Happy holidays!

Photo credit: Able and Game

Well it's that time of year again - time to wake up wayyy too early, unwrap gifts, eat chocolate for breakfast and too much of mum's cooking for lunch, followed by a snooze and a dip in the pool, and maybe some gingerbread house for dinner. It's also time for the Seam Team to take a break for a few days and spend some time with the people we've been too busy for all year.

But before we rush off to the seaside town we call home, we'd like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and say thank you for all your support this year. Thank you to all the creative folk who appeared in and helped out with issue one and thanks to our advertisers and the 30+ stockists who took on our little mag. We hope you have the most swelegant silly season possible and we'll see you again all sparkly and refreshed very soon.

Happy holidays!

Hello, Twenty Twelve.

Photo credit: Lola's Room

Planning on making a new years resolution? Well, you might want to consider getting your hands on one of these babies to keep you in toe! We’ve compiled a little collection of cute and clever calendars to get you through the new year...

Anne Nicholson and The Whittler - Vintage nature is revived through this stunning illustrated calendar offering twelve unique months of flight inspired bliss. These beauties are a limited edition and all natural, printed on recycled card stock and using wax based inks - perfect for the eco-warrior!

Catherine Campbell - This Melbourne based artist brings us a wonderfully illustrated calendar featuring a series of stylish and intricate portraits. It's fashion illustration meets Alice in Wonderland, a mystical realm of beautiful gardens and little creatures dressed in stylish threads. A must have for twenty-twelve...

Emily Ann Designs - If your new year is looking a little uneventful, we've got the perfect calendar for you! You'll be taking up twelve new hobbies this year as a different art is celebrated each month. With some neat drawings by Miss Emily Ann herself, and complete with a little description, you'll be inspired to get busy!

Lola's Room - This pretty pastel gem celebrates beautiful photography allowing you to breeze through the months enjoying candy shops and vintage wallpaper. The mini calendar contains thirteen images all taken by Brighton based photographer, Cassia Beck, and is sure to bring you a picture perfect new year!

Saisir le jour!

Book Nook: HipsterMattic

Photo credit: Allen & Unwin

After reading HipsterMattic by Brisbane author Matt Granfield, I've come to the conclusion that I am definitely no hipster. It's wayyy too much effort (ironic, much?) and I prefer a Townie to a Fixie (prettier, less skinned knees). But while I'm not rolling in likeness to Matt's triangular-tattoo-inking, Korean-grunge-band-playing, flannelette-dressing ways, I do enjoy a well-crafted coffee, picnicking in New Farm Park and reading books in quirky cafes... though I couldn't bring myself to actually take this particular book to a cafe to enjoy over a double ristretto soy latte. That would just be too much!

Matt's quest to become the ultimate hipster, comically trots through transformations in his fashion sense (rather, channelling the homeless), learning to knit, pretending to be a vegetarian, and getting high on 12 different kinds of coffee (Matt's not a coffee drinker). I happily nodded along to his Brisbane references and let a few out-loud laughs loose when his hipsterdom attempts reached the ridiculous. His writing style is casual and easy to read, speckled with some fine wordnerdery for good measure. New favourite words include hipnicking (hipsters picnicking) and tindie (a touch of indie), and I do hope more males pick up knitting as a result.

WIN!!
We've got two copies of HipsterMattic to give away! If you fancy yourself the ultimate hipster or would just enjoy a fun read about the decade's latest subculture, pop your details in an email to winstuff {at} seammagazine {dot} com. Could be a good Christmas present for that witty book worm you know, yes? Winners will be announced on our facebook/twitter on Monday.

Other loveable hipster references can be found here, here, and here.

The Olive Tree Market

Photo credit: The Olive Tree Market 

Well look what we have here, a market just in time for Christmas... How conveniently festive! The Olive Tree Market has been launching creative talent in Newcastle since 2008. The market includes some regular punters including fashion, recycled goods and creative homewares, with the addition of some quirky yet welcomed new stalls of print making, zines and leather goods. If you have been a little late on the present uptake this year, you really must get down and check out their Christmas Market on Saturday 17th December, we guarantee you'll out do even ol' Papa Noel. But of course let's not forget about the food! With a range of great food from around the globe, it really is the most wonderful time of the year. If you can't get down to The Junction Public School this weekend, never fear, this little gem is a monthly affair, running from 9am-3pm each Saturday.

Taste Bud Tuesday: Owl Cake

We stumbled across this little beauty and decided to make our own gluten-free version, what a hoot!

Ingredients (serves 10)
250g butter, softened
2/3 cup caster sugar
4 eggs
2 cups almond meal (ground almonds)
1/4 cup rice flour
1 tin betty crocker white icing
3/4 cup flaked almonds
2 pecan nuts
2 pitted prunes
1 tablespoon raw or brown sugar

Method
1. Preheat oven to 160°C/140°C fan-forced. Grease a 6cm deep, 22cm round cake pan and line with with baking paper.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each addition then stir in the almond meal and flour.

3. Spread mixture into the prepared pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes or until a skewer inserted into centre comes out clean. Stand in pan for about 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

4. Finally, decorate using the nuts, prunes and sugar. You can copy this design or get creative and design your own...

Bon appétit!

