Weekend Aussie Handmade Markets

I’ve been announcing tons of US indie craft markets lately, but those of you Down Under have been sorely neglected. Here’s a roundup of some local weekend craft markets going on now. Most happen monthly. Watch for more later this week!
Eveleigh Markets’ Monthly Artisans’ Arts & Craft Market– first Sunday of each month, from 10:ooam to 4:00pm.

Eveleigh Market hosts an Artisans’ Art and Craft Market showcasing the very best individually designed local art, sculpture, design, ceramics, glass, craft and Indigenous artworks.

Kirribilli Art and Design Market – June 14, July 12, August 9, 9:00am to 3:00pm.

This makers’ market has a vibrant atmosphere. Artists, Craft Practitioners and Designers are all welcome to submit their work. Original Paintings, Glass, Ceramics, Fashion & Accessories, Homewares, Millinery and Fresh Flowers along with international food and great live music!

The Olive Tree Market – Saturday the 6th of June, 9:00am to3:00pm, ‘The Junction Public School’.

Over 80 regular stalls. showcase The market showcases Newcastle’s contemporary art, craft, design, photography, textiles, handmade toys and fashion directly from the artists. Local musicians play at each market and buskers are welcome to come and play on the day. Come along to the next market, find that unique gift, mingle amongst friends and artisans, drink good coffee, eat delicious food, buy organic bread and plants. Relax and watch the bustle of the markets go by…..

Cobbitty Craft Market – Saturday July 4th, 8:00am to 1:00pm. First Saturday of each month.

We are a craft market, with our stallholders selling a wide range of unusual and interesting hand-made goods, gifts and wares – from ceramics, woodwork, paintings and frames, to clothes and jewellery, unique furniture, gorgeous nick-knacks and trinkets, lovingly made soaps and body products, toys for the littlies, and a whole lot more – always something perfect for that special gift, important occasion, or just to spoil yourself, friends or family. We also sell a selection of gourmet fresh, baked, and carefully prepared foods and produce; and there are flowers, plants and seedlings as well.

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If you like repeating cross stitch designs, borders you can use on other projects or as bookmarks, florals and Japanese-inspired designs, you’ll want to check out 200 Japanese Cross Stitch Designs by Saeko Endo. This collection of 200 cross stitch charts is low on instruction but big on inspiration for those who are comfortable taking a chart and running with it.

The book includes a brief introduction to the needed supplies and basics of stitching, but mostly is just photographs of finished designs and the charts that go with them. The charts vary widely in size and there can be anywhere from one to six charts printed on a single page.

Many of the designs are repeating patterns, but the chart shows a larger version so you can see how the repeats go together. Each chart has marked what portion is repeating and how many stitches and rows it includes. Other than that the charts are not numbered, but there are darker lines every five rows to help you count.

The patterns all range from one to three colors, and some include half cross stitches or back stitching, but most are full stitches.

The book is arranged into categories of motifs: geometric patterns, retro patterns, traditional Japanese patterns, floral and fauna and borders and pictorial motifs.

My favorites are the Japanese designs, many of which are recognizable from woodcuts, kimono designs and traditional shashiko embroidery. You’ll find cherry blossoms, suns, knots, and simple line designs that would be lots of fun to stitch.

There are a few pages devoted to different ways to modify charts such as changing colors, changing the way to design is repeated, flipping and rotating designs.

Other than that you’re on your own for how you actually want to use these designs. Of course they can just be stitched and framed but it might have been nice to see some of the projects stitched and staged in a way you might use them in everyday life (repeating motifs as coasters, or a bigger design turned into a pillow, for example).

Sometimes it helps to see designs used in different ways to get you thinking about how you might use them yourself. If you don’t need that creative push, this is a fine book full of patterns you’ll have fun playing with in different ways.

About the book: 112 pages, paperback, 200 patterns. Published 2025 by David & Charles. Suggested retail price $24.99.

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Have you read?