La’ Studio brings Paris to Byron community
La’ Studio 3/52 is the creative vision of fashion designer Simone Ellis, whose passion for dressmaking and haute couture has expanded into an amazing community vision for the youth of Byron. Over the past twelve months Simone has created a wonderland for fashion creation at her studio, where not only does she design and create her own statement pieces but is also inspiring her students to design and create their own garments, providing the expertise and skills that enable them to produce their own clothing ranges.
Simone’s vision is to create in the knowledge that there is no perfection, but that there is an expression of energy that is perfect and that is our divinity. Simone facilitates classes after school and on weekends, for boys and girls, from seven years to adult, and caters for beginner levels to advanced sewing techniques. With small class sizes each student is well supported and guided through each of their projects.
La’ Studio 3/52 is also launching, for the first time in Byron Bay, the opportunity for students to take their vision to the next level through the showcasing of their designs on the catwalk. Simone’s vast knowledge of haute couture and its presentation will be the foundations for her students to develop their understanding of the world of fashion – how to work with models, photo shoots, and what happens behind the scenes of a catwalk.
This unique fashion event will showcase some of Simone’s own collection of statement pieces, vintage wears from Vikki’s Closet and students’ own chosen pieces, produced in La’ Studio over the last 12 months.
La’ Studio’s inaugural fashion event is being held on 10 December and is open to the public, with doors opening at 6pm for a 6.30 start. It will be held in the studio itself, which is located in Byron’s Arts & Industry Estate.
Tickets are $15 for adults, children $10, family $40; children under seven are free. Tickets are limited so get in quickly. For bookings and tickets call 0405 451 184.
From Sri Lanka to Sri Wanka
Hailing from Sri Lanka, Dil relocated to Melbourne to attend university. Having completed a degree in accounting, he started working for one of the ‘big four’. However, after performing at an open-mic night in 2010, that all changed. In a bittersweet turn of events, Dil was unceremoniously fired from his accounting job at the same time that his comedy career was taking shape. Just as Dil had, it turns out his managers had noticed that his heart lay elsewhere. Dil is now a regular on the comedy scene around Melbourne and, with a reputation for consistently nailing his shows, Dil has been invited to perform all over the country as well as internationally. Brilliant, warm and so so funny. Dilruk headlines the Big Gig Comedy night at the Ballina RSL on Thursday with S Sorrensen and Mandy Nolan. 8pm. Free.
New gallery for Byron Bay
High-end art finds a new home in the Byron Bay Arts and Industry Estate precinct.
A new creative space for collectible art has opened its doors in Byron Bay. With its 8-metre walls and 300-square-metre floorspace, Thomgallery will showcase international and local groundbreaking collectible contemporary artists and sculptors. The dynamic space is the brainchild of art dealer Alex Thom. With his textile designer partner Michelle Sczygiol, a large but neglected warehouse was transformed into an impressive home for impressive art and sculpture. An artist himself, Alex has spent the last eight years between Byron Bay and Melbourne with artist David Bromley. A sea change saw the cutting-edge art dealer and designer partner put down roots in Byron Bay.
The gallery launched on 11 Nov with top-shelf Australian artists and a significant international sculpture collection. The gallery is open by appointment: 0411 813 999, or email us at [email protected] for more information on how to arrange a viewing.
Browse the website at thomgallerybyronbay.com.au.
Saying Trees and Thank You
The exhibition The Alchemy of Trees is born out of a love of trees, sacred geometry, alchemy, ancient cultures and deeply significant personal experiences.
Sapphire Rose said of her inspiration for the exhibition: ‘I wanted to give something back to the community who recently saved my home from burning down, a heroic effort. We lost only the garage/shed, fence and some personal belongings in the fire. So I decided that I would like to offer a Gratitude Tree, to be planted in a special place, where people could sit and contemplate what they are grateful for in their own lives. I wanted this Gratitude Tree to be a fruit tree, so the community could benefit from the ripe, succulent fruit of this endeavour. During the exhibition, you are encouraged to write a thought of gratitude or contemplation emanations onto a leaf that I have created and then tie them on to the Gratitude Tree.’
Exhibition opens at the Byron School of Art on Friday 9 December from 6pm and runs through until Wednesday 14 December.
Opera House to Picture House!
The rumours are true, the reports have been confirmed, the grapevine has spoken. This weekend will see Brunswick Heads awash with fresh faces as cast members from touring sensation Club Swizzle begin arriving for rehearsal before they fly the coop and land at the Sydney Opera House.
What better way for them to begin limbering their party tricks than a Cheeky Cabaret. See the Brunswick Picture House like you have never seen it before as they transform the room into a veritable feast for the senses. Expect to be astonished and bewildered when they lift the curtains and deliver the cheekiest, most eye-widening, jaw-dropping, hands-in-the-air Cheeky Cabaret yet, Club Swizzle style. You will not want to miss this rabble of international superstars leaving their lasting impression on the fair town.
Brunswick Picture House, Friday and Saturday, with tickets on the website: brunswickpicturehouse.com.
Ticket prices: Friday – Adult $35; Concession $30. Saturday – Adult $40; Concession $35.
