Kathryn Mitchell ceramics

Spotted on the Udessi Australian Art Store website are these gorgeous ceramic pieces by Gold Coast artist Kathryn Mitchell.

Udessi Australian art store relaunches

I am so excited that my friend Kim Wallace has relaunched the Udessi Australian art store after an overseas hiatus. Kim was ahead over her time when she launched Udessi in 2008; it really was one of the first places online to find Australian-designed independent art and design.

It's great to see the new Udessi back online with five launch artists that I love: Renee Treml, Sweet William, Beth Emily, Wendy Britton and Kim's own ceramic jewellery and vessels. On the site you'll find a range of original artworks, Australian art prints, ceramics, jewellery as well as Australian-designed handmade art and toys for kids.

Not only does Kim have a great idea for beautiful art, but she is a master stylist and shows you how each piece can work in your home with her own styled images.  

Head over to the relaunched Udessi Australian art store and say Hi from me. There are some great re-opening discounts available and a great giveaway - see the Udessi blog for details. Welcome back Kim!

Images: Udessi

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

Australian Christmas 2010: Kim Wallace

My Brisbane-based friend Kim Wallace from Udessi has created gorgeous ceramic ornaments in a sophisticated palette of dusky hues and snowy white for Christmas 2010. Each decoration is handmade and imprinted with vintage lace; no two are exactly alike. Simply beautiful.

Choose from coloured stoneware or white porcelain strung with delicate ribbon. But you may have to get in quick; the ornaments are selling out quickly (especially as they were featured in the latest issues of Home Beautiful and Australian House and Garden!).

You can find Kim Wallace ceramic ornaments in the Udessi online store and at stockists around Australia. and if you're in Brisbane, stop by the Christmas Pop-Up Markets in Woolloongabba on 11 December 2010 for a chance to buy Kim's ornaments and ceramics as well as goodies from some of my favourite local designers including Red Seed Studio, Edward & Lilly and Renee Treml.

Find out more about Kim Wallace and Udessi on Bondville. And check out more Australian Christmas 2010 ideas here on Bondville.

Images: Kim Wallace

15% Off Sale at Udessi online art and craft gallery

If you love Australian art, craft and designers, then you'll love every carefully curated item on Kim's Udessi online gallery. And lucky for us, Kim is having a huge 15% off sale on many items until 8th April 2010.

The sale range includes art prints, ceramics, jewellery, textiles, bags, greeting cards, homewares and ornaments. So if you have been coveting a The Red Thread sushibird tile, some divine Pippijoe fabric, feed the dog textile art panel or chic HeatherKeiko felt necklace, now is your chance to scoop them up!

Image: Udessi

Hip Products: Kim Wallace ceramic jewellery

My friend Kim Wallace debuted her divine handmade ceramic jewellery range at the Finders Keepers markets recently and I've been dying to show them off to you. Imprinted with vintage lace doilies, the pendants are strung on cotton cord and brass chain. They sit beautifully and look gorgeous on - like delicate shells, or icing sugar moons. Feminine and hip at the same time.

I'm also taken with the limited edition pendants that Kim has created in collaboration with artist Belinda Kemp (see bottom image). Each porcelain disc pendant sits on a sterling silver chain, with a sweet hand-stamped design and the artists' initials on the back.

These are perfect last minute Christmas gifts. You can find Kim Wallace ceramic jewellery in the Udessi online gallery (also curated by Kim). Order before this Sunday 20th December 2009 to ensure delivery to major Australian cities before Christmas.

For more about Kim, check out the Kim Wallace profile on Bondville.

Images: Kim Wallace

Renee Treml Australiana Artwork

US-born Renée Seaman Treml is obsessed with wildlife. When she and her husband moved to Brisbane in 2007, Renée's love for her local environment meant exploring the world of Australian birds and animals. Lucky for us!

Renée creates the most delightful, detailed portraits of native Aussie wildlife, with a touch of humour thrown in. Pieces are created primarily with scratchboard, acrylic and mixed media, and watercolour. These would be a great gift for an expat abroad, overseas visitors, or just to bring a little of our beautiful environment into your home.

Renée's original artwork, prints and cards are available at Udessi online (Australia) as well as gallery stores in Australia and the US. Check out Renee's website for US and Australian exhibition details. And if you'd like to know more, check out a great interview with Renée on the Udessi blog.

Images: Tea Cozy: Frogmouth, Aussie Birds notecards and A Very Tired Wombat and Two Galahs, by Renée Treml via Udessi

Hip Products: Kim Wallace ceramics

There's nothing better than a mystery package arriving on the doorstep containing something delightful and unexpected.

Last week I received a special package from Kim Wallace who curates and manages the Udessi online art gallery. Kim is also a talented designer and artist and the package contained a small, beautiful, perfectly formed ceramic bowl that she made. The bowl makes up part of the Vintage Lace range of one-of-a-kind stoneware that Kim offers in the gallery - handmade individually using a lace doily to create the amazing outer texture and featuring a glazed inner surface.

I love my bowl and keep it by my desk to inspire me while I work. Thank you so much Kim!

You can find Kim Wallace's work on Udessi online art gallery. And you can read more about Kim on her blog.

Images: Steph Bond

Australian Artist Spotlight: The Red Thread

Kim has a great eye for Australian art, so if she is featuring an artist in her online gallery Udessi, you know their work is going to be great. Lisa Tilse from The Red Thread has a lovely selection of cards and paintings on wood in the store that I love.

The cards are cleverly printed on thin wood that can be popped into an envelope and would make a real impact upon opening. The tiles are also timber and feature hand painting and Japanese paper collage to reveal delicate birds nestled amongst foliage.

Lisa is based in Sydney and creates unique one-off and limited edition art. Her range includes montages and painted timber pieces, children's potraits, and delicate framed paper hearts that are heart-breaking. Lisa also works as a graphic designer, and accepts commissioned work including art, illustration, and pattern design.

You can find The Red Thread pieces on the website as well as stores across Australia and online at Udessi. You can find out more about Lisa's world on her blog.

Image: The Red Thread via Udessi

Cool Websites: Udessi online art gallery

This is a website to bookmark. Udessi is a new online art gallery that has just been launched by the lovely Kim Wallace, to showcase unique, contemporary Australian Art, Craft and Design.

Kim has worked incredibly hard to pull together pieces by amazing Australian artists. This has to be a must-stop shopping destination for gifts that have a truly Aussie heart. The range includes original artworks, limited edition pieces, ceramics, accessories, and stationery. Current artists featured are Tsk Tsk (see recent story), The Red Thread, KS Art & Design, Little Jane St, and Look At The Wall. Kim is also a talented artist who creates delightful patterned ceramics that you can also buy at the gallery.

Visit Udessi to check out homegrown talent, and stop by Kim's blog for the latest gallery updates, some great Australian finds and various exhibitions and design markets around the country.

Image: Top left - Pippijoe, Bottom Left - Tsk Tsk, Bottom right - Kim Wallace via Udessi