ceramics

Christmas Birds (AUD $14.95ea) by Paper Boat Press

Christmas is almost upon us and as people and places dress up for the occasion, we bring you a selection of handmade pretties to adorn your own living room and the gifts beginning to appear under the tree (or in our case, the resident peace lily)!

5 Pack of Small Stars (AUD $20) and Petite Round with Heart (AUD $12.95ea) - ceramic decorations by paper boat press

I'm really in love with ceramics at the moment, and these sweet pieces are handmade in Brisbane by Kylie Johnson. Her label, paper boat press, began as a boutique greeting card range featuring Kylie's one or two line poems. paper boat press has now grown to include ceramic ornaments, ceramic jewellery, original illustrations and functional ceramic vessels. Many of Kylie's designs incorporate her poetry. Her poetry collection "count me the stars" was published by Murdoch Books in 2008, and she has a second book, "a once courageous heart" due for release in March, 2010. You can see more at www.paperboatpress.com

Handmade Kid Leather Christmas Bauble Decorations (AUD $10ea) by Emerge Shoppe

Look at these leather decorations! They have been handmade by Emma Greenwood, who also exhibited her work in the "Shoe Show" at Craft Victoria last month. Each decoration measures approx. 9cm high, and will certainly catch Santa's attention. The kid leather Trees and Baubles have been top stitched and sparkled-up with Swarovski crystals, while the Owl cuties have been overlaid with additional leather pieces and given good sled-spotting night vision with big round eyelets for eyes!

Handmade Kid Leather Christmas Tree and Owl Decorations (AUD $10ea) by Emerge Shoppe

You'll find Emma's creations in her online store, Emerge Shoppe and you can also follow her blog, aprons & hammers, at www.apronsandhammers.blogspot.com. Emma also makes leather accessories which would make great gifts - especially for people who are hard to buy for... like boys! Choose from keyrings, belts, brooches, pins & cuffs...

Set of 3 Double-Sided Recycled Silkscreen Ornaments in Blue (AUD $22ea) by etsa sketch

etsa sketch divides her time between art & study, and creates really lovely drawings & prints. The printmaking process can be hazardous and unpredictable at times, and she likes to "take any mistakes, imperfections or bad decisions and repurpose them into something beautiful".

These sweet wooden discs feature small glimpses of hand-pulled silkscreen prints. They are double-sided and would make great ornaments for Christmas or any other time of year! You'll find them in etsa sketch's MadeIt store, and you can follow her blog at estasketch.blogspot.com.

Pack of 5 Flora Tags, Letterpress and Lino Cut (AUD $9.50) by RubyVictoria

This post has been a real mix-up of materials - ceramics, leather, silkscreen prints and lastly... letterpress! I love these Christmas tags by Tasmanian printmaker & artist RubyVictoria - in fact I just purchased a dozen of the Naughty/Nice Coaster Tags pictured below! 'Nice' tags will be going to grandparents; siblings will definitely receive 'Naughty' tags, (despite all the help I received at Finders Keepers)... I wonder which of our parents & friends will make the 'Nice' cut?

Pack of 5 Letterpress Christmas Gift Tags (left, AUD $7) and Pack of 6 Letterpress Coaster Tags (right, AUD $12) by RubyVictoria

You'll find lots of loveliness in RubyVictoria's MadeIt store and you can follow her blog at www.rubyvictoria.blogspot.com.

If you're looking for even more Christmas decoration inspiration, we recently featured the Polli Decoration Kit of 30 (AUD $19.95) and edward & lilly's gorgeous lavender birdies (AUD $15).

Wishing a Merry Christmas to all our indie readers!
With love from Carolyn & Martin xx

Masked Bandits by Iggy & Lou Lou (AUD $190ea)

We're excited to bring you the second instalment of our "Three of a Kind" interview series - this time with Irene Grishin-Selzer the artist & designer behind the gorgeous Iggy & Lou Lou jewellery label.

To be honest, I'm a little in awe of Irene and her Iggy & Lou Lou creations. Her style is so unique, and each time I browse through her web site (which is truly an artwork in itself), I find myself adding up what it would cost me to buy... everything! (Well, a good selection anyway!) Her latest collection, "Love Bandits" explores the concept, "Stolen time stands still, and love lasts forever...", with pieces that possess a mysterious quality whilst at the same time connecting with the viewer (or wearer) on a very personal level.

