Summer dreams

Julie Ordon, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful and sweet models out there. Adore her.

Arty

 

Source: 25 Magazine Spring 2010

One thing a woman should never leave without… ;)

 

P.S. And I just love her hair!

Source: L’Officiel Feb 2010

PRESENT OF THE WEEK

I wanted to make my friend Sunday (who has just turned 3) something soft and pretty. I picked out this lovely Maisie doll from the More Softies book. She was designed by Kate Henderson and looked nice and simple and very safe for an investigative toddler. I bought a metre each of these two beautiful Moda fabrics that are on sale now at the soon to be closed online store Belsize Square.

I spent a very happy hour or so making up what I think is a very sweet present for a little person. It makes a big difference when you splash out on nice fabric for even the smallest projects. These two metres will go far (I'll show you the other projects later in the week)

I might add most of the hour was spent embroidering the face so that it didn't look evil - surprisingly difficult. Now she just looks cross-eyed as do I after all that stitching!

ROUND UP OF THE WEEK

stitch and bitch

Well HML readers if you tune in tothe Grapevine on RRR this morning (102.7 fm) you'll hear the ladies of HML giving the lowdown on the Stitches and Craft Fair, the shows that are currently on at Craft Victoria and a little natter about iphone apps that can help your crafting. We thought we'd compile a little list of links here if you'd like more information about what we were talking about

The Stitches and Craft Show roundup:

Ink and Spindle
Craft Schmaft
Kristen Doran
Pear Tree Yarn

Exhibitions at Craft Victoria

Craft Victoria

Iphone Apps for crafters:

about easystitch
about  fabricstash
about knitbuddy

for those of you that missed out:

Beck and I have been talking about going to the stitches and craft show for years -it's terrible that we haven't been until now. We were mighty impressed with their re-branding and after people kept asking of we were going and/or participating we thought we'd take the time out to cross the river and head to Caulfield racecourse on Saturday to check it all out.

The theme this year was 'Make do and Mend' and we were pretty impressed with how they 'threaded' (pardon the pun) the theme throughout the show with different work stations where we could all try our hand at a bit of stitch and fix.As with any craft fair it was a strange mix of terribly good and wonderfully terrible (anyone that's told you bedazzling is dead is a liar!) We'll focus on the good things of which there were quite a few - we'll let you decide where this fab black panther tapestry sits on that spectrum!

We were thrilled to get a gander at the Ink and Spindle stand. I'm intending to make a quilt for my mums birthday in November out of their tamarillo range and sure enough they had one made up and on display. I've only attempted baby quilts up until now but it looked really simple and very chic (may need help mitre-ing the corners - I'm hopeless at that!). I bought a panel of the top fabric to stretch and embroider as the follow on Christmas gift.

Also there was the very very talent Kristen Doran - I love her stuff and it was terrific to meet her in person and to pick up a kit that is perfect for Beck's birthday (don't worry she already knows) We both love samplers and this preprinted one is ready for some stitching. A perfect birthday project!

I adored the colour palette at Pear Tree Yarn, their 8ply hanks were so soft against the skin. If I hadn't run out of money and have three knitting projects on the go already I would have indulged myself in some lovely pale green wool (obsessed with green at the moment).

We were both taken with the Craft Schmaft owly mobiles. Claire was just lovely and her kits are brilliant - beautifully packaged and very charming. You can get them at her Big Cartel shop here.

 What we learnt is that there are some fabulous local, ecologically sound, tasteful and talented suppliers out there. We are the first to swoon over Japanese craft books, American Amy Butler fabric and British Rowan yarn but increasingly we are discovering that its good to extend the eat local idea to craft local too. Better get busy as Beck's birthday is just around the corner...

OUT AND ABOUT

cut with the same cloth

This week seems to have been all about adding to the fabric hoard, virtually and in the real world. Now that I have a load of handprint and stitch projects on the go I could put off no longer my long overdue foray into the den of temptation - Tessuti Fabrics to pick up some linen - and hopefully not spend my weeks wages into the bargain.

When I saw this reversible check/spot printed Japanese cotton concoction I almost had coniptions! But I was on a mission, so I got back to the search for the perfect linen. That said I already have imagned a hundred different uses for the grey and mustard yellow ... but the buying of this will have to wait, at least until Monday next week.

Even confronted by the rolls and rolls and rolls of tempting textiles as you can see I did manage to find what I was looking for... and even managed to get out with only one random purchase. Ok make that two.

That's it in the middle of the pack below...a beautiful japanese geometric print on a self stripe cotton, and the pale lilac cotton was a remnant at 50% off that I couldn't say no to either. Only problem is the three of them look so great alongside each other I'm already thinking of new things I could make out of them together. Which probably means another trip back next week to pick up more of what I originally went in for.

Shame that.

Of course this came on the back of already lightening my bank account considerably (please don't be reading this Michael) at the last days sale at online fabric store Belsize Square. Everything on the books is around 30% off - so how could I resist these Lizzy House fabrics.

or these, I mean really, I'm only human.

Oh and I just found out Duck Cloth are have a 20% off sale at the moment for suscribers (lucky me) for the month of May AND Ramona and I are off to the Stitches and Craft Show tomorrow. So you can pretty much bet we'll be living on pasta and rice here at HML HQ for the next few weeks, or months depending on who else decides to have a fabric sale next!

BECK

SHOWS OF THE WEEK - PART TWO

signs of life
Two of our favourite local jewellers are exhibiting some fantastic new works at the moment, both of which share a common reference point - graphics and signs, that however is where the similarity ends, their output could not be more dissimilar. You just have to love the healthy diversity of Melbourne's comtemporary jewellery scene.

Looking Good
Here in Melbourne Linda Hughes' Metonymy – Look Both Ways continues her exploration of the graphic nature of road signs in her latest show at Craft Victoria. We have long been fans of her use of laminates, but were both blown away wtih the development in her work. In this new collection Linda explores the 'stripe', historically associated with danger, retrobates and attention seeking and applies it to the world of wearable sculpture. Sign and signifier in the same product - what could make us happier.

Metonomy - Look both Ways

Gallery 1, Craft Victoria

30 April – 12 June 2010

A Little Somethin' Somethin'
David Neale's Some and None at Adelaides Jam Factory - explores the idea of jewellery as graphic, and thereby positioning the body as the location for sign, story and drawing site."Borrowing from graphics, painting, collage and line-work, Neale makes signs for the body to tell wearable stories. Through the considered play of opposites such as flat vs deep, austere vs ostentatious, rough vs refined, previous vs poor, shiny vs sfumato, gravel vs gold and some vs none, each piece resolves into a striking graphic statement."

Really could he be more of a genius? We love David's work and given the budget would snap up everything he produces. I am constantly envious of Ramona's bird and branch brooch, even though I do have two pairs of his Dopplehanger series earrings - maybe I can ask for a last minute ticket to Adelaide for Mothers Day?

Some and None: Jewellery as Graphics
Gallery 2
Jam Factory, Adelaide S.A.
10 April - 16 May 2010

BECK