Back in Australia

January 1990, Melbourne

Back in Australia I was still looking for work and staying at my parent’s home in East Bentleigh.  Within a week or two of date of this picture, I had started working as Promotions Officer for the Crafts Council of Victoria, at the Meat Market Craft Centre in North Melbourne and found a place to live in East Brunswick.

Whilst at the Endell Street Place in London, I had been impressed with the quality and variety of hand made cards which we had bought from local craftspeople to sell in the shop.  Having been unable to use my designing skills in making ceramics, I decided to put my creative drive to use by starting to make my range of stationery. During my last November working there, I designed a range of hand made Christmas cards which sold very well.  The proceeds partly helped to pay for my South American travels.  Once back in Melbourne I again began to tinker with some designs which I presented for consideration to a lovely lady in Chapel Street Prahran, who had just opened her own home wares and gift shop.  With her advice on fashionable colours and presentation I developed a range of hand painted designs which I began to sell at craft and gift shops around town.

The photos above were taken at Spencer Street Station in Melbourne.  I am wearing hand painted silk earrings (clip-ons, as I have never had pierced ears) which I purchased from the Endell Street Place.  In answer to the question most often posed about this group of pics, my hair is tied back, not shorn.