Sleigh, What! The Finders Keepers Market Is Coming to Sydney This Weekend
- Words by Peppermint
top photo and market photos below THE FINDERS KEEPERS SYDNEY AW22 BY SAMEE LAPHAM
The Finders Keepers markets will be shining bright at The Cutaway, Barangaroo from 9–11 December, with over 150 small and mighty makers, daily drop-in workshops and delicious food and drink – all wrapped up for a ticket price of just $5!
Peppermint is proud to once again be the media sponsor for the event PLUS we’ll be popping up in person for the weekend! And we’ve really pulled out all the stops for the final market of the year…
We’re bringing along our latest issue for sale, along with a brand new and gorgeously groovy selfie wall (perfect for posing). And if that wasn’t enough, we’ll also be showing off our new Peppermint Flower Power fabric! We partnered with our friends at Spoonflower – the world’s largest marketplace of independent designs from global artists – to create and print this gorgeous design on their Petal Signature Cotton. Then, the lovely team at Fiskars came to the party and sent us their Easy-Action Pinking Shears so we could cut the fabric to the perfect size.
Now, we’re bringing all of this flower power exclusively to the Sydney markets and putting it to good use – wrapping up goodies for you!
When you visit our stall and buy a Peppermint subscription for 2023, you’ll receive a 2022 Peppermint Bundle for free – that’s issues 53 to 56 PLUS four printed sewing patterns wrapped in this reusable Spoonflower fabric – all for just $58!
A subscription is the perfect present for someone you love (or for yourself, of course!) because it’s one that gives all year. Think of each issue as a gift from us, made with love, packed with hopeful stories of people doing good in the world and filled with style, sustainability, sewing and substance.
BUY TICKETS NOW AND YOU’LL GO IN THE DRAW TO WIN ONE OF FIVE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO PEPPERMINT!
Of course, we can’t wait to tick some items of our own Chrissie lists and soak up the atmosphere of the markets. If you ask us, the best thing about buying from a small business is that you can shop mindfully – getting to know the people behind the brand, hearing their story and falling in love with their pieces. At this time of year, when it can all feel a little overwhelming, that’s a real gift too! With that in mind – and to get you excited for this special Finders – we had a chat with a couple of lovely stallholders who you can see this weekend in Sydney!
Argent Silversmith
Tell us a bit about what you make or do…
Argent Silversmith is imagined, designed and created by myself, Elizabeth, and my small team in our studio at the foothills of the Australian Alps. I draw inspiration from the metals themselves as well as the surrounding environment and the complex beauty of the gemstones – the jewellery is timeless and raw yet fine enough to wear every day. Our small, women-led team hand-makes a range of unique, made-to-order jewellery from recycled silver and gold and ethically sourced stones – Argent jewellery is about creating unique, wearable pieces with the least impact on the earth.
Why do you love The Finders Keepers?
The Finders Keepers market is always an exciting event – as a stallholder, I love meeting fellow makers and designers, making new connections and putting a face to the labels I follow. My favourite part of the event is getting to meet and chat with so many of my customers and avid Argent jewellery lovers – it’s always fun trying to spot how many of our jewellery pieces are worn by our wonderful clientele out in the world!
What can market-goers look forward to when they visit you at the Sydney market?
We will have a substantial collection at the Sydney market, including our newest birthstone and gemstone range!
We will be offering on-the-day personalisations of some of our jewellery pieces for those who want to add that extra special touch to their Christmas gifts and offering ring sizing services for those who are looking for a future piece but are unsure of their ring size.
Why is the creative community so special?
The creative community is inspiration, problem-solving, sharing knowledge and contacts, compassion and understanding – I always walk away from a market like The Finders Keepers exhausted but also inspired and acknowledged.
Amble Outdoors
Tell us a bit about what you make or do…
Hi! I’m Rhianna, the founder of Amble. We’re a sustainable, outdoors brand, creating raincoats from recycled bottles. We don’t compromise on fit or function, style or sustainability and love to encourage women to get outdoors without the pressure of performance. We make raincoats and activewear designed for the outdoors and love to see our community hiking, walking their dogs, discovering waterfalls and getting out there without feeling like they have to be super ‘outdoorsy’ to get outdoors.
Why do you love The Finders Keepers?
The magic that it is! This huge empty space is transformed into an incredible market for a few short days, and it highlights all the wonderful creatives and small business owners who pour their hearts into what they do. Everyone is always in a great mood and all the stallholders are super friendly and talented. It’s great to connect with our existing community – and meet new customers too – and chat about all things sustainability.
What can market-goers look forward to when they visit you at the Sydney market?
Being IRL again! Thanks to you-know-what, it’s been three whole years since the brand has been in Sydney. Since then we’ve rebranded from Team Timbuktu to Amble and we’ve hit the milestone of recycling 300,000 post-consumer bottles into our products. We’ll also have our artist collaboration prints on our waterproof jackets that have been incredibly popular, and perfect for the never-ending La Niña!
Why is the creative community so special?
There is so much hard work that is poured into small businesses and it’s amazing to see the creativity and originality behind everyone’s work. The community is so supportive and encouraging no matter your niche. It’s also so important to connect with other small business owners as no one else really understands how much effort goes into creating your products and running your business!
The Finders Keepers is Australia’s largest curated marketplace of makers, designers and entrepreneurs. The Finders Keepers is where communities come together to shop, explore and discover the very best from designers, makers and entrepreneurs in our country.
