Lightly brand new Belle Lights giveaway!

New Belle Lights from Melbourne-based Lightly. Available in red, yellow, white, black, with flex cords in red, white, green, black, yellow.

Melbourne design dynamo Cindy-Lee Davies is at it again... this girl just does not slow down! Cindy-Lee's hugely successful Lightly brand is a brilliant local success story. Since launching the company just 5 years ago, Lightly products are now stocked across Australia and internationally... most recently she collaborated with US retail giant Anthropologie on a custom range of her popular 'Chrysalis' butterflies! (pics below).

Cindy-Lee is constantly dreaming up new product ideas - these fabulous Belle wireframe pendant lights are her most recent creation. Strikingly simple, the lights take their names from Cathedral bells - St Michael, St Paul and St Anthony. I love the colour-contrasting Flex cords - you can choose any colour combo you like!

BUT what is even better is that you could WIN one of these babies, thankyou Cindy-Lee! The prize is one St Michael wire-frame pendant lamp in black frame, red flex (top pic above).

Just leave a comment here before midnight tonight, Tuesday 13th July 2010, to be in the running! Please include your first name and email address and the winner will be randomly selected and notified tomorrow morning!

*Thanks so much for all your wonderful comments, this giveaway is now closed! The Random Number generator has spoken - the winner is comment no. 145 - congratulations Hollie!*

Top - Chrysalis butterflies for Anthropologie this year - amazingly made from reclaimed china in China! (True story!). See the piles of China saucers sourced for this project below! Bottom - Lightly's limited edition clock for Anthropologie last year.

Pics of the saucers reclaimed in China for the Anthropologie Chrysalis butterflies. Cindy Lee was so excited that she was able to find and use reclaimable saucers - unheard of in China.

PS) Hunt Lightly down during State of Design this week - Cindy-Lee currently has an installation in the window at Craft Victoria, and will be speaking this Friday at Design Victoria's 'Hello World - Exporting Design' seminar.

Spacecraft / State of Design Workshop giveaway!

Images from Spacecraft Australia's 'Aesthetics of Saving' workshop, held in Osaka, Japan last year.

As promised I have a really special State of Design giveaway for one lucky Design Files reader! The lovely people at Melbourne's much-loved screenprinting company Spacecraft are running a brilliant hands-on workshop this Saturday July 17th, and here you can win yourself a place (valued at $300!).

This is a really rare opportunity for one lucky print / textile enthusiasts to work alongside Stewart Russell and the very inspiring Spacecraft team in their North Melbourne studio. The session will be used to transform abandoned garments and furniture, using different printing techniques and the Spacecraft library of prints to create a collection of modern heirlooms.

The session is open to only 10 people, and everyone will go home with a unique printed garment / object they have played a part in transforming!

This workshop coincides with Spacecraft's State of Design exhibition, The Aesthetics of Saving (part 2). Part one of the workshop was held in Osaka, Japan last year.

*Thanks for all your entries guys! Please note a winner has now been randomly selected and notified by email - the winner was Tess McCabe (comment number 2!)*

Spacecraft 'Aesthetics of Saving' studio workshop
Sat 17th July 10.30 – 2.30
Spacecraft studio North Melbourne

Spacecraft 'Aesthetics of Saving' exhibition
Wed 14th July - Sat 31st July during business hours
Spacecraft Hawksburn store
572 Malvern rd, Prahran

Happy Japanese print workshoppers! Images from Spacecraft Australia's 'Aesthetics of Saving' workshop, held in Osaka, Japan last year.

Tailfeather

Classic leathergoods by Tallarook-based craft/design duo, Tailfeather.

Durable leather bags and satchels

Coming soon from Tailfeather! - Kangaroo skin iPhone cases and card wallets with Laser etched designs by local artists - Nails, TwoOne, Oh54 and Bonsai (Scottie).

You'd think these old-school leathergoods were the product of some long-established saddlery from Australia's early settlement or goldrush years. In fact, they're the work of two young designers living in Tallarook, just North of Melbourne in country Victoria.

