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.

 ROOM WITH A VIEW...

Actually this room does not have a view at all, in fact it doesn't even have a window.
However, it does hold an abundance of textile type treasures,which are best stored away from heat and direct sunlight.


 I recently purchased some shelving from Carla from Emotional Baggage, who has moved her business out of the business incubator. It was too much to pass up a  purchase of  shelving which would be carried to your door, no construction or transport required!


It has been a fantastic voyage of discovery grouping collections of fabrics into tonal colour piles. Unpacking boxes and unearthing much loved, and long forgotten treasured vintage pieces.

Will there come a day that the world runs out of vintage? I would like to learn more about the printing processes used. Many vintage fabrics have a subtle tonal effect,which is not photographic, but seems much more varied than screen prints would allow?

I love sitting in this store room. I love standing in this store room....for extended periods of time! So much inspiration comes from just being in this store room - seeing the colours collecting them selves, and feeling the textures of the fabrics.

I have started on my block colours shelf as well now, which also has stripes and textured fabrics to mix up with the vintage.

You may spy many of the pieces from this collection in the garments we are constructing this Summer.

So will there come a day that the world runs out of vintage textiles?

night forest

 NIGHT FOREST SKIRT




I have an extensive collection of vintage fabrics. I love to sit in my store room, and just look at them! The beautiful colours, texture and subject of the prints mesmorizes me!




I have decided that I have I have to stop hoarding,and get these special fabrics back out into the world.



The black and white tree print is on a medium weight cotton drill. I would estimate that it was printed in the late 60's to early 70's judging by the feel of the fabric, and the subject matter.




Black and white made a very modern, alternative statement in that period. The average home would  have been dressed in loud florals of 1970's vintage, or the more traditional rose bouquet type floral print.
 This is a limited edition skirt,as I only have a metre or so of the tree fabric.



We have cut an asymetrical panel in the 'night forest' fabric, with the black and white stripe fabric running across the front and back on the right hand side.



The front has a band in black stitiched in between the stripe and feature panel, with two buttons on the lower front.



We have stitiched a sneaky little faux placket at the back,this is stitched down, and serves no purpose other than to add a bit of 'quirk'.

Available at The Cats Meow www.thecatsmeow.com.au
for more info kaz@berserk.net.au

Pushing little daisies

LITTLE DAISIES COTTON TOP;

This is a little cotton top we have been working on in the Berserk studio.

We have called it the Cottage top, and this design has 5 pintuck pleats in the centre front. It has become the pintuck cottage top!

It has raglan sleeve with black stretch cotton bands. The neckband is quite wide, which shows off the collar bone. We have put fusing into the neckband which ensures it will stand up through plenty of washes!

we do our best to make pieces that will last and become wardrobe favourites.

The daisies fabric is all cotton, the black bands have a little stretch.




www.berserk.net.au
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Berserk/129913253703726?ref=hl