The Terrible Two's

Happy birthday, who would have thought? Inside the box, guess what I brought! I’m sure you’ll like it, more as you age, you are the focus, on our centre stage!

Hip Hip Hurray! A big happy birthday to our favourite design babies, The Design Kids! These creatives have just turned two and will be putting on a fantastic party with The Wall to celebrate.

The Design Kids are all about the integration of emerging artists and designers with established creatives and studios providing a platform for the fresh-faced to the veterans to sell their one off pieces.

The show will be featuring a range of local creative talent with a bunch of works available to buy through a silent auction and all the proceeds will be going to a charity of the designer's choice.

All the fun starts this Wednesday at 7PM and will be kicking until 10 at The World Bar in Kings Cross. Cheers to the kids!

It's a summer weekend!

Photo credit: The Grace Darling 

With the days getting longer, the sun shining brighter (well, and a tad rainy) and the hemlines getting shorter, summer is definitely well and truly upon us. But don't let the sweltering heat deter you, we have found some summer friendly activities for you to enjoy this weekend.

We all know the heat can just be too much sometimes, so why not escape indoors for a few hours and check out some way cool photographs at the Black meets White Photography Exhibition at Le Deux in Burleigh Heads. The event will showcase some stellar black and white photographs from 12 talented emerging artists, it's the ultimate ebony and ivory combination, think Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney in photo form! In keeping with the exhibition theme, head north and indulge in some artwork at the  Matisse: Drawing Life Exhibition. The classic well-known work from artist Henri Matisse will be on show at Brisbane's GOMA until the 4th March.

Hey Sydney go-ers, still want to see some stellar movies this summer without retreating indoors? Well we have the answer for you! Grab your picnic rug and head on down to Centennial Park for the Moonlight Cinema. The movie program offers a range of flicks to suit all audiences young and old as well as some scrumptious food to keep your hunger at bay. Why not treat yourself to some luxury with a Gold Grass ticket which includes entry and a super comfy bean bag in a premium viewing location! Tickets can be purchased here. Adelaide has gone Euro with their new Friday night summer market. The Local Market in Ebenezer Place will feature some top creative talent from the southern state, with a great range of antiques, clothing, music and of course food to indulge in. There's no better way to enjoy a warm summer's evening!

It's that time of year again, Meredith Music Festival time! With tickets completely sold out, there are bound to be more than a few peeps suffering some severe festival envy! But don't sulk around, get down to some of the rad Melbourne bars and forget about what a great time Meredith would have been (We can't deny it!). Here's a few to get you started...  Section 8, an outdoor bar made from shipping containers complete with crate seating, what's not cool about that?  New Guernica is an intimate venue with some quirky decor that will definitely make you question your drink count, in a good way of course. If you're looking for something a little more 'pub like' but still showing signs of totally cool, check out The Grace Darling, perfect for a casual afternoon bevy.

Have a super weekend!

Orange you lucky!

Photo Credit: Helen Dardik

With her quirky and endearing illustrations winning hearts all over, Canadian illustrator and designer Helen Dardik is one of our all time favourites! As a constant creator, committed blogger and an avid lover of orange, Helen's work is flamboyant, fresh and always looking sunny side up! Founder of 'Orange Studio' Helen has a background in graphic design and production art and has an impressive portfolio of designs including illustration, pattern design, paintings and toys.

Visit Helen’s website or blog to see more of her beautiful work or pick up your own original print at her Etsy store.

Orange we lucky?

Worker Bee Wednesday

Photo Credit: My Finest Day Is Yet Unknown

Look: This isn’t happiness is a photographic journal hailed as ‘a Tumblr you NEED to follow’ and once you see it, you’ll understand why. Created by Peter Nidzgorski (nevver), this isn’t happiness is all about 'art, photography, design and disappointment', presenting modern culture in a satirical yet beautiful manner. Scrolling through the pages you’ll be able to feast your eyes upon some of the most innovative and stunning material. Best of all, it'll keep you up to date with all the creative news!

Read: Laundromatic Zine by Michelle Vendermeer is a zine featuring a bunch of quaint little tales all inspired by the urban laundromat. Written by a range of contributing creatives teamed with some great photography and illustrations, it's a wonderful realm of soapy suds and straying socks. Get mum to do your laundry for a week or two and save those extra bucks to pick up your copy on Etsy.

Listen: Patrick Wolf - 'Brumalia', some hate it and some love it, but it appears most are opting for the latter. The south Londoner brings us another spangled and star studded EP this month as a follow up to his fifth album released earlier this year. It's typical pop genius from Mr Wolf and definitely deserves some air time, listen and rate it yourself!

Shop: The Spoon Sisters is a family run online store featuring the ‘classic to kitsch, funny to functional.’ From quirky homewares to unconventional office supplies, if you’re looking for something a little different for Christmas this year then this is the place to find it. Whether you're seeking a sensational gift or some simple stocking stuffers, the spoons have got you covered!

Write: Why not relive your childhood and write a letter to Santa! Here at Seam, we think no matter how old you are this is something you should do this year… Write out all those special things you’ve had your eye on for Santa to bring for you, whether it’s your car rego for the next year or a new pair of speedy skates. You can even post it at the post office!

