Sydney ABCD Meetup Spring 2010 Goodie Bag

As promised, here are the goodies from the Sydney ABCD Meetup Spring 2010 Goodie Bag. The effort that everyone made was astonishing. There were all sorts of lovely things including...

a sweet apple from Mindi, Manuela and Leezar (Dandi)

alphabet wall stickers from Fiona (Fiona Kate)

paper goodies and mentos from Sally (Jambo Chameleon)

bookmark from Anastasia (Anastasia Drawing & Dreaming/Percival Road Designs), card from Amanda (Calico & Co / Lemon Tree Lane) and origami shirt from Kate (Katie Crackernuts)

hand screen printed fabric bookmark and treats from Michelle (me we)

marshmallows from Jessica (Oscar & Ruby)

cool Korean tape from Melinda (Paperklip Design)

cutest ever crocheted tea cup from Britt (Stitchy Britt)

amazing fabric panels from Saffron (Saffron Craig Designs)

card from Sarah (Twice Designs), birdie bookmark from Jen (Paper Lion), gift tags from Kate (Another Donkey Design) and card and screen printed fabric from Lisa (The Red Thread)

How great is that! There were also lots of lovely business cards and I popped in a little paper heart doily to show my appreciation for everyone coming. And thanks Kim from Udessi for organising, designing and printing the goodie bags. If you attended the event, head over to the ABCD Meetup Facebook page to vote for your favourite goodie - prizes are up for grabs.

Thanks again everyone; see you next year.

Images: Steph Bond

Sydney ABCD Meetup Spring 2010 Photos

We had an *amazing* turnout last night for the first Sydney ABCD meetup! 30 fabulous women from around Sydney met at The 3 Weeds in Rozelle for a relaxed chat. It was so great to finally meet the faces behind the online names and everyone was truly so nice.

A few more photos are up on the Facebook page (feel free to add yours) and we'll be putting up a poll to vote for favourite goodie. And oh, the ABCD goodie bag was amazing. Stay tuned and I'll share all the creative things we shared.

Thank you so much Lisa (The Red Thread) for co-hosting the night; and a huge shout-out to new friends who posted about the event - Amanda, Jaclyn, Sally, Kate and Fran. And a big hello wave to everyone who came, it wouldn't have been the same without you:

Sarah (Twice Designs) * Kate (Katie Crackernuts) * Jaclyn (Little Paper Trees) * Melinda (Paperklip Designs) * Jen (Paper Lion) * Nina (puka puka) * Jessica (Oscar & Ruby) * Fiona (Fiona Kate) * Sharon (Pepper Stitches) * Anika (Miss Luzi Design) * Kate (Another Donkey Design) * Anastasia (Anastasia Drawing & Dreaming/Percival Road Designs) * Sally (Jambo Chameleon) * Michelle (Shelbyville) * Amanda (Calico & Co) * Melissa (The Art of Teddy Bears) * Saffron (Saffron Craig Designs) * Tara (Dudley Redhead) * Mindi, Leezar and Manuela (Dandi), Kristen (Lilypad Designs) * Fran (Miss Alison Regrets) * Janette (My Sweet Prints) * Michelle (Me We) * Svenja (identitat) * Leanne (Mrs A In The Cove) * Britt (Stitchy Britt).

See you next time (Feb 2011) and at markets/Brown Owls/online in-between.

For more information on ABCD meetups in Sydney and Brisbane, check out the Facebook page and here on Bondville.

Images: Steph Bond

Stylish Kids: underneath the apple tree

New label alert! Remember this one... When I saw the delicate prints, soft colour palette, sweet ruffles and shoulder ties of the underneath the apple tree label, I immediately knew where designer Kelly Andersen was going with her beautiful handmade childrens' clothes. These are special pieces that make precious little girls look like precious little girls.

