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Issue 7 * 2012

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Locally grown and made food, produce, art & craft, fashion & accessories, plants and live entertainment.

Market Dates 2012 Sat 17 March, Sat 19 May Sat 18 August, Sat 17 November.

All markets are from 9am - 2pm.

www.grassrootsmarket.com.au

Upwey Village Green, behind the shops in Upwey

Get into the Arts @ ProppaNow Collective: Jus’ Drawn 30th June – 26th August 2012 A Linden Centre for Contemporary Arts and NETS Victoria touring exhibition presenting works on paper by eight Queensland-based urban Indigenous artists.

Moth Friday 17th August @ 7.00pm Sometimes there’s no scarier place to be than inside your own mind…this play by Arena Theatre Company is a funny and moving exploration of teenage mental illness, loss and friendship.

For audiences 15+. Contains Coarse Language.

Burrinja

Menopause The Musical IN CONCERT Wednesday 11th July @ 8.00pm This joyful musical parody set to classic tunes from the 60s, 70s and 80s will have the audience cheering and dancing down the aisles as Menopause The Musical® IN CONCERT brings a refreshed and humourous look at ‘The Change’.

Burrinja Cnr Glenfern Rd & Matson Drive, Upwey ph: (03) 9754 8723 w: burrinja.org.au

building community through arts

Editor’s rave Winter is truly here and as the last coloured leaves drop off the trees it’s time to start rugging up and enjoying a wine by the fire (if you have one). There’s still no shortage of things to get out and do if you’re willing to brave the elements.

As the days get shorter it’s difficult to get out of bed sometimes and that’s why Belgrave’s Lantern Parade is my favourite festival at this time of year. It marks the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. So I know after it the days will slowly start to get longer. It lights up the night and warms up our mood and this year is bigger than ever with it being part of the Open Studios weekend.

There’s plenty of artists in this issue as well.

Our beautiful front cover design is done by Emma Jennings who is featured inside as well as jewellery by Melissa Muir. We have a bit of a photographic theme this issue with photo spreads from some of our talented local photographers including the fashion spread

by Carli Wilson, the Vodafest series by Bridget Gunn and the ‘LIFE’ series by design student Stuart Kitchin.

Rachel Hickingbotham has written a feature on Kallista and Zoe Goldberg, a secondary student from Monbulk College has also joined us to write about a new fashion market called Fashion Afair started by our fashionista stylist Lisa Zee. We’re blessed to have a vibrant community where culture thrives so Carolyn Oates has highlighted some of the places in the hills which

play live music, including many local acts.

Plus Brent Dakis reminds us about the importance of buying local to keep our community strong.

There’s more to discover in these pages and on our facebook page which has updates of all the goings on which can’t be crammed into this issue. And if a friend didn’t get their hands on a copy (they go pretty fast) they can always see it online www.hillscene.com.au I’d love to hear about your favourite thing to do in winter that keeps you cosy and warm inside.

Editor/Designer

Adriana Alvarez

Writer/Advertising

Rachel Hickingbotham

Cover

Emma Jennings

Proof Reader

Rachel Hickingbotham

Contributors Rachel Hickingbotham, Ross Farnell, Bridget Gunn, Carolyn Oates, Zoe Goldberg, Lisa Zee, Carli Wilson, Brent Dakis, Stuart Kitchin, Emma Jennings, Melissa Muir, Melanie Bateson and Adriana Alvarez facebook: The Hillscene For submission and advertising enquiries e: hillscene@westnet.com.au www.hillscene.com.au Printed by Ferntree Print on Envirocare 100gsm recycled paper. © Copyright 2012

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emma jennings covered The beautiful cover design is by Emma Jennings who recently had an exhibition at Limerence. Here’s more about her work and life in the hills.

‘Leafvine Naturally’ is a series of paintings experimenting with the effects of gouache and watercolour on textured Japanese papers.

Each painting evolves out of the individuality of each sheet of paper, the brushstrokes subtly weaving themselves into the delicate fibres, the translucency of paint allowing the paper to remain an integral part of each image.

