My 10 picks from The Finders Keepers market

Happy Mother's Day for yesterday! I hope you had a great day; mine started with can't-be-topped cuddles and handmade cards from the kids and an amazing breakfast and cup of chai tea made by my husband. Then my little family took me to Autumn/Winter 2015 The Finders Keepers market in Sydney where we spent a few hours checking out all the goods, catching up with friends and making new ones. I didn't get to see every stall, but here are my 10 picks, including cute kids' fashion and artwork (and a little something for grown-ups too)...

abcd social: meet us at The Finders Keepers market tomorrow

If you are heading to the Sydney Finders Keepers market tomorrow, please stop by the abcd social Shop & Drop In Zone. And join us for Secret Santa!

Lisa Tilse (the red thread) and Steph Bond-Hutkin (Bondville) will be post-shopping flopped down at the seating near the coffee stands and ready for a chat.

Come and join us for a cuppa and catch-up. You won't miss us - just look for the single white helium balloon.

We're also hosting a Secret Santa at 3pm. If you would like to join in, bring along something you have made, baked or bought to swap. Fun! But please be there at 3pm as we will be swapping on the dot.

Date: Saturday 7th December from 3pm - 5pm (the market runs from 10am - 5pm)
Location: Australian Technology Park Exhibition Hall, Locomotive Street, Eveleigh NSW (Entry via Henderson Road)
Nearest train: Redfern Station.
Market Entry fee: $2 entry fee. Children under 12 free.

For more details head to The Finders Keepers website.

We'll have our kids with us - feel free to bring yours too. We can't wait to see you there,

Steph & Lisa

Hashtag: #abcdsocial

What is abcd Social: abcd stands for artist, bloggers, crafters and designers. We run quarterly events for creatives to meet offline in a relaxed, informal environment. You can find photos and posts of previous events on the abcd social page here on Bondville

PS: We’re also on Facebook

The Finders Keepers Christmas Gift Guide 2013 for Kids

I was thrilled to curate a small selection of Australian-designed products for kids for The Finders Keepers Christmas Gift Guide 2013. Can you guess who makes these?

Head to The Finders Keepers blog to find out, and see some more great selections.. Will I see you at the Sydney market on Saturday? Come and say Hi - I will be near the coffee vendors from 3-5pm with Lisa Tilse (the red thread), chatting up a storm. (We will be wearing abcd social name badges).

Image: The Finders Keepers

Loving: The Storybook Rabbit iPhone Cases

I can't take any friends with me when I go to The Finders Keepers market. They get so bored - probably because I spend all my time catching up with stallholder friends and introducing myself to new ones, collecting business cards and sussing out gorgeous Australian-designed goods to write about.

This weekend I went with my friend Lisa (the red thread) (and her daughter Roxy) who does exactly the same thing, so it was perfect. Here's a cute photo that Lisa took of me devouring a bowl of raw pumpkin, pesto, olives and tomatoes from the Veggie Van. Hee hee!

And here is the Christmas present to me from my girls that I bought and surreptitiously handed to Mr Bondville to wrap up for me - the cutest ever iPhone case by The Storybook Rabbit. You might remember (from this post) that I have been looking for an iPhone case for the longest time - mine is black leather - and finally I found something that spoke to me straight away. Bunting! Cute shy rabbit wearing a dress with Peter Pan collar! Australian illustration! And something the girls will love too. Perfect.

These were just one of the many great products for sale by The Storybook Rabbit (read more about Kelly and her designs here on Bondville) and many other Australian designers at the markets. More favourites coming your way soon!

In the meantime, you can find the iPhone cases and more in The Storybook Rabbit online store. 

Image: The Storybook Rabbit

The Finders Keepers market Sydney June 2012

Mr Bondville treated me to a solo morning on Saturday and I spent it wandering around the always-excellent The Finders Keepers market at the Carriageworks in Redfern. There were lots of gorgeous things to see and friends to catch up with.

It was so great to catch up with the lovely Andrea Smith who came along to the last abcd meetup and designed the amazing poster for the market using her signature paper cut style. WOW!

I also chatted to Kylie about the latest at paper boat press, and snapped up a lovely letterpress print and cards from Alischa and Hayden at Bespoke Letterpress Boutique....

(c) Bespoke Letterpress Boutique

Wendy June (and her cute, cute Mum) had some great products on offer featuring her children's book-inspired illustrations. I couldn't resist the brooches (that look ceramic but are child-friendly acrylic)...

(c) Wendy June

The faceted vases and vessels by Phil Cuttance were breathtaking...

(c) Phil Cuttance

I loved the embroidery hoop artwork (and everything created) by Gretel Girl...

(c) Gretel Girl

I was really taken with the illustrations of Emma Leonard (oh my gosh soooo talented)....

(c) Emma Leonard

And so many more - the amazing embroidered wall art by The Land Of Fig, bed linen from Sunday Morning Designs and the dreamy artwork of Beth-Emily. More on those lovely ladies later!

I also bumped into Deni from Free Range Living - shopping and social event rolled into one! Did you get to the market and pick up anything lovely?