The largest laundromat in Australia!

Hung out at the self proclaimed 'largest laundromat in Australia' yesterday.  Laz did some washing and I did some drawing and we both ate a curry.  I have always found laundromats so relaxing, especially when its raining outside like it was yesterday when these pictures (below) were taken.  Once again, my nokia phone camera is the source of the photos.

Sirena con Jersey

I am always on the lookout for knitwear design.  Often I will type 'knitwear designers' or 'knitwear designers Australia' into google search as a way of procrastination, but surprisingly sparse results are the outcome.  So it is always with great delight that I find something unique. I was looking at Hello Sandwich's blog and found 'Sirena con Jersey'.  Below is a bit about them from their website and some pictures of their jumpers:


"We produce stuff we would like to wear but we don't find in the stores.
We both come from the graphic design world, but Eli is illustrator and Ali loves crafts.
Sirena con Jersey was born in 2007 with a series of handmade knitted sweaters. Then we produced a series of screen printed totebags. People like our stuff, so we decided to keep doing things."

Sirena con Jersey also produce a range of screen printed clothing, totes and lazer-cut jewellery which are equally endearing.  Check it out on their website here.

icecream is gonna save the day

Back in Melbourne and pouring rain after having the nicest time ever in Hobart staying with my sister.  I miss my little nieces so much! 

'ice-cream' by Penny, Jemima and myself.

no pavs, just peach melba

I made this at the same time as the Pavlova picture but only finished it recently.

I've never even had Peach Melba, but I'm sure its good.  Especially with all that ice-cream!

Waiting, Wishing, Washing

Waiting patiently for my washing to dry so I can pack my bag for my trip to Tasmania tomorrow.  Can't wait to see my family and go and get a big bowl of laksa with my dad in Salamanca! 

We have a bike club at uni called the 'Pedal Pushers' (get it....fashion and textiles!!!).  Anyway, we have been screen printing the t-shirts for Bikefest 2010.  We used only recycled print pastes and second-hand t-shirts because we like the earth.

I think they look pretty snazz.

Picking colours.....  Getting sorted.....

printing on the big spinner-ma-jig.  Always wanted to use one of these.

Some of the finished tee's.

All very fun.  Bike fest runs pretty much the whole time I'm in Hobart, so I'll be missing out on the action and the opening night party which we got to go to for printing the t-shirts.  Next year perhaps.

Whittling

No! Its not whittling at all! Some progress shots of a dress I'm printing.  I can't wait to finally wear it-  Hopefully I'll actually want to, and the many, many chemicals I used to dye it will not scald me.

Just lovin' it...

Enjoying Sunday morning walks with no responsibility looming over my day.  I've started wandering the streets in the morning a lot lately because my sleepy boyfriend tends to snooze through to the afternoon rendering my bedroom a zero-noise/usage zone.  Plus I no longer have symptoms of a crippling back injury and can actually move again.
So yes.  I just wander about being a creep and taking more photos of stuff on/out the front of peoples houses on my nokia:

Otto and Spike

A while back now I emailed Otto and Spike to get a booklet off them that was only available to retailers.  I got a very prompt reply and an invitation to go to their factory in Brunswick East.  Ella and I went along yesterday! 

It was incredible to be weaving through the various knitting machines they had, many of them running and knitting piles of scarves, collars, blankets and beanies.  There were some new machines, and others were very old.  I asked if any of the older machines had punchcards, and Alasdair (who was showing us around) pointed out some steel punch-cards connected to each other with a chain processing through the machine.  Its a terrible description there, I know.... I wanted to take photos, but at the same time I felt like it would have been rude to pull out a camera.
It was mentioned that some of the  very old, out of use machines were simply there as collectors items and were going to be featured on the ABC program 'Collectors'.  I'll definately post a link to the video on this blog once it airs.


Otto and Spike have a lot of sustainable practices in their business, which I think is really important.  Alasdair made a really good point that designers should be able to make use with the resources we already have, rather than creating a need for more resource production; this is something that is visibly practiced in their business.
The following are some pictures of Otto and Spike products:

A very inspirational day!  Been a bit of  springboard for a developing project.  Once it has become more of a reality I will be able to talk about it!  Oh the mystery.

Screen printin'

Below are some hand printed- swatches I made for a new project I'm doing at uni (yes, I'm back there... Doing an elective because I'm a spock.)  Its based on the theme 'Graphica', in accordance with the Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2011 GRAPHICA exhibtion with RMIT fashion and textiles.

The final print will be put onto a garment from an op-shop; probably a jacket or a dress so I can wear it after the exhibition!  Looking forward to the Savers/Vinnies/Don Bosco rummaging that is to come!

While I was in a graphic, geometric mind frame I entered the Melbourne Myer bag design competition. Here's my entry on the website!  I think everyones designs got put up, so I'm not special. But enough riff-raff:

It is meant to look a little like Federation Square...

Qua

Music video 'Devil Eyes' from the Melbourne band Qua. Saw them play on Sunday night at The Corner in Richmond and thought they were pretty rad. They were actually the supporting band, but I liked them better than the headliner... Its always nice to find new music to love and listen to.



I've been working on my knitting machine heaps lately. I've just discovered how to do fair aisle knitting and am excited for new projects; socks balaclavas and leg warmers. Pretty timely now we are coming into summer. Ha.