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Inspired by oriental textiles, antique ceramics, William Morris, Gustav Klimt, Henri Matisse, and all of the talented craftsmen and women who have in the past, and continue today to make beautiful things slowly, with love, care and patience.

Below the surface it asks quiet questions of what it means to exist in such a fast paced material world, reminding us that we can make choices about how we interact with our environment and each other.

The next body of work will feature more blue and white, looking at the history of popular blue and white on ceramics in particular and delve more into the history of Japanese culture and their ideals of beauty and simplicity.

Living in the hills is like one long social bushwalk. Playing with the boys out the front (I have two boys, aged 4 and 2), saying hi to all the locals going past our house, running next door for ice-creams, talking over the fence and sharing tools with our neighbours. There’s a strong sense of community and support.

Fresh air, bright stars, the sweet smell of eucalyptus leaves in the summer, fog in the winter, colours in autumn. Being at home with the boys is like reliving childhood, living in a world of slow motion. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Coming home feels like going on a holiday.

Thank you to the wonderful duo at Limerence - Brent and CJ. Such a pleasure to work with, passionate about good design and supporting local designers and artists. It’s places like Limerence that are inspiring for our generation who care about quality, sustainability, and following our dreams.

Check out more of Emma’s work and her range of Naturewrap cards and bookmarks @ www.emmajennings.com.au www.etsy.com/shop/naturewrap

You can’t buy

Happiness but you can buy local

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Words by Brent Dakis

When reflecting on the benefits of shopping locally there are various surface aspects that I’m sure a majority of people can recognise, however it wasn’t until my wife and I started talking more about the lifestyle of shopping local that we really started to reveal the true benefits.

Let’s start at what a lot of us know. Shopping local is of undisputable benefit for the local economy. You are spending your money (which is also sometimes earned locally in the first place) to help your neighbours survive, to grow and develop the social and cultural centre in which you live, which increases the value of your town, and subsequently, the houses you own. People desire community, people desire connection, and we are all responsible to help create and maintain that together. It makes sense. Very few people who live out here would rather live in a large town full people you don’t recognise or who don’t care – if we did, we would all be moving into the middle of Melbourne city where the only face we know is our local barista.

This is made clear to us every day in our store, as we meet more and more people who have moved out from town, from Brunswick, North

Melbourne, Richmond etc to live a happier, healthier lifestyle and to find a stronger sense of community.

It’s also good for the environment using less fossil fuels for transport and creating a more liveable village where shopping for your needs and more is just a walking distance away.

The economic and environmental benefits of spending your money at local businesses is obvious and easy to understand but the more I think about it there is something less tangible, that in my opinion is almost more important.

By spending your money on something handmade or home grown, on something crafted or lovingly cooked, what you’re saying is ‘I believe in what you are doing’ and you are encouraging and inspiring the artist/cook/ maker/neighbour to continue doing what they love, and what they do best. Who doesn’t want to live in a community full of happy, inspired people who feel supported by all those who share the land around them? Having run Limerence now for almost two years, we have made countless friends with the citizens of this town, and find it an unfathomable and incomprehensible pleasure, to stroll the streets, to smile and say hello, and to call this enviable community home.

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Words by Ross Farnell The Lantern Parade inspires us. It brings us together in celebration and friendship.

It really does warm us - in so many ways.

The 2012 Winter Solstice Lantern Parade promises to be yet another fabulous community and family celebration that will ‘warm the heart of Belgrave’.

There are many ways to be involved in the lead up to the Lantern Parade – from totally creative activities to being a part of the planning and organising.

This is Belgrave’s parade, and this is your chance to play a

bigger part and get even more out of this wonderful event.

The more who get involved in the lead up to the parade the more fun it is for everyone.

For some it starts with the early sharing of ideas and planning for the event. Others make plans to meet up at a lantern making workshop to embark on a new creation or give an old favourite lantern a bit of spruce up. Some will be preparing something special with their community or performance group to contribute to the night. All of us will be reminded how lucky we are here in the hills.

