Kaotic Kraft Kuties

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.

Vintage for the Desktop

2009-08-26T01:58:00.000-07:00

I really like old fashioned stationary and desk accessories. I loved Esty's Mad Men feature - oh my! Back when you didn't have a computer on your desk and most of the things that you DID have on your desk weren't made of plastic nor were they designed to be thrown away.

I've been having an address book crisis for some time. My current address book I've had for about 10 years. It's out of date. It's a disaster zone basically. But I've been wanting a solution that is adaptable, big enough and styling. And I think I found it.

Thank you ETSY for this rad metal card filing system! Or more specifically, thank you Vintageholic Frog.

Hey Joe

2009-08-25T08:05:00.001-07:00

Hey Joe, originally uploaded by Herschell Hershey.

I'm going to New York City in October! I'm totes going to Coney Island! And I'm going to be driving my new camera which should be in my clutches before I fly.

Anyone with hot New York / Brooklyn tips - shoot them my way!

Yay clams! Yay handpainted signs! Yay small mustachios!

Mike's Milkbar Garage

2009-08-25T07:59:00.001-07:00

Mike's Milkbar Garage, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I took this shot at my friend Mike's garage. He's got old signs, vintage bottles, old chair that he got off hard-rubbish.

He's also in our forthcoming exhibition MILKBARS, LAUNDROMATS AND URBAN BEAUTY which will be part of the Fringe Festival over at Arthur's Circus. Radtastic yo!

A motley foursome: 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 (ya'know - lil ol me).

Opens September 22 at Arthur's Circus.

Bakin' a Pecan Pie

2009-08-24T06:54:00.001-07:00

Bakin' a Pecan Pie, originally uploaded by painter girl.

I live in a bit of a teepee. I like the wigwam way. I like having home as a bit of a retreat. But then sometimes, I want to share my home with my peeps!

So I had a Pie Night.

Some peeps came over one night - and they all brought with them a homemade pie. It was oh-so wholesome and ace!

I asked my mum to send me the recipe for Pecan Pie from her old timey Americana cookbook ... so here it is:

Pie crust Pastry

2 cups pl flour 51/2 ozs shortening
1 tspn salt 5 - 6 dess spns ice water

Make up pastry cutting butter into sifted flour/salt mix till mealy. Sprinkle water - the less the better. Mix lightly into a ball. Chill thoroughly. Roll out etc etc.

** You need half this quantity for a 1 crust pie - which is for the pecan pie.

PECAN PIE

3 eggs 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 tspn salt 1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup dark corn syrup 1 1/2 cups pecan halves (approx)

Line 9 inch pie tin with pastry and bake - pre heated 450 degree oven (gas 8). for 5 mins. Cool.
Beat eggs and salt till very light + lemon coloured. Beat in sugar gradually. Wire whisk - fold in melted butter and syrup. Pour into partially baked pastry shell and arrange pecan halves on top - broken sides down.
Bake for 10 mins in preheated oven 425 deg, reduce heat to 325deg and bake for 30mins.

This pie can be baked in small fluted foil pans to make 8 - 10 individual pies. Reduce baking time slightly (bake until crust is golden!)

Love Mum xx

Pippy wants to know where I'm up to ...

2009-08-18T01:45:00.000-07:00

Inspired by my awesome and ever-inspiring - in fact AWE-INSPIRING - friend P.Lincolne.

Making : trouble.

Cooking : pecan pie from a vintage cook book that my mum owns.

Drinking : Brother Baba Budan coffee - oh my, I had three today.

Reading : the new Atomic Ranch.

Wanting : a caravan to paint for the Candystripers.

Looking : like a cartoon character.

Playing : hooky.

Wasting : not, wanting not.

Sewing : a tablecloth for Talor Browne.

Wishing : for a little more time!

Enjoying : my neat and tidy house (just wait until you see it in a magazine soon!)

Waiting : for Springtime.

Liking : stockings from We Love Colors.

Wondering : if people really believe me when I say I'm really, really, really super busy!

Loving : my friends - as always.

Hoping : for a nice flatmate to magically come my way.

Marvelling : at how fast the year is trampling by.

Needing : some teepee time aka time-out aka RnR.

Smelling : like figs.

Wearing : my current favourite aqua blue knit jumper with white polka dots.

Following : my heart.

Noticing : cherry blossom in the streets near my house.

Knowing : that "this too will pass".

Thinking : about our new exhibition - Milkbars, Laundromats and Urban Beauty.

Feeling : excited about going to NYC.

Bookmarking : my very crazy, very explosive diary.

Opening : my mouth - again.

Giggling : at The Sweet and their glam rock craziness.

Feeling : déjà vu.

Wilkintie No.11 by John Copeland

2009-08-17T01:18:00.001-07:00

Wilkintie No.11 by John Copeland, originally uploaded by Nails Oeltjen.

Okay - so I went into fail-mode with the Tableaux project! Just while I play catch-up - an amazing new release from Wilkintie.

John Copeland is the real deal. An Oz designer from the genuine mid-century daze.

