Brisbane ABCD Meetup Autumn 2011

Apart from wrapping up her beautiful online store Udessi, Kim is also hard at work organising the next Brisbane ABCD meetup. Join Kim and co-organiser Lou from looseleaf.paper on 15th April 2011 to meet up with like-minded folk who blog about art, craft and design. All the details are over on the Udessi blog.

And for Sydney folk, we'll see you tonight!

Images: ABCD Meetup

Udessi Closing Down Sale - ends today

My dear friend Kim's fabulous online store/art gallery featuring Australian artists and designers is bidding us a fond farewell for the time being. The Udessi online store officially closes at the end of today, so this is your last chance to snap up a bargain and support local talent.

Sweet William art print

Nikki Catalano art print

Tsk Tsk art print

Pippijoe Waterhen hemp/cotton fabric
Pippijoe fabric basket kit
the red thread Sweetie Petite DIY doll kit

Pippijoe cushion cover
Sharon Muir Little Standing Bird ceramic pot

Renee Treml Tea Cozy: Great Horned Owl art print

Nikki Catalano Two Owls art print

You'll find beautiful artwork, ceramics (including Kim's own), jewellery, homewares, fabrics and diy kits on the site - everything reduced.

Kim has long served the Australian design community with her online store, blog, through organising the ABCD meetups in Brisbane (and co-founding them!), through her market stands at great Australian markets all over the country, and through her tireless support of handmade, independent Australian artists.

Thank you Kim - we will miss you for a while and look forward to your comeback in whatever guise that may be.

Love Steph and all Australian artists
xxx

Images: Udessi

Sylish Kids: Em&Femme Designs

Welcome to the wonderful, colourful world of em&femme designs - bright, fun, one-of-a-kind clothes just for girls. Each item is handmade by hard-working Ilja Oostenenk using a unique combination of fabrics meaning that no two are the same.

These clothes just make me so happy. Ric rac! Pom poms! Each outfit is a head-turner. How incredibly comfortable does that little top and pants combo look? Perfect for the bright spark in your life.

You can find em&femme designs at stockists in Australia and online as well as a few items in the em&femme Big Cartel store with more coming over the next few months. For new designs and latest information, check out the em&femme designs blog and Facebook page.

For more great Australian-designed kids clothes, head over to Bondville Kids.

Images: em&femme designs

Baby Essentials: Steph from Bondville

Part 3 of my Baby Essentials series series! This time it's my turn to share my favourite baby products. I'm lucky to be able to come across gorgeous kids products all the time, but these are the must-have items that I have used for my 2 newborns over the past few years.

Cot bedding: Australian design company Bholu Ignatious Critter bedding - minimalist and quirky (no longer available) (Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin)

Sydney ABCD Meetup Autumn 2011 Reminder

We are getting excited. The Sydney ABCD Meetup for Autumn 2011 is only one week away. Don't forget to RSVP on the Bondville or the red thread blogs, on Facebook or by return email if you haven't already.

For those who have registered to participate in the Goodie Bags you will need to make pieces for 17 bags. Goodie Bag registration has now closed.

Don't forget about our new ABCD Noticeboard. You can bring a notice that you have written to pin up (paper to be no bigger than A6), or there will be paper and pens on the night. It's going to be a great community tool for us, and we encourage you to share lots of tidbits. We will compile and email out all the info to the attendees after the event.

All details can be found here on Bondville.

We would love to see you again. And if this is your first meetup, we are really looking forward to meeting you! See you there,

Steph and Lisa

Tutu du Monde 2011 Collection

It's no secret that I am a *huge* fan of Andrea Rembeck's divine label for little girls, Tutu Du Monde. My big girl lives in her Tutu Du Monde dresses and they also come out for every dress-up event.

I stopped by to say Hi to Andrea at Kids In Style last month and was able to see her gorgeous new collection up-close. Stunning! These are dresses just begging to be worn by flowergirls, birthday girls and any ballerina-in-the-making. Here are the latest photos from the new Tutu Du Monde lookbook for your viewing pleasure.