The Winter Solstice is when the sun is at its lowest point

in the sky in the annual cycle and after it our days become longer. It’s the shortest day and the longest night. All over the world people come together in their communities to acknowledge this important moment, celebrating with festivals, food, music, rituals, costumes, arts and more.

Come and express yourself with your lanterns, your outfits, with your community group, with your sense of creativity and your festive spirit.

Volunteers have the opportunity to be involved in working bees, preparing lantern making materials, in lantern making community workshops, in art and music

Images courtesy of Belgrave Lantern Parade and Burrinja

Come Warm the Heart Of Belgrave

Open Studios exhibition

programs for the parade route, in the before and after celebrations and performances, in carrying the big lanterns, and in parade marshalling and information for the public.

There’s something for everyone to be a part of!

There is a great new website for the lantern parade at www.belgravelanterns.org.au, where you can find more information, tips and instruction sheets on lantern making, workshop dates, special lead-up events and lots more – take a look.

Lauren ~ Gypsy Trance Belly Dance

On the day of the parade music and activities on the street will start at 4pm. The parade will leave Hayes Car Park at 5:30pm. We invite everyone to share the night with us when Belgrave’s main street will be closed to traffic for our 6th annual Lantern Parade at winter solstice.

If you’d like to become a part of the Belgrave Lantern Parade contact celebrate@belgravelanterns.org.au or Marina on 9753 6234 / 0425 843 470.

Belgrave Lantern Parade – Saturday 23rd June 2012 Lanterns at the Parade

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Scene and Heard When I moved to the Dandenongs I discovered there was a very vibrant live music scene hidden in every corner. This issue I’d like to highlight a handful of the smaller venues that make this such an amazing place to discover great Victorian music acts.

Oscar’s Alehouse This is a cosy haunt popular with the locals in the know. It has a warm atmosphere and always a good selection of local hills artists with great Melbourne acts thrown in for good measure.

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Where: 7 Bayview Road, Belgrave Styles: Blues, roots, swamp, acoustic.

When: Thursdays – Sundays

Ruby’s On the main street of Belgrave this venue has, over the years, seen national and international touring acts. It’s popular with the heavier rock bands and is one of the premier venues for touring original acts who take a diversion out east of Melbourne.

Where: 1648 Burwood Highway, Belgrave Styles: Rock, heavy rock, metal, blues, acoustic When: Check their board for details, not open the same nights each week

Hillz Bar Hillz Bar is a relatively new kid on the block and live music is a once a week event, with a few extra nights thrown in when the right act comes along Where: 250 Olinda-Monbulk Rd, Monbulk Styles: Blues, jazz, acoustic.

When: Sunday afternoons, check their window or facebook for details on other nights.

Oscar’s Alehouse

Micawber Tavern Sundays is Rockabilly day and you can see some great classic cars in the car park, magnificent quiffs and some serious old school rock’n’roll dancing on the dance floor. Thursday – Saturday nights sees a steady flow of blues music.

Where: 61 Monbulk Rd, Belgrave Styles: Rockabilly, blues When: Sunday afternoons, Thursday – Saturday nights

Burrinja Cafe This place has worked hard to attract some legendary blues names from the Melbourne circuit out to the east. Lazy Sunday afternoons and themed nights (e.g. Beatles night) are their cup of tea.

Where: 351 Glenfern Rd, Upwey Styles: Blues, acoustic, rock.

When: Sunday afternoons, Friday & Saturday nights, check their website for details

music Ivy Lounge

Mt Dandenong Pub

Ivy Lounge is another newcomer to the hills and they have hosted some quality Melbourne acts as well as supporting the local talent.

The “Mount Dandy Pub” as described by those in the know is a stalwart of the area. We are talking decades of blues & jazz acts, along with a well know Sunday afternoon Open Mic night.

Where: 540 Mt Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda Styles: Blues, acoustic.

