The Finders Keepers Market Is Coming To Melbourne And We Want All The Things
- Words by Emma Mulholland
Do you happen to fancy any (or all) of the following: caffeine, cookies, crafts, cocktails? And how do you feel about sitting for a super-cute three-minute portrait by Eleonora Arosio? Keen? Then you’d better get yourself to The Finders Keepers Autumn Winter Markets, which will be bringing all of life’s pleasures to the Royal Exhibition Building in Carlton, Melbourne, from July 12 to 14.
If you’ve ever been to The Finders Keepers, either in Sydney or Melbourne, you’ll know what to expect: sitting somewhere between a makers’ market and a festival, the clever FK organisers dial up the revelry with DJs, top eats, natural wines and craft brews (and if that’s not your jam, that’s ok! Sunday’s low-sensory hour from 9-10am offers perusing without the party vibes).
There are activities for little makers, too, including sensory play with Mikaela Egan, maker of Ochre Dough, non-toxic playdough infused with sweet-smelling lemon myrtle, quandong powder and strawberry gum. Mikaela is one of 50 new stallholders at the Melbourne market and, as a proud Muthi Muthi/Gunditjmara woman, she’s part of a growing mix of First Nations makers who are selling their wares at Finders Keepers.
Fancy a little window shopping? Here are three more Indigenous-owned businesses that might just have you parting with your hard-earned market moolah…
above KENITA LEE
Based in Gunaikurnai Country (Gippsland, Victoria), Aimee McCartney brings a contemporary (and very bright) eye to the art of her ancestors. Inspired by her Taungurung, Wotjobaluk, Wemba Wemba and Boon Wurrung heritage, Aimee’s artworks, homewares and accessories are full of meaningful details (as is her business name, which means “Your Sister” in Taungurung, a nod to her upbringing as the eldest of nine children). Of her work, Aimee says: “I hope to continue the sacred tradition of storytelling through art and to inspire people to connect and learn about First Nations’ culture, history, stories and language.”
Expect smiles all around when you have a pair of Ailsa Walsh’s Spirit Flyer sugar gliders hanging from your lobes. Crafted from cherry wood and resin, this cheeky duo is part of a gorgeous range of earrings that take their cue from Ailsa’s Lardil, Kullilli and Yuggera heritage. Many have special meanings, like the platypus pair, which represents a gentle spirit and friendship. The perfect gift for a BFF, we think.
If you know a strong woman (or happen to be one), then we suggest you take a look at Kenita-Lee McCartney’s “Matriarch” collection. White dots gathered throughout the paintings symbolise women who’ve led the way and who continue to guide us today. A Wemba Wemba, Wiradjuri, Wotjiboluk, Nari Nari and Boon Wurrung woman, Kenita-Lee draws on her diverse lineage and life’s many seasons for her work, which also includes decals, prints and corporate collabs.
THIS ARTICLE WAS CREATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH OUR GOOD FRIENDS AT THE FINDERS KEEPERS. MELBOURNE’S AUTUMN WINTER 2024 MARKET RUNS FROM 12 TO 14 JULY AT THE ROYAL EXHIBITION BUILDING AT CARLTON GARDENS. SINGLE-DAY TICKETS ARE $6 (PLUS BOOKING FEE); ENTRY IS FREE FOR KIDS UNDER 13.
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“My piece of advice for makers and designers? Run your own race… make sure your key decisions stay anchored in your brand’s core beliefs.”
- Bec Bligh
Quick show of hands: who’s opened a water bottle expecting a refreshing sip… and instead been greeted by the unmistakable whiff of uh-oh?
Because for something that follows us everywhere (desk, car, hikes, yoga…), the humble drink bottle is strangely prone to becoming a science experiment. Hard-to-clean corners and gaskets. Mystery smells. Bec Bligh and her husband Tim know it well. A six-month sailing trip along the Queensland coast left them with a lifetime of memories and one stubborn annoyance: mouldy water bottles they couldn’t properly clean.
So they did something about it.
Enter @EverVessel. Thoughtfully designed borosilicate glass and stainless steel bottles that keep things beautifully simple: durable materials, wide openings, easy-to-clean parts and none of the techy gimmicks that tend to age badly. Turns out simplicity, done well, is pretty powerful stuff. (Their many design awards agree!)
