Catherine Martin for Ferrero chocolate goodness

And speaking of goodies, this is a Ferrero Roundnoir.

YUM! It is just one of many, many (53!) round chocolatey balls of goodness that I kindly received from the good people at Ferrero. They have released a limited edition gift box full of Rocher minis, designed by Australian costume designer doyenne Catherine Martin.

Behold the hamper in all its glory:

And behold the glam art deco box that will be storing sequins, fabric squares, needles and thread for my craft club/book exchange/girlfriends get-together nights. Cos all those 53 choccies are now in my tum. Oh dear. Thanks Ferrero!

Just in time for Mother's Day you can find the Limited Edition Catherine Martin for Ferrero gift boxes in the Ferraro Boutique online store.

Images: Steph Bond-Hutkin

Photos of the Sydney abcd Saturday Soiree April 2012 Goodie Bag

Photos of our amazing Sydney abcd (art, craft and design bloggers) Saturday Soiree are coming soon. In the meantime, here is a look at the fabulous goodies from the ever-popular abcd goodie bag from creative souls from around Sydney (and further!):

 greeting cards from Jenn (The Blissfull Brush)

cookie from Alison (Alison Lawson Cakes)

original printed artwork from Andrea (Andrea Smith )

jellybeans from Amanda (Amanda Fuller Designs and Kaleidoscope)

 hand screen-printed fabric from Amy (Badskirt)

pillow sewing pattern from Lisa (the red thread)

paper garland from Nicola (Concrete and Honey)

greeting card and gift tag from Kate (Another Donkey Design)

chocolate from Tessa (Down That Little Lane)

printed fabric from Svenja (0049 Design  and indentitaet
 

card and fabric samples from T (Designed To A T)

card, gift tag and peg from Tara (Dudley Red Head)

sugar hearts in glass jar from Leanne (Sweet Style and Mrs A in The Cove)

magnet, postcard, sewn gift tag and tickets from Denise (grrl + dog)

 button bracelet from Steph (Over It! and MooBear Designs and The TreeHouse)

cookies from Sally (Jambo Chameleon )

softie craft panel from Saffron (Saffron Craig Design)

cookie from Melissa (Mushi & Boo and The Art of Teddy Bears)

votive candle from Kamilla (Little Originals and MOHE)

fabric brooch from Michelle (mewe)

chocolate drops from Anni (Milk and Honey Photography)

Pat and Stick's Homemade Ice Cream Co. ice cream sandwich from Steph (that's me!)

lemon butter from Robyn (Posh Nosh )

fabric keyring from Natalie (Archie & Moo and Wild Cotton Fabric)

hair clip from Deni (Free Range Living and Cheeky Chickies)

I've already consumed all the consumables, and wearing Michelle's brooch right now, and am going to use Lisa's bird pillow project for my first craft club (I don't read enough books to do a book club!) with my girlfriends.

Thank you girls for putting so much effort into making yet another amazing goodie bag.

Images: Steph Bond-Hutkin

Milk and Honey Photography family portrait offer

Did you know that Autumn/Winter are the peak months for portrait photography? Weather for outdoor shots is more predictable and comfortable, and it's perfect timing to get the family together for Mother's Day and Father's Day.

Luckily, my favourite Sydney photographers Milk and Honey Photography have a great offer for all bookings made this month:

Book in for a family portrait sitting for $120 plus one of our gorgeous print packages (starting at $550) and receive:

an extra three 5"x7" prints, and

five photo cards (valued at $297.50)

Terms: Bookings must be made by 30th April, 2012. The 5 photo gift cards must be all of the same image (of your choice). This offer may not be used in conjunction with other current offers. Portrait sessions for this offer must be completed by the end of August, 2012.

Images: Milk and Honey Photography

Gruffalo Party 2 by Bronnie Bakes

Boy I have some very clever readers. Bron from the lovely blog Bronnie Bakes was inspired by Alison Lawson's amazing Gruffalo party, and created her own version for her daughter Molly's 3rd birthday. I love the beautifully-made Gruffalo birthday party picnic on top of the cake. Look at the mini cupcakes, sandwiches, pie and cake with candles! Bron shares with us her tips for a fabulous Gruffalo birthday party.

Party: For my youngest daughter Molly, who was turning 3.

Organised by: Bron (Bronnie Bakes).

Location: Our house (Melbourne).

