GIFTS OF THE WEEK

when neighbours become good friends

It's a funny thing. When do you decide it's appropriate to hand make gifts for people? Over the last couple of years, since the arrival of the womble we've noticed our lovely neighbours have been so thoughtful with Christmas and birthdays that I decided it was now overdue for their two fabulous gals who have birthdays only a day (and a few years) apart to receive something handmade

My 2011 obsession with stamping continues and I had some pretty yo yos lying around which I thought were pretty on a little collection of notebooks for the first week at school lady

Miss 3 year old got a sweet little dolly quilt and cushion which was very dodgy between you and me - I'm not the most mathematical creature and hope she doesn't have too critical an eye!

The Womble was very excited to deliver the packages, and to be honest with you so was I! An outstanding tradition has begun. love it.  RAMONA

SHOW OF THE WEEK

little machines

Well we made it through January. Such a weird nebulous month. We always feel that the year starts properly by February. People trickle back from coast and country, makers return to benches and kilns, galleries install new shows to inspire us all. Which is exactly what's happening this week with Pieces of Eights first exhibition of the year Dougal Haslem's The Turtle and The Merman

As you can tell by these images the show has a lot of whimsy to it but rest assured Haslem is no slouch as a maker. a masters in gold and silver smithing at RMIT and an acute eye for detail undercut the cutesy aspect of the work. 

I do have to admit there is an almost overwhelming desire to see if this turtle winds up and scurries across the floor. Show opens Feb 1 and there is a floor talk Feb 9 - more info at Pieces of Eight. RAMONA

BARBIE!

burp.

It was that kind of day. Last year's invasion day bbq was sunny, hot and full of the sound of willow on willow as we enjoyed a massive klopathon in the backyard. This year however dawned grey and cool so it was ALL about the food. And there was a lot to keep us occupied. The menu included: mint and ginger punch, grilled haloumi, olive dip, roasted balsamic mushrooms, grilled asparagus, garlic and rosemary turkish bread, roast cauliflower, rocket, fetta and duhkah salad, apple, walnut and cos salad with a delicious yoghurt dressing, tomato, bocconcini and basil salad, green pea and haloumi fritters, butterflied lamb roast, spicy italian pork sausages, and chicken skewers cooked on the architects japanese import fold up hibachi.  And then there was cake.

I got so excited about tucking into my platefull of food that I couldn't even wait to get the camera into focus.

And apparently the sausages were so delicious that the womble even managed to pull James into the station in order to squeeze one in.

the Hagrid handed in-house primary teacher DJ even brought along an amazing selection of beers from around the world, which to quote him were "good and strong... burp".

Max of course held out for dessert... Miss P's famous Ginger Fluff Sponge and Shula's pomegranate topped version of Maggie B's now infamous chocolate pavlova. DELICIOUS. we all realised that by the time we'd managed to empty the groaning table full of food into our now groaning bellies it was well after 5 and there was no time for Klop.

Which was just as well because as it turns out, within minutes of getting home all of us were pretty much in the same position as Master Maxwell... completely unconcious on the couch. Top afternoon. BECK

FOUND

misson brown 

To be honest while Ramona HATES the op-shop I love them, but for some reason (read inhouse architects demands for clean surfaces)  i've been sadly neglecting my passion for a few months now. Maybe its because i've been clearing out so many precious things from the study in anticipation of the new 'arrival' that I found my op-shop antenna twitching yesterday. I don't know - something about out with the old and all that. I'm very glad I gave in and headed out on a mission.  As it turned out with the first three things that fell into my lap it was in fact Misson Brown.

A little brown ceramic measuring metric cup jug, these amazing brown, fawn and lime green fairisle mittens and the brown bird tea-towel below.

As you can see from the brown owl detail below, the bird teatowel was really unputdownable. And I do love it when the op-shop gods start styling things in color palettes for you.

Then however things started turning blue...

This brilliant Better Homes and Gardens Barbeque Manual featuring fabulous thematic outdoor eating options like the one below. All the printing is that gorgeous litho style hypercolour that only the early sixties printing press can deliver.

Followed by this Richard Scarry What Animals Do book,  

Which, while a faded tanny- red on the outside opened up to a brilliant turquoise interior, emblazed with the following...  

and filled with the kind of illustration work that makes the ladies of HML such massive Scarry fans.

And the last find couldn't have been more topical (or indeed tropical) - and straight out of Miss P's amazing Queensland Flood Relief effort of last week...

I even managed to stash all my finds before the architect got home. Not that I was worried. BECK

GALLERY OF THE WEEK

little things, big things grow

The ladies of HML have made a decision. Every time the gutsy little Handheld Gallery has a new show we are going to plug it. We have been so impressed by the enterprise we have serious craft crush. Every time we go there we are inspired and energised - what more can you ask for?

For fresh ideas on installation of objects this is the gallery to look at. At the moment there is a great show by artist Kathy Fahey: Penang and Back - inspired by a residency there. Artist books, sculptures and drawings (some as small as 10cm) crammed into this tiny space.

Looksee! Chock full of zines, books, posters and objects - its an Aladdin's cave really.

They are also accepting proposals for shows in the second half of this year - maybe it's time to get that proposal together?

Craziest location of course, which in some ways makes it even more interesting. Handheld Gallery, just doing its thing. RAMONA

Location:
Suite 18, upstairs
Paramount Arcade
108 Bourke Street
Melbourne, 3000

Entry via Bourke or little Bourke street. Go straight up escalator to top level. Tues-Sat 12-5.