Brisbane ABCD Meetup Nov 09 Goodie Bag Winners

Well, the Brisbane ABCD Meetup Nov 09 attendees have voted, and the race was very, very close. But we have a winner! The favourite item in the Goodie Bag was:

The Pear Lavendar Sachet by Ellie and Danielle from textiles, patterns and craft kits store Selvedge House!

The very close runners-up are:
The beautiful letterpress Christmas cards from Alischa at Bespoke Letterpress Boutique;

and
The clever upcycled luggage tags from Bec of Little Brown Dog.

Congratulations ladies! Selvedge House has won 3 months of free advertising here on Bondville and Alischa and Bec have won the gorgeous ceramic magnets from Kim Wallace below.


Thank you everyone for the fantastic goodie bag entries; all were much appreciated and will serve as a great reminder of the friends we made on the night.

Until the next ABCD Meetup in February '10....

Images: Kim Wallace

New Kate Knapp for Twigseeds products

Bondville favourite and Twigseeds illustrator Kate Knapp has some gorgeous new products in-store now. The new Twigseeds Address Book is filled with colour illustrations and quotations in signature Twigseeds style. Also back in-store is the sweet Ruby Red Shoes plush toy, Kate's very "aware hare".

You can find these new products as well as stationery, books, art prints and cards in the Twigseeds e-shop.

For more about Kate and her fantastic artwork, check out the Kate Knapp profile on Bondville.

Images: Kate Knapp/Twigseeds

Naomi Murrell online store now open

One of my favourite Australian artists and designers, Adelaide-based Naomi Murrell, has just opened her brand new online store in Australian dollars. Now you don't have to scour shops for her gorgeous designs - they are just a click away.

Current categories in-store include art prints, jewellery, cards, limited edition cushions and limited edition bags. There are a number of sweet holiday products available too like cute festive ornaments kit and letterpress cards.

Check out the store here, and subscribe to the mailing list on the Naomi Murrell website to receive a discount code for the grand opening and a chance to win a $50 giveaway. (the Etsy store is still open for all you international shoppers).

For more information about Naomi, check out the Bondville profiles on Naomi's jewellery and artwork.

Images: Naomi Murrell

Hip Products: The Owls Are Hunting lamps

I love discovering new Australian artists and designers through Twitter, and one special designer came to my attention today. Check out the great one-of-a-kind lamps made by Jo Kent from Canberra-based The Owls Are Hunting.

Each lamp uses recycled and new materials to create unique pieces of art that you won't find anywhere else, including reclaimed lamp bases from the 60's, 70's and 80's. Jo has a fantastic eye for colour and contrast and lovingly restores and recreates these lamps by hand. They are all so cool - it's hard to choose just one. Great for the Christmas wishlist!

You can find The Owls Are Hunting lamps in the MadeIt online store (Australia) as well as at stockists around Australia, at markets and online. Worldwide shipping is available upon request. You can find out more about stockists and new designs on The Owls Are Hunting blog.

Imags: The Owls Are Hunting

Events: Brisbane ABCD Meetup November 09 Photos

Wow - what a great night we had at the Powerhouse on Thursday for the last Brisbane ABCD Meetup for 2009. Twenty-four of us (plus one gorgeous 4 month old), chatted at Bar Alto about all things art, craft and design (Brisbane ABCD stands for Artists, Bloggers, Crafters and Designers). Here are some photos from the evening:

Rebecca (Edward & Lily) and Sam (Jetta's Nest)

Teneale and Tim (Wicked Child Designs)

Tim (Wicked Child Designs) and Natalie (Tiny Concept)

Steph (Bondville) and Kim (Udessi)

Melissa (Taybian), Sandy (Thea & Sami) and Karla (Leonhard Pfeifer.com)

Julia (A Creature Strange), Patricia (PByers Design) and Daneve (Chicuff by Daneve)

Jenna (Oblong + Sons) and Karla (Leonhard Pfeifer.com)

Gavin, Bec and Isabella (Little Brown Dog) and Thea (Thea & Sami)

Chi (Chi Designs) and Danielle and Ellie (Selvedge House)

Alischa (Bespoke Letterpress Boutique) and Nina (Kindling)

It was great to have spend time with old friends and meet some new ones as well. And the ABCD Goodie bag was KILLER! Check out some of the great items we scored from each other:

Organic cotton headbands (leggings in a former life) from Thea (Thea & Sami)

Image: Kim Wallace

Gorgeous sachets of lavendar from Danielle and Ellie (Selvedge House)
Image: Kim Wallace

Uber-cool screenprinted upcycled hankies from clever Teneale (Wicked Child Designs)
Image: Kim Wallace

