Space2b Laneway Cafe Opening

Laneway culture comes to Balaclava

Yes, we know it’s been long time coming but we have not been sitting around sipping coffee!
Oh No, we have been working hard behind the scenes to bring you  The Art Lane Cafe and you are invited to the Grand Opening!

Sunday May 5,
10am – 1pm
All welcome!
For more information please read the Great article in Weekend Notes written by Julie Mundy Julie is a writer and traveller, based in Melbourne, and the author of a series of guidebooks  (many of which you can purchase at Space2b), including Melbourne’s Best Bush Bay and City Walks (2011), ‘Best Walks of Geelong, the Bellarine & the Brisbane Ranges’ and ‘Melbourne for Dogs’.

Flying Higher!

More wonders from our Space2fly program!

With support from the City of Greater Dandenong, our Space2fly program has created opportunities for two of our trainees.

Sharifeh and Chaw have been supported by Space2b to become mentors with their own groups of women. Working with our skilled mentor Tracey van Ingen of Shortlist clothing, they started as trainees themselves and have enthusiastically developed their product making skills to mentor others.

Sharifeh, Tracey and Chaw in a mentoring session. 

Starting in our program with basic sewing skills, Sharifeh has now developed her skills in pattern making. This has created new opportunities for her and her dream to create her own tailored made clothing business.

Here is Sharifeh fitting a bespoke garment for one of our local community retail customers with the guidance of her mentor Tracey of Shortlist. 

Creating popular denim dungarees for sale in our Space2b retail store! 

Tracey and Sharifeh appearing in the local community Divercity Magazine talking up our Space2fly program and their great creative partnership! Check out the story here: Divercity

Sharifeh mentoring refugees of the StandUp Women’s Group in sewing skills has boosted her confidence. 

Starting out learning sewing and developing her own brand here at Space2b retail outlet, Chaw now mentors other women. She trains women from the Burmese Community located in Dandenong, sharing her passion for sewing. Check out her interview in the Star Journal.

“It is very exciting to see how the trainees learn. When I teach or have shown a new technique, I am so excited and happy when someone learns something properly. I feel confident in my skills when I became a mentor. So I thank Space2b and my mentors Janine and Tracey who have supported my dream. This has been my dream since I came to Australia from Myanmar. ” Chaw Po

Chaw carefully labelling hand made children’s clothing for Space2b.

Chaw showing her trainee Lai Lai how to merchandise in our retail store.

Chaw stands by her trainees making sure they know what they are doing and helping them develop their skills.

Chaw helping LaiLai understand a new pattern by our volunteer skills mentor Cathy.

Chaw helping Pah Lae knit her toy koala and Chaw with her handmade cotton baskets sold at Space2b.

What a wonderful creative and fulfilling year of our Space2fly program! We are looking forward to our program creating more opportunities for our program participants as we fly into the future!

by Maria Minerva, Space2fly Coordinator

 

Thank you to all our funders, mentors, volunteers, people who donated materials and have supported us here at Space2b to run our programs as together we make a difference!

 

    

We Are Flying!

A creative space to fly in…Space2fly 2018!

Hi, I’m Maria the Space2fly Coordinator! Space2fly is a creative mentoring and training program, one of the core programs of Space2b Social Design. I have worked on the Space2fly program since February this year. That’s me in the middle of the group!

Space2fly is our personalised mentor and training program in design and business development for newly arrived migrants and refugees to become small business owners.  Developed with and for newly arrived creatives, the program is a platform to form connections, get real life work experience and work side-by-side with established designers. We are proudly funded by the City of Port Philip, the City of Greater Dandenong and local community support.

Local community member volunteer Cathy mentoring Lai Lai in making children’s beanies and Chaw working with Pah Lae working on toy koalas. 

Maleeha our skilled mentor is teaching Ayesha how to make our popular beeswax wraps.

Clare, our skilled mentor, is talking product development with trainees in our retail store.

Two of our trainees have been trained to become trainers within their communities. Chaw mentors and trains women in Dandenong. The women have developed their skills in sewing, crochet, embroidery. Chaw sells her own range of quality children’s wear in our retail store and one of Chaw’s sewing trainees Yimon now makes bags and cute designer pencil cases for Space2b.

Lai Lai happily working on making her first beanie.

Sharifeh is mentored in sewing and pattern making by successful business owner Tracey of Shortlist who is one of our retail stockists.

Here she is working on our popular denim dungarees sold in the Space2b store.

Sharifeh, now a mentor herself,  training refugee Sudanese women of the Stand Up community in basic sewing skills. StandUp Women’s Group assist refugees to become confident and competent in a range of artistic skills.

Clare, one of our volunteer jewellery mentors, worked closely with Ayaka from Japan, helping her develop her Hanabi-ya brand for the Australian retail market.

Ayaka creating a repurposed fabric flower broach using the traditional Japanese technique of Tsumami-Zaiku.

Ayaka modelling her statement piece showcased at our fashion runway event during our Laneways Festival!

