Drool-worthy Design: Sambellina stationery

We have kids parties on the brain at the moment with Sophie's 2nd birthday around the corner and all her friends' birthdays too. If you're in the same boat, you may like the adorable line of kids party stationery and accessories from Sambellina.

The Sambellina range includes invitation packs (including cards, envelopes and magnets), tableware (cups and plates), and gift tags featuring fun characters combined with classic stripes and polka dots. The hardest part is picking a style!

You can find Sambellina at stockists across Australia and online including Pink Frosting. And check out Kate's Sambellina blog for some gorgeous party inspiration.

Shop online for kids products from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Images: Sambellina

Hip Products: OEKE umbrellas for beach and home

I love stories about products created to fulfill a need - usually a personal one - that then take off in the marketplace. I was really pleased to hear from Linda Di-Giusto, the designer and entrepreneur behind OEKE market umbrellas, and learn more about the story behind the gorgeous designs.

While sitting by the pool under her newly purchased beach/market umbrella, the hand of fate had its way, and a gust of wind blew the umbrella over and ripped the canopy. Rather than fork out for a whole new umbrella, Linda took matters into her own hands and designed her own canopy.

Now based in Wallington, VIC, Linda develops original fabric designs which are screeprinted onto quality aluminium market umbrellas as well as used to create co-ordinating cushions and table runners. Through OEKE, she is dedicated to transforming outdoor living one space at a time with colourful, bold and super-stylish designs.

You can find OEKE umbrellas on the OEKE website (available now, with cushions and other matching accessories arriving in the next new months).

Imags: OEKE

Hip Products: Wilson Accessories

Wilson Accessories, based in Victoria, has a range of gorgeous leather pieces that I've been coveting recently. Lisajane Wilson creates beautiful accessories from fine grain leather embossed with detailed patterns and lined with printed cotton.

The range includes handbags, wallets, travel bags, beauty bags, men's bags, and vintage style bags. My favourite pieces include the delightful Pablo triangle pouch that is inspired by one owned by Lisajane's own grandmother.

You can find Wilson Accessories in the online store.

Images: Wilson Accessories

Hip Products: Cloth Fabric textiles and homewares

One of Australia's more established textile designers is Julie Paterson of Cloth Fabric. With her team of 5, Julie hand-screenprints textiles that are used for upholstery and soft furnishings in residential and commercial interiors.

Cloth has a huge range of textiles to let your imagination run wild. I particularly like the Australian flora designs (check out the placemats - what a great gift for overseas friends and family). And if you are the ready-to-buy type, there is a whole collection of homewares including cushions, lampshades, table linen, rugs, clothing, bags, piece goods and creatures.

I was especially excited to find the image above featuring the "stoney" cushion designs. I had seen the painting backdrop in a Real Living magazine years ago and been in love with it ever since; and here it is!

You can find Cloth fabric and products on the Cloth website, in the showroom in Surry Hills, Sydney, as well as at stockists in Australia, Asia and New Zealand.

Images: top: Cloth Fabric; middle: Artery Store; bottom: Artery Store

Stylish Kids: Bettsy Kingston girls clothes

One of the highlights of a recent trip to Nesting Bird Interiors was discovering the divine frilly knickers for babies from Brisbane designer Bettsy Kingston. Benita chose the name of the label in honour of the domestic goddess whose inherited sewing patterns sparked her creativity and inspired her favourite creation - the ruffled baby pants.

Apart from the diaper/nappy covers, you'll also find a range of pinnies, dresses, skirts and matching ruffled brooches in delicious colours and fabrics from size 000 to 2. I'm so taken with the whole range and almost wish my daughter would stay this age forever so I can dress her top-to-toe in Bettsy Kingston.

You can find Bettsy Kingston in the Bettsy Kingston Etsy store online. For the clever clogs, Benita also offers sewing patterns of her products in her Etsy sewing store. Check out the Bettsy Kingston blog for all the latest news behind the label including giveaways and tutorials.

For more Australian kids fashion, check out Bondville Kids. And shop online for kids fashion from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Images: Bettsy Kingston

Welcome New Sponsor: Onesies

My husband was very excited when he first discovered onesies for babies. Why don't they make these for grownups? was his first question. Snuggly all-in-one baby outfits are the name of the game for new Bondville sponsor and online store, Onesies.

You'll find a great range of layettes/onesies for babies including premmie sizes and organic material from great brands including bebe, monstar, gaia, eeni meeni miini moh, ouch, pure baby, and infancy. Onesies include short and full-length sleeves and legs for sleeping, playing and everyday use. Some of my favourite pieces include:

1. Top left: Fig crossover onesie
2. Top right: Monstar owl print onesie
3. Bottom left: Hamb 'snippy' onesie
4. Bottom right: Fig bright green sleeper (currently on sale)

Please stop by the Onesies online store and check out the fabulous range, and let Alice know that I sent you.

Images: Onesies

Hip Products: Nancybird Uncle Ned range for men

Here is another fantastic Father's Day idea for you. Emily Wright from Bondville favourite Nancybird has just released the Uncle Ned range of men's leather bags, wallets, belts and keyrings that have piqued my interest.

Key features of the range include thick cow leather, custom printed cotton lining, screen printed leather badges, and antique nickle metal fittings.

I like the a distinct Grampa-cool look about them. Emily writes that the range was inspired by "old leather postman’s bags, army satchels and 1960’s quilted car seats". If your guy or Dad is a hipster, or just appreciates quality, this may be a great gift for them.

You can find Uncle Ned products at the Nancybird shop online as well as at Nancybird stockists around Australia and New Zealand and online. Read more about Nancybird on Bondville here.

