TOKYO BOOTY PART THREE

bookworm
No trip to Tokyo is complete for me without the purchase of at few japanese craft books - I have quite a collection that Ramona and I have dubbed "genki craft porn" that I love looking at but am yet to have a crack at the projects contained therein. On this trip I determined enough with the eye candy (well sort of) and hello to pattern books full of clothes I actually want to wear. Let's just say in the four books I collected I struck GOLD.

pattern for the best pants ever

the best kind of root vegetables



yes thanks ladies i'll have what you're having

to add to Ramona's mad christmas gift list

  

oh my mistake, actually these are the best pants ever

at last a louche look even old ladies can work

yes a button smock, stripey top, boots and headphones - heaven

bugger summer, here's my new autumn look

smiley face

button porn

 

mary ingles eat your heart out



perfect summer dress, hold the mary poppins references

half pint perfection

even bird flu can be fun!

I have been polishing up my pattern scaling skills in anticipation .Now I just need to work on my Kanji. EEK

BECK

MARKit redux

design frenzy

Well I figured that the weather, being as terrible as it was, would keep the peeps away. Well you know what? I was so very very wrong. The atrium was jam packed with enthusiastic shoppers (yes everyone seemed to be buying) and designers/makers/crafters were doing really well despite the drizzle and driving wind.

We were very impressed with the branding and publicity for this market. Posters everywhere, email newsletter, hamper giveaway and quality goods on show. Very inspiring!

We can't show you what we purchased from the lovely Anika of the Gently Unfurling Sneak because it's for the intern's Christmas stocking.

It was lovely to catch up with the ladies of Harvest Textiles

And I fell instantly in love with the illustrations of artist crafter Dawn Tan. Dawn was sponsored by Craft Victoria to have a stand at Markit and she was doing so well. But really, who can say no to a paper mountain range brooch? not me that's for sure. RAMONA

SHOW OF THE WEEK

mo's and macaroons

Couple of ace things competing for my attention between wreath making and gingerbread cookie decorating. I could do with a break from Christmas (did I really say that? It's not event time to crack open the advent calendar!)

Beards Down Under is a short and curly  collaboration between Katie Jacobs and Brittany Veitch as part of the nutty Beardo Exhibition.They've reinterpreted Movember and hand crafted some mo's for the ladies. Yes the downstairs region gets a makeover like no other. Hilarity ensues!

Curator Kim Brockett (or as we call her at HML -the Pocket Rocket Brockett) is examining the rituals of High Tea. 11 artist were invited to explore this timeless and caloric tradition in any number of ways - luckily Bundoora Homestead has a cafe that does a great Devonshire tea. Burp. RAMONA

Beardo Hawthorn Town Hall Gallery until December 18
High Tea Bundoora Homestead until  February 6 (2011! omg!

Market of the week

MARKit!

 Quick people, here'a a last minute rainy day activity - get in your car or on a tram or train and head straight for the city... not only can you enjoy something delicious in a laneway to fulfill your afternoon tea needs but you can pick up a fantastic christmas bargain at MARKit at Federation Square! While i'm stuck at home babysitting Ramona is out and about enjoying it all - she'll post pics later this week. I am envious as hell people because its fill to the rafters with most excellent peeps and their equally excellent wares.

Everyone from Ask Alice to Thirddrawerdown has a stall (and if you dont believe me check out the link above and see for yourself) Of course some of our personal favourites including the lovely Irene from Iggy and LouLou, Anika from the Gently Unfurling Sneak, the lovely ladies of Harvest Textiles and Sunday Morning Designs as well as Mr Gregory Bonasera,  Beci Orpin and Betty Jo (aka Liz Jones) will also be there flogging their stuff - and you know how much we like good stuff!

Still open for a few more hours GET THERE and grab a bargain!
BECK

BAKE OFF OF THE WEEK

mellow yellow

As is was master Thom's birthday this week Max and I whipped up a batch of buttercakes for the Friday morning play date, Max is very proud of his burgeoning cake baking talents and wouldnt let me stir anything because "Max can do it Mummy away" - thank god it was a Donna Hay melt and mix version or we may still be at the kitchen bench...

Thom was very pleased with the addition of presents and cakes the usual array of cars, trains, slides and sandpit action, Max on the other hand, ever the critic pointed out that there were not enough sprinkles...

Thank God The Birthday Boy wasn't so fussy.

BECK