Iggy & Lou Lou was launched in 2003 and since then has released seven successful jewellery & artwork collections. Irene draws on the rich history of porcelain and each piece is lovingly hand crafted and kiln fired up to four times to attain the patina of buried treasure. Collections are rich with historical references, decorative themes and narratives, and influences - from ocean depths to forest folk, sixteenth century Memento Mori and the black and white character of Film Noir - imbue each piece with the presence of a much-loved heirloom.

'Just Like Honey' by Irene Grishin-Selzer (AUD $2600 - SOLD)

I What makes you 'three of a kind'? The motivations behind your works, your techniques & approach or the themes that run through the artworks, or a little of each?

ILL There is an element of humour, mystery and fun that runs through all of our interests, approaches and themes. I think its evident in all the different mediums we tackle.

Dinosaur with rainbow medallion by Iggy & Lou Lou (AUD $185)

I What led you down this career path?

ILL I always liked making things and selling them from when I was little. I studied up to Masters in ceramics and applied arts (with jewellery as a minor subject) I wanted to find a job that gave me a sense of creative freedom but I couldn't find anything that I liked. A business grew out the demand for the jewellery I was making and with the help of those who work with me, I'm able to devote time to making artworks as well. It doesn't really feel like a 'career' choice as it just grew out of a need to retain my creative freedom.

Horse Bandit Sculpture - Black Tear by Iggy & Lou Lou (AUD $820, jewellery and skull not included)

I What do you love most about being an artist/designer?

ILL I love being able to take ideas and feelings and make them into concrete objects... Making things by hand is really rewarding for me. Sometimes it takes longer than expected but there is a real sense of satisfaction from seeing it through from start to finish. I also enjoy the practical aspects of sending things all around the world via the website - its nice to feel a connection with people from far away places. I also love being able to travel overseas and meet and work with other artists who make beautiful things like Madeleine and Beci.

'Cant Tell The Birds From The Blossoms' by Irene Grishin-Selzer (AUD $1800)

I Does living in Melbourne influence your artwork?

ILL I'm not sure. Maybe it does unconciously... but I don't know in what particular way. I don't live in the city as I love the sea, but I always think I'd make the same kind of work whevever I lived - but who knows?

I What is the focus of your work for the Three Of A Kind exhibition?

ILL I often work in 3D but am showing some limited edition photographs and prints for the first time. I've also made some new wall sculptures which are in between 2-3D. I generally work with themes of love and mystery. I like working with dueling themes that often work out as opposites of the same coin, eg.the dualities of love/beauty vs loss. Dreams and reality often collide and an element of humour or playfulness is always there to keep things in check!

Double Bluebird Necklace by Iggy & Lou Lou (AUD $110)

I What do you love most about the work of the other two girls?

ILL I love lots of different things about both Madeleine and Beci's work. Probably mostly the playful but considered dreaminess…that gets me every time!

Thanks so much, Irene for finding time amongst the exhibition preparations to tell us about the journey and inspirations behind Iggy and Lou Lou. Wishing you all the best for the upcoming show! Do make sure to visit www.iggyandloulou.com to see many more beautiful porcelain creations from Iggy & Lou Lou's six collections.

There's not long to go until the doors at Lab X Gallery open to reveal new works by this trio of artists: Iggy & Lou Lou, Madeleine Stamer and Beci Orpin. Opening night is Friday 20th November 2009, from 6-8pm. In the meantime, you can follow the show preparations at http://threeofakind09.blogspot.com.

The exhibition continues until November 29.
Lab X
40 Pakington St, St Kilda, 3182.
ph. 03 9534 8838
Gallery hours are 8.30am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

The work of talented Sydney-based potters Deb Taylor and Murray Topham is currently on display, and ON SALE at UNSW! The Pottery Sale (at the Kensington Campus) began this week. It's open tomorrow 30th November, and continues next week from Tuesday 3rd to Friday 6th November 2009 (11am - 4pm).