Sweet butterfly clips from Karla (Leonhard Pfeifer.com)
Image: Kim Wallace

Divine cards from Kristina (Tiny Concept)

Letterpressed Christmas cards from Alischa (Bespoke Letterpress Boutique)

Image: Kim Wallace

Printed upcycled luggage tags from Bec (Little Brown Dog)

Image: Kim Wallace

Recycled "green bag" brooch from Daneve (Chicuff by Daneve)
Image: Kim Wallace

And so for our competition! Attendees can vote for their favourite goodie bag item and the winner will receive 3 months of free advertising on Bondville and 2 lucky runners-up will receive a pack of 3 limited edition ceramic magnets by Kim Wallace (see image below). So if you received a goodie bag, please email BrisbaneABCD with your favourite item by Thursday 26th November, 2009, and we will let the winner know by the end of the week. Thank you everyone for such creative and generous goodies!

2 Runners-up receive limited edition ceramic magnets by Kim Wallace
Image: Kim Wallace

Thank you also to everyone who made it along to the November 09 Brisbane ABCD Meetup - it wouldn't have been the same without:

Kim (Udessi)
Rebecca (Edward & Lily)
Ellie (Red Seed Studio and Selvedge House)
Danielle (Craft Laboratory and Selvedge House)
Thea (Thea & Sami)
Sandy (Thea & Sami)
Sam (Jetta's Nest)
Kristina (Tiny Concept)
Natalie (Tiny Concept)
Alischa (Bespoke Letterpress Boutique)
Julia (A Creature Strange)
Patricia (PByers Design)
Daneve (Chicuff by Daneve)
Chi (Chi Designs)
Nina (Kindling)
Bec, Gavin and beautiful baby Isabella (Little Brown Dog)
Tina (Little Mimoo)
Karla (Leonhard Pfeifer.com)
Teneale and Tim (Wicked Child Designs)
Jenna (Oblong + Sons)
Melissa (Taybian)

Thanks as always go to Kim, co-organiser extraordinaire. We're looking forward to seeing you all again in around 3 months' time (Feb 2010). More details to come. For more about Brisbane ABCD, check out these previous posts.

Events: Paper Boat Press shopping event

The dear and lovely Kylie from Paper Boat Press will be holding her annual Christmas shopping event this Sunday 22nd November, 2009 in Brisbane. Always a lovely experience complete with cups of tea, you'll be able to browse Kylie's works (delicate ceramics, thought-provoking poetry and special pieces combining both her loves).

Last year I picked up the delightful Count Me The Stars poetry book, some sweet ceramic earrings, and ceramic quote tags as gifts. This year I have Christmas ornaments, pendants and the 2010 calendar on my wishlist.

Details: 10am – 2pm, 22nd November, 2009, St Francis Theological College, 233 Milton Rd, Milton, QLD (entrance via Baroona Rd).

If you can't make it to the show, you can always pick up Paper Boat Press goodies in the online store and these stockists in Australia and New Zealand. Happy shopping!

Image: Paper Boat Press

Events: Catherine Campbell art exhibition

Another great art show for you lucky Victorians is an exhibition by the delightful Catherine Campbell (aka My Folk Lover). The show is open from 11th - 28th November, 2009, at the Extended Play Gallery in Northcote, Melbourne.

It promises more of Catherine's dreamy work, and you may spot some new pieces using collage, paper cutting, and printing in conjunction with watercolour and ink. Enjoy!

Read the Bondville profile on Catherine Campbell for more information about her beautiful work.

Image: Catherine Campbell

Events: Three Of A Kind art show

While we're on the top of Mexican-inspired artwork, I have a special new show to share with you: the first collaboration between one of my favourite artists (who has a strong Mexican folk art bent) Madeleine Stamer (aka Little Circus Design), the inimitable Beci Orpin, and fellow Victorian jeweller and artist Irene Grishin-Selzer (a.k.a iggy and loulou).

These three Australian talents are bringing us Three Of A Kind, with the first show at Lab X Gallery in Melbourne from 20th - 29th November, 2009. The event will feature new and recent work by the trio which I'm sure will blow everyone away. For more information about the event, check out the Three Of A Kind blog.

Check out the Bondville profiles on Madeleine Stamer and Beci Orpin for more details on those artists.

Images: from top - Three Of A Kind, Madeleine Stamer, Irene Grishin-Selzer and Beci Orpin.

Hip Products: MOZI goes Mexico

It's no secret that I love Mexican folk art and so I was thrilled to see that MOZI's new range of (always) cool homewares - "Fiesta de MOZI" - incorporates a strong Mexican aesthetic. Maybe a few of these new pieces will make me feel better for missing El Dia de los Muertos this year.

