Harvest Workroom

	Hop, skip into Pop Craft for all of your winter woollen needs. Setting up stumps at Harvest Workroom for the months of May and June - Pop Craft will sell unique and wonderful yarns as well as host the most sophisticated knitting workshops in town. Students will make some uniquely designed pieces from Pop Craft's collection and gain an insight into fabulous world of fibre, yarn and textiles. For some pics of Pop Craft - see here. Bookings here.

	With a strong emphasis on sharing knowledge, discussing projects and providing high quality supplies and materials Pop Craft will re-emerge at Harvest Workroom in May/June in a completely different aesthetic incarnation. Nonetheless, it will still keep its original concept of serving multiple functions such as a retail space for yarn and knitting/crochet accessories; a platform for textile artists to showcase their creations and a curated gallery space in the shop window. Pop Craft will also host knitting workshops in their fabulous popup shop in which students will knit their own designer wrist warmers and another project of their choice (either a bag, scarf or vest from POPCRAFT’s unique designs - vest pictured at left) whilst taking a journey with POPCRAFT into the fabulous world of fibre, yarn and textiles. Students will finish the workshop series with their knitted items, a knowledge of the history of the craft, a solid understanding of the qualities of the fibres they work with and a general overview of knitting as an art form. How good does that sound? Bookings here.

	Harvest Workroom has handpicked some of Melbourne’s most exciting makers for an exclusive 4 day school holiday program for young artists from 9-16 years. DESIGN DEPOT includes Emily Green, Handmade Romance, Dell Stewart and Harvest Textiles. Participants will work side by side the artists and gain the full benefit of 4 intensive days spent in the creative space at Harvest Workroom. An overview of the program follows: "Think it, Draw it, Stitch it" with Evie Barrow of Handmade Romance Join Melbourne’s doll doyenne and create your own soft toy. Students will design and create a character drawing of their own and then turn their drawing into a soft toy, learning basic hand-stitching, construction and embellishment techniques. "Colour Crusade" with Emily Green Emily will fill her workshop day with colour exploration including creating colour palettes, screenprinting on paper and fimo. Students will get to wear their own colourful brooches and pendants home. "Scrap Paper Animation" with Dell Stewart Dell will introduce students to the slow, joyous art of old school animation using collage cutouts and printed paper elements in a traditional multi-layered glass set-up. Animations will be published online after post-production for participants to link to. "Print and Go" with Harvest Textiles Students will design & print their own tote bag in a fun filled day of printing. No experience necessary, all materials provided. All workshops are kept intimate with this class catering to a maximum of 12 students. Workshop will be held over 4 full day sessions at Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia. 2,3,4 & 5 April 9.30am - 3.30pm

	We are very pleased that one of our ex-students Kirra Jamison will spend the next three weeks at Harvest Workroom as artist-in-residence preparing a new body of screen printed works on paper. For anyone not familar with the prolific talents of Kirra be sure to pop over to her website and her great new food blog that we can't stop salivating over called Keke. Kirra attended our 9 week Screen Printing Intensive workshops last year in order to attain the knowledge to transfer her artistic talents onto mesh! We can't wait to see what she comes up with during her time with us. Stay tuned to our blog and facebook to see her work unfold.

	Our January 2012 designer-in-residence Clara Vuletich (UK based Australian textile designer, Bricolage Project member and researcher at Textiles Environment Design) has arrived in Melbourne. The residency will explore the concept of 'local textiles’. Clara hopes to combine her knowledge of sustainable textile print and dye processes with her interest in new forms of design and community activity that promote ‘home-grown’ knowledge/skills and encourage well-being. Clara will document her residency with daily blog updates and host Local Cloth - a presentation of her residency findings on Saturday January 21st from 10.30am - 12pm to be held at Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick. She is a charismatic speaker with a great depth of information and enthusiasm for her subject (as her seminar last year attests). An event not to be missed. Bookings here - only $15.

	Our Screen Printing Summer School is filling up so if you are keen to get extremely busy with a squeegee for 4 days in a row in our professional studio environment over summer (while the cats are away the mice can play!) then you may want to consider booking yourself a spot. We will take you through the steps of creating multi-colour placement prints and repeat patterns. You will learn how to draw motifs, make hand drawn repeat patterns and create registered placement prints. You will be printing your patterns onto lengths of fabric and 100% linen tea towels, while learning about screenprinting, stencil cutting and how different types of ink can dramatically change your designs. Sign up with a friend and start the New Year off with your creative juices flowing. Book here.

	Be sure to mark December 18th in your diary as a day to avoid last minute xmas shopping mall madness by heading to the Harvest Xmas Market. We have a fantastic line-up of designers for you this year with talents such as Beci Orpin, Douglas and Hope, Sunday Morning Designs, Miniscapes, Dani M, Inklet...the list goes on. There will also be a Harvest Workroom ex-student's stall, a kid's craft stall, gift wrapping and craft activities plus yummy food will be brought to you by the infamous Taco Truck and local staple Each Peach. Judging by the success of last year's xmas market this is definitely an event not to be missed...so we hope to see you down there. Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick 10am - 5pm December 18th. Keep an eye on our blog over the coming weeks to see interviews with some of the makers who will be featuring at the market and view the stall holder profiles here.

