Meet Me at Mike’s

Meet Me at Mikes

26 crafty projects and things to make

Welcome to the wonderful, whimsical world of Meet Me at Mikes, where stuffed pandas are sensitive, totes are super cute and soft toy cows are udderly lovely.

Queen of Crafters Pip Lincolne has gathered 26 of the best projects from the countrys most creative cleverbods everything from clutch purses and vintage fabric Obi skirts to baby yoga pants and soft toys.

Each cute and quirky project comes with easy-to-follow instructions and full-size fold out patterns. With such a treasury of creative ideas, youll find something to make for all your favourite pals and brighten everyones day.

Pip Lincolnes beautifully illustrated book is a celebration of the vibrant contemporary craft scene in Australia and resounding proof that craft is not only cool, but for people of all ages (not just nannas!).

The book contains headings like:
Shopping List
Crafty Needs
Pattern Needs
And
Before You Start

Meet Me at Mikes will not only inspire the experienced crafter and give those starting out the tools and ideas to get creative, but will also remind you how much fun it is to make something with your own hands.

Have a peek inside and get crafty!

Meet Me at Mikes/
Hardie Grant Books
Author: Pip Lincolne
Price: $45.00 (Paperback).

Pip Lincolne Interview - Meet Me at Mike's

Tell me a little bit about your book:

Pip Lincolne: Right, where do I start? It is a lovely, kind-of, scrapbook full of beautiful craft projects designed by fantastic Australians crafters.


Why did you decide to put the book together?

Pip Lincolne: Well, I have a shop and I have been showcasing the work of lots of Australian crafters for quite a while now and a couple of years ago now I thought, its a really fantastic movement that we have going on here and it would be a great idea to document it and let other people know how great it is.


Is craft becoming more popular in Australia?

Pip Lincolne: I think there has always been people that are crafting, but there is definitely a new guard that is coming into making things. Lots of younger women, who perhaps their mothers didnt teach them to knit, crochet or sow but their grandmas did, and they just want to reconnect with those skills and get back to those things that their grandma used to do.

It could be partly because of the change in the economic status but certainly not wholly due to this. I think people are just getting smart and are realising that flashing their credit card isnt really the best hobby and staying home and making lovely things is! It is about turning back to simple hobbies and pastimes.


Is craft a stress-release?

Pip Lincolne: I think it definitely is, look there is nothing better than sitting in front of the television and working on some type of craft project, it doesnt have to be nana-style it can be something really contemporary, it might be knitting yourself some leg warmers, or making a brooch. We are interpreting it in our own ways, as well.


You were brought up in a crafty home? What has that taught you?

Pip Lincolne: I take it for granted personally that you can make things but I kind of release that not everybody does. It has changed my approach to everything, I always want to have a crack at doing things myself before I would go out and buy something new. Thats kind of thrifty but it makes life more fun and brings me challenges daily.


What drew you to craft in the first place?

Pip Lincolne: I dont think I was drawn to it, it was always around and it has experienced a resurgence recently because people are making things that are a lot more fashionable and have a funkier edge as well. That is appealing to me, but I also really like the kind of old-fashioned nana style things as well.

How easy are the 26 projects in your book?

Pip Lincolne: They really vary, most of them are beginner level. But we did through in a few more difficult projects to keep more experienced crafters happy. So if you have never picked up a needle and thread, or never knitted you can learn those things from this book.

I think it is always nice to have instruction from other people, but the projects are designed, and written in such a way that they are encouraging and talk you through the tricky bits. There is stitching guide and a knitting guide and things like that. Also we recommend that if you get stuck you head over to somewhere like YouTube and do a search for How to do a French Knot and use that as a reference point as well.


Are you referred to as a nana?

Pip Lincolne: All the time, I have indeed. It doesnt worry me at all, I love my nana. Its nice to have that pinned on me.


Tell me a little bit about Meet me at Mikes, your store:

Pip Lincolne: We have been working really hard on the shop and the book and the blogs for a number of years. My partner, Cameron and myself run the self by our selves. That is kind of challenging and we have three kids and we live out the back of our store so it is a really intense family-run business. It works well that way because it means when we have people in the shop we really look after them and every single person is important to us in that way.


Pip Lincolne: Pip Lincolne lives above her highly regarded craft store Meet Me at Mikes, in Melbournes Fitzroy, with her lovely family. She also runs Brown Owls a new-fangled club for crafters of all ages and pens a hugely popular blog that attracts 12,000 hits a week (www.meetmeatmikes.com). Pip has been coordinating Handmade Help, the craft communitys response to help out those affected by the Victorian bushfires.

Meet me at Mikes is located at: 63 Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne

Pip grew up in a DIY family. Her dad sewed her lovely dresses; her mum made her orange sorbet; her brother fashioned little houses for her dolls; her sister drew and her nanna knitted, sewed, baked ... you name it! Raised on such handmade fare, there was never any doubt that a crafty life lay ahead.

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Interview by Brooke Hunter