Tailfeather is the collaboration of Scottie Neoh, and Natalia Perez - a creative pair who use time-honoured leatherwork techniques and a range of diverse skills to create their classic designs. Scottie is a painter and illustrator by trade, whilst Natalia has a background in textile design. Each Tailfeather product is handmade in Scottie and Natalia’s Tallarook studio, with a focus on quality craftsmanship, attention to detail and durability. Tailfeather products are made strong enough to last a generation.

Aside from being super-impressed by Tailfeather's simple, timeless designs and commitment to quality craftmanship... I was also somewhat mesmerised by their beautiful surroundings - I just had to share these recent Autumn photos posted on their website! Their studio is situated in the middle of 50 acres of forest, surrounded by Gum trees and and native animal-life... Wow.

Visit the Tailfeather website to view the full range and shop online.

Autumn in Tallarook!

Sackcloth & Ashes - Melbourne-made bespoke wallpaper

Sackcloth & Ashes bespoke handmade wallpapers by Melbourne designer Matthew Liam Collins

The Design Files gets me a bit star struck sometimes... I remember being very chuffed the day Barbara Hermon of Hermon & Hermon sent me an email to say she liked my blog! A veteran of Melbourne's design community, Barbara is an interior designer, importer and retailer, and is so well respected for her brilliant eye. She and husband John source the very best in furniture, lighting, artwork and homewares from around the globe for their well-loved Richmond store... and although we've never met in person, I do receive the odd email from her now and then. She sends me lovely feedback about the blog here and there, and occasionally a new discovery she wants to share...

Sackcloth & Ashes is one such discovery! Barbara emailed me about these stunning handmade wallpapers recently... aren't they exquisite!? I just love their unique texture and aged feel.... what a brilliant way to give your home a sense of time-honoured grandeur!

Oooh la la.

The Sackcloth & Ashes range is designed and hand painted right here in Melbourne by interior decorator Matthew Liam Collins and a small team of artists. Through his business Art & Interiors, Matthew also offers a range of services which include colour consultations, specialist paint application and paper hanging, paint effects, artworks and polished plaster. As if he wasn't already busy enough, this recent foray into handmade wallpapers is sure to keep him seriously in demand!

Thanks so much for the tip-off Barbara!

Interview - Greg Hatton

Willow chair - photo by Lizette Bell

Best. Cubbyhouse. Ever. (designed and built by Greg Hatton)

Cubbyhouse interiors

Outdoor table setting and overhead light by Greg Hatton

Lights and things

Deco chair and other lovely stuff in Hatton's previous workshop/showroom in St Kilda

I cannot believe it has taken me this long to interview Melbourne furniture designer/landscaper/stonemason/general fossicker/ Greg Hatton. Even if you don't know him by name, I'm sure most Australian-based readers would have seen his beautiful willow furniture in print magazines or Melbourne shop windows in the last few years... yet somehow I have neglected to share Greg's incredible body of work here until now! Shame! I can only say a huge thankyou to Greg's fabulous loyal assistant Leila Sanderson, who contacted me a little while ago and kindly chased down the interview from Greg - no mean feat from a man who, I dare say, spends a lot less time at his computer screen than the rest of us!

You might know Greg by his studio moniker 'Twiggie' - an apt name which describes the stunning rustic furniture, lighting, and props he makes for private clients, local businesses and stylists. What you mightn't know is that Greg's diverse background originally included stints as a bike courier, fisheries officer and vegetable farmer(!!)... until he fell into stonemasonry after a 2 year sabbatical overseas. Greg found himself instantly drawn to the raw beauty of this natural material... and before too long was taking on his own landscaping and design commissions.

I am so inspired by Greg's brilliant attitude - his answers below reveal so many likeable qualities... and it seems that aside from being insanely talented, Greg is just such a super nice guy! He strikes me as someone for whom no job seems too hard or too complicated, someone who is driven, yet doesn't take himself too seriously - and who relishes the opportunity to get his hands dirty and earn a crust with 'honest toil'. In some strange way, it seems that each chair, stool or stonewall created by Greg tells something of his own unique personality... each wobbly imperfection points to his free-spirited creative process, and highlights the beauty of the raw natural material.

