Ceramics: Gwyn Hanssen Piggott

With a career spanning over 45 years, world renowned ceramist Gwyn Hanssen Pigott's work looks as fresh today as it did when she first created it. Born in Ballarat in 1935, she studied for her Bachelor of Arts at The University of Melbourne during the 50s.

Hanssen Pigott concentrates on the subject of the functional vessel, investigating its subtleties and nuances. Exploring the format of the group, she presents variations on related forms of vases, beakers, bowls and teapots as still lifes. Wheel-thrown in porcelain and using variations of wood-fired celadon glazes, Pigott’s approach to composition and presentation in these deceptively simple forms of grouped, functional objects reflect the influence of Italian painter Giorgio Morandi.

Handmade: Gift Guide for Chinese New Year

February 7th brings the dawn of the Year of the Rat. To celebrate, we've put together a gift guide of handmade items from various Etsy sellers around the globe.

Fine silver fortune cookie pendant, $20.55 US, from Etsy seller Melissa

Moleskin journal with gocco printed ancient Feng Shui Compass, $19.00 US, from Etsy seller Bamboo Village Press

Sterling silver, brass and freshwater pearl, Three Lanterns Earrings, $55.00 US, from Etsy seller Howlin' Doggie

Hand-stitched good fortune Nezumigiri Charms, $8.00 US each, from Etsy seller Sususten

Chinese Zodiac, vintage placemat journal, $25.00 US, from Etsy seller Color Theory

Hand-cut wooden rat puzzle, $10.00 US, from Etsy seller Puzzimals

Above: Rats vintage flash-card, $1.50 US, from Etsy seller Tres Locas

Below: Rat Love pin & sticker set, $3.50 US, from Etsy seller Black Lily Pie

Letterpressed 'Happy New Year' Chinese lantern notecards, $18.00 US for a set of 8, from Etsy seller NBD Stationery

Rufus Rat, $25.00 US, from Etsy seller The Birds and Bees

I had to post the full description for this one because it's quite cute: I'm a 100% wool crocheted and felted rat. I'm around 8 inches (20cm) in height. I'm sandy brown in color. I know I have a big bucked tooth, but I promise I won't gnaw through anything. Actually, I'm kind of sensitive about my tooth. I have a long rat tail and I'm very lovable.

Design: Pantone Mugs

For the designer in your life; these Pantone mugs are a must for any creative. Made from bone china, they come in a variety of swatches. Leo and I were the lucky recipients of two in 186C (red) just recently. They are popping up at gallery shops everywhere or you can order them online here.

Design: Kris' Color Stripes

Italian artist and fashion designer Kris keeps this great idea of a blog/sketchbook to inspire and evoke all who visit it. Kris' Color Stripes draws single swatches out of everyday life. Lovely.

Handmade: Etsy Seller - Reya

I love the soft, textural shapes in the work of Esty seller and Holland based artist, Reya.

The hand-felted poppies are available in her store now and the beautiful hand-felted pebbles can be custom made by contacting her.

Vintage Finds: Buttons & Books

We had the good fortune of stumbling across a range of vintage buttons at an antique store in the hills recently. The turquoise ones have this sort of 'coiled rope' texture which I love. 

I also found these two amazing books on the bookshelf at Savers while I was waiting for Leo to finish scavenging tailored shorts from the vast racks. The fact that the outside of the pages are tinted to match the cover design cemented them as a fixture on our own bookshelf.

Book Worm: Creative 'How-to' Books

I have a serious weakness for creative 'how-to' books. They call out to my, 'I don't need to buy that designer dress when I'm sure I could make it myself for a tenth of the price' side. Better (or worse) still, they appeal to my, 'I don't need to enrol in that creative course when I can learn everything from a book' side. Truth be told, none of us can ever possibly make everything we want to and some things are best left to the experts but these wonderful 'how-to' treatises also often have invaluable practical skills amongst their leaves, not to mention great ideas and gorgeous images or illustrations. 

I have a few favourites and many I'd love to get my hands on. 

Sew U: The Built by Wendy Guide to Making Your Own Wardrobe

I attribute the bulk of my sewing skills to Wendy Mullin. Well, actually my paternal grandmother was a seamstress and though all I have is a faint recollection of a dimly lit room near the front door, brimming with floral fabrics and musty notions, I'm certain that sewing somehow runs through my veins. Anyway, if you have leanings towards the needle and thread but don't know where to start, look no further than Wendy's 'Sew U'. Everything you need to know is covered here, from setting up your sewing space, to understanding patterns, from sewing in darts, to finishing edges. The book comes with a series of patterns that Wendy has released through Simplicity and includes perfect pants, a simple shirt and easy skirt.

When I initially skimmed through the pages of 'Sew U', our apartment was filled with drawn out Ohhhhhhhhs and Now I get its. The major epiphany for me though, was Wendy's mantra of 'think twice and cut once', which for me, has saved many a snip into the middle of a skirt.

