The first Walk for 2013 had 12 participants. A full group, and a pleasant day was had by all despite the hot weather. Melbourne has experienced 14 days in a row over 30°C and the humidity has been unusually high. But we soldiered on, and in fact didn’t notice the heat as much as we admired the beautiful wares and supplies.

The Walk starts at Craft Victoria, meanders down Flinders Lane and explores several floors of old buildings then on to a few mainstream outlets. Three hours goes very quickly and is a perfect amount of time to uncover what the city has to offer in the way of creative supplies and wares. Many places are relatively hidden away, but they are known to some and treasured by all who discover them. Here’s the CAE blurb to entice you . . .

“Walk with practising artisan Nikki Worth to be inspired and find what you need for your next creative project right here in the heart of the city. Discover sources for buttons, beads, bits & bobs, fabrics, paint, canvas, vintage trims, Japanese patterns, and lots more, hidden in the most unlikely places”

More Scheduled CIWalks for 2013:
10:30am-1:30pm
Saturday 13th April
Saturday 1st June
Saturday 13th July

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The other Walk I’m currently running is Very Vintage Walk Fitzroy.

On this Walk, I introduce you to a number of fascinating retail outlets that sell the unusual, hard to find and eclectic items. You will discover eclectic, retro, uniquely handmade and vintage items – from garments and books to accessories, craft and home wares.
It’s a real Fitzroy treasure hunt!

The next scheduled VVWF dates for 2013:
Saturday 23rd March 12-3.00pm
Saturday 22 June 12-3.00pm

Check the CAE website for details of both Walking Tours
and call 9652 0611 for bookings

Come along and be inspired . . .

This gallery style store at 321 Smith Street Fitzroy showcases one-off unique items from Australian crafters and artists.

Isy Galey created in.cube8r to support all things craft, art and handmade inside Australia. She used to be a nanny and a kindergarten teacher, and she is a glass blower who nurtured a dream to open a top-notch, friendly and approachable gallery for all things hand-made. I’m delighted to have my pieces in this store. Due to its popularity there is a waiting list but I was able to get in because my brooches are so unique and well made. Please go and have look and let me know what you think. I’d appreciate the feedback.

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A QUICK HISTORY OF FITZROY

Fitzroy is steeped in indigenous history and is Melbourne’s oldest suburb. Although the original owners, the Wurundjeri people, were ‘moved on’ during colonial settlement, many indigenous people started moving back to the area during the 1930’s. They continue to call Fitzroy ‘home’ and have several Aboriginal services there.

In the 1840’s, the land was subdivided by Captain Brunswick Smythe and Benjamin Baxter and soon after Gertrude Street (named after the captain’s daughter) and Brunswick Street came into being.

From the very beginning, Fitzroy was well-populated and soon became over-crowded and poverty-stricken with no police and many illegal grog shops and unlicensed pubs. In the 1850’s conditions improved and the oldest surviving terrace houses in Melbourne were built: the ‘Glass Terrace’, 64-78 Gertrude Street. The three landmark hotels of this area were also built at this time; the Rob Roy, the Builder’s Arms and the Renown Tavern (now the Gertrude).

In the 1880’s, the shanties and temporary shacks were demolished and the area became famous for its brothels. In 1890 a depression hit Fitzroy hard and the majority of the residents relied on charities for food, shelter and clothes. The area developed a reputation for sly grog, prostitution, rival gangs and criminal activities, which lasted 100 years to 1990. During this time, after the First World War, cocaine became popular and drove rival gangs into a drug war, which culminated in a major shoot-out between gangs from Collingwood, Fitzroy and Richmond.

In the 1920’s, Gertrude Street became home to a variety of clothing factories, furniture warehouses and clothing stores. In 1931 the ‘Great Depression’ hit Melbourne. Some sections of Gertrude Street became slums as the buildings fell into disrepair and the residents into debt and poverty. Melbournians regarded Fitzroy as slum territory, the haunt of criminals and prostitutes and with the highest levels of infant mortality in Victoria. During the 1950’s the government cleared up the slums and constructed the high-rise Housing Commission estates (corner of Brunswick and Gertrude Street).

From the early 1970s, Fitzroy became a desirable place to live attracting a mixture of university students, renovators and artists. By the 1980s and 1990s it became increasingly affluent and expensive.

