HALLOWEEN COSTUME OF THE WEEK

hey everybody it's dancey dance time!

Ok so we don't normally talk up celebrites here at hml, but this pic of the jolie-pitt crew (or part there-of) in their halloween finest was too good to say no to. All treat, no trick.

CRAFT FIND OF THE WEEK

get a gander at these

Well, while the trip up North might have proved a logistical nightmare on the technology front it did provide some spectacular op shopping moments, not the least of which was when I found this 1950's set of stackable geese measuring cups for (wait for it) $1!!! People I gasped, how could everyone else have missed these beauties? Obviously they instantly went to the top of the pile of seventies bed linen, multiple and dubious crafting 'how to' books and old embroidered bits and bobs. Maxwell of course also fell instantly in love with them and has taken them to the bath every night since.

Hopefully though he'll tire of them quickly and they can sit all stacked up together on the kitchen windowsill sometime soon. After all they set of the Nigella bread bin brilliantly.

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

Let's face it, around about this time of year there's a lot on, and the competition for your spare time and spare change is fierce! This week we're staying local, so apologies to all those interstate and international viewers looking for reccomendations: there's just too much on in our own hometown...
bottled up

"Can a ceramic artist bottle emotion?" this is the question posed by Pan Gallery and Craft Victoria's inaugural, annual, award show now on at Pan Gallery. If you're as curious as we are about the answer get on over and  decide for yourself.
November 6-25
Pan Gallery (Nortchote Pottery)
142 - 144 Weston St Brunswick East.

the graduate(s)
We here at hml like to keep things fresh so we'll be heading out to the graduate shows this week (and most probably next week as well) in our search for the hottest young things in craft. Here's just a few that we'll be clearing the calendar for this week.

MINT

NMIT Advanced Diploma of Engineering Technology- Jewellery
35 graduates, and yes  there WILL be things on sale... last years was a doozy so take our advice and get in early. November 13 - 21 Northcote Town Hall: Studio 1 189 High Street, Northcote.

RMIT Industrial Design
and yes we know this is a pic from last years show but what will be on offer this year is still a big secret, so you'll have to get there yourself - or wait for us to post pics next week.
November 13-25
Guilford Lane Gallery
20-24 Guilford Lane, Melbourne

INDEX
RMIT Bachelor of Design (Interior Design)
this show includes work from all three years, so should prove an interesting mixed bag at least.
13-16 November
246 Nicholson Street Fitzroy

ON THE BRINK
LaTrobe University Bendigo Bachelor of Visual Arts (Ceramics)
one for the out of towners
November 13 - 27
Phyllis Palmer Gallery and Graphic Design Exhibition space
The Visual Arts Centre 121 View Street Bendigo

FOUND IN TRANSLATION
RMIT Bachelor of Arts (Fine Art) Gold and Silversmithing
(first and second years) Curated by jewellery institution Mark Edgoose this one is bound to provide some serious fresh talent.
4–13 November
RMIT School of Art Gallery Building 2, Bowen Street, off LaTrobe Street.

FOR EXAMPLE
RMIT Diploma of Fine Arts (Furniture Design) and RMIT Diploma of Furnishing Technology
always interesting to see new things to sit on.
11-15 November
No Vacancy Gallery
QV Byuilding 30-40 Jane Bell lane

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...
RMIT Bachelor of Fine Arts and HONS (Sculpture)
surprisingly crafty
RMIT Building 37, Level 1
Cnr Swanston Street and A'Beckett Street

As for next week here's the heads up: don't spend all your hard earned peso's at once, we've still got RMIT  Ceramics, Textiles, Gold and Silversmithing, Fashion to open, as well as the Monash Megathon to contend with. Happy Hunting people.

JOB OF THE WEEK

words and pictures

Making a living from craft/design is not easy. It looks great on the outside - no boss (read no paycheck), no 8am starts (read work through the night if you have to) no saving up holiday days (read no sick pay, overtime, or...holidays). There is also the added pressure of coming up with new things all the time. On occasion you can feel like a sausage factory.

Christmas comes with its particular stresses. You have to get work done for it in September for a start and if you don't make your money over this all important season it makes for a very difficult first quarter of the following year. I'm only just getting my catalogue out now - about three weeks late (read completely on time for me). But for the first time in ages I genuinely like the new work.

I've used old fashioned Christmas messages, collaged them onto linen then hand painted extensions to the floral frames. Scanned it all at very high res to get the fabric detail. They print really well, very soft but retaining the detail of the fabric. The cards have both a vintage and a modern feel and there isn't a silhouetted deer in sight. I'm pretty sure that the market will be pretty limited for these - making my January a poor poor month in 2010

No matter. I feel like closing down the factory and growing things instead.

WEBSITES OF THE WEEK

build em up 

Thinking a lot about architecture recently. Perhaps as a bit of a distraction from the craft and design blogs we spend too much time reading.  There are 4 architecture blogs that have become weekly destinations.  Sometimes it's good to go and read things outside your world just to get a bit of perspective, some fresh ideas and inspiration.

Architecture could be called an extreme craft. Having recently interviewed an architect I was struck by one thing he said "I can build anything, I can design your house, all the furniture in it, the lights, the door knobs anything" - imagine leading that kind of handmadelife?

1. A Daily Dose of Architecture - a brilliant starting point and not too esoteric.

2. MoCo Loco - you have to see it to believe it. It not only scrolls sideways it makes you think laterally.

3. Life Without Buildings - a blog by outspoken Yale man Jimmy Stamp. genius food for thought.

4. Confessions of an Architect - literally. architects confess their sins. and then it gets published. addictive.