Hannah Prepares For The Mayan Apocalypse (or, My Favourite Things Ever of 2012 So Far)

Picture this. You’re kicking back sometime in the very near future, sipping margaritas and lamenting your lack of a hoverboard (I imagine this is something you do on at least a daily basis). Suddenly, your nostrils detect something strange in the air. Is that… sulphur? And perhaps… ozone?! (How good is your sense of smell, by the way! Well done!). And before you can say DEAR GOD JOHN CUSACK WAS RIGHT you’re washed away in a river of lava, and the confused tears of Fred Phelps.

And what’s happened to me, you ask? Why, thank you for your concern. I am working, because it is a Saturday (probably), and looting has begun. In panic, the hipsters of Mt Lawley have shed their laconic air and descended on the best stores of Beaufort Street to ravage its treasures and premium coffee. In an act of devotion and loyalty that is, frankly, quite typical of my selfless nature, I decide to save the best of Ruck Rover from the hands of the unappreciative. But what to save? I can’t take everything, I am but one woman!

That’s why I have prepared this handy list. To make sure I am ready for what is, in my opinion, an extremely likely eventuality. And so, in no particular order, the things of Ruck Rover that I would (selflessly and at great personal risk) save from certain destruction would be:

1. I Heart Guts Uterus Plush Toy

Look, this would be just one of the MANY soft toys that I sleep with. I also have a small black dog, this weird blob thing called ‘Melville’ that my boyfriend made when he was seven, a red ….thing….called Alistair that laughs manically when you push its tummy, and a red bear called Lenin (GEDDIT?). This one will fit in nicely. I will probably call him Kramer. Yes, it’s a male uterus.

You laugh now, but you’ll be WISHING you had my soft toys when the world is ending.

2. Lazy Oaf I Would Give You Seven Out of Ten

This is great, purely because of the thought that’s gone into it. You’re not a six, (which should be a relief to you, I expect) but I’m afraid you’re just.not.quite. an eight. But, you’re still above average! I know, because it says so on the bottom of the card.

3. Sandy Peter Pan Dress

I have a fascination for the innocent and childlike. There is a peculiar ecstasy to embracing the fearless enthusiasm of younger thinking. This dress has the bold colours, cut, and name of some of my happiest memories.

4. Whatever Heather Love Letter Necklace

I think jewellery should mean something. Especially if it’s particularly nice or unusual, like this necklace. I’ve bought this one for myself, because I love words. However, the letter also opens up, and inside is a little note with “I love you” engraved on it. So this necklace could have all sorts of meaning, really. And you know, I like myself ok. So it works.

5. Lisa Max Booze Brothers Beer Stubby Holders

Lisa Max lives in Perth, and she does really, really cool character designs. We have some of her art on cushions and tees, too. They’re pretty much unadulterated joy in ink

6. Candy Stripe Cloud Bunch of Balloons Brooch

I love bright colours. Not enough of them in the world.

7. Emily and Fin Lizzie Dress

Dear fashion designers. Please make retro clothes in prints other than spots. Because I have far, far too many spots. And don’t get me wrong, I like spots. It’s just I have so many, it’s starting to look like an obsession.

Emily and Fin do some lovely cuts with a fifties and sixties flavor to them. I love this dress for its lush full skirt and flattering waist. It’s also very versatile - you can remove the straps if you like.

8. Shara Porter T-Rex Wallet

When I was a kid, I didn’t like dinosaurs. I thought they were ugly. Now I like them, and I’m not sure why. I think I grew up to value strength and guts and fierceness. And what’s fiercer than a dinosaur?

Probably a dragon. But dinosaurs really existed once. Also, these wallets are unbelievably soft, making them amazingly tactile.

And so, finally, the last item I would save from the Apocalypse (because my hands are getting full) is….

9. Every Single Guy’s Tee Ever!

(I mean, not just the ones belonging to the unattached, but each and every tee) … but specifically, the “The Gentle Emperor” by Tender Loving Empire. Or the “Creepy” Tee, created by Kyle Hughes-Odgers, Ruck Rover and Outré Gallery for the Outskirts festival last year. I love the idea of a Gentle Emperor; I reckon the world needs one. And the Creepy tee is vaguely Lynchian, which is a term I use for anything slightly unsettling.

