late summer craftiness

get yr craft on, the markets are here!  saturday march 3 from 11-3 is the first of our march markets,  the second being our april market that is actually going to be on march 31st, but i'll post more about that another time.  for now, we're coming up to another market of handmade crafty goodness, hopefully some lovely bits of sun and summer breezes, live music from the conservatoriums cushion concert and bunches of fabulous folk - what a way to kick off yr weekend... 

if you're new to the con artists market, it's a community market that focuses on local handmade products with an eco-friendly, DIY bent, and sold to you by the maker themselves.  we've been doing since september 2010 and have some of the best makers showcasing their wares.  if you're a maker and keen to participate in the con artists market please send us an email and we'll give you all the info you need to get started.

we're back!

it's been a lovely few weeks that we've had off over the summer, but it's gone ever so quickly...  

and so we're back again already for another season of con artists markets, and word from some of our fantastic stallholders is that there are some great new projects in the pipeline, which means more exciting treasures for one and all.  

our first market for the year again coincides with the conservatorium's cushion concert, the pulse cafe will no doubt be open again and we welcome our diverse range of stallholders back to bring you another lovely year of local handmade goodness!

see you at the northern rivers conservatorium on saturday february 4 for the first con artists market of 2012 x

eco-friendly christmas markets & local handmade goodness!

well... we could go on about how fast the year has travelled, but it's all been said before.  something much more exciting is how far the whole handmade, local, eco-friendly christmas consumerism message is branching out.  evidently it's very in vogue right now, and those of us who have been making handmade our way of life for ages might be rolling our eyes just a little bit, but it's fantastic to see nonetheless.  ideally each community would be able to support and sustain an endeavour such as the con artists markets, and hopefully this is what we will be seeing into the future.  it's a tiny and great pleasure to know that our community is able to support our makers to create for them, to be an important part of creating and maintaining a sustainable local economy.  because what's even more exciting than people coming to shop at the con artists markets is the idea that our market existing is encouraging people to think about what and how they do, and the ripples from that circle can have the most profound effects.  we're getting a bit philosophical over here at the con artists markets.  perhaps this is equivalent to the way people start thinking about the whole religious side of christmas...  we like to think of it transformed - craft being the religion and the way through to a whole new enriched way of living. and so on that note... two more markets to finish the year, and an ode to crafting we're sure they'll be.  lots of handmade eco-friendly locally made crafty things for the people you love most & some more x

november movember...

join us for the con artists november market - there'll be live music from the conservatorium's cushion concert, a moustache making workshop for those who feel a bit left behind in movember and of course our fine array of handmade makers.

come see what our stallholders are doing with old vinyl records, discarded bottle tops, vintage and retro linen, seatbelt offcuts, silverware, old books and a sortie of other bits and pieces... recycling and upcycling in action. we're keen to promote thoughtful consumerism, especially in the lead up to the climax of consumerism that is christmas, so if you're looking for something original, quirky, inventive with an eco-bent and ethically produced you'll probably be able to find it at the con artists market ♥

♥ the moustache making workshop is just a gold coin donation to participate in. materials supplied, though feel free to BYO if you've got some ideas brewing

♥ we'll also be running our raffle - just $2 gets you in the draw to win a $50 voucher to spend at any of our stalls.  tres fantastic!

october and the con artists market ♥

springly summeryness, crafty folk and live music.  we're looking forward to a lovely day in the sun on saturday october 1st for the market and cushion CONcert. 

it's getting on in the year and if you're a celebrator of christmas and the new year now is a good time to get in and start collecting a few treasures for your nearest and dearest so you don't have to be part of that mad rush of consumer mayhem in a few months time.  we're loving the variety of wares we're seeing at the con artists market these days and are always happy to have new makers on board - if you're keen, be it as an established or new maker send us an email and we'll let you know how it goes.

next blog post we'll let you know all about our exciting new minishop in cultiver ♥

first birthday market party

It's hard to believe, but this September marks one whole year of the Con Artists markets in Lismore.  We've done 13 markets over the year and reckon we have seen some of the best handmade art and craft that there is on offer in the region, while creating a unique space for makers to collaborate in and market goers to connect with.  

To celebrate turning one we're launching our new series of creative workshops, starting with hula hoop making which will be run by us Con Artists co-ordinators and assisted with skillsharing by the lovely Louise Moriarty.  We'll also be running our raffle, listening to live music from the Conservatorium's cushion concert and checking out all the fabulous stalls.  It's father's day on Sunday too, so if you've got a dad in your life to celebrate the market will be sure to have a fine sortie of treasures... 

After the market, the folk from RealArtWorks will be finalising their fundraising art auction over at SeeSpace at CBlock (just behind where the markets are) til 9pm.

markets, music, community artspace - it's all going on x

This month's market is full of all sorts of fabulous things...  The Conservatorium is having their annual open day, including the live concert.  The markets are on, of course, and we're excited to let you know that there are some fabulous new stallholders who will be joining us.   And new stuff by our regular stallholders too.  The spring vibes have been going a long way in the assorted studios we inhabit.  We will also be revealing our plans for our 1st birthday celebrations in September,  so you'll definitely want to be there for that! And finally, after the markets you can make your way over to SeeSpace at C Block where there'll be an early opening of their new creative venture.  A lovely Saturday indeed.  See you there x