Kaotic Kraft Kuties

A week of art, deliciousness and vintage hunting

2011-02-05T21:23:00.000-08:00

I'm pacing myself! I'm slowly tasting the many flavours over at La Belle Meitte. This morsel of deliciousness is Olive Oil and Vanilla. Sweet! I also really liked Lemon.

My friend Adele Daniele has a brilliant exhibition of pop colours, sixties vibe and print-making loveliness over at The Napier Upstairs. The theme of this saucy, sexy show under the banner ANTI-STATIC? Stockings! Pantihose! Hosiery! Pure brilliance. Meow meow!

A morning of sunshine and showers at thee olde Camberwell Markets. I was very chuffed with a new pair of gingham slip-on shoes, a wonderful square cake tin, a vintage novel (which shall go by the way of gocco making) and this fabulous tin.

Mel Stringer did a little drawing of me

2011-02-02T02:12:00.000-08:00

I like to think of Mel Stringer as a kindred spirit of sorts. I don't have a whole lot to base that on, other that the fact that almost everything she does makes me go "oh yeah!".

And we've had a couple of common projects! I stitched her drawing for the Frankie Blankie Project ...

And we are also both in the upcoming Diana World Tour exhibition.

Anyways ... I'm super chuffed that Ms Stringer drew me for her latest Pencil Portrait Project!

She made the drawing from a photo I especially sent her. What do you think!?

Ferris Wheeling, Taco Eating and Soul 45s

2011-01-31T00:30:00.000-08:00

I know it's so "last year" to be getting wiggy with la hipstamatic, but I only just got a "nice" phone and I totally love it. I have ALWAYS had my vintage glasses on, so I'm owning this shit. Yep. No apologies.

Here are some highlights of my week in hipstavision:

We went to the Big Day Out! My friend told me that it would make me feel old. It didn't make me feel "old" as such ... just "not young" ... hahaha! Iggy was amazing - it was such an incredibly hot day it cast a weird shimmer over the air. And there were so many dragonflies buzzing around in the heat and water mist. I loved it when Iggy made-like-a-dog for I Wanna Be Your Dog.

I didn't get any photos of bands because I was way too caught up in the moment, but I got snap happy at the sideshow. We waited till night fall and went on the Ferris Wheel (which was very old and rickety and great). The very "modest" safety is def part of the thrill.

After 25 years of dedicated vegetarianism, I'm slowly turning towards a more vegan diet. I'm not going to soapbox you, but there are things that do concern me about the diary industry that I can't let myself be part of. I'm all for celebrating food. Here is a delicious pic of my tofu taco at Trippy Taco (the one and only).

After lunch I had cups of Russian Caravan tea with my long time pal Tania (we met on scooter runs 15 years ago!). What you can't see properly in this photo is the AMAZING book I recently picked up from Metropolis Bookstore, Vintage Hairstyling. Crafty! Vintage! Glam! Crazy! Check out the related blog here! Rad!

And hooray for my new friend Derek who is out from California with the Stooges! It was fun to be able to show him a little bit of Melbourne's loveliness. Here he is with Dave at The Penny Black playing records on a nice summer evening. Check out Derek's amazing and generous music blog over here.

Vacations Are Always in Season When You Go By Boeing Jetliner

2011-01-29T03:17:00.001-08:00

Vacations Are Always in Season When You Go By Boeing Jetliner, originally uploaded by What Makes The Pie Shops Tick?.

Stripes! Trees! Jet planes!

Totally sexy ad and not a single hostess in view. Love. It.

Gocco Love

2011-01-27T03:47:00.000-08:00

I have awkward feelings about Australia Day, and this year even more so because it marked the last day of my summer holidays away from work.

So on this final glorious day, I got together with Marcus from the Johnny Two Tone Club for a print-a-thon gocco style in celebration of Valentine's Day.

We had a few booboos. Bulbs not going off. Screens not exposing. Ink blocker coming loose. Screens getting wet. Accidently throwing away perfectly good bulbs. Inking up the outside of the screen protector. Big fail with trying to print onto felt. Burning the scones.

Hmmmm

But we also had fabulous wins too! Here are some of the prints I made ... and if you check out the JTTC website, Marcus has posted some of his own reflections on the day and you can spy some of his own RAD cards too.

And ... as a summertime, pre-Valentine's Day thingo, I'm rockin deals over at my Etsy Store.

Bonus Valentine's Day cards for all. Plus the nicey deal of 3 prints for $50 (free postage).

My corner at the Home Open Exhibition

2011-01-25T04:38:00.001-08:00

Home Open Installation at Fremantle Art Centre, originally uploaded by painter girl.

My parents are art collectors as well as being artists. A little curated selection of their collection was on exhibition at the Fremantle Art Centre as part of a show called "Home Open" ... the black and grey painting "She Love Them" is by me. And it's true, I do love my Mum and Dad.

The final touches on my yard wall

2011-01-24T15:18:00.001-08:00

Backyard Blitzing - painting the wall, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Yesterday my best friend came over with her little guy and the little guy's Dad and we goofed around, but also finished off my yard wall mural!

Here's Dave literally WOVEN into the washing line to get to the most awkward corner of the project.

Hello lovely summer Yarraville sky!
Thank you friends for helping me get my vision real!

NEXT! Plant-a-thon!

me and my mum

2011-01-22T00:22:00.001-08:00

me and my mum, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I got to spend a week with my mum! She came over to Melbourne and we were both on holidays from work so it was an extra nice treat of eating out, visiting friends, talking and making stuff together.

Oh, and I finally got an iPhone too ... so hello Pocketbooth App! Nice!

More painting of the yard wall

2011-01-21T16:16:00.001-08:00

Mum painting the yard wall, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Progress! Another summer day, another day at the wall!

My mum and I were an efficiency machine! She painted the bottom half of the diamonds and I was up a ladder doing the high bits. The afternoon light was incredible and the backs of my ankles got a little burnt up on the ladder.

Well, mum has gone back to Fremantle now, so I'm gonna finish the last tricky bits off myself next week ... but it will be so nice to remember doing all this painting with her whenever I meditate on my carnivalesque wall.

Yard Wall - progress (and volkswagen!)

2011-01-19T05:22:00.001-08:00

Yard Wall - progress (and volkswagen!), originally uploaded by painter girl.

My mum and I got a rain-free day together, so she helped me get the wall painting underway!

This is the lower row of diamonds now complete! Next for some ladder work and arm stretching to get the upper row painted up. A very satisfying thing to get into.

We talked about icecream A LOT as we painted ... which I think had to do with the nice colours and the warm weather.

Some stuff I'm diggin x 10

2011-01-15T23:33:00.000-08:00

1. Hopeless Knickers
Possibly the best knickers ever. I like high waist and low-leg (40s/50s vintage styles), but how good is this extra snippet of sexy thrown in? ... swooning Hopelessly

2. Homemade Rugelach
I copy-catted Angry Chicken and baked a batch of these tasty pastry treats. The recipe she recommended and I followed is over here! The pastry is made with cream cheese and is super easy if you dump all the stuff straight in your food processor. One key to pastry that I am sometimes tempted to ignore is the refrigeration step! In this recipe, you make the dough ... chill it ... then roll it and put the biscuits together ... then chill AGAIN before baking. Seems counter-intuitive to make something COLD before you make it HOT, but it's important, yo!

3. Myron & E with The Soul Investigators
Time travelling soul styles with a touch of Finland. Thank you to Finest Kiss for introducing this oldy-timey lovely tune to me. Listen to it over here ...

4. La Belle Miette
Okay, this is perfume in a biscuit time. Our friend Maylynn is bringing to the deserving and discerning people of Melbourne her own bakehouse. Here you will find the goodness of her ridiculously lovely macarons. Stupidly dreamy flavours like: Cherry Blossom & Sake, Jasmine Petal, Violet & Blueberry, Olive Oil & Vanilla.

5. Textiles! Camping! Volkswagen!
via my friend over at Wear'n'Tear via Horse-Thief

6. Other Dianas
Here are a couple of the other customized Diana cameras for the Lomo World Tour ...

Beci's rainbow Diana

Eveline's mushroomy camera

Cat's cuddly camera

7. Pip in Inspired

When I'm at the bank I'm not usually feeling friendly and crafty. But to my grand surprised - when I was at ANZ the other day, I casually picked up their free mag {inspired} (which is surprisingly quite good!) and right there on those pages ... my lovely pal Pip Lincolne in all her positive, radiant aceness! Check her out! Spunk, or what?

8. Children as Artists

A new book for the collection. First published 1944 - the cover design is a potato cut stamp by a 14 year old British boy (boy would be 81 now!).

9. Baby Rosemary

My cousin Mia just blogged today about Rosemary's Baby (one of my favourite films too), which is funny because today I bought baby rosemary for my yard. Four babies for $10 from the Camberwell Market. Also! Stand by, Nat and I are having a stall at Camberwell on February 6.

(Hi Sass! Sorry we couldn't find you today!!!!)

10. Having a nice time with my mum

Mum is visiting from Fremantle, which is a rare treat. We're having a great time! I love my Mum!

Go Lomo! Go Diana!

2011-01-12T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am stoked that I was invited to be part of this celebration of Lomography ... the nicey peeps at Lomography Australia / NZ and Frankie asked a bunch of artists, craftsters and designers to customize a lil Diana camera as part of an amazing exhibition that is coming to town real soon. If you got the latest Frankie (issue 39) you can see a whole bunch of these specially crafted beauties on page 80.

This show is part of a World Tour which has at its heart the breath taking Detrich Collection - which is a total wig-out of a collection of over 100 vintage Diana cameras amassed by camera nerd Allan Detrich.

As part of the whole amazingness of it all, the Lomography people decided to auction off the artist cameras for charity ... Project See Through Me.

That is quite a lot of information, but the essence is - if you are in Melbourne, Sydney or Auckland - you'll be able to catch this show in the real very soon and see all the vintage Diana goodness along side all the artist made work by me and people like Beci Orpin, Studio Bomba, Ghostpatrol, Mel Stringer and Eveline Tarunadjaja.

SYDNEY - 3 - 19 February 2011

Just Shoot

16 Elizabeth St

Paddington

MELBOURNE - 25 February - 11 March 2011

No Vacancy

Jane Bell Lane, QV

Melbourne

AUCKLAND - 18 - 31 March 2011

The Department Store

10 Northcote Street

Takapuna

Backyard Blitz Progress

2011-01-12T02:20:00.000-08:00

Despite the rain (or perhaps aided by), I have been smashing my yard clearing. On Monday The Steel Boys (with axes and spades) helped me totally clear my lovely concrete yard of debris, junk and crud.