Until very recently Greg was working out of a fabulous warehouse/showroom in Melbourne's Balaclava... but being an ever-restless creative soul, he's recently taken on an immense new project, purchasing an old Butter factory in rural Newstead earlier this year (pics below). It's a brilliant (but dilapidated) old heritage building, in much need of love and restoration. Wowsers, big job! Currently part of the site is being used as Greg's new workshop, and the pair also intend to exhibit furniture and other design work here... oooh exciting! Stay tuned!!

Please check out Greg's website for more, or his Flickr, and he also has a brilliant blog which is updated by his trusty assistant Leila (aka Skinny) - she seems super AMAZING in her own right actually... I really need a Leila of my own! Where do I find one?

Huge thanks to both Greg and Leila for this wonderful interview!

Clearly having some trouble culling the photos. But can you blame me? LOVE the Christmas trees... a LOT.

Tell me a little about your background – what path led you to what you’re doing now?

Whilst sorting out the screws and nails in boxes in his shed for the 100th time my aging Grandfather once told me that you can live one life for 80 odd years or 8 lives for ten years, I chose the latter, he painted trams. His house was yellow and green! I have always made things, cubby houses, billy carts, bikes with big front wheels, bikes with big back wheels, pulled things apart and put things back together. A tree fell over in the backyard when I was about 12 and I decided to make a chair from it for my mum.

Year’s later after pursuing opportunistic and diverse vocations such as a bike courier, fisheries officer and vegetable farmer, I found myself without a job following a 2 years sabbatical overseas. So I started making things from willow - a weed growing prolifically in our rivers and streams and degrading waterways. After 12 months and little success I started working for a childhood friend Marty who put me in charge of the mixer for his stonemason gang. 3 months of mixing and the novelty had worn off and the only way out was to learn how to lay stone myself. It was love at first sight. Working with another raw material in its most basic form, and hard physical toil to create amazing structures that retained the beauty of the natural material they consisted of. It was great!

I scored a big job building a front entry wall of my own design, went out on my own and haven’t looked back…although we all have those days where working for someone else looks a little more attractive.


You’ve created so many incredible pieces - from private commissions to props for stylists and for retail display… what have been one or two of your favourite projects?

Making coffee bean silos for a mate who runs an amazing café/ coffee roasting company called St Ali in south Melbourne was pretty satisfying. They look good, functioned perfectly first time and are used everyday and haven’t needed any maintenance. Touch wood.

Coffee silos at St. Ali

Last year I finished a 12 month project building a billabong (Fancy dam) for some loyal clients down the Mornington peninsula at Red Hill. I actually used my university education! I studied geomorphology and soil science and with this realised the Ordovician clay at the site chosen would be impervious, deep and would resist turbidity (not suspend particles in the water column or be cloudy) ..unlike the nearby volcanic clay on the east side of the creek. That alone was satisfying enough, I even thought I was smart for a moment! I saved the client about $80000 on dam lining and had a great time making it. Unfortunately they want to plant willows along the edge to which I have protested vehemently. They even named their newly born daughter willow so I can no longer argue.

Fancy Dam

We did a great garden job in Acland street St Kilda, great clients are generally the key, if they let you go and believe in your vision it helps a lot with the end product.

Garden in st. Kilda

A garden behind a block of 60’s flats in South Yarra on a very steep site was also pretty satisfying, dragging all the rocks up 5 sets of stairs reminded me of it for at least 6 months, I can tie my shoes again now.

Beautiful landscaping by Greg at steep site in South Yarra

Some of the pieces I am most proud of I have made for myself and aren’t prepared to give them up, a sculptured dragster out of sticks, a four poster bed, some cool shelves. Its normally the pieces I make when I have some downtime, the ones that flow out rather than being forced a bit, does that make sense?

OMG awesome. :)

Four poster bed in Greg's previous Balaclava showroom/workshop

Shelves

Can you give us an insight into the inner workings of your business? Do you employ other people, and do you outsource any significant tasks…? How do you keep up with the boring ‘business’ side of things, in addition to the fun creative side?

