Novelty Brooch Friday - June

I love brooches, they can jazz up a shirt, jacket, coat or cardigan and adds a little bit of individuality and colour.  They often don't cost much (although some of the vintage brooches are preeety pricey) inparticular, I love the novelty brooch, something cute often striking and makes me smile when I catch myself in the mirror.  I don't own a lot but the ones I do own I love.

I have a mixture of vintage brooches and brooches by contemporary designers in a range of materials.

It was this love of brooches that I met Erin through Instagram and we started posting photos of ourselves with another brooch from our collection on Fridays and so that is how Novelty Brooch Friday began.  

This is the first of I hope many Novelty Brooch Friday give-aways. Once a month Erin from The Fawn Times and I will be showcasing designers and vintage sellers of brooches.

 

Our first months shop is Each To Own, Kirsten was the person who planted the seed, to take the fun idea of #noveltybroochfriday on Instagram (that Erin and I had started a couple of months ago) and turn it into something bigger.

 

  

Kirsten Devitt

I first saw Kirsten's jewellery last year at the Finders Keepers Market when I was visiting my parents in Brisbane. I love the Finders Keepers Markets but sometimes its so overwhelming; so many stalls with amazing, creative people offering their hand made creations for sale. As soon as I saw Kristen's brooches with their geometric patterns and animal silhouettes I rushed over to have a closer look. 

I bought two of her brooches; one for myself (the bear) and another for a friend, and my mum bought the wolf brooch. I often get lovely comments when I wear it and I think her work is cute, striking and constantly changing.

5 questions for Kirsten:

How did you come up with the name of your shop 'Each To Own'?

It was originally just a play on words but it did become a bit of an ethos. I really did want each piece to go to a home that loved it so I made sure that I kept the price points well within most people's budgets and the designs accessible to a wide range of people.

When did you first start making jewellery?

It was just over two years ago.  I had been at home with a little tacker and not working full-time for the first time since I was about 21 (not that motherhood isn't a tough gig at times) so I started fiddling about with assembled pieces.  A friend asked if I could make some necklaces and rings for her school's Mother Day stall and it occurred to me that people actually liked what I did.  It sparked something. I joined a local craft and market group called Brisstyle and it all kind of chugged into a life that I now call my full-time job.

It seems like you are working a lot more with wood (when I first came across your work it was more synthetic materials) is there a reason for this? And are there other materials you would like to work with?

There was one big reason - we took the plunge and bought a laser cutter.  I had been getting my designs cut by other people, as machines are expensive and, even though they were my own designs, I wanted to have a bit more creative control.  When I met you I was just coming out of a phase of working with shrink plastic because I could play with it at home more easily - it was a fun medium.  I love working with wood - painting it, papering it in vintage wallpaper and overlay prints.  The machine is a tricky beast but it's a fun ride most days.  I have just become mildly obsessed with acrylic and fabric combinations and am working a bit with those as well.  I feel like I never get all the ideas out but I think that that is common.

There are a lot of animal and plants/flower  motifs in your work, did you grow up in the country or have a lot of animals around you when you were growing up?

I did grow up in a country town and I was animal mad, as a lot of wee girls are.  I wanted a million dogs and horses and cats; I bought mice with my pocket money and dragged neighbours dogs home trying to tell Mum that they were strays.  I think I was safe to call it obsession. And on the floral side of things; my mum was a folk art hobbyist and I think her love of flowers and plants influenced me at some stage.  

Are there other jewellers/artists you admire and inspire you in your work?

There are so many brilliant designers and artists working in Australia at the moment but the jewellery I love to wear most would be Angus & Celeste, My Mother Mabel, Betty Jo Designs and Jettas Nest.  My favourite Australian artists are Bruce Reynolds and Kitty Horton and I adore all of the work of Tracey from Gretel Girl for everything from her artworks to her jewellery.

We’d like to thank Kirsten for taking the time to answer our questions and for offering us one of her brooches as our first months prize.

I've chosen the Summer Pixel Pink and Yellow Fawn brooch (who can go past a fawn?!)

 

So to enter the competition just post a picture of yourself on Instagram with your favourite brooch, entries can be submitted on any Friday from now up to and including 21st June with the hash tag #noveltybroochfriday and we will announce the winner (randomly chosen) on Monday 24th June. Open to everyone, you can enter as many times as you like either new or vintage brooches.

We hope to do this once a month and both Erin and I will take it in turns to showcase those sellers of vintage brooches and designers we admire and love to wear ourselves.  

*If you are a designer or sell vintage brooches and wish to donate a brooch for an upcoming month and have your shop showcased, please contact me at tunabake@hotmail.com

Hand knits and cute buttons

 On the weekend I went to Camberwell Market for the first time, yes I have lived in Melbourne for 6 years now and never been before.  

It was fabulous!  Lots of rummaging and all sorts of people.  I said hello to Catherine from Audrey Scarlett Vintage, who has a stall there and she so wickedly tempted me with a fantastic hand knit cardigan, I love a good hand knit, cropped cardigan.

Look at that detail!

All it needed doing to it was a change of buttons, so today I popped to my local material and haberdashery and hunted down some red buttons - something to brighten up the grey of the wool.

Gaahhh so many to chose from!

I was going to go for the lady birds but decided on some bright red flowers. And so while enjoying a cup of coffee and some m&m's (yes sometimes I separate the colours) I got to work.

Taaa Daaa! All finished and with a hint of colour to brighten up my Autumn and Winter days.

