PARTY OF THE DAY

Pie in the sky

We can't recommend illustrating genius and Jacky Winter stablemate Ben Sanders' new book I've an Uncle Ivan enough. Both Mixmaster Maxwell and Superwomble Thom think its the proverbial bees knees... and yes we're pretty much reading it every night before bed at least once!

In the best tradition of children's books it's brilliantly and hilariously illustrated (think beatnik circus and you're on your way)and reveals more layers and characters with each reading. There's even inbuilt paper craft at the back of it! Seriously, if we hadn't already booked ourselves into the fun and frivolity of Finders Keepers today we'd be heading down to Lamington Drive for sure to get ourselves some of the fairy bread fun on offer at the launch. If you can't make it (like us) to the party today you can still win yourself a free copy from the lovely people at LMNOP and Thames & Hudson here. Believe us it's worth it! BECK

I've an Uncle Ivan Book Launch & kids Party

Lamington Drive

15-25 Keele Street

Collingwood, Melbourne.

TODAY April 6

1-3pm.

get more details here 

IDEA OF THE WEEK

pinpoint

I got this funny little kit last week that I thought I'd share. It sort of looks like a stencil but with holes in it (bit like join the dots) The idea is that you pierce paper and then sew your image. As nice as the kit is I'm pretty sure you could do this with your own drawings - which I plan to do soon.

I made a lovely feather card for a dear friend who was, ahem, tickled pink by it! I got my kit from here. RAMONA

REMINDER OF THE WEEK

keep it cool

The weather is perfect for the Autumn Finders Keepers Market. so nice to rug up and head to the Royal Exhibition Building to see a wealth of handmade riches. The ladies of HML will be heading straight to Dale Hardiman's stand to pick up one of his delicious bowls.

Then we'll be picking up some swanky clip on bow ties for our little guys from Marcello Neckwear

And rumour has it that Cat Rabbit will have some alpaca softies on sale - woo hoo! 

See you there? We are hitting the market on Saturday afternoon - say hi if you spot us. RAMONA

EXPERIMENT OF THE WEEK

beady eyes

The ladies of HML have become a bit bead obsessed of late (have you noticed?) between air dry clay, glow in the dark fimo and now raw wood beads.

Liberty print beads@ Louis Vuitton

I'd originally bought these to do one of those fabric tube stuffed with wood bead neck things (I'm sure they have a more official name than that). I saw there was a $800 Louis Vuitton version a couple of years ago that I loved but was well out of my tax bracket. I had bought a beautiful palette of blues for another project and I couldn't resist.

There is a lot to consider with this kind of project. How to paint the beads, how to dry the beads and then then what order to string them in.  I was going to be a bit more random but I I found after a lot of playing around symmetry is best (surprise surprise).  I bought a bag of 100 beads from here. I only used half for this project so what will I do next? RAMONA

INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK

wood is good

I've been doing a lot of research in to the work of mid 20th Century architect and textile designer Alexander Girard lately.  I saw the image of these dolls and just fell madly in love with them. A champion of folk art, a collector of nativities and early adopter of the softies craze (he commissioned artist Marilyn Neuhart to make 100 of them for the opening of his store in 1961)

I can't say my little doll family quite captures the surreal circus vibe of Girard's little group - I think I need weirder shapes for that but looking at his work I learnt so much about how unexpected composition and pattern can make even the smallest of craft projects come to life.

These guys look like they should be starring in their own little stop motion animated romantic comedy! It is a small friend's birthday in June so I have a bit of time to make a bag to go with them. RAMONA