Images: Nancybird

Crumbless Banana-Passionfruit Yoghurt Muffins

I was inspired by yesterday's cupcake post to do some baking, and made these incredibly delicious low-crumb banana passionfruit yoghurt muffins. Come and check out the results on my About Me page.

What is the difference between a muffin and a cupcake anyway?

Image: Steph Bond

Crumbless Banana-Passionfruit Yoghurt Muffins

I was inspired by my ultimate Aussie cupcakes post on yesterday to do a little baking, and found a great recipe for muffins that are super-moist and have very little crumbs. A hit at our place! I found the recipe on Kerri's Millie Molly Moo blog, who found it on Jac and Kate's Three Little Trees blog, who found it on Lisa's ModEco Kids blog from near Toronto, Canada.

I took Jac and Kate's advice and used passionfruit yoghurt and I have to say that the result was stunning. Banana and passionfruit are a match made in heaven! These muffins were so quick and easy to make and will definitely go into the keeper binder. I might try wholegrain flour and less sugar next time. And maybe a cream cheese icing to make it into a cupcake.

Oh, and does anyone know what the difference is between a cupcake and a muffin?

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin

Trends: Ultimate Australian Cupcake Directory

After seeing the delectable cupcakes from Tabitha's Place at the Boutique Markets at Portside Wharf, I just had to put together a round-up of cupcakes from Australia for your mouth-watering pleasure. Check out the cupcake directory for QLD, Sydney, Melbourne below - I will continue to add to this round-up with Adelaide, Perth, Tasmanian and regional cupcakes. Let me know if I need to add your favourite!

Brisbane Cupcakes

Couture Cupcakes

Choc Hazelnut cupcake
Image: Cupcake Couture

Tabitha's Place

Apple, Maple and Pecan cupcake with maple icing and toffee shards
Image: Steph Bond

The Cupcake Company

Image: Leanne Stamatellos
Check out my previous post on The Cupcake Company here.

Cupcakes By K

Image: Cupcakes By K

The Cupcake Parlour

Rockn Road cupcake
Image: The Cupcake Parlour

Carousel's Cupcakes

Chilli Chilli Chocolate cupcakes
Image: Carousel's Cupcakes

A Little Slice of Heaven

Image: A Little Slice of Heaven

MySweetopia

Image: MySweetopia

Butterfly Cakes

Image: Butterfly Cakes

Sunshine Coast Cupcakes
Cupcake Cuisine

Image: Cupcake Cuisine

Eden Cupcakes

Image: Eden Cupcakes

Gold Coast Cupcakes

Simply Cupcakes

Sprinkles cupcake
Image: Simply Cupcakes

Cupcake Passion

Lemon Coconut Meringue cupcake
Image: Cupcake Passion

Sydney Cupcakes

Cupcakes on Pitt

Tiramisu cupcake
Image: Cupcakes on Pitt

The Cupcake Bakery

Red Velvet cupcake
Image: The Cupcake Bakery
Melbourne store opens in July 2009.

My Little Cupcake

Image: My Little Cupcake

Sparkle Cupcakery

Image: Sparkle Cupcakery

The Cupcake Factory

Classic cupcake with pink sprinkles
Image: The Cupcake Factory

Newcastle Cupcakes

Hello Naomi

Cherry Blossom cupcakes
Image: Hello Naomi

Melbourne Cupcakes

Cupcake Central

Image: Cupcake Central

Cupcake Corner

Yellow Ducks Cupcakes

Image: Cupcake Corner

The Cupcake Queens

Image: The Cupcake Queens

Sugadeaux Cupcakes

Image: Sugadeaux Cupcakes

Little Cupcakes

Image: Little Cupcakes

Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes

Mini cupcakes

Image: Sweetcheeks Cookies and Cakes

The Cupcake Kitchen

Bows cupcakes

Image: The Cupcake Kitchen

Three Sweeties

Rose and daisy cupcakes

Image: Three Sweeties

Crabapple Cupcakes and Supplies

Flourless cupcake

Image: Crabapple Cupcakes and Supplies

Sweet! Cupakes and Treats

Image: Sweet! Cupakes and Treats

Sweethut Cupcakes

Image: Sweethut Cupcakes

Adelaide Cupcakes

Lavish Cupcakes

Simple flower cupcake

Image: Lavish Cupcakes

Delicious Cupcakes

Afternoon Tea Cupcakes

Image: Delicious Cupcakes

Miss Cupcakes

Choc Orange Explosion cupcake

Image: Miss Cupcakes

Bliss Cupcakes

Image: Bliss Cupcakes

Pink Frosting Cupcakes

Cheesecake Surprise cupcakes

Image: Pink Frosting Cupcakes

Perth Cupcakes

Muffin Cup

Image: Muffin Cup

Sugarbloom Cupcakes & Macarons

Image: Sugarbloom Cupcakes & Macarons

We all know that cupcakes have been a major food trend for the past decade, and the desire with which folks pursue the perfect cake has not dwindled in that time. I remember when cupcakes were plain spongecake patties with a round scooped out the top, replaced with whipped cream, and then the scoop cut in two and replaced on top of the cream as "butterfly wings". You know what I'm talking about.

Now, cupcakes are incredible works of art, I believe ignited by the Magnolia Bakery cupcakes from Sex and the City. Cupcakes soon started to take prominence in bakeries and patisseries, and then cupcake-only stores sprung up in all the major cities.

These days, cupcakes are a suitable alternative to a wedding cake, perfect for a baby shower and a must-have at kids' birthday parties.

I'm interested in your favourite cupcakes - recipes and secret sources. And have I missed your favourite cupcake shop? Let me know!