When: Fridays & Saturdays

Kelly’s Bar & Kitchen Kelly’s has built a reputation for a great gathering and sharing of new material by local singer/songwriters on Wednesday nights. Some of these nights have become the stuff of legend.

Where: 1510 Mount Dandenong Tourist Road, Olinda Styles: Acoustic, blues When: Wednesdays, consult their board for details

Where: 1451 Mount Dandenong Tourist Rd, Olinda Styles: Blues, jazz, acoustic.

When: Sunday afternoons, Friday & Saturday nights, check their board for details

Bodhi Tree This Healesville nightspot has been going for many years now and is a rambling little shop front and undercover beer garden. It’s a great place to find some talented local artists who live on the valley side of the hills.

Where: 317 Maroondah Hwy, Healesville Styles: Blues, acoustic, jazz.

When: Friday, Saturday, Sunday Carolyn Oates

Kelly’s Bar and Kitchen

Carolyn is a local singer/songwriter and also offers instrument tuition, for more information go to www.carolynoates.com

Shiastu in the hills. Shiatsu is a profound and deeply relaxing form of therapy using application of accupressure and gentle stretches to help to restore balance in body/mind and spirit . It promotes vitality, the natural way of being.

Experience Shiatsu from Lenka Persi at the White owl well-being clinic.

A lovely peaceful clinic which also offers Kinesiology and Reiki.

Open for Shiatsu Tuesdays and Saturdays from 9am - evening.

Meet Lenka at Kallista market where she has a Shiatsu stall the first Saturday of every month. For an appointment or enquiries call 0421 122 262 or email lenkaper@gmail.com.

White Owl well-being clinic

Health fund rebates apply.

114 Morris Road, Upwey

www.whiteowlwellbeing.com.au

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Vodafest Vodafest (meaning water festival) is a Czech and Slovak event that is held once a year in the grounds of the Sumava Peksa park in Belgrave South, bringing together Czech and Slovak communities from all over Australia.

Open to the wider public this one day event usually takes place in summer or springtime and is a wonderful celebration of Czech and Slovak cultures, folk arts, crafts, foods, drinks and entertainment.

In only it’s second year, the festival’s association hope to share this celebration with others

interested in Czech and Slovak heritage, as well as with those from Czech and Slovak backgrounds.

Vodafest also hosts a number of free children’s activities and live international music performances, along with competitions, traditional folk dance displays and a beautiful regional costume parade.

For more information visit - www.vodafest.org Words and photographs by - Bridget Gunn photomedia - www.bridgetgunn.com.au

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Finders Keepers A ‘Market Bazaar’ full of hand-made and recycled fashion, contemporary arts and crafts, jewellery and more.

365 Main St, Emerald.

Finders Keepers Emerald

Kallista calling

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Kallista lives up to the name it was given.

The forest village was renamed in 1925 after a local language teacher won the town’s competition.

The name means “most beautiful” and if a survey was ever to be done, Kallista would undoubtedly top the beauty list even now. Kallista is the epitome of hills splendour. It calls you to slow right down as you pass through and is so breathtaking that you will always want to stop. It is the ultimate village for both locals and visitors alike due to the perfect blend of forest walks, unique shopping and excellent café choices.

Whichever road you take, the drive into Kallista village is stunning. For those lucky enough to live and go to school locally, the atmosphere of true forest living is sensational. In the autumn, Kallista is magical with colourful trees and plenty of crunchy leaves to play in. The winter is chilly, but there is nothing like rugging up for a brisk walk to one of the local cafes for a warm drink.

Summer and spring in Kallista brings a burst of colour and birdlife, and the cool forest offers welcome shade.

The local community is well supported by the buzzing community house that promotes the very popular Kallista Market held on first Saturday of each month. The market

has a fabulous atmosphere offering a wonderful blend of good food, unique craft and homewares with regular entertainment. New to Kallista is the FashionAfair indi-fashion artist market that runs on the fourth Saturday of the month at the Mechanics Hall (read more on page 18).