Happy Holidays!

Jingle all the creative way...

Christmas is fast approaching and we all know what that means, copious Christmas trim, joyful jingles, food, glorious food, and of course the present dilemma! You know what I'm talking about, that stress of trying to find the perfect gift for your loved ones. Well don't get your Christmas knit in a knot, we have some fail proof prezzie ideas that will guarantee a no-return policy.

For Mum:

Photo Credit: Vintage Villa Interiors

Forget hand creams, this Christmas is all about decorating and decor. Vintage Villa Interiors has just opened a brand new store at the Woolloongabba Antique Centre boasting some of the cutest upcycled furniture around. The creative brain behind the brand, Riza Price Taylor, uses her passion for decorating to reincarnate stale furniture with quirkiness and flare. Mum will be making your bed for weeks after one of these wonderful pieces! 

For Dad:

Photo Credit: Archive

We all have that memory of sneaking a few sips of Dad's beer when we were little, possibly a few bottles for the "I'm so cool I'm holding a beer" teenage parties and now progressing on to the odd 6-pack due to the lack of student funds. So why not this Christmas give some beer-laden love back. Archive Beer Boutique have just introduced 'The Growler', a 1.87L beer canister. Every Thursday growler owners can refill their beer beast with one of the many craft beers available on tap at the Next Door Cellars. The West End drinking hole also offers a wide range of Australian craft beers which will satisfy any beer-drinking dad. Why not make your own Little Creatures gift pack, it's delicious and it's definitely something he will use!

For the Brother:

Photo Credit: Holloway

Although at times you may think a punch would be a more fitting present for a brother at Christmas, it is after all a time of nicety, so why not get him a present that you yourself can 'borrow' from time to time. Move over Ray Bans, Holloway eye wear have swooned their way into the sunglasses scene and we are certainly not complaining. Their flat-out awesome glasses are made from recycled products which are fine tuned and reproduced into wearable eye fashion (and sun protectors of course). Ripping up a skate board or a grand piano is just all in a days work for the kids at Holloway, and aren't we ever so grateful. 

For the Sister:

Photo Credit: Whiskers Lane

Whiskers Lane will be a shoe in with the girls of the house this Christmas! These crafty trinkets range from joyful jewellery to cutesy decor and will certainly give Santa's elves a run for their money. Mother and daughter team, Tricia and Jodie, carefully construct each piece by hand using vintage materials and of course some Whiskers Lane love. Any present from this website will defiantly get you a few extra gold stars.

More Christmas bits and bobs...

Photo Credit: Essingtonbee Designs

So you've got the presents, but what next... wrapping and card giving of course! Essingtonbee Designs (of our very own Seam Team) has created a range of festive tags and greeting cards that will add that extra something to your thoughtful gifts. These wonderful little illustrated gems can be purchased here.

Meet Me Monday: de Leon Cosmetics

Photo Credit: de Leon Cosmetics

With a lot of hard work and a few waves of the magic fairy wand, let's welcome to the stage, de Leon Cosmetics! This new cosmetic range is certainly creating a stir, with a range of different products which will fit the bill on any occasion.  We caught up with talented creator, Gladys de Leon, to pick her brain about what's behind the new brand.

How did de Leon Cosmetics transform from an experimental passion into the budding cosmetic business it is today?
The short answer to that would be pressure (read: nagging!) from family and friends! I was making eye shadows just for my own personal use and each time someone remarked on the colour/quality of it, there would be the inevitable where did you get it, can you make me some, why aren't you in business conversation... After careful research, formulation and legislation studies, I decided to just go for it!

What sets de Leon products above the rest?
A couple of things set us above the competition. We are a family-based, handmade company. We're not a faceless multi-national conglomerate. Our profits go back into our own economy and when we are large enough to employ staff, it will be helping to support more Australian families. I also believe in simplicity of ingredients. Nothing is added to our formulas if it doesn't absolutely have to be there. We are surrounded by chemicals in our everyday life and I want to provide an alternative to chemical-laden cosmetics!

Who is the ultimate de Leon girl?
The ultimate de Leon girl is a chameleon. She wears different colours on her weekend than she does to work and she loves the flexibility of having choices. I think our catch phrase really empowers this aspect in all of us…

"Mild to wild, who will you be today?"

Well today will I wear neutrals with a strong lip, or shall I break out the sapphire coloured eye shadow with silver as a highlight? Because I can!

What's next for de Leon?
Next two items on the formulation checklist will be to extend our Lipstick Balm and Lip Gloss range to include more neutrals and softer colours. And blushes! I can't wait to introduce a blush range to our collection! We also are working on foundations, so keep an eye on upcoming announcements on our facebook page.

What's your favourite de Leon product?
Hands down, my eye primer. It is the product I am most proud of. I have oily, hooded eyelids and eye shadow would crease and disappear on me within minutes of application. My eye primer ensures perfect application til I decide to take it off! It's also so versatile. I've used it as an eye brow wax, and a lip primer. It's the one product I think will make a massive difference in anyone's makeup routine!

