PROJECTS OF THE WEEK... PART ONE

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

So a little longer than a week ago I set myself to stitching... and am happy to report that i'm almost through with the ping pong king (don't ask I just let these things happen) They eyes may need a little evening up and the crown needs some satin stitch filler, but apart from that he's pretty much complete, and i'm happy with him. I'm thinking of him as a sampler for the next needley project i've got on my plate, which involves this...

The customising of this calico bag. We try to avoid talking up our regular worklives here on HML but this was such an occasion of being able to do a fun thing at work that you wish you did more often in real life I think it qualifies... and its hella crafty after all. Craft Victoria is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year, so we commissioned (as geeky fans do) two of our favourite and fabulous yokels Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank to design a crafty bag that we could invite peeps to customise... kind of like a bedazzler come embroidery colouring in book if you will.

It's an awesome project (if I do say so myself), and great prizes are on offer, but I have been too busy gardening, cooking and attending to other craft projects to actually get stuck into my own.

As you can see Dell has already set the bar high with her rainbow fingernails, but I think I can come up with something pretty snazzy - am thinking flames, lightening bolts, metallic thread - (yes i've been absorbed, entertained and inspired by eurovision this weekend) Ramona has one on the go, as does Miss Penpen, and the lovely Jenny Bartholemew so there will be some smokin entries in the comp come judgement day. All entries must be in by June 11, so i'd best get cracking. This week is the week. I hope.

BECK

Curves

Source: Marie Claire Italy Oct 2004

Fragile

Somehow this picture reminds me about a delicate fragility - this special and impossibly sensual crystal-like feathery side of a woman…

Source: Glamour November 2009

HOUSE PROJECT OF THE WEEK

little window

If you are anything like the ladies of HML your homes are full of piles of stuff, papers, books, material, junk. In our case add to that toys, technology and no storage. Beck and I often find ourselves comparing notes on our parallel battles with 'the stuff'. My new technique is to pick one teeny corner (a shelf, a drawer, a box) and deal with it every couple of days.

I'm adding to this by also trying to complete odd jobs that have been abandoned because I got distracted, or overwhelmed. This little window in the nursery nook is a good case in point. A bunny rug clipped to the venetians was really no longer doing it for me. I had meant to make trousers for Thom Womble out of this fabric but got freaked out by the level of difficulty and the cutting of such beautiful linen. I needed a metre of polar fleece for the trousers and the linen could be used for the curtain.

I know i need to tuck in that French seam with a couple of stitches but I was pleased with the result and pleased to have something finished! RAMONA

Splash

Source: Biba France 2010

ARTIST OF THE WEEK

materiality
I've been using lots of odd materials in my work lately. Carrying buttons and spoons, scraps and beads in a box and beavering away at tiny things. That's when I'm not drooling over other peoples work spotted online.

Through one of HML's favourite blogs Design for Mankind  we have discovered the work of UK artist Ann Carrington. As if stamp portraits made from mother of pearly buttons weren't enough

Carrington has also made a set of horns out out old forks and giant ladies out of seashells by the seashore

there are also larger than life size horses from coconut husks. amazing yes?

Interesting to take one material and see what it suggests and then move on to the next. I'm amazed by the level of focus required to create such work. Pretty sure she's not making this stuff while watching Masterchef! RAMONA

PRESENT OF THE WEEK

happy 40th

I'm certainly not the most proficient knitter but I do have the desire to pull out the needles when the cooler weather comes around. My beloved doesn't expect much come birthday time, but he does eagerly await the chocolate pavlova and the new scarf. I'm knitting 4 scarves at once at the moment with wildly different wool and I feel like I'm going a bit cross-eyed but I am surprised at how much faster I get over time.

Only one mistake in the whole thing (can you spot the dodgy row?) They say god is in the details or perfection offends the gods or something so we'll go with that and be grateful for no dropped stitches or wonky cast offs. I'm also turning this drawing into an embroidery. I found the sketch in a notebook that was on its way to the recycling bin. I wonder what else I've thrown out in my mad autumn cleaning? RAMONA

EVENT OF THE SEASON

mad skills to pay the bills

Oh my we don't quite know how this one slipped passed us. The Victorian Tapestry Workshop have a craft program running from May through to August. It's mainly knitting based (weirdly enough) but there is one tapestry development class the ladies of HML are keen on with the wonderful Joy Smith - whose work is totally amazing, we'd love to pick up some pointers from her.

