Fresh is Best

Seeing graduate shows is always a bit of a mixed blessing. Full of optimism but also tinged with a little fear of the unknown. It can be exhilarating and depressing all at the same time. As Beck does the rounds for her duties as committee member for the Craft Victoria Fresh Award (worth big bucks to the winner) Ramona is tagging along for inspiration and, well, because she likes to tag along.
This week we'll be seeing Box Hill at the Meat Market in North Melbourne, Monash at Monash and RMIT Gold and Silversmithing at 45 Downstairs.
We always love the RMIT show and will have pics for you all pronto of some of the highlights. If you can get out there and support the kids we highly recommend it -you are seeing some of them at the end of their craft careers as they head off into other directions and some at the very beginning. The next Susan Cohn is out there somewhere...

GIFTS OF THE WEEK

Christmas came early!
The ladies of HML have worked out the most perfect arrangement. Beck loves to travel and is a well seasoned adventurer. Ramona on the other hand goes to great lengths to stay at home as much as possible. So Beck goes overseas and has a splendid time, while Ramona waits patiently for the presents...
And really who is getting the better end of the stick? Because it can be said with all honesty that Ramona would not swap this gorgeous Moomin plate for all the overseas trips at Flight Centre

SIGHTING OF THE WEEK

FIELD OF DREAMS...
It's not often that you see something beautiful on Bell Street in Preston but this morning poetry appeared before our eyes. And you know how the ladies of hml like their poetry. We thought you'd all appreciate this one...
The beauty of it being that once the wood was dismantled the poem would be gone forever. All hail the wood yard worker who thought it a good idea to send out this cryptic and yet optimistic message... Also spotted in Fitzroy this week was this rather contemplative graf work, noice one peeps...

SHOW/S OF THE WEEK

THE PROFESSOR
Past and present students of Robert Baines (head of the RMIT Gold and Silversmithing dept) will have more than a passing curiosity in seeing his new show opening this week at Gallery Funaki. It is a rare treat to see his work - despite being highly respected the world over the good Professor rarely shows his work and Funaki is such a terrific space to see pieces by this jewelry virtuoso.
We are also curious to see the work of Savina Hopkins at Seventh Gallery. Hopkins works as an illustrator specialising in science and nature (her beetle drawings rock). Her fine art work reflects her other specialist skill - mosaic - and we really love the look of this collage based work.
The ladies of hml are also very curious about this installation at Uplands by Sharon Goodwin. We've never been to this supercool space - to be honest with you it's a bit intimidating, but we may just be lured by this one.
It's going to be another beautiful week weatherwise so there is much to be done 'out of doors' - bbq action, a drive to Sorrento, and the finishing (and starting) of a couple of Christmas projects(more on that tomorrow). Beck arrives home from Japan - so expect lots of pics in the coming days. Happy Spring everyone!

Happening of the Week

SMASHING PUMPKINS

We were full of good intentions last week. We bought a good shaped pumpkin at the market, we pulled out every October issue of Martha Stewart Living Magazine since 1994, we stocked up on paper bags, lollies, orange spots, witchy stamps and (dare I say it) lots of black glitter...
Unfortunately work, flu, loved ones arriving and departing and a general feeling of blah meant our pumpkin sat languishing in the living room, uncarved and unloved. Not suitable for eating (especially bred for carving) it was headed for the compost when the Intern had a top drawer kid idea "Lets chuck it and see what happens! That'd be cool!"

And so we did. Halloween Craft...HML style.

TIPS OF THE WEEK

PLACE YOUR BETS
We cannot claim to be racing experts, or even racing fans but we do like to peruse the form guide once a year and take a punt. This year we have three hot tips for you Purple Moon, The Fuzz and Mahler for the trifecta....
The race is as at 3pm. We'll let you know how we go! The BBQ is fired up, there is beer in the fridge and the betting has been attended to (my lord that was quite a queue at the Northcote TAB!). For those sensible folk not even remotely interested in the race, do enjoy your day off, get some much deserved sun and think about your Christmas card list (in reality that's actually what half of hml are doing, while the other is braving the Japanese public transit system).

SHOW OF THE WEEK

giddy up
The ladies of HML have mixed feelings about the race that stops a nation. Beck has left the country and so won't be enjoying the sight of ladettes stumbling down Flinders Lane with askew fascinators and scuffed stilettos. Ramona will be placing her bets based on names alone and will be donning this very fetching Horsey costume for fashions on the field.

Mind you, she's had the flu (hence the lack-o-posts this past week) so she'll probably end up in quarantine...