What does a cosmetic creator do with her downtime?
I truly believe that resting well is as important as working hard. Time off for me is spent catching up with family, watching TV and reading. They recharge my batteries and I never feel guilty for taking the time that I need.

Any makeup tips for the coming season?
Bright colours are where we are headed until autumn. Hot pink and bright orange are especially front and center where the hottest lip colours are concerned. I always tell people "don't be afraid of colour" and it's a statement I stand by!

Take me to The Zine Society!

Photo credit: The Zine Society

Whoooooosh! That's the sound of Seam hopping on a plane and heading to The Zine Society as part of the Sydney Finders Keepers Markets today! The Zine Society is a new initiative supporting local and international zine makers, and we're super excited to check it all out. We'll be having our very own little stall (read: table) chock-full of our very first issue. If you haven't yet picked up a copy, we'd really like it if you pop on down to CarriageWorks in Eveleigh this evening from 6-10pm and Saturday 10am-5pm to say hello. The usual crafty handmade goodness that is FK will also be on show, along with a bunch of workshops (zine making, lomography learning), In An Instant Photography polaroid booth, and the On The Wall exhibition curated by Leeloo. See you there in all your handmade cuteness?  

Fashion: Punk to Pakistan

Photo Credit: Sally Edwards,
Boys and Girls are Choice

Exams are over, pencils tidied and library books returned, which means it's time for QUT's fashion graduates to don their best frocks and tails and walk their collections down the runway! This year's show entitled, Six, sees each designer debut a collection of six pieces, with inspiration for the designs internationally eclectic. Designer Sally Edwards says her androgynous collection, Boys and Girls are Choice, is aimed at "new punk" mixing tartan with the "sartorial elegance of a well-made suit". "Referencing suits and styles throughout history, I want to use these guidelines of menswear to create a collection that can be word by either men or women," she says. Opening night was last night and closing night has already sold out! But luckily, the creative folk behind the parade planned ahead for your silly season, book-in-advance forgetfulness and there's still a whole chunk of tickets left for your spontaneous attendance tonight and tomorrow. You can even bring a friend for free! Bargain!

Taste Bud Tuesday: Green Tea Cookies

Photo Credit: Chocolate and Zucchini

We stumbled across this delicious recipe on French food blog, Chocolate and Zucchini. Packed full of anti-oxidents they must be good for you right?...and did we mention they're green, how fun!

Ingredients
100 grams (7 tablespoons) butter
50 grams caster sugar
1 egg yolk
90 grams flour
40 grams (6 tablespoons) finely ground almonds
2 tablespoons Matcha* (green tea powder)
2 tablespoons cane sugar

Method
In a medium mixing bowl, cream together the butter and caster sugar with a spatula. Add the egg yolk and mix it in thoroughly.

In another bowl, combine the flour, ground almonds, and matcha, and stir with a whisk to remove any lumps. Add this to the first bowl and stir until the mixture comes together to form a ball, don't overwork the dough. Roll it into a log, wrap it in cling film and place in the freezer to firm up for 40 minutes (or in the fridge for 2 hours).

Preheat the oven to 180°C and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Sprinkle the sugar on a plate and roll the log in it to coat on all sides, pressing it down a bit if necessary. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into 1cm slices and arrange on the prepared baking sheet. Remember the cookies will spread a little so be strategic when placing them.

Slip into the oven and bake for 12 minutes, or until the cookies just begin to turn golden at the edges. Let them rest for 5 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a rack to cool completely.

Make a cup of a tea (preferably iced in this sweltering weather), grab a cookie and enjoy.

*Matcha powder can be found at asian grocers or at your local tea shop.

Bon Appétit!

Sad indie mag news...

Photo Credit: Colophon

Just when we release our little magazine and are hoping to make it onto the "world's largest database of independent publications", the indie mag-crazed lads over at Colophon decide to stop organising their independent magazine exhibition and book series. So sad! We used their two past exhibition books 'We Make Magazines' and 'We Love Magazines' while researching for Seam. But Jeremy Leslie from Colophon posted on his blog that they'd continue under the magCulture name. Unfortunately their travelling exhibition scheduled for 2012 - The Rise of Print - is no longer happening. The independent magazine exhibition trend started in 2000 and has continued to this year with an exhibition in Singapore. Maybe we'll have to pick up where the Colophon chaps left off... It's about time Australia curated one!

Arty, Crafty, Artifice

Photo Credit: Artifice

There's a crafty little event happening on the north island of New Zealand from tomorrow, just in time for some christmas shopping! Artifice is a celebration of Hamilton fashion and craft culture running from Saturday evening at 6pm until December 3rd. It's one of those wonderful combo events, mixing part exhibition with part market. Instead of merely displaying art for local indie folk to buy, the artworks have functions of the cute, creative variety, perfect for gifts or a keepsake of your own.

Similarly in Sydney is the On The Wall exhibition, curated by the lovely ladies over at Leeloo. The artists have just been announced, and the exhibition will feature opposite the Leeloo stall at next weekend's Finders Keepers Markets at Carriageworks - so if you see something you like you can scoot across the masses of people and to pick up a print. Easy peasy take-home packs of art and craft, how swish!

Crafty Collage Zine

Photo Credit: Kelly Zarb.

