Fun Night Out

A few weeks back I went out with some friends and had a really fun night out. I realised afterwards I wanted a card to say thanks for organising said night out. I know Summer is meant to be a bit of a fun fancy time but after November and December I kind of just feel like hunkering down, pottering about at home doing rather boring things. You know you're busy when things like organising the kitchen cupboards and vacuuming are exciting, much missed jobs. This doesn't last long and come February and I have cabin fever, so nights out involving new restaurants, new friends and sparkling wine are very exciting.

Do you have a friend that recently organised a fun night out? Then this might be the card for them. Hopefully if you get them one they might organise more. The card is available on Etsy, alas the chips and gravy are not.

Memories of school

How ace are these tea towels based on old school paper? That paper on the top right brings back so many primary school including the "story" I wrote in grade one after seeing Never Ending Story. I don't think I could get past the horse dying in quicksand and there was even a drawing in the corner of the page depicting the event, despite it upsetting me quite a lot. The tea towels are available from the Etsy shop Dirta Studio and would make a good teacher gift.

Lately on Instagram

We designed some new stickers for the back of our Etsy orders.

I saw a cat on Saturday night while riding off to meet friends. The cat was epic levels of friendly, the people around me must have thought I was crazy and my brake ended up in the dirt.

Drawing and writing down every idea that comes into our heads.

Street art on Albert Street in Brunswick (near the train line).

Gareth looking handsome.

I'm now an official card carrying member of the club. And yes, it is kept in my wallet (courtesy of Gareth's 6 year old niece and her new card making kit she got from us for Christmas. We thought it was a different type of card).

You can follow us @ableandgame

'80s teen films in the modern day

Falling of your bike

Over the years we have had a few friends fall of bikes so decided it was time to make a specific card. Since I started riding around in Melbourne I'm yet to fall off my bike, except if you count the time 8 years ago when I was out the front of the pub on the corner of Alexandra Pde and Wellington and fell over while I was stationary. It was 2am, yet there was still many cars around to witness my embarrassment. This luck in lack of falls hasn't always been with me and when I lived in Belgium for a year I had two falls and both involved tram tracks. I also had a fall when, as a teenager, I rode down a steep hill attempting a maneuver that involved a foot on the handlebars and the other on the seat and no hands. Surprisingly I met the bitumen.

As with all our sorry cards hopefully nobody ever has any need for it, total wishful thinking on our part. I'm also hoping my luck with falling doesn't run out, if you're in a car remember to check your side mirror before opening the door because I fear a dooring like you wouldn't believe. The card is available on Etsy, and if you can tell me where the cat helmets are available, I'll be very happy.

What's Up Birthday Boob?

We discovered this card at the market last year. Poor Gareth now has to spend his days on the naughty step. Such is the QandA life.

Have you heard about Fixit!

I got an email the other day about a new community resource in Melbourne called Fixit! I've met the founder Erin a few times at Meet Me At Mikes events and found her to be really interesting so I was excited to get this email about her new project Fixit! Erin told me it was similar to the Repair Cafe in Amsterdam, something I've not heard of but the idea sounds really interesting. I am always loathe to throw things out and I hate the idea of replace objects just because they are old or have something slightly wrong with it.

So if you have anything around the house that needs a repair then this might be for you. This weekend they are at the Sustainable Living Festival, then in March they have a Saturday residency at a cafe in Richmond. You can also volunteer your time and skills to help fix things as well. And like everything these days you can like them on the Facebook.


More information on where to find Fixit!:

Where + When

Sunday 17 February - 11am to 3pm
Fix It! at the Sustainable Living Festival 2013
The Shed, River Promenade, Federation Square (map)
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Fix It! will host a repair space at the Sustainable Living Festival 2013 Big Weekend, sponsored by Metro Waste Management Group. Learn how to use a sewing machine, get advice and instructions on how to fix or refashion your items or just come and have a chat. Free testing and tagging of electrical items that you fix on the day.
* Click here to register your item before you head to the festival (optional but recommended to ensure we bring the right tools). Last items accepted at 2.30pm.
* Click here to join our super group of volunteers.



Saturdays 2, 9, 16 and 23 March - 10am to 2pm
Fix It! pop-up workshop
Per Diem café, 163 Lennox St, Richmond (map)
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Fix It! will host a pop-up workshop for four consecutive weekends at Per Diem café. Get assistance and advice on fixing or mending your shabby stuff while you sip on 5 Senses coffee. Hang out, have a bit of fun and learn something. This is a first for Melbourne and, we believe, Australia. We’re hoping to make this a regular affair if people are keen and space is available. Details: erin@fixitmelbourne.com 

Happy Valentine's Day

Another Valentine's Day Gift Guide

'80s teen films in the modern day

We need a new name

Over the last few years I've had some conversations with people about what to call your boyfriend or girlfriend after a few years of being together. If you're living together it is pretty much like you're married, but there isn't really a word that carries the importance of this relationship the same way wife or husband does. Every option you have has problems. Boyfriend sounds like high school, partner is confusing because you could be running a business together, de facto sounds like you live in the 1980s in a caravan and drink wine coolers and lover is all sex and no relationship. We need a word that is short, easy to use and defines exactly what this living in sin relationship is all about.

