The Design Files Daily

Monthly Archives: February 2011

Inspired Craft for Kids with Anna-Wili Highfield – Ballerinas & Dollies!

Anna-Wili and her darling Matilda are back today with some tried and tested Concertina Ballerinas and Cardboard Dollies. I cannot wait to make some of these with my ballet obsessed niece and her tutu wearing friends! – Jenny x

I made quite a few of these to send off to kindy a while ago. I’m as proud of the title ‘Concertina Ballerina’ as I am the object themselves.

First have a look at a ballerina. Draw her shape on some cardboard and fold at her centre. You can paint on their leotards.

Ask your small friend to draw a face. Then they can do some drawing on a paper rectangle or two. Concertina (make a fan) of the paper. Tape or staple onto the ballerina where her tutu would be.

Pretty thing! The boys at Matilda’s kindy liked making these as much as the girls.

Now for some ‘Cardboard Dollies‘.

Draw a female figure and cut out of cardboard. Fold a piece of paper long enough for one folded side to reach from the figures neck to a dress length. Cut out a dress. Cut a hole for the head to slip through. Belt with wool, or string. punch a hole in the top of her head and tie on some woollen hair.

Cut out a male figure. Cut a triangle out of paper for a cape. Fold top of triangle. Cut small slit. Slip head through.

Your little friend can draw a face and paint the outfits.

- A.W

Melbourne Home – Leesa O’Reilly

The beautiful teeny tiny loungeroom of Melbourne stylist Leesa O’Reilly!   the print of the girl hanging on the wall was found at Chapel st Bazaar, and sits above a bespoke screen-print on linen by Stewart Russell of Spacecraft, for use originally in a cookbook for Margaret Fulton!

Leesa’s circular coffee table has featured in many photo shoots due to it’s distinct tarnished metal surface! Patchwork rug from Loom.
Leesa’s tiny apartment is like a museum of beautiful, eclectic pieces, many gifts from creative friends.  Screen print poster ‘Accept the Good’ from Third Drawer Down, – a gift from owner & friend Abigail Crompton.  The colourful artwork featuring the famed Sophie Loren quote -  ‘Everything You See I Owe to Spaghetti’  is actually the back of a menu is from Grossi Florentino, given to Leesa from a waiter whilst lunching there.  The cards that are stuck on the wall on the left are a favoured selection from a hand drawn deck of playing cards called ’52 Pick Up’ by New York-based Australian artist Edwina White. (also from Third Drawer Down).

The stylist’s obligatory magazine stack!  White fluffy pom pom from Bonjour in Albert Park, Delicate white plastic vessel by Emma Davies, embroidered handkerchief, ‘I’ve been to hell and back, and let me tell you it was wonderful’ by Louise Bourgeois, again from Third Drawer Down.

There is something quietly special about Leesa O’Reilly‘s teeny tiny St. Kilda apartment. It’s hard to pinpoint… but I think the closest description I can muster is that it kind of feels like an apartment in another country. Somewhere painfully cool and a little bohemian, like London or Paris or perhaps even Barcelona or something. I think it has to do with the tiny-ness, the artfully arranged creative clutter, the dinner parties one can imagine here with everyone perched on a different piece of furniture and plates balanced on their knees. You know?

PERHAPS the cool factor also has something to do with Leesa’s enviable creative career – she’s a prolific interiors and props stylist, having worked on publications including Vogue Living, Vogue Entertaining + Travel and Donna Hay magazine to name just a few. OF COURSE Leesa’s pad is full to the brim with beautiful artwork and home accessories – homewares and textiles from all her favourite local suppliers such as Megan Park and Third Drawer Down, plates and bowls that have graced the pages of many mags and cookbooks, and artwork by friends such as Marnie Gilder and David Band. ‘All of my ‘art’ is from or by friends – I’ve only just begun a collection of sorts’ says Leesa, ‘my first David Band screen print ‘Funny Valentine’ was being framed while these shots were taken – I can’t wait to pick it up!’.

One of Leesa’s favourite things about this gorgeous little apartment is being on the 1st floor, with huge windows that open wide – ‘I can look out at trees from every window – and I can sleep with them open in the summer!’ she says.

Leesa has been here for just 18 months but sadly, due to her ever-expanding prop hire and styling business, she’s already looking to move! Oh NO! She loves the St Kilda area though – ‘it’s a little haphazard’ she says ‘ not unlike myself!’. HA! I see no evidence of haphazardness Leesa!