Take a look at this brand spanking new Crafty Collage Zine by Kelly Zarb!

Kelly is a Melbourne based artist and crafting connoisseur who loves integrating the new and old to create the colourful and creative. Her cute and quirky paper goods are often made from recycled materials and are all incredibly hand-made!

Crafty Collage Zine is 16 pages of DIY delight, filled with a bunch of great little craft ideas to keep you busy through the christmas season. The zine also features Kelly's illustrative instructions to make each item along with helpful hints about finding beautiful yet cost effective supplies for all your crafting needs.

For more of Kelly's creations visit her blog here or check out the store on Etsy.

Hanging with the BBF

Photo Credit: marioanima.

Jump on your fixie everyone, the Brizzy Bike Fest (BBF) kicks off today! The BBF is a creative and community event for riders of all ages and all biking styles, from the daily commuter to the fixie fanatic. The festival is inspired by Brisbane’s ever-growing bike assemblage and celebrates it through riding, art and film.

The first BBF runs until this Sunday 27th November and will provide some of the finest biking culture this city has ever seen... Race you there!

Save it for a rainy day...

Photo Credit: Very Nearly Almost Magazine.

Move over yarn bombing, make way for umbrella art! With the season warming up and the storm spell looming, it’s only appropriate that umbrella art is fast taking over our public spaces and establishing itself as the new street art.

This stunning piece is a vision in yellow and looks as though a bunch of umbrellas have gone astray from their loving owners and lodged themselves in this oak tree. Entitled ‘Bloom’ this installation was created by Goldsmith Art College student Sam Spenser and was featured at The Wapping Project in London... Amazing!

Frocksters reunite!

Photo credit: Frock Paper Scissors

So every year in November, fashion-arty-wordnerdery-creative types dress up, drink some wine, celebrate and then collapse with exhaustion post the feat of producing a magazine from scratch. The annual Frock Paper Scissors magazine launched last night, with issue six the biggest yet. Covering fashion, style, beauty and lifestyle, these creative QUT ladies (and lad, singular) are striving for something a little Vogue-esque with their sharp content and photography. Showcasing the Brisbane fashion scene, as well as designers nationally and internationally, it's always exciting to see what the next publication will look like when it pops up each year. The students are distributing this FREE (!) magazine around Brisbane and South East Queensland from next week, so keep an eye out in fashion precincts for your copy. In the meantime, you can flip through the digital copy here. Congrats to the 2011 team! Maybe we'll see their names in high places in the coming years...

Sewing lounge launch party

Photo credit: Piece Together

Summer has arrived early in Brisbane, bringing with it 30+ temperatures and the silly season in full swing. I think they call it the silly season because it's ridiculously silly how many great parties/launches/openings/events are on each night, making it impossible to get to them all especially post a smidge of bubbly. Tonight we'll be attempting to party hop from the Frock Paper Scissors launch to the launch of Brisbane's newest sewing lounge Piece Together.

You wouldn't think it possible that more wonderful businesses could pop up in the Woolloongabba Antique Precinct, but they have! Piece Together opened its doors a few months ago now, and just downstairs of their lofty studio space is new coffee nook Five Sugars. Champagne, cupcakes and live music will start flowing from Five Sugars from 5.30pm, with Piece Together's launch starting at 7pm upstairs. There's also a craft and vintage mini-market for your xmas-present-organising pleasure or just as a little treat for yourself.

Now you've got your schedule sorted for this evening, the only thing left to settle is what to wear! I think Janome will be coming out to play a tad this season - too many events and not enough handmade dresses...

Worker Bee Wednesday

Photo Credit: The Designers Review of Books

Read: Studio Culture - If you’re an avid graphic designer or simply appreciate great typography and innovative design – then this is a book for you! Studio Culture showcases the inner workings of some of the best graphic design studios all around the world. Packed with intriguing interviews and stunning design examples, it’s a must have! You can find this beauty at Unit Editions along with plenty of other new-fangled graphics texts.

Listen: If you haven’t already succumb to the communal sing-along vibes of Cults, then you’re missing out! They’re debut album ‘In The Name Of’ was released earlier this year and is a 60’s-esque pop sensation for the ears. Join the movement and pick up their record, it's a perfect summer soundtrack for coming months!

See: Melancholia - Directed by Danish director Lars von Trier, this is unsurprisingly and easily one of the best films all year. Melancholia made its debut at the Cannes Film Festival this year and is now showing in cinemas around Brisbane. There’s not too much we can can say other than, brace yourself!

Drink: With the warmer season descending upon us a little earlier than expected, the time has never been more fitting to indulge in a sneaky summer beverage or two. Brown Dog Café in Woolloongabba serves the most amazing homemade ice tea and fresh organic breakfasts perfect for the warm summer mornings. They’re open 7 days a week, so why not drop in on your next antique hunting adventure.

Shop: Opening Ceremony - If you’re looking to indulge in some seriously decadent fashion this silly season then check out online store ‘Opening Ceremony’. Based in Manhattan, Opening Ceremony is an international forum that brings together young and established designers and artists. Peruse their beautifully crafted website for something particular or just take a sneak peek at some amazing pieces to add your Christmas wish list!