Shrubs - gone! Broken chairs - gone! Random vacuum cleaners - gone! Pointless dog-house - gone! All into a very fabulous skip from Trailer Trash.

Today - Dave Gray and I were up ladders drafting the diamonds for the wall. It was a good amount of drawing, measuring, re-measuring, pencil-sharpening (SOOOO much pencil sharpening) ... and a fair amount of McGuyvering too (I taped a pencil to the end of a stick to help me get to the high spots).

Sadly it is too wet and wild to be painting just yet, but here is my colour scheme and mock up. What do you think?

Thanks Dave! Thanks Cam, Ari and Max!

Racing with a lion

2011-01-10T00:46:00.001-08:00

... lion in race car, originally uploaded by x-ray delta one.

I love how sincere and determined this lion looks. He's part of the team. He's not freaking out, he's with the program.

It's always great to have a good, strong, loyal character in your passenger seat. Hats off to my besties for always being at my shoulder when I need them. Yay to you guys.

Diamond and harlequin inspiration

2011-01-07T20:55:00.000-08:00

I've got a concrete yard. Which mostly suits me fine, but it has become a bit of a trashy dumping ground of useless stuff waiting to be turfed. Boring!

So, the backyard blitz is about to happen! It is mostly going to be a clean up, a chuck out and a fresh slate. There aint really gonna be much serious landscaping ... well, none. But I did get an initial seed planted in my nog from the Selby when Pip showed me Rockaway Taco.

I especially love this painted wall.

I also love all of Barry McGee's 3-D illusional blocky patterning he does so beautifully.

So I'm getting together a brain collage of diamonds and harlequin inspired patterns which will lead to a new mural on my backyard wall! I shall take some before and after shots (and in the meantime please wish for not too much rain for me and my mission) ... but for now, here are some of my favourites from Flickr which are gonna help me get my harlequin on ... thanks people of Flickr for constantly being a rad inspiration.

David Allworth's photo

Chris Daniel's photo

Ladolcerita's photo

plasticfootball's photo

emily on a sunday's photo

xtinalamb's photo

ladyb's photo

uberllama's photo

John Schneider's photo

pavilion tone's photo

pancakes for dinner's photo

lovestruck's photo

retropolian's photo

here comes the painting times!!!!

can't wait!!!!!

Scotchblue's photo

Photos of my own harlequinning in a week or two when the job is done and looking sweet! Wish me luck. If you're in my gang and you want to help, let me know!

Yeaster Celebrations, 1958

2011-01-07T19:06:00.001-08:00

Yeaster Celebrations, 1958, originally uploaded by glen.h.

Speechless ... thanks Glen!

Peach Parfait Pie

2011-01-05T23:54:00.001-08:00

Peach Parfait Pie, originally uploaded by Miss Retro Modern.

Lookin' good Miss Retro Modern! Who's up for a Mid-Century Supper Club this year?

fluro pink 2011

2011-01-04T15:12:00.001-08:00

fluro pink, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Bright pink was my theme for Christmas - and going into 2011 it feels right too. It reminds me of pink zinc on our faces in the 70s when we went down to the beach as kids.

Vita Nuova is my very much loved Delfonics diary - "The New Life" - a good sentiment to embrace.

Also! Hello! This is my 6000th Flickr photo! Celebration of how much I love Flickr (a lot)!

Barbie and Frankie Spaces (heart!)

2011-01-03T00:26:00.000-08:00

I finally picked up the new Frankie coffee-table book SPACES. It is such a delicious book of carefully picked interiors. All real and all with the warm, vintagey Frankie feel. I love all the fifties kitchens and all the granny square blanket variations that pop up.

Okay, and as a sweet blessing, my pal gave me a really great present today. A 35th anniversary Barbie Doll which came out in 1994 - and apparently spearheaded the 90s Barbie revival.

So here are some freshly snapped Barbie shots with the Frankie Spaces book ... oh, and you can get Spaces here. You should - it is a stupid price of $22.95! Who thought up that price? They are nuts - such good value.

Barbie wears her sunnies inside - dork!

Barbie is upstaged in cuteness by the Redhead

Barbie, grill me some cheese on toast, please

That rippled glass is so divine ... and I'm quite proud of my focus / out-of-focus action here too!

I heart tiles ... and this type of tile, YES!

thank you Jo, I love my new doll x x x

Knotty knot knots

2011-01-01T03:11:00.000-08:00

I bought this book as a little inspiration for ropey, knotty, sailorish crafting. It's a beautiful little hardback book from 1912.

Here's some other handcrafted, knot inspired goodness.

beautiful rope alphabet ... awww ... nice one Spread The Love!

reef knot shirt from Etsy ...

one of many Turks Head bracelets ...

Bowline tee-shirt

beautiful bow necklace

Beachcomber photograph

A photo from every room in the house

2010-12-27T22:53:00.000-08:00

The Outhouse

(slugs ate Pete Townshend's nose)

The Laundry

(featuring vintage Tarax sign)

The Kitchen

(featuring evil recipe for White Christmas)

The Loungeroom

(featuring new apple bookends - a present from my bestie)

The Hallway

(featuring painting by my brother Ben Jones)

The Studio

(featuring very excellent antique long stitch of a ship)

The Bathroom

(featuring my most favourite perfume)

The Bedroom

(featuring folding of washing in slow progress)

The Toilet

(featuring Our Pool Rules)

The (other) Hallway

(featuring my old prom dress)

postcard from my penpal!

2010-10-08T19:34:00.001-07:00

postcard from my penpal!, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I had a penpal when I was a wee gal. Then I grew up and for unknown reasons the penpalship dissolved. I bet it was my fault. Oh well.

Many years later our paths crossed again and the essence of what brought us together meant that we STILL have so much in common. Or perhaps we helped form each other's taste and interests?

So, we have rekindled the letter writing. Here is Leah's lovely postcard to me that just arrived.

PS - Happy birthday Leah!

http://www.mitchellanddent.com.au/tittletattle/the-penpal-project

Art, Books, Cooking

2010-08-08T02:22:00.000-07:00

The last few days of creative wanderings:

- went to the book launch for an amazing new title about local tattoo legend Jon Entwistle made in part by my friend Jane Laver. Go Jane! Such a wonderful piece of Melbourne history as much as anything. Go get it!

- met up with my old highschool buddy Giles Ryder for some niceness at +39 Pizza. Giles has a show at Block Projects right now ... he is an inspiring sculptor with a quiet sense of humour involving a love of art history and found neon.

- made some Smitten Kitchen goodness for my BFF and me for our dvd night in! I made this great limey slaw and this yummy super-healthy pasta. Oh! We watched Ladies and Gentlemen! The Fabulous Stains! which is an inspiring girls-night-in movie about punk rockers who don't put out.

- wandered around the Camberwell Markets with the nice ladies from Mitchell & Dent ... picked up a few crafty and vintage bits n pieces including some 4 ply cotton and a tiny crochet hook for $2.

- this coming week is going to be a little nuts as I'm helping prepare for a new exhibition at Outré which sees the return of Shag with a new mood n all. Can't wait. See you on the flipside!

Days like this!

2010-07-26T06:42:00.000-07:00

I'm not JUST happy because it's Christmas everyday at my house. I had one of those days today which was just tops. Top shelf. Top ten. 100% ace. I have to confess I like to be busy and I like projects ... and that sometimes I over commit myself.

But today was a very excellent TRUE day off. I'm gonna make this beautiful list here, just so I don't ever forget.

- woke up under my newly completed granny square blanket ... then

- posted some parcels and presents off at the post office (I love the post office) ... then

- stopped in at The Sweet & Nut Shoppe in the city and bought some organic figs, some brazil nuts and some super fresh tahini ... then

- swung by to visit Rin at Meet Me at Mikes ... and met up with my best buddy there ... then

- we went and met up with Nat and did a work out (ahem! running uphill on a treadmill - win!) ... then

- had total drool worthy lunch at Arcadia on Gertrude Street (baked mushrooms with goats cheese and mash ... heavenly) ... then

- took an hour out for one of the best massages I've ever had at Aveda Day Spa on Spring Street (what did I tell you? One of the best ever days!?) ... then (smelling like jasmine)

- had cups of tea with said BFF and played make-ups like we were 15 again ... then

- headed out to East Bruswick for the opening of our pal's new cafe MILKWOOD, which is on Nicholson Street at Blythe, just opposite RRR radio station. You wanna go there soon - trust me ... then

- had a nicey chat on the phone to my folks ... yay!

Now you'll think I'm awful

2010-07-25T02:26:00.000-07:00

I love this book. And recently I found another copy at The Shop in Yarraville.

It's a playful book about relationships and getting dirty in Australia in the sixties. It's cheeky, but it's not porn. But it is very Aussie. There is lots of talk of getting a "hambone" and going to BBQs. Hilarious.

So today I made these new goccos.

They are all different, of course, cos each page is unique ... and gocco is a little inconsistent too. But it was lots of fun, and I hope maybe if you like them you might pop over to Etsy ... they are $15 each.

I had an unexpected clear slate today because plans fell through ... so I went for a little run on my new treadmill, cooked some blackbeans and made some neat stickers over at MOO for my cousin because they are having a free shipping special this weekend.

The Gemma Jones Chilli Review No.4

2010-07-24T18:54:00.000-07:00

This is a chilli review full of love. Chilies are pretty close to the heart anyways, right? Red hot, Sexy. Inspired. Aphrodisiac?

Anyhow ... it's not just because chillies are intrinsically love plants. It's because THESE chillies were planted, raised, tended, cropped and then strung together with love by a very lovely friend. The very excellent Ms Rayna from La Radical Cross Stitcher fame gave these to me. She actually sat and macraméd them together at the table as we sat having tea.

I reckon these are the most crafty chillies reviewed so far because they are both handmade ... and then craftily connected with string too. Oh, and by the hand of a famous craftster (who you can see in Making it Handmade next weekend! Did you get a ticket?!)

And double the goodness. Can I just say these are red hot WESTIE chillies? Straight from Western Suburbs soil yo! I'm sorry, I think you Eastern Suburbs and Inner North kids might find these a little too much to handle. Soz. Us Westsiders like to do it hotter.