Theme: The Gruffalo! Molly adores the book and the animated version and has been asking to have a Gruffalo cake for AGES! Not exactly the easiest of themes, but I didn't want to disappoint :-)

Invitation: Made by Bron using Illustrator

Cake: Five-layered vanilla cake with the Gruffalo characters all having a birthday party! (Bron will be providing tutorials for all of the cake figurines/decorations over the next week on her blog, starting with the Gruffalo fondant character).

Party food: Scrambled Snake (popcorn), Purple Prickle Jelly, Gruffalo Crumble Cupcakes (chocolate cupcakes with Italian meringue buttercream and crushed Maltesers), Roasted Fox (mini hotdogs), Number 3 cookies, Poisonous Warts (grapes), sausage rolls and chicken sandwiches.

Decorations: Vases with tree sprigs and cookie tin vases from IKEA on the table. Party bags, cupcake baking cups and popcorn boxes made from scalloped boxes from Invite Me. Jelly stamp and wooden spoons from Sweet Style. Bron made all the Gruffalo adhesive labels and tags using Illustrator (see Bron's video on her blog for how she made the tags and put together the goodie bags).

Games/activities: Pass the Parcel, which didn't go down too well as Molly was having tantrums because she thought everyone was unwrapping her presents!

Tips: Write yourself a timeline for the party and make sure you include party food that can be prepared in advance - there is nothing worse than being up all night prior to the party!

Something Special: With Melbourne's weather you never really know what you are going to get and we had one of the wettest and coldest days! Thankfully one of my girlfriends owns a small jumping castle which we put up in the dining room - it was a huge hit with the kids and meant they had somewhere to work off the sugar!

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Thank you so much Bron! I am racing off to IKEA to get those tin vases that the cookies are displayed in asap. You can read more about Bron's Gruffalo party here on her blog. Head over this week to find Bron's tutorials for how to make the amazing cake, starting with that grizzly Gruffalo.

Feather and Geranium Petals

I hope you had a lovely ANZAC Day. A day of reflection, and for me, lots of rest. I managed to find the time to take a photo of some things the girls picked up today. Isn't it amazing that you can find these colours in our own backyards? I'd love a cushion in these colours. Or an art print. Or necklace. Or tote bag. Or party colour palette!

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin

Owl Know How by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles

Thanks to my friends at The Finders Keepers for the heads up - fresh off the press is this fabulous 32-page children's book (and product range) by Aussie collaborators Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles. Owl Know How is illustrated with photos of Cat Rabbit's amazing plush characters in animator Cat and Isobel's built enviroments.

 
Owl Know How started out as an animation project that Cat Rabbit and Isobel worked together on, and an empire was born. It's gorgeous, and I dearly hope there will be more.

In the Owl Know HOw book, prepare to be transported to Cloud Town, where Cornelia Rabbit lives next door to her best friend Orvi, and problems are solved with the help of owls. Lots of owls! The book comes with it's very own owl pattern for you to make your own felt owl (see finished owl top).

Look out also for the Owl Know How shop where you can pick up the book, plush figures, button badges, handkerchiefs, totes, and limited edition packs of all the goodies as well as a signed copy of the book, gocco-printed bookplate and poster.

Read more about Cat Rabbit here on Bondville.

Images: Owl Know How

Bondville Lucky Door Prize - $100 voucher for Mooce children's clothes

Based in Brisbane, Petra Jones from Mooce (pronounced 'Mutzy) creates sweet, carefree collections for girls age 2 to 6 years. This month for our monthly Lucky Door Prize, Petra is giving away a very generous $100 voucher for Mooce clothes from the latest collection to one Bondville monthly newsletter or daily email subscriber. Fun! What would you pick?

Look out for the winner in the monthly newsletter, coming your way in the next few days. Read more about Mooce here on Bondville.

Terms and Conditions:
1. Lucky door prize will be allocated to one Bondville monthly newsletter or daily email subscriber.
2. There are no entry requirements.
3. This Lucky Door Prize giveaway is open to all Bondville subscribers in Australia and internationally.
5. This Lucky Door Prize giveaway is hosted by Steph Bond-Hutkin via the Bondville blog at blog.stephbond.com.
4. The prize consists of an AUD$100 gift certificate for the Mooce online store.
5. Lucky Door Prize winner will be notified in the Bondville Monthly newsletter, sent to subscribers the week commencing 23rd April 2012.

Images: Mooce