 Top: Sew U: The Built by Wendy guide to making your own wardrobe by by Wendy Mullin, Eviana Hartman, and Beci Orpin

Bottom left: Sew U: Home Stretch, The Built by Wendy Guide to Sewing Knit Fabrics by Wendy Mullin and Eviana Hartman

Bottom right: Sew What! Skirts, 16 Simple Styles You Can Make with Fabulous Fabrics by by Francesca DenHartog

From top left: 

Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew by Amy Karol
How to Make Books: Fold, Cut & Stitch Your Way to a One-of-a-Kind Book by Esther K. Smith
Craft, Inc.: Turn Your Creative Hobby into a Business by Meg Mateo Ilasco
Cookie Craft by Valerie Peterson and Janice Fryer
Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!: Lacy Crochet (Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts) by Shufu-To-Seikatsu Sha
Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts!: Amigurumi (Kyuuto! Japanese Crafts) by Tomoko Takamori
Stitch 'N Bitch: The Knitter's Handbook by Debbie Stoller
Stitch 'N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker by Debbie Stoller

I'd love for everyone to share their own favourite 'how-to' books, as far as I'm concerned, you can never have too many!

Homewares: Lorena Barrezueta

These delightful pieces by Brooklyn based ceramist Lorena Barrezueta have well and truly made the rounds on the web receiving widespread recognition but I couldn't help mention them here as well. 

Lorena's playful collection, modeled on the humble disposable foil tin, aims at questioning society's view on quality, value and high-end design. A culturally rich upbringing, combined with a prestigious education and extensive world travel has allowed Lorena to create pieces drawing on contradictions, humour and harness an acute eye for detail. 

You can purchase Lorena's pieces through her Etsy store or at various stockists around the globe. 

Handmade: Night Owl Paper Goods

Alabama based creative team, Night Owl Paper Goods have a gorgeous range of eco-friendly greeting cards available through their website. Their range features cute forest characters, folk-art inspired patterns with an overall modern aesthetic. We love the pieces that are letter-pressed straight onto wafer thin, sustainably harvested yellow birch card.

Must do Global: January

Each month in addition to our 'Must do in Melbourne' post, we'll feature a few 'must do' events from around the globe.

Lower Hutt, NEW ZEALAND

Zeitgeist Becomes Form
German Fashion Photography 1945-1995

THE NEW DOWSE
October 6, 2007 to February 3, 2008

Images: Gaby van Cleef, Evening Dress by Gehringer & Glupp, Berlin 1951 & Winter Fashion for Bessie Becker, Zugspitze 1952 by Hubs (Hubertus) Flöter

Images: Op-Art Design on a Bathing Suit, Athens 1966 & Bathing Caps with a White Rim for 'Brigitte' 8/1966, Cairo 1966 by F.C. Gundlach

This exhibition features over 100 images celebrating 50 years of iconic world fashion, from Christian Dior in the 1940s to Issey Miyake in the 1990s. Zeitgeist Becomes Form includes unforgettable images by some of Germany’s most renowned photographers including Helmut Newton, Sybille Bergmann, Rico Puhlmann and Thomas Rusch.

These images truly capture the spirit of the times, and provide a fascinating insight into both the evolution of fashion, and simultaneous changes in society, codes of morality, the role of women and the hopes and ideals of people at the time.

For more information, take a look here.

Paris, FRANCE

Maisen et Objet

Design Professional's Trade Show

PARIS LE BORGET EXHIBITION CENTER

January 24-28, 2008

For more information, take a look here.

Los Angleles, USA

Black Panther

The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas

MOCA Pacific Design Center

October 21, 2007 to February 24, 2008

Images: Poster from The Black Panther, 27th May 1972, offset lithograph & poster from The Black Panther, 21st August 1971, offset lithograph by Emory Douglas

This exhibition traces the graphic art made by Emory Douglas while he worked as minister of culture for the Black Panther Party from 1967 until its discontinuation in the early 1980s. Douglas's powerful visuals helped define the trademark visual style of the group's newspapers, posters, and pamphlets. Douglas's substantial body of work exists as a powerful graphic record of the Black Panthers' legacy, reflecting their development and evolving mission to improve the lives of African Americans by calling for resistance and change, as well providing social services to their communities. With a firm understanding of the need to disseminate information and communicate the party's agenda visually, Douglas's bold illustrations and striking images spoke forcefully to a community ravaged by poverty, police brutality, and poor living conditions. With unmistakable humanism, Douglas portrayed a populace that was emerging from segregation and proudly fighting to assert their rights to equality. 

For more information, take a look here.

Diem Chau: Storytelling

Carved crayons on wood base, Installation view, 2005 by Diem Chau

These beautiful sculptures carved from crayons are by Vietnamese born artist, Diem Chau. I love the strong narrative inherent in these pieces, the use of colour and scale, and the adoption of the humble Crayola crayon, carefully crafted into these evocative figures. 

Diem Chau describes himself as an artist whose medium is stories. Having experienced a somewhat nomadic childhood with little material possession, he discovered the importance of stories shared with loved ones. 

"Each story is a journey that gives us greater understanding of our past and our culture. Each story is a thread that connects us to each other, the storyteller holding one end and the audience the other." - Diem Chau