that surrounds it.

Don't be put off by the brown and mustard exterior. Inside is the most delightful space full of both vintage and modern interior designs hand-picked by super-friendly, ex-Sydneysider, Lauren. I haven't been cold calling with my wares for many a year now but the day I walzted into Lauren's shop with my product booklet it was like walking into a friend's home.

Always good to see my labours of love in a beautiful, new environment.

AND, my online shop is open again. Clearing old and not so old stock with a ridiculous sale. A one off cushion that was $150 is now going for an insane $50 (and that includes the feather insert). Yes, I'm clearly still a little unwell but really I just want these cushions to be gone. Making way for new organic products, lampshades and wall panels.

Still plodding along at snail's pace though. And that suits me just fine for now.
ps. thankyou to everyone who left such sweet comments in my previous post. 

recovery

The positive spin on my truly horrendous start to 2011 is this - I am now surrounded by trees and family, in the most peaceful setting if you don't count the MOOs of Zoe the mournful cow across the road, with a new studio space, a new respect for my health and a returning sense of humour.  

All very temporary until I fly away in August, maybe September.

Until then, slowly restocking and getting involved with new designs, new stockists, new plans.

Will be opening my online shop again soon. With a super SALE of discontinued cushions to make way for my organic cotton/ hemp range and new products. Not overdoing it though. If anybody hears me even mention the word MARKETS please, somebody, throw me down a deep, dark well where I can't escape.

In the meantime, inhaling the country air, walking the dog, swimming in the ocean, looking at trees. Endless trees.

watching grass grow

I'm closing up shop for a while. Haven't been well :(

Planned and paid for trip abroad has been put on hold :(

Ho Hum. 

Got to get my health sorted.

At least I haven't lost my home and possessions to a raging river.

I will be back. 

feedthedog will be open again for business. 

Just not sure when.

Take care everyone.

I heart FK Sydney

glass paper weight i bought from my FK neighbour Studio Skinky 

I should be ashamed really. I always underestimate this market. Always. But never once has it let me down and last weekend it surprised and delighted like nothing I've ever experienced before.  

To every single person who dropped by my ramshackle stall I say thankyou - you gorgeous, generous, shiny, happy peeps. 

Finders Keepers has always been my toughest gig because it is just so full on and relentless and the entire four hours of opening night I just want to simultaneously cry and vomit. Even with that charming, be-hatted helper who was by my side this time (no, not my husband (!!) as so many of you assumed - just a very good mate-turned-slave for the evening) it was still mayhem. I just unravel in mayhem.  

Tough and sweaty it was but so so rewarding.

Hugs to you all. xxx

Will be uploading leftovers into the shop this week.

bits and pieces

My version of limited edition usually means about 5 or 6. I will have four only of these bird cushions at Finders Keepers. Printed and hand stitched onto beautiful upholstery weight organic cotton/ hemp. AND comes with a corn fibre insert. Even the casing is made from 100% natural corn. Yummy.

And he has a non-matching friend in mustard tones. I have five of these. I think. 

This is a special little custom-made cushion for a special customer. This started life as a fabric panel but it wasn't a regular size so we decided it might look good as a cushion. It's quite tiny which makes it even sweeter. 

Hope to see you at Finders Keepers in a couple of days. I'm having a raffle. No spinning wheel and not a chook in sight. But all proceeds going to Ian Thorpe's Fountain for Youth which improves the health and education of indigenous children. Not sure about that title Thorpie (sounds like a cosmetic surgery company) but a great cause I reckon. Haven't completely settled on what I'll throw into the raffle basket but it will be chokka with a range of products. 

Drop by Friday night or Saturday. Would love to say hi.

worms

Delighted to be back at the Sydney Finders Keepers Market next weekend for my last gig of the year. BRING IT ON. Already anticipating that soaring space of the Carriageworks foyer and the buzzy opening night. Happily, I won't be tucked away in a pokey back room either. Rather, I have a lovely corner stall right near the entrance.

Feeling unusually light-headed, light-hearted, in control even. Printing and sewing up a storm here, but without the usual stress.

Breaking my own rules too - DON'T make too many one offs. Well, that's all I've been doing. I just get bored doing repeats. So I suggest you arrive early for the worms, so to speak.

new kid on the block

How beautiful is this photo? Super gorgeous Emily is a new stockist and has just opened her online FairTradeStore. Feel like a bit of an imposter amongst all those sustainable products but next year I will be SO completely green I'll be mistaken for the Incredible Hulk.

Do check her out. Beautiful things.

it's back

I have to be very careful here .. don't want to get into any more trouble than I'm in already. I've managed to offend a lot of people in the last seven days with my emotional outbursts.

The box is back. Thanks to the steely persistence of Nic, the organiser of the Magnolia Square Market. She was truly amazing, particularly in the face of my less-than-gracious meltdowns, of which I am not proud.

