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.

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?  

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!

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.

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!

follow the finch

Photo credit: Linsey Rendell

So last weekend I was wandering about the Young Designer Markets, minding my own business (well not really, I was snapping photos of trendy folk), when the follow the finch stall jumped out into the walkway, grabbed me and took me prisoner among its pretty handmade wares. And it was awesome!

Follow the finch is one delightful little label, stocking wallets handmade from carefully curated combinations of recycled fabric, notebooks featuring vintage music parchment and typewriter-ed titles, and sunglass cases made from vintage fabrics and old dress patterns. My favourite of the wares though is the kitchen clutch – named just so because they’re made from top-notch, never-been-used, vintage tea towels. The designer Renee inherited a whole stash of English tea towels from her grandmother and rummages about op shops when the collection is running low. The designs are all limited run and Renee makes everything by hand herself – from her business cards and swing tags to all the products.

She’s based near Byron Bay, so you won’t see her friendly face at markets every weekend, but check out the finch’s facebook or website for when she’ll next be flying about (and online sales of course).

A wonderful weekend awaits

Photo via Cherry Picked

We hope you're all ready for the weekend - but who are we kidding, of course you are! And luckily so, because this weekend there is a stack of awesomely creative things to do and see!

Oh, how we wish we could be in two places at once...

In Sydney the Italian Film Festival kicks off on Saturday and is definitely worth a visit - we have a hunch your tummies will thank you after you're inspired to whip up some mediterranean foodstuffs! If you're not at this festival we assume it's because you'll be at Parklife. Tickets are still available but you should probably hurry!

Melbourne has a nifty little exhibition called Many Hands. This one night only event showcases the work of artists of different disciplines who were given one generic light fitting to turn into whatever they please. The result will be this light show which is (fittingly) being held the night before daylight savings begins.

Brisbane has a stack of markets lined up for creative kids like us. The Young Designer Markets are on at South Bank, Suitcase Rummage is happening again at Reddacliff Place in the CBD and the Valley Laneway Markets will once again be kicking along. Brisbane Open House is also on, so if you've ever wanted to check out the old buildings around the river city which aren't often open to the public you'll be able to! Hooray!

Much Ado About the Weekend

Photo Credit: Valley Laneway Markets.

Seam Magazine recommends a few recreational outings to keep you occupied this sunny Brisbane weekend…

Friday

Semi-Permanent Brisbane – SOLD OUT
Hope you got your early bird tickets because this celebration of design and creativity is full to its boater-hat brim.
Happening all day today at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. After party at Nine Lives Gallery from 6pm

Bleeding Heart City Markets
Handmade, arty, crafty and vintage wares by local creatives decorate the balcony and front yard of this city gallery slash café today.
First Friday of the Month
10AM – 4PM

GreazeFest Kustom Kulture Festival
I love a little bit of pin-up prancing (doing) and rockabilly dancing (watching). Rumour has it Sunday is the best day to pop over to this “crankin” weekend of hot rods, half-sleeves and polka-dots, but it is on Friday and Saturday nights too. Friday 8PM - 1AM, Saturday 7.30PM - 12.30AM, Sunday 9AM - 5PM

Saturday

Valley Laneway Markets
Handmade designs by new and old Winn Lane friends straddle this popular laneway. Regulars Flamingo Café, Little Jane St and Sunday Social open too. Your ears might even be treated to a little local sound if you’re in the right place at the right time.
9AM – 3PM

Ric’s Backyard Suitcase Rummage
On the first Saturday of every month, Ric’s are hosting the infamous Suitcase Rummage. Grab a vintage hatbox, fill it with some junk or homemade goods, and bicycle on down to the Valley (registration essential). Or just come chill on the astroturf with your beverage of choice.
12PM – 5PM

Winter Jumble Sale
The Animal Welfare League of Queensland is holding its own pre-loved clothing rummage, with the money raised going towards caring for thousands of homeless animals. Help save a puppy or two and buy a vintage dress for $2 or fill a bag for $5. Now that’s a thoughtful bargain if I ever did see one.
10AM – 1PM
AWLQ Coombabah Rehoming Centre

Sunday

Young Designers Market
Southbank’s monthly showcase of Brisbane’s young creative souls is on this Sunday. Don’t forget to pencil in their additional market this month (August 20-21) in celebration of Brisbane’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival.
10AM – 4PM