You can find Tutu Du Monde in the online store as well as at boutiques across Australia, the US, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Read more about Sydney-based Tutu Du Monde here on Bondville. And head over to Bondville Kids for more drool-worthy clothes for kids designed right here in Australia.

Images: Tutu Du Monde

Trellis Design Vintage Rose Collection

Vintage Rose Ruffle Butt Bloomer Set

Ruffles, Roses & Ribbons Dress

Rusty Rose Dress with detachable satin rose brooch

Sherpa Shrug....available in Vanilla or Chocolate

Do you remember the beautifully made clothes for girls from Brisbane-based Trellis Design that I shared with you in January? Well designer Penny has released a new collection that has been beautifully shot by Tamarajayne Photography. Penny is creating such gorgeous clothes for our little girls - she just deserves as much recognition as possible, don't you think?

The Vintage Rose Collection is made up of mostly one-off designs - only a few designs are made in multiples. There is a Steel Blossom dress with fur trim and detachable satin pistachio rose brooch that I am just dying for.

You can find these new pieces for sale on the Trellis Design Facebook page market night, starting 8pm (Brisbane time) on Thursday 24h March, 2011. Any unsold items will be listed in the Trellis Design Madeit store the next day. You'll have to be quick!

Read more about Trellis Design here on Bondville. And head over to Bondville Kids for more beautiful Australian-designed clothes for kids.

Images: Trellis Design

Baby Essentials: Stephanie from Moobear Designs

Part 2 of my Baby Essentials series comes from Stephanie Robles of Sydney-based handmade kids fashion label-with-a-conscience, Moobear Designs. Bring it on Steph...

Favourite Rocker: Maclaren's vibrating rocker.

Favourite Mobile: Craft Schmaft Owl Mobile Pattern.

Favourite Nappy Rash Cream: Good old corn flour from the supermarket does the trick.

Favourite Baby Bath Products: Johnson's.

Favourite Baby Carrier: Australian-designed hug-a-bub for first baby (above left). The Peanut Shell for second baby. Handmade ring sling from Belly Bumps to Baby Hugs (also Australian-designed) for third baby (above right). (Ed - that's Steph modelling the ring sling.)

Favourite Pram: Phil and Ted's is my perfect pram. For toddler and newborn, two toddlers or just one toddler...

Favourite Nappy Bag: I made my own reversible nappy bag with all the pockets I needed and none that I didn't from a free pattern on MakeBabyStuff.com. (Ed - the same nappy bag pattern that Alex from Oobi recommended!).

Favourite Breastfeeding Product: Breastfeeding cover from Australian company KissKissHugHug ... stylish, light weight and easy to clean. The best gift I received for my third child.

Thank you Steph! Read more about Moobear Designs here on Bondville and head over to the Moobear website for fun children's clothes made using recycled fabrics.

Baby Essentials: Alex from Oobi

I started thinking about this series a year ago when my bub was a newborn - there are so many 'things' out there that you "simply must have" for a new baby. There is so much research to do - it can get out of control. So overwhelming! So I thought I would reach out to some of my friends who are experts in the kids industry for their favourite baby essentials to share with you all.

First up, Alex from one of Australia's favourite kids fashion labels - Oobi.

Favourite nappy rash cream: Almond Oil! Top tip that my friends who are mums swear by. Good for the ‘information vault’.

Favourite nappy bag: MakeBabyStuff.com Free Diaper Bag Pattern. I know it’s not something a new mum is going to get really excited about, crafting when she’s dealing with a zillion other things. But maybe there’s a nice nanna out there who might make one. I’d rethink that fabric and tart it up of course!

Favourite mobile: The best mobiles are those awesome retro Flensted animals. The whales are super cute and not too expensive.

Favourite bath products: Eco Babe has great bath and body products.

Favourite baby bedding: The Oobi baby blankets. I think they’re really beautiful and practical.

