11.11.14

CATCH UP OF THE WEEK

we deliver.

Those of you who listened up to our extended edition of the craftiverse on Monday Morning's RRR Grapevine will have heard us touting a brand spanking list of new workshops on offer in the run up to christmas and start of next year as well as outing a few of our must haves on our christmas list. We've been asked by a flock of little birds if we could make available the links to said items and classes. So here, in no particular order, they all are!

WORKSHOPS
Choose one (or a few) of these options and learn new skills or whip up goodies for gifts. And for us nothing says 'I love you' like a weekend of concentrated crafting with like minded souls.


Ilka White is one of the most generous and knowledgeable textile artists in Australia, and she's holding a few more workshops before the end of the year, one of which we'll be attending! This weekend on November 9 at the University of the Front Room and again on November 20 she'll be presenting her one day Braided Rug workshop at The School Of Lost Arts Geelong, an amazing location in one of the cities oldest residential homesteads that has to be seen to be believed. I attended a workshop there a few months back and it was so amazing i'm dragging Ramona back there to experience it for herself! Ilka is also holding her super popular Introduction to Natural Dyeing workshop at Ceres (which i've had the previous pleasure of) on December 7. This will definitely sell out and is just brilliant so do yourself the proverbial favour and get in quick!


North City 4 are offering their 'ring in a day' workshop again on November 22. This workshop not only comes with the guarantee of a brand new piece of jewellery hand made by you but also offers a brilliant insight into the craft of gold and silversmithing in a real studio workshop environment and tutelage of the highest order. Bookings here.





Northcote Potter guest artist in residence and all round lady of awesome Sophie Moorhouse Morris is running her Small Porcelain Pieces weekend workshop at Homework Studio on the 6th and 7th of December. We've done the three week version of this one and it was brilliant. Here I am holding my big pot pre-firing, a breakfast set I made and a planter Ramona made. Serious fun, loads of learnings and highly recommended. 


Speaking of Homework the inimitable design powerhouse that is Beci Orpin will be holding a day long Make and Do book project workshop on the 13th of December. If nothing else this will be a wonderful day full of laughs, colour and making in the most fun environment possible. 


And if you're thinking of upskilling in 2015 get in now as both Slow Clay and North City 4 are both taking bookings for all classes starting in January. Check out what's on offer and book in quick or get someone to buy you a course for Christmas! check websites for details.

SANTA'S SACK
Yes this year we're making lists instead of gifts  - well ok, we'll still be whipping up baked goods in the kitchen in the last week before santa comes but no 100 decorations in 100 days like last year. Instead we've started a little list of what things we'll be buying either ourselves or our loved ones this Christmas. Because if you can't make handmade you should at least buy handmade!


1. Linen Smocks from Cottage Industry. 
When it comes to dresses we love sacks, and as it happens Pene Durston makes the best sacks in town. Soft well washed linens, yarn dyed checks, and super light denim are just some of the super limited editions of this perfect dress that comes in such a variety of covetable cloths multiple purchases are obligatory. The Harvest Smock comes in short, medium and long lengths and is THE perfect urban uniform. Its also roomy enough to hide a ham, pavlova or indeed the results of eating said seasonal without any tell tale bulges. Plus any visit to the cottage comes with a dose of Jethro the super cat. (see above)


2. Hand printed tunics by Indie Ladan of Monolog.
Every year Indie brings out pieces that are must haves in my wardrobe, but this year she's outdone herself with a new tunic that could well be the ultimate urban uniform. I've already snapped up one in white moss but the rest of the range is also a cracking collection of must have items… so much so i've already put in an order for number two.


3. Whisky ice bucket and cups by Andrei Davidoff.
For the second year running Craft will be presenting exclusive limited editions of works by some of Australia's best artists and makers in their Supermarket show, opening December 5.  This years collection includes Kate Jones, Kris Coad, Bin-Dixon Ward, Karla Way, Katherine Bowman, Pennie Jagiello and Amanda Dzedzic amongst others. Its a fantastic opportunity to pick up affordable production works by artists that often only work in an exhibition paradigm. And this year its hml favourite Andrei Davidoff athat are topping our supermarket trolley this year.



4. Jewellery by Emma Homfray.
Represented by Pieces of Eight Gallery, Emma's new collection literally stopped us in our tracks on sight. We've both been blown away with her tactile approach to surfaces decoration and bold mid century modern stylings - as a result she is currently topping our Santa list. Ramona is looking for a silver with gold plated ring, while I'll take a pair of her giant disc earrings. Hubba Hubba. Hopefully our nearest and dearest's will get the hint.

We'll be adding new things to our own hand made christmas lists, showing you loads of cracking options for DIY wording you up week by week on workshops and markets happening around town as we head into the heart of the silly season.

and finally I just want to give another plug for the most important event of the week (aside from my going away dinner at Smith and Daughters tonight)

THE WRITE STUFF 



Craft's annual professional development series "craft to consumer" focuses on candid conversation and insider insights from makers, writers, thinkers and designers in an intimate setting. This one is especially special as it stars HML's own Ramona Barry alongside artist and curator Kent Wilson of the Town Hall Gallery and media maven Jo Walker of Frankie Magazine. This session is essential for makers seeking to discover their authentic 'voice', create meaningful social media, write artist bios, statements and cv's or how to successfully get into press or exhibitions. It will be weird to be in the audience rather than beside my craft companion but now that i've finally I quit my day job at Craft I can at least safely heckle from the back row! There are only a few seats left, and I know Ramona has even got a booklet ready for attendees so get on board - read more about us here and book here.
$20 for Craft Members and $40 for non members (but seriously why would you not be a member!)

AND for those of you who missed the broadcast you can always catch it again on the RRR's hereBECK


10.11.14

BROADCAST OF THE WEEK

Feels like forever since we last graced the airwaves with our dulcet tones (snort). We are raring to go this morning as we catch up with our good friends at RRR. Listen in to The Grapevine with Dylan and Kulja  around 10:15. We'll be talking up seminars, markets, Christmas, books. Basically we'll be talking so fast we run the risk of sounding like we've had too many pharmaceuticals with our double espressos. We'll be giving a big plug to a writing seminar hosted by Craft this Thursday because I'm actually leading the charge, helping makers find their authentic writing voices. I'll be cutting through all the crazy art speak and noncing about with the english language and giving it to them straight. We'd love it if you came along (Beck will be the heckler in the back row). There is nothing nicer than meeting hml readers! You can book a ticket here

Sophie Moran is one of the many great makers at Markit this year

We'll be chatting a bit about the upcoming makers markets, Markit on the 23 of November and The Big Design Market 5-7 December. We've got some tips on how to avoid market fatigue and talk about some of the highlights for us at these blockbuster events.

If you can't handmake all your gifts be sure to buy local and handmade
We'll be tellling you what is on our Santa list this year. Top of my list is this stunning tinsel inspired necklace by jeweller Felicity Large now on show at Bini Gallery. Just one of the many great places you can buy beautiful, unique, local handmade objects that will beat a book voucher any day.

a new book by Beci Orpin is always reason to celebrate
If you do get a book voucher we highly recommend the new crafty tome by uber designer Beci Orpin. Make and Do is an explosion of ideas and inspiration, cleverly capturing Beci's warmth and generosity as well as her unique superstar style.

Kate Wischusen
If we have time we'll also let you know some of the great shows on around town. We love this time of year because there is so much on, a highlight being the graduate shows. Some of our favourite emerging makers are in this years RMIT School of Art Honours opening on the 18th at First Site Gallery.  Listen in people! Stay in the loop! RAMONA