But the highlight for us will be the all day event on Monday June 26 'Stuff It: do not fear the seventies' with the indomitable  Jenny Bartholomew. We are quite the groupies when it comes to Jenny's work and are united in our love for 70's textile zaniness. We thought you better all know about it quick sticks before remaining spots fill up. You can download the program here .RAMONA

A hat, a lipstick and a girl…

Source: Vogue Italia 1992

Shoes: a celebration of pumps, sandals, slippers and more.

by newfashiontodayblog’s guest writer Malene Soe

 

 

Originally intended to protect your feet from the elements, rocky terrain and overexposure to the sun’s rays, the shoe has evolved from a necessity to a luxurious high heel. Linda O’Keefe, a journalist and fashion expert, takes readers on a journey of the evolutionary path of footwear in her book ‘Shoes’, by showing the transformation of the shoe. Rather than being simply a tool for protection, the humble shoe has become a passion, a hobby, a source of self-expression and sexual independence and can even be psychologically empowering, according to O’Keefe.

The book includes over a thousand pictures of women’s footwear, chronicling the very beginnings of shoe construction to the glorious and daring modern day designs we all love and adore today.

Readers can expect to learn about the origins of footwear and the importance of how the shoe originally had the goal of concealing the foot. Of course, no book covering the journey of the shoe would be complete without a section dedicated to the high heel phenomenon, including how and why the high heel has become such a symbol of female empowerment. The book also tackles shoes that were less prominent, including impractical ballroom slippers. These shoes are now more prominent to wear outside the ballroom and O’Keefe dedicates an entire chapter to the importance of these now fashionable shoes.

Furthermore, O’Keefe has an entire section dedicated to the pump (or court shoe). She classifies the pump as being the little black dress of shoes – a simple type of footwear that all women must have. However, O’Keefe does not only stick to the shoes that are dominating the catwalks. She also focuses on more sensible shoes, such as the historic boot and its journey from being a protective tool to a runway must-have item, and of course more left-field shoes - platforms, fetishes and shoes considered to be of a scandalous nature.

O’Keefe has a clear audience in mind when she presents the information in such a strategic, almost methodical manner. Over the course of her career, she has contributed to Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harpers Bazaar and GQ to name a few. Clearly her intent is to inform shoe lovers of the importance of footwear - its journey and transformation, role in female empowerment and of course, why shoes can give so much personal joy to us all.

This book is a must-have for passionate shoe lovers and individuals who strive to become the next big thing in footwear design. Not only does this book inform and teach readers about the historic importance of female shoes, but it is also a definitive reference book that explores the many different types of footwear for women – slippers, sandals, the naked foot – and extensively covers prominent shoe designers and makers.

Malene Soe primarily writes about fashion for online magazines, including a focus on casino garments, casino dress codes and appropriate attire for a night out at casinos worldwide. She works as an independent writer and stays active by also contributing her opinions on the newest films and literature.

CRAFT PROJECTS OF THE WEEK

little things

This has been a week of chipping away at the little things that need doing rather than grand plans coming good. And i'm ok with that. Time is coming in short bursts at the moment, an hour here, fifteen minutes there, so the craft projects are having to fit around things - perfect for knitting (which i'm yet to start) and embroidery (which I can't seem to stop). If nothing else it's a sure way for a terminal 'flitter' not to get bored doing the same thing night after night after night. So...

The first one involves the upcycling of one of the architects old linen shirts (he fancied himself as quite the open shirted beachcomber in the early nineties - go figure) on which i'm trialing the embroidery of an illustration. I am loving it - and think there may be more on the way...

The other has been the printing (by swede - of the vegetable not backpacker variety) and stitching (by hand) of this piece of fabric that will eventually become part of a drawsting denim 'toilet bag'  for my Dad's birthday who also sees himself as quite the open shirt beachcomber...( uh oh i'm seeing a theme here)

It looks great, although I must say it has taken an age to go around every circle three times, and so hasn't provided quite the same level of instant craft gratification as the shirt embroidery.