New stockists!

Photo Credit: Elleni Toumpas

We're super excited to tell you all that we have a bunch of new stockists! If you haven't picked up a copy of our first issue yet, hop on over to one of these lovely spots in your state...

QLD
Avid Reader
Nook
State Library of Queensland bookstore
Mara Newsagency
Apples on Ainsworth
Cultiver

NSW
Blackbird Corner
Little Papercup
Follow Store
Sweets Workshop
Milk Thieves

ACT
Smiths Alternative Bookshop

VIC
Brunswick Street Bookstore
Little Shop of Handmade
Onabee
Felix
Lark

TAS
The Nook

NZ
Emma

We're also available online with Leeloo and at the new weekly West End Twilight Markets and monthly(ish) BrisStyle Markets. And we'll hopefully have even more places to call home in the coming weeks!

If you know of any shops/cafes/bookstores/boutiques near you that are a little seam-esque, let us know!

To market, to market

Photo credit: West End Twilight Markets

So there’s this lovely lady called Sally and this lovely chap called Scotty and they like a really well crafted coffee. They also like zines, typewriters, collage, and arty crafty design-y type things. So one day over a love-heart topped latte, they decided to start the West End Twilight Markets.

A mixture of all their favourite things, situated in the perfect location of a reclaimed hangar in West End, these new evening markets are in a league of their own. What’s sparking my curiosity is the performance side of things – spoken word, visual arts, street theatre, a-capella busking and cabaret. For nannas like me, these enticing acts on a Saturday soir mean I can leave my dancing shoes at home, soak up some local talent early on, and be back snug in bed before the clock strikes 12.

They’ve got stallholders who fit into all our favourite buzz word categories – vintage, recycled, reclaimed, organic, fair trade, sustainable, handmade, locally or ethically produced, unique, one-off, one of a kind – with new stalls each week to keep you guessing. More details here.

Also on in Brisbane this Saturday is BrisStyle’s annual Indie Eco Market, featuring crafty wares produced from eco-friendly materials and made by hand by local BrisStyle ladies and lads, with a dash of vintage and de-stash items mixed in for good measure. If your Christmas shopping list hasn’t quite come to fruition yet, why not pop down to these markets and pick up some handmade presents, supporting local designers and protecting the earth’s resources all in one pretty little package.

Paper. Scissors. Wall.

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

I'm sure for those of you who have visited Melbourne, have seen the beautiful artworks splashed over infamous Melbourne laneway walls. These creative designs made up of the most fetching colours, always provide that extra ray of sunshine to a sometimes dreary city landscape.

So we've all seen the art, but have you seen the artists? Chances are no.

Seam was lucky enough to hang out with one of Melbourne's street artists... here's a taste of what you will find within The Start-Ups Issue.

Suki is a self confessed printmaker, who turned to the streets with her art for reasons other than just making the city look better.

"I feel like working in the street gives my art a deeper meaning because it interacts with the environment around it," Suki says.

Sneaking around for the sake of art-kind, Suki admits she's always had a flair for all things creative.

"My family is quite eccentric, so I was lucky enough to grow up in an environment that saw the world in a different way and embraced creativity. I’ve always done a bit of this and that, but it wasn’t until I discovered printmaking that I really found my calling."

But despite what some may think, street art is so much more than just tagging with a spray can. Street artists put as much thought and effort into their pieces as any other artist would. Suki carefully constructs an idea, "something that will look beautiful" she insists, before taking photos, imprinting, carving, inking and finally pasting them up to be admired by onlookers.

It's hard to believe such cool work is frowned upon in the renowned city of art... I wonder if Suki has ever been caught? I guess you will just have to read the full story in Seam Magazine! 

Stealth Art

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

Yarn bombing is the stealthiest art form around, taking off in cities all around the world. It captures people’s attention, and if you have ever seen a yarn bomb, you’ll know it puts a smile on your face.

Bali is a Melbourne-based yarn bomber who was given a book on the art form and quickly realised it could really bring the community together.

“Arts and crafts have a way of bringing people together and I wanted to be at least a small part, if not larger, of seeing yarn bombing grow in Melbourne,” she says.

Though yarn bombing sounds like a hobby groovy grannies take part in, the public art form attracts people from all walks of crafty life who want to try something new, develop their own style and share their art.

“Above all though, nothing compares to a stranger on the street coming up and thanking you for your hard work and telling you that you gave them a moment of happiness in their day,” Bali says.

The avid yarn bomber remembers learning to knit with her mum when she was young, but found it “incredibly frustrating” at the time. To this day, she prefers crochet and although the majority of yarn bombers are knitters, Bali says the number of artists who use crochet is increasing.

Bali founded The Yarn Corner - a collective of artists who take part in yarn bombing projects, both individually and as a group. Some meet in real life to talk projects, but the majority of organising is done over facebook.

“We welcome everyone, even those just starting out with yarn bombing.”

You can read more about Bali and yarn bombing in Seam's The Start-Ups Issue.

It's Magazine Week!