Ayaka’s first jewellery making workshop was a hit at Space2b with Clare’s guidance and assistance. 

Each trainer is also supported to get advice on products, design and material sourcing.

Maleeha teaching a workshop to our trainees on market research and product development.

Throughout the last few months our program participants have been given the space to fly in their personal and professional development. This would not be possible without our incredible mentors and our local community volunteers and supporters of Space2b!

by Maria Minerva, Space2fly Coordinator

 

Thank you to all our mentors, volunteers, people who donated materials and have supported us here at Space2b to run our programs as together we make a difference!

 

    

LIVE Instagram Art and Craft Auction @Space2b

LIVE Instagram Art and Craft Auction

Such exciting times!!
So to help keep things moving we are running our first LIVE Instagram Art and Craft Auction and it starts TONIGHT!

How it works
Our Auction items include a range of beautiful examples of works available at Space2b.

You can watch and bid on each item on Instagram @space2b_design  or search #space2bliveauction17.  Simply click on the items in our Instagram feed and place your bid in the comments section.

If you do not have an Instagram account simply text us on 0430 044 748 with the Item number, your bid amount and your contact name, we will make sure to include you in the bidding.

The Auction closes at 8pm Wednesday 10th May and all winners will be finalised and contacted the following morning. Items will be available for pick up from 11thMay 2017 from Space2b 144 Chapel Street St Kilda.

Auction Item Contributors
Item 1 – Hopeful Dancer – Print
Reserve $160

We are so blessed to have artist Leila Ashtiani working with us at Space2b.  Leila is a talented and joyous woman who has survived harrowing events to make it to Australia. Space2b provides Leila with a safe and inspiring outlet to show and teach art, manage the gallery space and be supported by our mentors and other artists.

Leilas work shows aspirations of strength, hope and love.  Her original artwork Hopeful Dancer, her first since arriving in Australia sold for $2,800.  The print is now available for bidding with a reserve of $160.

Item 2 Large Ceramic Fruit Bowl
Deborah Cotter
Reserve $125

Melbourne based and local St Kilda Artist Deborah Cotter has over 30 years experience working across many artforms including oil painting, clay and mosaic. She shares her passion for arts through teaching to all ages.  Her vibrant, warm and soulful homeware pieces are available at Space2b.

Item 3 and Item 6
No Reserve

Handknitted shopping bag made from 100% upcycled Australian Wool and Hammered copper pendant donated by emmerging Melbourne Silversmith and fibre artist Dee Robinson.

Item 4
Large Handwoven Large African Basket made in Ghana.
Reserve $65

Item 7 Mother and Father beaded artwork by Saida Umurerwa
Reserve $165

Saida has been part of our Space2b family since its beginning in 2014.  Saida fled her home of Rwanda in 1994 walking for days to Tanzania. She spent 17 years of her early life in refugee camps where she learnt to speak 7 languages and the craft of making beaded jewellery.  Saidas two detailed and stunning beaded artworks are of a mother and father and are being auctioned as a pair.

Items 5 and 8 Tara Treasures (Felt Scarf and Cat Pod)
Reserve $65 each

Our felt products are designed here in Melbourne by Tara Treasures, each item is ethically made by a master felt person in Nepal who then creates a prototype for each piece for approval.  The item is then passed onto Nepalese woman and produced in their cottage industry.  Each item is made of 100% New Zealand wool.  Azo-free dyes are used for dying and are all naturally dried using the infinite source of heat and the Sun.

Item 9 Refurbished retro chairs (1 Pair shown bottom left)
Reserve $170

Wonderful local upholster of 14 years Lauren Flock turns all forms of furnishings from tired and unloved pieces into unique and homely furnishings using colourful blends of vintage and new fabrics.

HAPPY BIDDING!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Fashion Show @Space2b

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fashion-show

Great event and lots of fun!  Thank to all the models who walked up the catwalk and showed off our wonderful clothing for all shapes and sizes!

Thanks to Ian who took these fabulous photos from Bayside Photography 

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Black dress with button detail by Rhada Rani

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Black top by Pretty Comfortable and trouser by QOQO

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Stripe top by Fujinella and Little kitten dress by Lindyloo Designs

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Modal top and swirly skirt by Jiniku

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 Dress by Rhada Rani

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Spot Dress by Rhada Rani

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Red dress by SamG

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T-Shirt by Lindlyloo Designs

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Dress by Rhada Rani

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Retro jersey shirt by Jiniku

Space2b Story window

Every month there will be a new designer featured in the space2b window of stories at 231 Carlisle st. St Kilda East.
In our first month we have the inspirational Mariam Issa, my partner in Space2b, and the co-founder of the beautiful RAW community garden.

Mariam arrived in Australia 15 years ago and has had an amazing and positive journey.
Come and see her window or you can buy her book to get a real insight into her experience as a refugee in Australia.

If you visit us on a Tuesday you can speak to her in person.

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