Hotness: 8
Where to get: From Rayna (if you're lucky)
Cost: ummm ... you can't BUY this kinda love!
Design: crafty, decorative South of the Border kitchen cool
Use in: oooh, maybe these fancy Macrons?
If this chilli was a person: a crafty, hilarious, Westside activist

Pink Stuff From My Flickr Friends

2010-07-24T06:58:00.000-07:00

Sometimes ... nay, all the time ... I glance at the spread of new uploads from my Flickr friends and little themes are right there. Automatically sitting side by side in a cultural consciousness kinda way. There was more than a splash of pink this week ... so I gathered that up, and searched for all little more too. These are all my much loved Flickr buddies. They are all excellent.

1. birds in our house, 2. Portrait in Pink Harmonies by Vanity Fair, 3. Lonny Pop and Pinky UP!, 4. Wood cars, 5. Jaipur - the Pink City, 6. Rounded and more new…, 7. Sakura: Pink!, 8. Pink Christmas, 9. parking in pink, 10. Pink Heart | 03.26.09, 11. Record Girl- pink, 12. mini pink, 13. The First, Real Femme Fatale Pink, 14. Pink A&W Wuppet, 15. PINK UNDERWEAR, 16. Pink chocolate, 17. pink, 18. pink rubbish in Soho, 19. Pink Lemonade , 20. 1199 digital

Moi! Des Idees Cousues Main

2010-07-23T22:16:00.001-07:00

Des Idees Cousues Main, originally uploaded by meetmeatmikes.

Oh la la - there's me all Frenchy! Good work Pip! Wanna plan a picnic with me in the South of France? Cheese? Fancy bread? Cherries?

The Gemma Jones Chilli Review No.3

2010-07-16T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hmmm ... Sweet chilli sauce really has got a bad rep. It's so "wedges" and "cream cheese". But if you remove it from these LCD suburban connotations, it really has it's place.

Lingham's Chilli Sauce is my favourite in the sweet chilli realm. It's still honest and seedy. The sugariness means that it sometimes crystallizes a little which is quite charming. And it turns out that this honest texture and taste is on account of it being an old fashioned basic recipe with no weird additives or preservatives. Same recipe for over 100 years apparently.

This is a sunny, bright number that hits the high notes without being particularly hot nor complex. In fact it's more sweet than hot, which makes it a nice compliment across the board.

I often have this as a side accompaniment to a wholesome dense hippy-esque brown lentil dahl I rock. Somehow a touch of this lifts the mood. This is a good-mood sauce.

Hotness: 4 - 5

Where to get: The Supermarket

Cost: not much

Design: classic colonial

Use in: a Bloody Mary

If this chilli was a person: an affable British teenage boy

The Gemma Jones Chilli Review No.2

2010-07-14T05:19:00.000-07:00

I am quite frustrated that I've not been able to get a seat at Mamasita! I guess it's a testimony to how great Mexican food can be. And I'm happy for all the people who can be bothered to wait in line for 1 or 2 hours to get a table. And I'm equally happy that I can choose not to wait. I know I can come home to a tin of my own chipotle chilli and that can almost be as happy making.

Embasa Chipotle Chillis are one of the Queens of Hot in my pantry. When I first discovered them I honestly couldn't conceive of a dish without them for about two weeks straight. Totally addictive.

Perhaps you haven't tasted the rich, tasty goodness of this style chilli because it's actually not a common thing in Australia at all (the Chipotle chilli at Subway does not count!). Mexican chipotle is a smoked dried jalapeno chilli which is both hot and smokey.

This particular style of chipotle has the dried peppers left relatively whole sitting in a thick tomatoey sauce. This leaves them slimy and slightly mushy. I like to fish one out and chop it up so it disperses within whatever dish it is about to transform. And a little goes a long long way!

Tonight I used one small chilli in a beans-n-brown-rice dish which also included fresh corn off the cob, fresh okra, refried beans and baby tomatoes. I reckon it is particularly nice in vegetarian foods because it lends a deep, rich, smokey flavour that is uncommon in the vegetable world.

Hotness: 7 - 8

Where to get: Aztec in Tullamarine (<-----major tip off to cool place people!)

Cost: $4.60

Design: celebrate Mexico!

Use in: Smitten Kitten Baked Beans

If this chilli was a person: a smooth talkin' pusher man

Fun fact: most chipotle comes from Chihuahua!

The Gemma Jones Chilli Review No.1

2010-07-13T05:10:00.000-07:00

I like all sorts of hot stuff. So I thought I would invite you into my pantry to look at some of my regular favourites in the chilli department. One by one. No rush. Just like a nice bouquet of any variety, it is good to slow it down to take in the subtleties.

Ironically, I'm starting with a grimy, gritty member of my chilli family who has little subtlety. But definitely has her place.

Hoyt's Chilli Powder in the little packet is just your supermarket variety chilli. It ticks the main chilli box by being quite hot. But other than that I wonder why I even have this? I'm fussy with my flavours, and this girl is fiery but not much sassy.

But a powdered chilli IS good for certain things.

It is good for sprinkling. Like on top of baked goods (like cheese biscuits or savoury scones); or on decoratively on top of something like dip.

It is also very portable, so maybe it would be good if you were going camping or hiking and needed chilli? It would probably never spoil either.

You could also use this in a defensive kinda way I suppose.

Hotness: 6.5

Where to get: supermarket

Cost: loose change

Design: old-school simple, upfront

Use in: Curried Eggs

If this chilli was a person: your suburban great Aunty

Treasure is Golden

2010-07-12T04:08:00.000-07:00

I got listed in a very sparkly Treasury over at ETSY.

Thanks to Ms Sharon Redshandy for including me!

Granny Square Project Finish Line ...

2010-07-12T03:37:00.000-07:00

Wow, I started my Granny Square Project two years ago (25 months ago!) ... I was determined not to lose patience and end up with a knee-throw. I'm just NOT a knee throw kinda girl!

I've had fits and bursts, but it looks like I'm nearing the finish line. I made 144 squares and I've joined them all in long rows of 12. So next task is to connect those rows to make a big square.

Then I'm going to surround it with a simple loopy edge! Anyone got any edging ideas for me?

New things on the wall at my house ...

2010-07-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

People who know I work at an art gallery always say things like "You must have a lot of stuff on your walls" ... and I think by regular standard, I probably do. But there is always room for more. Always. I'm an advocate of shuffling and also the salon-hang (my parents taught me this).

Two weeks ago I brought home this beautiful Gary Taxali print, which I thought you'd like to see. But I thought today you might also like to see some OTHER stuff that has come through the backdoor recently.

Now I really dislike the whole keep-calm-and-carry-on fad. I like the vintage design and homey-ness of it ... but the whole sentiment drives me nuts. Anyway, the store that calls itself The Keep Calm Gallery has some other extremely great prints. Including this one which is part of a series of bottle tops by The Design Conspiracy.

And this vintage chocolate sign isn't an artwork as such, but I like to treat it like one. Thanks to my pal Cameron for finding this for me! I think it's a nice segue from the bottle top don't you think?

And this is what's being framed right now ... a popdelic print signed to me by the legendary Rockin' Jelly Bean himself when he was out from Japan a few weeks ago! Yipee!

felted action figures by matte stephens!

2010-07-09T15:37:00.001-07:00

felted action figures, originally uploaded by matte stephens.

wow ... Matte. You. Are. Great. Full. Stop.

Double Dutch!

2010-07-08T06:41:00.000-07:00

I think I like skipping more than roller skating. Just saying.

If you wanna bug out at super cool vintage New Yorker jump rope, give yourself 10 minutes to take this in ... I was out of breath just looking at it.

Great moves ... athletic, but also styling, community and danceable!

Out of control beautiful girls with ace uniforms. I'm trying to get good at just skipping fullstop .... just jumping one rope that I'm swinging myself is a challenge.

Thank you Malcom McLaren. RIP.

I love my new Gary Taxali Print!

2010-07-08T06:17:00.001-07:00

I love my new Gary Taxali Print!, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I bought this great Gary Taxali print from Arthur's Circus! I love that it is called LOVE SONGS because it is full of sweet stuff, but also lots of dirty, gritty, angry stuff too. It is the kind of combination of images that will always intrigue me and always make me smile.

It's like there is a secret code waiting to be unlocked.

Thank you Gary Taxali for making such ace art, and thank you to Arthur's Circus for bringing it to Oz.

http://www.garytaxali.com/home.php

http://arthurscircus.blogspot.com/

Emma's Eggplant Curry

2010-07-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Gemma's Granny's Eggplant Curry

via Amanda Panda Pants

(check out her super ace embroidery)

Super low-fat, super tasty ... and easy too.
This is one of those recipes where the combination is grander than the parts.

STUFF YOU NEED

1 x medium sized onion

1 x clove of garlic

a chunk of fresh ginger

3 teaspoons curry powder

1 x medium-large size eggplant

1 x dessertspoon sugar

2 x dessertspoons tamarind (or white vinegar is okay too)

optional - fried onion (you know that pre-fried stuff you get in the asian grocery store?)

HOW TO

Slice the onion into fine half moons. Chop garlic. Grate ginger. Saute these together in a heavy based pan that you have a lid for! You can just saute in water if you want to be extra healthy, or else a teaspoon of vegetable oil will do it.

Turn the flame down and add your curry powder and keep mixing so as not to burn.

Add 1 - 1.5 cups of water and simmer for about 3-5 minutes with the lid on.

Cut your eggplant in long thin wedges and place them skin side down in the pan.

Add a bit of extra water if you need to. You want about 1cm of liquid in the pan at this point.

Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes. Keep an eye on it and add a little extra water if you need to.

Mix together the sugar, tamarind and a little water. And gently add to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes or so. Adjust to taste adding some salt too. Don't be too rough with the mix cause you don't wanna break up the eggplant too much.

Garnish with said fried onions.

* Also! You can substitute the eggplant with roma tomatoes. Or a combo even.

Happy-it-up: Sago and sweets like that

2010-07-06T06:07:00.000-07:00

I celebrated my late Pop's birthday by cooking a Singapore inspired feast on the weekend. One of the nice things I made was Sago Gula Melaka which is a simple cold, bland pudding made from tapioca pearls then flavoured with palm sugar syrup and coconut milk. The SBS food recipe page is quite good - tho, I don't think that egg white is necessary (and if you omit, this is a super good vegan treat!)

This was a staple treat when I was a kid in Perth.

via Amyq's excellent and inspirational photostream

But sago is not the prettiest of Nonya cakes (tho is is very comforting and delicious - hello sugar! hello coconut!) ...

Here's a happy making celebration of the rainbow that are Malaysian Nonya cakes (kueh). A great resource of recipes can be found here! http://nonya-kueh.blogspot.com/

via Lappolozza

via WendyXX

via foodchaser

via foodtrails

Happy-it-up: Skipping

2010-07-06T05:29:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's July already! How did that happen?

