MARKET REPORT

I'm still on a high following one of my best market experiences ever! 
This is the first time the Wild Rumpus Makers' Market has been held at the Wollongong Town Hall (a bigger venue than the usual 'Anita's Theatre' at Thirroul).
It was a well-organised and run event, attended by I don't know how many thousands of folk - all with their hearts and wallets open!
I now think the chief value of a well-promoted event like this is that people attending can be assured this is 'above-normal-market standard' products.

With my chief Label-Writer/Stringer/Pinner - Megan

Stall-holders were selected from a wide field of applicants - all local Illawarra makers - which ensured only high quality, locally-made goods were present.
Hopefully I'll be able to take part in future events held by Wild Rumpus - and if I do I'll be sure to give plenty of notice here, and on my Instagram and Facebook pages.

oh - and if you're one of my new (or old!) customers from Sunday - thankyou!

before!

MAKERS' MARKET

Sorry for late notice!

This is what Rapt! is up to today (Sunday 29th NOvember).

I'll be joining an eclectic collection of Illawarra "artisans" - not just any-old hoy-poloy - but top-end makers of all sorts of interesting stuff.

Where:  Wollongong TownHall 

When:    10am - 4pm

What:     Arts, handcrafts, food, music, workshops, children's play sessions

Hope to maybe see you there…  here's a few of the things going from here:

AMOO-ZING DOORSTOPS!

New into store (online, showroom and of course - at the WILD RUMPUS MAKERS' MARKET Wollongong Townhall 29th November), more simply Amoozing doorstops. Lovingly made in Jamberoo from remnant upholstery materials and local beach sand.

Perfect Christmas pressie for the difficult-to-shop-for perhaps?

They're $35 each or $30 each for 2 or more.
(available in many other fabrics - less A-Moozing of course!)

OFF THE WORKBENCH

Just finished this lovely set of cane furniture (circa 1970s). Replaced the now-useless Pirelli webbing, and made all new cushions (using high density foam). Nearly all the covers have mis-matched fronts/backs - making it possible to mix up the look for conventional, or, quirky style.

before

Pirelli webbing Before

new elastic webbing

SAVE THE DATE!

Meet the Maker

My talented photographer friend Linda Faiers came to Bottoms' End (my workshop) yesterday to do a photo shoot, at the request of the Wild Rumpus team who will use the pics for marketing their Makers' Market at the end of this month (Sunday 29th November 2016, 10-4, Wollongong Town Hall).
Here are some of the results, some including Pipsqueak (my apprentice) who was determined not to miss out on the action.

ARTY DECOS

I recently was gifted this set of 5 art deco dining chairs - in shabby condition (upholstery and timber finish) but otherwise structurally perfect. Much heavier than modern diners!
I fully restored one - refinished timber and completely reupholstered - with the intention of doing the others when there was time. However those 4 were snapped up in their existing condition by a regular client, with a very good chairy-eye, who loves DIY.
I've still got the fully-restored one (it's listed for sale in the Rapt online store). The fabrics are a combination of sumptuous velvets from Warwick.

before

before and after

timber refinished (left) and original right

OFF THE WORKBENCH...

I've been tardy in posting on this site since discovering Instagram - which I'm now hooked on! 
Link to the Instagram site is attached on the right of home page if you'd like to keep up to date with Rapt in detail. 
Here's a summary of what we've been doing lately:

before

after

Before, showing Zepel fabric on left

after

What Would William Think?

...William Morris that is… the famous Arts and Crafts movement designer. This fabric design is one of his - it's called 'Kilburn Rose' - and the license for it and many of his most famous designs are now owned by the Victoria & Albert Museum.  In a weird and wonderful bit of business, the Sydney textile company Sparkk has an arrangement with V&A to print these designs using state-of-the-art technology onto furnishing weight base cloths.
My client (a professional rose-grower) fell in love with Kilburn Rose and it was an easy decision for him to choose it for the new seat for this well-loved old stool.

I can't help but think that Mr Morris, clearly a man ahead of his time, would heartily approve of this marriage of old and new technology.

before

before

Funky Fone-table Finished!

Just off the workbench is this lovely little phone table, circa 1970s.
It proved a difficult job for me because I mistakenly copied the upholstery it came dressed in… but the result in copying this was so awful I stripped it down and started from scratch.
Much happier with the second attempt - and the client is delighted - which is all that matters.

Before

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

Pip and me have been busy lately making up a few pairs of baby ottos - inspired by the delivery of some gorgeous colourful, co-ordinating fabrics.
They're now in the Rapt online shop, and on display in the Jamberoo showroom.

They measure 40cm diam, approx. 34cm high and are constructed entirely here in the Rapt HQ, from ply, pine, glue, screws, high density foam and the lovely fabrics you see here.