Macarons for May!

5 minutes with our patisserie queen - Meg Bailey

We are thrilled to be bringing you something extra fun, and extra scrumptious for our Autumn Market....those lovely little biscuits that hail from France, macarons.

Meg Bailey from ‘Patisserie Antoinette’ joins us for the first time on May 15th with her selection of decadent delights, the perfect tiny treat to enjoy with a lovely Barista Sista coffee in our lounge upstairs.

A couple of Meg’s favourite macaron’s from her repertoire thus far include rose shells with white chocolate butter cream ganache and coconut shells with dark chocolate butter cream ganache... we’ll have one of each please!

When did you begin baking sweet treats?
I’ve grown up with a love for food as my parents have always enjoyed being in the kitchen and have involved my sister and I in food preparation. We all have enjoyed eating and discovering different types of food. As I have a sweet tooth, my passion for baking and making desserts has grown in the last few years.

What inspired you to make macarons?
I discovered macarons about a year ago when I visited France on exchange. Being a foodie I ate a lot including these beautiful crisp shelled bikkies that I had heard a little about from my sister. The first macaron I ate was absolutely amazing, I had no idea what to expect but it was this chocolate crispy outside with a brownie type inside sandwiched together with a delicious chocolate ganache. After I tried my first macaron I ventured around London and found my inspiration at the French Patisserie Ladurée, which in my opinion is the haute couture of food, who also featured their pastries on the movie ‘Marie Antoinette’. After a bit of practise and experimenting I decided on putting my skills to some use and that is where I decided on creating ‘Pâtisserie Antoinette’.

What’s your favourite thing about what you do?
When I bake, I find pure enjoyment in what I’m doing. It can be a challenge and I have had many times where I’ve had disastrous outcomes but it’s so much fun and I have such a great love for food and that’s all that really matters.

Tell us a little bit about the ingredients/produce you like baking with?
The main ingredients for macarons consist of almond meal, egg whites and sugar but its lots of fun inventing new flavours, my most recent is mango.

What’s on the menu and what can we expect to see at your stall on May 15th?
I’ve decided to stick with classic flavours as they always seem to be the favourites, look out for chocolate, raspberry, pistachio and coconut macarons. Also nutella cupcakes and ‘frou frou’ cupcakes which are raspberry, coconut and chocolate cupcakes. There will also be some bikkies available to buy.

The market has a new friend...

Being huge supporters of independent design and good quality handmade product, the market is jumping for joy to have a lovely new friend (partnership to be official) with the very clever and entrepreneurial website madeit.com.au

Some info on the philosophy, beginnings and the future of madeit below, but do stop past their site and have a look...maybe even a little shop, some brilliant products on there, including several by the market stallholders.

Also...there’s a wee interview on their site with the market here.

Madeit.com.au is a handmade online buying and selling destination, which showcases Australia’s most creative, undiscovered art, design & craft talent. Lovers of handmade can purchase items on madeit.com.au, direct from the sellers and can choose from fashion, art, homewares, accessories, stationery, children and babies clothing and toys and much much more.

Madeit.com.au is different to other online designer destinations as it only supports local Australian talent. Shopping on madeit is a great way to support local designers & crafters and sellers can gain exposure and sell their wares all day every day and to every corner of Australia and the world.

You can read more about the lovely founder Bec Davies here

Our seasonal showcase for Autumn is not so very far...

...Sunday May 15th to be precise.

We are getting excited about all things Autumn, including crunching through those pretty golden leaves and watching the wind blow trees, kites and pretty paper pinwheels around! But mostly we are excited about the host of wonderful designers and makers we have lined up for our Autumn Market.

Do pop May 15th in your diary, and come and have a peek at all the local talent we’ve been busy gathering...more on that later!

things we loved at our summer market...

Up up and away, beautiful butterflies + oh so colourful wrap by Studio Oat.

Giant Summery strawberries from I four letter word you.

Majestic birds in flight on the NosMos stall.

Wonderful wooden wares from the award winning duo at Indeco.

Tempting designs in cheerful colours from Melly Frank.

