Chantal Vincent art, cards and stamps

I was first drawn to Chantal Vincent through her impeccable taste on Pinterest. It seemed that I was repinning her entire virtual pin board so off I headed to her Etsy store to check out her art. What a great surprise to find fun, quirky lino prints, greeting cards and hand-carved rubber stamps.

I love rubber stamps - with a little paint or a stamp pad or two you have everything you need to personalise and make your own greeting cards, wrapping paper, wall art, tote bags and whatever else takes your fancy. Chantal has created some lovely fauna-inspired stamps and a great roaring lion book plate stamp for kids.

Sydney-based Chantal's handprinted lino prints art cards are also pretty cool stuff. The mixed tape is just begging for a personalised "Mick's Mix Volume II" scrawled across the front. The shoe print would look great above the shoe box/rack/jumble by the front door. The sea urchins are supremely calming. And how about the super-imaginative pocket knife card. Such a great guy gift.

You can find Chantal Vincent art, cards and stamps in the Etsy store. Check out Chantal's blog for more behind-the-scenes info (and follow her on Pinterest for her divine taste).

Images: Chantal Vincent Art

Stylish Kids: Little Chillies

Another great Kids In Style find was family business and Australian children's label Little Chillies. Based in Melbourne, three generations of the Little Chillies family are dedicated to creating baby and toddler clothes (sizes 000 to 4 years) with a huge dose of vintage design and a nod to French style.

I love the classic red, cream, navy and blue colour scheme, the perfect ribbon pleats and wool coats and oh! those shoes. Little Chillies is a welcome addition to the nostalgic trend we've been seeing in children's clothes. I can see us all dressing our little ones in knickerbockers and peter pan collars this season.

You can find Little Chillies in the online store as well as at stockists in VIC, NSW and online. The online store is still stocking Spring/Summer 2010/2011 - so get in quick. They will soon be stocking the gorgeous Winter range shown above. And just wait until you see Spring/Summer 2011/2012... GORGEOUS! Watch this space.

For more stylish kids clothes designed by Australians, head over to Bondville Kids.

Images: Little Chillies

Rebecca Cool Art

Have you noticed? I've been thinking for a long time about how to best represent Australian design and art on the Bondville banner, and as I was tucking in my big girl last night I looked up and knew I had to feature Rebecca Cool.

After the birth of our first daughter, we bought a beautiful artwork called New Baby for her room, by Western Australian artist and book illustrator Rebecca Cool. Rebecca's mixed media artwork (which I have featured here on Bondville before) utilises vintage fabric, sourced from her own stashes and sent to her by her many fans. Her artworks start with the fabric, and grow organically from there. Rebecca's signature faces, whimsical composition and folk style give me such joy; her work always makes my heart sing.

I hope it does for you too. Thank you Rebecca for allowing me to feature your amazing talent on Bondville.

Image: New Baby by Rebecca Cool

Hip Products: Pony Rider homewares

On the weekend at the Life In Style / Kids In Style tradeshow I met the super-talented girls behind design-brand-of-the-moment Pony Rider - Kelly and Phoebe. And then I kind of gushed, which was a bit embarrassing.

You'll probably recognise Pony Rider homewares from the myriad of shelter magazines and blogs over the past year - all the cool stylists love them to bits. And you can see why - their edgy/cool prints in grey, black, red on natural basecloth cover cushions, rugs, pendants, decals, quilts, napkins, etc, will instantly modernise any setting.

I got to check out some key pieces from the new collection (due out in April 2011) which are of course right on the money. My favourites where a typographic design highlighted with neon yellow, a fun black and white print of the Matterhorn with blue circle highlight and an update of the popular bunting and pendants, this time a rectangular fabric wall hanging, edged with rough hessian. It's all fantastic.

Kelly and Phoebe (who are based on Sydney's northern beaches) have a strong fashion mindset; new homewares are launched each season resulting in a look that evolves and moves forward with each collection. So if you find something Pony Rider that you adore, you better get it quick smart; once they sell out, that's it!

You can find Pony Rider in the online shop as well as at stockists. Find out more about Pony Rider on their blog. Check back here in April 2011 for images of the new goodies.

Images: Pony Rider

Shinwa Organics lifestyle products

I took myself off to the Life In Style / Kids In Style trade show this weekend so have lots and lots of updates for you on some of my favourite Australian designers, as well as some new finds. First up, check out the gorgeous wraps from Shinwa Organics.

It was the wall of baby wraps that grabbed my attention: lovely unbleached bamboo wraps edged with raw silk and printed with soft Asian watercolour-style designs. Shinwa Organics uses only organic herbal dyes and pigments and the bamboo used for textiles is grown in chemical-free plantations.

The Shinwa Organics range also includes lovely bamboo sheet sets, pyjamas for boys and girls, hand-embroidered pillows and mosquito nets, towels, face washers and bamboo felt blankets. Lovely materials for sensitive skin. Eco-friendly and Australia made - ticks all the boxes.

You can find Shinwa Organics in the online store as well as stockists internationally and online.

Images: Shinwa Organics

Uimi knitwear

Now that the temperatures are finally starting to cool off a little in the evening, I've been thinking about pulling out some trans-seasonal throws, blankets and scarfs (mostly courtesy of my Mum's crochet and knitting skills). If you're not the knitting type and you're looking for some new goodies to brighten up your couch/bed/cot/neck, check out the lovely eco-friendly knitwear from Uimi.

