Hello Burberry Prorsum

I want to make things like these beauties.

I would also like to wear such beauties (budget allowing), but not sure how I'd do the school run on the bike with toddler in tow.

And what does Prorsum mean anyway?

From the clever folks at Burberry.

Studio streaker

It's warm again here, a last burst of Summer before Autumn truly takes over.

The small girl will whip her clothes off for any occasion, including a visit to my studio, she is so peachy!

She always sits on my desk and rummages through all the crap, here she is playing with her Great Grandpa's car keys. He died a long time ago, and his keys are part of our toybox, Leo also played with them when he was a lil' man. I love the continuity.

What the?

The other night I was watching West Wing and digging through my books for a cardigan pattern for Hazel. I haven't indulged in any evening crafting for ages, it is odd that I haven't had a project, but my fingers are now itching to knit a brown and raspberry cardi for my gal.

I have far too many patterns to choose from, but am whittling it down, and have started a burgundy crocheted mini dress, to be worn with a skivvy and tights, such a good look if you are almost 2.

I showed this page to Sam and he burst out laughing, I was wondering what exactly 'a triumph for fantasy' meant, but he was more amused by the radiant sun boob thingy. It reminds me of the hypno toad from Futurama.

On my bedside table

Well this one has been with me since Christmas, I haven't been able to put it away on my colour-coded shelves because I'm still diving in, it's the book that never ends!

As I am feeling lazy this morning, I'm stealing the Thames & Hudson blurb.....

"Profiling over seventy artisans who use craft techniques to create stylish, whimsical, desirable objects, this book features hundreds of one-of-a-kind, handmade wonders from all over the world."

And just so you know.....

"Olivier Dupon began his career at Christian Dior. He expanded his expertise in the fields of fashion and lifestyle by working as a buyer and product manager for several large retail companies before opening his own boutique. Based in Australia, he now scouts international markets in search of design, art and craft objects and projects to feature on his blog, Dossier37.tumblr.com"

Many of these artists deserve more attention, I am managing to gradually work my way through their websites, and here are a few fabulous examples so far.  I'll update this post with some more images soon.

Andrea Williamson

Angus &Celeste

Anna Atterling

I wish!

This flyer is from Jo, she lives in Japan and sends me fabulous items in the post regularly. Everyone needs a penpal like Jo.

So now she is teasing me with this one, I hope she went to see it, alas I think it may have ended in January.

I have a book of Viv's shoes, but to see a whole collection in the flesh would be such a treat, I could easily spend a day examining them in fine detail. The Toile boot is so lovely, my mother-in-law made me a toile jacket and I think I may have some leftover fabric somewhere, might put that on my list of things to make.

I also just discovered that Vivienne has a blog. Interesting.

Search terms

Here's what leads people to my humble blog:   chuck close

knee high socks

high socks

robot cakes

chuck close close up

alana clifton knit

buckle real rubbish

chuck close up close

cottage industries examples

emma grenwood   I love that socks feature prominently, and robot cakes!     These socks are Turkish, and they are reminding me of Sandra Eterovic. Must get some  fair isle-esque work on my needles this winter.

For the love of philatelia!

Via Blue Q, made of post consumer material.
Gifted to me by my awesome sister for Christmas, she knows me too well!

Nga Waiata

I first became aware of New Zealand Maori artist Nga Waiata in a recent issue of Dumbo Feather, and from the first look at her work I was/am smitten.

Late last year I emailed Sam the following photo, with a caption indicating that I was coveting these rings. Lo and behold, the gorgeous man visited egetal and after ordering one in my size, my hand is now graced with a chunky lapis lazuli beauty!

I used to wear rings all the time, but when I took up shoemaking I had to stop, as they were getting in the way of my tools,  also getting very banged up, and often marking what I was working on. I'm sure I can remember to take this one off when I'm at the tools.

I have never been a crystal devotee, nor do I have a penchant for timber or anything brown in general, but these are supremely clever in their beautiful, minimal, natural qualities.

According to Nga's website:

Lapis Lazuli is a stone of total awareness
helps expand the intellect & intuitive aspects of ones character
facilitates clear expression of thoughts
helps you say the right thing at the right time!

Sounds like a long-overdue element of tact may creep into my world, here's hoping!

 

Nga's new pendants feature handwoven chain details, I haven't seen them in the flesh but love the use of large crystals. All crystals are sustainably mined in Brazil, and the timber is recycled Pohutakawa, machined by a master craftsman and hand-finished by Nga.

Grain and Gram

Thanks to Dudecraft I found out about Grain and Gram - The New Gentleman's Journal. They are not a blog-a-day types, but when they press 'publish' it is always a long, nutritious read. The other day I clicked over to immerse myself in the studio and practice of Jason Gregory of Makr, who designs and makes custom leather goods for discerning folk.

I can't do justice to the interview with my current weary-morning-brain, but if you read my blog because you like handmade products with integrity and deluxe processes, then please visit the Grain and Gram folk, and bookmark them for future reading and inspiration.

