Winter Ranges

Well, OK, it's the Australian summer, sure, but these little bits and pieces are too cute to keep to myself.

Well...

I think so anyway. I love love love beanies!! (it goes hand in hand with loving dyeing my hair awesome colours and wearing wigs - it's an instant appearance transformation, which is so much fun!)

I'm still working on my summer range, but I'm determined to get them right before posting them here - who would have thought copies great ideas from the 70s could be so difficult. So I've been busy busy even though there haven't been a lot of posts lately.

Keep in touch -we'll be doing more markets soon. Details to come

Red beanie and Brown beanie - $30 each

Summer Wrap

I've been working on knitting options for summer (as we're about to head in to the scorching Australian summer here) so here' s the first - a bright and cheerful summer sun wrap.

I feel I've been a little quiet lately as I've been experimenting with new patterns, which induitably means I've had to start and stop and take apart and remake and think about it and start all over again, but I think the new designs are worth the trouble - so keep an eye out for my new summer range coming soon. Jan has also been working on lots of summer ideas - it's a great time to be creative!

Summer Wrap, $50

First Market a Success!

Well, we've done our first market at the Hawkins Fashion Markets and had a great time doing it. Get ready because there will be pics to come - both of our new ranges and our stall. There were so many awesome stalls at the first market - make sure to check out MiMi FiRsT (link to the left) because we both absolutely LOVED everything in the stall. We got some awesome tips from other stall holders so look for us at more markets in the future (of course we'll keep you posted here too!).

The free champagne was certainly welcome on a warm day and we loved showing people our new ranges.

Liv has been inspired to create a new summer range - more details soon (once they've been tried and tested).

We're planning more markets before Christmas where the new range will be launched.

How Exciting!!

Liv and Jan

Launch of Hawkins Fashion Markets!

Jan and Liv will be at the launch of the new Hawkins Fashion Markets in Brisbane on Saturday 3rd October.

To celebrate, we're launching 3 new ranges - fabric tea cosies, rose broaches, and gorgeous 50s style aprons! Whew - we've certainly been busy this week making everything.

The markets go from 8.30am till 3pm at the Hawkins Garden Centre, Old Cleveland Rd, Chandler, Brisbane - opposite the Sleeman Sports Complex. There will be champagne and a barbeque, and lots of fabulous fashion, not to mention plants and tasty treats.

The market site is lovely - all undercover, and there's a proper cat walk, real changing rooms - it's gourmet market style! for more info go to www.fashionmarkets.com.au

We'd love to see you, so come on down this Saturday.

Liv and Jan

Perfect for travel

These two bags are have gone to good homes. The dances have just returned from the British Isles, wined, dined, toured and shopped. The beautiful spring bag is all set for the racing season.

Similar bags can be made to order. Just email us.

functionalart@live.com.au

Floral and paisley - out and about bag

This bag is one of my favourites. I love the way the print seems to lift off the textured and pale green fabric.This is a go anywhere bag, day or night.
Functional and fabulous!

Item 116 $85

Autumn leaves revisited.

Patterned background gives this bag a quite striking appearance. Black trimmings and stitchery create understated class. This is a go anywhere, always look good bag.

Item 120

Retro - shall we dine?

Note the beautiful bird button on a palm watching our couple in their elegant attire while white textured fabric creates the perfect backdrop. Lined in classic black this bag is a standout.

Item 115 Sold

Spring carnival time.

You'll be all set for the Spring Carnival this year with this stunning bag featuring a hand made button which compliments the fresh colours of the mandala. Lined in pale persimmon this bag is eye catchingly beautiful.

Item 107

When autumn leaves start to fall.

Les feuilles mortes - autumn leaves - simply stylish.

Item 114 Sold

Cotton Beanie and Scarf Set

I love working in cotton yarns, they're so soft, gentle on the skin, and I've never known anybody to have an allergic reaction to them (unlike my mohair products, which are luxurious and divine).

This beanie and scarf set are one of my favourite creations - I know one day they'll go to a good home, to just the right person. In these pics the colours look slightly different, but they are actually the same yarn just in different light.

Cotton Beanie and Scarf Set - $85

New Beanie Range!!

I've been playing around making beanies for years, and discovered this particular style is quite surprisingly popular with males! They seem to be a firm festival favourite, so now I'm making them available here. There will also be a range of scarves and other accessories coming, so keep watch.

I feel like I have so many ideas at the moment that I'm boiling over with them! It's great feeling so creative.

Also - keep watch, new range of tea cosies coming soon!

