New King Single bedlinen from Castle

Oh the gorgeousness of it all. Meet PEGBOARD - the new white-with-charcoal-spots bedlinen from the inimitable Rachel Castle. It's the perfect neutral to offset the colour-fest of TUTTI FRUTTI - both now available in King Single size to turn your kid's bedroom into a rainbow-beautiful extravaganza.

There is nothing I don't love in this image. With a white background and wood furniture you can't go wrong, no matter how much colour you inject into the room.

You can find this new Australian-made, handmade bedlinen as well as artwork, cushions, tea towels, garlands and more deliciousness on the Castle website and various stockists.

Image: Castle

Rachel Castle's kids' rooms in I Love My Room book by Megan Morton

If you follow uber-stylist and champion-of-beauty Megan Morton on any social media, you will know that her exuberance and love of life is infectious. This joyfulness has translated beautifully into her new book showcasing... wait for it... children's rooms!!!! I Love My Room documents kids' rooms with heart and soul, by some of Australia's most talented parents.

Would you like a sneak peek? I'm so thrilled to showcase the rooms of artist/homewares designer Rachel Castle's children Cleo (10) and Lucky (7) in Sydney. The use of judicious colour against a neutral base and lots of Rachel's lovely artwork is right up my alley. I think this book might have been written just for me.

 

Kids art therapy fundraiser - Gorman sneaker collab with Australian creatives

Are you ready? The fabulous folks at Gorman are auctioning 21 Adventure Sneakers personalised by some of my favourite artists, designers, and creatives including Aussies Miranda Skoczek, Beci Orpin, Madeleine Stamer, Rachel Castle Kat McLeod, Dawn Tan, Ellie Malin, Hungry Workshop, Marsha Golemac, Kate Tucker, Megan Morton, and more. How can you even choose?

The customised sneakers will be auctioned to raise money for kid's art therapy school, Little Seeds Big Trees. In addition, Gorman will be chipping in $20 from each sale of the standard Adventure Sneakers.

You can bid on your favourite sneaker on the Gorman eBay page until 7th June 2013. How wonderful that all those creatives have spent time and effort to create these amazing wearable art pieces for kids art therapy. Head to Gorman to start bidding. Good luck! And let me know if you score one of the sneakers!

Images: Gorman

Make: craft workshops for kids at The School in Sydney with Amanda Lonsdale

I remember going to Day Camp as a child. We all got on the bus and ended up in a big field in a bushy area south of Brisbane. We made humpty-doos and billy tea and damper. We sang a lot of songs, put on a performance at the end of the week, and had an amazing time.

Next July school holidays, there is an equally memory-making (if not a little more cool/urban) opportunity at Megan Morton's The School in Sydney.

Long-time blogger and now home-schooler Amanda Lonsdale (aka Miss Lonny) will be hosting a four-day and two-day craft program for children 6-15 years. Limited to only 12 kids per class, the program will include a different instructor each day, sharing their love of terrariums, printmaking, sewing, photography, paper crafts, and a super-cool "fiesta day". The kids will be coming home each day with armfuls of things they have made, and tales of new friendships too.

I can only imagine how inspiring for the kids at The School - a big, light-filled space, bright craft material, fun instructors, sweet treats and all based in the heart of one of the city's coolest design districts. The kids' craft program looks like a great experience and something the kids will remember for a long time (and I bet the afternoon tea tastes slightly better than our dodgy damper!).

The four-day program will run from Tuesday July 2nd - Thursday July 4th, 2013, and the two-day program will run on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th July, 2013. The classes run from 9.30am - 4pm and are fully catered for including a yummy morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea. A full description of classes can also be found on The School website on the July 2013 calendar. Read more about The School here on Bondville.

Images: The School

I Want: Things I Love by Megan Morton

This one is going to the top of my Christmas wish list. Queensland-raised and Sydney-based uber-stylist (and incredibly lovely person) Megan Morton, has just launched her new book Things I Love. I went along to the launch party last night and witnessed in person the hipness that is everything MM.

