featured – The Arcadian Artisan

Pop-up interruptus…

February 27, 2019February 27, 2019 by prisoners of the crown, posted in baked, handmade, harvest, little market emporium, market to market

Our idyllic pastoral serenity has been hijacked (temporarily, we trust) by the parallel universe of code red medical biz, pesky employment, looming submission deadlines and a veritable cacophony of sundry responsibilities.

So we shan’t, sadly, be popping up at Candelo this Sunday after all. Our one great comfort, however, is the random nature of the pop-up beastie; as a concept, it’s totally predicated on elemental variance. When it’s on it’s on, when not it’s…just not.

We’ll jump back into the saddle when the cosmos realigns.

Meanwhile we hope you’ve been enjoying the last days of Summer before the transition into Autumn (our fave season) and we’re dropping in some glimpses from the last week – taken when we’ve snatched the odd moment to stop and smell the roses…

Our current obsession is blackberry pie.

Suspended animation extended…

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in baked, general, handmade, harvest, little market emporium, market to market

Our little pop-up market emporium is still on furlough, dear hearts. Not that there’s not lots of action – it’s just focused elsewhere at the moment. Megsie’s on a mission in the studio, Ginger has work commitments and Jen’s ramped into remedial mode in the garden (following all that recent damaging weather.) But never fear, we’re seriously contemplating making amends by popping up in Wyndham on the 23rd December. We’ll firm that up in a couple of weeks, so watch this space.

Meanwhile here are a few snaps (by way of distraction!!) of some ‘goings on’ at our place. The politics of the day are creeping into Megsie’s current work, how could it be otherwise(!), and the owl has flown the coop…well, momentarily at least…

Megan Bottari, Asylum (the emigre), lost wax cast Australian lead crystal, found object

Megan Bottari, Lost at Sea (from the Owl and the Pussycat series), lost wax cast Australian lead crystal

Megan Bottari, Live export; not a cruise (On the Good Ship Bismillah), lost wax cast Australian lead crystal, found object

Suspended animation…

October 22, 2018October 22, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in baked, general, handmade, harvest, little market emporium, market to market

Just wanted to let you all know that our sweet little market emporium will be taking a by on the November market day. We have other commitments on the go at present which have snatched priority; the following weekend (Sunday 11th Nov) is Prisoners of the Crown’s Annual Open Studio Day and so Megxx and Ginger are busy making new work for that and Jen’s gone into full summer-wedding mode, spending dawn ’til dusk in her glorious garden to ensure peak condition for the happy nuptials (it’s going to be spectacular!)

Meanwhile, here are a few snaps for those who missed the October gig (which means, oh no, you missed those scrumptious Jenny Attwill lamingtons; best ever, hands down!)

We hope that, like us, you’re enjoying your homescapes after all that wonderful rain. What a difference, eh…

after the rain.jpg

And that was August…

August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in baked, handmade, harvest, little market emporium, market emporium, market to market

We had a very sweet pop-up day last Sunday, despite that grey winter day; always a pleasure to see our ‘regulars’ – this now being our fifth day of trading!! – and welcome all the new lovies, too.

Magnolia and Hellebore brought a breath of Jen’s beautiful garden into the room and there was eclectic charm and treats aplenty to assuage grumbling tummies and deliver a little timely joy to heart and soul (how cute are those Owl and Pussycats!!!!)…

Megxx motley crew: Surf and Turf, Claw, Owl and the Pussycat and Cat Overboard

See you all at the Spring pop-up (Sunday September 2nd.) Yay!!

The Guest List…

April 29, 2018April 29, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in general, handmade

While reiterating that the Arcadian Artisan is fundamentally an in-house venture – Jenny and Megxx & Ginger/Prisoners of the Crown – we do like to enrich the experience by including irresistible work by empatico others – work that is so adorable that you just want to hug it.

Most of you will know Ernesto San Juan for his pastries, and the fabulous cake stall he shares with his darling wife Olga; both as sweet and warm-hearted as their delectable fare. But perhaps you won’t know that as a young man he went to Art School in Argentina, that he is inherently creative and that, above all, he loves to sculpt…

Ernesto with the pack

Llama bowl (large) & Lady sugar bowl

Llama jug and bowls (small)

His ceramic critters are wonderfully folkloric in nature; so characterful and charming, so endearingly sweet, that on the richter scale of seismic appeal they are totally want-want.

Available exclusively from The Arcadian Artisan; next pop-up Sunday May 6th.

(Entrée to the Guest List now closed.)

Hey ho away we go…

April 3, 2018April 7, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in baked, general, handmade, harvest, market to market

Easter Sunday saw the launch of our little pop-up shop at the Crossing in Candelo – and what a lovely day we had! Friends old and new have been so curious to see what on earth we’re up to – and our first reveal is a fair signpost of things to come.

The Arcadian Artisan is the purveyor of a sweet country state of mind, reflecting the deep contentment we find in our rural preoccupations; the garden, the kitchen, the handcraft, the artwork. And, more particularly, the very diligence of it all (handed down from our beloved grandmothers!)

More importantly, The Arcadian Artisan is our line in the sand; a repudiation of mass production and an homage to the natural industry of a (relatively!)tranquil lifestyle. Our ‘wares’ reflect our varied interests and our dedication to the preservation of genuine quality in our lives. We’re not stuck in tradition – rather we find ourselves constantly reinvigorated by it. If we had a ‘theme song’ it would be Nigel Kennedy’s Vivaldi’s Four Seasons (particularly the 2013 BBC Proms performance) though, of course, we’re not so highfalutin!

Thanks to everybody who dropped by (we only managed a few early and late snaps – once the crowd turned up we were too busy to take pictures!) We’ll be back next month, popping up like a veritable Brigadoon! See you on May 6th.

Ginger

jools

Jen’s adorable lavender bags

rocky road royale

Ginger, Jenny & Megxx

shopfront

10 green bottles hangin’ on the wall

kitchen chic

Jen

interior

nougat

Ginger’s lavender lane

end of the day

lost wax cast lead crystal oyster shells

Rogero

traditional Korean hand-embroidery

Old Gran’s climbing pink geranium

a well earned rest

just a few of Jen’s show ribbons!

The Guest List…

March 30, 2018May 7, 2018 by prisoners of the crown, posted in general, handmade

The Arcadian Artisan is the dedicated upmarket venture of Jenny Attwill and Megan and Ginger Bottari (Prisoners of the Crown) – ie it features entirely our own work. However, that being said, every now and again we come across something that is so unutterably charming that we can’t resist including/sharing it. You know how it is, when you find a sweet natured person of inherent grace quietly producing traditional hand-embroidered Korean Bojagi…here in Pambula!!

Sangmi Lee’s beautifully meticulous work ranges from the elegantly spare to super-delish luxe, lending a pop of exotica to our happy haven of southern valley handcraft…