Crafty Victorians

Ok, so I mean Victorians from Victoria, Australia.

Although I imagine the Victorians were very crafty what with all that needlework and decoupage!

Sorry I digress already!

Anyway the the thing is that as you may know there is a wonderful community of creative clever people in Fitzroy, Melbourne.

Clustered around Brunswick, Gertrude, Smith and George Streets are many wonderful independant artists and crafts people and I just had to take a stroll around with my Design Guide in hand (check it out here: http://www.melbournedesignguide.com/ )

Top of my list was here on Brunswick Street, Meet Me at Mikes ( http://www.meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/ )

Behind the Babushka you can see the window!

The Babushkas are in a park opposite the shop and so it follows that it has become a shop symbol

I was delighted to meet Pip Lincolne the famed owner of Meet me at Mikes, giant granny square crocheter, writer of the craft book and woman who knows a thing or two about clogs.

I urge you to check out her book which is now available from Amazon here in the UK, hooray.

"From Melbourne's best loved crafty store comes Meet Me at Mikes, a cornucopia of crafty fun and inspiration. Queen of Crafters Pip Lincolne has gathered 26 of the best projects from the country's most creative cleverbods"

I could wax on all day but suffice to say the shop is full of unique vintage books, wallpapers, prints, toys and ephemera. I especially liked the Fitting Room wallpapered in Vintage Ladybird book images.

Not actually in Melbourne but up the road in Daylesford is LARK ( http://www.the-lark.blogspot.com/ ) I have been a fan of Lark for some time and was really chuffed that Allison (owner and lovely English girl Down Under ) was due to open her new shop whilst I was there!

In proper Calamity Jane style I rocked up a day early, silly billy!

Allison has kindly allowed me to show these images of the shop, isn't it great?

You can read all about it on Allison's blog.


When I was at the airport waiting to fly home I bought a copy of an Australian magazine called Country Style. Lo and behold there was a lovely article featuring Allison and her family! Which was nearly as nice as meeting her in person!

Back on Gertrude Street I stumble across the most divine tree, covered in lace doilies! Heavenly. Created by the fabulous Miss PenPen ( http://www.misspenpen.blogspot.com/ )

You know I have a penchant for guerilla knitting, this looks so good and turning around I see......

...this delightful shop front

Oh girls, it is so fab, I could move in!

Cottage Industry ( http://www.cottageindustry.bogspot.com/ ) is the brainchild of Penelope Durston Queen of salvaged fabric and fabulous pom pom hats.

I honestly could have bought everything in the shop!

Penelope is fabulous too it was a treat to meet her.

And so you are wondering what did come home with me, well I carried this treasure home with me and had a marvelous trying out ceremony to decide where it would live.

Gorgeous cushion made from this fabilous vintage fabric,

I LOVE IT!

It gets better as the fabric on the reverse is just as good!

Reminds me of some of the fantastic prints in CK's book IN PRINT

One side for Summer and one side for Winter, what could be better?

Sorry about the blurry photography, but I really wanted to show the beautiful colour palette

I love how painterly this side looks

Now that it is snug in The Snug I love it even more

I shall be cosying up with it this weekend whilst watching a certain dance extravaganza!

Back soon with more Victorian tales x