I have a girl Friday everyday, Skinny (Leila), who’s great. She puts up with me and her duties vary from p.a, paving queen, blog manager, bookkeeper, chair maker, soft furnishing expert, delivery girl, publicist, marketing manager, tree lopper, teepee designer and manufacturer….etc etc.

Beautiful Teepees by Leila Sanderson who works with Greg

We each have our strengths and varying tolerance levels of the boring stuff so it balances out well. I have a few boys I call on for the heavier stuff, Nick - a barista who worked at a café around the corner from one of my bigger jobs, Paulie - another stonemason/ barista, Gumby - who’s recently run away overseas, brother of another café staffer, and Stu who’s run away too, to open his café, Tim’s starting this week, a mate of a mate. I rescue people from badly paid hospitality jobs and when they are sick of waking up sore and tired they run away. They mostly come back though.

Where do you turn for inspiration for your designs? (ie books, magazines, your environment, travel, nature, family or friends… etc?)

Many of my clients provide enough of the inspiration, they are mainly pretty creative types who know what they want, we just sit down together and nut out the bones of a job, I like them to evolve rather than be a set design on paper. Often it’s the materials I find that tell me what they are to become, or in a garden build the whole outlook changes when you remove a tree or change ground levels, and so do your ideas on what to do next.

My favourite mag is called DAMn from Belgium.

I love the freaky beauty of organised European villages. (I lived in Austria for a while) and the history around them. Utilitarian design in old Austrian farmhouses many made before steel was readily available, so no nails no screws no wire…

Greg and Austrian Farmhouses... how about that fence!?

My mate Big Al had a very cool great uncle Keith, rip - who lived on a remote property in the Wimmera alone all his life. This resulted in various eccentricities and much inventiveness. He became a bit of a cult hero with a few mates after a couple of visits. I always think of him when I need to make something and have limited materials… what would uncle Keith do?

What does a typical day at work involve for you?

Getting up scratching my head and wondering what I’m supposed to be doing today, followed by a strong coffee at home or The Wall, my current favourite café. All shadowed by my trusty old hound Kev. I don’t really have typical days as I am stupid enough to take on different things all the time, thus leaving me in a constant state of confusion, research and fear.. I mean excitement.

Greg's trusty pal, Kev

What are you most proud of professionally?

Working pretty green, I know that term has been flogged to death but I can sleep at night.

Taking on new and challenging jobs

Winging a pool renovation and pulling it off.

Compromising minimally

Aforementioned pool renovation. Looks pretty profesh to me!

What would be your dream project?

A large sculpture work over acres of rolling hills.

Building a stone house into a rocky outcrop.

Running a skip sculpture competition, each artist gets a random skip full of rubbish and has to produce a work in a set time frame.

What are you looking forward to?

Genuine leadership in government.

Feeling relaxed and confident in what I do.

Getting my shit together, I guess they are the same thing.

Planting out my vegie patch in Butterland (The Butter Factory in Newstead).


Melbourne Questions –

Where do you shop in Melbourne for the tools of your trade? (ie recycled materials, hardware, fabrics etc?)

Side of the road for materials apparently its illegal but what isn’t these days.

Timber from Bowerbird timbers out towards Warburton, recycled and windfall timbers, lovely people to deal with …worth the drive.

Recycled Timber and things from Hughes demolition in Oakleigh

I actually scrounge most of my materials, it’s part of my business plan , reuse recycle repair. It’s amazing what people throw away.


Where /what was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

Had some great hot cross buns from a bakery in Elwood the other day, sourdough, buttered…thickly. Yum and a great lamb and couscous salad at Mart in Albert Park, haven’t been out much lately, my mate Pat whipped up a tasty dahl with some tommy’s I kidnapped from a clients garden….they were over ripe and the clients were away!

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Again hard to be typical as I have no routine, at the moment scraping paint or wax off some surface of my latest project, renovating an old butter factory in central Victoria. I’d like to be riding my bike somewhere in the bush.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

I am about as far from having my finger on the pulse of Melbourne as anyone, however I’ll give it a shot. That you can make a coffee at home that’s as good as one at your local café.

