I MADE IT MYSELF

furries Sometimes designing cards is a drag. You can feel like a bit of a factory and often inspiration just drains out of you and you're left on the couch eating crackers and watching Top Gear/Model/Chef...
But sometimes it's actually quite fun. Mind you it's almost impossible to tell how people will respond to things. Some cards sell like hotcakes (who knew weird looknig rabbits were so popular?) while others languish in the catalogue unloved by all...
Who knows how the furries will go down?
They have no mouths - is that a problem?
love to know what you all think!

SHOW OF THE WEEK

down in lamington drive... The ladies of HML have always harboured not-so secret dreams of becoming great illustrators and we so hero worship peeps who just produce consistently jaw dropping work. We are very excited about the new gallery Lamington Drive
The new show highlights the work of genius penman Neils 'Nails' Oetjen and really I think we can manage to get to te corner of George and Gertrude St in Fitzroy...
well we'll give it a try. The weathers fining up, baby Maxwell is getting bigger (as is Ramona - Thomas is only 6 weeks away).

RECIPE OF THE WEEK

one day in september...

Oh yes it's Grand Final Fever at hml headquarters... oh hang on, no it's not, neither one of our teams managed to get through the confusing finals series surprise surprise... but nevertheless in honor of Melbourne's Grand Final party atmosphere we looked through the archives to come up with a football themed recipe for the big day. We needed look no further than Binny Lum's Favourite Recipes of Famous Men another op shop gem, that groups a motley assortment of local and international gentlemen and their favourite recipes together. From Rock Hudson's Bourbon Barbeque to Don Dunstan's Forced Meat (ooo errrr), Phillip Adam's Bazza Beef to Leonard Teale's Homicide Ham Slice it's all gold, gold, gold for the dinner table. We especially enjoy the numerous autographed pages (it seems the former owner 'Babs' was quite in the know with the local glitterati) but couldn't go past Louie the Lips' Chicken a' la Magpie as the top pick for today's festivities...

Oh and if any of you out there actually want to know what Graham Kennedy, Don Chip, Don Burrows, Andrew Peacock (caviar and cheese balls - too perfect) Derek Nimmo, James Last or Dave Brubeck like to eat we're more than happy to send out the recipes., just shoot us an email.

EVENT OF THE WEEK

a time to remember This week has been so fruitful craft wise. One of the great highlights for Ramona was being Craft Judge for the Veteran Affairs Art Award at the repatriation hospital in Heidelberg....

It was great to see the Mrs May Brown had again got out the knitting needles to create these beautful topsy turvy dolls (they turn upside down to reveal a second character - Holly turns into Ivy)
And the hand stitching on this large quilt by Mrs Elizabeth Templar was amazing...
And how about this gorgeous sampler by Anne Hope? so beautfully done....
Mr Raymond Hector had a crack at creating and entire coffee table out matchsticks (!!!)
It's always a humbling experience when you see such fine nanna and grandpa craft. Here is last years HML entry for those that want MORE

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

the best of the best

The ladies of HML are immeshed in the fabric of Craft Victoria so we don't often promote the shows there citing conflict of interest (board member/retail manager). But this month sees three of our favourite people of all time grace Melbourne with new and thrilling work. We can't think of makers who consistently thrill us more than Stephenn Gallagher (above ), Irene Grishin- Selzer ...

and Anna Davern...

We are a bit beside ourselves with excitement. Three shows at once opening this Thursday night at Craft Victoria. We think this will be the best month in Flinders Lane this year. This is Craft with a capital C. Be there or be square...

WEEKEND PIRATE PROJECT

bluebeard's revenge...

In honour of yesterday's standing as International Speak Like a Pirate Day celebrations we've got an excellent weekend project that combines two of our favourite things... burly swashbuckling fella's with big beards, and the skull and crossbones. This "we call them pirates" hat comes from the excellent HELLO YARN blog, and given the weather seems to have turned blustery once again it might be time to whip out the needles and whip up one of these beanies for the Jolly Roger in your life... although given it's currently school holidays (again!!!) you might find the milk carton spanish galleon below an easier all hands on deck crafting activity.YAAAARRRR!

EVENT OF THE WEEK

Aaaaaargh....
Today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day - long awaited in the hml calendar. Because, let's face it, an eyepatch, a woodent leg, pieces of eight, not to mention Johnny Depp... all very attractive accoutrement!
We also found this fantastic Craft Like a Pirate website truly inspiring. We'll be attempting the pirate themed embroidered diorama and then dressing up our Blyth Dolls like Long Jane Silver. Or maybe we'll just hit the rum and watch that pirate muppet movie this afternoon...