Sydney-based Kelly is Mum to three little girls, a four years old and two year old twins! You can imagine that they are amazing inspiration for her. Kelly's first collection includes dresses, tunic tops and pinafores that will make your little ones look like angels. It's all spring and sweetness and light. Can't you just imagine these sweet girlies running through meadows and picking flowers?

You can find Underneath the Apple Tree in the online store. Congratulations Kelly on your label - it's all just too gorgeous.

Find more Australian-designed clothes for kids on Bondville Kids.

Images: underneath the apple tree

eeni meeni miini moh® and e3-M® Concept Store Now Open

The eeni meeni miini moh® and e3-M® Concept Store is now open in Brisbane and it looks Gorgeous with a capital G!

The warehouse style store features charcoal walls, concrete floors, exposed trusses and artwork by founder Elizabeth O'Connor-Cowley. You'll find two large dressing rooms, easy entry for prams, a rest area for adults and a kids play area including plasma TV, videogames, workbench and toys.

The new store is at 5 Thompson Street, Bowen Hills, Brisbane, Queensland (phone: 07 3252 0885). Opening hours are 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday.

Huge congratulations to Libby, Phil and team on a beautiful space full of drool-worthy childrens' clothes, footwear, toys and accessories.

Images: eeni meeni miini moh® and e3-M® targe

Drool-worthy Design: Paperklip Design

Another gorgeous talent I discovered at the last Mathilda's Markets in Sydney was Melinda Andersen from Paperklip Design. Melinda designs and creates hand-cut paper garlands and bunting that are irresistible to a paper-lover like me.

Based in Sydney, Melinda has a background is in architectural drafting, furniture sales and craft. Her eye for beautiful paper, her cutting technique and her unlimited imagination, have resulted in the loveliest of decorations for the rest of us.

The possibilities for garlands are endless. Of course they are perfect for parties, birthday and weddings. Sweet vintage French butterflies would be gorgeous in a nursery. Vertical card garlands would be great for a toy room or classroom. And how about a customised garland for a newborn? Or a sweet string of paper for your retail store, market stall, study - anywhere to inspire creativity and add pizazz.

You can find Paperklip Design on Etsy, at various markets (keep an eye on the website) and at stockists across Australia and online. Melinda also has a lovely vintage store over on Etsy - Tivoli Vintage. Check it out!

Images: Paperklip Design

Events: Sydney ABCD Meetup Spring 2010

Calling all artists, crafters and designers who blog and can get to Sydney on Thursday 28th October 2010... welcome to the first Sydney ABCD Meetup!

A few years ago, after getting to know each other online, Kim Wallace (Udessi online gallery) and I met for coffee and a chat. We gained so much from the face-to-face meeting, and thought it would be nice to arrange a time and a place for other art, craft and design bloggers to get out from behind their computers and (shyly) say hello. The Brisbane ABCD Meetups were born, and little did we know the fantastic response, the casual get-togethers and the ensuing collaborations that would follow.


Now that I live in Sydney, the lovely Lisa Tilse from The Red Thread and I would love to invite you to come to our first ever Sydney ABCD Meetup. Here are the details:

Event: Sydney ABCD Meetup Spring 2010
Date: Thursday 28th October, 2010
Time: 7pm - 9pm
Venue: The 3 Weeds Hotel (back bar), 197 Evans St, Rozelle, NSW
RSVP: via the ABCD Facebook page, or comment here on Bondville
Optional: bring something for the goodie bag to help your new friends remember you

::::::::::: IMPORTANT :::::::::::

To streamline our mailing lists for both the Brisbane and Sydney ABCD meetups, please subscribe through one of the following;

A. Join our Facebook page
We will post any upcoming meetups here and you will be able to RSVP via Facebook. Photos of the night will also be uploaded here.

B. Join our new mailing list.
For those of you that aren’t on Facebook we have created a mailing list. You can choose if you would like to receive news about the Brisbane or Sydney meetups.