I can't say what happened because I just don't want any more grief. And you know, now that I have the box here I'm looking at my stuff and thinking, well, was this really worth that week of hell? And all the people's noses I got up?

Such a relief to no longer be the centre of attention in my own lunch box. Now I can get back to worrying about bigger things like artillery attacks in Korea, world poverty and Bunny the cat who's been missing in my neighbourhood for over a week now. Poor Bunny. I hope you find your way home.

gone baby gone

What on earth has happened to my box of interior awesomeness* ??[see previous post] It didn't make it back to me from the weekend market that I've just done. A massive box of lampshades and cushions. No-one knows nuthin' about it.

Been through all the emotions, now I'm just trying to put it behind me. And get on to replacing the missing items of awesomeness*. Still have another market to do.  [Only one one-off cushion that I can't replace].

Can't imagine that this box is sitting in some forgotten corner at Randwick Racecourse (the venue) because it's just SO big. Gigantic. And if I was a thief I think I'd be looking for something I could slip under my coat. Not something the size of a suburb.

If it's just someone's aunty or nanna who will getting a truly awesome* Christmas lamp shade this year, well, I suppose that's better than it turning up on ebay.

*I never use the word 'awesome', just not quite feeling myself right now.

you gotta laugh

Yes, we all bang on about the wonderful people we meet at markets but that's probably because it's true. Without these new and wonderous peeps [and the familiar faces too], be they stall holders or punters, I can't imagine how I'd survive a 3 day event like this. It was so uplifting meeting you all - and you know who you are.

My fave comments/ conversations from the last 3 days:

Woman staring at my red lampshade for a very long time finally says to me, Have you ever considered a farm yard theme? Ah .. no.

Woman with American accent asks me if I do custom orders and when I mumble something about maybe next year she says to me, So you would do me a cardinale? A what? I say. A cardinale. You don't know the cardinale? she says, with utter astonishment. No, what's a cardinale? It's the bird that represents the state of Ohio. Oh right. No ... I don't do custom orders.

At drinks on the second night, chatting with two other stall holders. One of them asks me what I do and while I'm trying to think of an amusing reply the other stall holder says, interior awesomeness. [I like. Must put that on my business card].

Woman restraining a small child says, Oh my goodness, where do you get this fabric? Um.. [what does she mean?] I make it myself. Really? You mean it's not bought fabric? No, I make it myself. [I draw pictures, I turn them into screens, I print onto various fabrics by hand, I cut out individual images and applique them onto base cloth, I print and paint onto base cloth,  build up layers and finally add some hand stitched details or buttons or whatever. Then I squeeze out a few drops of blood, sweat and tears, mix it all up and hey presto]. I wish I could have said all that in the brackets, though I think maybe I lost control of my face during that exchange and it said it all for me anyway.

It was three days of the usual [for me anyway] mix of heightened reality, laughs, boredom, confidence battering, confidence boosting, laughs, teeny bit of alcohol, bartering, spending, earning and gorgeous silly conversations. Oh, and the heat this time. Full on heat.

All in all, pretty good.  

new

Lately it's all been about the fabric panels and sadly I've been neglecting my cushions. But I've got a few new designs in very limited runs and they'll be with me in the Oaks Marquee at Randwick Racecourse come Friday 12th November. So will kitty....

'Kitty wants playthings' is 50 x 50cm and is printed onto organic cotton/hemp. Next year I would like to be completely organic. I am well aware of the evils of cotton production .. the water, the chemicals, yada, yada. I know I have to cross over to the green side. It's coming. Slowly. Like everything I do.

I've got new fabric panels and lampshades too. Hope to see you at Mag Square.

markets

Two more to go. Markets that is. And they're both local. Just realised I haven't done a local event in 12 months, not since the horrendously overrated pyd markets in that dark, uninspiring car park in Waterloo or whatever that suburb is.


So SYDNEY I'm doing it for you twice before Christmas.

First appearance will be at Magnolia Square at Sydney Race Course from 12 - 14th November. Let's just hope the weather behaves itself. It wreaked havoc at the last event - so I'm told. It's in the Royal Oaks Marquee - really like the idea of a marquee, really like saying that word and it will certainly be a first for me in terms of venues. And a great line up of stalls I reckon, including a couple of faves from Melbourne, Rebound Books and Matt.

I have new cushions, lots of new one-off wall panels and light shades a plenty. Well, two or three designs anyway. Hope you can make it along - love chatting to customers. Anyone who knows me will tell you that I don't do the big sell, won't, can't, genetically incapable of doing the effective sales pitch, so don't be afraid. Saying hello doesn't mean you have to part with money.

And my second appearance will be at Finders Keepers at Carriageworks. But more on that later.