I drew the drawings for these cards not sure which direction they would go in. To me it was all about the familiarity of wearing your daggiest clothes around the house. I know I've created the winter snug up mismatched PJs tucked into socks look many times. In the end I thought highlighting the many names for the live in lover for us unmarried folk, the boy version is available here and the girl version is here.

It's crush time

When designing this card I started to think about what it was like to be 15 again. Teen crushes, waiting for phone calls, secret diaries, 10 pens and looking a bit dorkward. Overgrown eyebrows, long socks and faded '80s floral bedlinen. I think I had it all. The card is available on Etsy, perfect for that person you have a secret (or not so secret) crush on.

What we would get each other for Valentine's Day (if we bothered with gifts)

With Valentine's Day next week we had a bit of a think about what we would get each other as a gift. We don't usually bother with gifts and sometimes make handmade cards if we remember.

Gareth said he would get me these soaps from Digital Soaps on Etsy. I actually think this is something he would personally want for himself. We didn't have a gameboy growing up, but we had a poor mans version of it called Brick that only had a basic grey scale version of tetris. Our family got so addicted to it I would often find myself hidden under the bed so nobody knew I was in there playing it.

I almost got this print from Wonderbros for Gareth at Christmas time and discovered a whole world of redesigned film posters. I thought it was a fantastic idea, perfect for film lovers because it is a little unusual. Gareth already has the proper poster for the film and a t-shirt I got him for his birthday so it is nice to know there are still more thing things I can get him!

Your Old Self at Tinning Street

Last Friday night we went to the opening of Your Old Self at Tinning Street in Brunswick. I found out about it after Madeleine Stamer put a picture of the invite up on her Instagram account and I realised the gallery (which is a great space) is just near our office.

The exhibition features 15 artists, including Madeleine Stamer, Shaun Tan and Tai Snaith, reinterpreting a drawing from their childhood. I loved the concept and it was really interesting to see both artworks and what they created. It's well worth a visit and we will be keeping an eye out for future exhibitions by the new curator Belinda Wiltshire.

It is on until the 17th of Feb and here are the visiting details:
Location:
Lot 5/29 Tinning Street
Brunswick



Hours:
Thursday - Sunday
11am - 5pm

Nice tan

When you are creating things it is always important to get feedback from other people during the creative process. The only problem is often when you're in the middle of creating you 'baby' your emotional brain isn't too good at dealing with criticism. I like to this that scientifically, with all your energy going into creating, your brain can't deal with much else, so the emotional side shuts down and you can't cope.

Often I find that when asking Gareth for feedback and getting criticism it feels a bit like this:

Me: Do you like my newborn baby?
Gareth: No, your newborn baby is very ugly. 

On the flip side, this is what he is having to deal with:

Me: Do you like this idea?
Gareth: Oh that's great. One thing though, maybe make that bit there bigger to emphasise it more. 
Me: Seriously, I hate you, don't ever tell me what to do again.


With this card, I had finished it, shown it to Gareth and he suggested that the guy would look good with a tan line. I think I may have said it would be too hard (any excuse!) knowing fine well it was a very good idea. I went back and changed it and he was right, it really did help make the card a lot better. As for the wording on the card, I spent a lot of time brainstorming ideas, writing down anything that came into my head.

So that is a little insight into the creative processes at Able and Game. Anna has a lot of ugly newborns and Gareth gets to deal with a petulant teenager. This guy is available to Etsy, perfect for the wet and wild person in your life.

'80s teen films in the modern day

You are totes going to love this card

We are back in the swing of things here at Able and Game and that means one thing at this time of year. Valentine's Day. It is a bit of a groan inducing day for some but it is also a bit of a guilty pleasure. There is something about romance and love that is always interesting and I love hearing stories about dates, relationships and anything like that in general. Some aspects of Valentine's Day is a bit blerg (I don't get the plush devil toys) but I just pretend it doesn't exist and image dorky guys making big declarations of love in front of all their work mates about Maureen in HR. This guy in the card above would not be doing that. He would just have girls fall over him in a Pablo Picasso kind of way. It's not until 5 weeks after dating him, after facebook stalking him with your Mum, that this conversation transpires:

Darling, I didn't know bald rocks your world.
What are you talking about?
(finger pointing to head)
Oh, I didn't even realise. Or care because guess what Mum, I'm in luurrrrrve.



Oh love, the chemicals are awesome.