Katy Jane Designs: free shipping on kids party stationery

It's school holidays and it's Easter and I know you have cupcakes/baking/tea parties on the agenda. If you decide to jazz up your holiday playdates a little, then Bondville sponsor and talented stationery designers KatyJane Designs have come up with sixteen fantastic themes in their signature graphic style, to add to the fun.

You can choose from fun themes including Farmyard Animals (great for Easter), Magic Carousel, Cheeky Monkey and more.

Boys might like a food fest featuring Pirates Ahoy!, Trucks and Trikes, Big Blue Whale, Double Decker Bus, Planes, Trains and Automobiles and Space Rocket.

And the girls in your life might love to host a tea party starring Whimsical Fairy, Rainbows, Flowers and Hearts and Spots and Butterflies.

As well as a magnet-backed invitation (personalised or fill-in), you can also choose from matching Thank You party bag tags, ribbon, party bags, and goodie boxes. Go bananas.

You can find KatyJane Designs stationery in the online store. Lucky for us, KatyJane Designs are offering free standard shipping on all orders over $25.00. Simply enter the code APRILBONDVILLE at checkout. The offer excludes international orders and expires on Thursday 21st April, 2011.

Images: KatyJane Designs

Laikonik Polish Folk Art stationery and memory books

If you were at the ABCD meetup on Thursday night, did you notice the gorgeous wrapping paper that Lisa backed our noticeboard with? It featured the artwork of Kasia Jacquot of Laikonik, a Sydney-based designer specialising in Polish Folk Art.

I'm so attracted to folk-inspired art; maybe it's my Ukranian grandmother's influence. It's happy art, and Kasia creates such lovely interpretations of this age-old style.

Liakonik has a lovely range of hand screen-printed stationery (wrapping paper, greeting cards, gift tags etc), hemp wall hangings, Easter Eggs, Photograms (greeting cards with space for 4 photos) as well as the fabulous Once-A-Year memory book that I spotted at Finders Keepers last year.

The Once-A-Year book was created to chronicle the first 18 years of your child's life. Simply insert one photo per year and add a description of that year on the adjacent page. Also included is a 'Chatter Book' which is a small notebook for keeping a record of your child's first words and funny sayings. Each Once-A-Year Book slips into a beautiful hemp bag which has been silk screen printed and features a Polish inspired folk-art motif. The books are hand made in Australia using eco-friendly materials and high quality acid free album pages. The perfect baby shower gift!

You can find Laikonik in the online store or at stockists across Australia and Belgium.

Images: Laikonik

Drool-worthy Design: My Sweet Prints

Well I'm going let you in on a big secret. I've been keeping this to myself for a while now, but it's time to share. This is my favourite no-fail, go-to destination for newborn gifts.... My Sweet Prints.

My Sweet Prints is a range of clever art prints designed by Sydney graphic designer and illustrator Janette Baker. The collection includes ready-made prints such as the bus roll spoof Bedtime Bus Roll, Family Rules, the meaning of LOVE and other sweet sentiments for the home.

If you'd like something a little more personal, you can contract Janette's graphic design skills to customise both text and colours for lovely modern birth prints. Try as I may to find a different newborn gift for each new baby born to friends, I keep going back to the My Sweet Prints range. (Anne, pressie for baby Max is on its way!).

Aside from art prints, Janette also produces personalised height charts and world maps on canvas that are amazing gifts for a new parent. And if you love the Bedtime Bus Scroll, you might like the My Sweet Prints personalised Bus Scroll canvases for your home.

Oh - and Janette is also one of the loveliest people you could wish to deal with. That's why I keep going back for more.

You can buy My Sweet Prints wall art from the online store. Check out Janette's blog for behind-the-scenes info and new designs.

Images: My Sweet Prints

Drool-worthy Designs: Chickenfoot Designs

I got a great media release recently introducing Helena Harry's Chickenfoot Designs cards and tea towels. Drills? Electric beaters? How could I resist. Helena's quirky designs are screenprinted onto linen tea towels and would make a fantastic Father's Day gift - whether Dad is into cooking or carpentry.(and needs a little nudge along in the washing up department).

All Chickenfoot Designs products are created in Melbourne with the environment in mind; the tea towels are hand silk-screened on 100% European linen using water-based non toxic inks; cards are printed on FSC certified recycled paper and envelopes are 100% recycled post consumer waste.

You can find Chickenfoot Designs tea towels and cards in the online store and at stockists across Australia, New Zealand and Japan. The new designs above will be available mid-August, just in time for Father's Day.

Images: Chickenfoot Designs

Drool-worthy Design: Nicola Cerini textiles

It's no secret that I'm a sucker for textiles and native Australian flora, so I was in heaven when I investigated the fabulous range of prints and fabric by Nicola Cerini. Well-known for her "Plasto" bag designs, Nicola is now creating gorgeous rugs, ceramics, and homewares using her screen-printed illustrations.