The main street has an enticing selection of interesting hills shopping. Worth a visit are Wilga for clothing and accessories, Epoche for natural toys and clothing, and Vintage Cookbooks for, well, vintage cookbooks! Kallista is blessed with a plentiful supply of exceptional biodynamic and organic food at the well loved Kallista Biodynamic Store run by Fred and his son Troy.

Kallista has no shortage of places to meet up for a coffee either. Kallista Deli is a popular spot to pop in for a quick bite and Cooks Corner, now under new management, prides itself on amazing coffee and evening meals. Only a short stroll down the main street you will find the Kallista Tea Rooms with its iconic curved windows that has been a meeting place for locals since 1950.

Open seven days a week, the tea rooms has a delicious menu with favourites such as Lindt hot chocolates, “the best scones on the hill” and

Photos by Pam Harvey Photography • pamelaharvey78@gmail.com

Words by Rachel Hickingbotham

town profile scrummy cooked breakfast until late afternoon.

Kallista is truly the Forest Village as she nestles in amongst the tall trees of the Dandenong Ranges National Park. There is no playground in Kallista, and nor is one needed with a myriad of fabulous walking tracks to discover. Grants Picnic Ground offers a starting point for long and short walks; however there are many less crowded options.

Kallista Bio-Dynamic

Market Certified organic and bio-dynamic fresh produce and dry goods at affordable prices Certified poultry, beef, lamb, sausages & fish products Open Monday to Saturday Mon-Wed 9 - 5.30 pm, Thur - Fri 9 - 6 pm, Sat 9 - 2 pm

77 Belgrave-Monbulk Rd, Kallista for information call Troy or Fred

9 7 5 5 1 1 1 1 or 0409 561 224

Try following the track across the road from Grants or across the road from Cook’s Corner.

The forest is full of birdlife such as kookaburras, cockatoos, galahs and rosellas. If you are lucky you may spot a slightly shyer resident such as a lyrebird, wallaby or wombat.

Formerly the land of the Wurundjeri people, the forest especially around Kallista is precious and sacred. Local elder Murrindindi works with school children teaching them about respect for the forest they live and learn in. They walk along ancient medicine trails through the forest learning about the significance of local flora and fauna. It is encouraging that the young people of Kallista and neighbouring village of The Patch are growing up to respect the wonder and beauty of where they are so fortunate to be.

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fashion fix

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Shirt: Wilga, a well-stocked store in Kallista. Savvy shoppers know to check at Wilga before dragging themselves to Knox! 83 Monbulk Rd, Kallista.

Ph: 9755 3855 Pants and belt: Pink Shop Vintage, high quality vintage housed at Finders Keepers – 365 Main St. Emerald.

Umbrella: Voski, A unique range of artistic, funky, exotic accessories, ornaments & textiles.

35 Main St, Upwey. Ph: 9754 7884 Jacket: Limerence, Australian handmade fashion, jewellery and gallery space – 2/1642 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave. Ph: 8288 1263 Photography: Carli Wilson from Barnaby&Wilson Photography – www.barnabyandwilson.com Hair and Make up: AOF Makeup Artistry Elyse Mehaffey - a local with over 8 years experience specialising in fashion, bridal and film. Mobile service available. Ph: 0431 549 349.

Hat: Courtesy of Mojo the Clown Ring: Lille Bear_t Shoes stylists own.

Styling: Lisa Zee of Sudden Style – Ph: 0408 774 471 Model: Shaylee Bartholomeusz Thanks to Puffing Billy for the charming location.

new stock weekly!

83 Monbulk Rd, Kallista VIC 9755 3855 6 Hewish Rd, Croydon VIC 9725 6313 wilgaboutique.com.au

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Fashion Afair

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Words by Zoe Goldberg – Images by Carli Wilson As I walk through the doors of the Kallista Mechanics Hall on this sunny Saturday, the sweet sound of music and the smell of coffee hit me instantaneously.

