GETTING CRAFTY IN THE BERSERK STUDIO..

CrAFter Top

We have been working on this top for weeks in the studio. Really! Looks so simple, being in a non stretch fabric, the fit has to be tweaked to fit as perfectly as is possible for a fabric of this nature.



One of my favourite parts of the job is the fit challenge. It presents the challenge of art vs science. The creative vision has to be nutted out in numbers that will result in a one dimensional pattern that will work on a very real body.




First one in this line up is the 'Indi mix'. A montage of craft cottons in plum, olive, orange and pinks.It has a bias strip of contrast fabric on the yoke, in this case a circular design in a japanese cotton. The yoke and back are two versions of the traditional Ikat design.




The shape has bust darts, side splits for a bit of sitting room, and an extended shoulder.





A very flattering shape on the body! Great for hot weather. Nothing is as comfortable as a fabric that breathes, like cotton, in the midst of an Aussie summer.




The back is a contrast fabric on the 'Bali mix' version in a bright ikat print.


One other design we have finished is the 'vine' fabric version. The back and the yoke are in the vine fabric, plain black at the lower front, and a contrast cotton print at the yoke.




                            More colour options to come. We are currently expanding our Etzy page,listed under ' Berserk Melbourne'. We have also started an oline cart on the Berserk Face Book page.

Home Grown Tomatoes

Growing tomatoes should be listed as a national sport in Australia

It is quite a physical activity. Fertilising and preparation, then the planting. It takes a lot of back bone to get to that point. Then there is the constant weeding and staking.


Now that the drought has broken and we are allowed to water plants again, the familiar ragged fronds can be seen poking out over fences. Cherry varieties hanging in baskets and pots perched on the balconies of apartments.

It is  a competative business, often shrouded in mystery. Its not for lightweights, riding the highs and lows of growth,flowers and fertilisation. Then finally,joy, the appearance of tiny fruits which must be guided and protected.




Neighbours peer over the fence at the fertile, robust plants on the other side. Speculation over the kitchen table...'they must have bought those expensive seedlings,not raised them from packet seed?' 'Sheep shit?' 'Horse manure's no good for tomatoes''Seaweed fertiliser, but before they fruit...'









The truth is in the tasting. Although we have only harvested a few small  fruits so far, they taste like tomoatoes. They have a luscious,fresh and cool flavour. Makes you realise how fake and fridged the super market variety is.It is great to get your hands dirty,inhale the  fragrance so unique to those plants and fill a basket with plump red tomatoes.