Here's some footage of the Makr studio, I think I have a crush on all of these blokes - bearded tattooed skateboarders with cylinder-arm walking-foot machines :)





Grain & Gram: Jason Gregory, Designer from Grain & Gram on Vimeo.

Birthday loot!

I do make a fuss on my birthday, and my peeps are becoming accustomed to the shenanigans. I sing silly almost-birthday songs leading up to the day, I dance around the letterbox when cards and parcels are delivered, I am wearing my best kimono (sleeves flapping in the breeze as we ride to school) - I may be 38 but really I am still about 7 years old!

So I've sampled Haigh's Truffles delivered to my door by Paula, have coloured in with my Stabilo fine liners in rainbow format (thanks Leo, Sam and Hazel!), have ooohed and aaahed over the fine books (thanks Mum, thanks Leila!) and stamps (thanks Dad!) and I hear that the Taco Truck is in my neighbourhood today, what a treat!

I hope that some of my ridiculous bonhomie rubs off on you too, here, have another exclamation point!

Saturday

 A hot Saturday in Melbourne town......

 

....... includes an excursion to Readings, Leo gets a 'How Machines Work' book, complete with cogs, gears and gizmos. All of his favourite things. I get a colouring/doodling book, I feel the need for some limbering up in the drawing department, and I have always loved colouring in, especially with crayons.

 

Chamomile - please plant some of this as soon as you can, it smells like bubblegum and is so darn cheerful. I dry the flower heads and make tea, but be warned - they are very potent!

Beloved Mohop sandals, I am also sporting a matching stripy singlet and feel very Jean Paul Gaultier, minus the French accent.

I have been repotting a few things this week, as my hanging baskets have been crying out for a bit of attention. This fuschia and spiderplant are now much happier with more room to grow, and with the addition of a green crocheted rope daisy I made last year, I feel like an attentive gardener (it won't last - I am really a lazy, neglectful gardener!)

Hazel likes nothing better than a 'wash', as she calls any sort of water. She is also quite partial to shrieking at ear-splitting volumes, how long is that meant to last? It is freaking excruciating. Damn these girl children and their vocal ranges!

Speaking of female vocals, our soundtrack of the day has been Lauryn Hill circa 1998, and Amy Winehouse circa 2004.








Hope that your Saturday is creative and/or inspiring. I have an evening of tax receipts ahead of me, which is a reminder of how running a business can be very anti-social, I need a date night with Sam!

My beloved Sam

Sam's work has been at the India Art Fair this past week, enthralling the vast crowds and generating a lot of press.

It's no secret that he works DAMN hard on everything he creates, and we are often caught in the last-minute chaos of primping and packing.

The baby and frogs, called Small Things, is his most recent work, and is so beautiful in all its plump skin textures and contours. When Hazel first saw it she went nuts, animatedly talking about 'baby baby baby'.

Turns out that someone special was also captivated by it, and so we say goodbye to another piece.

Hurrah for art! And for babies and green frogs - what a combo!

It is done!

Yes, I'm behind the times, colour-coded books is so 2011.

But I always come to things in my own time, and after many months lamenting the mish-mash appearance of books-by-genre, I'm much happier with this view.

How do I find the book I'm after? Well I have a photographic memory, and so I just see the spine and know where to find it. I've re-discovered a few gems too, and have ditched a lot of dust jackets in favour of the colour underneath.

It's funny to notice what colours are on the spines, who is in charge of that decision? I'm happy that there are so many green and yellow spines in my collection, bored by all of the black and white, particularly loving the gold and silver. 

Gorgeous and/or green

 My girl in her awesome bathers. Nothing better than a paddle pool on a 35 degree day, kept them entertained for hours!

 My boy is gummy again! Hazel pushed out his second top wobbler, it was a bit like a cat-flap for the last few days, really gross!

 Our gargantuan 1.375 kilo zucchini, we have used it in a cake, in a pasta and still have some left. A gorgeous plant to grow, such huge leaves and pretty flowers.

My soon-to-be-delivered Tree Top Green Asics. Oh boy I want them to hurry up!

High-vis mayhem

 Somehow all of this.......

 

 

....has turned into this!

This Thurs and Fri I'm doing a bike accessories workshop, using high-vis materials from Reverse Art Truck, organised by The Squeaky Wheel.

I've come up 3 or 4 projects, starting with a belt, which is pretty easy. I've stitched the lengths together (first image) and we just rivet on the buckles.

The next project is a mandala on the front wheel of the kids' bikes (they are all teenagers), so this may take a bit longer. After much trial and error I've finished mine, and hope it stays together in the heat. Am pretty darn happy with the result though!

I've also made a shield/plate for the front, inspired by a BMX race-plate. Leo's bike is modelling it in the 6th and 7th images.

We just whipped up a few keyrings, and I think I'm done, now I have to pack my bags and load up the bike for the ride into town tomorrow. Wish me luck!