So there you are. Thanks to me, these items will remain as a shining example of remarkable taste and fashion to the aliens that discover our bodies. You are VERY welcome.

Christmas Gift Guide: For the Fellas

Why not make your Christmas shopping easy by doing it in once place, we've got all your bases covered. Over the course of the week we will be publishing our Christmas Gift Guides starting today with those hard-to-buy-for blokes. Pop in and tick your squeeze, your papa and your bro off your list!


1. Whimsy & Ink hip flasks. Available in an array of colours and images, they are $39 a pop.

2. Shara Porter leather wallets. These come in black or brown and there are loads of designs: bikes, bees, anchors, ships, pigs, utes and more. The leather is lovely and soft. $55.

3. Smith Journal. From the team behind Frankie magazine comes this sturdy publication. Filled with art and photography with articles on famous writers and their typewriters, bikes and shoes, this one will help you get through the post-Christmas lunch slump with ease. $11.95. In store only.

4. Ruck Rover Creepy Tee. As usual, we have stocked up our tables with men's tees for the festive season. A bloke cannot have too many tee shirts in the Australian summer, and this one is our top pick. It's a collaboration we did with local artist Creepy and Outré Gallery. $59.

5. Lisa Max Booze Brothers. Here we have some more local, artistic talent. Who wouldn't want Lisa's awesome character art keeping their beer cool? $12 each.

6. Warrior Basketball Sneakers. Available in snazzy black with red, or classic white with blue, these sneakers start off comfy and just get more and more so. We dig them! $79.

Go Go Gocco Go!

So, we've done a new tee and this one's a collaboration between ourselves, Outré Gallery and local artist Kyles Hughes-Odgers (aka Creepy). You might have seen Creepy's art around town, beautifying buildings and walls city wide. We've long been a fan so having the opportunity to produce a tee with his print on it is a real boost!

How did this come about? Well, there's this pretty rad exhibition going on over at Outré Gallery at the moment, it started today in the Perth pad, and it's happening over east too. It's a series of Gocco prints from some super artists. As well as the above design from Creepy, there's the likes of Angelique Houtkamp, Apak, Eveline Tarunadjaja, kozyndan, Leah Dent and Shag participating. We are excited to have a little mini spin-off in our Mini Art Mart! On our walls we are proudly displaying prints from Beci Orpin, Gemma Jones, Sean Morris, Miso, Cat Rabbit, Mel Stringer, and Creepy of course.

And as part of Outskirts Festival happening on and around William Street in Northbridge this Sunday 25th, our very own Isabelle is going to be doing a Gocco print demonstration between 2pm and 4pm at Outré Gallery. You should come on down, it's going to be heaps of fun!

If this Gocco talk is all gobbledygook, it's a lo-fi, Japanese printing process using flash bulbs and screens and inks. It's homemade quality is really lovely.

Anyhoodle, we thought we'd celebrate all this Gocco love with a limited edition tee. We have 100 in a women's fit and 100 in a men's fit. All are printed locally, in Perth, on tri-blend, American Apparel tees. They are soft and comfy!

They are available in store, online, and also at Outré's Perth gallery. They go for $59.

♥♥♥

Be My Valentine?

There's just three more days until Valentine's Day, and I know that some of you are searching for something to help you express the right sentiment. We've just had a box of Lazy Oaf cards arrive, and you might just find something in that lot! Check 'em out...

Lazy Oaf cards, $7.

Or if you'd prefer something a little more classic...

Ruck Rover cards, $6.

Blueberry cards, $6.

But the most lovely of all our cards? Check out this one from Gemma Correll...

Gemma Correll love you so much card, $7.

And if you need more than a card, we can also help you out. Do you normally buy your lady friend roses? Why not add another rose that will last forever!

Classic Hardware reproduction bakelite rose jewellery, $30-$40.

Notions rose earrings, $20.

Scrumptious rose earrings, $16.

Or you could stick with a heart theme, which never fails!

Crave A Little Love Sterling Silver Necklace, $39.

Scrumptious Darling Heart Earrings, $15.

Frankie Sweet Treats Cook Book, $19.95.

Ruck Rover Amore Hoody, $85.

We have plenty more treats in store for your honey, so come on in and take a look around.

XX