Thanks to all who visited our Summer event, there was so much on this weekend in Hobart, we were thankful people managed to squeeze in some local love, and visited the market for our bevvy of independent artists,designers and makers. A big thanks to our stallholders, who really stepped up to our showcase of seasonal wares (check out more pics in the gallery), and an extra special welcome to all the new talent that joined us, we hope you had a lovely day! Our next event will be for Autumn, on May 15th. Wishing everyone a blissful (and sunny) remaining couple of weeks of Summer!

Bye for now,
Shannon + Holly :0)

{summer} featured stall holders

follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares

We are extra pleased to welcome newbies Otekah to the market . They will be exhibiting cute as a button wooden treats with a difference...beautifully detailed, thoughtfully designed, and quirkily shaped pieces - just perfect really!

{summer} featured stall holders

follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares

Miss Haidee - Apart from the adorable models, these children’s clothes are just the sweetest thing for special little people...made the old fashioned way, with gorgeous vintage style fabrics, simple- fuss free designs, and lots of love.

Design duo Kat and Hoang from Studio Oat are rather popular at the market and for good reason. Their gorgeous stationery reminds us all of the important things in life like love & friendship...and on a less soppy note, it is completely eco friendly, and comes in a vibrant selection of colours!

{summer} featured stall holders

follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares

All We Have is Now - Beautifully hand drawn and screen printed singlets and t shirts on 100% pima cotton and a selection of organic cotton. Featuring birds and other lovely bits and pieces of garden inspired whimsy.

Jennifer Houghton will be bringing along her brand new (and extremely cute) children’s book Hatastrophe to make its very first public appearance. Absolutely delightful illustrations too, we might add.

{summer} featured stall holders

follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares

Hello award winners Indeco...along with their other perfectly restrained and Scandinavian inspired range of home wares, one of their latest designs, The Pizza Plat will be available to Market customers. This was one of two items by Indeco to be included in Top 10 of the 2010 Tasmanian Design Award; the other being the soap wedge.

ifourletterwordyou - Always exciting, Rosie joins us with some brand new pieces, not for the shy, these jewels are adventurous, carefully handmade, and wonderfully different!

{summer} featured stall holders

follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares

Brand new stallholders Nos Mos, join us with their sublime collection of original illustrated T-shirts and greeting cards. Simple and pretty designs for Summer! Also, some stellar Watercolour art works, all framed up and ready to go.

Melanie Frank - Handmade and very limited run sterling silver designs, featuring an eclectic mix of earrings, rings and pendants. Also some rather lovely cast beeswax jewels and enamelled earrings....great presents.

{summer}

sunday 13 february, 10-3

Hurrah! It’s the first market for 2011, and the first of our fun new format of seasonal markets. And what a season it is....Summer in Hobart is an exciting time. With so much to see and do, yummy food and drink to sample and great local art and design on show, there are people bustling about everywhere. Make sure you bustle on down to our special Summer collection of stall holders on Sunday the 13th...we have everything you could possibly need (and want) for the season of sunshine!

Visit the market for pretty silk flowers to pop in your hair, lovely cotton clothing in the form of singlets and tshirts, beautifully handmade ceramics...including particularly fetching tealight holders...perfect for creating a little glow outdoors on a warm evening. The summer market also features diverse array of jewels, bags, and accessories in fresh designs, and seasonal colours and fabrics.

Here at the market we are proud to say we have a wonderful selection of locally designed + made stationery...and the Summer market is no exception! Lovely new designs abound, and we think it is just in time, with so many occasions over summer, it’s a lovely time to send a card to a friend, or pick up some beautiful wrapping paper to wrap a special gift.

We also have lots of sweet little treats that would be just right for a gift, or perhaps just something for you to enjoy, like delicious jars of locally made jam in special flavours, loose leaf organic tea and bars of nicely scented soap.

For more of a sneak peek of who and what will be on offer, check out the coming posts for our ten featured stallholders, some very exciting new designers included..and follow the kites upstairs to see their wonderful wares on display. While you’re up there, you could have a little laze around with the papers and some fine market fare in the lounge, AND go in the draw to win a $100 market gift voucher...yes please.

So don’t go fly a kite on Sunday 13th until you’ve dropped by to see what’s happening at the market.

