The perfect Aussie Christmas dress from Doops Designs

This is totally my pick for a Christmas dress this year. And for every other day of the year. This is the Cowley Fields design by Doops Designs who handmake beautiful, sustainable, ethical clothes in the Byron Bay hinterland.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas! We're enjoying the warmth and beach life at the Sunshine Coast at my parents' place. We've been to Carols by Candlelight at Peregian Beach, made a gingerbread house, drove around to look at all the house Christmas lights, the girls designed and printed certificates to award to the best lights, sneaked in a date night and Star Wars (yay!!!), and spent as much time as possible on the beach. (Few pics up on Instagram).

Today we've opened pressies, feasted for breakfast, walked to the local park, and now we're getting ready for our P lunch/dinner (pork, peaches, prawns, pudding). I'm pretty sure that we'll crack out Apples to Apples for a family game and that's all we have on the agenda. I hope your Christmas is just as relaxing and that you get to spend it with loved ones.

See you here tomorrow for the low-down on the Boxing Day sales!

Merry Christmas!

Steph xxx

Bondville Christmas Gift Guide 2015: For Her

I've scoured all the Australian designers and online stores in the Bondville shopping directory and chosen my favourite gift ideas for this Bondville Christmas Gift Guide for a Sister/Mum/Grandma/Bestie/Cousin/Gal Pal. I'll have one of everything please:

Tutu du Monde Christmas inspiration

I've got another Christmas Gift Guide coming your way - ideas for little fashionistas. But in the meantime, feast your eyes upon the gloriousness that is Tutu du Monde and this sweet Christmas-y outfit.

Oh the glamour of it all. You can find these pieces as well as other girl's clothes for Christmas in the Tutu du Monde online store.

Image: Tutu du Monde

A Very Bondville Christmas 2014

Happy Holidays everyone! I hope you are enjoying the silly season and relaxing with family and friends. We are enjoying the sunshine and warm weather on the Sunshine Coast with family - lots of beach time, catching up with friends, and a massage from the very best (my Mum!).

Come and follow along on Instagram, if you can stand looking at lots of photos of the beach and sunshine. Here's beautiful Peregian Beach where we spent Christmas Eve today:

Tees for Christmas from Well Spotted

Ethical felt Christmas decorations from Happy As Larry Designs

Add colour and fun to your Christmas decor this year with ethical felt Christmas decorations from Bondville sponsor Happy As Larry Designs. Designed in Australia and made by artisans in Nepal, these pieces are beautiful and made with love.

Cute modern personalised Christmas stockings

Oooh, how fun are these Christmas stockings by Melbourne designer Kylie Loy of Tiges & Weince. Cute modern designs and personalised to boot. Get your orders in before 4th Dec (Australia) or 27th Nov (International) for delivery before Christmas.

Image: Tiges & Weince

The Brown Trading Co. gold confetti tablecloths

I'm kind of obsessed with the Instagram photos of sisters concretehoney (Concrete + Honey) and Beebees80 (Beebees80) and their Mum karongreenway (Sugar Coated Events). It's a glorious sea of white, pastel and beautiful children and babies. And in this case, amazing Christmas table settings.

Merry Christmas and Happy 2014!

Merry Christmas lovely Bondville readers! We are celebrating with family on the Sunshine Coast and getting some well-earned rest. Thank you for joining me to celebrate 10 years of writing on Bondville. It's been a wonderful year of discovering great Australian design talent for Mum, Kids and Home. I've particularly loved focusing on kids' interiors this year. Keep a look out for more to come in 2014.

I'd also like to send a huge thanks to my major sponsors eeni meeni miini moh, Minyaka Design, Chibebe and Bambeano, and Four In The Bed, and to welcome new sponsor Happy As Larry Designs. Please also visit the Australian stores in the Bondville shopping directory - these wonderful, hard-working small businesses help keep Bondville running too, and I am so grateful to them.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday with family and friends and a fabulous 2014!

Steph x

PS: come back tomorrow to find out about a huge sale for Boxing Day ;)

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Dandi Baby Shower and doilie garland tutorial

My friends at Sydney homewares and textile designers Dandi put together a gorgeous baby shower for team member Leezar recently. I love the red and white theme with a vintage touch for a baby shower, especially if you don't know if a little boy or girl is on its way. I think this theme would also be gorgeous for a girl's birthday party, and stunning for Christmas too!

Caroline and Mindi from Dandi share their tips and tricks for styling this gorgeous baby shower below. AND there's a super-easy tutorial to make the gorgeous doilie bunting garland. Enjoy!

