Softies For Mirabel 2013

It's Softies For Mirabel is back again in 2014! 

Softies For Mirabel is a handmade toy drive. We all join forces and make a new toy (or a few!) for The Mirabel Foundation kids.

The Mirabel Foundation supports kids who are affected by parental substance abuse (and their extended family/carers.)  It's important to reach out to these great kids and to raise awareness for Mirabel.  

If you'd like to get a feel for how this works, you can see previous year's toys in the Softies For Mirabel Flickr group! Or search the #softiesformirabel tag on Instagram.

This year, they've changed things up a bit!  The CAE have offered us a great display space in their InfoShop where the softies will be displayed this December. Thank YOU to Sue and the lovely CAE people.  (It's in Degraves St so it's SUPER EASY to access!)

 

Toys can be knitted, crocheted or sewn. They need to be suitable for great kids as they may well become someone's NEW BEST FRIEND! There are no other special requirements re materials or the like. Will you help us by making a toy? Perhaps your craft group, workmates or school would like to help too?!

Download an A4 poster here and spread the word!

And please if you take part make sure you share your creations over on the BrisStyle FB Page as we'd love to see what you have made!

WHO RAW: natural born artists is an independent arts organisation, for artists, by artists.  RAW’s mission is to provide independent artists of all creative genres, with the tools, resources and exposure needed to inspire and cultivate creativity. RAW connects artists with one another so that they might grow together. RAW hosts events in 80+ cities across the U.S., Australia, Canada and soon to be  Europe. They also showcase their artists online via www.RAWartists.org WHAT A one night emerging arts showcase featuring 40 of Brisbane's best emerging talent spanning genres such as fashion, film, music, visual and performing arts and photography. WHERE The Arena, 210 Brunswick Street, Fortitude Valley WHEN 27th September - doors open at 7:30pm HOW Tickets are $15 (+bf) and are available through www.rawartists.org/brisbane/translations or $20 on the door. For further information please contact RAW Australia Executive Director Kristen Wehlow on 0424517327 or kwehlow@rawartists.org Please make sure you say Hi to our participating artists this time around:  Eklectic Mix and  Hungry Designs

:: I ♥ Craft :: Invitation :: PROTECTING YOUR PRODUCTS - Intellectual Property Law for Your Creative Work

Image courtesy of TheLittleFactory.etsy.com PROTECTING YOUR PRODUCTS - Intellectual Property Law for Your Creative Work This informative session will focus on how Intellectual Property (IP) Law can be used protect your creative products. An informative team of local IP professionals will answer all of your questions about trademarks, copyright and design registration, and give you practical tips on how to protect your products and deal with infringers. DATE Saturday 5 October TIME 10am-12.30pm VENUE Brisbane Square Library, 266 George St, Brisbane COST FREE PRESENTED BY: Barrister Dimitrios Eliades, IP Practitioner Peter Bolam and QUT IP adviser Simon Duncan. BOOK NOW to secure your spot. ::Don't miss the last of the FREE Mini Sessions at Brisbane Square Library:: Sep 27 Get started with blogging and grow your handmade business. An introduction into how to use blogging to build your brand and bring in new customers. Full of tips and ideas to get you blogging - and enjoying it! Presented by Jess Van Den. Tell me more.... BrisStyle photography guru Melanie Gray Augustin from Kimono Reincarnate :: Recap with the :: I ♥ Craft :: Online Videos :: Missed out on a session or just want to refresh? Then grab a cuppa and sit back to watch all the sessions online HERE. If you're not a member, then just set yourself up with a guest login and away you go. Happy watching! Presented by BrisStyle Inc. and supported by Brisbane City Council Keep up with all the 2013 BrisStyle action, via the: BrisStyle Website BrisStyle Blog Facebook Page Instagram @brisstyle #brisstyle Twitter :: The perfect time to become a BrisStyle Member! :: Are you passionate about handmade? Would you like to meet like-minded creative people? Do you want to take your craft to the next level? Are you keen to take part in markets and events? BrisStyle Inc. provides support and creative opportunities for independent artists, crafters and designers who call Queensland and Northern New South Wales home. The 2013-2014 BrisStyle membership experience includes:  creative business development sessions;  markets, events and exhibitions;  promotional opportunities;  personal website profile;  social networking;  access to our online forum;  Etsy team affiliation; and  much, much more!! For less than a ball of yarn per week, you too can be a member of BrisStyle’s fabulous and fun crafty community.

