Held at the Harvest Workroom and run by designers who use up-cycling to enrich the story of their products, there are five workshops over two weekends that include the following:

–Up-cycle Vintage Wallpaper with Harvest Textiles
Transform unwanted vintage wallpaper into stunning works by screen-printing bold geometric patterns in contemporary colour palettes.

–Make Your Own Willow Chair with Greg Hatton
Make a basic chair using harvested willow branches, which Greg collects from properties wanting to clear this tree, which is now considered a weed.

–Make A Mini Teepee with Leila Sanderson
Using reclaimed yacht sailcloths construct your very own mini teepee.

–Weaving With Fabric with Maryann Talia Pau
Using fabric remnants and pandanus from Samoa make a basket using Pacific Island weaving techniques.

–Reclaimed Laminex Brooches with Betty Jo
Betty Jo will lead participants through the value that can be found in every day objects. Create brooches using recycled Laminex and other found objects.

Saturday 23 July and Sunday 24 July, and Saturday 30 and Sunday 31 July 2011.

Presented by Harvest Textiles at the Harvest Workroom, 512 Lygon Street, East Brunswick, Melbourne. To book visit the Harvest Workroom here.

The program was devised by Swinburne University and is supported by AusIndustry. It aims to provide participants with tools to enhance their financial management skills.

The modules are Organising your Business for Financial Success, Managing Cash Flow, Managing Business Growth, Understanding Business Taxation Matters and Importing and Exporting.

Participants can enrol to do one module or all five. Modules cost $95.00 each. For more information and to enroll visit here.

You know you need to have more of a presence online. This is what your customers want and you also know this is how you will find new leads and opportunities. However when you find someone who has built a website you will usually find someone who had a bad experience.

How do you avoid this and do it right? What should you expect to invest in a website and your digital strategy? How do you ensure a good Return on Investment?

In this seminar participants will learn:

- How to set expectations right from the start
- To be able to determine what denotes success
- What you need from your online strategy

Attendance will benefit owners and managers of small to medium businesses that are interested in generating increased business profits through positive online user experiences.

Speakers include Simon Goodrich, Managing Director and Founder of Portable Content and Daniel Pollock, Founder of Michi Girl and Creative Director of Jane The Agency.

The seminar will be held Tuesday 11 May 2010 from 7:15am to 9:00am at the Aitken Hill Conference Centre, Dunhelen Lane, Yuroke.

The seminar includes breakfast and networking opportunities.

For more information and to register attendance visit here.

Queensland companies, both large and small, are successfully growing their businesses through exporting. If you have the right product, the right attitude and the know-how, you too can sell overseas.

Getting Export Smart is the Queensland Government’s export skills development program, a series of four workshops that will take you through the basics of what you need to know to get started in overseas markets. The program shows you how to plan for export, market what you’ve got overseas and get paid for it, and maximise your exports online.

This workshop is being held at venues on Brisbane’s north and south.

On Wednesday 5 May the workshop will be held in Aspley and on Thursday 6 May 2010 the workshop will be held in Springwood.

Participation in this workshop costs $66.00 including GST.

For more information and to register attendance for either of these workshops visit here.

The annual Women in Manufacturing Lunch is a highlight event of NSW Manufacturing Week 2010. This year’s event will explore the role of women in manufacturing today and into the future.

Since the inaugural Women in Manufacturing Lunch in 2005, the sector has changed significantly. Not only have we witnessed traditional practices replaced by new high technology and advanced manufacturing, we have also seen change on the factory floor.

Women today have a stronger presence in managerial and operational roles. With a natural ability for team building, problem solving, negotiation and communication, women thrive in business. This extends to the manufacturing industry and consequently contributes to a more competitive manufacturing sector in NSW.

Join us to hear from exceptional women who lead, influence and contribute to the ever-changing manufacturing industry. RNC Global Projects Managing Director, Diane Dromgold will speak about her experiences in opening up new opportunities, employing innovative concepts and the current and future direction of the industry from her viewpoint.

Carla Geddes from Practicon and Sarah Adams from Business Capability Solutions will also provide an update on the Women in Manufacturing Business Cluster initiative to encourage and support women in this sector.

Connect with like-minded women owners and executives in manufacturing. Meet and learn from other industry professionals, including leading consultants, academics and practitioners.

This event will be held 5 May 2010 at Mount Druitt TAFE, Mount Druitt.

Places are strictly limited, priority will be given to those working in or have a strong connection with the manufacturing sector.