Vintage Clothing Sale now on at Milkbar

Easter Trading at Milkbar

Cute Crochet Workshop This Weekend

You can make this! and lots of other super cute crochet soft toys in our Amigurumi workshop this Saturday.

Don't let the hard to pronounce name put you off, it's much easier to do than you think - even complete beginners can come along. There will be a range of patterns on hand with something for every skill level. The workshop will begin with an introduction/refresher to crochet for those who need it.

You can make Strawberries, Apples, Icecreams, Owls, Cats, Monsters and more. We've had this cute little apple and an icecream cone in the shop for a few weeks and the kidlets are loving them silly!

Everything you'll need is included in the workshop price, including coffee and treats. See below for details...

Amigurumi

1 – 3pm, Saturday March 2^nd

In the Milkbar Workshop
 $40 per person

Learn to Crochet Amigurumi, or 'small stuffed toys', with Cecily Rosol. In this workshop you will learn the Magin Loop method and basic crochet stitches. You will choose from a number of patterns, of all skill levels from beginner to pro, so this workshop is suitable for everyone! Adorn your world with endless possibilities amigurumi ice creams, owls, cats, fruit monsters - amigurumi anything!

Included in your workshop:
A coffee/hot chocolate/chai/tea and tasty treats.
All the yarns and patterns you will need, plus a crochet hook that you can keep.

Skills needed:
This workshop is suitable for all skill levels, from complete beginners to advanced crocheters. There will be a range of patterns to choose from to work on in the workshop, with something for all skill levels.

What to bring:
You won’t need to bring anything for this workshop.

Ages 16+ unless accompanied by an adult.

Bookings Essential

Call: 0406 422 424

Email: hello@themilkbarcafe.com.au

Drop by the Cafe + Workshop: 139 St John Street, Launceston

View the timetable here.

Last workshop for the year!

Embroidered Merit Badges
with Mae Finayson

Saturday, 8th December - Last workshop for the year!
10am - Noon
In the Milkbar Workshop
$35
Includes tea & sweets
All materials provided

Embroider your own merit badges! Mae will teach you traditional embroidery techniques which you will use to make sweet little merit badges from felt & embroidery floss. Keep for your self or give as gifts to reward your friends for their unique merits.

Ages 16+, unless accompanied by an adult.

Bookings Essential
Please book and pay in advance at Milkbar
139 St John Street, Launceston.
or by emailing: hello@themilkbarcafe.com.au

Movember at Milkbar

Yes, it's that time of year again - when those special guys in your lives turn in to Dirty Mexicans, 70s Film Stars, or Bikies  -  it's Movember folks!

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in Australia and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and male mental health.

This year Damien is yet again growing a moustache to raise funds for & awareness of men's health.
Of course, he had to shave it all off and start from scratch, so here he is on day 2 of Movember. You can support him here, and feel free to join the Milkbar team if you like!

Sven the deer can be found hanging out in the front window of late, and is also on the Milkbar team, but is only sporting a few whiskers as yet. We will keep you updated on their progress.

Happy Movember!

Holly Leonardson pops up at Milkbar

Hi everyone, we hope you spring is going just swell!

This week we are lucky to have Holly Leonardson (aka Pannikin) come and set up her little pop-up shop at Milkbar. Her illustration-based jewellery and accessories with childhood references are handmade and designed in right here in Launceston. She also has some original vintage-image-filled collages and gift cards available, but I'm particularly fond of her little button sets... wouldn't they look sweet down the front of a blouse?

Holly is happiest in her colourful trinket-filled studio, sitting at the desk creating all sorts of things with materials crowded around her and a decent mix-tape of 1960s tunes. And a little bit of here craftiness shows through in her product range; which includes not only button sets but also quilt inspired brooches, bobbin earrings, and cute thread holders.

Why not pop in and our check out her work? Her creations will be in the workshop for the following month... perfect timing for any little holiday gifts.

x isis

Milkbar hearts Mako

Mako has her beautiful sketches, featuring Launceston cafes, on display at Milkbar at the moment. Come and check them out, they are super cute! She will also hold an informal portraits session here on Thursday 20th Sept, from 2 - 4pm. Bring your family and or friends along to have a small portrait sketch done for just $25. x

Here are some drawings she has done of Milkbar :D

MILKBAR NOW CLOSED ON SATURDAYS

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Hi all, just letting you know we will no longer open on Saturdays. A big thanks to everyone who has made Milkbar their stompin' ground of a Saturday. 'Twas lots of fun, but we need more time to recover from

our busy weekdays.

If you're looking for a Ritual coffee made on Elgaar milk, I highly recommend you head down to Harvest Market (www.harvestmarket.org.au).
We'll probably see you there!!

x Isis + Damien

ps. we will still be holding workshops on Saturdays, but the cafe won't be open.

Macramé mad

 

This month we've gone a little Macramé mad here at Milkbar. This is going to excited those of you forming a little Macramé fetish of late (how could you not with work like this, this, and this popping up about the place). And for those of you who've 'been there, done that' in the 70s, well it might elicit a roll of the eyes and a groan or two. Actually it already has - but I can deal with that! By the way, for those who didn't know, Macramé is a way of working with yarn by knotting, rather than weaving or knitting.

We've got a giant Macramé wall hanging on the wall, by local textiles artist Leanne Ohara. She's been 'knotting' for 25 years - and certainly knows the ropes (oh, that was bad). She's created her own style of knotting, worked from natural fibres that she dyes herself. Still, she can can  create a brightly coloured plant hanger up there with the best of 'em. And she was more than happy to create a few, using traditional and modern knots for our front window display this month.