Simply Gorgeous Local Handmade :: City Hall Markets TOMORROW :: Sept 14 9am-3pm

::More than just simply gorgeous local handmade!:: This Saturday Sept 14, is set to be another simply gorgeous City Hall market day. With a host of on-site happenings and extended trading until 3pm, there's every reason to make a day of it! Read on to find out more and invite your market loving friends here. This month we see the debut of over 12new indie artisans with boutique style stalls weaving through the markets, including Seven Dandelions, Harriet Jane Designs, Lady Brass andSisterhood Sewing. Take the time to meet all the amazing artisans and learn the stories behind their locally created handmade pieces. Find all your favourite City Hall Marketeers here. Visit the Ann St Foyer to see Queensland Designer, Chris Knight'sHandcrafted Outdoor Furniture Exhibition. "bespoke piece of furniture that is truly unique and as individual as you are." So bring the boys along...and grab a cuppa to luxuriate between shopping! The ever so soulful Tim Sladden returns by popular demand to the Sandgate Room! Tim seamlessly fuses acoustic, jazz and soul into what can only be described as a style of his own, and raises the bar for anyone flying under the banner of "singer songwriter". "This guy has a voice you could put in a honey jar - you have to check him out!" Nalesh Singh, Byron Bay FM. Chris Wood is a multi instrumentalist and plays piano, guitar, violin and sings. Although only 16, Chris has already toured with the Birralee Blokes in Canada and more closer to home at QPAC, Brisbane Convention Centre and Brisbane City Hall. Currently studying Jazz, his favourite artists are Ed Sheeran and Passenger so expect to be wowed when listening to Chris in the Sherwood Room! The beautifully restored Shingle Inn, will be running a take away service throughout the day. Sit and enjoy in either the Sandgate or Sherwood Rooms or have a cuppa on the run while perusing all the market stalls. To see their delicious menus or to book a table inside read on.  Don’t miss Panoramas closing soon atMuseum of Brisbane. Providing a fascinating insight into life in Brisbane over a 150-year span the exhibition features the earliest panoramic examples of Brisbane photography from 1862.  While you're there, take a tour of City Hall or the historic the Clock Tower and catch the fabulously nostalgic Light Fantastic EXPO 88 Parades Rewired. Park: King George Square Car Park for only $12 per day! Additional Parking:Brisbane City parking options Bus: King George Square Bus Station directly under the venue Train: Roma St / Central Stations. Bathrooms: Adjacent to Ann St Foyer Disability Access: Main entrance to City Hall via King George Square. Date: Saturday Sept 14 Where: In the Sandgate, Sherwood Rooms and Ann St Foyer on the ground floor of Brisbane City Hall, right next door to the Shingle Inn. Time: 9am-3pm See you all there!

Reverse Garbage Presents Cut and Paste, it's latest exhibition not to be missed!

Reverse Garbage gives Brisbane artists an up-cycling (re-use) challenge, with exhibition Cut and Paste, showcasing handmade items using paper and card!

Reverse Garbage is all about re-use before recycling and for it’s third exhibition for 2013, Cut and Paste crafters and creatives were asked to think about the items going into their recycling bins (eg. paper/cardboard) and turn them into something useful and beautiful!

Cut and Paste features the work of over 20 local artists, craft workers and designers who salvage, scavenge and reclaim items to create their works and wares. A diverse range of paper themed items will be on display and for sale including paper flowers, beads, bowls, necklaces, journals, gift bows, boxes, gift bags, fine artworks, paper goods, jewellery, sculptural items, decorations, home wares and more!

Exhibition Co-ordinator Brooke Nelson says. “Reverse Garbage has hosted 16 themed exhibitions but we’ve never done one showcasing only handmade items created with paper and card before.”
“The items and objects artists have come up with for Cut and Paste are just amazing!” Brooke says 

“There will be a range of gorgeous paper items and one artist has even had her original poetry made into a book printed on recycled paper and she will be doing a special reading on opening night” Brooke says

“We’ve also designed fun invitations on salvaged paper that fold origami style to make a little paper pyramid box!” says PR Co-ordinator, Rozina Suliman

Cut and Paste opens on Saturday 31 August, from 6.30-9.30pm. The opening event will feature all the usual perks alongside the exhibition such as a cash bar, free finger food, free live entertainment and late night warehouse shopping.


Cut and Paste runs from 31 August - 12 September 2013, open Monday to Saturday from 9 to 5pm. Reverse Emporium, Reverse Garbage 20 Burke St Woolloongabba. 

Works by Little Deer Creations

You are invited to the opening of...

Cut + Paste: an upcycled paper and card exhibition

On: Saturday 31 August 2013
Time: 6.30pm - 9.30pm
Where: Reverse Emporium at Reverse Garbage, 20 Burke Street, Woolloongabba 

Featuring:
upcycled paper and card creations
Live poetry reading by: Dani Newman from her book Peony & The Sea
Live set from Lucas Melhop  
Free finger food
Cash bar
Late night warehouse shopping! 

