SHOW OF THE WEEK

a cut above

Way way back in 2006 the ladies of HML sang the praises of artist Emma Van Leest. And then something crazy happened. The world, its seemed, went crazy for paper cutting. Which is fair enough because in terms of handmade this has to one the most labour intensive but also one of the most impressive art forms.

Van Leest's new show Perpetua at the John Buckley gallery sees her refining the work, going larger in scale and looser in composition. It's her lightness of touch that we find so impressive.

It's hard to really see how amazing these are with these little pics. You really need to go see them. You have until the 26th of June. prepare to be amazed!

John Buckley Gallery
8 Albert Street
Richmond 3121

ZINE OF THE WEEK

HOT OFF THE PRESSES!

Here it is, in all it's baltic glory... the Craftbusters Eurovision Edition.

We thought we'd give you a little sneak peak inside because we've done things a little differently this time around - we may not have been able to go 3D (yet) but inspired by the colour and movement of Eurovision 2010 we have incorporated some full colour throughout the zine...

as well as our trusty lifestyle, beauty and fashion advice, and of course our trademarked crazy craft projects for good measure. Hope you like it peoples. We had a blast making it! BECK

WE MADE THEM OURSELVES

Share the moment...

This has been a busy week at HML headquarters, because we've been knee deep in Eurovision madness trying to get the latest installment of Craftbusters finished in time to meet our super tight Sticky 168 zine deadline. For those not familiar with the process, Melbourne's house of Zines the Sticky Institute run annual zine making endurance challenges, in which participants have 168 hours to produce their zine. AND copies for everyone else involved in the project. This particular event was to be loosely based around Eurovision - and each participant was designated a country, just like Eurovision. We were ecstatic to hav been given Belarus (that butterfly reveal was spectacular), although we would have been equally happy with the Blade Runner meets Michael Stipe madness brought by Moldovia... 

the harlequin vs. little tin soldiers of Spain

or even Bulgaria's Leather man Miloslav and his camp band of 'angels'...

So aside from the day to night beauty tips from Belarus's lady detectives, outfitting advice for superstar upgrades and paparazzi pouncing and a Patented DIY Butterfly Masquerade kit, we threw them all into starring roles with appropriately themed craft projects  for good measure. Craftbusters Eurovision Edition (live from Minsk HQ) will be available as of tomorrow in the HML and Sticky shops.... Share the moment.

Oh and for those that might have missed the magic on Sunday night here's that unforgettable performance by our comrades.

enjoy!
BECK

SHOWS OF THE WEEK

best seat in the house

DOMESTIC DEATH RATTLE, Adam Cruickshank

"The recent preference for, if not prevalence of, the ‘hand-made’ within aspects of consumer culture stands in stark contrast to the vast majority of our culture’s manufactured objects, most of which are the result of distant economic systems rather than creative ones. A studio-based process of repositioning, reevaluating, revealing and obscuring domestic forms and details has here resulted in a playful mixtape of popular interior culture and desire; a mongrel medley of Better Homes and Gardens aesthetic manipulations and a mishmash of misplaced display home decoration." Couldn't have said it better ourselves. You know the man, you know his work, you know the gallery, and you know this show will rule. You also know you should probably make the effort to get along and see it for yourself. We will be.

West Space gallery June 4 - July 26

Opening night  Thursday June 3 6-8pm free music and posters for punters in attendance

Artist Talk Saturday June 19 2.00-3.00pm nothing but free speech at this one.

WONDERNAMEL, Rmit Gold and Silversmithing.

You got to love a pun, espeically when it's attached to work as good as this. Wondernamel began in 2007, the title and contents based around the idea of the curiosity cabinet or wonder room and has been presented since as annual group exhibition showcasing fresh and original work in the area of enamelling. Only on until the end of this week and well worth making the effort to see.

First Site RMIT Union Gallery, Until June 5

Storey Hall Basement, 344 Swanston St Melbourne.

and saving the best for last we also have...

TEXTURE OF MEMORIES Jenny Bartholemew

This new exhibition is the culmination of a year long collaborative exploratino of the memories and skills around textiles, clothing and materials of domestic life between Textile Artist extrodinairre Jenny Bartholemew, writer Peter Anderson and the residents of Eltham Retirement Centre. It promises to showcase all the tenets of Jenny's work we have come to know and love, complete technical mastery, a totally unique point of view and a tangible connection to the complicated nature of human condition - in other words a moving work of complete genius. The show opens this Saturday June 5 and both Jenny and Peter will be giving a floor talk at 5pm. Get the car ready for a weekend excursion!

Eltham Library Community Gallery,  from June 3 - 27.

Panther Place, Eltham (Melway 21 J5)

BECK

PROJECTS OF THE WEEK... PART ONE

ALL HANDS ON DECK!

So a little longer than a week ago I set myself to stitching... and am happy to report that i'm almost through with the ping pong king (don't ask I just let these things happen) They eyes may need a little evening up and the crown needs some satin stitch filler, but apart from that he's pretty much complete, and i'm happy with him. I'm thinking of him as a sampler for the next needley project i've got on my plate, which involves this...

The customising of this calico bag. We try to avoid talking up our regular worklives here on HML but this was such an occasion of being able to do a fun thing at work that you wish you did more often in real life I think it qualifies... and its hella crafty after all. Craft Victoria is celebrating it's 40th anniversary this year, so we commissioned (as geeky fans do) two of our favourite and fabulous yokels Dell Stewart and Adam Cruickshank to design a crafty bag that we could invite peeps to customise... kind of like a bedazzler come embroidery colouring in book if you will.

It's an awesome project (if I do say so myself), and great prizes are on offer, but I have been too busy gardening, cooking and attending to other craft projects to actually get stuck into my own.

As you can see Dell has already set the bar high with her rainbow fingernails, but I think I can come up with something pretty snazzy - am thinking flames, lightening bolts, metallic thread - (yes i've been absorbed, entertained and inspired by eurovision this weekend) Ramona has one on the go, as does Miss Penpen, and the lovely Jenny Bartholemew so there will be some smokin entries in the comp come judgement day. All entries must be in by June 11, so i'd best get cracking. This week is the week. I hope.

BECK