Shannon + Holly :o)

on the {summer} menu

sunday 13 february

Bree from Mondo Mama's Kitchen is back at the market for 2011, ready to whip up a delightful feast for market-goers. Her summer-inspired menu sounds absolutely delicious!

salads
- summer tomato with preserved basil, cucumber, flatbread strips, mint & lemon zest
- potato slaw with bbq corn, green cabbage & fennel herb
- butter bean, olive oil, creamy fetta, parsley, green chilli & tuna

lunch

- baked rissotto balls with fetta & smoked free-range chicken filling, nigella & sesame seed crust
- free-range egg & bacon ruff puff tart

sweeties
- light lemon yoghurt cake with greengage layer & orange blossom swiss buttercream
- cookies & cream french cocoa & chocolate brownie

fancy yourself as a top designer?

Granada Media is currently looking for Australia’s most innovative home designers and decorators for Jamie Durie’s new show TOP DESIGN.

The format of the show is similar to ‘Project Runway’ but will focus on Interior Design/Decorating. Each episode will feature design & interior challenges and the winner of the series will receive a large cash prize and national recognition. They are looking for people across different creative industries with a strong sense of aesthetics who would like to translate their style into design and interior challenges.

If you think this is you, you can apply now at www.ninemsn.com.au/topdesign

Oh, what fun!

our first event for 2011 is not far away...

so pop this date in your diary!

things we loved at the december market...

Dotty little ducks and woodland themed softies from Emmeline

Beautifully festive and fresh looking linen from Red Wren

Special things for Summer entertaining, thoughtfully designed from Anita Dineen

The serious talent, and beautiful illustrations on display at the Birdy & Me stall.

Christmas! A well deserved rest, precious time spent with family and friends, and hopefully some lovely, decadent food for our much valued stall holders, and customers alike. A big and sincere thank you for making 2010 a successful and inspiring year for us at the market, we have so much excitement in store for next year, and look forward to seeing you in February, as we shift into the first of our seasonal markets, and celebrate Summer.

Merry Christmas!
Shannon + Holly :0)

We wish you a merry Christmas...

Here we go...our very last, and very best event for 2010. The season is well and truly upon us, and our December event is here just in time to perk you up for the festivities to come, as we celebrate all things local and lovely!

Really and truly, this market has everything you need to complete (or start!) your Christmas shopping. We have a nice cluster of market favourites and their beautiful and super popular wares...Emily Snadden’s jewellery, Shauna Mayben’s terrariums, Red Wren’s linen to mention a few. We also have some terribly exciting brand new designers we’re really proud and excited to be showcasing. Kelly Smith from Birdy and Me joins us for the first time, with her whimsical and wonderful illustrations also Emmeline, with her adorable hedgehogs and other special softies for little ones. Make sure you check out our 12 days of Christmas blog posts for a sneak peek of their work and all the other clever people at our December market.

We’d also like to make mention of something very exciting taking place on Dec 12th. Two market stall holders Lyn Hellewell – pinnigan and Narelle Badalassi - Ruby Victoria Letterpress will be holding a mini book launch for an exciting publication, a hard cover lifestyle and handicraft book entitled handmade living – a designer collective.

This is a unique and beautiful hard cover book showcasing the talents of handmade designers, artisans and craftspeople from all over Australia. Unique in its design, the book features over 70 gorgeous projects and inspirational ideas that both showcase Australian talent and offer readers of all crafting levels the opportunity to create something whimsically precious and simply wonderful. Congratulations to both Lyn and Narelle, for being featured in such a worthwhile book...we’ve also heard a little whisper that there might be a surprise giveaway for market customers in conjunction with the launch!

Don’t forget to head upstairs on Sunday too...not only have we fitted in another 10 fabulous stall holders up there, but we are also holding a little competition of our own you might like to enter, particularly if you like to shop, for free that is...

Look forward to seeing you all there, and good luck to our brilliant bunch of stall holders as they prepare for Sunday.
Shannon + Holly :0)

Ps. Our favourite foodies market, The Farmers Market, is on this Sunday (as it is every Sunday!) So be sure to pop along to the Melville St carpark between 9am-1pm for a visit, and collect the very freshest and most wholesome ingredients and produce for your Christmas breakfast, lunch, dinner, or all three!