Don't miss: Mathilda's Market

On this weekend is Canberra's first Mathilda's Market, fabulous niche market that offers unique, stylish and affordable baby and kids wares that are lovingly handmade, from limited production or simply divine.

Discover a vast variety of funky, unique and gorgeous clothing (for example organic cotton, vintage, 70's, etc) wooden letters, canvasses, soft & wooden toys, soft leather shoes, travel activity packs, room decor, bags, paintings, fun & personalised accessories, vintage-inspired products, musical instruments, handcrafted jewellery, fairy & dress up costumes & accessories, hair accessories, doll houses & accessories, linen, sleepwear, scooters and so much more! And all this for your little ones ... it's a kid's shopping haven.

Most stall holders do not have a shop front, so you know you'll find something special, not available anywhere else. And some of my Canberran 'Mumtrepreneur' friends will be there including Emma from Brindabella Baby, Posie from Posie Patchwork, Jen from Red Instead and Charlie Mac of Wombagully Wonders. And just returned to Canberra from living in Bejing, author and busy mum Tania McCartney will be signing her books, Riley and the Sleeping Dragon and Beijing Tai Tai.

Sunday 5 April 2009 - Manuka Oval (Bradman Room), Manuka Circle, Griffith. From 10am to 2pm, plenty of free parking available, and a lift for those with prams.

Fabulous, I'll be there! Hope you have a beautiful weekend,

*Update*

Check out Tania McCartney's wrap of the event with loads of GORGEOUS images

Love Nina x

Polytoxic: Teuila Postcards

Perfect... Paradise... Polynesia: imagine a lush, green landscape surrounded by turquoise water with rolling white beaches dotted with bronzed, curvaceous women in coconut-shell bikinis. It all sounds too good to be true. And guess what...it is!

Direct from international arts festival 10 Days on the Island, en route to the Sydney Opera House, acclaimed Australian contemporary dance theatre ensemble Polytoxic comes to Canberra for two nights only with its tongue-in-cheek look at the oppression and the evolution of an island, TEUILA POSTCARDS.

In Polytoxic's remarkable fusion of traditional Polynesian and contemporary dance theatre, three tourists travel to a fantasy island, expecting an exotic, blissful, dreamlike holiday. What actually occurs is an episodic rollercoaster-ride through the stereotypes and surprises of Samoan culture, featuring historical missionary diary entries, an Elvis-style advert, a comedic floor show performance and a Samoan girl's experience of everyday life.

Created & performed by Efeso Fa'anana, Leah Shelton and Lisa Fa'alafi, this work premiered to sold-out audiences at the Brisbane Powerhouse in 2006.
TEUILA POSTCARDS by Polytoxic 7, 8 April (8pm)
The Street Theatre. Childers Street, Canberra City West
Tickets: Full $25, concession $20, students $15 Booking: 02 6247 1223 or www.thestreet.org.au

The sculpture of Bert Flugelman

Don't miss this...

This exhibition is a major survey of the recent work of distinguished Austrian-born painter, printmaker and sculptor Bert Flugelman.

He is best known for his huge geometric public sculptures in stainless steel, such as his Spheres in Adelaide, the Dobell Memorial in Sydney and The Cones in the National Gallery of Australia's Sculpture Garden (pictured above).

Many generations of ANU students are affectionately familiar with his fountain sculpture Untitled in front of the Bruce Hall of Residence. This exhibition focuses on Flugelman's recent maquettes and medium scale sculptures.

Above: Bert Flugelman, Tetrapus, 2007, stainless steel, 325 x 360 x 120 cm. Photo by David Perry. Image supplied by ANU Drill Hall Gallery

BERT FLUGELMAN: NOW SHOWING Until 5 April
ANU Drill Hall Gallery. Kingsley Street, off Barry Drive, Acton.
Open: Wed. – Sun. (12noon – 5 pm) Free entry

Cosmetic: Tiffany Parbs

As a jeweller working in close connection with the body, Tiffany Parbs is fascinated with the changing narrative of the skin’s surface and embellishment that the body absorbs over time.

Left: Tiffany Parbs , extension, 2008, Hair, digital print. Photo by Terence Bogue
Right: Tiffany Parbs, bake, 2008, sunburn, digital print. Photo by Terence Bogue

Cosmetic explores the way cosmetic surgery nullifies distinguishing marks, creating new social and cultural monikers for an individual; a false constructed memory that belies the natural journey skin experiences through time and environment. The work developed as part of this series is ephemeral, challenging the permanence of a surgical presence on the skin.

6 March – 2 May at Craft ACT in Gallery 1.

Designcraft: new products launch

Designcraft is hosting an 'Autumn Launch' with a new range of products from Fritz Hansen, Louis Poulsen, Designer Rugs, 3 Form and Audio Dynamics. We will have two sessions that you are welcome to attend;

2.00pm Drop in for afternoon tea and a browse through our inspirational showroom in Hume.
Experience our new collection of contemporary furniture and our exclusive range of floor coverings from Designer Rugs.