You can choose from gorgeous folky birds on fine bone china mugs, tea towels, waffle hand towels, and Christmas-scented triple-milled body bars and perfumed candles. These are seasonal products that will definitely work throughout the year in their vibrant fiery red + fandango pink and fern green + lime punch colourways. Proving that Aussie designers MOZI are yet again ahead of the trend curve.

You can find MOZI homewares in the online store and at stockists across Australia, NZ, US, UK and Asia.

Images: MOZI

Hip Products: Miriam Bereson

Miriam Bereson is a prolific Melbourne-based designer who creates hip products for kids and families. You'll recognise Miriam's handiwork by the punchy, bold graphics and I'm-loving-life colours.

The current range of products includes stunning alphabet and number friezes, height chart, a range of planners (yearly family planners, birthday calendar and address book poster), as well as fun prints and homewares products (magnets, magnetic pads, alphabets, library bags and mirror art).

The 2010 wall calendar is particularly spectacular - calming blues and a totally unique design to fit the coolest of decors. I'm also (always) a fan of hip Australiana and these magnets fit the bill. And I know my daughter would love the elephant print (above) from the collective noun range. Definitely bedroom wall-worthy.

You can find Miriam Bereson products at stockists across Australia, NZ and online including Urban Baby. You can also keep up-to-date on new products and musings on the Miriam Bereson blog.

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

Imges: Miriam Bereson

Stylish Kids: Scissors.Paper.Cake children's parties

Those kids' parties with oh-so-perfect matching invitations, cake, gift bags and lollies seem so unobtainable. Unless you are Martha Stewart. That is, before our very own Aussies Scissors.Paper.Cake came along.

Scissors.Paper.Cake is a sweet collaboration between New South Wales stationery designer Nathalie from Imprintables and couture cupcake artisan Naomi from Hello Naomi. These talented ladies have created a range of perfectly styled parties for children.

Party themes are styled with cakes, lollies, decorations and invitations and current themes include Candshop party, Safari party, Japanese Tea party (complete with sushi cupcakes!), Alice in Wonderland party, and a Superhero party. The themes are absolutely gorgeous, and it certainly takes away all the hard work - just who has time for that these days?

Check out the Scissors.Paper.Cake website to find out more about the party styling, available themes and custom themes for your child's party.

Update 11/11/09: Make sure you check out the gorgeous Halloween party theme by these talented ladies!

Images: Scissors. Paper.Cake

Stylish Kids: Peekaboo Magazine

Lucky you if you live in Brisbane and you love all things stylish for kids. Go-get-'em magazine publisher Bianca Shugg has just launched the gorgeous new Peekaboo Magazine featuring beautiful glossy pages full of divine photography and cool products for kids.

Distributed only in Brisbane (currently) via home delivery, baby stores and subscription, the magazine is totally drool-worthy, with a focus on the products, websites, designers and services dedicated to children.

I managed to score a copy of the free launch issue (November 09) at the Mathilda's Market on the weekend and was truly bowled over by the professionalism and beauty of Peekaboo. Lots of great inspiration in there, including a gorgeous shot of the Momie et Enfant supermodel on the cover.

If you're not based in Brisbane, you can still check out some Peekaboo loveliness on the website. Congratulations Bianca and team!

Images: Peekaboo Magazine

Australian Baby Announcements Round-up

I've been hunting for some great Australian-designed baby birth announcements.

You guessed it - we have a mini Bondville on the way! Baby #2 is due at the end of the year and I have a long list of things I need to get done, including finding some cute birth announcement cards ready to go.

I'll still be posting on Bondville from now on, but maybe not every single day until I get into a rhythm with Baby #2. So please continue to check in as there still will be lots of great Aussie design for Mum, Kids and Home.

Here are a few of my favourite Australian companies providing personalised announcement stationery for babies. If you have your own favourite Australian birth announcement sources, please let me know:

Alannah Rose

Candyapple Designz

Cards 4 Me

Colour Baby

Creative Cards

Dino Designs

Dizzy Wizzy Stationery Design

Fairydust

Illume Design

Imprintables

Invite With Style

Inviting Invitations


Inviting Kids


Lasting Impressions Designs


Letter Bird Lane

MiniInk

Miss Scarlett

MJ Personalised Photo Cards

Paper Divas


Poppiseed Designs


St3rlite Designs

Stix and Stones Baby

Sunrise Creations


Water Lilli Designs


Wet Dog


Mooo


Smallprints