St Kilda Sunday Craft Market

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Posted 2014-06-16 by Ali Hawkins ⇒ follow

On a Sunday morning, St Kilda Beach is great to visit. In summer, the sparking beach and foreshore beckon visitors to enjoy the view and the water – in winter, the broad changeable sky is moody and visitors can wrap up warmly to enjoy a bracing walk along the promenade. You can top off a walk along the foreshore with breakfast at any of several great cafes in nearby Acland Street - you're assured of a good coffee here.

At 10.00am, wander up past the Palais Theatre to the Upper Esplanade and begin your browse through the St Kilda Craft Market. Set in one long strip, it's easy to see. Most stall-holders use an individual white canvas awning, so you will see a string of white tent-tops along the pavement.

The wares offered are varied and good quality with most ideal for gifts and many for souvenirs.

Art
Many artists display their work here. Pieces can ranges in format, size, price and complexity. You will find tiny cards and postcards, several types of colour and black & white photographs (both singly and in packs), paintings and portraits.

Beauty
Beauty products, aromatherapy goods and beautiful fragrant gifts are available at several stalls. Many offer hand-made soaps made with essential oils, herbs and spices. Some soaps are infused with exfoliants such as pumice, others made with goats milk. The soap-free options are gentle on skin suffering from eczema or psoriasis.

Clothing
You will find hand-knitted hats of Australian wool in several colours and designs; there are felt, fabric and 1920's style hand-made hats and hand-painted silk scarfs with clutch bags to match. Several traders have chunky warm scarves too.

Childrens
Clothing and toys are on sale in several stalls

Glass
A glass blower displays a range of delicate glass jewellery - her designs are beautiful and all items are reasonably priced. Sun catchers in glass and crystal sway in the breeze at one stall and at another the finest of glass is fashioned into candle holders, oil burners and lamps then hand-painted with original designs to create a stunning light effect when the candle is lit.

Recycled
Severall artists recycle goods into a new life - they produce quirky but useable items. One creates jewellery out of coins, sometimes teamed with another delicate metal item. Another, moulds silver cutlery into bangles, bracelets and earrings. Primarily silver, these can also be in brass and copper. Elsewhere, keys from an old typewriter keyboard, bar codes, Aussie icon labels, knobs, dials, mahjong tiles and scrabble letters are used to create gents' cuff links - they are ingenious and delightful.

Wood and Leather
Craftspeople offer goods in leather, timber and metals. An etch artist has set up his mobile studio here to demonstrate his work to burn intricate patterns into small items of Australian timber - the sweet aroma from this is enchanting. He can etch your name or a message into an article of your choice while you wait if you wish. Other leather workers offer all types of goods - handbags, backpacks, belts and one has unique journal and notebook covers. Timber items are small furniture, platters, wall plaques and pens (ballpoint and fountain pens) all in Australian timbers.

Home
Along with the delicate glass and timber items, you will find beautiful and more robust glass dishes, bowls, dip platters and some patterned ceramics. You can even buy a cactus, sized anywhere from tiny to gigantic, each in a discinctive colour.

Utility
Several utility items are here - stalls offer hand-made patchwork and bright coloured fabric mobile phone and iPad covers. One designer sells modern style cross-over bags which can double as either worn on the hip or shoulder. Several colours are available in these handy waterproof hold-alls.

Coffee
When you browse all the way to the end of the strip, a barista will make you a fresh coffee - you may need it by then!

Market Tips
Like any market, most stall holders are friendly, happy to chat and honest. But remember they are in business and price their items accordingly. This is not a "trash and treasure" market, so you wont find dirt cheap items here, nor fresh produce. The crafts are good quality and prices can reflect that. It's not really customary to bargain, but you could try. This market can get busy with lots of people so keep alert at all times - know where your children are and always keep your valuables secure (both in your car and on your person).

Practical details
The market officially opens at 10.00am but there's some activity before that, with stall holders setting up and starting to trade. In warm months it is open from 10am to 5pm (Oct - April) but during cooler times (May - Sept) the market will close an hour earlier at 4pm.

To get to the market, either arrive on foot or take the tram - it is well served by two lines (Tram 16 or Tram 96) which both depart from the city. If you bring your own car, you may find parking a little difficult as the day wears on and the popular area gets busy. The melway reference is 57 K10.

St Kilda Craft Market operates in any weather, but some stalls may not set up if the wind or rain is bad.