I'm having a bit of a I-slammed-my-finger-in-the-drawer kinda day, so I'm gonna post some of my favourite things to try and "like" myself out of my hump.

Right now I've got a new mini-goal. And that is to become reasonably good at skipping. I bought myself an oldy-timey skipping rope from eBay with wooden handles (it's from India where I suspect they are quite good skippers and jump-ropers).

via Beverly & Pack

via Myra Melinda

via Moonflygirl

via Ainoneito

via Badhesterprynne

via Sugarlemon

Ask Alice why don't you?

2010-06-24T01:43:00.000-07:00

Three of my favourite bits of desky stationery ... Ask Alice envelopes, Delfonics pens and Japanese masking tape.

Miss Ask Alice is in the latest Frankie Mag! This is the lady who taught me the difference between stationery and stationary (doh!).

Also in this friend-filled edition (Frankie #36) is the amazing Anna Brownfield ... who also had a fresh baby this week. The piece on Anna is a write up about her new crafty documentary MAKING IT HANDMADE ... which, ahem, features yours truly and some other very opinionated Melbourne craftsters.

Watch out for Making it Handmade at this year's MIFF. Melbourne creatives represent!

Another lady in Making it Handmade is my pal Pip. Pip Lincolne. From segue to segue, Pip and I are doing a workshop at Craft Victoria on Monday about Crafty Blogging. Word has it, it is already a sell out (oh my!) ... but perhaps you can come to a repeat session down the track???

Here's a cute photo I snapped of Pip the other night when we were working on our presentation ... this is the cute face of a very hard worker!

Here comes the sun ... our winter solstice cake

2010-06-21T08:12:00.000-07:00

Yep, this is the turning point ... the sun is coming again ... soon. For Winter Solstice we had a little dinner with some rad crafty crew out Westside.

I did read that the traditional Winter Solstice feast usually involves the slaughtering of the animals you probably can't afford to feed over winter ... but given my non-meat-eating ways, I opted for the cake celebrating the return of the sun.

So, this was an Almond and Lemon Cake (from here) which makes for a super moist, heavy sweet slab. I think that the uber rich frosting was overkill, but I wanted a pop-art, super bright effect. Hmmm, I have never actually made proper frosting before ... ever. Who knew that there is a total art to whipping this stuff into shape?! Not me!

So, frosting huh? You really have to beat this! It goes from being very much like some unimpressive slimy could-be-rancid-cottage-cheese looking mess ... even after 10 minutes of beating ... then suddenly there is some sub-atomic transformation! Oh my! And after 20 minutes you have glossy, sculpt-able beauty!

before

after!

I have to confess I had my doubts, but I'm glad that I trusted the magic promises through to the end.

We also had amazing vegetarian lasagna and seeded Greek salad from the kitchen of Karl and Rayna. And Elderflower spritzers. Somehow Elderflower seemed right for Solsticing.

I like Pennants more than Bunting I think...

2010-06-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

A while ago I made these as New Year presents ... I was kinda chuffed with them:

I was inspired by these ones by Mark Ryden:

nice photo Lord Jim!

Funnily enough, later, I fell in love with this:

And this one is good too:

And, yeah! This is super too:

nice work sir pants

The I got to thinking ... why do I love these so much?

And then I remembered my Dad's garage which was festooned with all the souvenirs of sailing wins! First was great, but "Fastest Time" was even better (the real win).

They looked lots like this:

And there were scores and scores of them. Each one was a race well done.

I think I like pennants more than bunting because usually there is MEANING in each and every one. A race won. A place visited. A year done and dusted.

And, well, tonight I got excited about these:

from these ace peeps ... the never ending wonder and joy! yay!

Stuff the soccer, these are flags I WANT to wave!

Handy! Nutgem!

2010-06-12T18:41:00.001-07:00

Stuart's Handy Nutmeg, 1920's, originally uploaded by Roadsidepictures.

Sometimes when I read the word NUTMEG ... I see NUTGEM ... like "Nut Gem". And it makes me laugh because my mum always told me "not TOOOO much nutmeg ... it can be hallucinogenic" (she probably didn't use the word "hallucinogenic" cause I was a primary school kid at the time).

Nutmeg does contain something called myristicin which can get you somewhat high ... but I have heard that this "high" is more like a bad case of the flu.

Anyway ... Nut Gem, too much of her might be ... ummmm ... too much. (but she is handy sometimes too) ... right?

Kama Sutra Vintage: tattooing, making lemonade and teaching parrots to speak

2010-06-12T03:12:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I just wanna say I'm not writing this from a oh-let's-be-naughty angle ... or even a sexed up angle. More of a gee-that's-interesting angle.

I got a a really nice vintage copy of The Kama Sutra from The Shop in Yarraville a couple of weeks ago for one dollar! Yep, a single buck. You don't get much for a dollar these days, let alone something so special and interesting.

This isn't the super tacky uber "sincere" loved up photo essay that threatens to put you off sex forever. In fact there aren't ANY pictures nor illustrations at all. And ... a good whack of it isn't even about getting it on.

A couple of my most favourite pages are all about all the OTHER things a girl should get schooled in to be an interesting, whole and lovable person. I love so much this, and it is a reminder that in our modern day super specialized, let-money-buy-it-for-me world, sometimes we don't reach out to expand our skill set.

And, while lots of these things are pretty domestic lady things - all that is balanced out with some crafty, rad stuff too. These are not for the air-heads and bogans out there. My check list of faves include:

- Dancing (nach)

- Tattooing (it's in the top 10)

- Making lemonades, sherberts, acidulated drinks and spirituous extracts with proper flavor and color.

- Solution of riddles, enigmas, covert speeches, verbals puzzles and enigmatic questions

- The art of teaching parrots and starlings to speak

As a celebration of The Kama Sutra, I thought a Flickr Faves Game was in order. I did really really really love that when I searched Kama Sutra on Flickr that SWISS MISS comes up first. Check out her amazing photo here!

from here

Put it in your pipe

2010-06-11T07:52:00.001-07:00

Put it in your pipe, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Street Studio Book Launch at Outré Gallery! Saturday! The 12th! from 1pm! Be there AND be square! We are celebrating the intersection of nerds and cool... Sorry too tired to write more and create links ... you know where to come!

Root! Beer! Cake! History!

2010-06-09T06:25:00.000-07:00

My workmates have a slightly unhealthy thing for A&W Root Beer. Don't get me wrong, I like the weird herabal taste - but I am always amazed (in a good way) at someone who might have more than one can a day.

So I was compelled to make these Root Beer Float Cupcakes when I saw them featured on the ever-lovin' Smitten Kitchen. They were a total pleasure to make. Part of the process is melting the butter in a pot on your gas with some root beer and cocoa powder (I used extra nice Dutchy Droste) - this turns into the most sublime primordial sludge. So black and intense. And then it is a gentle fold with the rest of the stuff. No hardcore whipping. Nice.

But the simplicity of these lil cakes is the flipside of the complexity of Root Beer don't you know?!

Root Beer aint called Root Beer because it makes you wanna root. It's called that because it contains - amongst heaps of other stuff - some potent herbal roots. Dig on this ... original root beer recipes included powerful ingredients such as:

Allspice, birch bark, coriander, juniper, ginger, wintergreen, hops, burdock root, dandelion root, spikenard, pipsissewa, guaiacum chips, sarsaparilla, spicewood, wild cherry bark, yellow dock, prickly ash bark, sassafras root, vanilla beans, hops, dog grass, molasses and licorice.

The sassafras root is interesting - NOT JUST because we call our friend Sass also goes by the name of Frass - but also because this is what is the key to the root beer flavour ... but that it is also carcinogenic! Fear not, the baddy bits of the sassafras are skimmed away in modern times. But I kinda like that it's tasty yet dangerous!

Caravan Au Go Go

2010-06-09T06:00:00.000-07:00

I have a little not-so-secret dream to one day own a vintage caravan. I'm sure purists would shake their heads and tsktsk at my plans to candystripe my baby on wheels - but that is the hope.

I'm extremely impressed and stoked on with Miss Little Eden who is in the process of restoring her own vintage caravan! Now THAT'S crafty.

And what about Miss Mimsylicious? Not only is she an amazing tattoo artist (now that is a tough craft) she rocks her skills in her very own caravan. Nice one.

Do you dig on this caravan which is around the corner from my house? Look at that ace kangaroo!

Okay, so you get it, right? Your uncle / neighbour / family-friend is ditching their caravan? Call me!

Circular Hooking

2010-06-08T06:20:00.000-07:00

I'm still plugging away on my black and white squares - but sometimes we all need a circuit breaker - so I've busted out some colour ... and made this sweet circular meditation in crochet that I will put to good use in the kitchen.

Learn to do this over with Pip

very nice follow along instructions!

Five at a Time -

2010-06-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Secret Project Time
I'm just like Secret Squirrel. Simultaneous secret project action. I have two secret projects on the boil. It is HARD to be doing these things and not being able to share.

Here is the flipside of the stitchy project I've been poking at. The other project has to stay secret just for now! Oh!

Sunday Best Bake Sale Winner
That's me! Moi! Baker Jonesy. I won the Bake Off at Sunday Best with my lil Coconut Teacakes!
Sunday Best is one of the nicest, most intimate, most authentic of mini-markets that happen in Melbourne. Happening up at the very manly Captains of Industry, this most recent Sunday Best featured freshly twirled fairy floss, photobooth action (see below!) and an old fashioned Bake Off!

Amongst the coconut ice, orange cake and extra-good brownies were my wee cupcakes. I adapted this idea from my BFF's recent creation. The essence is to replace regular milk with COCONUT MILK. This makes for a very rich and tasty batter. I also added Pandan flavour to the icing for extra aroma.

I bought a very nice mint condition navy blue 1960s handbag (much like the ones that used to be attached to my arm when I was a teenage mod girl) with my winning "cheque". Thanks Sunday Best, you're the ... ummm ... best!

Photobooth Loveliness
Sunday Best also rocks a very great creative interactive project under the amazing eye of Miss Talor Browne. This is the now famous PHOTOBOOTH! The current set don't seem to have been posted yet, But see some sweetness from the April shoot here.

Stevie D and An!

Benjamin!

Pickle!

