Our own small piece of Salamanca Market!

It's official and it's been a long time coming!  After 4 years of being a casual at the fabulous Salamanca Market (meaning that our location week-to-week was unknown and actually gaining a spot wasn't guaranteed) we've finally taken the plunge and purchased our very own site.  Yeeehaw!!!

Starting this week, you'll be able to find Pili Pala at Salamanca Market every Saturday at site #294. You'll find us backing onto the Salamanca Arts Centre, down the silo end.  We're right next to the brilliant 'Mongrel Socks'.  Lets get this party started! 

I'd love to see you down there soon.  Helen x

P.S. Thank you to my amazingly brilliant Graphic Designer and friend (who took me to the very busy and oh-so-gourmet Jamie Oliver's restaurant in Canberra the other day, by the way!!!) - Donna - from Design Capital for making our own special Salamanca Map.  Love that chick!!!  

Market Line Up - Christmas 2014

The crazy whirlwind Pili Pala Christmas fun-bus takes off this weekend.  We've finalised our market dates for the last 3 months of the year and, 'gee willikers', are we spreading the Pili Pala love far and wide! Check out the dates below:

Hence, it's a little chaotic around here and we feel like squirrels stockpiling our goodies for Christmas. It's exciting!!! You can find the full details about market locations and opening times on our website. 

Will we be heading your way soon?  As always, we'd love to see you; do pop by if you get a chance.

And, stay tuned in the coming weeks as I introduce you to the lovely ladies helping me get this show on the road, keeping me sane behind the scenes and helping with the squirrelling efforts.

Helen x

Hello World!

NEW!!  Lots of pretty new things!!!

What a jam-packed year it's been so far.  I've been travelling far and wide this year as well as buckling down and working hard.  We've participated in many markets around the state already this year and are also focusing on attending several interstate markets in the coming months as well.  Exciting times!!!


In recent weeks, our brand new range of products has been released and there are lots of bright new colours and interesting shapes to add to the range.  All of our products are now online, but you can also view them in our brand new look book.  Click here to be directed.

Things will settle down a little for the months of August and September and give us a chance to build stock like little squirrels in anticipation for a big 3 months at the end of the year.  Is there a market you'd like to see Pili Pala at?  I'd love to hear from you - shoot me an email; helen@pilipalapieces.com.au.

Over and out, lovely ones!  Stay warm and I hope to see you soon.  Helen xx

Our brand new look book.  Click the above link to view it.

It's been 3 months since my last blog...

Yes, I've been a little absent this year BUT I finally feel like things are ramping up again (and yes, I know it's March already!!)

It's not for lack of 'wanting' to get deeply buried in all things Pili Pala, but other things got in the way.  We've had camping trips, both sets of parents/grandparents stay, friends stay, school holiday craziness and hectic summer swimming and BBQ schedules.  Alas, I'm back and new designs and products are in full swing with the lovely haze of the 'designing' process completely consuming me.

Oh yes, I also undertook a short course to equip me with a few new skills that will come in handy down the track this year.  I've attended several Salamanca Markets, a few Cruise Ship markets and also coordinated the first Barn Market for the year.

So, I've been silently busy and just forgetting to update you about it all.  Alas, in the next few weeks I'll begin to unveil some new products and new designs for some of your favourite products as well.

Also, keep an eye on our market page on the website, as we're starting to get booked up for what is gearing up to be a BIG year of markets.

Meanwhile, these clouds just keep popping up all over the place....

1. Clouds on display at Ballyhoo Art. 2. Clouds on display in childrens room designed and styled by Petite Vintage Interiors 3. Clouds on display at Finn and Dash

'Til next time... 

Helen x

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas you lovely bunch!  I hope you have an absolutely fabulous festive time with family and friends over the next few weeks.  

I want to pass on my sincere gratitude for your amazing support and encouragement this year.  2013 has seen Pili Pala grow exponentially into something that I am really proud of and absolutely in love with.  In fact, I'm only on day 2 of my Christmas break and I'm already overflowing with ideas about new products and designs for my new range.  I really do love what I do! When the year begins I have a few commission pieces to begin work on, and then a lot of designing to start.  I can't wait! 