Locally designed and manufactured in Melbourne, Uimi creates a range of blankets, throws, scarves and children's products made from extra fine merino wool, certified organic cotton and other natural fibres. My favourite products are the chevron-striped kids blankets (both pink and blue) and the fun striped scarves. Mmm toasty.

You can find Uimi knitwear at stockists around Australia and online.

Images: Uimi

Hip Products: Goldenink ceramic jewellery

If St Valentines didn't surprise you with gifts and goodies, I give you full permission to treat yourself to something special. Actually, even if you did get goodies, go ahead and treat yourself anyway. Something like these divine ceramic and hand-painted jewellery pieces.

Goldenink is the collaboration of clever printmaker Abby Seymour and ceramist Katherine (Kate) Wheeler, based in Melbourne. They have just launched their new online store where they stock a range of their jewellery including porcelain bangles, rings, pendants and earrings that are utterly compelling and unique.

Each piece is handcrafted, painted and fired in their own kiln - wearable art. How deliciously amazing do those ink blue and white bangles look with the striped tee. And the sneaky yellow inner surface of the feather-like bangle pictured top.Everyone will be asking you where you found these gorgeous pieces.

You can find Goldenink jewellery in the online store. Shipping within Australia is free! Check out more behind-the-scenes info on the Goldenink blog.

Thanks so much to Tiel of Tsk Tsk fame for first pinning the feather bangle (pictured top) on Pinterest where it grabbed my attention.

Images: goldenink

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to you! I saw this amazing cake on Pinterest (first pinned by the ever-so-cool Joy Cho of Oh Joy!) a few weeks ago and thought you would love it too. It's an amazing Red Velvet heart cake, made by I am Baker. If you're feeling super-creative, there's even a tutorial (promise to send me your pics if you make it). There is also a really lovely Valentine's Dessert Brownie recipe on the sister blog I Am Mommy - chocolate heart-shaped brownie covered in cream cheese and strawberries. If fact, there is a totally amazing list of Valentine's baking ideas on the site here. Drooooool.

Steph
x

Image: I Am Baker

Hip Products: Cat Rabbit plush and jewellery

You want an heirloom gift for a child but don't want to go the baby spoon/silver brush and comb set/baby bracelet route (you know what I'm talking about). And you want something modern, memorable and fun. Something that they will have forever.

The totally amazing hand-crafted plush creatures from Cat Rabbit just might fit the bill. These quirky-cool pieces of art have huge personalities. Characters like the fur-covered owls, fez-adorned bears, folk costume-wearing raccoons and nerdy glass-wearing rabbits look as if they have stepped right out of a storybook

You might also like Cat Rabbit jewellery (necklaces, hair combs, brooches) or Wall Art for yourself. I just couldn't resist the raccoon cufflinks!

You can find Cat Rabbit in the Etsy store, at markets (check the blog) and at galleries and stockists around Australia (and online).

And how cool: "To celebrate the Vietnamese year of the Cat and the Chinese year of the Rabbit (hereby known as the year of the Cat-Rabbit) there is 25% off everything in the store until the 13th of February 2011!". More behind-the-scenes info on the Cat-Rabbit blog here.

Images: Cat Rabbit

Stylish Kids: Sophie's Lane

Here is a girls' fashion label that I just can't get out of my head. Sophie's Lane takes the beautiful girly look of sweet prints and notalgic styling that we have been seeing recently and amps up the volume. Wow!

Sophie's Lane's line of heavenly frocks for little girls and babies are just breathtaking. All the dresses in the debut "Liberty" range are made from exquisite Liberty Of London material and made to order. Just look at the quality and detail in these classic-with-a-modern-twist designs.

Sophie's Lane is based in Brisbane and handmade by the supremely talented Sam Aloquin. The current range includes dresses and skirts (with sweet names like Milly, Stella, Grace and Charlotte) and sizes range from 0-3 months up to size 5. Watch this space for gorgeous christening dresses and flower girl dresses!

You can buy Sophie's Lane from the online store.

Find more beautiful clothes for children designed by Australians over at Bondville Kids.

Images: Sophie's Lane

Beetle Bugs by Saffron Craig

All-round sassy gal and fabric designer-extraordinaire Saffron Craig has released a fun series of designs based on beetles and bugs.

Saffron's daughter loves collecting creepy crawlies and her finds inspired these new "Beetle Bugs" designs that would sit perfectly in a boy's room or toy room. Doesn't the room above look amazing? I'm thinking bean bags, playtime teepees, and the perfect three-quarter length shorts for boys.

You can find Saffron Craig fabrics in the online store and more about Saffron on her blog. Read more about Saffron Craig here on Bondville.

Images: Saffron Craig

Stylish Kids: Off The Peg

More gorgeous Australian-designed kids clothes for you today (found through the QLD Flood fundraisers), this time from Melbourne where Ebony crafts each piece of her delightful the Off the Peg children's label by hand.

These are fun, bright pieces for boys and girls sizes 4-11, in my favourite colour combo of white, sky blue and red. And throw in some dark denim and polka dots just to amp up the cuteness factor. It's all turned cuffs, ruffles (and more ruffles) and hand-finished details and 100% Japanese cotton fabrics. Beautiful work.

You can find Off The Peg in the Madeit Store (Australia) online and at various markets (check the website for details). Check out behind-the-scenes info on the Off The Peg blog and Facebook page.

For more great Australian-designed clothes for kids, check out Bondville Kids.

Images: Off The Peg