show of the week

babes in toyland

You know how much we love a co-lab, and Toytown Tales (opening tonight at Outre) is just about the perfect example of 'craftist' collaboration. Painter Martin Harris and toymaker Jess McCaughey are both Melbourne artisans with cult followings - Harris for his trippily nostalgic, candy-coloured odes to childhood and McCaughey for her brilliant bears and exquisite counter-cute crochet.

HOW AND WHY, Martin Harris

WALTER, Jess McCaughey

In this, the first Outre showcase for 2012, Harris will be populating his paintings with McCaughey's characters, and in turn McCaughey will be bringing some of Harris painted people off the canvas and into arugami awesomeness. Brilliant, cannot wait to see this one. BECK

Gift of the week

Let me call you sweet heart

We don't usually do 'romance' as such at ours, we're more likely to express our affection by wearily making each other a beverage at sparrows whatsit as we attempt to attend to the small people making havoc around the house. It's not that we don't like it, just that it's not our natural habitat. Truth be told I'm always a bit jealous of Ramona's ease with the romantic gesture. So imagine my surprise when I sent a link to a special Rob Ryan Valentines limited edition print to the in house architect and promptly received a "you know we should buy this for ourselves to make up for all the valentines and anniversary dinners we haven't had". GOBSMACKED. So next thing you know a box from St. Jude's prints arrives all the way from Merry England and inside is this. Most amazingly perfect sentiment for two shy and not overly demonstrative but still incredibly in love people EVER. What's even better is that Mr. Ryan made three versions of the print so fellas who like fellas and ladies who like ladies were not left out. Take note Abbot and Gillard, would that you also be so inclusive. BECK

Project of the week

You make me happy when sky are grey...

This is my handmade valentines day card/gift/project. these frames are at Ikea for $3 and fantastically light weight. They are terrific for collage projects, framing kids art and in my case going completely overboard decorating and framing photos. I've done 6 of these so far and I love them. my beloved is pretty much Handmade Ryan Gosling but real. He's made emergency trips to spotlight for paper mâché reindeer, driven to four different art riot stores for glue sticks and has helped me set up market stands of fabric flower wreathes. He brings me breakfast in bed on Sunday morning so I can watch YouTube clips of papercrafting techniques, drives across town to find floral tape. He'll even help me hang my valentine collage up. He's tops.
Ps check out the glorious gosling tumblr here . RAMONA

Chat of the week

We are baaaack listeners!

This morning the ladies of HML we be on RRR talking up the new jewelers/object makers studio/workshop/community/organization North City Four. I dreamt last night I had a studio there, so clearly it's on everyone's minds!

We'll be letting you know about the Doily craft exhibition at gleaners Inc which looks amazing, inclusive and joyous. The doily has been a celebrated craft object for some time now so it will be interesting to see some new interpretations of this much loved material.

We'll also confess our deep love for all things Stampel. Designer Andrea Shaw has reintroduced Melbourne to a love of macramé and turned the up cycling of wooden offcuts into great design.

We'll let you know about what is happening at Craft Victoria including the super cool garden craft competition they have running. So it'll be a jam packed show as per usual. Listen in on 102.7 at around 1030am - we'll be there with bells on!

CRAFT BOOK CHALLENGE

best laid plans

OK so Ramona only got one of her four proposed projects done in January. And she got it done beautifully. I am in awe. As for my own efforts... well let's just say my intentions were a lot better than the actual outcome and perhaps leave it at that. Except I can't because having proposed the idea of the monthly Craft Book Challenge I really should be bringing more to the party but there you have it. I promise to do better this month. And no that's not what I made in January above, its's the brilliant op-shop find that initially inspired my January selection of gingham cross stitch craft. After I searching through my collection of embroidery books and found The Colour Book of EMBROIDERY by Jane Simpson...

Which contained the instructions to create this fabulous little number (the apron not the chair, although I like the chair too) Which I then thought I might whip up for Maxwell to do his Friday baking in. And before you ask yes pink is his favourite colour and yes he does like to wear an apron and yes we usually bake something on a Friday. We like a routine.

However as previously mentioned life intervened. Leaving me with these little cross stitch coasters as my humble offering to the craft book gods -  and a little handmade gesture to add to my brother's breakfast set birthday gift package.

I guess I should be happy I actually got anything made given the circumstances, and I will admit that now that I'm sitting here looking at them they are making me smile. Going through the process has reminded me how much I enjoyed making stuff, and how quick it is to do this kind of embellishment. So maybe I can file this away in the "to be continued" pile, and get him a matching tablecloth or runner finished in time for Christmas. BECK