Are you ready for an evening of creativity and community?
Then mark your calendars for the upcoming first ever evening Maker Market at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub!
When: Friday, January 20th
Time: 4pm – 8pm
Where: Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub – 275 Upper Heidelberg Road, Ivanhoe.
As part of Yarra Plenty Regional Library's Homegrown Summer Festival, this market will showcase a variety of local Banyule based makers, each with their own unique talents and creations. Visitors can expect to see a wide range of handmade goods, from art and ceramics to textiles and jewellery.
To keep things lively and upbeat, the market will feature live music from a local DJ, adding a fun and energetic atmosphere to the event. There will also be giant games available to play and for those looking to stay refreshed, there will be a "Make Your Own Bike N Blend" juice station where visitors can pedal their own juice using a unique bike-powered juicer. This is a great way to get some exercise while also enjoying a delicious and healthy drink!
The library café Whispers will also be open late if you would rather a caffeinated beverage. The library will stay open late during the evening, so there’s plenty of time to sign up for YPRL membership, browse and borrow items.
The market is a great way to support local makers and artisans, and to find one-of-a-kind, handmade items. It's also an opportunity to come together and enjoy the beautiful summer evening with the community.
Read more about some of the selected makers below, and there will be many more, so don't miss out on this exciting event!
Lene Kuhl Jakobsen
Lene grew up in Denmark and studied ceramics for 4 years. She worked in Denmark and Norway before arriving in Australia in 1985. After sharing studio spaces, Lene established a studio with an electric kiln to fire stoneware and porcelain clays. Lene uses the pottery wheel for works influenced by the Scandinavian design tradition. Glazes with satiny finishes and subtle colours enhance the shapes and bring the pieces to life! Lene’s works often centre on current environmental issues and nature.
You can explore more of Lene’s work on her website, as well as keeping up to date with her on Instagram @kuhl.ceramics.
Kirrily Clements
In lockdown as a gift to her friends Kirrily made them a scrunchie and a card and they loved them! So, they suggested that she start making more and selling them, these thoughtful homemade gifts have now grown into Koality Crafts!
Kirrily makes tote bags, various sizes of scrunchies, cards, hair bows and fabric wristlets!
You can purchase them at the market and through her Instagram @koality.crafts!
Laetitia Clements
Laetitia began a small business ‘Knot Lacking’ a year ago though started crocheting long before that. She is a lover of many crafts such as knitting and macrame, but crochet is her preferred medium. Laetitia is a sixteen-year-old full-time high school student, and she finds her small business to be a creative release.
Most of Laetitia’s products are inspired by animals and she makes the patterns for them herself. Having always been a big animal lover she gets the most satisfaction by making amigurumi toys that are replicas of her favourite animals. She also loves to experiment by making keychains, purses and hats for her business. ‘Knot Lacking’ has brought Laetitia so much happiness since starting it and her main goal is to continue to share her love of crochet with the world.
You can find Laetitia on Instagram @knot.lacking, and you can read more about her love of crochet here.
Hayden McLean
Hayden McLean is a passionate and prolific artist with a strong daily practice. He draws the world around him and within him. Hayden uses drawing to communicate his needs and emotions, he is also a woodworker and prolific shoelace/cord maker.
As Hayden lives with autism, his creative output is strongly linked to his sensory needs. Hayden has a large presence on Facebook, a network that fosters support and education around Hayden and his Support Team. Hayden is a strong self-advocate and teacher. You can see more about Hayden’s practice here: www.haydenmclean.com.
Poppy Hewett
Poppy Hewett is a 12-year-old earring maker. Poppy’s small business is called A Pop of Colour!
Poppy hand makes all their earrings using clay and has a huge range, with stud packs and so much more!
Poppy is excited for visitors to come down to the maker market for a visit to see their wonderful creations and say hello.
You can also find Poppy on Instagram @a_pop_of_colour_earrings.
Lou Endicott
Lou Endicott is a local artist inspired by the natural world. Her window artwork (Bespoke Window Art) has been seen all over Banyule (and Melbourne) over the last few years.
Many of Banyule’s outdoor walk & cycle maps have been illustrated and designed by Lou.
Mediums that Lou enjoys are watercolour, ink, digital & acrylic paint. Recently she has also been exploring wearable art by handcrafting clay earrings. This year Lou looks forward to the release of a children’s picture book she has illustrated!
You can also find Lou on Instagram @bespoke_window_art.
Josephine Cassar
Josephine Cassar is a ceramic artist residing in Montmorency and is a member of Banyule Open Studios (BOS).
She has been working with clay for over 20 years. Josephine specialises in wheel-thrown ceramic dinnerware and decorative pieces for the home. Her main focus is on the natural textures and tactile beauty of the clay in order to give each piece its one-of-a-kind unique quality.
Josephine teaches pottery at the Nillumbik Living and Learning Centre in Eltham and at Claytalk Ceramic Art Centre Montsalvat.
Examples of her work can be found on her website www.cassarclay.com.au and Instagram @cassarclay.
Stuart Dea
Stuart Dea was a sign writer and when he retired he started going to watercolour classes.
He eventually started painting birds. This has become a passion and for the last 8 years that has been his love. Most of the birds are Australian but birds of other countries in particular Humming birds have also joined our own Australian collection.
We will be displaying prints of the Australian birds in two sizes, cards as well as a 2023 calendar.
You can also find him on Instagram @stuart.dea.art.
Felicity Gordon
Felicity Gordon is a Banyule contemporary visual artist with a passion for community engagement in the arts. During 2021 a group of local artists and Felicity opened their studios as part of the Banyule Open Studios program. The open studios weekend will happen again this year from the 13th - 15th of October!
Felicity regularly facilitates art projects including murals, sculptures and ephemeral installations. Felicity's recent work considers environmental change and permaculture. Felicity has been shortlisted for The Murdoch Travelling Scholarship, The Nillumbik Art Award, The Darebin La Trobe Art Award, The Moonee Valley Art Award and Banyule Works on Paper Prize.