Shopping Night Success - See what we can buy Ardoch kids!

Well despite the rain, we had a wonderful turn out of about 60 people at our combined opening and shopping night last night. A HUGE thank you to all who came along and supported Maker Handmade, Blue Door Gallery and of course Ardoch Youth Foundation.

Between Blue Door Gallery and Maker Handmade we raised $525 for Ardoch Youth Foundation. To get an idea of what that means in real terms, here's an example of what we could buy from their online catalogue (which you can browse at the Ardoch website):

1. New school shoes for 10 kids!!
For a family experiencing hardship, new shoes for fast growing feet can be difficult to manage.

2. Breakfast for two children for a year, and substantial change for other items.
Kids can't learn on an empty stomach. Ardoch runs Breakfast Club Programs which gives kids, what can be for some, their only meal for the day.

3. A weekly Met ticket for 37 children!!
If they can't get to school, they can't learn. At $14 per week per child, this can turn out to be a big ticket expense item for some families.

4. Infant Care Package
At $60 per week, our donation could buy a baby whose family is experiencing disadvantage nearly 9 weeks worth of nappies, formula, baby wipes, cream and powder.

The list goes on - honestly a little bit of money can make a huge difference to a child who is struggling to stay in school. If you're in the habit of buying Oxfam gifts for xmas (I've purchased the odd goat myself), perhaps give this local organisation a go this year...

And now a few pics of our night:

Kellee with her Zoe.O satchel purchase, Lisa with Formosa Design T'Towel and
Mandy Burns, Chief Executive of Ardoch Youth Foundation.

Me, Madeleine and Jacqui from Reissued

Passing a Cosse handwash - they were a big hit!

Jenny & Richard -  product display assistants extraordinaire!

Husband Steve and me!

Shopping Night tonight - and look at all of our new Makers!

Wow it's been a big week here at Maker Handmade. One or several new Maker products arriving every day which has of course required constant re-arranging of the store (stops me from re-arranging our living area which makes husband happy).

We have our champagne shopping night / opening / fundraiser on tonight. If you're around pop in any time from 6pm to 9pm for a glass of champers, free gift wrapping on your purchases and 10% of sales going to Ardoch Youth Foundation.

Now - take a look at what has come in over the last week! (sorry about the dodgy photo placement).

Handmade Living was co-created by the talented Julie Nicholls, founder of Shop Handmade in Canberra and features Melbourne's wonderful Nicole James of Yardage Design.

Tilli Michelle clutches - antique japanese silk & leather

Zoe.O satchels

Kate Ward's journal covers

Formosa Design's tea towels

and O designs porcelain brooches & dishes

and O porcelain pendants

Cosse Body Products

Cosse Soaps

evie lala booties, t's and accessories

Babushka Baby cotton hand stitched quilts

Cracked, worn and a little uneven but oh so lovely....

A couple of days ago I took a little wander down Clarendon Street to my favourite second hand shop which is always full to the brim with furniture and bits and pieces. On the hunt for some interesting display options for the new stock that has been arriving lately, I sorted through some old wine boxes and ceramic kitchen bowls but as I headed to the counter I spied this little treasure on a shelf somewhere up near the ceiling...

It's delightfully uneven and was clearly loved, broken at some point and put back together with vast amounts of glue that years later look like rivers of treacle...

Everything I had picked up in the shop went back on the shelf in favour of my new lovely bowl which has created a temporary shop-home for Formosa Design's brooches and magnets, covered with Jenny's hand screen printed textiles.

The origin of the bowl remains a mystery, 2nd hand shop Steven thinks it may be c. 1920s but we're both very unsure. If anyone out there is a fan of antique earthenware, pottery etc and could give us some clues as to where it started its life I would love to hear from you!

As for the bits between its birth and its new life in Maker Handmade, my imagination has already been at work creating a full and wonderful 90 years....

Well hello there little fella

Leisa and Nicole, the two lovely sisters behind Mookah dropped in some gorgeous floor cushions and softies today. Tell me you don't want to give this little guy a squeeze...

I did, now I just have to stop my daughter from doing the same. Repeatedly.

Fairy Penguin and his friends provide a bit of bright eye candy in the window on a grey rainy day.