Photo credit: Spook

So it's Magazine Week - possibly the best week of the year, yes? We'll definitely be celebrating by buying a whole stack of magazines and of course posting out more copies of Seam for your reading pleasure. Magazine Week sees some international and local papery peeps come together and discuss the inner workings of our favourite type of periodical, sharing all the new and exciting industry happenings with word nerds like you and me. From senior management to publishing, editorial to all things creative, there's a little bit of magazine love for everyone. There's a two day conference in Sydney accompanied by a magazine exhibition. This first magazine industry trade show will showcase the newest innovations to hit the magazine community. Check out all the details and ticket information here. Or simply use the week as an excuse to pop into your local newsagent, mag nation or quirky bookshop and buy that extra magazine you've had your eye on but never have the spare change for. We suggest checking out extra curricular, dumbo feather, peppermint, collect, spook and elephant. Happy reading!

This weekend: Finders Keepers

Finders Keepers

If you’re in sunny, sticky Brisbane this weekend pop on over to The Old Museum and come have a gander at our first issue! Seam Magazine and Alice Nightingale have a joint stall at the Finders Keepers Markets this weekend, running from 10am to 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. We’re quite delighted (and just a tad excited!) to be a part of this market. It’s a great place to grab quirky handmade wares, with lots of the designers coming from interstate to be here. We’ll be doing some Christmas shopping there for sure! Alice’s spring collection will be available, including brand new purses, clutches, tote bags, jewellery and bow ties in super sweet patterns. And if you haven’t yet had the chance to pick up a copy of our first issue, we have a whole bunch ready for your reading pleasure, with a few gift-wrapped copies all set to fill that special someone’s xmas stocking. Hope to see you there!

Stitching the way

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

Thread Den is a quaint little sewing lounge in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy. Ladies (and some gents) are flocking to the space for all sorts of lessons and to check out the handmade independently-designed garments stocked in store.

Joanna, Kylie and Melissa all have a hand in running the ever-growing store and they work hard to stay ahead of the times - which can be especially tricky in culture rich Melbourne. The three don’t have a lot of spare time to tend to their own sewing machines, but sewing has played a huge role in getting them where they are today.

While Melissa and Kylie were cultivating their love of sewing by cutting up old sheets and altering op-shopped pieces, Joanna was busy sewing on a machine given to her by Prince Charles.

When Joanna was young she attended a sewing class held by the Prince’s Trust charity with her youth group. “[Afterwards] they recommended to the charity that they buy me a mannequin and a sewing machine… so they did,” Joanna says.

Luckily the skills stuck with these lovely ladies because the crafty population of Melbourne have embraced their classes. Thread Den often has a waiting list for their kids and adults classes, and the girls say they get some “weird and wonderful” requests for private lessons.

“We enjoy transferring these skills and giving people opportunities to learn more and seeing their enthusiasm for it,” Melissa says.

You can read more about Thread Den on page 10 of Seam's The Start-Ups Issue!

Down to a Tea!

Photo Credit: Linsey Rendell

“It’s nice to think that someone liked it and wore it for some time and you can pick it up and keep it going... I don’t know if that’s being a hoarder or recycling, whether that’s good or bad – I feel good about it.”

Well, here at Seam Magazine, we feel pretty good about it!

Mural painter, designer and all-round fashionista, Lisa Tea is quickly establishing herself as a seriously sort after artist. Recently graduated from Visual Arts at ANU, Lisa has been an avid mural painter and seamstress from the get-go.

Her colourful and beautifully chaotic work can be found around our lovely nation's capital at public spaces in the CBD, bars and various residential venues. Lisa’s detailed and eclectic style is one to admire, and she says her inspiration and materials can be found almost anywhere.

“I’m a giant hoarder and I have a compulsion to use up all this stuff which I somehow constantly acquire,” Lisa says.

“[I think] I need to simplify, I need to really try to understand the less is more concept.”

Read more about Lisa on page 28 of Seam’s The Start-Ups Issue!

Like our photo, pretty please?

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

So now that today’s horse race has flown the coop, we thought we’d let you all know that we entered the above snap from our first issue into the Ray-Ban Pedestrian TV Photography Awards and it’s been shortlisted for the fashion category, huzzah!!!

But in order to progress to the next round and be judged by some super lovely magazine-y folk and Nick from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs (!), we really need all of YOU super swell people to hop on over and click ‘like’ on our photo. The images with the most likes go through to the judging panel so clickety-click away here and make sure to tell all your friends too, yeah yeah?

The morning after…

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

Morning! (Well, actually it’s afternoon now…) Thank you to all the lovely folk who came along to support the launch of our little mag last night. It was a super splendid affair! We'd like to say thank you to Brew for hosting our little event, Inland Sea for playing some swell tunes, Holly Riding, Jaclyn Bates and Clare Barrett for exhibiting some amazing art, and everyone who helped with setting up and making the night a success. We had a great (yet slightly balmy) evening.

If you missed out on grabbing your very own copy of Seam Magazine’s first issue last night, don’t fret! It’ll be in independent bookstores, fashion and craft boutiques and gift-type shops all around Australia from this week. Here’s the first list of stockists to get you started:

Nook (Brisbane)
Cultiver (Ipswich)
Blackbird Corner (Newcastle)
Little Papercup (Newcastle)
Sweets Workshop (Sydney)
Follow Store (Sydney)
Smiths Alternative Bookshop (Canberra)
Little Shop Of… (Melbourne)
The Brunswick Street Bookstore (Melbourne)
Felix (Melbourne)
The Nook (Hobart)

If you’re in Brisbane, we’ll be selling the magazine at the Brisbane Finders Keepers Markets this coming weekend (Sat 5th & Sun 6th) with Alice Nightingale.

