Skull, Scissors and Folk

Skull on Mind Map

Desk, Skull, scissors - My Office

My office at work has been set up in PhD mode. The walls are plastered with sketches, photos, patterns and posters. Saddles on the desk and all kinds of notes, thoughts, mind maps.

The red saddle pictured here will be featured in The Age Melbourne Magazine out this week. The black one is for Jay's bike, the bike's kind of got skulls all over so he had to have a seat to match. Selle Italia SLR, repadded and covered by me.

Busyman: Updates

There haven't been too many blog posts lately, I feel like I've been neglecting the online world. That's not to say I haven't been working. We recently spent two cold months renovating and fitting out the new MAIIKE Store. That's what kept me out off the bike and out of trouble over June/July.

There have been several saddle through the studio but I haven't made it a priority to photograph them. In particular I have revived a couple of used and abused Brooks saddles. One received a new set of solid copper special rivets and a general makeover while the other received a recolouring to scuffed sections and remoulding as it had become rather splayed from harsh weather conditions.

So if anyone is in need of some Brooks maintenance feel free to drop me a line.

Now that summer is on it way bikey type people seem to be re-emerging from everywhere.

I have a Selle SMP basic black re-cover waiting for delivery, another Selle SMP awaiting treatment - a black skull and cross bones actually - and another skull and cross bones to do, white this time. It seems that all of a sudden the Skull is having a revival. I wonder whether it has something to d with all the kids I see around the streets with rib cage and x-ray like t-shirt prints.

Wallets - I've made a few Busyman wallets for Maiike Store ans they've asked me to craft some belts and bags too.

I guess I'd better get back to the work bench and get these things made.

MAIIKE store

A family affair, the Maiike Store is a collaboration between my sister Aly and wife Feride. They stock Maiike Soft Things and Maiike along with other nice stuff mostly made locally. Things like porcelain by Alistair White and merino knitwear by Uimi. That's my shopping bike there by the window, it makes a cameo appearance every now and then as part of the visual merchandising do. Speaking of which the "do" changes almost every day.
54 Church Street Hawthorn, if you're in Melbourne and happen to be riding past.

Malcolm Peel: Sculpture and Painting

Anyone who's in the area or interested in a day in the Yarra Valley my father is exhibiting some of his incredible (biased but actually true) sculptures and a selection of paintings from the hundreds that are usually just stored away in his studio. He keeps producing work and it keeps being stored in the studio. Every few years the studio needs extending to accommodate the new works. Anyway, please come.

Design Auction

The Interior Design students have had to change the venue for their fundraiser auction tomorrow night. Details on the poster above. Anyone welcome, especially those keen to bid for stuff. One of my saddles up for grabs, see previous post.

Fundraiser Auction

I've donated one of my saddles to the Interior Design students at RMIT University for their fundraiser auction night. They're raising funds for their end of year exhibition. All sorts of designed/crafted things up for grabs on Thursday September 30. See poster for details.

Red Hot

SMP recover for Tri, this would be his 5th Busyman recover. Subtle diagonal perforation bands, colour to match the frame. I still love doing these saddles.

Looney

Looney! What more can I say?

Craig's

I think it's now official, the SMP Composit saddle is the model I've recovered the most of. It's also the most difficult of saddles to recover because of it's unusual 'bifurcated' design. Strangely I get a kick out of the challenge though and I love the fact that the rails are removable. This one is just completed for Craig of Wagga Wagga to match back with his Cervelo. It's a new design/pattern with the black splice through the middle and the grey coloured perforations to keep with the bike's colour scheme.

There haven't been many posts lately even though there have been several saddles. The reason? I wasn't happy with the photos. My usual photographer (Feride) has been too busy with her new project, the MAIIKEstore.

For the Bondi Cobler

Of course I cannot remember his name, but this collection was made for a shoe maker based in Bondi. Made to adorn a build by Saint Cloud of Gertrude Street.

For Helix

Recently completed for Bikepro Shop, they're puting together a bike for review in Ride Magazine. Fizik Arione and some stitched bar tape. Managed to get some form of RSI from all the hole punching on these. But I'm still resisting the laser cutter.

Jolly Roger Robot

Concor saddle with a robot jolly roger, unfortunately photos were rushed and not too clear because I had to get it in the post. Poor Simon had been waiting about two months for me to get his saddle done.

Super Frock

Photo and bike by Fyxomatosis, more on

http://www.fyxomatosis.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=401:feed-station&catid=55:bicycles&Itemid=93

Frock by me.

Sinister Scales

This is what it's going on.

John's Ostrich legs sinister black scaley reptilian SMP. Finished!

Reptilian

Some progress photos of this saddle I just finished last night for John. This is certainly the most exotic leather I've used (Ostrich legs). A challenging project given the unique qualities of the leather. It took one skin for each side of the saddle, one was perfect and the other was thicker and less maleable. I love the outcome even though it's kind of evil looking, patent black reptilian. Images of the finished saddle coming soon.

The Duke

For Leigh, his grandfather and his boy...

Classic Aliante

A simple recover for Fitz to match his leather (Brooks?) bar tape. I'm very curious to see the build when it's complete.