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 here… BECK

AIRWAVES OF THE WEEK - HML ON THE GRAPEVINE, ANNA VARENDORFF, FRESH! AT CRAFT, MOTHERS DAY AND CRAFT CUBED

we're back...

Yes back at the RRR's and back on air today around 10.30ish on the grapevine. Hear us wax lyrical on what's on around town, what we've been up to, what you need to see, make and yes do... basically covering all that is crafty in Melbourne. 

SEE

Slip

Group show Slip at Anna Pappas gallery brings together a collection of artists creating work that in some way articulates change, slight almost imperceptible but most definately present. Features HML favourite and top five exhibition of the year candidate Anna Varendorff. 

Until May 31.

Anna Pappas

2-4 Carlton Street, Prahran.

Fresh! at Craft Victoria

Elise Sheehan

We reviewed this one last week but we can't talk it up enough. Its a GREAT show. Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year it has an alumni that reads like a who's who of contemporary craft and has proven record unearthing craft superstars of the future. This year is no exception.

at Craft until June 8.

31 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

Lifestyle Concept 

Alex Vivian

This one is gonna be great!!!  Lifestyle Concepts features some of Melbournes finest makers and thinkers from conceptual fashion duo Dolce and Kabana, set designer, sculptor and illustrator Madeline Kidd (currently also exhibiting in the window at Craft) to contemporary abstractionist Lisa Radford, superstar craft triple threat Meredith Turnbull and object manipulator Alex Vivian. 

May 7 - June 7 at Daine Singer 

Basement 325 Flinders Lane, Melbourne

opening 4-6pm saturday may 10.

MAKE 

Martha Friedman macaroni necklace

Lucy Folk

Mothers Day is right up there in the lexicon of craft holidays and its not too late to whip up your own original work for Mothers Day. Getting kids to make something for mum (other than a mess) is always a winner and getting your first gold sprayed macaroni necklace is definitely a right of passage. We're both hoping our boys take a leaf out of Lucy Folk's book and make this our year, but given the impact of loom bands and mine craft we're probably going to end up with a pixilated pick axe or plastic choker. 

If you're looking to make something simple but a little more sophisticated for either your kids or you to make have a crack at a simple silhouette portrait, hand painted pot and planter or a dip dyed t-shirt or tote bag. Also remember craft books and supplies never go astray for making mums if you're still stuck for ideas we'll be showing you a couple of super quick projects guaranteed to please during the week. Watch this space.

DO

The annual Scarf festival is an international open entry competition, sales opportunity and exhibition Originating at Craft Victoria many years ago it's been held at the National Wool Museum in Geelong for the last five years or so and just keeps getting bigger and better. Felters, knitters, crochet masters, dyers, patchworkers and fibre artists of all kinds welcome and call outs have been extended until May 16. Get more info HERE and get on board.

Closing date for entries Friday May 16

Exhibition Launch June 5

Exhibition open from Friday June 6 - Sunday September 5

Craft Cubed 

Craft is currently taking expressions of interest for satellite programs for this years festival. Got a great idea for an exhibition, workshop, performance, market, pop up shop, open studio, or happening or already have something taking place during august? Join the growing list of amazing people, projects and events in Australia's only festival of craft! Seriously this is a great for event for makers of all kinds and well worth becoming a part of! Check out details here, or call Program Coordinator Gemma Jones at Craft.

There are also bucketloads of new courses starting up all over Melbourne which we'll be reporting on this week, so keep your pencils or smartphones handy if you're interested in either serious upskilling or starting a new hobby.

whew lots on... see you on air - BECK AND RAMONA

PROJECTS OF THE WEEK - WOOD BLOCKS AND LACE BOWLS

building blocks

Well the summer school holidays are stretching on in that usual way. kids underfoot, hard to get started, heatwaves etc. Not to mention an intense work period for Beck and I which involves us texting, emailing, phoning and typing all at the same time. The nature of collaboration for us at this time of year is all electronic despite being in walking distance of each others house! In between I've continued making little things, mainly gifts for friends and family. the blocks are for Mr M who works at the museum as a preparator - it's my version of an executive toy! The beards are for my sister in law's birthday -not 'til April so I'll make a little pouch for them too.

The log lady brooch (my favourite Twin Peaks character) was for me but Beck has made me promise to make her one. The doily bowl is to hold my newly acquired crochet yarns (I'm determined to MASTER it). The houses are a house warming gift, much overdue and the beads are for my daughter who as a 19 year old design student is very picky, but she loves these. None of these projects took longer than 30 minutes so they are all achievable for even the busiest bees. I hope you are all finding the time to make in between everything else you are doing. RAMONA

ps. clearly I'm loving orange and blue combos!