More about ABCD Meetups:
ABCD stands for [Artists + Bloggers + Crafters + Designers] and the quarterly meet-ups are an informal way to meet other folks with similar interests in the online space. Rather than being a networking event, these are simply a few quiet drinks with other creative bods; a chance to make a friend or two, and be inspired by what others are doing. All folks attending are given a sticky name badge, a welcoming hello, and a warm, friendly environment. And, if you feel like it, you can add a little creative reminder of you to the ABCD goodie bags that everyone is offered to take home.

You can find photos and posts about previous ABCD meetups on the Facebook page, as well as on Bondville and Udessi.


We would love to meet you; please come along.

Images: Steph Bond and Kim Wallace

Hip Products: Balloon Balls

It's not often that you come across something that's stylish, clever, entertaining, great for kids, practical, improves safety, encourages play and is handmade. And that's exactly what the amazing Balloon Balls are from Brisbane designer, physiotherapist, and Mum-of-three, Gretta (see pic above).

The Balloon Ball is an ingenious product made from pretty fabrics and finished with a button-hole-sized slot to insert a standard 25cm balloon. Blow up the balloon, and the 'ball' inflates. Tie off the balloon and you have one fantastic indoor toy.

Using her physiotherapy training, Gretta realised that the ball would move through the air much slower than a standard ball, making it easier for children to learn skills such as catching, throwing, bouncing and developing hand/eye coordination.

The Balloon Balls range includes the Original Balloon Ball for boys/unisex and girls, Baby Balloon Balls, and Balloon Football. Each Balloon Ball comes with its own list of fun, developmental games to play. How clever is that!

Kim sent me a gorgeous Balloon Ball as part of the latest Brisbane ABCD meetup goodie bag and we have not stopped playing with it since. My 3-year-old loves balloons, but they are not such a great idea to have around our baby. The Balloon Ball has come to the rescue and is providing endless, safe indoors play for us.

You can find Balloon Balls in the online store.

Needless to say, Balloon Balls was a hugely popular part of the Brisbane ABCD meetup goodie bag and won the prize of one month's advertising here on Bondville. Congratulations Gretta! Be sure to pop over and check out the balloon balls. What a great gift for any child.

Images: all images by Steph Bond except red/blue ball by Kim Wallace, pink/purple ball and bottom images by Balloon Balls

Featured on Alannah Rose and Easy Peasy Organic

A couple of huge thank-you's today to lovely Suzi and Amanda.
Suzi from Alannah Rose kindly featured my big girl's 3rd birthday party on her gorgeous blog. Suzi designs beautiful stationery for weddings, engagements, new babies, kids parties and more read more about Alannah Rose here on Bondville). Please check out her site.

I'm also so honoured that Bondville was chosen as Blog of the Week by Amanda on Easy Peasy Organic. Check out Amanda's great recipes, tips and hints for living a good life on the site. Amanda also reminds us that it's National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and has written an excellent account of her experience fighting breast cancer here. (you can also read more about Easy Peasy Organic here on Bondville).

Thanks again ladies!

Images: Alannah Rose and Easy Peasy Organic

Hip Products: O.B Designs DingaRings

Our 9-month-old still has no teeth so teething rings are top of mind here at Bondville. Check out these super-cute rattle + teething ring + soft toy DingaRings that I found at the Sunshine Coast recently.

Designed in Byron Bay by Kate Nicolson and Leesa Hallahan from O.B. Designs, these rings include a cast of characters full of personality, including Aussie-themed Tony Tree Frog, Gi Gi Galah, Craig Crocodile and Keith Koala. The range includes both muted tones and bright colours, soft bodies and wooden rings to soothe those sore gums. These teething rings would make excellent newborn gifts or a present for a baby shower, particularly for friends and family overseas.

O.B. Designs is an environmentally-conscious business using recyclable point of sale and office materials. You can find DingaRings in the online store as well as at stockists across Australia, the UK, UAE, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Images: O.B. Designs