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Look, I don’t want to make anyone panic but IT’S DECEMBER!!! If you’re planning to give homemade gifts, you’re going to have to act fast. …
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🌻 The Paddington 🌻
This is a much-loved staple, created for Issue 50 in 2021. We love seeing the #PeppermintPaddingtonTop continually popping up in our feeds!
How stunning is our model Elon MelaninGoddessEfon – she told us it was one of the first times she had been asked to come to a shoot with her natural hair. 🌻
We worked with South African patternmaker Sarah Steenkamp of @FrenchNavyNow_ to create this wardrobe essential – the perfect puff-sleeve blouse. Raglan sleeves make it the ultimate beginner sew, plus the gorgeous back buttons let you add your own personal twist.
Pattern via the link in bio! 🪡
Photos: @KelleySheenan
Fabric: @Spoonflower
Model: MelaninGoddessEfon
“In the 1940’s, Norwegians made and wore red pointed hats with a tassel as a form of visual protest against Nazi occupation of their country. Within two years, the Nazis made these protest hats illegal and punishable by law to wear, make, or distribute. As purveyors of traditional craft, we felt it appropriate to revisit this design.”
Crafters have often been at the heart of many protest movements, often serving as a powerful means of political expression. @NeedleAndSkein, a yarn store in Minnesota, are helping to mobilise the craftivists of the world with a ‘Melt The Ice’ knitting pattern created by @Yarn_Cult (with a crochet pattern too), as a way of peaceful protest.
The proceeds from the $5 pattern will go to local immigrant aid organisations – or you can donate without buying the pattern.
Raise those needles, folks – art and craft can change the world. 🧶
Link in bio for the pattern.
Images: @Gather_Fiber @NeedleAndSkein @a2ina2 @KyraGiggles Sandi.204 @WhatTracyMakes AllieKnitsAway Auntabwi2
#MeltTheIce #Craftivism #Knitting #CraftForChange
TWO WEEKS TO GO! 🤩
"The most important shift is moving from volume-led buying to value-led curation – choosing fewer, better products with strong ethics, considered production and meaningful stories. Retailers have real influence here: what you buy signals what you stand for. At Life Instyle, this means using the event to discover and invest in small-scale, planet-considerate brands that align with your values and your customer’s conscience. Consumers don’t need more things; they need better things, and retailers play a key role in selecting, contextualising, and championing why those products matter."
Only two more weeks until @Life_Instyle – Australia`s leading boutique retail trade show. If you own a store, don`t miss this event! Connect with designers, source exquisite – and mindful – products, and see firsthand why this is Australia’s go-to trade show for creatives and retailers alike. And it`s free! ✨️
Life Instyle – Sydney/Eora Country
14-17 February 2026
ICC, Darling Harbour
Photos: @Samsette
#LifeInstyle #SustainableShopping #SustainableShop #RetailTradeEvent
Calling all sewists! 📞
Have you made the Peppermint Waratah Wrap Dress yet? Call *1800 I NEED THIS NOW to get making!
This gorgeous green number was modelled (and made) by the fabulous Lisa of @Tricky.Pockets 🙌🏼
If you need a nudge, @ePrintOnline are offering Peppermint sewists a huge 🌟 30% off ALL A0 printing 🌟 when you purchase the Special Release Waratah Wrap Dress pattern – how generous is that?!
Head to the link in bio now 📞
*Not a real number in case that wasn`t clear 😂
#PeppermintWaratahWrapDress #PeppermintPatterns #SewingPattern #WrapDress #WrapDressPattern
8 Things to Know About January 26 - from @ClothingTheGaps:
Before you celebrate, take the time to learn the truth. January 26 is not a day of unity it’s a Day of Mourning and Survival for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It marks the beginning of invasion, dispossession, and ongoing colonial violence. It’s time for truth-telling, not whitewashed history.
Stand in solidarity. Learn. Reflect. Act.
✊🏽 Blog written by Yorta Yorta woman Taneshia Atkinson.
🔗 Link in bio of @ClothingTheGaps to read the full blog
#ChangeTheDate #InvasionDay #SurvivalDay #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe #ClothingTheGaps
As the world careens towards AI seeping into our feeds, finds and even friend-zones, it`s becoming increasingly hard to ignore.
We just wanted to say that here at Peppermint, we are choosing to not print or publish AI-generated art, photos, words, videos or content.
Merriam-Webster’s human editors chose `slop` as the 2025 Word of the Year – they define it as “digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence.” The problem is, as AI increases in quality, it`s becoming more and more difficult to ascertain what`s real and what`s not.
Let`s be clear here, AI absolutely has its place in science, in climate modelling, in medical breakthroughs, in many places... but not in replacing the work of artists, writers and creatives.
Can we guarantee that everything we publish is AI-free? Honestly, not really. We know we are not using it to create content, but we are also relying on the artists, makers and contributors we work with, as well as our advertisers, to supply imagery, artwork or words created by humans. AI features are also creeping into programs and apps too, making it difficult to navigate. But we will do our best to avoid it and make a stand for the artists and creatives who have had their work stolen and used to train AI machines, and those who are now losing work as they are replaced by this energy-sapping, environment-destroying magic wand.
Could using it help our productivity and bottom line? Sure. And as a small business in a difficult landscape, that`s a hard one to turn down. We know other publishers who use AI to write stories, create recipes, produce photo shoots... but this one is important to us.
`Touch grass` was also a Merriam-Webster Word of the Year. We`ll happily stick with that as a theme, thanks very much. 🌿
