Sydney Life Instyle

Wow, it has been a while since I posted a blog! Christmas time was insanely busy in the studio, then I collapsed in a heap for a few weeks!

The next big event for the Eucalypt Homewares team is the Sydney Life Instyle Trade Fair. Below is some info about the fair, taken from the website. It is a trade only event and you need to register to attend.

Life Instyle

Life Instyle’s boutique trade event delivers a mix of beautiful designer brands sourced from a diverse range of companies featuring homeware, giftware, lifestyle and kids products.

Floralware tumbler and plate with Eucalypt Range side plate and small bowl

VENUE
Royal Hall of Industries & Hordern Pavilion
Entertainment Quarter
Errol Flynn Boulevard (access via Lang Road)
Moore Park, Sydney.

Floralware tumbler and Dress Ring

Opening Hours

Thursday	11am - 9pm
Friday	9am - 6pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	9am - 5pm

Collection of Floralware and Eucalypt Range Tableware

Eucalypt Homewares will be in the Royal Hall of Industries at stall number 1370.

Trinket Boxes come in four sizes

The idea behind a trade fair is to showcase your wares to a retail audience who will (hopefully) place orders for their stores.

A collection of Floralware and Eucalypt Range Tableware

If you are retail outlet attending the fair and would like to book an appointment with Eucalypt Homewares, please email me melanie@eucalypthomewares.com.au

Plates

There is still lots to organise and make over the next few weeks. Luckily I have some fabulous assistants to help in the studio and during the fair.

Dress Rings with adjustable backs

Mother's Day Studio Open

Twice a year I open my Eucalypt Homewares studio to the public for a sale on current pieces as well as some real bargains on seconds and discontinued lines.

One is held just before Christmas and the other the week before Mother's Day. Last Sunday was the annual pre Mother's Day sale. This year I invited some other local designers to join me resulting in a lovely market like atmosphere in my back garden.

Eucalypt Homewares table

Shoppers could wonder through the garden looking a tables set up with work from Eucalypt Homewares, Robin Wells Jewellery, Little Babushka and Old Grey House.

Robin Wells with some happy shoppers

It was a perfect sunny day with people arriving at leisure through out the afternoon. There was a nice mix of loyal supporters and new enthusiasts all enjoying an outing perusing local artist's wares. We even had a lovely local lady organise a luncheon for her friends with a stroll down to my studio after, a special thanks to Mia!

Looking through the garden at Little Babushka and Old Grey House

Talking of thanks, much appreciation to my friend, Kim and my husband, David for their help on the day!
I'm looking forward to the next Open Day in December....

Studio Open

Studio Open @ my place this Sunday

Featuring...

Old Grey House

Robin Wells Jewellery

Eucalypt Homewares....

Come and visit us for some beautiful hand made Christmas gifts...

1-4pm in Kensington WA

email msharpha@bigpond.net.au for details

MORE Holiday Fun

Unfortunately, I didn't take any photos while everyone was making these bowls. My two girls had much fun with the water and clay after the bowl making, they were covered, head to foot in clay.
It was a lovely morning with kids and mums making bowls, then eating lunch under our shady peppermint tree.

I couldn't resist these two photos (out of the 70) Eve took as we where leaving the zoo.

Oh, and this one of T-Bear in her garden out-fit!

It's sad the school holidays are over, back to work and school and swimming lessons and piano and band and, and... sigh

crazy mugs

The things you do...

I have been feeling guilty over the last year because lots of my dear friends have been asking me to make mugs. So finally I have, but it's been so crazy around here that the only time I seem to have to make them has been very early in the morning and the middle of the night - told you - crazy!


Tonight I put them in the kiln (slightly wet, might I add) crossed my fingers and turned it on. I have to fit in a bisque and glaze firing before my studio open on Sunday.

Here they are whispering to each other that they are too wet to be in the kiln yet....

Studio update

This is the line up for the second last firing before the Perth Upmarket this coming Sunday.

It always amazes me to see all the work spread out on the table for glazing to find that it all fits in the kiln. I not only squeezed in all these bowls and plates, but truck loads of Christmas decorations - they fit in the cracks.

I had a big scare last week when my kiln showed a reading of EEEE and not working! Thanks to the guys at Kiln West they had it fixed that day XXXX. Phew! I mean, why couldn't it break next week?


Here is my little Eve with her precious bowls (don't worry they are all seconds with cracks in the rims). She doesn't ever break them as she is very careful. They get filled with bits and bobs from the studio, lined up in colours along with endless chatter about how "Mummy gave me pink bowl" She announced that the studio was hers too, not too sure about that one, Eve. I reserve the right to kick out any overbearing children when I am stressed!

Kensington back garden bliss

I'm not sure if I'll always get to post something everyday. At the moment my kids are sick, so I am house bound and have had to cancel all our school holiday catch-ups. [Sigh]

I thought I might as well give a tour of my studio.

It is a lovely space with lots of natural light, situated in my back garden right next to the sandpit. Sometimes the kids come in to the studio and fiddle around with bits of clay and the seconds bowls. My two year old likes to "share" my tools and always knows where I left my special knife, as I am always loosing it. She is pretty good company mostly, though does tend to make lots of mess with water. I must say I get a bit selfish with my space when more than one child comes in and wants to fight over stuff - they get kicked out pretty quick smart! Mostly they are more than happy to play outside together in the garden :)

The first series of photos are a few years old but they show my dodgy mould making skills with the results at the end.

Eucalypt Series 2007

These are quite small and very fine. I used a porcelain body which I colour with stains and clear glaze the interior. The pieces are wet sanded after bisque firing and again after glaze firing to give them a satin feel. Rims are important to me so I sand them flat and smooth too

Back to the studio...

This photo was taken during production time. It doesn't take long for the space to fill!

Then I start loading the kiln...

Actually I try to glaze and load as I go. These days I once fire which means I brush the glaze on green wear (unfired clay) and do a slow firing to temperature (1260*C).

Ok, the little ones are up from their sleep and I'm off to the doctors now...