An Autumn afternoon at the Convent and a spot of shopping

This week I had a chance to take a half day off of work and watch Little Miss A perform with her kinder at Abbotsford Convent, and the weather was a glorious Autumn day. 

Abbotsford Convent is an amazing public space situated on the Yarra River, close to the centre of Melbourne. 

Now made up of artists studios, a school and cafe's, art gallery and function rooms, it was built between 1900 - 1903 and its original purpose as a convent is still obvious.

The grounds are equally as beautiful. Thankfully they wrapped up filming an Ethan Hawke film by the time I went for a wonder, no I didn't see Mr Hawke, I don't know if I would recognize him? How long has it been since he's been in a decent film?

The flowers were in full bloom and the leaves so, so green and healthy. 

After a long, hot summer, seeing green lush foliage is amazing.

I tried to do my best 60's fashion pose (ha ha ha) with workmen just around the corner I did a quick timer job and ran off and up the hill.

And my shoes got very wet - must remember to scotchguard my shoes again before the wetter weather.

Then I spent the last hour or so (before I picked up Little Miss A from kinder) doing a spot of shopping.  I didn't purchase this turban and I'm a bit sad I didn't but I did find a brown felt cloche that I would get more wear out of.

It was a relaxing afternoon and so lucky the weather was an amazing, crisp Autumn day.

Here's to more.

Autumn afternoons in the playground with a new cloche

Today Amelie and I decided to go out for lunch after her ballet and tap class.  

I had a Reece's Pieces milkshake, holy moly it was delicious!! but I needed to walk it off, so we decided to go for a walk down the road to the playground.

I am not a fan of going to the playground ALL the time, sorry but I find it boring, but when we see a new playground we always have to investigate.

And you know what; this playground in Reservoir has got everything a 4 year old and *cough *cough slightly older person could want: swings, sea-saw, climbing frames, slides and pretend shops.

I don't think the average person quite understands the effort that goes into buliding playgrounds accessible to all ages, and most often communities come together to make sure everyone is able to access them. 

Recently Mr Ed was on a community committee to assist in the redevelopment of our local park and it's hard work, and a lot of toing and froing with the council.

I got to wear my new felt cloche, it actually has a nice satin ribon and bow at the back and fits perfectly (I have a large head)

I did get time to relax a little.  Oh and yes, as every parent knows - sensible footwear is a must when your gallivanting around playgrounds and jumping rocks and collecting gum nuts (the old trusty Campers).

 

This little park next to JE Moore Park and Preston Cricket Club is cute and just across the road is Edwardes Lake and Park. We'll explore that area when Mr Ed is able to join us.

Colds and rainy days

This morning I woke with a full-blown head cold, I just wanted to stay in bed and snooze all day, alas this is one of my two days I don't work and get to spend with Little Miss A. 

So I dragged my cold-sodden body out of bed, made breakfast, had a shower, then out of the house in the cold and wet to buy Little Miss A a pair of winter boots (those growing feet need some supporting).

 I thought it would be nice to go for a walk in the rain to the park close by and test out those new boots.

 Little Miss A had reservations and her uncertainty turned out to be correct, with a huge flash of lightening and clap of thunder she was ready to head back to the car and home.

I on the other hand was getting a second wind, I think the cool, fresh air was clearing my coldy head.

 Girls with cool boots stick together.

Grumpy-pants Murphy wanted to go home....

...and have an 'inside picnic', and so that is what we did. x

Love Vintage Show - Melbourne

Last night was the opening of the Love Vintage Show at the amazing Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. 

I don't get to enjoy the evening lights of Melbourne very often; with a 4 year old and no family close by we have to pick our few nights out carefuly.  But last night I had a chance to put on my sadly recluse 1940's dress to join a few friends and drool over all manner of outfits and accessories - my heart fluttered all evening.

Bakelite beauties - look at the cat cuff and the heart brooch uuugggghhh too expensive for my budget.

Hats, hats and more hats, and look at that little coat!

 

 Of course when there is a free photobooth one cannot walk by without a slew of animated poses, Jacinta and I hammed it up with silent film whimsy.

After walking around half the show we came to Catherine's stall Audrey Scarlett Vintage and we popped in to say hello and of course like the consummate professional she had her tape measure to hand.  Jess and Catherine were indeed surprised to be the same size! 

   

 I got my hands on Mr Ed's camera for the evening and tried to figure out how to work the damn thing.

 I saw a lot of dresses that I didn't have the time to try on, ponder over or afford but I did come away with a wonderful 1950's wooden brooch, she has a few leaves missing but as soon as I saw her I couldn't leave her behind - the beginning of a wooden brooch obsession.

 And so I got home just in time to see the end of the 1st semi final of Eurovision, yes, I love Eurovision.

It was an all too brief night (it closed at 9pm) and forgot to mention Jacinta was one of the judges of the fashion parade, but I'm sure she'll tell you all about that on her blog soon.

So until next time.....x

Well that was a long break!

Well hello there, It's been a while since I have posted anything on my blog, in fact it has almost been a year and a half eeeeeek!

As my last post in 2011 explained I have become addicted to Instagram, yes like a lot of people we love the instant gratification of a filtered image going live in seconds and people responding so quickly, but the other thing I love about Instagram is the people that I follow and follow me, they are a fantastic bunch.

But I guess I want a little more, to show the things I love to do, things I love to make and the things I love to wear.  I'm looking forward to a new beginning with Tunabake Times and I hope to post here every few days, I promise not to regurgitate what is on my Instagram feed (although I have to figure out how to use Mr Ed's camera so this image is um...from Instagram) and hope to meet even more people who share my loves.

See you soon,
Claire
xxx