OPENINGS OF LAST WEEK - GEMMA JONES, VICTORIA MASON, COTTAGE INDUSTRY

How Can We Not be Ourselves and Rumble in the Jumble?

Well we said we were going and so we went. Two big events on the July craft calendar were up for grabs this weekend and we made the most of them... 

Friday night saw the most lovely Gemma Jones' showcase her new paintings and some fine enamel wall banners and jewels by her collaborating cohort Victoria Mason light up Outré Gallery with their fineness. What a great night, what great company and what smashing artworks!

I have to say I'm a complete sucker for mod styling, pop painting and book page prints, especially when they're executed with such a deft hand and quick wit. Gemma manages to merge plentiful and playful subtext together with giddy sense fan-girl fun, wide eyed naiveté with knowing nods and winks. Like a perfect old school pop record her work manages to blend heartbreak and back beats with a soaring chorus that we can all join in. Top Job Gemma.

Victoria Mason has been perfecting her enamel objects with increasingly convincing outcomes for a while now, and just when we think she's hit her peak she wows us all over again. Such are these pieces, the photo of which does no justice to their appeal (I blame the Sailor Jerry's). Incredibly appealing and skill-fully executed we want to see them all over our walls and maybe even our bodies - why not a breastplate sized pendant? Works were selling fast - we hope there are still some left come payday! The exhibition is on until August 8 at one of our favourite shops (see what I did there) Outré Gallery.

Saturday morning we were up early (but not so bright) to head to the cottage studio for the much anticipated Rumble in the Jumble Sale. While we left the lining up for others with earlier bedtimes and better morning dispositions we did still get in relatively early. 

To say that we were a little overwhelmed might well be the understatement of the year. Confronted by a wall of fabric of which the photo above is just a tiny sample, I kind of stopped breathing and went into a kind of ecstatic but mind numbingly confused state that ended with me walking out without actually managing to select any fabric to take home with me. D'OH!!!

But along with the booty came the opportunity to catch up with some of Melbourne's finest craftspeople Madeline Sargent, Lichen Kemp of Sunday Morning Designs, Anna Davern, Sandra Eterovic were all out in force picking up bargains, and we also found our folk fable favourite in the house, AND even got to meet the one and only Kaz Cooke - I was too star struck to tell her that she pretty much saved me from my first experience with child birth and rearing... but Ramona, completely unfazed as usual in her own amazing way managed a chat and confirms that she's tops. We're pretty sure everyone we know made it in over the weekend. And yet apparently there is still stuff left... hmmm payweek next week, maybe I should email Pene about that pile of afghans I saw! BECK

OPEN STUDIOS OF THE WEEK - SOPHIE MOORHOUSE MORRIS'S BAKERHOUSE

bakers dozen

image by Brooke Holm courtesy of Design Files

Regular readers will know what suckers we are for pots and patterns and given that local ceramicist Sophie Moorhouse Morris pretty much nails this brief we've been fans for a while now. Sophie is part of a new group of makers that includes another hml fave Chela Edmunds bringing their design skills and training to clay. And we couldn't be happier to see this new crop coming up with the goods. After recently being reminded again of how much we like her work at the Design Files Open House and Slow Clay Pop Up we've rekindled quite the craft crush. 

We love Sophie's clever colour patterning and the inclusion of mixed media in her porcelain accessories, the lightness of her geometric line drawn vessels and the graphic minimalism of her pots and planters. It takes a lot of skill to show such confident restraint. On her super cool blog we've found that she's also great photographer and painter making her a certified creative triple threat for ours.

Given all this hero worship we're pretty pleased that Ms Moorhouse Morris has been filled with the christmas spirit and decided to hold a 'One Day Mini Marche`! with Jen Booth in offering up a selection of ceramic, leather and jewellery wares amongst other 'nifty treats' to lucky visitors. Check out the booty above and you'll see why we've got our hands in the air crying HUZZAH! Clearly I'm going to need a longer Christmas list. BECK

Saturday December 21
10am - 6pm
7-11, Dawson Street Brunswick.

MOVING SALE OF THE WEEK - SOPHIE MORAN

claynation

While we've been busy baking gingerbread for kinder teachers and setting up christmas trees (wait to you see Ramonas!!!)  one of our favourite wheel masters Sophie Moran has done packed her old Fitzroy studio and started moving right along to her super hot new space in Collingwood... right next door to slow clay. We're calling this early as the start of a new melbourne craft precinct. 

Before opening her new doors in 2014, lucky peeps available Thursday December 19 from 4-7pm can pay their last respects to the old joint and pick up a bargain while they're at it! GENIUS! We suspect there will be most excellent booty on offer.... hmmm actually y'all better make that 4.30 - we want to get the best stuff first ;) BECK

Building 3/ 433 Smith St 

Between Queens and Alexander Pde

Nth Fitzroy.