Jessica Swaffer Interview
Did you happen to see the interview I did with Jessica Swaffer over at The Vine?
Dig this new painting that she's done since the interview was published

Street | Studio Book Signing at Outré - this Saturday 12th June 2010

This Saturday is the our signing of the very very fresh STREET | STUDIO BOOK with Alison Young, Ghostpatrol and MISO + friends. The Outré event is going to be kid friendly and will also see the release of a lovely colab gocco print between GP & MISO.

I'm super impressed with this totally spot-on look at street art in Melbourne. Showcasing it as original, considered and special. I'm one very proud Melburnian. Come celebrate our city streets! You can also connect over on FB.

cat attack fitzroy

2010-06-06T07:15:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ghostpatrol.

5 Fave Links For Yo!

2010-06-04T05:06:00.000-07:00

1. Had me entertained all day with amazingly familiar vintage sounds.
http://best.complex.com/lists/Kon-Amir-Present-The-50-Greatest-Samples-In-Hip-Hop-History

2. Had me all nostalgic for penpal daze.
http://meetmeatmikes.blogspot.com/2010/06/envelope-project-join-in.html

3. Had me reaching for my soy milk. Marieke is excellent - probably THE best tribute to vegan life.
http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/society-and-culture/animalfree-crackers-in-my-soup----20100514-v31d.html

4. Had me singing "He's so Frisky" and "How Come You're Such a Hit with the Boys, Jane?"
http://www.dollymixture.net/box-set.html

5. Had me so amazed and intrigued and light headed, I thought I was on drugs. Best Banksy hoax ever. Prankumentary? Loved it all the same.

Bathtime Goodness

2010-06-01T07:37:00.000-07:00

When I can't sleep, I get up and have a shower. It calms me down and re-sets my whirring mind. When I'm a little blue, I notice I also shower more often.

Here are a few nice bathtimey pics for y'all...

Mel Stringer's super adorable, slightly fragile handpainted soap faces. That second critter looks somewhat apprehensive about being washed away ...

If you even half know me, you'll know my obsession with little square tiles.

Mix it up with hot soapy dame - awesome!

Read all about Margaret Rose here ...

And a super good photo by Olivia Wright of my friend Kozy ... fully clothed, in the bath with live fish. See more from this nice wet shoot here ...

5 Favourite Things Today

2010-05-28T07:02:00.000-07:00

Lotsa lights - modder than mod yo! (from this Flickr friend)

Amazing Krink / nail polish hoax ... click through via Krink Blog

Diggin' this cool song with my brother in the park at Beatbox Kitchen

After Laughter by Wendy Rene (which Ben might like because of this Wu-Tang number)

Mickey + Astro together at last

by this cool Flickr friend

My brother and his lovely Buffy, here for the weekend! Love attack all round!

Stack o Books

2010-05-25T06:14:00.000-07:00

I've got some good shit on the stack waiting for more attention!

- Vali Myers by Gianna Menichetti
A life changing biography about one of Australia's original (and best) bohemians. Can I tell you a semi-secret? I'm working on a new book about Vali Myers with Outre and the Vali Myers Trust. It has been one of the most awe-inspiring and dream inducing projects ever. I'm very honoured. And I think it has changed my heart and brain. Yes.

- Reading the OED
A crazy, obsessed guy decides to read the WHOLE Oxford English Dictionary. Every page. Every entry. And writes a book about all his favourite words. Amazingly, this is a very down-to-earth, simply written book. Oh my, this is a wordnerd piece of work if ever there was one. My BFF bought one for herself, her boyfriend, her mum and me.

- A Love Letter For You - Steve Powers aka ESPO
Total love attack of a book. Sigh! Brings together so many of my favourite things: graffiti, signwriting, love letters and art. All with a pop art, nostalgic twist. This is an irony-free zone and I love it!
(PS, if you wanted to win my heart a public love letter like this might just do it)
(PPS ... Love Letter tattoo?????)

- A Book Full of It
This is the surreal, bubblegum world of Dutch artist Parra. Bold, sharp, organic pop graphics - but that's not the sweetness. It's all sexy, messed-up stuff too. Birdy creatures with high-heels, lecherous, lusty, crazy-deathwish characters. Lots of groping and swear-words too. Not for squares.

- Sweet Treats
I think that Sass and I decided to "share" this book. I'm not exactly sure what that means, BUT hopefully it means half the calories???? This is the very deliciously designed follow-up to Frankie's Afternoon Tea recipe book. Tome Two here is total eye-candy, if not total candy. Think church-fete favours to win hearts.

Now, there IS a lot of gelatin in these pages ... and I'm sorry to remind y'all ... that's snouts and trotters yo! But, my Flickr buddy Ms Eat More Cake has tested the fabulousness of agar-agar and says it is GO.

- A Tale of 12 Kitchens by Jake Tilson
I've drooled over this book at Pip's dining room table MANY a time. And this week I found it at Flight By Night Books for $20! This is totally my kinda cook book. It is a book about food that isn't just a cup of this and so many grams of that at whatever temperature. This is a book that explores the whole heart of food, cooking and eating. From the nostalgic culture of family meals right through to the graphic loveliness of your favourite tin of spices.

I love this book DESPITE a recipe for Haggis and Neeps.

How can I not be head over heals for a book with a chapter called Pop Art Kitchen?

It's official, I wanna have dinner with Jake Tilson (you can come too Pip).

Crazy Dames

2010-05-22T06:53:00.001-07:00

Dames, originally uploaded by C.H.R.James.

My most favourite thing I've seen all week ...

Five-a-delic!

2010-05-21T05:52:00.000-07:00

Another go at giving you five nice things - inspired by the ever inspirational PIP LINCOLNE *mad cheers*

1. We be gym-ing it
Oh, okay. So we started doing Personal Training with a very sassy lady two weeks ago. Me and my two buddies. It is a weird mix of pain and fun. I'm not hard-wired to LIKE exercise, but I've made a promise to be positive and that HAS helped. And when I can't be positive, I at least try to be zen. We did hulahooping and skipping the first round. And this week we did boxing stuff. And we get to rock out to our own mix tape which make BIG difference. I think I can ride an exercise bike 20% faster listing to Major Lazer. Beth probably won't read this - but big punch in the sky to her for much aceness and trusting that I can do this fitness thing!

2. Super Nice Crafternoon Tea with Mini Flower Shaped Sandwiches
Okay, so in true Gemma-Style, I'm following my yay-exercise post, with look-at-these-ace-sandwiches. Does it help to tell you they were VERY DAINTY sandwiches? And that I shared them? And I loved them mostly because they LOOKED RAD? Shout out to all the boys and girls who came over for the Open House Kraft Day on Sunday - it was very uplifting and absolute confirmation that we live in an amazing community of creative souls.

3. Nudie Lady Art for Holiday Fund
Melbourne tattooist Jessica Swaffer is raising money for a holiday fund by selling her paintings of hot naked ladies. You can find her working at Third Eye Tattoo in North Fitzroy. Celebrate nice bodies with good decoration, I say! (Jess also did the cover for this amazing new book on Oz / NZ tattooists called Done with Electricity that is being released this weekend ... super good)

4. This photo of my Mum
I was totally studying this photo tonight. In the past all I saw was my mum's nice smile. But now I also notice that random black hat in the background. The cute towel that I later took to the beach many summers along. And the new camera box - I think this must've been one of the first photo my Dad took on this camera. A good one. (PS - NOT Hipstamatic)

5. The Cycle of Good
The stars are aligned. Seriously. My buddy just moved neighbourhoods and delivered a really big work assignment. Another friend just got a ticket to Germany via a well deserved grant. Another friend just finished creating her latest book. Two more friends just sold a house. Yep, change is in the air. It's palpable. And it's good.

Hattie's Photos of a Kraftyparty

2010-05-17T06:11:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the Kuties held an Open House Krafternoon in Yarraville. I was so busy making tea that I didn't take many photos. But luckily my lil pal Hattie did.

Thanks Hattie - hope you enjoyed a good time of cut'n'paste, cupcakes, singin' The Clapping Song and cups of water. Here's some Clapping Song action for you ...

Thanks too to everyone that trekked out West for baked goods, rad conversation and nice times x x x x x

Ghostly

2010-05-12T04:49:00.000-07:00

So tonight I went up to Ghostpatrol and Miso's floor. They hang out and work in the same building as us. Just on the floor above. They were having a semi-secret, clandestine flash-exhibition. Flash in the sense that it's here now and gone tomorrow (not in the glam sense nor in the bright sense).

It was so great. The art works were tender and dreamy. And the space (hijacked) was moody, dim and totally atmospheric.

Anyway, we talked to them a little about the book launch they are doing at Outré - and I thought I should whisper to you that it is going to be ace and totally worth coming to. It will be warm, fun, interesting and very Melbourne. So mark 12 June in your diaries. And think about bringing your small ones too - cause they will dig it too.

catty 8th in 8th

2010-05-12T04:15:00.001-07:00

catty 8 in 8, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Pip Lincolne tagged me for a bloggy game of photo sharing.

You know how you KNOW people secretly cheat at this shiz? Well, I'm not being secret, I'm just TELLING YOU that I'm cheating. This is not the 8th photo in my 8th file. It is the 9th photo in my 9th file. I did this because there must be something bad-juju about 8s for me. The 8th in the 8th brought down to me a very very very frightening photo. One of those photos that if you shared it on Flickr it would have that "take me back to the kittens" escape button at the top.

And you know what makes it worse? That scary photo is of me! It's true! And it really is scary. Not in a teenage oh-my-god-look-at-my-hair kinda way. More in a THIS kinda way.

So, anyway - in the generally non-scary world of my kitchen here is a fuzzy photo of my cat. I have a few rules when it comes to taking photos of cats - and one is: take LOTS, because the law of averages rules that you'll eventually get a few good ones. Here is one of the "less good ones".

I also like this photo because you can see my sunny yellow wall - and also the old blackboard that used to hang on my wall, with a cute chalk drawing on it by my friend Pickle.

There you have it: Gemma cheats. Gemma can be scary. Gemma has a pal named Pickle.

The game rules ::
The Tag game goes as follows:
Go to the 8th folder in which you store your photos
Select the 8th photo
Post it to your blog and tell the story behind it.
After following the above instructions, you are ‘supposed’ to tag 8 other bloggers.

Feel free to ignore my tag if you are too busy! I won't mind and you won't explode into tiny pieces or anything! I would like to tag these people (Pip's words there):

Flower at Skulls From Awesome
Ari at Draw Dimension
Rin at My Name is Rin
Miss Rondy at El Rondielle
Sass at Ask Alice
Mel at Mel Stringer's Plastic Camera
Ms Dent at Mitchell & Dent
Jess at TeddyBears Wednesday

And actually - I'm just gonna mess with the whole thing and just say - you may blog about ANYTHING to do with counting to 8. Or something scary.