	We are looking forward to having the super duper dynamic duo Nick Young (of Two Ruffians) and Clair Wayman with us as artists-in-residence at Harvest Workroom during November. Not only do these guys make us laugh (a lot) they are also really talented folk who will inject our studio with a whole lot of sass and style. Between them they wear so many hats but essentially Clair is a highly sought after stylist and Nick is her printmaking partner in crime and when they come together they are Curio & Curio. They have a sweet little shop down in Flinders under that very name which they will essentially be relocating for their popup appearance. Whilst under our roof Nick will lead an uber-DIY workshop (with Clair as his sidekick) called Printed Wooden Storage Box - Printing and Constructing (see an example of the cube over to the far left.) More details to come about their residency but be sure to book in to the workshop if you are keen - we don't want you missing out. Read an interview with Nick on our blog.

	It may be a little off-putting to start talking about christmas so early but the Embellished Porcelain Workshop with Abby Seymour would be a wonderfully relaxing way to knock several presents off the list. The students from Abby's previous workshop at Harvest Workroom made such stunning pieces and they really were prolific. There are only a couple of spots left in the upcoming workshop starting on October 13th so don't delay if you are keen. The workshops run over three evening sessions and now that we are into daylight savings those evening classes are so much more enticing...see you there.

	If you haven't heard of Monolog then now is the time to sit up and listen. As one of Melbourne's most innovative new fashion/textile labels we at Harvest Workroom are well and truly looking forward to having them move into our space from September 2 -10. Monolog will use the opportunity to present the fresh new colours and styles that have been handprinted by Indie Ladan - the face behind the label - right here on our ten metre print table at Harvest Workroom. Whilst under our roof we will help Monolog celebrate the official launch of their new spring collection on September 2nd 7pm - 9.30pm. Punters will have the opportunity to meet Indie Ladan as well as receive 10% off any purchases made on the night and go in the running to win five limited edition garments. Monolog will then have a popup shop 3rd-4th September and 7th-10th September from 10.30am-5pm. From our perspective one of the most exciting aspects of the Monolog mayhem will be the workshop that Indie will host called One Piece. Under Indie's guidance students will design their own bold flowing graphics that will then be exposed onto screens and printed on organic cotton jersey. The japanese technique of Furoshiki will provide much of the inspiration for the course. Find out more about Monolog and the workshop through an interview we did with Indie at our blog.

	We have been having a great time as guest bloggers over at The Design Files. Lucy Feagins (pictured left) is the mistressmind behind this fabulous blog that keeps us in the loop with all design related amazingness around Melbourne and beyond and was kind enough to invite us to have our say for a week. We chose to feature the marvellous designers (Liz Jones, Maryann Talia Pau, Nikki Gabriel, Greg Hatton & Leila Sanderson) who will host workshops at our up coming event makeUp to be held at Harvest Workroom. It was a good excuse to go and have a nosey at everybody's studio spaces...and what inspiring little corners of the world they have created. Thanks Lucy for the chance to appear on your fantastic design forum. We have really enjoyed ourselves. (images courtesy of The Design Files).

	The very talented Nikki Gabriel will join us as part of our makeUp @ Harvest Workroom program in July featuring designers that use recycled or upcycled materials in their work. Nikki will use her time with us to launch her WOOLI yarn - a stunning product made of remnant fibres of CASHMERE, SILK, WOOL, ALPACA and POSSUM. It’s mixed up and spun into this amazing heather yarn that has a bulky tweed look...absolutely beautiful. Using her "construction knitting" approach Nikki will host workshops to show people how to use her patterns to design and make garments using simple knitted shapes rather than elaborate craft skills. Now that sounds like a winning combination. Book here.


	As part of the 2011 State of Design's Design for Everyone program Harvest Workroom is hosting MakeUP on Sat 23 & Sun 24 July, Sat 30 & Sun 31 July. MakeUP showcases local designers who either reuse or upcycle materials to create amazing new products. Come join us at Harvest Workroom for a series of workshops and events based around this theme. Guests include Greg Hatton, Leila Sanderson, Liz Jones, Maryann Talia Pau and Nikki Gabriel. Plus Harvest Textiles will feature an Upcycling Vintage Wallpaper workshop. Or experience the Make Shop - drop in and engage in a creative project at any time! View here for a list of the featured designers, the workshops and more details.

	With the cooler weather already well and truly making itself apparent around these parts it is time to start thinking about all things woolly and warm. Lucky for us Pop Craft has opened a popup shop right here at Harvest Workroom from May 23 - August 30 to provide Melbourne yarn lovers with local, experimental and colourful fibres plus new textile ranges from some budding local textile artists. Pop Craft also features a whole suite of fabulous workshops in hand knitting and machine knitting. Be sure to watch the ever revolving shop window for works by some fantastic local artists too! Stay tuned for all sorts of updates over the coming months. Stop by 510 Lygon Street, East Brunswick, Melbourne, Australia.

	Do you like to collect things, arrange and assemble things or, dare we say it, hoard things? You are not alone. Join Jeweller and Object Designer Liz Jones from Betty Jo Designs at Harvest Workroom to create beautiful coloured assemblage pictures and jewellery using buttons, beads, bric-a-brac and everyday items you have collected to be recycled and given another creative life. Even if you don't have the collecting gene in your DNA that’s OK. There will be lots of instant collections to work with! Students will make a beautiful framed colour collage and a selection of mini assemblages that can be worn as brooches or pendants. Visit here for bookings.