As the goodfolk at Wilkintie tell us:
The work of John Copeland (b. 1935) is probably familiar to many without necessarily being able to identify the designer who created it. John’s formative design years were spent in the studios of Cox Kay Printers (Hobart) and Lyons Ice Cream (London). His covers for Melbourne’s popular ‘light classic’ World Record Club label of the 1960s are instantly recognizable for their graphic power and skill, and for the charm and quality of his illustrations. His work from this period (and those of his distinguished WRC alumni) continues to inspire designers around the world. In 1963 John began lecturing at the South Australian School of Art, continuing there until his retirement in 1993. We are proud to have John Copeland involved with Wilkintie – a designer of such a long-standing commitment to excellent design, and speaking from personal experience, a man of charm and charisma.

Buy this beautiful print over at ETSY.
http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6842053

A Tableaux a Day: 12 August

2009-08-13T05:46:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 12 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

What's in Pip's bag? another guest tableaux.

When I was a teenager I totally loved the articles in Dolly about what was in a celebrity's handbag. I think what you choose to haul around with you says a lot about you.

Pip and I stole a little bit of time to have a chai on Gertrude Street and I made her empty her handbag on the window ledge of Radio.

Galaxy Trio at Outré

2009-08-12T19:22:00.001-07:00

Hey, you know how I work at Outré? Well, we're just RIGHT NOW hanging the cutest show of originals from some ace, free-flowing peeps from the US: Martin Ontiveros, Kiyoshi Nakazawa and Bwana Spoons.

Go over and have a look: http://www.outregallery.com/browse.aspx?Category=196

A Tableaux a Day: 11 August

2009-08-11T17:50:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 11 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Did I tell you that we're having an exhibition? Did I tell you that it's all about oldy timey relics in the suburban environment? Did I tell you that we are diggin on old tiles, milkbar shop fronts, laundromats, ghost signs and flakey paint? Did I tell you we love Melbourne?

MILKBARS, LAUNDROMATS AND URBAN BEAUTY
(part of the Fringe Festival)
ARTHUR'S CIRCUS
Opening 22 September 2009
Natalie Jeffcott, Gemma Jones, Eamo Donnelly, Miikel Doomernik, Sach Hybrid and Christel Crumpet

A Tableaux a Day: 10 August

2009-08-10T00:44:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 10 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Today I went out East to where my friend Miss Hat lives. She is a super cool bird. She has a killer blonde bouffant flip do that Gidget would kill for, amazing free-form gogo moves and does some very cool abstract-expressionist art work in her spare time. Like me, she is a big Bo Diddley fan and prefers cream (rather than frosting) on her cupcakes.

She was telling me how she's been a daily fan of the Tableaux project - so we thought we'd rock this co-lab for ya. Fifties toy car, cream butterfly cake, carmelia straight from her garden. Love to the Hat yo!

A Tableaux a Day: 9 August

2009-08-08T23:41:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 9 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

Another semi-cheat tableaux because this is just another "as is" still life from my room.

I actually dusted today - hooray! This is good because my dressing table top is made from black glass and it looks shit when it's dusty.

Hello Little Enid.
Hello Cat Cookie Jar.
Hello New York.
Hello Beci Orpin.
Goodbye.

A Tableaux a Day: 8 August

2009-08-08T23:38:00.001-07:00

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

Next to my bed I have a bright red Kartell Componibili. There are handy boudoir type things hidden inside, but up on top:

My friend the rabbit radio. Pull his ear because it is an aerial.

My excellent Yoshitomo Nara flip clock. Every number has been hand drawn and every combination of hour and minute is a work of art. At the O'Clock it says FUCK! And at midnight the 12 is just a whirlwind scribble.

Rainbow Friends with You toy. Came from a blind box. We sell blind box toys at my work and it is very very very easy to get sucked into buying a random friend whenever the fancy crosses your mind. I now resist, and it means I cherish the few ones I do have.

A wooden tooth box. Have pills inside there.

Tiger Balm. My Pop always had tiger balm on hand. I wondered last winter about how I'm very unfamiliar with Vicks ... and I think that's because we had Tiger Balm instead. One day I would like to go to Haw Pa Villa which is the famous Tiger Balm theme park in Singapore.

A card from Wee Birdy! A Ladybird card of one of my favourite books as a kid.

A Tableaux a Day: 7 August

2009-08-07T04:52:00.001-07:00

A Tableaux a Day: 7 August, originally uploaded by painter girl.

A pastel rainbow of loveliness! Awww....

Here are the stories behind these items...

1. Kitty Lamp bought from my very ace friends Nat and Nick who run Arthur's Circus. You can't really see but this fluffy beast has his tongue hanging out. Rad! Nat was featured the very recent issue of Inside Out. Go and freaking BUY THIS MAG NOW! The feature is so good. Have a love attack over Nat and Nick's ace house. Then make a date to go and visit them in North Melbourne.

2. Lil Pink Cup Measure cute. Bought from Cuisine World, which is the kitchen shop next door to my work in Melb CBD. I use it to measure my rice into my trusty rice cooker. I worked out the other day that my rice cooker - which cost me $15 second hand in 1995 - has cooked about 2964 meals without fault. Oh, except that time I tried to make risotto with mushroom soup in the pot.

3. Rancho Deluxe Postcard My pal Ben runs a hot rod garage in Collingwood. He also opens the doors on a Saturday morning for coffee, cakes and chat. He's a good egg. When I was looking for a recipe for Creme Caramel the other day, this postcard tumbled out of my stash of cookbooks.

4. Wembley Ware Plates Oh my! Classic 1950s West Australian made ceramics. Scored by me for a pittance at the Oppe Shoppe in the early 90s. Go me!