With two locations, the Blockhouse (Level 2, G6 on the Campus Map) and the Quadrangle Colonnade (G6 on the Campus Map), you're sure to find some perfect gifts for Christmas - at surprisingly low prices. We spent ages admiring the designs & taking photographs, and there were many, many pieces priced from approximately $20 to $100. Some of the larger pieces were between $100 and $200 which is great value. I bought two sweet little cups on Monday, and I think I may return next week - though I really want that extra piece for myself!

You'll need cash for purchases, but there are a couple of ATMs just outside.

Deb Taylor is the talent behind local label Little White Dish, whose pieces took our collective breath away at the Winter Finders Keepers Markets at Carriageworks. Her pieces are imaginative, witty, petite and so beautiful. Many of the small cups & jugs are instantly recognisable by the signature dimples in the side. The dimples remind you that the fired clay was once a soft and malleable, and they echo the fluidity of the liquids they're designed to contain.

I LOVE the typewriter-style text which has been pressed into so many of her pieces, including the cute pendants above and the "Intoxicated" cup pictured at top! My favourites had been "Dark Horse" and "Black Sheep" but Deb has recently added a whole new range of words for Christmas too. We'll be returning to the studio in a few weeks time to capture Deb's work in progress - so keep an eye on our site for the upcoming Studio Visit post!

This was my first introduction to the work of Murray Topham, which we both thought was stunning. Just look at his creations above! There is a lot of careful detail in each of his pieces, but they retain a "light" feeling with the surface decoration complimenting the ceramic forms. There shapes have both geometric and organic elements, and the texture of the pieces above could be inspired by the same corals & sea creatures that seem to have influenced the structures.

Both artists contrast delicate matt outer surfaces with lustrous glazed interiors to great effect. Don't you love the gradients of blue peeking out from the white above?

Once again the shapes in the pieces pictured above are fantastic - the boats, cones and spheres...

So much time must have gone into the creation of Murray's pieces below... The pink polyp especially is incredible!

For more information about the artists, visit Deb Taylor's web site at www.littlewhitedish.com.au, or contact Murray Topham through the ARC Potters in Residence at UNSW, or of course, visit the Pottery Sale! The artists themselves look after the sales, so you'll have the chance to chat to the makers of these gorgeous ceramics.

The interior installation above is currently on show at Planet in Surry Hills. Local favourite Publisher Textiles collaborated with ceramic artist Kris Coad, Home Beautiful Magazine and Planet to create this celebration of delicate imagery, forms & textures, which is on display throughout September.

Publisher Textiles specialises in printing bespoke, environmentally friendly textiles and wallpapers, using natural fabric fibres and recycled materials for their non-woven wallpaper base. In their Leichhardt studio, they hand-print products with unique designs & patterns using a custom water based ink that is equally durable and light-fast.

The pop up installation features Publisher Textiles' signature 'Swan Print' wallpaper and a handful of specially selected, exclusive hand-printed feather cushions from the award winning Dusk products range. (Both can be purchased from Planet throughout the month.)

I love the sense of weightlessness created by the themes of floating & flight. The leaf shadows move midair between the swans, and the leaves are so fine & translucent that they could almost be feathers themselves.

Kris Coad's bone china 'floating leaves' is so beautiful. Since each leaf is suspended at a slightly different angle, the light bounces off in different directions creating a lovely tonal range.

Kris has been a practicing ceramicist for over 20 years, currently works full time in her studio, based at the GASWORKS Arts Park in Melbourne. She describes her work as follows:
"I am interested in the spiritual and daily ritual of different cultures, the way an object, symbol, mark or shadow and its placement can trigger a transformational response. To interpret the anthropological sentiment behind beliefs, I make contemplative pieces that have a stillness and silence in an increasingly complex world."

To view the installation or purchase the homewares on display, visit Planet at 114 Commonwealth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, phone 02 9211 5959.

Showroom hours:
Monday-Friday 10.00am - 5.30pm
Saturday 10.00am - 5.00pm
Sunday 12.00pm - 4.00pm

Forest Fungi by Shannon Garson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

An exhibition of gorgeous small ceramic works will be opening tomorrow (Friday 3rd April, 2009) at Pomme on the Mornington Peninsula. Appropriately titled "Little Uns", the show will feature the work of three ceramic artists from Queensland - Shannon Garson, Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

The brief for this group show was 'keep it small' and the artists were only too happy to oblige with a series of exquisite, but perfectly functional cups, jugs and vessels. (By the way, sorry for the lengthy post but it's really 4 posts in 1!)

