Welcome to Show and Tell!
Show and Tell is our story-telling series about the wonders that friends of Double Double have acquired over the years.

Rhiannon started her business (formally named Two Hills) 11 years ago. To celebrate 10 years of making, she decided to rebrand under her own name, Rhiannon Smith. It was a chance to refresh and sneak out from behind the little curtain that she’d created, and take more ownership of her work. She’s always enjoyed making things by hand but never quite got around to getting a conventional job.

Covid rocked small makers around Australia. During the first wave of the pandemic, Rhiannon had to move out of her much-loved studio in the Nicholas Building in Melbourne’s CBD, and began working from home. The wonderfully odd and ramshackle apartment building that she lived in during that time was the inspiration behind her last collection. A lot of Rhiannon’s inspiration comes from the small details of much grander things that she finds around her in everyday life, art, architecture, and nature. Rhiannon has recently moved to regional Victoria and is in the process of building her own small studio in the back corner of her lovely big garden. She’s doing it all by herself and learning a lot along the way…so things are going a little slowly.

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about him?
This is my dog, Rudy. If you hold your finger in the shape of a gun and say “BANG”, then he’ll roll over and play dead.

Why is he special to you?
Rudy is exceptionally special to me. He’s brought so much pure joy and laughter into my life just by being the lovable boofhead that he is. We don’t deserve dogs, I swear!

What’s your favourite detail about him?
His soft ears and sleepy eyes when he’s all tuckered out from getting in to whatever mischief he’s been up to that day…whether it’s running in circles in the yard or trying to find just the right place to bury the cat’s toys.

When did you adopt him, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
Rudy and I met during the most intense of Melbourne’s lockdowns during Covid. People were given special permission to go beyond the 5km limit to collect dogs who were available for adoption and so for the first time in months I was lucky enough to drive an hour out of town to meet him. It was love at first lick!

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about the item just by looking at it?
I’ve been fascinated by my Mum’s opal ring since I was a kid. I thought it looked like a dark forest from a story book.

Why is it special to you? Is it a sentimental item?
I think that it’s so special because it was worn by my mum for as long as I can remember — it was almost a part of her.

What’s your favourite detail about it?
When the light hits it just right, you can see the most amazing flashes of electric blue. I love the setting around the stone as well, it’s always reminded me of a crown.

When did you acquire it, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
I can’t remember exactly when my mum passed it on to me, but I remember feeling very lucky that she trusted me with it. I believe it was given to her by a family friend and it feels lovely to be a part of this special piece’s journey.

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about the item just by looking at it?
I know every word to every song on this record, and love to sing it very loudly and very badly.

Why is it special to you? Is it a sentimental item?
I grew up listening to some great, old records. My dad was a drummer in the 60’s. When I was young, I remember he would drum his fingers on the dining room table during dinner and there was always a lot of dancing around the lounge room with mum. Music was always on and this record would come out towards the end of the night for wind-down time.

What’s your favourite detail about it?
Every song on this album is a story of loss, death, revenge, or heartbreak, and they are sung with such devastating beauty.

When did you acquire it, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
Even though I probably didn’t appropriate this in to my own vinyl collection until I was in my twenties, it’s been in my life as long as I can remember. So, I think it’s fair to say that it’s been with me through everything.

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about the item just by looking at it?
That I start every day by sitting in it with a coffee.

Why is it special to you? Is it a sentimental item?
I’ve wanted a rocking chair for years but never found the right one or really had the space for one. This came at just the right time and I now have just the right space for it on the porch.

What’s your favourite detail about it?
The little P on the front. I had a little chunk of brass wire that I’ve been carrying around in my metal supply for years and I’ve cut it to size to turn the P into an R. I really wish I knew what the original P stood for, but it’s nice to be able to personalise it too.

When did you acquire it, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
I bought this a few month ago at an auction. I moved to the country about 6 months ago after being a city kid for my entire life, and it’s been a big change. Spending time in this chair has been an integral part of me trying to slow down and take time out to notice what’s going on around me.

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about the item just by looking at it?
It came with a matching mini “bag” hand carved from butter!

Why is it special to you? Is it a sentimental item?
This one is special because it was gifted to me by a bunch of lovely friends and family.

What’s your favourite detail about it?
The shape, the proportions and the colour. Good design knows how to make an impact without overdoing it.

When did you acquire it, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
About a week ago! This was the first year in a long while that I’ve been able to spend my birthday with more than a handful of people (thanks Covid), so everyone went all out to make this year’s birthday a real special one.

What’s something that people wouldn’t know about the item just by looking at it?
This mug is made by one of my favourite ceramic artists, Ginny Sims.

Why is it special to you? Is it a sentimental item?
It’s the perfect functional art piece. I drink my morning coffee from it everyday and it fits in my hand just right — the way a functional vessel should. I think the reason it’s special is that I genuinely look forward to using it every day.

What’s your favourite detail about it?
Ginny’s use of colour and ability to reference historical pottery while simultaneously infusing each piece with her own contemporary signature makes her work so interesting to me. There is one brush stroke around the lip of the cup that I just love the shape of…small details get me!

When did you acquire it, and what else was happening in your life at the time?
It was just as we were coming out of the last lockdown I think. Spending so much time indoors really made me appreciate the small pleasures in life, and one of the few positives I took from that experience was allowing time for a little sense of ceremony every day.

Images taken by Jacinta Moore.