Our fabulous artists:
Beverley Teske, Flight Paths for Paper Birds, Netty Ferpozzi, Silvia Herranz, Mary Barron, Dani Newman, Ana Maria, Lalaluka, Suzanne Healy, F:a Papersmithery, Heather Crossley, Courtney Chester, Little Deer Creations, Renate Jacobi, Red Zebra Designs, Sacred Ibis, Abigail Plaza, Bog StandardDesign, Meekz Contemporary Jewellery & Spiritfire Designs

Entertainment times: 
 7.15pm- 7.25pm: Poetry Reading by Dani Newman
7.30pm - 8.15pm: Lucas Melhop

RSVP to the facebook invite here 

:: Attend the FREE Eco Tassel Making Workshop and WIN! ::

Image courtesy of WomanShopsWorld.etsy.com ::Attend the FREE Eco Tassel Making Workshop and WIN:: Get creative and help us make a tassel banner for the BrisStyle Eco Bazaar! Bring your family and friends along to joinBrisStyle and theBrisbane Brown Owlsin creating tassels and pom poms from recycled fabric and wool for an epic, eight metre long banner. The completed piece will adorn the Whale Mall for the BrisStyle Eco Bazaar on 7 September as part of the opening weekend festivities for theQueensland Museum's Afghanistan Exhibition. No experience required, all ages welcome, Brisbane Writers Festival Tickets to be WON*! WHEN Saturday August 31  TIME 10:00am -3:30pm  WHERE INVENTory Level 4 Queensland Museum, Southbank  COST FREE INVITE Your Friends and Family HERE :: *WIN Tickets to the Brisbane Writer's Festival! :: Attend the Eco Tassel Making Workshop and go into the draw to WIN two free tickets to a fab talk scheduled right after the Sept 7 BrisStyle Eco Bazaar: INSPIRE: DESIGN :: James Bridle explores design at the intersection of machines and humans. Louise Bannister reflects on why design matters to us. Rory Hyde wonders what roles designers will play in addressing the challenges of the future. Donated by the Brisbane Writers Festival and Presented by The University of Queensland. DATE Saturday Sept 7 VENUE THE EDGE, SLQ TIME 4-5.30pm INVITE   Your Friends and Family HERE :: BrisStyle Eco Bazaar Supporters :: Workshop material donations from BrisStylers :: Rebecca Cason - Edward and Lilly / Brisbane Brown Owls and Anita Gosden - Myclectic, Donna Linton - Kiss My Pattootie , Suzanne Keyes - Twisted Knits By Suze, Kerri Collins - Kerri's Hangups.

Artful Business Confrence :: Sept 3rd and 4th

Weather you are making a full time job out of doing what you love, or you are running a crafty business as sideline gig, we can all agree that it while it is a whole lot of fun it also has some serious challenges.

And isn't true too that, creative businesses need creative business solutions.

One of the exciting resources available to crafters, makers and creatives trying to run successful and sustainable businesses is the ArtfulBusiness Conference

This is a two-day virtual business conference designed to educate and inspire you, give you the tools to take your business to the next level, and build a network of support to help you through.

It is hosted by Australian based business development team, Robyn and Elle from Studio Exsto.

Over the two days the event will host 8 incredible speakers from across Australia and around the world, all there to help you.

Jessika Hepburn from Oh My! Handmade Goodness is going to show attendees how to make and build online communities around your brand. She will start with why community is important, how to start your own and how to cultivate it. On day two we will all hang out twitter while Jessika shows us live how to run a twitter chat.

Karen Gunton runs build a little biz and works with women in business to help them be their true self and shine! She will talk to at the Artful Business Conference about being authentic, bringing your YOU to your business and then get into some practical tips to rock out some amazing DIY visual marketing of your own.

Simon Walker, Nicole Fende and Mark Silver all touch on various aspects around money in small business and how to overcome the emotional hurdles and mind-blocks that are often associated with money. From the very practical to the emotions behind it all these guys will get you thinking about cash in a different way.

Jacqui Pryor will be explaining how to protect all your creative and wonderful business ideas. She will talk trademarks and copyright in a way that is easy to understand.

And, Shayne Tilley and Monica McCarthy get into the nitty gritty of how to sell yourself authentically online from video, interviews, email marketing and just online marketing in general.

This event is going to be an amazing source of information and inspiration for you if you are running, or thinking about starting, a creative business of your own.

Tickets start at just $99

The event is streamed live online September 3rd and 4th. If you grab a Gold or Premium Pass you get 6 months access to all the sessions so you can come back and watch them in your own time.

You can download the full program HERE.

Website - http://www.artfulbusinessconference.com/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheArtfulBusinessConference

Twitter - https://twitter.com/artfulbizcon