Nests by Shannon Garson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Shannon Garson is a contemporary ceramicist who has been exhibiting her porcelain works since 1990. Her aim is to explore ceramics and life through the synthesis of surface decoration and form. By transforming everyday objects such as cups and bowls into works of art, she strives to connect the visible world, gardens and plants with the intangible and the mysterious.

Shannon was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2005 and spent 3 months travelling in Europe studying the art of the medieval and Renaissance periods. She has just completed a major new body of work based on the magnolia tree with the assistance of an Australia Council New Works Grant.

"Pale Yellow Magnolia" photograph by Shannon Garson

Above is one of the gorgeous reference photos taken by Shannon in the magnolia orchard. (You can view more on Shannon's Flickr page.) Unlike previous work, she describes "these flowers were not about the body at all. They are about the triumph of hope, about creativity, the resonance for me lies in the knobbly, gnarled magnolia branches putting forth fragile, fragrant blossoms, the deception of appearances. The unstoppable, reassuring rhythm of reproduction is a powerful metaphor for the well-spring of creativity. Sleep-deprived, time deprived, worn out, the driest twig still produces a blossom in Spring."

Magnolia pieces in the kiln by Shannon Garson

This is one of my favourite photos ever to appear on indie art & design! The quiet candle light gives us a glimpse through the artist's eye - a sense of anticipation, satisfaction & nervousness... that breath-catching "almost finished" feeling.

Magnolia Spring Family by Shannon Garson

Shannon Garson works from her studio in Maleny, a small rural town in the hinterland of the Sunshine Coast. Her ceramic pieces can be found online at http://shannongarson.com and also on her blog Strange Fragments. She is also part of the Umbrella Collective of 6 female artists from Queensland.

Shannon's ceramics are also stocked in the following galleries:
QLD: Cairns Regional Gallery, Manly Gallery, Marks and Gardner (Tambourine), Maleny Artworks, BrisbaneFusions Gallery (Fortitude Valley)
NSW: Planet Commonwealth (Surry Hills), Salmon Galleries (Sydney), Sturt Contemporary Craft (Mittagong)
VIC: Craft Victoria (Melbourne), Crowded House Designs (Malvern), Pomme (Mornington)
ACT: Beaver Galleries (Canberra)

AND she has her own book, "Shannon Garson Porcelain"! Available here.

Little Uns (polka dot), 2007, slipcast porcelain with inlay, 5cm x 7cm each by Mel Robson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Mel Robson's work is contemporary and diverse. I've been following her blog for a couple of years now and during this time, she has created a wide range of vessels and objects using a variety of techniques - including new processes such as waterjet cutting (as seen in Home-ing Pigeon, pictured further down this post). Her latest creations have an organic feel - using muted earth colours and soft uneven shapes.

Little Uns (polka dot & natural), 2007, slipcast porcelain with inlay, 5cm x 7cm each by Mel Robson - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

I love the contrast of the small polka dots pattern with the otherwise smooth matt finish. It gives the sets a sense of energy & movement.

Recipe Bowl, 2007, slipcast porcelain with decals by Mel Robson.

The Recipe Bowl (pictured above) is part of Mel's "Precious Little" collection. (Selected pieces were exhibited in the 4th World Ceramic Biennale in South Korea, 2007.) These works are feather weight, paper fine and entirely sculptural. Mel has upturned the concept of surface decoration by allowing decals applied to the interior of her vessels to show through the translucent ceramic. The effect is both stunning & engaging. After the original forms are thrown on the wheel, a plaster mould is made, from which the actual pieces are slipcast in porcelain. The pieces are fired, sanded & polished, then fired again before the imagery is applied using ceramic details and they enter the kiln for one last time. Pieces that survive this lengthy process end up quite strong!

The Absence of Objects (detail), 2006, slipcast porcelain with decals, 6cm x 14cmby Mel Robson.

I love the works pictured above, part of Mel's "Absence of Objects" collection. She describes finding inspiration in libraries' heritage collections - wearing white gloves while poring over old manuscripts and diaries and photographs and records and documents. "So often when we talk or think or make things about the past it is about remembering - what we remember, and the ways we remember. But what I find more fascinating is the forgetting, the process by which things get forgotten and how, in the absence of objects, whole lives and stories can just disappear. These collections fascinate me because they are little doorways into the past, little repositories of near-forgotten things, without which countless stories would have completely disappeared."