These beanies will be available from $25

Liv

Let Them Eat Cake

This couture piece was made to celebrate the Thread Den Melbourne Fashion Week Killer Queen Extravaganza. The original is available for viewing at the Thread Den store in Errol St North Melbourne.

My apologies for the appalling photo quality - this cosy was finished late at night before I got up to fly to Melbourne at 5am to deliver it in person to Thread Den. There will be better quality pics to follow, but I couldn't resist giving you a little sneak preview!

The cosy is made from cotton yarn, fake pearls, feathers, ribbon, gems, and a crazy beehive do - by far my most extravagant creation to date.

This cosy is available for $290 including the great vintage tea pot - enquiries to Thread Den or email us at functionalart@live.com.au

Bel's Bag

Thanks so much to our beautiful friend Bel who has agreed to model this bag - a made-to-order bag just for her. We love being given a challenge, so if you have particular colours or styles of bag or cosy you like, please let us know and we'll create something special just for you.

Note the hand drawn button - we're adding more art pieces to our creations so keep your eyes open for new developments.

Similar designs are available for $85.

Mary Mary quite contrary.

This is the second in my retro print series.

Item 128 $25

Retro cameo

This broach features retro inspired fabric on several layers of felt.

Item 126 $25

My interpretation of the Australian Boo Book Owl. Liv suggested I do an owl series. I'm thinking about it.

Item 125 $35

I've recently started making broaches. Each is unique and a combination of fabric, felt and stitchery.

Stylish navy messenger bag

Item 124 This item is not available but a bag to suit your requirements can be made from $85

I made this messenger bag with a padded interior for a young man with a laptop. It has a secure zippered section and two other compartments. It can be made to suit your style from conservative to flamboyant.

Finally it's here! The elusive blue rose

Apparently the only colour of rose we've never been able to grow (without using blue food dye) is blue - so I thought I'd create one here. I've had a number of queries about the English Rose Garden cosy (that's not for sale - because my mother stole it) and I'm happy to make more (or something similar, anyway) on request.

Blue Roses - $65

New Disco Range

I loved, then hated, then loved, then hated fluro disco colours - and now apparently I love them again. I found this awesome metallic gold an black yarn as a fluke, and it reminded me so much of 80s discos (especially roller-discos! I had a great pair of fluro pink skates) that I had to make these fairly ridiculous pieces.

Disco cosy with fluro buttons - $40

The sea theme range

I've been inspired to make a range of sea theme cosies - using height, and texture - and pearls of course!

This one uses a crochet star fish as an accent. This photo doesn't quite do justice to the cosy - but I couldn't seem to get the perfect angle. (It is in proportion i reality, just not in this pic!)


Star Fish Cosy - $65

More Tassel Cosies

for some reason this cosy pic turned out tiny, but if you click on it, you can see it in full view.

This is a copy of my original (and most popular) crochet cosy design. These cosies are available in a range of colours, just email me for more info, or to put in a colour request!

Liv

Floral Mandala

The pink lining complements the beautiful floral mandala. There are two smaller Mandalas at the bottom corners. There are two pockets and a key/phone finder and is big enough for A4 papers.
Jan

Item No 118 $85

Shall we dance?

This bag very retro bag brings back the romance and elegance of a bygone era. Quality fabrics are used effectively to capture the moment. This bag is a statement in functional art - art you can use. Jan

Item No 117 - This bag is gone but a similar design can be made for you.

Blue Mandala

The Mandala on this bag is quite beautiful in blue with gold etching and contrasts with the earthy texture and tone of the cover. It's teamed with a quality floral fabric lining making it both practical and elegant. Jan

Item No 108 Sold

Sliver Eye

This Silver Eye Bird bag is richly textured in a dark brown, large weave fabric. My husband painted the bird which was printed on canvas and added to the bag. It's lined with gold satin and, as all the bags, has two compartments and an attachment to make key or mobile retrieval a breeze. Jan

Sold - but similar items are available for $85 on request

Rufous Whistler

My husband painted this Rufous Whistler which was printed to canvas.

The background fabric is rich, textured and picks up the colours in nature.

Item No 109 Sold
I'm now drawing on fabric so art can be original or a print and can be designed for you.

Each bag is a one off original by Jan.

Tree Cosy

It's not easy to see in this pic, but there's an image of a tree trunk knitted into the side of this cosy - knitted lace has long been popular, but recently there's been a new wave of knitting that's involved creating images using old lace techniques. It takes many hours to make one small piece of fabric, but I really do think the effect is worth it. Subtle, yes, but beautiful. And no, the leaves don't actually hang in front of the spout when you pour. This is a button-up cosy, so it doesn't matter how odd the shape of the spout of your teapot is, you can still get it on.

