On the trail...
Leap off the sunny street into the Von Haus foyer today and you'll be greeted by, right now, the unexpected blaring of INXS, and (if you lean in very close) the sweet whispers of our LookStopShop display.
Six stunning collages by Gracia + Louise (from the Whose Lights Were Now Seen Glittering set) sit among redesigned 'retro' signage, all of which is a little window to the building's past... a time when Eugene Von Guérard resided at Von Haus, having come to Australia in search of gold! The story goes that he had better luck with his paintbrushes than his sieving pan...
Now, take your time, tip your hat to the nilgae, and head upstairs to Milly sleeping in the maid's room. For the duration of the LookStopShop program, we've put together a bright array of pieces, including a selection of garments by Romance Was Born, MüCKE, and silk crepe de chine scarves by Jenny Kee. These latter come in three sizes/lengths - a long bias strip, a 'baby square' for neckerchiefing and a large, sumptuous 1m square. The designs are new and old and new again, with evocative names like Flamingo Waratah, Mali Oz and Monet Opal...
We also have a range of limited edition zines and cards by Gracia & Louise available for purchase... and, sitting inside Bibi (the red jewellery cabinet), a slight diversion from our usual product range - to furniture.
This a little secret we've been eagerly awaiting the chance to share. Melbourne-based artist Melanie Paul has created a suite of tiny, tiny exquisite chairs, especially for Milly Sleeping for the LookStopShop period. This means that these intricate, whimsical pieces are on display for a very short time only (and they really must be seen to be believed or, at least, fully appreciated).
If you can't make it by today, please do drop into Von Haus next weekend - Friday and Saturday, between 12 and 6pm.
Enquiries ... leah@millysleeping.com
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21.07.2012
Collections
Every time we partake in a new project, we learn things. In the past week or so, I have learnt many things from Gracia & Louise, including the fact that charm is the collective noun for finches.
This leads me to wondering what the group name for gloves is. I like P. Durston's suggestion - a flap.
A crowd, a wave, a handful... an ovation..?
And what about scarves? A series, a whirl or a swirl?
In this case, it must be a sale of scarves, for these (and more, by Alexi Freeman, Kyoko, High Tea, MüCKE and Primoeza) have all had their prices marked down... Our silly signs have come down temporarily from the front window to make way for our lovely LookStopShop installation but the sale is certainly still running.
Flock in, there's a whole lot to see.
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20.07.2012
LookStopShop
Wednesday already! As mentioned last week, the LookStopShop program starts today...
This is a city-wide installation series; there are 24 sites (mostly stores and a few galleries) having their windows and walls worked over by great local artists and artisans. You can see a full list of participants and locations here...
Milly is on the map, twice! The lovely, and very fastidious and patient, Gracia Haby and Louise Jennison, have created two new pieces for our spaces:
A Charm of Finches Good as Gold, comprising one hundred golden paper pretties (who came in quiet order and are now flying excitedly this way and that in our windows at Carlton), and...
Whose Lights Were Now Seen Glittering, a series of 28 collages. Six of these works sit among friends in a gorgeous old display cabinet in the downstairs foyer of Von Haus, while the other 22 can be discovered back at Carlton.
We'll tell you more about the themes and stories that inspire the works soon but, for now, a few quick snaps:
Gracia and Louise's beautiful digital prints can be ordered as individual pieces, for $40 each. We also have a very delicious-looking selection of (sun-drenched) zines created by the pair in limited editions, and we will soon be receiving a particularly special zine featuring all of the new works in the Whose Lights series. For updates, and all sorts of insights and delights, you might follow G + L on the book, Twitter or at their respective blogs, High Up in the Trees and Elsewhere.
Many many thanks to Gracia and Louise, and curators, Moth Design, for all of their hard handiwork.
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18.07.2012
Snippets
Clockwise from top left:
now showing...
a feast for the eyes - 'The Bride, The Ship and The Wardrobe' - Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales curate The Johnston Collection at Fairhall, with a special presentation of works by themselves (AKA Romance Was Born) and Kate Rohde (picture from a nice little article by Tempe Nakiska at Broadsheet);
'non-working title', an installation of new work by Fiona Lau and Kain Picken (AKA ffiXXed) at glorious Craft Vic (picture by Lily Feng);
coming soon...
'How the light gets in' - an exhibition of artworks at e.g. etal by contemporary jewellers and artists including, and inspired by, Emma Grace (pictured pieces by Nicholas Jones, Ellie Mücke and Kate Tucker);
'Rough diamonds, hidden gems' - a preview to two window installations by Gracia & Louise, curated by Milly Sleeping (AKA 'us') for both our city and Carlton spaces. We can't wait to reveal more... This project will be part of the Look.Stop.Shop program curated by Moth Design for the City of Melbourne, starting July 18.
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11.07.2012
...
Such is the light and chipped-paint splendour of Von Haus, when we ventured there to take a series of 'practical' photos for our online store, we couldn't help but get carried away with the old point-and-click.
But don't the garments look so beautiful here? This is their last weekend in the city! Drop in today or tomorrow, between 12 and 6pm, to see Milly's AF collection at Von Haus, curated beside the beautiful costumes and headpieces, soon to be returned to The Australian Ballet.
All remaining garments will (as of next Tues) be brought back to Carlton, to join the ranks of our sale, while nine styles are available immediately, just across the way. Postage for online orders is free!
* * *
Alexi Freeman mesh gather gown (RRP $325 now $244)
Alexi Freeman chain kite tee (RRP $199 now $149)
Alexi Freeman gather skirt/cape (RRP $199 now $149) with Alexi Freeman Galaxy scarf (RRP $89 now $71)
Alexi Freeman wool cashmere stud coat (RRP $775 now $659)
Alexi Freeman disco bat dress (RRP $292 now $90)
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06.07.2012