Home-ing Pigeon, 2008, found ceramic plates (water jet cut) 10 x 13cm by Mel Robson.

Mel Robson's Home-ing Pigeons (one pictured above) have been cut by waterjet from either side of found vintage plates & saucers. Exhibited at Redland Art Gallery as part of the "Bird Watching" group show, the pigeons symbolise a war-time transformation from apparently mundane to extraordinary. She was inspired by stories of their survival against incredible odds to deliver life-saving messages. "Robson's ceramic works take old domestic objects of that time, imbued with the traces of their day-to-day existence, and recasts them in the shapes of these birds." (Redland Art Gallery)

You can discover more of Mel Robson's work via her blog, Feffakookan.

Tiny vessels by Kenji Uranishi - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Kenji Uranishi was born in Japan and studied ceramics at the Nara College of Fine Arts before moving to Brisbane in 2004. Living in Australia "provides an environment for more objective study of my own country and culture, as well as an element of freedom from historical and cultural constraints... I'm also interested in how these experiences will encourage some self-discovery and provide me with a new perspective on my relationship with Japanese culture."

Tiny vessels by Kenji Uranishi - at the Little Uns ceramics exhibition at Pomme, Mornington, Victoria.

Kenji draws inspiration from the surrounding built and social environment. He is interested in and influenced by architecture and nature, and how people interact with both. His works include installation and functional objects, and the materials he uses are embedded in the history of Japanese pottery.

Ceramic works by Kenji Uranishi made during his artist residency at ANU.

Selected new sculptural works by Kenji Uranishi will be exhibited later this year as part of the Australian Ceramics Triennale 09. "Encircle" open on 8.7.2009 at the Helen Stephens Gallery, All Hand Made in Bronte (Sydney).

Ceramic works by Kenji Uranishi made during his artist residency at ANU.

I love the delicate surface drawings on Kenji's pieces for "Little Uns", don't you? The sculptural works are something I wouldn't have expected in ceramics - beautiful & amazing. You can discover more about Kenji's work at his blog, http://kamenendo.blogspot.com

The Little People at the beach by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi have also collaborated to create Sandwich Mountain - the adventures of the Little People!

The Little People in the surf by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Kenji loves hand building and first made the Little People to experiment with slip casting. When they emerged from the kiln, Mel was overcome by an incredible urge to "change the colour of THEIR day"... (Remember the 80s TV jingle for the honeycomb chocolate bar?!) Since then, the Little People have been on lots of adventures, as documented at http://sandwichmountain.blogspot.com. They've even been featured in a Brazilian magazine called GLOSS. The Little People have absolutely no idea what it says about them, and they're thinking they may have to travel to Brazil to find out...

The Little People go to the moon by Sandwich Mountain, a collaboration between Brisbane-based ceramicists Mel Robson and Kenji Uranishi.

Little Uns opens tomorrow, on Friday 3rd April, and continues until 24th April 2009. Pomme is located on the Mornington Peninsula at:
Rear 138 Main Street
Mornington, Victoria. 3931.
phone: 03 59 76 3000

Pomme is open Monday to Saturday but advise you to call to check opening hours, as they might be at the beach!

Hey there Indie readers, Laura here!

Just thought I would check in with you all in the lead up to Christmas - in the midst of working hard I have suddenly realised that it's that time of year again!

Christmas is fast approaching - there is shopping to be done! Indie has some fantastic ideas for Chrissie gifts for those creative people in your life. Object has some FANTASTIC ideas too!!

In my last post I introduced you to our retail store Collect. If you have not visited us before, then now's the time.

We have so many ideas for Christmas gifts - it's a one stop shop!