Max too has been busy, and I'm now the proud owner of my first piece of cardboard roll art. I love it, part Gay Pride Parade, part Nu-School geometric reconstructionism... leaves my work in the dust.
BECK

Smile

Source: Elle Italia June 2010

DELIVERY OF THE WEEK

just my size

Today when I got home from work I was VERY excited to be greeted by my package from Belsize Square. Thank you postie for having the clues to hide it inside the porch bound pram and not leave me an annoying card saying I could pick it up from the post office at my convenience... which of course is NEVER convenient!

Theres not many more exciting postal options than a fabric filled bubble bag - it's always intriguing to see how the actual fabrics match up to the online images. In this case they were even better than I'd hoped, and i'm itching to get started on the machine tomorrow. BECK

Bliss…

Source: Vogue China April 2006

SHOW OF THE WEEK

Hot Pots.

Apparently it was The Duchess of Bedford who first established the activity of afternoon tea in 1840 – a time for networking and keeping up to date with aristocracy gossip and topical news. With all the chatter, the teapot would often get cold and so the tea cosy came about. Sounds just like us here at HML, talking till our hot drinks turn cold.

We are big fans of the tea cosy, and regular readers will no doubt remember Ramona's insane Killer Tea Cosies pattern book that started a stampede for pattern requests, as well as the super owl tea cosy (above) I picked up at my Nanna's retirement home in QLD for next to nix. I had grand plans of posting a users guide to Next Wave, but on my way out from work i found this postcard promoting The Tea Cosy Garden at Bundoora Homestead, and I was sold. So here's your show of the week people! The Tea Cosy Garden features highly decorative, intricately crocheted, knitted and embroidered tea cosies, all created by local folk. They look AMAZING. We'll be planning a trip out with the boys next week before it closes on May 30. All the works are for sale with proceeds being donated to The Cancer Council Victoria’s Biggest Morning Tea fund raiser. People tell me lots have already been snapped up. So fingers crossed theres still some left for us by next week.

Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
27 Snake Gully Drive, Bundoora

tel (03) 9496 1060
tram route 86 stop 62
melways 19 G2

Rose

 

One of my most favourite hats (and photos) ever

Source: Vogue UK 1992

Super Model

Cindy C

A MOMENT

We were saddened to hear that Mari Funaki had lost her long battle with cancer after defying the odds for many years. Jeweller, gallery owner, visionary and advocate, this incredible woman enriched the cultural life of our city and went so far in promoting the artistry and poetry that could be found in the object. She will be greatly missed. You can read more about Funaki here and look at her gallery website here
RAMONA and BECK.

Adorable

 

Source: Vogue US Feb 2008

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

brrrrrr

It's really cold here in Melbourne this week. The sludgy rain has set in and people are rugging up in boots and coats. Perfect weather to see a pop up book show by Paul Compton at Handheld Gallery. He has reconstructed some murderous and haunted sights, accompanying the whole thing is a perfectly miserable artists book that we cant wait to get our mitts on

Studio Ingot in Brunswick Street is showcasing the work of jeweller Michelle Kelly. Inspired by the cup fungi this is a perfect wet weather show! As the wind picks up and we draw our scarves around our necks we are going to check out the beautiful mobiles by  Jade Oakley now on at Australian Galleries. Aren't they intriguing? So weird, I've been thinking about mobiles for a couple of weeks now-

we may need a stiff drink to keep us going to the launch tonight at the meat market of the Next Wave festival main visual event 'Structural Integrity' (which quite frankly the ladies of HML can identify with). A group of artist run spaces from Australia and Asia have been invited to take part in a world-fair style extravaganza. Each group will be constructing 'pavilions' over the course of the event - so repeat visits are in order! This is so supercool!

We nicked the above and below images from the blog of Melbourne artist Lauren Brown who is also got something fab going on tonight at Horse Bazaar.  Her video installation is there as part of the plug 'n'play night that happens each month - You can catch her work at 9pm before getting the tram home in the rain.
Nice one Melbourne!

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