Saltmarsh...Artful Living

Glass Christmas Baubles

2010-12-08T14:34:00.000+11:00

It's time to decorate the Christmas tree and Glenistair has been busily making a selection of hand blown glass baubles in lots of stunning colours which look fabulous hanging on our tree in the store.

We are now open 7 days a week

10am to 5pm Mon to Sat
11am to 4pm Sundays

so make sure you pop in to see all the new hand made, unique gifts we have in the store.

Ink & Spindle Cushions

2010-10-19T12:10:00.000+11:00

Have a look at our wonderful new cushions from Ink & Spindle - they are so organically fresh! They were made right here in Warrnambool with fabric hand printed in Kensington by Lara and Tegan - two very talented and innovative textile designers. Our store has also had a ''change around''- so the cushions could have pride of place - so I've attached a couple of snap shots of the store as well.

"Frankie" 2011 Calendar, Sweet Treats & Afternoon Tea

2010-10-05T15:46:00.000+11:00

Fabulous "Frankie" goodies have just arrived, hot off the press. We have the super 2011 Calendar, Sweet Treats and Afternoon Tea cookbooks. Now that the sun is out it is a perfect time to pop in to the kitchen, cook a yummy sweet treat and pop out to the garden for some delicous afternoon tea - summer frocks compulsory!

Coastal Ceramic Creations

2010-07-15T22:24:00.000+10:00

Our very talented friend and neighbour Rachel has just dropped off her latest creations, gorgeous ceramic and recycled timber sculptures featuring the plants growing in our saltmarsh environment. Enjoy!

Glass Blowing Demonstrations

2010-06-25T09:33:00.000+10:00

It's school holiday time and Glenistair is opening the glass studio to visitors for demos. Check out our website for all the details.........a great way to keep warm.......the glass is 1000 degrees!

Wintery Warrnambool Weather!

2010-06-15T21:54:00.000+10:00

It's certainly VERY chilly here in Warrnambool - the ocean is rough - but the skies are crystal clear blue, as can be seen in this photo.

With Winter comes time for a SALE, on lots of our gorgeous hand made treasures, so we can make way for new goodies come Spring time. We've got Zaishu cushions, Christopher Plumridge tea pots, Beano ceramics, Anamiro stationary and a few States of Nature t- shirts all on sale. Only for a few weeks (or until sold out).

Keep warm everyone......hot water bottles, open fires, hot chocolates, early nights and gloves...should do the trick.

studio walls.......

2010-05-24T13:46:00.002+10:00

Glenistair's selection of random objects - to help the creative juices flow.

Hand Painted Totes

2010-04-26T14:12:00.000+10:00

Fabulous new totes have just arrived.. Each one has been individually hand painted by local school teacher and artist Ainslie Macaulay under her label Penny & Cloak. Each one features a lovely whimsical image of a maiden and her youthful adventures....... balloons, sailing, dancing and music. So simple, but oh so beautiful!

New Zealand Inspiration

2010-03-15T11:32:00.000+11:00

Just back from a lovely break on New Zealand's south island. A few days in a funky little van out in the open and then a couple of days enjoying the laneways and arts/crafts of Christchurch. Our favorite little find was Lyttelton (just out of Christchurch) - don't miss it for groovy cafes, vintage and boutique stores, port town charm and a great little festival in late February. Here's some photos of our time.

Gorgeous New Prints from Catherine Campbell

2010-02-09T13:59:00.000+11:00

New Year. New Goodies. Just arrived are dreamy seductive prints from Catherine Campbell, bright and cheery tea cosies made from Australian and Fair Trade wools from creative Killarney woman Kate Sloan and a new selection of jewellery from the talented Strutt Sisters.

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T14:55:00.000+11:00

My how the month has flown - in this silly season every day seems to last a few moments and the next one arrives. One of my new year resolutions should be to be more attentive to blogging! Below is a great Christmas image taken from our hand painted wall mural by wonderful artist Shelley Knoll Miller (check out her blog) a very talented local cartoonist and illustrator. We have some of her very poignant Christmas cards in the store and early in the new year (if I get my act into gear) we will also have some of her cartoons for sale as well.

We have great new stock from Studio Antic, The Strutt Sisters, Red Parka and Mingus Designs and Glenistair and Kirstin have been busily making some amazing hand blown glass - the store is looking amazing!

I hope you've all remembered to buy hand made/Australian made this Christmas.

Catch you in the new year. Tina

Shopping for Jewellery - Train hits a Cow

2009-11-24T14:52:00.000+11:00

It's not every day that your train hits a cow in the middle of the night after a fabulous day in Melbourne -buying new jewellery, visiting your favorite cafes and shopping at Melbourne's fantastic independant stores - but that was the unfortunate end to my day on Friday!

While the cow is no longer with us - my fabulous sterling silver jewellery from Christine Battacchio certainly is. Christine works from a tiny workshop space tucked neatly beside the kitchen in her Preston home (see photo below). Her vibrant and very individual pieces are a combination of resin and sterling silver and come in a striking range of colours. I originally saw Christine's work at a market in Melbourne and after quite a few requests for rings thought Christine's work would be perfect. Unable to resist her full range I've bought back a few rings as well as pendants and earrings - in aqua/greens, red and brushed sterling silver.

It was a busy day in Melbourne - after breakfast at Pepper in Flemington it was off to Ikea to buy frames for our Printspace prints, then a little shopping and browsing at Flashback, Catherine Manuell and Manque Design in Westgarth. Manque design was a new discovery for me - simple, well designed clothes with a great little selection of jewellery and other objects (with many of the same designers we stock), it was good to wonder the streets where we lived some fifteen years ago.

Lunch at Palomino and then more shopping at i dream a highway, in the woods & local shop in High Street Northcote. After cake and a visit to Belki in Rathdowne Street it was home time.

While the journey was certainly quite a bit longer than it should have been (made it home by 1am instead of 10 pm ) it was good to be out of rural Victoria and in the grungy, busy streets of Melbourne's inner North (but just for the day!)

christine in her Preston workshop

work in progress

New Stock of Ceramic Bells

2009-11-13T22:15:00.000+11:00

I've just finished unpacking another great selection of ceramic bells from Brigita and Vaidas in Kew. Each bell is made to bring out a unique sound and they have the special blend of traditional Lithuanian folk art and contemporary fantasy. They are all look so gorgeous hanging from our birch branch in the centre of the store, and as our customers walk past their heads often gently knock against a bell! A tingle echoes thru the store!

2009-11-13T15:25:00.000+11:00

welcome to saltmarsh...artful living

innovative, original, creative objects. accessories. craft and design. coffee. funky and fresh jewellery. artisan made glass. lighting. stationery created by hand. limited edition ceramics. illustration. independent australian made gifts. home ware with integrity. textiles. art from emerging artists. biscuits. decorative treasures. quirky and colourful cards. sculpture. locally designed handbags. objects of art. clothing. an atmosphere to idle in.

the sun is shining, the birds are singing, it's friday the 13th and it's a good day to start a new blog.