Chrysanthemums for my mum

2010-05-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Chrysanthemums for my mum

Whenever I see a big puffy pompom of a white chrysanthemum I think of you x x x x

1. More chrysanthemums, 2. White Chrysanthemum, 3. Chrysanthemum /, 4. Chrysanthemum, 5. mum 1964, 6. Mum's drawing, Lab Partner's print & the chrysanthemums, 7. Chrysanthemums (Photochromie postcard), 8. Untitled, 9. White chrysanthemum.

Bubblegum Pop Flowers for My Winter

2010-05-05T17:42:00.000-07:00

I've got a new accessory fever. I'm digging all these sixties pop flowers that all sprouting on Etsy.

Big, bold, bright enamel blooms. Authentic vintage goodness which are guaranteed to make my winter happier.

This red flower is a massive 3.5 inches!

You can land this lovely one for less than $20

Who thought that purple and orange would look so cool?

Knicker Kit Bonus Pack

2010-05-05T00:53:00.000-07:00

If you bought a Knicker Kit from me in the past, and perhaps made two pairs and then put the pattern aside ... well, I've just put up for sale "Knicker Kit Bonus Packs".

These include some fold over elastic and a couple of cute embroidered labels to sew on your DIY creations that say "I made these knickers myself". No pattern, just the extras to get you going again.

You can get 'em from my Etsy store here. (or if that link is old, you can go via my shop front here).

Go B.B. Homemaker

2010-05-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

Okay - I confess, somewhere along the line I became a mild Beyoncé fan. Well, actually, I just became obsessed by the Single Ladies clip.

Now this! Such a great kitschification of funk and femininity. Sock it to them lady! Love this!

"Why Don't You Love Me" - Beyoncé from Beyoncé on Vimeo.

Five Jive Just for Mikes

2010-05-03T05:36:00.000-07:00

Five faves for Meet Me At Mikes

1. Frankie Issue 35
Ooh! I got to show off a little bit as the Homebody feature girl in this issue. Have a flick and see some little corners of my cozy studio and house.

2. Roller Disco Times
My friend celebrated his birthday by clearing out the cars and machines from his garage and throwing an all flashing, all dancing, all cake-eating Roller Disco. Happy birthday Ben - may the rest of your year be as loved up and groovy as Saturday night.

3. The perfect mini scissors
I got these little super sharp scissors from The Restorers Barn in Castlemaine. They are old fashion crafted scissors - which means they are forged not cast making them sharper and longer lasting. And they are just the right size to keep in my crochet wallet. Note to self: do not take these on aeroplane trip this week.

4. Getting free!
Today a guy backed into my vintage Volkswagen with his big car and his tow-ball locked into my bumper bar! It was a bit of an ordeal and it took professional assistance from the RACV to get free. But I'm glad I didn't lose my temper and was able to enjoy the feeling of being free wheeling relatively quickly.

5. Blog of the Week
Thanks to the amazing crafty characters from Craftbusters for coming to visit me at the Art Fair last week and chirping me up! High fives to Ramona and Beck!
http://handmadelife.blogspot.com/

A Portrait of A Friend

2010-04-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday young rat!

Candystripe Love

2010-04-29T06:56:00.001-07:00

crocheting..., originally uploaded by Loving The Vintage.

I dig this bold take on crochet ... and as any of my friends will attest, the red and white stripe combo always makes me sit up and listen!

If you haven't visited my Candystripe world that I made with my collaborator Ms She Sees Red, please do!

PS ... I know "red cabbage" is actually kinda purple. And that regular cabbage isn't really white. BUT if you trip-out with me a little on this one and indulge me ... perhaps in a poetic world THIS might be the perfect candystriper salad? (regardless, Smitten Kitchen, you are AMAZING!)

Biscuits not Cookies on ANZAC Day

2010-04-25T23:55:00.000-07:00

After a long week, a bit of baking is kinda therapeutic. I made a trusty batch of ANZAC Biscuits for my work mates (because they are totally awesome and have worked harder than ever this week).

I'm a sucker for the vintage styling of the Lyle's Golden Syrup ... in fact, I like a TIN of anything. Much nicer than a plastic tub or bottle.

Here is my favourite ANZAC recipe ... it is forever stuck in view on my kitchen wall.

In this batch I added sunflower seeds and also CHIA seeds, which have been my latest mini-obsession.

Gemma at Art Melbourne

2010-04-24T02:40:00.000-07:00

I've been off the radar because I've been over at Art Melbourne 10 with Outré Gallery since Wednesday. I've been in a weird weird art bubble and living on coffee and Berocca.

Without wanting to even touch on the quality of the art or anything directly related to Outré and my day job - doing an expo like this is REALLY interesting - as I'm sure lots of you crafty types will testify.

What have I liked about it?

- I love that regular people are dedicating a massive part of their weekend to come and look at art. Regardless of anything else, making art a priority for even one day makes me happy.

- Being in the Royal Exhibition Building is a total buzz - I've always been fascinated by its history and role and over-the-top styling. So it's nice to be part of a tiny tiny tiny of this history.

- I've enjoyed talking to other curators and gallerists and art-peddlers. It's been interesting to talk about other people's views about the market and about why art is important.

- I love that so many kids are being exposed to art and the act of looking at art.

- I like the Art Melbourne pink theme. Today I had a pink (vegan) cupcake from the cafeteria and got a buzz of sitting at a table with pale pink hyacinths. And did you know that they have a hot pink welcoming carpet (rather than a red one)?

- The Allpress Coffee has been surprisingly excellent. I'm grateful of these small mercies!

If anyone is coming on the last day - SUNDAY - come and say hi at stand D12

Gemma's home on The Design Files

2010-04-20T15:53:00.000-07:00

Hey! I'm over on Lucy's wonderful blog today: THE DESIGN FILES ... check out the home I share with Cuby the Cat in Yarraville ...

Vintage Mod Shoes on ETSY

2010-04-18T07:22:00.000-07:00

My pal found some totally styling shoes at Camberwell Market today. They are so perfect for puddle jumping. And by some turn of random browsing I stumbled upon some amazing shoes on ETSY that made me curse my awkwardly sized feet!

from Mod Marge

from reinvintage

from ggiotta

from danadaisys

from jazzboogie

from recoveredvintage

from vintagesupplyco

from dutchessvintage

from shopreinvintage

and best for last - because I have a real love for white shoes

from skinnyandbernie

Virtual shoe shopping! Love it!

Crochet Thoughts

2010-04-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Some things I think about when I'm crocheting

- I like it when some hair gets caught into the loops. I like the idea that my DNA will lie over me when I sleep, and maybe lie over unborn people who will inherit this blanket. Also that these bits of hair are like a secret signature. And how including my own hair is a little memento mori... a little reminder of death.

- Oh, and how there is kitten hair interwoven too.

- I think about how Debbie Stoller talks about the dance of the hook about how much she loves the twirling of the stick. I think about crochet as a weird little super choreographed dance.

- Sometimes I imagine that finishing this blanket will mark an end and a beginning in my life. I think about the last two years - and I think about what lies ahead too. And I wonder who will lie under this blanket with me in the future.

- I try to think of all the combinations of squares that are possible with two colours and six rounds. It hurts my head. Then I worry that there is some combination that might be left undone. Will this make my blanket incomplete? Will I ever know? Will it be less magic?

- I think about how my friend told me that "Sorry Gem, dudes aren't necessarily impressed or attracted to girls who can do crochet" when I asked him whether I should whip out my project at the pub.

- I make sure I'm conscious about occasionally slipping in deliberate "mistakes" because I can't tolerate the idea of this being completely square.

- Oh! And I think about all the friends that have sat beside me as we've hooked away, and all the stories and problems and excitement that have been shared across these little squares.

- And I think about Alpacas! And I think, yay! Thanks for giving me your wool! And how this blanket is going to be a giant hug with an alpaca.

photo credit: lamazone

Arabia Pitchers

2010-04-16T04:52:00.001-07:00

Arabia Pitchers, originally uploaded by doublewinky.

It made me very happy to see Ms Doublewinky post these on Flickr, 'cos my Nanny (grandma) used to have these in her kitchen. She was the queen of Arabia ... and Marimekko too ... and Kartell. Very styling lady!

On my desk today ...

2010-04-15T08:18:00.000-07:00

- Beci Orpin exhibition invitation
Great night was had at Lamington Drive tonight ... the light and darksides of femininity! And wooden mushrooms too. Wonderful work - please do yourself a favour and check it out.

- Zombie Shot
This little ceramic eye popper holds my paperclips. And reminds me to keep it real. I think you are supposed to take shots from it. But I don't think knocking back a mouthful of wire would do anyone any good.

- My Rubberband Ball

I sometimes fret that people see my rubberband ball and think that it equates to me having nothing better to do than loop lost bands together. But it is actually made up of lots of fractional moments over a long period of time! I like it sitting there. It looks like BRAINS!

Crafy Link here ... but really, you don't need advice to make one, really ... you don't.

- Travis Lampe Teardrip
I love my teardrip. It is lovely to hold. And people always ask me "What does this do?" and I say "If you hold it, it will take away your sadness..."

- Fluffy
You've met him before I believe?

- Tyrkist Peber from Anita
Peppery licorice from Sweden. If you are too pussy for salt licorice, forget this. These lollies are flavoured partly by ammonium chloride which is stuff that actually forms on the outside of VOLCANOES! No shit! True story! These are volcanic! AND if you are down with your Swedishness, you might dissolve them in vodka.

- Postcard from Fotofloor
My friends in Amsterdam, Floor & Mike are the team Fotofloor recently sent us this super hot postcard with their latest work.

- Delfonics via Notemaker
I know you are probably tired now. But Delfonics make thee BEST pens ever. Fullstop. Get them at Notemaker in Oz. Notemaker are good guys.

Knickers + Art = Giveaway

2010-04-14T06:44:00.000-07:00

I've finally found some time to sit down and do some folding and collating! I've just popped up a new batch of Knicker Kits on my ETSY store! The store has been depleted for 4 months! Oh the shame! I'm quite proud of these kits - they include a multi-size pattern, some nice colourful Fold Over Elastic, handwritten instructions and a pair of embroidered tags which proudly say I MADE THESE KNICKERS MYSELF.

Now you have no excuse for being pant-less. Crafty jocks - my fave.

Okay!