Tree cosy, $65

English Rose Garden

This cosy is, unfortunately, not for sale, but similar versions are available. I really wanted to find a way to make a yellow rose cosy and realised the best way to make the yellow stand out was to surround it with other roses.

This was also the cosy that taught me not to use rib stitches for bases - it doesn't work all that well, makes it sit awkwardly. Life is about learning. I've recently had an obsession with all things blue, so there's a blue version of this cosy on its way - Liv

Not for Sale - but similar items available at $65 - simply email functionalart@live.com.au for more information

This bag is made for rocking!

This bag was designed for a singer with an eclectic mix of styles. Lined with red satin skulls and spiders' webs befitting a girl with a fascination for arachnids, this bag fits her A4 sized music, her drink bottle and other essentials. It was designed to co-ordinate with the singer's boots. Her boots and bag are made for rocking. Jan















Item No. 122 A similar item can be made to your requirements.

Harmony

Mandalas are a balance of visual elements, symbolizing unity and harmony.

I've lined the bag with a paisley design which has a strong yin yan influence. Inside there are two pockets and a key or mobile strap for quick retrieval.
Jan

Item No. 112 - $85

Fairy Wren

This smaller bag with short handles was made with love for a friend so is not for sale. However similar bags can be made just for you.








I drew the bird with fabric pencils and made the button. Jan

Item No. 121

My first dinosaur

This idea came to me on a rainy day after watching too many cartoons. I challenged myself to make it as a single piece of fabric - other than the spines, I was successful. Knitting shapes is so much more interesting than knitting squares!

I made this whilst relaxing in a beautiful cabin in the mountains, sitting on the back deck watching the world of birds, bees and bugs go by. There's a lot of peace and joy knitted into this piece.


This item has been sold, but similar items are available for $65 - I can make to order in your choice of colour and size!

Available in a range of shapes and sizes!

Do you have a favourite tea pot, but you're not sure whether any of the designs here will fit it?

Perhaps an odd shape or size of pot?

Liv is happy to make products to order - any size, colour or shape you desire. All you need to do is email us at functionalart@live.com.au with the dimensions of your pot, and preferably a picture (especially if it's an unusual shape) and Liv can make something just for you.

Simply autumn.

Each bag has two pockets and a strap for quick retrieval of your keys or mobile phone.

Jan
Sold, but similar items are available for $85

An early crochet experiment

This was another of my first experiments with creating my own tea cosy designs. It's a little crochet number using scraps of yarn left over from other projects - i hate to waste good yarn.

I always really liked this one, and am still tempted to take it off the sale list and keep it for myself - Liv

Item No. 4 - SOLD
Sorry, this item is sold - however Liv is happy to make a similar cosy to order in your favourite colours! Just send us an email.

Azure kingfisher dreaming.

The swirling pattern on the front and lining show the flooded waters of recent rain.
The bird is a canvas copy of the original Azure Kingfisher painted by my husband. We see these birds in the creek near our home.

Item No. 104 - $85

My first Monster!

So this is where tea cosy making starts to get weird. This was an experiment looking at the possibilities of creating a tea cosy softie, and he's a funny little fella. He was recently in the daily fashion parade at the Brisbane Stitches and Craft Show for the Thread Den stall - apparently nobody had ever heard of a monster tea cosy before, so they decided to show him off.

I still haven't decided on the perfect name for him yet, any suggestions? - Liv

Item No. 5 - $40

Contemplation

The cross stitch butterfly was done by Olivia.

Each bag has attention to detail with linings chosen for texture and colour to enhance or blend with the front. Jan

Item No. 102 - $85

Florals

The true story about these floral cosies is that one day, while trying to stay awake in a conference (not always the easiest thing to do) , I started scribbling on my free notepad some ideas for a fabulous softie, which was going to be a great big pink monster with a tutu.

Anyway, in the margins, I drew a scribble of a flower, and all of a sudden it morphed into the creations you see here.

I do admit to a bit of a 60s/70s flower power influence here.

Oh, and the poor softie never got made - I did buy the fabrics to do it (any excuse to go to a craft shop) but the flowers took control of my mind, and I had no choice but to make them. Maybe my tutu monster will see the light of reality one day - if so, I'm sure it will end up on here - Liv

Item No. 10 (brown and orange) and 11 (pink and purple) - $40 each