Twenty-first century Fitzroy is a very different location from that of previous decades. Many of its hotels have also gone, either demolished or transformed into art galleries or bars that cater to a new clientele. The Koorie community lives largely outside the suburb, but the Aboriginal Health Service in Fitzroy remains a cultural hub. Brunswick and Gertrude streets are now vibrant commercial strips that cater to tourists and residents. Smith Street is also seeing a rebirth. Where it was once a thriving shopping strip in the late 19th and early 20th century, it is slowly growing and changing to resemble its ‘sister’ streets.

Northcity4 is a not-for-profit Artist Run Initiative encompassing a shared jewellery and object studio. The founders of Northcity4 are Anna Davern, Katherine Bowman, Romani Benjamin, Caz Guiney & Ali Limb, and all practising artists and teachers. They started Northcity4 because they wanted a place to work and learn, to discuss, critique and debate and to share all this with others.

On Saturday, they shared their stories with us – their individual career paths, their creative work, and the events that led them to forming Northcity4. They all had wonderful slides to accompany their stories making each one compelling and colourful but very different.

Afterwards we were treated to cake and tea or coffee and that’s when we had a chance to chat and network with each other. I met some lovely women, each one on their own unique creative path. It is affirming to meet like-minded people and share stories and ideas.

On the way out I took some pics of Claire McArdle’s colourful gate installation. As you can see, they are very bright and cheerful and greeted me on the way in. What you can’t see is that they are made from plastic shopping bags – the square bottomed type that are supposed to replace the thin ones, only they don’t break down and are more of a problem really. At least Claire has found a creative repurposed use for them. And I think it looks great.

In all a great way to spend a wet and dreary winter afternoon

The first Walk for 2012 was 3rd March with 16 participants. The largest group ever and it was a bit wieldy to manage because some locations insisted I split them into 2 so as not to ambush them. The next Walk had the same number but after that I reduced the group to 12 to make it more manageable and pleasant for all.

So far having 12 in the group has worked well. Feedback has been 100% positive since the number was reduced. Previously, with 16, some participants felt on the outer and couldn’t always hear me or the proprietors. The smaller group gives me opportunity to speak to every participant, hear their story and guage how they’re enjoying the ‘ride’. It also gives me time to speak to the proprietors privately, which they seem to appreciate.

The Walk starts at Craft Victoria, meanders down Flinders Lane and explores several floors of old buildings then on to a few mainstream outlets. Three hours goes very quickly, but your feet remind you. Best not to sit down for too long or you find it hard to get up again. But seriously, 3 hours is a perfect amount of time to uncover what the city has to offer in the way of creative supplies and wares. Many places are relatively hidden away, but they are known to some and treasured by all who discover them. Here’s the blurb to entice you . . .

“Walk with practising artisan Nikki Worth to be inspired and find what you need for your next creative project right here in the heart of the city. Discover sources for buttons, beads, bits & bobs, fabrics, paint, canvas, vintage trims, Japanese patterns, and lots more, hidden in the most unlikely places”

More Scheduled Walks for 2012:
10:30am-1:30pm
Saturday 25th August
Saturday 22nd September
Saturday 10th November
Saturday 8th December

Check the CAE website for details
and call 9652 0611 for bookings

Come along and be inspired . . .

The day starts off slowly but by the end of it I had sold a few beautiful pieces. I was told the previous week was better. That’s how it goes at markets – never can tell. What really made my day on 30th June was a visit from Caroline and Meg.

Their lovely smiling faces made up for all the time I’d spent acknowledging strangers who silently admired and continued on. You see, the sunny morning turned into a cold and grey day with a serious wind chilll factor. So few people braved the cold but my friends made the effort, and all the way from Sandringham to Northcote. I love them for that (and more).

The final market on the 7th was better for sales, plus I had so many visitors. Admittedly the sun came out, stayed out and warmed up the day. People came out to enjoy the sun, and my sister spent the whole day with me. She brought some of her lovely Swarovsky crystal jewellery pieces to test the market.

One of my pottery students and his wife came in to see us, plus an old friend from high school and her sister. It made me feel so loved and appreciated. We had a really nice day.