Party: Leezar's Baby Shower
Organised by: Caroline & Mindi from Dandi
Location: Sydney, NSW
Theme: Vintage

Signature Prints tablescape inspiration

Some great table-decorating inspiration from Signature Prints that I think would be chic and unexpected for Christmas. The black and white Florence Broadhurst cockatoo print napkins are stunning, and I love the gold cutlery. I might take a few cues from the relaxed styling too.

Image: Signature Prints

Australian Christmas Shopping Guide 2013

Skip the malls, forget about the big multinational conglomerates, step away from the dollar store, and get your Christmas pressies from Australian online retailers this year! First stop - check out the amazing designers and stores that donated to the Bondville Online Charity Auction this year. Full of great gift ideas.

Next, click through to these Australian businesses that all support Bondville and help keep this blog running. They are mostly small businesses, a great deal run by Mums and Dads from home, and many are also hard-working designers hand-making beautiful products for Mum, Kids and Home. They are all featured in the Bondville Shopping Directory and I have chosen some super-cute gifts for baby, kids and Christmas fun to make shopping even easier. Get clicking!

Merry Christmas 2012

Hi everyone,
Hoping you are having a lovely Christmas Day. After the present-opening extravaganza, we spent the day cooking - all of us pitching in to put together our lunch which we had outside on the deck, looking at clear Sunshine Coast skies. This year we had mango daiquiris, prawns, turkey breast, spinach + beet + feta salad and sweet potatoes with pancetta and caramelised onion. The pudding with brandy custard tipped us over the edge, so we've had to postpone the mango, peach and raspberry trifle until tonight. What did you get up to? I'm hoping it was a peaceful day with family and friends and lots of love and thanks-giving all round. Merry Christmas!
Steph
x

PS - stay tuned tomorrow for all the details of the twice-yearly eeni meeni miini moh and e3-M sale!
PPS - I'm blogging a little low-key over the holidays but you can keep up-to-date on Instagram

Make: The Bondville Christmas Tree Branch

It's a yearly tradition for the girls and I to go hunting together for a large fallen branch and drag carry it home to decorate as our Christmas tree. 

This year we decided to add a little glitter action for some added sparkle. We argued over gold or silver and of course my big girl won, so gold glitter-dusted tree it is.We started with a base of a few favourite decorations and a sprinkling of Polli Christmas decorations (see the pics). Then I let the girls go to town adding as many decorations as the tree can hold, as well as new decorations that they seem to be making every day, and gift tags from opened presents. All good fun.

If  you would like to make a glitter Christmas tree too (it's never too late), head over to eBay's Mum's Business website where I have written a full tutorial using both glitter paint and loose glitter and glue.

And one branch in silver for good measure (a lot messier than the gold dust paint!)

Did you go with the glitter this year? Silver or gold? Let me know if you give it a go.

Images: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Australian-designed Christmas dresses for girls

I know you all loved the white angel-inspired Christmas dress ideas that I pulled together. Here are more gorgeous Australian-designed Christmas dresses for girls - this time in a range of reds, watermelon, coral, tangerine and palest minty green; perfect for our Summer Christmas and beyond.

Australian Christmas Kids: 1. Heavenly Creatures tutu dress red stripe from Oranges and Lemons Boutique 2. Tier dress from Chalk n Cheese 3.  Amelie cranberry silk/cotton dress from Little Chillies 4. Ola & Olek pink dots sack dress from StyleMilk (currently 50% off) 5. Blossom dress from Mooce  6. Combo dress in tangerine and blossom from eeni meeni miini moh 7. Peggy scarlet dress from Oobi (currently 20% off)  8. Organic pinafore dress from Little Bird, Little Bird (70% off closing sale!) 9. Hide And Seek The Party Frock from Looking At You Kid

Enjoy your Christmas prep! You can read more about Australian-designed kids fashion here on Bondville. 

Loving: Sconnie and Jam Kombi brooch and BrisStyle indie designer markets

I learned how to drive in a Volkswagen Kombi/Combi van, just like this one! My Dad had infinite patience, and there were tears over the hill starts, but I got the hang of it, and now I can drive anything. So this super-cute Kombi brooch from Sconnie and Jam is just my style.