The source of the melody was a musical duo, brother and sister Sarah and Samuel Fraraccio from Beaconsfield, whose beautiful acoustic songs warmed up the room. Not that the room needed any more liveliness; the bombardment of colours, textures, fabrics, jewellery, art and all things in between was enough to make this Fashion Afair an experience for the true fashionistas at heart (myself included!)

Fashion Afair is a new market/’pop up shop’ dedicated to fashion where stall holders get to showcase their best products every month. Space is limited so that the market although small, has a large variety of wares to choose from.

Venturing around the market, I find myself at a jewellery stall talking to the maker Ashlea Lucas, who is studying fashion design at Box Hill. Creativity is obviously in her genes; Ashlea’s mother, Tais Sobrua offers dressmaking services out of Little Red’s Craft Cupboard in Monbulk.

Tais’s hand stitched corsets are stunningly crafted just like Ashlea’s jewels, which she says she simply loves because of “the sparkles…and the glitter!”

I look down to see a tiny fluffy black dog scurrying around, weaving through the legs of children and women and under tables. I arrive at a stand in the centre of the room covered in necklaces and other handmade jewellery, most featuring parts of clocks and old books. Amy Bruni from Lille Bear_t, the maker of the jewellery, talks about what motivates her creations; focusing on recycled, eco-friendly and naturally inspired materials, Amy tells me about her love for a challenge.

“It’s turning something old into something new” she says passionately, showing me the tiny, intricate parts of watches she has placed together to make her necklaces and even the books she has used for jewellery stands.

Amy’s beautiful, handmade designs are not the only things to capture my attention an artist painting detailed henna tattoos is beckoning by the front door. The practice of Indian Henna body art is so interesting and delicate to watch. I’m fascinated as I observe a mix of leaf extract, which has been mixed with tea or coffee and sugar, being applied like a tattoo to a girl’s wrist.

The creation of something from natural ingredients echoes through Marjorie McCulloch and Nathan Sherlock’s Spinifex range of necklaces and bracelets. Made from local and tropical seeds collected over years of travel, these creations from the duo’s home studio are coloured using naturally occurring products.

Speaking to Lisa Von Muller, the store owner of Upwey’s Voski, she tells me about the process of ‘Upcycling’; making something old into something new using methods such as re-stitching or boiling the wool to become something that is different and exciting. Her own creations are as beautiful as the clothes she sells in her store, and – from personal experience – her store is a must on shops to visit in the area.

On my way out, I spy a stunningly dainty yellow dress with a floral collar hanging on the wall that I simply fall in love with; but alas, as a poor year 12 student, I regretfully tear my eyes away before heading to the door and repeating to myself “that dress won’t help you pass your English exam!”

Maybe next time.

Fashion Afair Market, 4th Saturday of the month Kallista Mechanics Hall - Tom Roberts Rd Kallista enquiries: fashionafairs@hotmail.com 19

i a r f A n o i fash Indi-Fashion Artist market

Showcasing select designers from the Yarra Ranges & Valley. Clothing, Jewellery and Accessories.

FA SHI O N E M P OR I UM 35 main street upwey ViCtOria 3158 A unique range of artistic, funky, exotic accesories, ornaments & textiles

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4th Saturday of the month, 10 - 3pm

First 50 in get a free latte.

Market in style!!

Kallista Mechanics Hall Tom Roberts Rd, Kallista.

All enquiries: fashionafairs@hotmail.com

Indoor market+cafe+Live music.

melissa muir design

Why do you make jewellery?

It’s very relaxing, I concentrate on only one thing when I’m making, and that’s the metal I’m cutting, I don’t have a choice in the matter, I snap saw blades if my mind wanders! It’s a great way to stay focused and be in my own world in the moment, a lovely place to be:)

How did you get into jewellery making?

I had a wonderful teacher in high school who believed in me and helped me achieve my goal of eventually getting into R.M.I.T Gold and Silversmithing Bachelors Degree, a small selection of people were taken into the course each year, I was very proud to be one of them.

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What inspires you?