But for now - it's Christmas cheer and frivolities, family, friends and a lot of scrumptious food. 

Enjoy.  Helen xx

In keeping with my vintage theme, here is a sweet illustration from a vintage French children's nativity activity book from 1953.  Divine. (image from here)

Muddled Male Mayhem

The final Saturday at Salamanca before Christmas is usually rather busy.  Along with the usual last-minute Christmas gift hunters it brings with it a collection of confused men.  I like to call it 'Muddled Male Mayhem'.  Yes, it's the day that many males have put aside to do their entire Christmas shopping, and they're often hunting for that one special gift for their significant other. 

As a consequence, there are a lot of completely bewildered men wondering around Salamanca, considering buying the first thing they see and running triumphantly back to the shelter of their cars, but deep down knowing that they should put a little bit of time and thought into their purchase.

In recent years, I've had many males arrive at my marquee, upon instruction from their partner, smile like they've won an award because they actually found the marquee they had been told to look for (thats quite a task with over 300 stalls) and then completely draw a blank on what it was that they were sent to purchase.  

So, if you (I'm assuming you are a female) would like your significant other to purchase a piece from Pili Pala this year as a Christmas gift,  I have a 4 step plan for making it happen...

1) Go to my 'look book' (click here) and print the relevant pages that contain items that you like.

2) Circle a selection of pieces that take your fancy.

3) Write 'Pili Pala Pieces' and 'facing Knopwoods Tavern, backing onto the grass' on the back of the page.  

4) Hand the above printed pages to your partner and give him the ol' 'nudge, nudge, wink, wink'. 

Voila and Ho, ho, ho!

We'll be at Site 169 tomorrow at Salamanca; yep, facing Knoppies and backing onto the grass.  Do pop by and say hello; we will be bursting at the seams with goodies. 

Helen x

I may have been M.I.A in Melbourne....

I may or may not have been M.I.A. in Melbourne for the past 3 days.  My husband and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary in November and - courtesy of babysitting by my mother - we found a few spare days this past weekend to disappear.   After working 24/7 since the beginning of May without a day off from all things Pili Pala, it was nice to do 'nothing' for 3 days.  And while we were doing nothing, we did find ourselves doing something, (like sleep-ins, movies, eating a little too much good food and general exploring) but it was nice to not have an agenda and just go with the flow.

The highlight of my trip was discovering a few little amazing boutique stores scattered throughout Melbourne.  Here are some images of my most favourite stores that were filled to the brim with beautiful wares.  Please note: these are not images that I took; I was too busy doing 'nothing' to take photos.  

Photo from here.

The Woodsfolk is a whimsical store in Hawthorn filled with bright colourful home wares mixed with a smattering of vintage finds.  Sensational for the senses.

Photo from here.

Maiike was just across the road from The Woodsfolk and equally filled with a collection of mouth-watering goodness.  A bit of adult fashion, a bit of children's fashion and home wares and a lot of just plain prettiness.  I ended up buying a chalk-board T-shirt for my daughter here; such a lovely shop.

Photo from here.

We discovered Rap on Little collins street jam-packed with a colourful array of boutique brands, including home wares, fashion, bags, children's goodies, stationery, etc.  The lovely thing about this store is that they will wrap (get it - 'rap') each product using a special japanese wrapping technique.  Love it - that means 3 less presents for me to wrap this year. 

Photo from here.

And finally, this shop was a treasure trove of delightful special pieces.  Wilkins and Kent on Little Bourke st.  My husband even stayed and had a decent look in this shop; thats clearly a 10/10 for awesomeness!

Well, for now, it's back to it:  4 markets, the final bunch of stockist orders for 2013 and keeping on top of the online orders will keep me busy right up until Christmas. 

Remember to check our facebook page for Christmas online order cut-off dates.