I'm also very excited because next week I'm taking part in the art fair that happens at the historic Royal Exhibition Building - ART MELBOURNE 10. I'm one of the curators that is presenting Outré Gallery over there. I'll be on the floor and looking out for friendly faces yo!

So ... this is my giveaway deal! I've got one Knicker Kit and one double pass to go along to Art Melbourne (you can come and see the Outré stand as well as over 100 other galleries).

What to do? Do a blog about your best lucky knickers and link it back to me (made sure you give me a heads up in the comments section!). I'll do a prize draw on Sunday evening. Go to it!

New style Granny Square

2010-04-12T07:44:00.001-07:00

I've done over 100 standard granny squares for my blanket - phew! I like the meditative repetition. And I'm always amazed at the scores of variations that you can rock with just two colours and one pattern.

But I stumbled across this nice tutorial for a simple granny square with a circular centre - and I can make them to pop out the same size! So perhaps the last 20 or 40 will be like this!

http://theroyalsisters.blogspot.com/2010/04/grandma-all-square-tutorial.html

PS - is anyone using iphone apps for crochet? Like this one? Are they any good?

Sunday Best

2010-04-11T23:56:00.001-07:00

hairpins
Originally uploaded by bricolagelife
Okay, so I never wore a hat to church. Ummm, I never even went to church. BUT, my mum always liked to tell me about dressing up with gloves and hat and matching EVERYTHING in the 50s to go to church.

This Sunday 18 April up at the totally dapper Captains of Industry, they are hosting a semi-respectable jumble sale with a distinctly vintage flavour called SUNDAY BEST.

Noon until 5 you can go for a poke.

They are promising: Skirts, shirts, scarves, bags, shoes, records, bric-a-brac. All from the years 1920-1960.

AND, not just your usual Camberwell-esque stuff either ... you can get an improved Sunday polish too. Get your nails done by the girls in the salon, have your vintage hat mended by the lovely Michelle or chomp on a piping hot cob of corn. Keep the kids happy-slash-crazy with some fairy floss or a balloon from the man in the pinstriped suit (not a clown - good!)

Five Faves Redux

2010-04-11T04:53:00.000-07:00

another five things from my week inspired by Pip's five faves meme ...

1. Shakshuka
Inspired by Smitten Kitchen via Rin via her mum, I made delicious, super chili-hot eggs poached in tomatoes. I'm kinda mad for tinned cherry tomatoes - I don't always see them at the market, so when I do, I buy a bunch of cans. I had some real-deal Mexican chipotle so that made for the extra mouth party.

2. Birthday Cards
I did indeed get some nice birthday cards - but I also bought some lovely Victorian postcards on my birthday as a mini top up to my collection. I try to be restrained as this is an obsession that could get expensive and out-of-control very easily! There is too much fancy, dandy, friendship and love in these lost moments. Best of all I love that message and handwriting on the last one ... if only I knew the story behind Miss E of Footscray and her "Arch Lad" (don't you love the use of the word ARCH like this? As opposed to Arch Enemy?) ... I'll put more cards up here when I get time (?!)

3. ESC Hearts Type
The beautiful handwritten lovenote on that postcard also made me think of my friend Elizabeth who is a fantastic typeographer and type fanatic. And I thought it was apt and neat that her latest project is for The Crafty Pint ... which is about artisan beer, not having a stitch n bitch in the pub ... but ya'know, it's close.

4. Happy Socks
When I was in Sydney this week a few things made me gross out, get tired and fall in a heap. Bummer. To top it off, I dropped my sock in the toilet at the hotel. What an idiot! Luckily our neighbour on Burton Street in Darlinghurst is Footage ... and they had some beautiful socks on offer that made me happy. Ummm ... called Happy Socks.
Designed in Sweden
Made in specific sizes so they fit super snug
And these ones reminded me of Barry McGee - which was an extra bonus.

image via taylem

5. Return of BFF
My pal comes home from Sweden tomorrow! Phew ... don't know how much longer I could hold out.

PS ... don't forget to go to Beci Orpin's exhibition opening this week! Don't! Forget!

Jean Seberg

2010-04-10T05:08:00.001-07:00

jean seberg
Originally uploaded by clint w

Perfect pink, out-of-control collar and an ace sideways glance. Yes to sideways glances.

beautiful sunny tableaux!

2010-04-10T02:29:00.001-07:00

things of the day, originally uploaded by Ninainvorm.

just a little favourite from one of my flickr friends ... inspiration for taking some fresh tableaux shots next week ...

Happy Birthday To Me

2010-04-09T08:06:00.000-07:00

A little candle in my cake at Auction Rooms ...

An impromptu shopping trip to Zakkaya ... hello new teapot

Reading old NME circa 1984 and having nostalgic Paul Weller love attacks ...

Games of Exquisite Corpse with my pals ... (NB: I do not like ham, just saying)

Raspberry Tart made with love by my pal PL ...

And a super beautiful painting from my friend Charley ...

Feeling grateful and loved! x

Five Alive a la Mikes

2010-04-04T07:21:00.000-07:00

Another fave five for Pip.

1. Holiday for Your Birthday
Easter has been fun! I can't believe that I still have a couple of days of sleeping-in to enjoy. I'm adding a sneaky Tuesday on for my birthday. I think that everyone should have a day off on their birthday.

2. Flowers and the Collingwood Rabbit
On Saturday afternoon I treated myself to a bunch of yellow flowers ... I don't always make the most of prettifying my house because I'm not always there. Later, I saw some crazy lavender on a side street in Collingwood near my pal's house. And yellow and purple is a mint combo - so I snuck some into my bunch. While plucking in the moonlight, my friend ushered me over to the nearby parking lot to show me some local wildlife. Yes! There in the moonlight, the Collingwood Rabbit. Just hanging out midst the cars and gravel and weeds. It seemed an apt and magical thing to spy at Eastertime.

3. The Slow Fizz

I like any song about gogo dancing. Especially any song that is a "Do-The" song. In fact I collect Do-The songs. Some faves include: Do the Ape, Do the Kitten, Do the Pop, (Do) The Broom. So I was very happy to discover this new one. I've been trying to work out how The Slow Fizz might go in terms of dance-moves - I think it might be kinda sexy.

photo credit: sazztastical

4. Granny Update

I've been hooking away at this blanket for a VERY long time, in a kinda lazy way. I knew it was going to be a long commitment, when I decided that I wanted it to be queen size. But now that it is getting cooler, I'm looping this alpaca with a little more urgency! I've done about 100 squares, and I think I'm aiming for 121 (11 x 11). All black and cream, all fuzzy, all random.

5. A Letterbox House

Flickr photo of the week goes to Joseph Robertson! This letterbox is apparently a mini version of the house it sits in front of. I think that Joseph really should print this photo and send it to this house as a crazy act of Droste Effect in action...

Sweden is a long way away

2010-04-02T06:00:00.001-07:00

Sweden | Vista Books, originally uploaded by fallingandlaughing.

Yes. Sweden is a long way away. And my buddy is over there now having a well deserved holiday in the Swedish Springtime with her sister. I'm having Svenska dreaming!

I'm dreaming of snow and glogg. Of clogs and cloudberry jam. Of dreamy scandi furniture and tall blonde boys. And princess cake too.

Have a dreamy time Anita! Come home safe!

Have a look at my nicey gallery of Swedish eye-candy.

Hot Cross Buns Au Go Go

2010-04-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

Made some spicy buns today - totally trad style. Yes to peel! Yes to sticky glaze! Yes to eating straight from the oven!

I used the same Delia Smith recipe that I've tried before. I didn't have any butter in the house, so I used olive oil. It was a little cool today, so I took the chill out of the air by putting the oven on early while the dough did its rising.

I made the crosses the proper way with a flour paste - which is strangely satisfying! But my favourite bit is brushing on the glaze at the end and watching these babies jump to life. Nice!

I call him Fluffy

2010-04-01T06:37:00.001-07:00

Fluffy chick, originally uploaded by teddybearswednesday.

In the interests of a non-chocolate Easter, I treated myself to a bit of handmade fuzz!

I bought this ace little critter from Jess a la Teddy Bear Wednesday. Fluffy was handmade by her and is totally exquisite in proportion, touch and detail. Even the little beak is neatly stitched together.

And oh my goodness, this little guy is tactile-au-go-go. Seriously, he is so soft and deliciously cuddly. Nice!

If you want to adopt his brother, you can: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43766840

Treasure Yo!

2010-03-28T17:46:00.000-07:00

I got included in a Treasury over at Etsy, which is super nice. It happens sometimes, but I'm loving this because:

- this is a 60's Spring Treasury, and right now it is pissing down with rain in Melbourne

- I'm listed on the same page as the super fantastic Vivienne Strauss

- It lead me to some crazy and fun-time work by the girl who curated this bunch of nice stuff: Miss Catwalk!

I know a couple of sweet-tooth ladies who would like THIS artwork by Catwalk.

What do they say about "You are what you eat"?

Five Fave :: Take 2

2010-03-27T18:46:00.000-07:00

Five at a time via Pip's meme.

1. Scones

My friend makes very, very dandy scones. She doesn't make them like me - the old fashioned way which involved rubbing the butter into the flour by hand. It also doesn't involve lemonade (which is how my pal Louise makes them). Anyway - she gave me the recipe. But if I told you, then I'd have to kill you. So you can just look at them instead.

cute flower cookie cutter that my mum gave me for Christmas

little doughy flowers

a little over cooked - browner on top than they should be - but still yummy!

2. Molly

I met Molly Dyson a couple of years ago. She lives in my neighbourhood, so sometimes we catch the train together. She is also a very great artist. It is hard to imagine that she is so young! I did an interview with her over at The Vine... you should go check it out.

I imagine the girls I draw to be secret sisters, or girls in a mystery club floating around having little lonely adventures. Like girl scouts of life or something, but a little bit gloomy sometimes. They are girls in books, and faces in old photos and in the background of movies and singers of forgotten cheesy pop songs.

3. Beehive

I had some photos taken for a magazine on Monday. They said it would be nice to rock a beehive. So I did. This is just the washed out, very unprofessional photo I took via my $10 webcam that morning to show you.

4. It's a SIGN!

I'm getting quite excited about Faith Levine's new project THE SIGN PAINTER movie! She is celebrating the fading art and craft of hand made signs. I try and take photos of fading signs around Melbourne when I can - because it just takes one idiot to turn a lovely milkbar covered in hand-painted signs into a beige block (RIP Comas Corner)...

Anyway - this is a great clip that Faith posted on The Sign Painter Movie blog ... love it!