Playful Parenting
Parenting expert Lawrence J Cohen, PhD, is a clinical psychologist specialising in children’s play, play therapy, and parenting. He is the author of Playful Parenting and The Opposite of Worry and also co-author of The Art of Roughhousing, Best Friends, Worst Enemies and Mom, They’re Teasing Me. Dr Cohen leads Playful Parenting workshops for parents, teachers, and childcare professionals. He lives in Boston, Massachusetts, with his wife, Liz. They have two grown children. He is coming to Australia for the first time and conducting workshops in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Mullumbimby.
In his workshops, Dr Cohen will place a strong emphasis on empowering girls and connecting boys.
Dr Cohen’s most recent book, The Opposite of Worry: The Playful Parenting Approach to Childhood Anxieties and Fears (2013), specialises in educating parents on easy-to-implement strategies and solutions that build connection through fun, play and empathy, so they can more easily manage childhood anxiety.
Sunday at the Mullumbimby Civic Hall. Tickets are $150. For tickets or registrations dmconversations.com.
Waste not this Christmas!
Bring the whole family and enjoy a magical, sustainable Christmas Fair being held at Periwinkle Preschool on Saturday 9.30am–2pm, as Periwinkle launches a greener festive season. A truly magical space is created for the annual Periwinkle Christmas Fair. This year promises to delight children and parents alike with an enchanted land, filled with fun activities, live music, delicious food, and amazing craft and treasures.
The Periwinkle Christmas Fair is a zero-waste event using stainless-steel plates and cutlery, banana-leaf plates, paper straws, completely biodegradable packaging and fresh drinking coconuts.
The Periwinkle Christmas Fair children’s tent will be a magical space filled with hundreds of handmade delights. A special ticket will allow children to enter the tent one by one where they can select an item that they choose.
Craft activities will be held throughout the afternoon including creating felt-ball necklaces, rainbow Christmas stockings, silk ribbon painting and crystal fossicking. The delightful puppet show hosted by Sandra Frain will be held at 10.30am and 1pm and is set to be a big hit at the fair.
Support the crowd funding campaign www.gofundme.com/periwinklebyron.
The story of Dirty Town
Don’t miss a Close Encounter of the Recycling Kind written, evolved and presented by Byron Community Primary School. It tells the story of Dirty Town, a town that really lives up to its name, and the town’s fight to win the Spick and Span Trophy from their arch-rival, Tidy Town. You’ll see aliens, spies and robots, incredible music from local talents Michael Turner and Brian Watt. Be thrilled by songs that you know and love – Sadie the Cleaning Lady, Smoke on the Water and Jack Johnson’s 3Rs.
Byron Theatre, 6pm, Thursday and Friday. For tickets go to Byron Theatre website or in person.
MO Love from the Brewery
This Saturday at the Byron Bay Brewery all the male staff are participating in the annual Movember fundraiser to raise money for health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. So all you Movember participants, families and friends throughout the Shire, head on down to the Byron Bay Brewery from 5pm on Saturday to support this great event. $1 from every beer sold will be donated to the foundation, and we will be putting on a great range of entertainment and festivities. A strongman competition, a caricature auction, prizes for the best MO, the MOtown classics of Fergo and the Burden, and plenty of opportunities to donate to this fantastic cause will make this a great night for fun and fundraising.
Mothers at the Centre
This Saturday at St John’s Hall in Mullumbimby sees a mini day festival dedicated to the wellbeing of the mothers, families, the community. With future plans to open The Mothers Centre – supporting families from conception to parenthood and beyond – the day is a chance to raise awareness about this place where families can come for support, education, resources and information. The morning features speakers on various topics from birth to parenthood with guest speakers including Andrew Orr from Shein Therapies in Brisbane. Stalls, therapies and local organic food – this is a day to connect with the community, meet new people, engage with existing and new friends and families, reinforce the sense of community. Doors at 8.30am–7.30pm. Free.
Women Like Mandy & Ellen
After 30 shows around the country, Mandy Nolan and Ellen Briggs bring their smash-hit comedy show Women Like Us back to the Byron Theatre at the Community Centre.
Women Like Us is two hours of standup comedy – an hour a piece. The two friends decided they should hit the road when they realised that not only did they have a lot in common but they also enjoyed spending time together.
Over a cup of tea the two would compare notes about the various shows they’d done and how some audiences, women in particular, just couldn’t get enough. The two eventually theorised that this was because those women often didn’t see their lives or their experiences reflected on the stage.
The comedians in the spotlight tended to be men and they tended to talk about bloke stuff. So when Ellen and Mandy talk about housework, chickens, love, big undies, disappointment, resentment, sex when you’re drunk, fit bits, yoga farts and being a menopausal woman dealing with teenage angst, everything just fell into place.
When coming up with a show title, Women like Us just turned up. ‘They’re Women Like Us,’ laughs Mandy.
Women Like Us at the Byron Theatre at the Community Centre on Friday 9 December at 8pm. Doors at 7pm.
Tix $28/25, byroncentre.com.au or phone 6685 6807..
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