Collect at Object, 2008

Let's start with some stocking filler ideas shall we? Bison offers ceramic vases, bowls and pourers in beautiful colours and sizes. (At the moment I own 3 pieces, but hoping to have more after the 25th!) Also, we have a range of Tjanpi baskets - funky woven pieces by Tjanpi desert weavers, Indigenous woman with an eye for detail. (Don't tell my Mum, but she's getting one of these!) We also have gorgeous items by Honor Freeman - her Warp and Weft series of ceramics are so popular, and there are more or her items coming in for Christmas!

left: Husque Bowls, Marc Harrison, Macadamia nut shell; right: Kenji Uranishi, beakers, porcelain with inlay

In jewellery, we have so many pieces to choose from. We have Dick + Dora jewellery, which includes the cute ABC brooches made from Tasmanian wood. We also have the iconic 'Bowling Arm' bracelet - these are bracelets made from actual cricket balls, and are rolling out the door fast!

For those special people, we also stock exquisite jewellery from Australia's leading jewellers. There are rings, necklaces, brooches and earrings that would tantalise any tastebuds - I am definitely hoping to add to my ever growing jewellery collection!

Brooke Johnston, Doily series, sterling silver, 2008

Alice Potter, Bye Bye Birdie series, sterling silver and laminate, 2008

As you know, in our gallery right now we are showing the Liz Williamson Living Treasures exhibition. For those people who would love to own their own Liz Williamson original, we have a selected range of Liz's "Woven in Asia" series, which are just sumptuous.

You don't have to go far for stationery either - we have a range of Christmas cards and tags by Poppies for Grace that you will fall in love with.

Collect is happy to gift wrap your purchases, with our original and funky gift wrap and ribbon. Waking up to a Collect package under the tree would be all your wishes come true (or mine at least!)

Have a delicious, decadent and delightful Christmas - I will see you again in the New Year!!

Your Objector, Laura

Come and Visit! 2008

(don't forget where we are! 417 Bourke Sreet, Surry Hills, 2010)

Welcome to the Object page on the fantastic Indie website!

I am Laura, a devoted Indie fan and staff member at Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design. Many of you will have heard of Object, but some may not... So, to give you a quick background about us, Object is an organisation situated in the design and arts hub of Sydney, Surry Hills. We are a gallery, a magazine and a retail store, Collect.

Our approach to design is unique – we believe that creative innovation occurs most successfully through exploring the unexplored and pursuing the hybrid.

What does this really mean...? Well, we show exhibitions in our gallery space which challenge you to think and to imagine – we love to inspire our audience! Our magazine explores new ideas and brings you insight into the design world of today.

Object Gallery at night, Joy Lai, 2007

Over the next while, my aim is to get you acquainted with Object, who we are and what we do... I will update you on our current happenings - events and exhibitions, and let you know what beautiful items we have in our store.

Object and Collect are a must visit – we are at 415 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. Admission is FREE and we are open Tuesday – Sunday 11.00 – 6.00pm. Being a not-for-profit organisation we aim to give back to the Australian artists that are represented in our store– over the past 3 years we have given over $1 million back to Australian artists through retail sales.

Every time I go into Collect I find a new thing I HAVE to have, a beautiful new necklace or pair of earrings, a new vase for my home, or a scarf that is just yummy!

At the moment, I am loving the silver pieces by Anna Davern – I am wearing one of her rings right now! I adore Brooke Johnston's creations and Mel Young's funky acrylic rings. I have a great Fink brooch on hold at the moment, which I can't wait to wear!

Our pieces are affordable and one of a kind. There are so many Christmas ideas, too many to name.... We stock Edols Elliot's glass creations and cool new pieces from South Australia's Jam Factory. We also have Marc Pascal vases, Husque macadamia nut bowls and Insync Design brooches – powder coated stainless steel pieces that would be a statement addition to any fabulous outfit!

In our exhibition space right now we are showing a beautiful textile exhibition by Liz Williamson, the fourth in our series of Living Treasures exhibitions. We also have a breathtaking collection of nests, collected by Gay Bilson. It is almost unbelievable that such gorgeous pieces were created by birds – you must come and see them!

Liz Williamson, new work, 2008

Liz Williamson exhibition at Object Gallery, Joy Lai, 2008

Nest, Gay Bilson exhibition, Joy Lai 2008

Our website is object.com.au – please visit online and in person. I welcome comments through this blog – please let me know what you think, and if you have been inspired!

Your Objector, Laura

Bird Song 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by by Linogirl (sold).