And if you’re can’t grab a copy from any of these spots, we’d be super happy to pop a copy in the snail mail for you. Actual mail received in an actual letterbox is always delightful these days. Email info {at} seammagazine {dot} com to order your copy!

Seam is launching!

Seam Magazine's The Start-Ups Issue

Huzzah! Seam is here! We thought we’d give all you super swell followers a sneak peek of our cover as thanks for being such great chums. The photography for the cover is by our editor Linsey Rendell and the illustration is by Karen Wallis (also issue one’s designer) and Lucy Dalzell.

After eight super busy months of planning, writing, photography, designing and all those sneaky business bits that go into setting up a magazine, we’re finally launching our first issue this weekend! The delightful folk over at Brew are hosting our afternoon-to-evening celebratory soiree, so there’ll be plenty of tea, coffee, cocktails and other intriguing beverages on tap. There’ll also be an array of homebaked goods that would impress the slippers off your nanna.

Three young Brisbane artists – Clare Barrett, Jaclyn Bates and Holly Riding – have put together nine artworks for your eyeballing pleasure, recreating images from issue one in their own styles. And Brisbane band Inland Sea’s latest EP Fortune will be available for purchase before it’s even hit record store shelves!

We’re also holding a raffle with first prize an iPad2! And there's also a bunch of handmade goodies for ladies and lads to be won – tickets are 3 for $5.

And of course you’ll all have first dibs on Seam’s The Start-Ups Issue, retailing for $15. Wizzer!

Come along and support our little creative team at Seam's launch. Brew has a capacity limit of 120, so make sure you rock up early to nab a sofa or a stool amongst this highly coveted creative event. À bientôt!

21 woolly days later...

Photo Credit: 21 Days to Yarn Bomb

After the success of International Yarn Bombing Day, 21 Days to Yarn Bomb will be kicking off on November 1st. If you're an avid knitter or crocheter, grab some friends and add a little knitted goodness to the grey surroundings of your city. They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit, so if you're new to needlecraft, start practicing now and you'll surely have knitting (and stealth yarn bombing ninja moves) down pat after three weeks. A simple little flower or even a row of stitching tied to a street sign could make someone's day. It's a great chance to showcase your creativity and spruce up the streets. Plus, you might even meet some new people - this event is already attracting a crowd!

Worker Bee Wednesday

Photo credit: Rabbit Hole Ideation Cafe 

Creativity is in the air, everywhere I look around!

Read: If you didn't get a chance to pop in to the Avid Reader workshop with author Kelly Doust, her new book, Minxy Vintage is just the ticket to get you up to speed. This wonderful little book will help you breath new life in to your vintage finds - or any other sad looking pieces in your wardrobe. Kelly combines her creativity with her love of vintage to transform 50 worn down threads in to fashionable, modern outfits, fit for any fashion forward Queen. With the addition of a simply gorgeous front cover, this one is a must for the bookshelf.

Shop: When the lights are away, the designers come out to play! The Style After Dark market has kicked off again in Melbourne boasting a variety of locally designed goods, from clothing to headwear and all things in between. You'll get first dibs on new designers threads and maybe even find that 'one off' piece you've been searching for. Shopping can be hard work, but luckily the market also offers some delicious snacks that will keep you energetic into the night. The market is held every Thursday night from 5:30-9:30pm until 24th November.

Rummage: It's time to adorn your best vintage attire and head on down to the The Brisbane Vintage Fashion and Decor Fair. This delightful affair will be showcasing some impressive vintage collections from notable pre-loved enthusiasts. If you're not already in the swing of vintage after browsing the stalls, be swept back in time with the lovely vintage vinyl that will fill the air. There will also be a variety of alfresco bar and dining options to ensure you don't run out of energy! Check out the details here.

Attend: Harness the power of three! Where? At Creative3 of course! The Creative3 forum nudges individuals and organisations alike to come together in creativity, investment and enterprise in order to create successful creative businesses. This year's impressive program delves in to the brains of leading edge thinkers and experienced creatives from around the globe. The three day event, which kicks off today in Brisbane, will have a lil something for everyone, with 20 speakers and 10 panel sessions shedding some light on creative business... that's a lot of inspiration right there! Check out the program and ticketing information here... you might even spot Seam's editor ducking in and out of sessions between organising the final touches for the launch this weekend!

Study:  If Alice was to fall down the rabbit hole today do you know what she would find? Some great coffee! The Rabbit Hole Ideation Cafe  is the newest coffee kid on the West End block. Not only does this new little space offer stella caffeine-laden beverages, it also provides a space for busybodies to meet, work, share and create. Come in and test out one of their workstations... they provide wi-fi, a desk of your own and $2 coffees delivered straight to you! With exam season on its way, there's no excuse not to pop in and say hello (and study of course)!