5. Ten Percent

Anyway, despite baking scones and pies - I haven't actually been eating a lot of baked goods the last few months. I don't want to make a big deal about it - but I'm on a mission to get healthy and lose weight. It's not very fun to talk about being overweight. And even though it's pretty easy to hide your real size on the internet, I'm totally trying to get to a healthier weight. Anyway, this week I celebrated a small milestone, which was losing 10% of my body weight. Which is supposed to be a good start. Patting myself on the back for a second.

So, ummm, yeah ... if you see me, don't offer me cake, okay?

Five Faves :: Hello! Kuties Return!

2010-03-20T19:41:00.000-07:00

I've been non-blogging for five months, but nice people keep dropping by - so I thought I should return.

Unfortunately due to real life kaos and over commitments, I'm not able to run regular Kuties sessions in 2010. BUT, I will post (and email you directly if you are on the list) when sporadic things happen. Is that okay?

Here are Five Faves - meme time with Pip! (Happy Birthday for yesterday lady!)

1. STRONGER THAN DIRT

I'm having a spring clean! I know it's autumn, I guess it's overdue. Cleaning doesn't come easy, so I've got a rock n roll soundtrack to keep me going.

2. HAIRCUT TIMES

I haven't had a proper haircut for two years! I've been hacking away at it myself in the bathroom mirror, but yesterday I went off to Eight Hair up the road in Yarraville and had a chop, a coffee, a chat and a super good hairwash (in the vibrating chair!)

3. BURGERS IN THE PARK

Autumn evenings. Hanging in the park with my buddies. Eating the best burgers in town from Beatbox Kitchen. It's a fave. And they will be returning this coming Friday 26 March 2010, at the park at the end of Rathdowne Street in Carlton - between about 6:30 and 8:30pm. Meet us there!

4. BAKING PIES

For Christmas my awesome friend (and her daughter!) gave me a food processor. Now, I'm pretty old school when it comes to cooking - my mum forced a microwave on me - and I didn't really understand why a food processor might be good. I've learnt one thing fast, it's amazing for pastry! I can't believe that I could whip up a perfect batch of shortcrust in about 5 minutes.

This came in handy when our semi-regular Pie Night rolled around! I made two pies:

Peach Jam Pie with Hazelnut Crust

Like a Linzer Torte, but peachy. This one I made with Peach Jam which was homemade by my friend Ben with peaches from his mum's tree!

Sweet Potato Pie with Poppyseed and Cheddar Cheese Crust

one of those sweet / savory combinations - I got the recipe from the "Enchanted Broccoli Forest" which is one of my all time fave recipe books

5. MID-CENTURY MATCHBOX DESIGN

Oh goodness - one of the best Flickr streams is this person and this group too! Super good design, lovely subject matter and neat format.

Bedside

2009-10-23T10:22:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 8 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Joining in with Meet Me At Mike's My Place Meme ... here is my bedside.

Play along with all the girls ...

I want an A-Frame Studio, please

2009-09-28T06:58:00.001-07:00

Best Playhouse Ever, originally uploaded by sandiv999.

Blue skies? check
Lucky red door? check
Lil room for one? check
Tee-Pee-Like perfection? check
Dreamy nostalgia? check
A for ace? check

Our Milkbar Exhibition is on the road

2009-09-23T06:17:00.001-07:00

"Milkbars, Laundromats and Urban Beauty" Exhibition set up, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Okay, so drinking cans of soft drink at 6:30 in the evening is kinda weird.

But we had a sugar fest to celebrate the opening of our Milkbar exhibition.

Big big thanks to all the wonderful people who came out on a Tuesday night to see our photos and raise a can of pop to the nostalgia of the recent past.

Lots of photos from the opening here...

If you missed the opening night, don't fret! You can go and see all the Tarax glory until October 11, 2009 down at Arthur's Circus.

Vintage Specs are my thing

2009-09-23T06:08:00.000-07:00

Okay, one of those things I like!

How great is this old cover of Esquire? I love how the eyes are disembodied and just floating in the specs! So cool, so creepy!

I found this via the very very wonderful GRAIN EDIT ... a must stop shop in the world of good looks and vintage design.

Kids in a candy shoppe

2009-09-21T03:59:00.001-07:00

Just a reminder that our photo exhibition MILKBARS, LAUNDROMATS AND URBAN BEAUTY is all set up now and awaiting the opening:

TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - 6-8PM

The four of us are really proud of the photographs that we're presenting. So come help celebrate with us at the opening.

We've also got a milkbar's worth of sugary goodness for you with a flat price of 20 cents a piece:
* marshmallow snowballs
* frozen sunny boys
* cold cans of drink
* bags of mixed lollies
* fags and big boss cigars

That's right, all 20 cents - so bring a $1 and go crazy! Trust me, you'll feel like a .... ummmmm ... kid in a candy store.

Eamo and Miikel are also displaying some of their amazing collected milkbar ephemera. It's like a mini museum!

ARTHUR'S CIRCUS, 631 QUEENSBERRY ST, NORTH MELBOURNE

(catch the 57 TRAM and get off just before it turns into Abbotsford Street.)

And ... we're going to the NORTH MELBOURNE TOWN HALL HOTEL on Errol Street for post-exhibition beer & cider from about 8:30pm ... so join us there later if you can!

Love
Gemma, Miikel, Nat and Eamo
x x x x

Kraft Kuties Kamera Kamp

2009-09-11T06:40:00.001-07:00

Olympus Pen, originally uploaded by tubes..

I just got a new digital camera! Woot! My very lovely and very smart work-mate said to me "Gemma, just go methodically through the manual. It's worth it."

Ummmmm ... I read three pages. And then just started shooting my finger real happy like.

I think I need some sharpening up. And I think that lots of krafty girls wanna get creative and sharp with their camera skillz because it helps with bloggin, with selling, with showing off and such.

I'm proposing an afternoon when we all get together and share tips and secrets. What do you think? Hopefully some of the more clever shutterbugs amongst you might come too! No teachers, no rules ... just ad-lib sharing and experimenting.

Miss Loobylu pointed out this great project to us all recently - makin' a LIGHT TENT - that might be fun too, right?

Who's in?

Snowball Love

2009-09-10T05:38:00.000-07:00

Are you coming to MILKBARS, LAUNDROMATS AND URBAN BEAUTY?

Perhaps I can bribe you with some sweet, old fashioned goodness?

A lovely lady put us onto the yesteryear charm of Towntalk Snowballs. They also make Wafer Slices (with marshmallow inside) and Sherbert Cones. YO! They have been making these tasty treats in Melbourne for 60 years on the same custom built machines.

Yes, we're going to lash out and celebrate with some Town Talk celebratory sweets. And we'll share 'em with you if you play nice.

Who ever thought that nostalgia could taste so fresh?

----------
Photographs by Melbourne artists looking at the fading memories of the past as they exist in the contemporary urban environment.

Milkbars, hand painted signage, laundromats, tiled shop fronts, old walls and ghost signs.

We are: Natalie Jeffcott (vintage eye, photographer and shop keeper), Miikel Doomernik (designer, ex-mod and milkbar fan), Eamo Donnelly (Playboy illustrator, Australiana aficionado and famous guy) and Gemma Jones (paintergirl, kraft kutie and curator-type).

Come and enjoy our photographs, our milkbar decorations and ephemera ... and some nice lollies.

MILKBARS, LAUNDROMATS AND URBAN BEAUTY
Arthur's Circus for The Fringe Festival 631 Queensberry Street North Melbourne VIC Tuesday, 22 September 2009 6-8pm

Oh Bluey!

2009-09-06T05:52:00.001-07:00

TC, originally uploaded by Justin_McCollum.

Kitty Love Attack photo of the week!

Oh my! My cat CUBY is a Russian Blue too - and I know this sweet face of contentment so well.

Here's to all the cats!

Things :: Someone Else's Tableux

2009-09-02T05:54:00.001-07:00

Things, originally uploaded by Four Eyed Monster.

Love a tableaux. Had tableaux fail with my tableaux a day goal.

Big hurrah for Christian's sweet tableaux with his new snapper.

Slide are great. Kangaroos are great too.

I'm tired. But not too tired to wish for technicolor kangaroo dreams.

z z z z z z

Camperdown Rocks

2009-08-29T22:29:00.001-07:00

Camperdown autumn view, originally uploaded by painter girl.

A few months ago a couple of my friends and I stumbled across the most charming and breathtaking lil Victorian country town. Camperdown. If you haven't been there - well, there is a cool event being organized down there very soon which is aiming to raise funds for upgrading the local maternity ward. Yay babies!

Camperdown Cruise will be an awesomely cool rockabilly, custom car and family weekend that’s happening in Camperdown on Saturday 19th-Sunday 20th September, 2009, throughout the main street of Camperdown and the historic Theatre Royal on Saturday, with Sunday’s events to be held at Relic Restorations, Sinnott Street (in Camperdown’s industrial estate).

All money raised from the weekend going towards upgrading the local maternity ward, which is fantastic. It’ll be a jam-packed weekend celebrating all things cars, rock n’ roll and the culture of a bygone era that still stands strong today-there’s something for everyone and it’s all for a great cause! It’s shaping up to be a fantastic festival and a weekend not to be missed, featuring;

-live 50’s/ rockabilly music-6 bands to date, including the Sky Rockats from Warrnambool, and established and up and coming rockabilly, etc bands from Melbourne

-custom car displays and show & shine featuring a great assortment of cars from across the state and beyond

-art exhibition-featuring at the Lava Arts Gallery, Camperdown

-a colouring competition for the kids

-cool trade stalls

-40’s-50’s women’s fashion parade featuring clothes from ‘Vivien of Holloway’ http://www.vivienofholloway.com

-BBQ lunch on Sunday, prizes & giveaways and so much more.

More info here: www.relicrestorations.com

Tableaux of Loot by Bricolagelife

2009-08-29T21:15:00.001-07:00

my loot, originally uploaded by bricolagelife.

I love a little tableaux - you know that already!

This mini still life by the ever wonderful Ms Bricolagelife is charming, nostalgia filled and heart-warmingly homely. Spot the mini-skaters will you?

That green wall makes me slightly weak at the knees - perfectly perfect.

You can track down this uniquely creative lady here, here and here ... oh, and here.

Are you on Twitter lady? Let me know! (You can follow my wee tweets @gemmajones)

Come to our Exhibition!

2009-08-26T06:32:00.001-07:00

We're getting ready to show you some nice photos. If you live in Melbourne, mark TUESDAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2009 in your diary! If you're lucky, we might have Tarax and mixed lollies on offer.