A Thousand Thank-Yous Giveaway

 
I genuinely believe that changing the world all starts with being grateful, and our ability to say two very simple words: 'THANK-YOU'. It shows our humility, our ability to reflect on what we have and to realise we actively want and value our set of circumstances, however imperfect the sum of them might be; on their own, some things about our lives and who we share it with are pretty wonderful. Positivity, focusing on the things that empower and drive us is a thousand times more powerful and fulfilling than armchair activism. 

If you fancy me sending you this here something nice that I've made, all you need to do is click this link to the original post and tell me about someone who deserves a thousand thank-yous. I'm choosing a winner on Friday, 6th June and absolutely anyone in the universe can enter, so long as they're a current follower of my Mel Macklin Facebook page at the time of commenting.
In advance, a thousand thank-yous for sharing your stories of love and compassion. The fact that you are grateful already shows that you make a positive difference in the world ♥

 

to market, to market

It's super-important to me as an artist that I be as present as I can to talk about my artwork to all the wonderful people who provide such loving homes for it. I have been so lucky to be accepted into a whole bunch of really awesome markets, design fairs and boutique events in Melbourne in the short time I've been here. 

Here's a list of some confirmed dates I have over the next couple months if you'd love to come say hi to me in person! For regular updates about where to find me, or any changes to this list in the case of bad weather, you can also follow my adventures on Facebook. 

MAY

Saturday 10th ~ Rose Street Artists' Market, Rose St, Fitzroy

Sunday 11th ~ Mornington Racecourse Market, Mornington

Saturday 17th ~ Rose Street Artists' Market, Rose St, Fitzroy

Sunday 18th ~ Take2Market, Geelong West Town Hall

Saturday 24th ~ Rose Street Artists' Market, Rose St, Fitzroy

Sunday 25th ~ Flemington Racecourse Market, Flemington 

Saturday 31st ~ Rose Street Artists' Market, Rose St, Fitzroy

JUNE

Sunday 1st ~ The Design Exchange, Ballarat 

Saturday 7th ~ Rose Street Artists' Market, Rose St, Fitzroy

Sunday 8th ~  Mornington Racecourse Market, Mornington

Sunday 15th ~ Mathilda's Market, Malvern 

Saturday 21st ~ Nanna Cool Markets, Frankston 

Sunday 22nd ~ Flemington Racecourse Market, Flemington 

JULY 

Saturday 5th ~ Sunday 6th ~ Oz Comic-Con Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building

Friday 25th ~ Saturday 26th ~ Finders Keepers, Royal Exhibition Building

 . . . And, last but not least, if you're not local to Melbourne, my Etsy shop is always open, and you can find all of the pretties on my market shop right there for your clicking pleasure!

Have a great day you good things x

I'm a Finalist! ~ The Reginald Portrait Prize for Softies

I've been keeping a secret, and now I can finally share it with you! 

You may or may not know that I love Dolly Parton, and that I also share a birthday with her. This is my tribute to her, which I very quietly entered into the Centre for Adult Education (CAE) Reginald Softie Portrait Prize, and, which I found out last week, earned me a place in the finals! Hardest week of my life, keeping this incredible honour a secret! 

You can make a huge difference to one of the amazing finalist entries, by voting for your very favourite in the People's Choice Award right here: http://reginald.com.au/vote-for-peoples-prize/ 
 

Scroll right down til you see a grey button marked 'Start Survey'. You will be asked for your name, email address and your favourite softie portrait. It takes less than a minute to enter.

Thank-you in advance for supporting the fine art of softie-making! ♥

 

 

good-bye darwin

It is very nearly almost official: I am leaving Darwin and heading for the big-smoke in Melbourne!

To celebrate new beginnings, I'm having an exclusive studio sale on Saturday, 19th October. 

If you're local to Darwin and keen to snavel something from me in person, this will very likely be my last weekend of business. For an invite and further details, all you have to do is send me an email!

Sorry to all my lovelies interstate and across the oceans, it's only an in-person kinda thing, and won't extend to my online shops (postage would be ridonkulous for most of the beauties on offer, unfortunately). 

I am going to Mindil as much as I can, but at this stage I don't anticipate being able to see the season out: I'll be packing up all my treasures the week after the 19th, and if I manage to get to Mindil after this weekend, it'll be a bit of a bonus. Also, the weather approaching the wet season and becoming increasingly volatile- well, I don't really like to go when it's raining, being a shop that sells paper goods!

My online shop is still open for biz, and I'll be merrily shipping pretties worldwide til around the 18th October. If you were hoping to get a little somethin' spesh for yourself or someone you love this Christmas, now's your last chance!

Unfortunately it looks like I'll have to shut down my online shops for an extended period (maybe 1-3 months) when I move to Melbourne. All my artsy detritus is set to spend at least a little while in storage, so I won't be able to take orders until I'm settled in a new place. Unfortunate and annoying, I know! I will of course, keep you all posted when that changes. 

Speaking of staying up-to-date, I may not have a whole lot of computer access in the transition period either, so I most likely will post any updates via my Facebook page (as enterprising as it is, it's still much easier to update than the blogger app!). 

 Thank-you, as always, to each and every one of you who support what I do. Looking forward to sharing a new chapter with you very soon x

Pencilled Pretties, Pastel Pilgrims and Peculiar Pets

Most. Exciting. Update. Ever! (And, also, a little bit cringe-worthy, too!)