There were exploding pineapple pinatas, confetti, rosé in paper heart cups, pistachio slice, a kooky-cool band and an exhibition wall of #thingsilove Instagram photos. Oh, and there were prizes. And an enormous helium balloon with tassels. And of course the reason we were all there - stacks of Megan's gorgeous new book.

 Megan's publisher Penguin describes the book: "Megan Morton inspires by example, sharing her infectious enthusiasm for the houses, people and design she loves. But it's also a book full of practical tips – from how to fold those pesky fitted sheets to how to clean a vintage painting you've picked up at a flea market and when to clean your light bulbs. Quirky, witty and irreverent, Things I Love will put you in touch with the things you love and teach you how to make sure they fill your home and your life."

Megan talked so beautifully about her book and her loves, and was such a gracious host, talking to everyone. With her new project The School and her icon status as a style maker, Megan is a treasured asset in the Australian design community. So let's get out and support her and learn lots of lovely things from her new book. I know I will be.

Images: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Megan Morton's The School craft workshops coming to Brisbane and Melbourne

If you've been hearing all about uber-stylist (and fellow QLDer) Megan Morton's The School craft workshops in Sydney, then brace yourselves for a mini-tour of Brisbane and Melbourne! The Brisbane workshops will be held at Black & Spiro (why of course!) and the Melbourne workshops will be held at Glen Proebstel's usually trade-only The Establishment Studios and Prop.d Prop House. How cool.

Head over to the The School website for more details and booking info.{read here on Bondville for more information on The School}

Images: The School

Serendipity and Megan Morton's The School at Koskela

Here's a fun little story for you. This weekend my dear friend Mary was in town from Melbourne. I inserted myself into Mary's busy schedule by offering to pick her up from one friend's house and drop her off at another on the other side of town. With a little child-free time on my hands and a great buddy in tow, we zig-zagged via Rosebery to see the new Koskela store and Kitchen By Mike (which were high on Mary's to-do list).

Well of course the new Kosekla store is something else. It's cavernous and dotted with the coolest, furniture, art, rugs, lighting and kids products you can imagine. It's all brick, white, wood, and lashings of fluro colour on everything from art prints to table legs. I fell madly in love with a black, pink and grey modular sofa with contrasting leather cross-stitches and handles (but that's another story).

 
I was in design heaven in the kids' section, surrounded by lots of products that I have featured here on Bondville including Two Ruffians wall prints, Curio & Curio cushions, and Castle bed linen and homewares (amazing in real life). I was especially proud to see the Remedy range of eucalyptus skincare and cleaning products in stock (withh the handwash used in the bathrooms!). How great that Koskela so strongly supports Australian design.

We decided to give the long line for the kitchen a miss (I'll be back), and wandered past a huge wall of text and seredipitously straight into a group of crafty people, including lovely uber-stylist Megan Morton (in the most fabulous dress), getting ready for the launch workshop for her new venture The School. Ready for it? The lucky participants were getting ready to make flower bombs (!!!) with the too-cool Holly Hipwell of The Flower Drum.

If you haven't yet heard of Megan's The School, head over to The School website and check out the fantastic styling and craft classes on offer for kids and adults by inspiring Australian stylists (including Rachel Castle - read the Castle post here from last week). How GREAT! What an amazing resource for Sydney-siders in such an inspiring venue.

I'll share a few more goodies that I found at Koskela this week. But in the meantime, head over to The School and get on the mailing list, so you (and the kids) don't miss out.

Images: Koskela

Castle homewares and Gorman collaboration

Sydney-sider Rachel Castle is a styling/designing/artist genius, and the recent collaboration of her homewares brand Castle with one of my favourite Australian labels Gorman is perfection. The colour palette of neutrals with pops of bright colour just makes me happy. What's not to love about Castle's collection of bed linen (including a children's range), pillows, clothes, towels, tea towels, totes, art work, garlands and cushions:

The Castle homewares collection has no age limit; great in a child's room, amazing for a teenager, and pretty darn perfect for adults too. Those Castle + Gorman "put the love in the coconut" towels are a must-have. I'm going to stop gushing now, and just pin them all to my wishlist.

You can find Castle homewares in the online store and at stockists in NSW and VIC. Find Castle + Gorman fashion in Gorman stores and online.

Images: Castle