Huge thank to Leesa for sharing her gorgeous home – another super inspiring rented space! If you love her home, chances are you’ll also love Leesa’s work – do pop over and check out her portfolio on the KHM website.

CLICK HERE for the full tour and many more pics after the jump!

Inspired Craft for Kids with Anna-Wili Highfield – Hobby Horses!

Today’s Guest Blog with Anna-Wili Highfield and her crafty Hobby Horse is sure to be a hit with any small person! The fun of making and playing around on your very own pony is almost too exciting for words, other than “giddy up” of course! – Jenny x

I thought of doing this a while ago, and made them with my daughters kindy friends. I think they are fun.

How to make a hobby horse.

Have a look at a horses profile. Draw and cut two pieces out of cardboard. Using the first as a pattern to trace the second.

Have your friend paint them. Wrap a dowel rod or a nice long stick (about an inch thick) with ribbon. Put the rod between the two horse head sides. If your cardboard is thin enough (although it’s not good if it’s thin enough to flop) staple heads together. Or punch holes with something sharp and tie string through to hold. Staple outer edges.

Giddy Up!

Butttt… I used some dowel close at hand that was hardwood and heavy and my accomplice became frustrated. Light thinner pine is best. But you know it’s good to use what you find.

It looks pretty in her room anyway. Stop by for some dollies and ballerinas crafts tomorrow!

- A.W

Story – The Store

Unique handcrafted treasures for sale online at Story – The Store.  Origami ball by Hideyo Kusudama, cross stitch by Tamara Maynes, sequined Amelia Earhart collar by Monique Germon, incredible custom ‘Story Flagship Teacosy‘ by Tara Badcock, ceramic brooches.

Not so quick off the mark with this one I’m afraid – Southern Highlands based creative Monique Germon launched her truly unique retail concept last month and in typical Design Files fashion I am FINALLY getting around to blogging it now!  WHOOPS.

Story is a tale in two parts.  On the one hand it’s a unique online outlet stocking exquisite locally handcrafted homewares, fashion and accessories.  On the other hand it’s an ever-changing and somewhat mysterious vehicle for narrative and online storytelling.  I must admit I don’t QUITE have my head around it, but there is certainly something a little magical over there….!

Do pop over for a little look through the very eclectic collection!

New Daily Email!

The Design Files new daily subscribers’ email looks a bit like this!

Okayyy so this may not seem like the BIGGEST news for you guys but it sure is BIG news for me!  FINALLY after years of frustration with The Design Files very rudimentary automated email subscription service, TODAY we are launching a customised html daily email!

This means that those of you who subscribe by email will no longer see a weirdly formatted RSS-style email – instead you will see this very pretty lay-out which mirrors the look of the actual website!  I know this is nerdy stuff but I am SERIOUSLY excited!

ALSO by popular request, the new subscription service gives you the OPTION to receive Daily Blog posts and/or the Guest Blog post each day!  I know many of you have been wishing you could subscribe to the Guest Blog by email – well now you can!

If you are a current email subscriber and are happy with your current daily email, you will automatically receive the new email and don’t need to do anything at all.  If you are a current subscriber who wishes to subscribe to both daily posts AND the Guest Blog, simply scroll down to the bottom of today’s email, click on ‘Change your preferences here’ link and follow the prompts!  Super easy.

IF you are not a current email subscriber and wish to subscribe to receive every new post by email, click here!

IF you are still loving your daily visits to the actual website and have no interest receiving content in your inbox, that is totally cool too!

Postscript – things like this may appear seamless and invisible in the general scheme of things, but in all honesty it is not so simple to make these technical things happen efficiently!  I must give a HUGE shout-out to Suse and the rest of the crew at Lettuce Systems who have researched and built this fancy new mailout and tailored it especially for The Design Files!  GENIUSES I tell ya.

Inspired Craft for Kids with Anna-Wili Highfield – Wings!

Anna-Wili Highfield and sweet Matilda are with us again today for this special week on the Guest Blog. Today we see how a beautiful set (or two!) of handmade butterfly wings can really make a little ones day – from making to play! – Jenny x

Butterfly Paint Effect, Butterfly Wings.

These are great fun to make with your little friends!

Have a look at a butterflies shape.
Draw onto cardboard. Cut out.
Punch holes with a pencil for elastic to go through later. Splodge paint liberally in desired colours on one or both wings.

Fold. Squash. Open. Awww!

Pull elastic through holes. Belt around the waste. Go flying.

We’ll be horsing around tomorrow, see you then.

- A.W

Related Posts with Thumbnails