RECAP OF THE WEEK - SLOW CLAY, SUPERMARKET, BIG DESIGN MARKET

CRAFT EVERYWHERE CRAFT EVERYWHERE*

Wow what a weekend! Honestly we were blown away with how spoilt we are in Melbourne when it comes to makers, locations and events. We might bitch and moan occasionally about being too busy but seriously who would have it any other way, we are so lucky to live in such a supportive and creative city. Props Melbounre! As you know we had an itinerary that included Slow Clay in collingwood, Supermarket at CV in the City, and The Big Design Market in Fitzroy - no mean feat, but we were hydrated and ready.

SLOW CLAY

The pop up at Slow Clay didn't disappoint, the shop space was filled with fantastic work by some of our favourite wheel people, we were bewitched by the garden furniture of Greg Hatton and the light pouring into the studio space made us realise that we were definitely signing up for classes next year.  Special mention as well to the upcycled chandeliers by Sally Anne Mill which totally ruled the roost and left us gobsmacked. What a beautiful space Jane has created. We will be back.

SUPERMARKET

We had shopping lists for Supermarket at Craft Victoria, serious shopping lists. And let's just say we didn't leave empty handed. Such great work, so beautifully displayed we took home ceramic works by Kirsten Perry and both frocks and jewels by Alpha 60 but will are coming back for more at the opening festivus this Saturday (the 14th) where will also be filling our faces with free drinks and fairy floss - you have been warned!

BIG DESIGN MARKET

We're calling this years Big Design Market a super sized success. As punters we were thrilled with the array of booty, the excellent food and beverage choices and the open dining and kids play areas. Product of the event has to go to Cottage Industry with her felt suburb and 'state of mind' pennants which will probably also win the award for the most commercially copied product of 2014. Just brilliant (and still available in store until christmas!) Most important however was seeing the collection of woven stars from Maryann Talia-Pau's million stars to end violence project. We seriously believe that having the results of this beautiful project at the centre of the space watching over everyone just totally changed the vibe of the event. Self conscious young hipsters (see above) and suburban mannas mingled happily without a sharp elbow in sight. Mind blowingly good. The old building never looked better, and we felt privileged to have seen them all together lighting up the room. there were so many peeps snapping pics we think Maryann might just have broken Instagram over the weekend. Top job team, bring on the next one!

Oh and in case you hadn't realised yet - only 14 days till christmas.

 *if you didnt get the title reference just sing it to the tune of AZZ EVERYWHERE, and yes I just put capital C Craft and Big Freedia in the same post. BECK

HAPPENINGS OF THE WEEK - SLOW CLAY, SUPERMARKET, BIG DESIGN MARKET,

big, bigger, biggest

This weekend promises to be a veritable banquet of craft and design. Now we've got the Melbourne Now opening sorted, super hip kitly and dagmar have had their home shopping experience and the annual big Melbourne Open House has moved to Sydney we're free to concentrate on the next round of hand made events.  Over the next few days super ceramicist collective Slow Clay open their first ever pop up shop, Craft launches its new concept shop exhibition called Supermarket (pun intended) and the biggest Craft and Design show to ever hit Melbs  THE BIG DESIGN MARKET (yes capitalisation is mandatory) takes over the exhibition buildings.  Seriously people there are NO excuses for last minute chain store purchases under the tree this year (although you will be forgiven a book voucher for that really difficult bitchy partner of the uncle you only see once a year)

Given our weaving and ceramic obsessions we'll most definitely be popping in to the Slow Clay Pop Up to add to our growing Janetta Kerr-Grant collection and I for one am really keen to see (and no doubt succumb to) the patch-worked magic of Brighid Lehmann. This is the first time the lovely Jane Sawyer and the slow clay crew have done anything like this and the work will no doubt be excellent so we cannot recommend this one highly enough. 

Slow Clay Pop-Up: 

5-8 DEC, 11am - 7pm. 

13 Keele St, Collingwood

Supermarket is a concept driven, exhibition meets retail event hybrid that will showcase very special limited edition works from a select group of Melbourne's finest including: collabed prints and jewellery by Lucy James + Anna Davern, new pieces from the Home Work label by Jess wright and Lara Davies of Harvest Textiles, brand spanking ceramic tableware and objects by Kirsten Perry, sculptural ceramics from Arts project Australia, never before seen monochromatic works by Emily Green, and very fancy and super exciting garments and accessories by fashion icons Alpha 60. 

In a revolutionary concept that confounds regular exhibition protocols works will be sold in a first come best dressed fashion and are available to take away - a unique opportunity for consumers and serious aesthetic challenge for curator Debbie Pryor and exhibition designer Andrei Davidoff. Works go on sale this Friday with a special festival opening day that promises fairy floss, free drinks, artists in the house and workshops between 1-4pm on Saturday December 14. Woo Hoo .... PAAAAARTAAAY

Supermarket

Friday Dec 5 - Tuesday Dec 24

Gallery 1, 2 and 3 at Craft Victoria

31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Unless you've been under the proverbial rock you would know that  the monolith that is TBDM the sophomore edition rolls into town this Friday. This year comes complete with supercool food vans, workshops by some of our favourite peeps (yes Beci and Maryann we're lookin' at you) stuff for the kids to do and a list as long as you and your best friends arm of australian and international makers all offering up their wares in one easy access location. We wont tell you everyone that's gonna be there because lets face it there are loads - check the directory here and you'll see what we mean! We will say however that some firm friends of HML (yes Miss P we are lookin at you) are having stands so clearly this is a MUST GO TO event.

