Welcome to the Hope
Street Markets Website!
Welcome to the Hope Street Markets Website! We are a design and art markets event held seasonally, that celebrate and bring independent designers to the forefront - we are not your average markets!
4th June 2008 - Web update
We have successfully rounded up our 4th Hope Street Markets.
The Autumn Markets weekend in May was a complete success and we raised
$2,741 for HopeStreet's Winter Appeal - which goes to support Sydney's Homeless.
For those that missed out, see our gallery for images of the markets.
For now we wish you all a great Winter, unfortunately we will not be
running a Winter market this year but you can expect to hear more news from
us in a couple of months with any new dates.
In the mean time keep connected with us via our mailing list.
Clare de lune by Clare Weeks
What do you make? Tell us about your product!
Experimental jewellery made from resin. Some pieces are modified toys and trinkets cast into a mould and made into resin wearable sculptures some feature objects like butterflies embedded into the resin.
What's your creative background, your day job and how did you start making things?
After studying photography at University I went into a full time job as an education coordinator in a regional art gallery. Instead of inspiring my own practice it actually stalled it and although the job was professionally satisfying I wasn’t personally involved in a creative practice of my own.
In 2006 I packed it all in and went to work for my friends in their clothing shop, (High Tea with Mrs Woo in Newcastle). That’s when clare de lune was born. I still work a few days a week in the shop and also teach photography at TAFE and this affords me the time and finances to do that which I love to do.
What are the things you find most inspiring?
People and their stories. Movies. Food. Art. The memories I have that are sometimes real, sometimes imagined. If I’m at a loss I look through the family photo albums and the ideas start to flood.
Where is your workspace and what is it like?
I work out of my poor parents garage. Resin is stinky business so you need a well-ventilated space and somewhere you can spread out and be a little messy. My Dad set me up with a bench to work on and at the end of the day I pack everything into plastic containers so my parents can fit their cars in the garage. I work 1-2 days a week on the resin and usually go to my parents’ house when they’re not there so I don’t bother them. While I wait between pours of resin I usually raid the fridge. It’s often the best I get to eat all week. When the pieces are ready to sand I take them to my home and finish them there.
Why did you choose Hope Street Markets?
I had heard about it through a friend who had a stall in the summer market and went to see it on the Friday night. I was really impressed with every part of it from the stallholders to the furniture (a good table is key), the entertainment and the overall atmosphere.
Where would you like your art/brand to be in the future??
In art gallery shops and boutiques. I’d love to have an international stockist, just one so Mum has
something to brag about.
I like the idea of doing art and designer markets too from time to time. I like to actually meet the consumer and see what they have to say.
Where can we buy your stuff?
At High Tea With Mrs Woo in Newcastle, Maitland Regional Art Gallery in Maitland and by contacting me online at www.claredelune.com.au