And lately they’ve added a little extra delight: the Artist Series, where creatives like Paola Castro, Ben Miners and Martin Thompson transform these everyday companions into tiny travelling artworks. There are more colabs in the works, too: hydration, but make it joyful! 🎨💧
We chatted with Bec about the sailing trip that started it all, the philosophy behind Ever Vessel, and why the most sustainable product is often just the one you keep using.
Tap the link in our bio to read the full conversation. 🚰
#EverVessel #ReusableWaterBottle
Pull up a chair… there’s room at this table!
For the first time, Feast for Freedom is bringing people together for a spectacular long-table dinner as part of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival.
A Longer Table is exactly what it sounds like: one beautiful shared table inside the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1), piled with generous dishes inspired by this year’s hero cooks, Noha and Nige.
From 6 to 9pm on Wednesday, 25 March, this is what you can expect:
🍽 A three-course shared feast
🍷 Matched drinks
🎶 Live entertainment
✨ A room full of good humans
Your ticket doesn’t just buy you a delicious dinner. It supports the ASRC’s vital work and helps create a fairer future for people seeking asylum.
Seats are limited, and long tables have a way of filling up quickly – head to @MelbFoodAndWine’s website to book now: feastforfreedom.org.au/mfwf
#FeastForFreedom #MelbourneFoodAndWineFestival #LongTableDinner #FoodForChange
Sew versatile! 🪡
Another great make from Lisa from @SunnySewsEveryday:
My #PeppermintWaratahWrapDress is finished and I’m so proud of it. It has been designed not to flap open and flash your pants in the wind, so I feel confident it will be a great wheelchair or standing dress in English weather.
#PeppermintPatterns #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
Frame your face with the Peppermint Bucket Hat!
Stay safe and stylish in the sun with your very own self-sewn and self-drafted wide-brimmed bucket hat. This beginner-friendly sew is perfect for a sunny day. Get out your pencils – this pattern is created using equations and maths!
This DIY project was featured in Issue 53 and now you can access it for the lovely low price of only $5.
Sun-safe chic is always in style. ☀️
Find it via the link in our bio!
Photos: @KelleySheenan
#PeppermintPatterns #PeppermintBucketHat #BucketHat #BucketHatPattern #DIY
✨ INSTANT CLASSIC ✨
The Peppermint Myrtle Shift Dress is a beginner-friendly make with a few special details based on the ever-stylish shift shape – the perfect dress you need in your wardrobe right now!
Myrtle cuts above the knee with options to customise the length. Don’t think she’s reserved for hot weather either: try a heavier-weight fabric to turn your Myrtle into a pinafore-style garment for layering.
For our fabrics we chose two from our lovely sewing partner @Karmme_Apparel – the bold Rottnest Stripes in a lightweight, soft-drape cotton, and the quality linen in the handpainted Mexico Collection.
Get making the Myrtle – the only question is, can you stop at just one?
Link in bio 🪡
Fabric: @Karmme_Apparel
Sewist: @Laura_The_Maker
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Models: @SerahSews and @Pins_And_Tonic
Location: @ShareTheDignityAustralia
#PeppermintMyrtleShiftDress #PeppermintPatterns
It’s time to Feast!
Some recipes travel a long way before they land on your table to delight your taste buds. This year’s Feast for Freedom invites us to gather our friends, cook something delectable and raise funds for the incredible work of the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (@Asrc1) while we’re at it.
The 2026 Feast features recipes shared by two remarkable cooks: Noha, who brought the flavours of Palestine with her when she arrived in Australia, and Nige, a Sri-Lankan Tamil cook whose journey with food began in the most unexpected of places.
You can host your own Feast up until 30 April – simply register online and get planning! Host a dinner, organise a workplace lunch, or gather your community… However you do it, the idea is simple: cook, connect and celebrate the cultures and stories that shape Australia.
Want to find out more? Head to the link in bio to meet Noha and Nige, learn more about their stories, and discover a delicious recipe to try.
#FeastForFreedom #PeppermintMagazine #FoodForGood #ASRC