Targetti will introduce you to the beautiful lighting from the Louis Poulsen collection.

or 6.00pm Join us for lychee champagne chillers and nibbles while enjoying the sounds from the new Geneva sound system. Be inspired by Designcraft’s newest collection of furniture and take your time to journey through our fabulous showroom.

Representatives from Designer Rugs, 3Form, Louis Poulsen and Geneva will be on hand to talk about our new ranges.

Please RSVP to Lee on 6290 4900 or email info@designcraft.net.au

Canberra's Parisian secret

Written by Emma Davidson

And it has nothing to do with lacy lingerie or blue movies... Kate Sandford from Histoires has a lovely range of French provincial antiques on display at Artforge in Collie Street, Fyshwick. These are not your usual “look but don't touch” expensive pieces. Histoires brings home unique French antiques that have a story to tell, so they can be used in your everyday home life instead of being kept for Sunday best.

Kate first got into farmhouse antiques while living in Switzerland. She and her husband would go on recon missions to France, coming back with their treasures strapped to the roof rack (usually via back roads with unattended border controls). When they moved back to Canberra in 2006, there was nothing to fill that void in her life. So last September, she went back to Paris to buy her first shipment for Histoires. Her Parisian antiques buyer, Jean-Pierre, helped her find some unique pieces at great prices.

For those of us who can't afford a house full of antiques, having one feature piece among more affordable reproduction or vintage-style furniture can really lift the modèle (that's French for “style”) of the room, and is a great conversation starter when you have guests. “Yes, I found that gorgeous old table under several layers of mud in the back of a barn near Avignon... champagne and canapes, anyone?”

Although Kate says her weakness is outdoor garden settings, she also came home with some lovely occasional tables, buffets, and dining tables. She also loved finding decorative pieces like mirrors, candelabras, and crystal chandeliers. Although a select few pieces are on display at Artforge, the rest can be viewed at Kate's home. Kate can be contacted on 0431 499 356 anytime to make a time for a viewing.

Lovely.

Canberra Centre : Defining fashion

A new format and exciting new venue saw the Canberra Centre redefining their fashion show for a hot look at this season's style on the weekend. Brand new civic nightspot Tongue & Groove proved to be a dramatic backdrop to the show, styled by Lizzie Wagner's protege Kelsey Padjen, which featured a mannequin-on-pedestal approach to the modeling - a refreshing and welcome change to the regular High Tea events of late. This time around, it's a little younger, edgier, here are some of my faves...

Snaps to the Canberra Centre's marketing team for a hot new format and a great night! And thankyou to the divine Grant for being my muse for the evening. Below, Grant rocks his Tango & James "Knot Your Mamma's" brooch, and Ninaribena wears Tango & James "Some Like it Ruff" earrings.

Love Nina x

High Tea with a retro twist

This Sunday at Benedict House get retro ready for a high tea with a difference...

Dress inspired by Safari Suits & 70’s, Abba, blow away hair, flairs, platforms, Star Wars, and Cat Stevens. Dress up or ‘hat up’ according to the theme. Participate in quiz on fashions, food, trends and arts on the theme – light hearted fun with giveaways and prizes

Carrie Fisher stars in Star Wars. The ABBA look in the 70's

The classic safari suit. 70's tragic glam rockers Slade

Traditional high tea food, served with traditional etiquette. Four savoury, three sweets, glass of sparkling, tablecloths and tiered plates. 22nd March $25 per person 3pm-5pm

And if the seventies aren't your thing, then fear not, the next one goes glam...
26th April - Deco Delilah
Jazz, Chanel, Marlene Dietrich, Schiaparelli, Tamara de Lempicka, Sonia Delaunay.

The work of Tamara de Lempicka; Coco Chanel (sigh); Marlene Dietrich; Elsa Schiaparelli... smoking optional!

Sounds like fun! Hope you have a divine weekend,

Love Nina x

I Die: Living art... beautiful

I Die is a tableau vivant, a living picture created by Min Mae in collaboration with twelve writers, one musician, twelve muses, and their loved ones.

I Die is born of the desire for understanding the impact of death, of dying, of loss, of change. It offers no answers, but lays bare the questionings of it's seventy or more contributors.

Words by; Maria Fleming, Monica Carroll, Hal Judge, Emma Gibson, Nat Burke, Chanel Cole, Anne-Maree Author, Joan Cornish, David Finigan, Adam Hadley, Andrew Galan, and Naomi Milthorpe.
Music by; Grahame Thompson
Muses; will remain unnamed til the event.

Friday March 20, at 7pm, then again at 8pm. Tickets are available at the door $15.
I Die is presented as part of the CCAS performance program. Contains nudity.

Elevate your childs art

My gorgeous friend, and fellow mummy, Monique told me about her brilliant solution to the great influx of works produced by her budding artists, aged 4 and 2. With too many to display and too precious to throw away, I'm loving this idea...

Totally inspired by the lack of space on the fridge closely followed by the desire to record those gorgeous creative milestones before they reach the bin, Monique has flexed her photoshopping skills and created these amazing collaborative digital collages of her favourite pieces which she has printed onto canvas and stretched ready to hang!

Instant art and priceless memories! It's brilliant Monique, thankyou for sharing these with us,

Love Nina xxx