Favourite bibs: Our Oobi bibs! Beautiful patchwork fabrication, ribbon details, snap closure and practical towelling on the back.

Thanks so much, Alex, for your words of wisdom. You can read more about Oobi here on Bondville. Don't forget to check back here over the next few weeks for more essential items for newborns from people in the know.

Oishi-m kids clothes Autumn/Winter 2011

The new Kikoshi hoodies from Melbourne-based Oishi-m were hot, hot, hot at the Kids In Style trade show last month. Aren't they adorable? The cross-over style, double-breasted buttons (for expanding girths!) and Japanese fabric lining takes them out of the realm of ordinary.

Remember the cool Oishi-m jeans for babies and tots? They really are my absolute favourite jeans for kids with their roomy kimono fabric bottoms and tummy warmer waistbands. Lucky for us, they now come in velveteen with a wider leg - the Velveteen Chubba Pant (mmm, cosy). No more complaining about boring fashion for little boys, my friends! These pieces (apart from the cutey new skirt) are truly unisex.

Head over to the Oishi-m online store or check out the website for a list of stockists. Read more about Oishi-m here on Bondville. And if you love all things kids fashion, click over to Bondville Kids for lots of amazing Australian-designed children's clothes.

Images: Oishi-m

Sara's Party Perfect

I was so thrilled that my daughter's first birthday cake was featured on beautiful party blog Sara's Party Perfect. Sara is a former art director for Martha Stewart, so to say I am honoured is an understatement! See her post, "First Birthday Cakes".

Sydney ABCD Meetup Autumn 2011

Wow, we had such a huge response from our first Sydney ABCD Meetup. And it's that time again. We would love to invite you to the Autumn 2011 Sydney ABCD Meetup.

Created for artists, crafters and designers who blog, ABCD meetup is a casual get-together to encourage those of us who are more comfortable behind our computers to get out and meet some of our fellow design and art lovers.

Here are the details:

Event: Sydney ABCD Meetup Autumn 2011
Date: Thursday 31st March, 2011
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

Goodie Bags:

The ABCD meetup goodie bag is a great way to share a little about yourself and help your new friends remember you after the event. At the last meetup the goodie bags were chock-full of handmade goodies and sweet momentos. If you would like to join in and make something for the goodie bag, please comment "GOODIE BAG" along with your RSVP by 21st March, so we know how many we'll need. Goodie bags will only be provided for those who participate.

ABCD Noticeboard:
We will be hosting a real noticeboard at the meetup with space for participants to pin up notes and information to share with others - we see this as a tangible expression of our sense of community. You might like to share info, resources, wanted ads, requests, tips, or anything that you think will be helpful. (no self-promotion on the board please).

Subscribe For Updates:
To receive updates and details about ABCD meetups please subscribe through one of the following:

1. Join our Facebook page
We will post upcoming meetups on the Facebook page and you will be able to RSVP on the page. Photos of the night will also be uploaded there, and/or

2. Join the ABCD Meetup 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.

Steph Bond Hutkin (Bondville) and Lisa Tilse (The Red Thread)

Australian Artist Spotlight: Nikki Catalano

I have this gorgeous owl tote bag from Udessi that is always receiving compliments. Said owl was the winning design (as voted by Udessi customers and blog readers) by Sydney-based illustrator and artist Nikki Catalano.

As you can see, Nikki is a special talent. Her Japanese-influenced upbringing have inspired both her love of pattern and her respect for 'white space'. On Nikki's website you can find art prints, card packs and two great books ("Mitsu" which she illustrated with her sister the author and a beautiful colouring-in book). Nikki's work is another example of art that would suit a child's space just as beautifully as an adult part of the house/office/commercial space. I particularly like her move towards integrating fabric into her works. Just beautiful.

You can find Nikki Catalano's art in her online store as well as at retailers online and across Australia. If you're quick you might snap up one of Nikki's prints in the Udessi online art gallery sale. Head over to Nikki's blog for more info about her artwork.

Images: Nikki Catalano