Donna Marcus

Artworks created from anodised alumnium by Donna Marcus - from top left - Lounge, Parlour, Spareroom and Observatory, all 2006.

Queensland-based artist Donna Marcus makes seriously AMAZING artworks from re-purposed kitchenware and aluminium... How completely brilliant is it to see such beautiful and inspired creations made from something as mundane as salvaged cookware...!? When re-arranged and re-contextualised by Marcus, these lolly-coloured pots and pans seem so precious - almost jewel-like... a truly magical transformation.

Re-Entry - photos by Matt Hurst

Donna currently has an incredible large-scale installation showing in the Atrium at Federation Square.. entitled 'Re-Entry', a collection of hanging sculptures are suspended like surreal multicoloured clouds or 'intergalactic space-junk'! The installation is constructed from over 1000 aluminium pots, pans, colanders and fry pan lids! Love it.

Fed Square are so great with things like this. Nice work Fed Square art curator dudes, whoever you are! :)

Re-Entry - photos by Matt Hurst

Re-Entry will run at the Atrium in Fed Square until May 29th.

Donna Marcus is represented in Melbourne by Dianne Tanzer Gallery.

Thanks to Matt Hurst for the tip off and the shots! x

Interview - Aimee McCallum

Aimee McCallum in her gorgeous North Fitzroy store, Tiger & Peacock.

Love these canopies in the window of Tiger & Peacock - made of course by Aimee!

Some of Tiger & Peacock's gorgeous wares, sourced internationally by Aimee and partner Mark.

Windows at Husk by Aimee

Another Husk window by Aimee

Although we only met last year, I've been admiring Aimee McCallum's incredible work for many years - and chances are, you probably have too! Aimee is responsible for the stunning window displays in Melbourne's Husk stores over the past 7 years... and let's face it - no one does a window quite like Husk! I've often walked past the windows of the Carlton and Hawksburn stores and snapped a quick pic on my phone - Aimee's work never fails to turn heads and draw a smile from passers by! From her incredible oversized knitting needles, to her soft hanging tissue pom poms (blogged here last year!) or cascade of hand-folded fans.... Aimee has such a brilliant way of bringing together colour, texture and hand-made elements to create awe-inspiring results.

Aimee's visual merchandising clients over the years have included so many brilliant Melbourne retailers - such as T2 Tea , Klein's Perfumery, Safari Living and Husk. In recent years Aimee's passion for travel and design have also encouraged her and partner Mark Azzopardi (an architect) to launch Tiger & Peacock - a wholesale business importing stunning gifts and homewares sourced from around the world.

...and as if Aimee wasn't busy enough scouring the globe for Tiger & Peacock treasures, and dreaming up Husk windows... late last year the pair added one more feather to their bow - they launched their very own retail store! The Tiger & Peacock shop is such a gorgeous little space in North Fitzroy, full of dazzling trinkets, homewares and furniture. Currently the store is manned full time by Aimee herself - who you will often find hiding behind her sewing machine at the counter whilst she tinkers away on her next eye-catching window installation!

Thanks so much to Aimee for her time with this interview, and for all the stunning shots of her work! If you're in the North do pop in to Tiger & Peacock in st Georges Rd and say hello!

Tiger & Peacock
187 St Georges rd
Fitzroy North

Ph. 9489 8105

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays

Aimee's famous pink pom poms!

Tell me a little about your background – what path originally led you to Visual Merchandising, product sourcing/wholesaling, and now to opening your very own shop?

I think I was just meant to be a visual merchandiser. When I was about 8 years old, while I was re-arranging my side of the bedroom I shared with my sister, my Mum told me “Aimee you're going to be a Visual Merchandiser or an interior designer " - Well here I am!

From a young adult I have worked for many business doing instore displays and window displays, I started in T2, Kliens Perfumery, Husk for over 7 years and of course now Tiger & Peacock.

Before working for Husk I wanted to make sure I had chosen the right career for my self, so I lived in Italy for about three years teaching English to children. I loved this job but I felt like I was missing something creative in my life.