The metal inspires me; I just love metal, all it’s properties and grain structures, how me being skin and bone can bend, melt, cut, file, hammer, work, and manipulate such a strong element almost any way I like, learning how to push boundaries but at the same time respecting the rules and laws of the metal.

What other artforms are you interested in?

I’m very creative and hands on, I love photography (I photograph all my work) I love just about any artform. Unfortunately my time is limited but here are some I’ve done and have a soft spot for.. Mosiac mirror work, drawing, painting, sewing, wood work, and my project car a HZ Holden Kingswood currently in the process of a very slow rebuild.

Where do you stock your work?

Limerence – 2/1642 Burwood Hwy, Belgrave ph: 8288 1263 Frida – 25 Wood Street, Beaconsfield ph: 0432 327 645

How does living in the hills inspire you?

Nature definitely inspires me, organic elements, colours, space and sounds. Taking time to smell the roses is good for the soul.

I like a balance of city life also, I love the fast pace, masses of everything, energy, lights, colour and people, I do appreciate coming home though.. I enjoy the friendly faces that smile and say hello when you walk 5 minutes down the street, to collect the milk, to return over an hour later..

Anything else you’d like to add?

Thank you :) Check out more of Melissa’s work on Melissa Muir Design

artist profile

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writing

How to Get a Career Without Even Trying Words by Melanie Bateson

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So there I was, updating my status on Facebook with gay abandon, ranting on about the grating side of motherhood, wifedom, thoughts on different types of weather…you know, the usual vacuous drivel one finds on the social network few of us can do without. I had reconnected with various school chums, as was my plan, and was as happy as a clam. I had no expectations other than to see what I would look like with a variety of hair do’s thanks to yearbooking image (a frightening exercise in just how much I resemble both my mother and Barbara Streisand), and the odd bit of banter with those I’d lost touch with over the years.

With expectations low, it was startling to me when a high school alumnae inboxed me with a request for a meeting to discuss a “project”.

I was stumped. Did she want child rearing advice? God help her. Was she considering a move to these here hills, and enquiring about educational institutions in the area? Were there compromising photos of me and some live stock from which she was hoping to extort funds?* I had not a clue. After several failed attempts to arrange a catch up, we finally set an appointment with one another and kept it.

Driving to her abode on the other side of the suburban belt, I was bursting with curiosity.

After arriving, pouring the wine, sampling the nibbles on offer and catching up on home town gossip, it was time for the big reveal.

Would I, a stay home mum, shabby house keeper and Bachelor of Arts dropout, be

*No such act has ever taken place

interested in penning a one woman show for her, an employed actress? I won’t insult you by saying that I took this suggestion in my stride.

No, I choked a little on my Shiraz, mind swirling and at a loss for words. Not the best of starts, given words were the point of the offer.

Slightly prior to collecting my thoughts, I answered. “Why?!?!” This angel from god had been reading my status updates, and had thought them to be just the thing for an idea that she had been mulling over since she had started the whole breeding caper herself. The level of dark humour and sarcasm were just the thing she’d had in mind. I didn’t know whether to thank her or hang my head in shame. It would appear that I was not alone in my questioning the whole nine yards that is my life.

To be even noticed while mostly thinking of myself as very dull and uninteresting in my quest to juggle my day to day responsibilities was both shocking and gratifying all at the same time. Did I actually have something to say that was worth hearing? Possibly. I guess we wont know until the thing is done and tickets go on sale, but whatever may be, this opportunity reopened the possibility that I may be of some use to the world at large, and that my struggles to understand my place in the world may not be fodder for my offspring during their visits to the shrink later in life. I might actually have something useful to say.

Catch Melanie’s comments on her blog http://poopnbumpublishing.blogspot.com/

Craft love Words and images by Rachel Hickingbotham Throughout my life I have had mothers, aunts and grandmothers around me who could knit, crochet and sew. Really well. Yet it seemed I was born with dud genes and no-one was able to pass their skills down to me. I had always felt somehow that this art form might just die out if I didn’t hurry up and learn. After all, who then would teach my children?

