2010 is the fortuitous Chinese Year of the Tiger, and since the tiger is a fighter and Design Federation always back the underdog, they are giving their loyal, lovely, creative followers the chance to bust out into the public view and make 2010 the year of putting it out there.

To start with, they would like to proudly announce Design Federation’s Friends of the Federation party on 12th February 2010. Starting the new year with a public event (their first ever) with the community who have made DF what they are today.

This is a call-out for submissions of your work. DF are looking for anything creative that can be displayed at the event, which is being held at theclub nightclub in Kings Cross.

Send your designs, illustrations, art, graffiti, film & video, fashion, photography, industrial design, custom toys, practically anything as long as you can supply it to DF to use for one night in Sydney. Obviously it would be great if the work has not been displayed anywhere previously, but this is not essential.

Your work and name will be publicised on Design Federation’s website as well as affiliated blogs, sites and media outlets. Your creation will also be displayed on the night as part of the Friends of the Federation exhibition.

To participate in the event, please submit examples to events@designfederation.net before Sunday the 24th January 2010.

Successful applicants will be announced the following week. We will showcase one piece per person (please limit example files to 2mb).

Text above used with permission based on info provided by Design Federation :: Image above edited from an original found here on flickr.

Now that things have quietened down (ha ha ha) we have some pictures of our 2nd birthday party / Once Upon art exhibition opening night. Check out the gorgeous people who came along to support Leeloo, the artists, the community, and who helped us out.

I have so many people that I want to thank…..I know I’ve touched on it vaguely, but I really want everyone to know how grateful I am for their help, their time, their energy, their creativity and their enthusiasm.

Firstly, our supporters – frankie magazine, aMBUSH gallery, Catalina Sounds, the finders keepers market, Design Federation and Forth Thread. The promotional assistance, the hands-on help the products, and the general community support helps a lot. Thank you.

Secondly the artists – who were all allocated a fairy tale with no arguments or fuss and who produced such beautiful works for us to display and share with the community. Many sent Renee and I the loveliest notes, and lots flew in from interstate and brought buddies to opening night. It was overwhelming how pleased you all were to be involved and we were so glad to be able to have some community favourites alongside some enthusiastic first-time exhibitors. Thank you.

Thirdly a special mention to one of the artists, Tabitha Emma, who created the gorgeous exhibition poster which no doubt made a lot of people want to come along! This is one talented young lady, and if you are looking for an illustrator or designer, she has just finished her qualifications and is available for freelance work. Not only that she helped fill a whole pile of those goodie bags completely tirelessly. Thank you Tabi!

The Leeloo designers, who continue to amaze and inspire me with their hard work, creativity, understanding. Without the patience, care and generosity of spirit of the lovely family of Leeloo designers, my job would be much more unpleasant. You are truly an amazing bunch of people and I’m so glad to be a part of that in whatever way I can. Thanks for the Once Upon exhibition promo on your blogs et al! Thank you.

Our amazing team of helpers on the opening night and beyond. My husband, Renee’s boyf, Mum and her brother and all of those who helped us make opening night a smooth and enjoyable evening. Props to John and Bill at aMBUSH for all of their efforts too – you boys are so wonderful.

Lastly but by no means least, the incredibly beautiful, hard-working, contagiously enthusiastic, clever, sassy, funny and big-hearted partner-in-crime of mine, Renee. Without this gorgeous angel none of this would be possible and who is still to this day is working tirelessly on selling the artworks and prints from the show!

To answer many of your queries, yes, Renee and I will be running another exhibition next year, so stay tuned for details on submissions, dates and other details. Thanks to everyone who came, saw, bought, blogged, promoted, discussed and appreciated!

If you still are keen on purchasing art or prints, head to the Once Upon art for sale section to see what’s available.

Cheers and love

Angela xxoo

From today until December 12th, Byron Bay and it’s environs can expect a wonderful display of art at the local Retrospect Galleries.

Featuring works from young Australian artists (including some recently seen in Leeloo’s Once Upon – Nicole Tattersall, Kareena Zerefos and Kareem Rizk), alongside a bevvy of emerging talent, this is a must-see for anyone slightly south of the northern border in the coming weeks. Head to the web site for more details.

While Renee and I recovered from an extraordinary opening night, we have completed the set up of the little Leeloo pop-up store alongside the incredible works in the Once Upon art exhibition.

Come and see us over at aMBUSH gallery today, Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm to buy some artworks (there are some left that haven’t sold as yet) or pick up a little something from the table of treasures. The Once Upon web site will be updated with pictures, price lists and details of remaining works for sale over the next day or so.

Thanks to all of the artists, the kind words, the incredible feedback, the Leeloo designers and all of our supporters that made last night such a success. Thank you of course to all of the people that came to opening night, enjoyed a nice glass of wine with us and helped contribute to such a gorgeous and friendly community of art appreciators.

I’m so happy today I’ve even had a little cry-cry.

Angela xxoo

We are in our final preparations for our huge birthday party for Leeloo, the unbelievably huge fairy-tale art exhibition, our Sydney-based shindig and overall fun time!

Leeloo thanks all of the supporters, friends, believers, artists, designers, makers, crafters, customers, market visitors and Leeloo lovers in general out there that have helped us get to our 2nd birthday. It means a lot to us to be part of a community with such a big heart.

If you can make it to our Once Upon exhibition opening night, you are definitely in for a huge artistic treat. After framing all of the works on the weekend, being half way through arranging and hanging them up on the walls at aMBUSH gallery, almost finishing up with the goody bags with frankie back issues and cool coupons, receiving the lovely bottles of tasty wine from Catalina Sounds, we are almost good to go!

If you’re stumped for a Christmas gift, many of the artworks are in the affordable range and would make a wonderful pressie for your favourite indie art lover. Alternatively, there will be a Leeloo pop-up store from the Friday to the Sunday so you can have a gander at some of our handmade goodies in the flesh!

HUGE thanks to Renee the absolute superstar who is one of the Once Upon organisers, one of the talented artists in the exhibition, the incredibly enthusiastic other half of {twin set}, and really just an all around awesome chick.

Hopefully if you can make it we’ll see you there, otherwise due to our commitment to the success of the event, we will catch you on the flip side!

Stay tuned for more artist profiles, pictures of the artworks, pictures of opening night, and maybe even a video! Lots of love from all of us at Leeloo, and happy 2nd birthday to us!

Thanks to:: frankie magazine :: Catalina Sounds :: aMBUSH gallery :: Forth Thread :: Design Federation :: the Finders Keepers

and Tabitha Emma for her gorgeous poster design

Introducing…..

Once Upon Artists :: Tabitha Emma
From:: New South Wales, Australia
:: Site :: Blog ::

As seen in :: Total Girl :: MadeIt Recipe Zine :: Peppermint Mag :: (…and of course the gorgeous Once Upon Poster !)

Introducing…..

Once Upon Artists :: Anna Laura Blandford
From:: Victoria, Australia
:: Blog :: Flickr ::

Two sleeps! Yay!

Introducing…..

Once Upon Artists :: Rebecca Murphy
From:: New South Wales, Australia
:: Site ::

As seen in :: Happenstance Mag ::

Introducing…..

Once Upon Artists :: Bec Winnel
From:: Victoria, Australia
:: Site & Blog ::

As seen in :: Oyster :: Yen :: Wooden Toy :: Blanket :: EDTN :: The Age :: Peppermint Mag (Cover Artwork) :: and more

P.S. Three more sleeps to Opening Night!