PROJECTS OF THE MONTH - PAPER FLOWERS, GILDED BOXES, STITCHED CARD, FABRIC EGGS

homestay

dip dyed beads, chalkboard paint gift box, stitched card and polymer clay jewellery

While Beck and her boys are sunning themselves (with periodic rain drenching) down coastal way I'm stuck at home with my brood wishing I could get away. But alas alack both funds and work commitments mean that this summer is a stay at home vacation for me. So I've been crafting a lot, what a surprise right?

wool stash being used to help me learn crochet fabric eggs are a bit pre-emptive I know!

Just little projects that only take 30 minutes or so (the fabric eggs took longer but were 'tv' craft) in between work work and home work. I'm starting to want to get stuck into a major project but am yet to settle on one thing. So for now I'm happy to puddle along, going through craft boxes to finish some works in progress and make the odd card or two for early birthdayers.

crepe paper flowers, cards and gift boxes.

Those of you that follow me on Instagram will have seen these so apologies but there are still so many of you who haven't crossed over to the shorthand social media. so I thought I'd share these with you. I hope your summer (and winter if you are northern hemisphere brrrrr) times are going well and you have recovered from the TRAUMA of 2013 (yes everyone had a bad year). This one is going ok so far? RAMONA

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

PROJECT OF THE WEEK - ANNUAL BAUBLE BAKE OFF

from little things

Regular HML readers will know that every year I make personalised baubles for all the kids in my life. When I started this tradition my daughter was one of three kids I did this for. Now there are 19! SO as you can imagine it has turned into quite a major project for an already busy time of year.

They nearly always incorporate things I am currently craftily interested in - in this case signwriting, hexagons and my Xmas decoration project. I also need designs that are easy to replicate so that the whole thing takes me a day rather than a month.

It is one of my favourite traditions. I really love all the kids in my life (my own most of all of course!) and it is a lovely way to celebrate them at my favourite time of year. If you'd like to see past decorations go here and head down the rabbit hole! RAMONA

Merry Christmas Hope, Thom, Maxwell, Finn, Silas, Sunday, Wolfgang, Clancy, Kye, Alani, Gene, Rueben, Nicholas, Sebastian, Georgia, Audrey, Toma, Lily and Charlie.

PROJECTS OF THE WEEK - WEAVER FEVER

warp speed!

Last week it was my turn to play teacher at HML HQ and pass on my weaving 'expertise' to my craft compadre Ramona. Finally my many, many years behind the loom paid off and I got to talk about dents, reeds, sheds and shuttles with someone who was actually interested in it!! It's weird having been a practitioner of what was for so long such an uncool and mostly unknown craft to now see Instagram full of hipster craft kids whipping out tabby looms and getting busy. But its not surprising because weaving is really REALLY awesome.

But I digress - possibly the best thing about teaching is having the chance to set up alongside and go over the most basic steps in chronological order - relearning how and why you do things rather than skipping to the short cuts you invariably make once you get proficient at something. Adding to the fun is the fact that Ramona is both an enthusiastic crafter and super quick study - so it didn't take long to get her warped up and ready to weave on her new rigid heddle loom.

Ramona has already finished her gorgeous sampler (above) which is evidence of both her own super skills and her fantastic teacher (ha ha).

I think it's fair to say she is seriously hooked on this weaving business.  I would even go so far as to say that Ramona is a complete natural and is now outdoing me  - she's already warped up number two and is well underway to whipping up a family's worth of Christmas scarves.

I have to say I totally enjoyed playing around on my table loom without the more complicated considerations of multi shaft patterning so much that although I haven't washed and blocked my piece yet I too have warped up another sampling loom and started designing my Winter  '14 product range. Yes people you read right  - I did actually say product range. Hold onto your hats.

In the meantime, speaking of Instagramming crafters, I've also finally finished my mega tapestry which I have to say I am pretty damn chuffed with. Its so great to finally have time to make stuff just at the time when there's a growing community of fellow fibre junkies to share it with.  And did I mention that we're COMPLETELY addicted.  BECK

PROJECT OF THE WEEK - HAND DYE AND FABRIC FLOWERS

flower power

A lovely friend asked me to make some fabric flowers for her so I spent two days creating a spring bouquet that I thought I'd share today as it is so gloomy in our neck of the woods. First I hand painted canvas with a mix of fabric medium and acrylic paint. I use drop sheet canvas rather than calico as it has more texture and a heavier weight.

Making fabric flowers is essentially the same process as making paper ones but with added durability. It is a lot slower too so you have to enjoy and embrace the process. I made bunches of these flowers to sell a few moons ago and I found it very tough going on the hands and heart. It's much nicer to make this as a gift.

I tried playing around with different shapes and styles to add more 'realism' to the bunch. I absolutely loved the yellow one but stupidly only painted enough for two flowers. My next project is to make a huge bunch of yellow ones for someone special.

You could make them as present toppers, wreathes, boutonnières, garlands. Nature, as always, offers the best inspiration. RAMONA 

ps -spot the gold stamens? they are from a millinery supply store and add a nice detail.