 

I made an itty-bitty film! If you have twelve minutes to spare you can watch it- that is, you can laugh at me making a giant tit out of myself and also, talking a little bit about my work. Oh, and there's some super-cute footage of my puppies the day after we bought them home! What's not to love about that, hey?

 

A huge, squishy thanks to my gorgeous fella Dave, who, as well as filming the whole thing, has spent weeks worth of evenings staying up until the wee hours putting this all together for me. I think he's done an awesome job- hope you do too! ♥

mindil site for sale

 

Guys! If you know of anyone who would love an awesome permanent site at the famous Mindil Beach Sunset Markets, I'd love if you could pass this on!

Price includes:
★ prime spots on both Thursday and Sunday evenings; 

★ product list including tote bags and wearable art (handmade jewellery);
★ 3m x 3m gazebo, with matching waterproof detachable walls x 4 and shade awnings x 2; all great condition and waterproof;
★ Fully tested and tagged electrical equipment and leads;
★ 7 x assorted tables and 2 x chairs.
 

(This price doesn't include my artwork, but I'd be delighted to chat to you if you about prices if you wanted to continue selling it through the stall!)

I'm asking for $2,000, which is a bit of a super-bargain! The only reason I'm selling up is obvi, it'll all be a bit tricky for me to run from Melbourne! Get in touch via email if you're mustard-keen!  ♥

your thoughts wanted

I am SO excited to be doing a filmed interview with the gorgeous girls from The Skin Deep Project next week, and I'd love to hear from you!

Oh, and right after you leave me a question or ten, you can check out the amazing work the Skin Deep Project does at http://skindeepproject.com/ ♥

Operation leaving Darwin

Darwin darlings, soon I will be leaving town forever, never to return.

These are just a few of my original drawings still available, much larger than my reproduction prints, and all sumptuously custom-framed by the delightful Don Whyte.

Do drop me a line if you'd love to pop round and adopt one of these beauties for yourself. Every adoption comes with an awesome coffee made by me, complimentary puppy kisses, and a few little extra trinkets just for you ♥

mad hatter's tea-party grand opening

We had quite the whirlwind weekend, with the very grand opening of our show, 'Mad Hatter's Tea-Party: A Curious Art Exhibition with Marita Albers, Kate Bussey, Andrea McKey and Mel Macklin'. Let me take you on a little tour of our mad morning!

 

By 10.30, the gallery was crammed full of people!

 

 

 Gargantuan ceramic flowers beautifully made by Kate Bussey.

 Gorgeous mixed-media sculptures by Kate Bussey.

Me in one of Andrea McKey's mad mirrors. 

Andrea McKey's gorgeous neck-candy. Andrea has been a huge influence on my own artwork over the past ten years, and it was she that taught me how to make fimo beads, many moons ago! She is as fantastic and dear a friend as she is an incredible artist. 

You can see more of Andrea's gorgeous work on her website: http://www.artbyandreamckey.com/

 

Gorgeous mixed-media sculpture by Kate Bussey; 'The Lady's Mad Hair' by Marita Albers. 

 'Lionel Rich Tea' and 'Much More Curious' by the marvellous Marita Albers. I can't help but smile whenever I see Lionel, he's such a sweetie! That pink sweater just melts my heart!

 Beaut babushkas by the marvellous Marita Albers.

Fabulous felt finches made by me, and just a snip of some of Marita Albers' gorgeous paintings. I always think of her canvases like glittering little jewels, with all sorts of secrets hidden in them. Every day I look at them, I see some new, wonderful thing. 

A little tableau of my art dolls, and a very fancy garland made up of watercolour miniatures by one of my all-time fave art heroes and very dear friend, Marita Albers. 

   

My pastel pilgrim art dolls, inspired, amongst other things, 

by Wednesday Addams and gelati.

 Lucie Diamonds, my star art doll.

Our exhibition was opened by former Chief Minister for the Northern Territory, and TactileARTS patron, the lovely Clare Martin. Just over ten years ago, Clare made a speech at my own high-school graduation, and I have always remembered how warmly and fondly she spoke. We are so lucky to have Clare such an active part of our arts community, and I was absolutely delighted when she accepted our invitation to open our show. 

My very dear friend, and an absolutely incredible illustrator, Sandra Kendell. Sandra has been a huge source of support and encouragement for me in my own dreams to illustrate picture books, and hers are some of the most unique, detailed and downright beautiful I have ever seen. You can see some of her work right here: / http://www.sandrakendell.net/

Our very wonderful Ingrid Gersmanis, who quite rightly took home an artist prize for her fantastic Wonderland threads! Ingrid is the marvellous manager of Darwin's art-supply store, Jacksons, as well as an artist herself, and a keen mermaid fancier. She is also the very proud adoptive mum to quite a few of my dolls and prints! I will really miss people like Ingrid, who so proudly support their local arts community.

Just a small sample of some of the mad hats that frocked up to our art show! Kate's styro hearts made a curious 'doinking' noise every time they wobbled around in the breeze!

 Our gorgeous Kate.  

My friend Sonia made my absolute year with her fabulous princess outfit! She looked so gorgeous I got an extra artist prize together just for her. Alice would be so proud (and jealous!)

Feeling so darn lucky to be exhibiting with such awesome friends and artists! Thank-you SO much to everyone who supported us- it is you, sayers of sweet things, fabulous friends, and adoring adopters of our work who keep us smiling and dreaming.

'Mad Hatter's Tea-Party' will be showing at TactileARTS til Sunday, August 4th, 2013.