I have had many a clever woman attempt to pass on their skills to me, with the only results being a tizzy fit and a scarf that would barely fit a teddy bear. I had decided that there was no hope for me or my offspring.

Recently I discovered I had little to fear. If only I had wandered up the main street of Monbulk sooner, I would have discovered the hive of craft lovers who were surprisingly wet behind the ears like me. It seems that there are a myriad of young womenfolk who love the feel of wool (sorry, yarn) and hunger to create something beautiful with their hands. Meeting around the big table at Little Red’s Craft Cupboard are women learning the ancient art of transforming fibres into hats, bags, scarves and other impressive pieces.

My goal was simple. I just wanted to achieve a blankey square. Just one.

I needed to know I was not a complete lost cause. And so I began my Beginners Crochet class. Our class of six women immediately bonded over slipped stitches and triumphant successes. Kirsten Yarra, our legendary and highly passionate yarn-addicted teacher effortlessly stepped us through our stitches and made it look and feel easier than I ever imagined.

Before long, I was in love. In love with the feel and smell of wool (sorry, yarn) and the beauty of my creation. I was almost a little teary seeing my first, second and even third square appear from my own hands. Now I have almost enough squares to cover a whole bed… albeit teddy’s bed.

Little Red’s Craft Cupboard beckons craft lovers of all skill levels and teaches them to knit, crochet and sew with patience, love and kindness. They run craft classes for adults and children all through the term and school holidays.

Rachel is a local freelance writer, contact her at rachel@swiftsupport.com.au

23

Night LIFE

Words and Images by Stuart Kitchin Photography is one of my many passions, so for university I constructed a photography book titled ‘LIFE’.

My aim in this book was to express different aspects and qualities about myself and how I try and view things differently to everyone else. The book featured many images taken from around the hills and places in the city. I chose the hills purely because I believe certain qualities bring the hills to life, that are otherwise lost. These photos specifically capture locations such as, Tecoma station, the Devil’s Elbow, Hughes Rd and more. www.stuart-kitchin.tumblr.com/

25

retail

Images courtesy of Little Dance

L ittle Dance anyone?

Words by Adriana Alvarez 26

I love stumbling across newby shops (or anything) in the hills. So when I saw some colourful new signs going up in Tecoma and newspapers in the windows I waited patiently till Little Dance opened it’s doors so I could go check it out. Here’s what I found.

Little Dance started five years ago as an online shop offering personalised invitations for parties but has since branched out into other avenues, adding products to meet their customers’ requirements. As they had outgrown their old premises they needed to move and the choice was between an industrial premises or a shop front. They chose the latter so that people could come in and see the products or pick up if they wanted to.

They offer a range of party products personalised to your needs. It starts off with an invitation then you can print the same design onto banners, helium balloons, cake decorations, edible images for cupcakes or cakes, and lots of other party needs.

“It’s not mass produced,” says owner Tammy Dance “It’s a boutique niche market, we’re

pretty much one of a kind at the moment.”

Their products ship all over Australia and even internationally.

“The candy buffet is popular at the moment;” says Tammy ”especially for weddings, instead of having desserts. We hire out the canopy, table cloths, urns, glass jars and even have personalised lollypops.” Colour co-ordinating your candy is also popular and you can add paper pompoms and bits and pieces to co-ordinate the whole party like test-tubes for lollies or metal buckets with name tags.

Their website was runner up in the Online Retail Industry Awards (ORIAs) in 2010. The Awards were launched to recognise and reward deserving excellence in e-commerce and Little Dance was up against some of Australia’s online retail powerhouses including Deals Direct, Dominos, Red Balloon, Sportsgirl, City Beach, The ABC Shop, Clive Peeters and more!

“Pretty good considering it was started off as a hobby.” says Tammy.

To see their full range of products go to www.littledanceinvitations.com.au/ or visit Shop 5, 1565 Burwood Hwy, Tecoma.

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