So over the many years during my work for Husk I developed a very strong style, which my partner Mark recognised and encouraged me to explore. With all of his positive support, this moved us to do something of our own; so with Mark's strong background in Architecture and me with multiple years of VM and retail experience, we sought to make our dream happen. The vision that has come to fruition is a collaboration between Mark and myself. Over the past two years with Tiger & Peacock we have found we really balance each other as a team to create a unique co-corporate image. Product design, sourcing, interior design and distinctive installations have all been the fruits of the tree we both planted.

More treasures at Tiger & Peacock!

You have created some incredible windows for Husk and other retailers over the years, which I’m sure many Melburnians (myself included!) would have noticed and admired…! What is it that makes a great window in your opinion?

I think that Melbourne has an abundance of outstanding windows. I believe that it’s about keeping a consistent standard, which involves a number of important elements; *Knowing your client, be different , think BIG , volume, and VERY IMPORTANT- Create your own style, this is how people remember you. And be passionate!

Husk windows by Aimee

What has been one of your favourite windows and why?

I really had to have a good think about this question as I have loved doing so many…… so after much thought I would have to say my rope knitting with huge wooden needles. I did this window just after returning from Malta, so I had so many good memories running around in my head. I felt that my thoughts and memories would be knitted into the three huge scarfs (about 1 X 3.5 meters). It was a winter window, but because it was knitted with bright orange rope, when people looked they would smile! I love it when my windows make people smile - it means I have done my job and if they buy … it means I need a bonus!


There are my favourite Husk Windows too! Did you know I snapped some of these pics way back before I even had a blog!? That's how long I have been an Aimee McCallum fan!

What does a typical day at work involve for you at the moment? How do you structure you time between Tiger & Peacock and your VM clients?

I plan my week well in advance which could typically consist of constructing a new window, calling clients and customers to keep them up to date with our new products or pure design and construct work which can involve anything from sewing, folding paper to weaving. Throw in 101 other daily tasks and that would be my normal day!

Various Husk window makings...

A very colourful Husk Christmas window

Your distinct eclectic, handmade aesthetic is clear in both your VM work and in the beautiful interior and stock at Tiger & Peacock.. but what about your sense of style at home? How do you decorate your own personal space?

At the moment it looks like a bomb has hit it! Time is not on my side with home decorating! Maybe I should tell you what I would like it to look like….. Clean lines, Moroccan inspired decorated with the craft we have collected from around the world.

Where do you turn for creative inspiration – travel, local and international design trends, magazines, books or the web etc?

At the moment I need to look beyond things like magazines and Internet. Over the years I have collected every scrap that inspires me - this ranges from material to magazines & packaging and even beautiful things from nature. The best form of inspiration for me is a bike ride along Merri creek or a walk in a park. I do also love to keep up to date with blog spots like Design Files X

Aimee enthusiastically showed me her reference folders and trinket collections which she turns to for inspiration...

Which designers / creative people do you admire?

My number One is my partner Mark Azzopardi - he inspires me on many different levels of creativity.

My Dad - he is where I got my creativity from. He's an amazing artist - my favourites are his watercolours.

I consider myself to be a good cook, which is a creative outlet and that is thanks to Mum.

I always love to know what Zaha Hadid is up to - an amazing woman in the world of architecture.

What would be your dream creative project?

If I could ask for any project it would have to be a Chanel Catwalk!


What are you looking forward to?

Tiger & Peacock Expanding ……and a trip to Turkey. But most of all quality time with my family.

Melbourne Questions

Your favourite Melbourne shops?

Tiger & Peacock, Casa Iberica (Fitzroy), The Mediterranean Wholesaler (Sydney Rd), and any Hardware Shop …..


What/where was the last great meal you ate in Melbourne?

The Banquet at The Moroccan Soup Kitchen. Yum yum.

Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?

Tiger & Peacock or Edinburgh Gardens North Fitzroy.

Melbourne’s best kept secret?

Pastrami Roll from La Paloma. Oh my god I have to go and get one now!! I love it because when your there you feel like you are somewhere in the Mediterranean .