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.