Yes we have ongoing issues with it being called a Design market when most of the makers are craft practitioners (seriously people what's wrong with Craft???) but why quibble when there's so much love in the room, and the chance to meet so many awesome creatives. We will be there (literally) supporting the local hand made scene and probably spending the last of our cash on presents that the kids can give us on Christmas day (ok we've already picked stuff out!) because let's face it we deserve to get at least one present we like on the day! BECK

THE BIG DESIGN MARKET

6,7,8 December

Melbourne Exhibition Building

you know the rest... if not go here

BIG WEEKEND - DESIGN FILES OPEN HOUSE, WOODSFOLK POP UP, DAIRING, HUT 13

open house, open minds, open wallets

So last weekend was yet another completely mental Melbourne festivus of openings of galleries, exhibitions, warehouse doors and well curated houses. This time of year as we speed toward the Christmas it's hard not to feel just a little battered by the sheer weight of events. Seriously people there is new stuff on EVERY DAY!!! I don't know how we're all going to cope. In an attempt to start crossing stuff of our own to do list this past weekend team handmadelife made a plan.  Hit the design files open house then take a side trip to the lark/woodsfolk open warehouse pop up and then make for the new Hut 13 and super sleek yarn store Dairing while we were in the hood. We had an itemised agenda, google maps, and a whole load of shite music courtesy of our travelling companions smooth FM and Gold 101 and nothing was going to stop us. 

First stop Design Files Open House. 

artwork by Kirra Jamison ceramics by The Fortynine studio

Wooden vases by Stampel and what we think are Anchor ceramics

This was the third iteration and clearly they were working a blue theme. Its always great to see some of our favourite makers in a super slick domestic setting, especially artworks on the walls in a mass salon style hang that makes us wish we both had double height ceiling and bank accounts to match.

For ours Sandra Eterovic won the coveted (?) HML 'best on ground' award with her gobsmackingly beautiful and detailed portraits.

There was loads of good stuff on show, and even a couple of surprises like these pom pom crosses by Byron Based Jai Vasicek of Ahoy Trader.

and these glass domes by the one of our fave new melbourne glassies the wonderful Amanda Dziedzic.

And although we would have liked a little more variety in the ceramics department (sue us we're obsessed) we were pretty taken by these Bakerhouse pots by Sophie Moorhouse.

And while Sandra may have won the BOG, clearly the peoples choice was the Dulux dog... as Ramona said "it's like meeting a superstar!" another win by Lucy Feagins and the Design Files crew.

Second stop Lark/Woodsfolk Pop Up.

This turned out to be just as crazy busy as the open house - people lining up literally around the perimeter of the building - we happily snapped up a load of birthday party guff, wire baskets (which we'd seen moments earlier at TDF Open House) and all manner of stocking fillers. We were very happy with our haul, although were pipped at the post on a great Orla Keily teapot and super cool geometric yardage..by mystery lady in purple leggings with speedy gonzales snapping fingers!!!

While there we rediscovered Phillipa's hole in the wall bakery outlet,  which was just as well because clearly we needed coffee and brownies and mince tarts and ciabatta. We'll definitely be back.

Third stop Dairing and Hut 13.

Dairing yarn and knitwear was a recent discovery of ours (like two days before) via the power of Instagram (thanks pasadenamansions) and to be honest we lost our minds a tiny little bit over the linen thread, space dyed cashmere, copper metallics and super fine reflective tape.

The new Hut 13 in Richmond just down the road also didn't disappoint - full of the pops of colour and craft we've come to expect. I am now kicking myself that I didn't buy the oversized resin pineapple earrings I flounced about the shop with so I'm thinking they are a must for the Santa's list. Its definitely reassuring to see some retailers doing well enough to open up new spaces in new areas - despite the plethora of markets on the scene.

So as it turned out while everyone else had their doors open we ended up with our wallets open. Still who could be unhappy with bags full of superior craft supplies, birthday party booty and super cool stocking stuffers. We were so exhausted by the end of it all we didnt even manage MarkIt at Fed square the next day, which is usually an annual pilgrimage. In the meantime its going to be hard to manage to stay on track with our book work with our new supplies calling us from deep in their paper bags, but i'm sure if we support each other we'll manage... until Wednesday at least. BECK

GARAGE SALE OF THE WEEK - HARVEST TEXTILES

happy trails

It's hard to imagine Melbourne without Harvest Textiles. So many of us have been through the doors for classes, sales, pop up shops and if your lucky a nice cup of tea. Well don't panic they may be closing their Lygon street doors but they'll be reopening shortly after in a brand new spacious warehouse in Brunswickia. They've just released their 2014 class timetable so it's basically onward and upward for the Harvest crew. To help with the move they are having a big old fashioned garage sale today from 9-2. Everything from fabric, clothing, craft supplies, all sorts of treasure to be had. So go say goodbye to the old digs and pick up a bargain.

510 Lygon Street
East Brunswick