The Harlequin Collection: Harlequin

I think this fabric is probably my favourite thing I've designed, and it was the clear winner at Design Made Trade too. I love my Harlequin Zip Purse!

Harlequin / argyle / diamond print is such a class pattern, and depending on the application means so many different things to different people. Diamond print sweaters are the domain of the conservatively dressed golfing set, whereas a Harlequin is a comic servant traditionally from the Commedia Dell'arte.

My harlequin has the aim of being bright & bold, and beautiful enough to fall in love with.

Harlequin cards! Chris helped me a bit, they're beautiful and yet suitable for most occasions. Chris gives them the dude-thumbs-up!

The cloud cushion has a front and a back - the back is the harlequin print in a more muted, pastel colourway. I have one on my couch. Love.


All images/designs/stuff copyright Pocket Carnival 2011 - thanks!!

Design Made Trade recap!!!

Phew! It's now relax-time as Design Made Trade is officially over. DMT was my first trade show, and sharing a stall as part of the Craft Victoria booth space was a great way to enter into trade shows in a really good, manageable, non-crazy way.

My booth was shared with Lab 3 o 5 and Morgan Wills - I did a little post about all the Craft Vic participants on Oh My Green, take a look over here! Craft Vic selected 12 craftspeople/artists/designers (or design teams!) to exhibit. Four booths were shared amongst us.

This year the booths were quite different to previous years. They were more open, rather than square 3 walled booths the walls were a lot more open, and there were windows between booths.

Photographed from left to right - And O Design at the back on the left, Harvest Textiles you can see through my window, Shelley Panton on the other side of my window, Pocket Carnival (that's me!) and Lab 3 o 5 with their amazing box display - cheers for laser cut awesomeness.

The windows in the stalls, while possibly a great idea on paper, were a wee bit of an issue. When sharing a stall, wall space is extremely valuable, and taking out a big chunk of that space was painful! Also, the walls were all different whacky colours, so hopefully the DMT organisers take whacky-colour-objections on board for next year. I'm just lucky that salmon pink and lime green are part of my colour palette!!!

Me. I am so not photogenic, excuse me. Look at that pained expression. Oh well. I tried.

New things! Business cards + brochures were snapped up very quickly by the design students who came to have a look! I actually had a lot of conversations with design students who were interested in digital textile printing. I think the Frankie & Swiss ladies ears must have been burning from all the times I mentioned them. In case you've forgotten, take a peek at their site here! I also spoke to so many people about my passion for using organic fabric, recycled/vintage textiles and post-consumer recycled card - lots of interest in Oh My Green!

The card wall - I decided the easiest way to display the cards would be to paste them up on the wall. Like a gallery display.

Lots of people have asked me if the even was successful/if I would do it again. I've got to say yes, but it's very hard to judge the results immediately! So much of these shows is about putting yourself or your business out there, and then waiting to see what opportunities come of it. Having said that, it was so amazing, especially for someone like me who works from home, to be surrounded by so many like-minded designers, interested public and supportive people. It was great to meet store owners and get feedback, and it was wonderful to have chit-chats with crafty types too!

I also saw so so so many amazing designers and stalls at DMT... the Craft Vic Open Studio spaces were awesome (see some pics on The Design Files!) I also love New Model Beauty Queen, who are launching a new website rather soon!

Also, massive thanks to Craft Vic, but especially Milly! for being super awesome & calm in the face of adversity/salmon pink walls. She was calm on the outside anyway. Yay!

xx Penny


All photos copyright Pocket Carnival 2011. Thanks!!

The Harlequin Collection + Design Made Trade

Finally, the new Pocket Carnival collection is ready! Take a peek here! I'll talk about it in greater depth soon, but for now most of it's in the shop!

The Pocket Carnival website's also had a bit of a revamp, because I'm getting ready for...

Design Made Trade is a part of the State of Design festival and is happening next week! Thursday July 21st - Sunday July 24th, 10am - 5pm.

If you'd like to register for a trade pass to the show, do so here!!

Little Lulu

Cute new displays I did at wonderful Little Lulu on Carlisle St in Balaclava. I love merchandising and arranging displays, it's so much fun - it's a very fast version of how I'd like to arrange a kids bedroom one day I think!

When I did this display it was so cold & dreary outside, I felt like something bright & happy.

The Boy Who Cried Ninja - cutest book ever?


For this display I wanted to go pastel pink & blue, for boys & girls. It ended up all being a bit girly. I totally bought one of those Le Toy Van wooden icecream sundaes for my niece.

Little Lulu
324 Carlisle St, Balaclava Vic.

Blog : Website

almost ready...

Forgot to show & tell! New fabric designs. Yay! More soon.

xxx Penny

P.S. New post on Oh My Green about eco toy stuffing options. Nice.