These ceramic pieces by Linogirl are just so lovely! I'm really taken by the ceramic disk pictured above, titled "Bird Song", even though I know that it has just been purchased by another lucky Linogirl admirer... "Down the Garden Path" is an exhibition currently showing at Mad Gallery featuring the work of Kerry Scheen. On display are Kerry's small (8cm) and large (14.5 cm) hand painted ceramic disks which are designed to hang and are double sided. She describes them as "what one might find in a true garden one that hasn't been affected by toxic herbasides and pesticides".

First Bird in Spring Ceramic Pendant by Linogirl, AUD $60.

"Down the Garden Path" is showing until February 24th, and the gallery is located in Lancefield - part of the Macedon Ranges shire and 1 hour from Melbourne heading towards Bendigo. Kerry is lucky enough to work from her home studio in the Macedon Ranges. I have no doubt that her own garden provides plenty of inspiration for her whimsical, cheerful imagery.

Sebastian 8cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $115.

The ceramic disks on display are an extension of Linogirl's range of wearable ceramic objects. The disks, pendants, brooches & rings are all handmade and one-off pieces, each with it's own character and beauty. I'm sure some of you have visited Kerry at the Linogirl stall at the Rose Street Artists Market in Fitzroy, or perhaps spied her pieces in Brunswick Bound (Brunswick, VIC), Louey & Lane Gallery (Glenhuntly, VIC) or Two Birds in the Bush (Woodend, VIC).

Small Bud Ceramic Brooch by Linogirl, AUD $40.

A selection of Kerry's ceramic jewellery is also available to purchase through her web site at www.linogirl.com.au. A Linogirl ceramic object would certainly make a special, unique gift (or gift to self)!

Search 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $220.

I really love the dual textures of the hand shaped ceramic and the hand painted images used throughout the Linogirl collection. The contrast between the two is shown beautifully in the ceramic disk above, titled "Search". I love the colours too... and the gorgeous surprised expression on the girl's face.

Ping 8cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $115.

If you live near Melbourne, make sure to visit "Down the Garden Path" sometime in the coming week! Mad Gallery is located at 19 High St, Lancefield, VIC. (Ph. 03 5429 1432) Apparently, they serve fantastic coffee, so all the better!

Collecting 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $220.

For those of you who are yet to discover this wonderful site, Moose: Art for Living is all about creative people. It showcases work by incredible artists from all over Australia and each item sold comes with a small Artist Profile so you can become an expert on the pieces you purchase! The web site itself is a breath of fresh air - the minimalist design allows you to browse the artworks almost in a gallery style fashion. The online store currently stocks art, jewellery, fibre and ceramic works.

Recent additions to the artist lineup include jewellery designers Lola&Bailey (pictured above), and Bowkett Brooches (pictured below). The "Dali Pendant" (above left) and "Broadhurst Pendant" (above right) feature in Lola&Bailey's first collection of dynamic jewellery pieces. Their pendants are precision cut in perspex, and finished with Sterling Silver rivets, silk cord and nifty magnetic clasps. Each pendant displays multiple personalities as the wearer can choose to tie the cord along any part of the piece, transforming it into something completely different. (Pendants are AUD $65 each.)

Sandra Bowkett's range of ceramic jewellery features delicate, detailed images hand-applied to brooches made from Southern Ice Porcelain. She is passionate about creating objects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to the user's sense of enjoyment, and Bowkett Brooches do just that. "Butterflies Brooch 1" (AUD $28) and "Red Rose & Cobalt Brooch 1" (AUD $32) are uniquely styled and would make very personal gifts.

These incredibly beautiful porcelain jewellery pieces & vessels are by Melbourne-based Klei - the collaboration of Barbara van Oost and Ben Paola. The Klei aesthetic is defined by a muted palette and abstract forms decorated with recurring, geometric patterns. The subdued colours and shapes void of harsh angles call to mind visions of modern relics. The necklaces pictured are AUD $110 each and the vessels below $55 and $59. The rings are $49 - they are handbuilt in small, medium and large sizes, but the kiln dictates the final outcome! Klei jewellery & homewares are available at Rose Street Market in Fitzroy every Saturday and Esplanade Market. Stockists include Counter @ Craft Victoria, Belki, Clover Clothing, The Jewelled Oasis (all in Victoria), Art Essence (NSW) and Ju Va (WA).