You can find Sconnie and Jam as well as a host of other amazing QLD artisans at the upcoming BrisStyle's indie Designer Markets in Brisbane. Entry is free and the markets feature local emerging and established artists, crafters and designers from South East Queensland. You'll find a amazing range of quality handmade goods including handbags, art, jewellery, children's wear and more. Get all your Christmas shopping done in one place! Here are details of the next two markets:

BrisStyle Indie {Christmas} Designers Market
9am- 4pm, Saturday December 8, 2012
St Augustine's Church Hall and grounds, Racecourse Rd, Hamilton, QLD

BrisStyle Indie Twilight Market

 5 - 9pm, Friday 14 December

King George Square, Brisbane City, QLD

Image: Sconnie and Jam

Buy local this Christmas: Australian online shopping guide

It's only 21 days until Christmas and I haven't sent my Christmas cards yet. Ack! But - I do have a great list of amazing Australian online stores for you to help with your Christmas prep. These stores are all members of the Bondville Loves online shopping directory, and I've chosen my top picks from each store for Christmas gifts. I would love for you to check out these local stores as they have all supported me this year, which I truly appreciate. Happy shopping!

I love this sweet white cotton newborn dress and bloomers featuring the Welcome To The World print. Size 0-3m. $49.95. Eeni Meeni Miini Moh/e3-M
 

I can't go past this gorgeous organic cotton hoodie and cheeky bottom pants. Size 0-4. Hoodie sale price $27.00. Pants size 0-2 sale price $27.00. Minyaka Design

This Embroidered Details Dress is angelic and perfect for a warm Christmas day. Size 000-2. $49.95 (30% off everything until 14th Dec 2012!) Ouch clothing

Cover little Miss's tushie up with these adorable baby girl ruffled Knickeroos. Sizes 0-2. $35.00. Rowantree Design

I love this organic fairtrade cotton playsuit from Nell Smith with hand screen-printed cheeky lion design on front. Sizes 0-6 months. $28.00. Small To Tall

Let baby snuggle up to this Vanilla Cream Hand Crochet Blanket by And The Little Dog Laughed. $66.00. Looking At You Kid

Personalise your little one's room with these custom name vinyl wall decals. $69.99. Tots n Tales

Make your own nappies with this all-inclusive modern cloth nappy sewing kit featuring fun whale fabric. $18.00. Nappies Covered

This sweet Blossom Dress is perfect for Christmas day. Size 2-6. $41.00. Mooce

Pack their lunches in fun easy-wipe Mexican oil cloth lunch bags by Ben Elke. $14.95. Bonito Baby

This Funky Fish Bucket Hat featuring Saffron Craig Designs fabric will keep them covered up and stylish too. $9.95. Mida

Your child will wear these fantastic Oishi-M jeans day-in and day-out. Featuring tummy warmer top and Japanese kimono fabric inserts. Sizes 3-6. $79.95. Where Did You Get That? 
 

The cotton Charlotte dress is breezy and sweet for all the festivities around Christmas and the holidays. Size: 2. $38.95. OllieRose

This long-sleeved red and white striped rashie by Little Red Fish provides sun protection and looks fantastic. Sizes 2-6. $54.95. Mini Sandcrabs

The Boy Who Cried Ninja harcover book is a clever take on the traditional tale of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. $22.95. Boyosaur

Keep eyes protected all summer long with these super-cool Frankie Ray sunglasses. $29.95. A Little Bit Of Cheek

This divine butterfly sleeve dress by Quince is perfect for your tween for Christmas Day and all the holiday festivities. Size: 8-12. $49.00. Juliet's Closet

Get your kids writing letters - for real - with these great kids My Letter Pad letter-writing kits. $14.95. KatyJane Designs

Add a bit of retro-cool with this Fresh Baked motorcycle t-shirt.
Size: 7. $10.49 (Save a whopping 70% off while stocks last). Happy Little Hippos

This Christmas Tree wall decal is removable and moveable and you can use it year after year. Seven colours. $84.95. The Wall Sticker Company
 

How cute are these vintage animal cushions by Naughts & Crosses? $34.95. Down That Little Lane 

Great for toy rooms and bedrooms, these Cocoon Couture beanbags are an Aussie kids' interiors icon. $99.95. Denim Baby

Whip up some gorgeous cushions with this Spotcheck Chalk on Raw fabric by Cloth Australia. Width: 140cm. $45.00 per metre. Duckcloth

Get your Christmas prep sorted with these personalised Christmas stockings for each of the kids. $23.00. Tiges & Weince

These mushroom chalkboard wall decals are fantastic for a toy room and take up no floor space. $45.00. 41 Orchard

Have a gorgeous painting of your pet commissioned by Anna Bartlett. How special. $125.00. Shiny Happy Art

Learn how to crochet and other fun crafts for adults and young adults 14 years and over. Date: 8th Dec 2012 and other dates. $35.00. Free Range Living