All of her work is for sale, but if you want to learn to knot from one of the best AND make your own plant hanger, come to a workshop with Leanne in early September at Milkbar.

Macrame Workshop
with Leanne Ohara
Saturday, 8th September
2 - 4pm
In the Milkbar Workshop
$55 per person
Includes tea & sweets
All materials provided 

Please book and pay in advance.
Book by emailing hello@themilkbarcafe.com.au
Or call 0406 422 424
Or come in to the cafe at 139 St John Street, Launceston.
Children 15 years and under must be accompanied by an adult. 

Oh yeah, two retro macrame owls have made themselves at home, too! 

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

If you've been in to Milkbar for a hot chocolate, you know they come in very special cups. They are both beautiful to hold and beautiful to look at; and were made exclusively for us by local ceramicist Serena Rosevear. Free of handles, her cups are designed to slow you down for a moment, experience the soft tactility of their polished exterior, and enjoy the warmth of your beverage with your hand.

Serena is interested in objects; how and why we choose, use, give and discard them, and in the influence they have over our gestures.  She makes objects which, though highly refined in finish, retain a handmade quality and provide a tactile experience in the hand of the user. Serena’s Honours project investigates the use of digital machining technologies in partnership with ceramic processes, and the nature of qualities which define handmade objects.

For those who fall in love with the hand-thrown porcelain vessels, they are available for purchase at Milkbar. They come in two colours - a striking retro orange or a soft mid-century mint, and are dishwasher safe.

PLEASE NOTE:
Milkbar will be closed next Monday,
23rd July, for Milkbar Day.
Yes, we just created our own public holiday.

Milkbar Hearts Hideyo

We've had many customers compliment us on our window display so far this month, but we can't take any credit. That all goes to Sam & Maya; the two lovely folk behind the label Hideyo. They have put on a gorgeous display of modular origami pieces strung from branches, in amongst old books and glass cloches. A few customers even told us they "just had to cross the road to check it out".

Hideyo are well known in Tasmania and on the mainland for their beautiful origami pieces made from the pages of old, discarded books, and their other elegant but environmentally-minded products. These two are regularly found at some of the best design & handmade markets around the country, including Finders Keepers, Bowerbird Bazaar, The Market in Hobart, Markit, and Melbourne Design Market.

Photo by Michelle Du Pont

They have just released a bunch of new designs in their range of origami flowers, which we have in stock along with various modular origami balls. And Milkbar is also the only place you can currently purchase packs of Hideyo Origami Paper!

Sam will be running an origami workshop this Saturday, 14th July, from 2 -4pm at Milkbar. Come along to learn origami basics while you fold a number of origami pieces to take home. This workshop is aimed at all ages and skill levels so would be a perfect family activity. Check our Events page for more into. Bookings essential.

One of Sam's many passions (when not folding!) is photography in the natural environment and we are certainly happy to have his photographs on the Milkbar walls this month. Thanks Sam!

Get cosy with some wintery crafts

Milkbar has a decidedly warm and cosy feel about it at the moment. It's the perfect spot to escape the winter chill or wet  weather, and perhaps do a little knitting or crochet? When I see our customer whip out their needles over a coffee, I start grinning to myself, dreaming about how nice it would be to sit down with a hot drink and do a little knitting myself...

Instead, I've filled the Workshop with plenty of bits and bobs to inspire some winter making in the rest of you. The knitting books have been flying off the shelves, and there's new ones arriving regularly.

We're overflowing with wonderfully soft Australian, Organic Merino Yarn, in gorgeous hues. We're got Bamboo Knitting Needles and Crochet Hooks for sale, as well as some secondhand needles.

The Hooked Zpagetti Recycled Yarn is going down a treat, and there's more on it's way.



If you want to learn how to knit we're got a bunch of KnitKnit kits; modern knitting kits for creative people who love the thought of knitting something unique and funky. The designs are young and cool and the patterns are full of pictures and free of crazy abbreviations. They make a great present, and we've even got kids' kits with needles perfectly sized for small hands.

Even more fun would be to take a wintery workshop at Milkbar! Coming up soon we've got Beginners' Crochet (Saturday June 30th) and Beginners' Knitting (Saturday July 21st). The perfect introduction into either of these crafts! Check the events page for details. We also have a Sock Knitting workshop and 'Beyond Scarves' workshop (for those who know the basics but haven't progressed beyond scarves!) coming up in August.

I Hope you're all keeping warm this winter, and stitching up a storm on your rainy days in!

x isis

Milkbar

A is for Acorn

This month Milkbar is filled with Acorns! Anyone who has seen the shop since the weekend will tell you that the cafe is looking very colourful at the moment, with the window and walls adorned with acorn lino prints with an electric colour palette.

'A is for Acorn' is the current release of lino prints by local creatives Tactile Manifesto. You'll find our window swathed in lino print acorn garlands, which are attracting the attention of every passer-by. I'm sure the almost psychedelic colours will bring a smile to those battling the wild & windy weather winter has brought with it.

I love the TM ethos too; their website says "All our works on paper are free-hand lino printed. Free-hand printing is so honest, it shows the artisans hand with all its quirks and imperfections. Where possible we use recycled, organic or up-cycled materials (if not possible we do our best to buy from businesses with a sound environmental record).We only use non-toxic, water-based paints and clean-up requires minimal water. We do all we can not to waste materials and try and find inventive ways to use any left-over stuff."

The TM work 'A is for Acorn' will be on display, and for sale, at Milkbar for the next month. If you can't make it in you could check out their website, where they also explain how they made the acorn garlands. But you really must come in, the work is so vibrant and satisfying to look at in person.

x the milkbar team