SALE OF THE WEEK

stylin
If you are in Melbourne this weekend you'll bump into me shopping at the Lupa Sale down in High Street Northcote.  Lovers of independent fashion in this town know the sale has become kind of legendary with some things marked down to 80% - seriously!

It's stretched over two weekends with new stock released the last two days so everyone has a chance to snap up a bargain. It also means that Beck won't miss out by being on holiday.  Oh and I have some printed cotton posies there too which are quite sweet no? Ramona

LITTLE GIFT OF THE WEEK

Ok so I griped about this book last week ( I think my phrase was 'beanie babies of craft'). But I have to admit I'm warming to it. I have a friend deep in Ph.D. land - she's been lost to us for a couple of years now and it's her birthday on Saturday so I wanted to send her a card.

She's not big on presents but she does like the odd little soft thing so I thought this felty panda would easily slip into an envelope. I've sewn a little brooch back in case she wants to wear it. I also used a pink ribbon to hide some uneven stitches and dispensed with the bamboo leaves that were in the instructions.

I also added black dots for eyes as the spaced out panda was too weird for me. Took me about half an hour in front of the tv with a crazy 17 month old zooming around underfoot (the dining table being his fort now). Just in time to take it to the post box.

PS you'll have to forgive the groovy Hipstamatic photos. This app is like an addiction, one I plan on indulging in for at least week before moving on! Ramona

SHOW OF THE WEEK

FAKE

Beautiful objects have appeared at Pieces of Eight Gallery. Turns out this is a two year co-lab between eminent jewellers Lauren Simeoni and Melinda Young. There show Unnatural/Natural is made up of gorgeous wearables that utilise artificial flowers, beads, found bits and pieces as well as the precious stuff. These two are at the top of their game. You'll be surprised how easy it is to be seduced by man made materials. And how at the hands of great makers they can transcend their humble beginnings.

On a separate note we want to let you all know how it works at HML - just to clarify for our anon commenter of last week. We alternate weeks and as Beck is getting a tan (ha ha) in Hervey Bay on a much needed break I will be your hostess with the mostest for the next 7 days. We'll initialise our posts to clear up any confusion - but let me tell ya we both LOVE comments so pipe in no matter who is steering the boat! - Ramona.

PS Unnatural/Natural runs 'til May 1. Pieces of Eight is at 635 Brunswick St North Fitzroy.

PPS I'll be on RRR Monday morning at 1030 am talking about this show and more...

Blog Updates

If you like beautiful clothes and shopping, check this link for some beautiful picks. :)

And for a bit of fashion history, click here.

Enjoy!

LittleRus

x

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

good hair day

We love Chris Rock and we love big hair, and we're both partictularly fond of Eddie Murphy's Afro Sheen stylings in perennial non ratings period friday night movie of the week Coming to America. So understandably we're also VERY excited about Good Hair, a documentary about the whys, wheres, how to's and major controlling interests in the multi million dollar US hair industry.

Given that the film is produced, narrated and stars Chris Rock, is directed by newly minted Melbournian and thinking woman's crumpet Jeff Stilson it's pretty much a sure bet for inclusion in our top ten films of 2010.  Currently screening at ACMI until April 21, it's definately one you don't want to miss. And don't be surprised if you see us next sporting some seriously dodgy corn rows. Click here to watch the trailer, and check out screening times.

somewhere over the rainbow

Second show of the week comes from Melbourne illustrator and textile designer Beci Orpin. I am the first to admit to a huge amount of professional envy of what has become the Beci Orpin empire: adults and kids clothing lines, brilliantly varied international design client list, endless projects with the super hip, old skool dj hubbie, great lookin' kids... and she seems able to do all this busy ball juggling effortlessly. So you can see where i'm coming from on the envy front. She's also a seriously major local talent. A new exhibition of works, becomingly titled The Infinite Shape of Rainbows opens next week at Lamington Drive next week. I know we usually only put on things happening this week, but her shows sell out fast, and we think she's worth investing in. So we're putting you all on notice. You have been warned.

CHARITABLE ACT OF THE WEEK

have you got a square to spare?

We've had a brilliant long weekend here at HML HQ, not just becuase we've stuffed ourselves stupid on chocolate, hot cross buns and colomba but because we've made the most of the time together with our families doing family type things like gardening, cooking, playing and eating. We've also found out about the Save the Children Knit One Save One project, so we've started up our own 20x 20 square-a-thon to help them reach their targed of 80,000 squares. The plan is to put together 5,000 blankets for children in countries from India to Australia. (by the way those aren't our squares above, I've only just started to click clack in the post Buona Pasqua Italian mega feast haze this afternoon. Still expect to see a pile of similar proportions by the end of the week. Check out their blog here, where you can download how to knit pdf's, patterns, even instructions on how to put an entire blanket together at home, and let me tell you people some people have done some mighty fine blanket work. Take for example the story behind these 7 perfectly formed blankets from the knit one blog earlier this year. 

‘Mrs. Westley is 86 yrs old, almost completely blind, and has had one leg amputated due to poor circulation. Though almost completely bedridden, she knits the strips that these rugs are made of, changing colour when she has completed a square. To change colours she uses a strip of cardboard with a black mark to indicate the length of knitting needed to complete each square.’ Really if Mrs. Westley can crank out seven blankets I'm sure we can get at least one done. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Current count stands at 34,000 squares knitted, so let's get cracking!

EVENT OF THE WEEK part 4

Good Friday

Ok so I did actually finish my Easter branch! I actually started this project last Easter so it was good to get them done 12 months later. These things always look so easy in magazines, and fast! Not this project. between two layers of white paint, two layers of coloured paint, cutting out 24 little rabbits, gluing said rabbits, getting holes in the top and bottom of the eggs, estapolling, threading ribbon and putting them no the tree - well really it's a bit of a to-do and I don't recommend it for the time poor.

The addition of the crazy chicks has the youngest member of our house in a bit of an Easter frenzy. It's amazing what amuses a 16 month old.

today is all about cookies and place cards for Sunday lunch! Good Friday indeed.