Nicola Cerini fabrics are available by the metre and you can order one of Nicola's bag designs in current and archival prints. I'm also excited to see that Nicola has recently collaborated with Zaishu on a new stool covered with designs inspired by the native flora and wildlife of the Errinundra plateau.

Not only are Nicola's designs totally drool-worthy, but her business ethics are just as admirable, supporting conservation projects and running her studio on sustainable principles.

You can find Nicola Cerini products in the online store as well as the studio retail store in Melbourne.

Images: Nicola Cerini and Zaishu

Drool-worthy Design: Vanilla Canvas

I have a canvas above our couch that I started to paint orange-red, and then ran out of paint. Rather than go out and get more, lazy bones here popped it up on the wall to see how the colour looked and it has never come down. Even in its unfinished state. I keep thinking that I will complete it, but I'm lacking a little inspiration.

If you're like me and love to be creative, but don't find it so simple to just whip up gorgeous looking canvases, you might like to choose from the options available at Vanilla Canvas. Jackie Litchfield wrote to introduce her Gold Coast-based art business to me.

Painted canvases are designed by Jackie are digitally printed with high quality inks and wrapped onto durable wooden frames. Prints styles range from fun contemporary designs to retro-inspired patterns and fun images for kids.

You can find ordering information for Vanilla Canvas on the website. And don't forget to check out the Vanilla Canvas blog "Some Funky Ideas" for some lovely design finds. And watch out for upcoming info on the planned range of soft furnishings including cushions, throws, and plush toys to compliment the Vanilla style.

Images: Vanilla Canvas

Drool-worthy Design: Ella and Sofia textiles and furnishings

My deck chair renovation project is taking me forever. I'm procrastinating. If you're like me and need a little inspiration to refurbish that old chair, check out the hard-wearing textiles from Sydney-based Ella and Sofia.

Ella and Sofia head designer Karie Soehardi creates gorgeous textiles for home and commercial use. The range includes fabric (woven and screenprinted), hand-printed wallpaper, cushions and upholstered furniture. How amazing are the four striking chairs in the collection - I'm totally inspired to get back into my refurb project.

You can find Ella and Sofia textiles in the online store as well as at stockists in NSW, VIC and TAS.

Images: Ella and Sofia

Drool-worthy Design: greenolive design textiles

It's been great discovering new Australian design talent through Twitter, which is how I was introduced to greenolive design. Located in the Dandenong Ranges, husband and wife team Martine and Drew Booth design and produce screenprinted textiles as well as a range of scarves, cards and brooches.

Textiles are printed by hand in the studio using water-based, environmentally-friendly inks on 55% linen and 45% cotton. The three major ranges include Kids, Urban and Tribal. All seem ideal for home decorating from the kids' bedrooms to the living room and kitchen. I want that Urban Type print now!

You can find greenolive textiles shopping information on the website, which includes the greenolive Etsy store, markets in Victoria, and UK stockist Blueberry Park. Check out the greenolive blog for all the latest news.

Images: greenolive design

Drool-worthy Design: Smallprints stationery

Sydney-based Mum and Art Director Alex McCarthy wrote to me recently to see if I thought her new stationery designs under the Smallprints label were drool-worthy. The answer is a resounding YES! The Smallprints line of modern stationery for kids are super stylish and an exciting addition to the Aussie stationery scene.

The product range includes invitations, baby announcements, contact cards, Christmas cards and thank you cards for events including birthday parties, baptisms/christenings/naming ceremonies, and baby showers. There are both photo and text cards and text-only options available in a whole range of colours.

You can find Sydney-based Smallprints products at the online shop where you choose a colour, design and wording and let Alex do all the hard work for you. You can also purchase a gift certificate which would be the perfect baby shower gift. Spread the word.

You can also shop online for kids products from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Images: Smallprints

Drool-worthy Design: Printspace art and stationery

Artists and graphic designers Mara and Nicholas Girling love mid-century design. And I do too - so I was really drawn to their wonderful prints and and stationery under the Printspace label. You'll find quirky, whimsical birds and characters combining hand drawn elements, digital art and collage.

The couple are inspired by their sons, textiles and of course the modernist era. I really can't pick a favourite from their collection - I would fill my walls if I could! Artwork is available as prints produced on archival art paper and one of the coolest new trends (in my opinion), printable stationery PDF's.

You can find all Printspace artwork online at the Printspace online store, on Etsy (downloadable PDF stationery here, Mara's prints here and Nicholas' prints here) and at stockists in Melbourne, Sydney and the United Kingdom (Perth and Adelaide coming soon). For lots of inspiring art and design, check out Mara's thoughts on the Printspace blog and Nicholas' thoughts on the Otispepper blog.

Images: Printspace

Drool-worthy Design: KatyJane Design stationery

Thank you Jane for letting me know about your fabulous new stationery line! Jane and Katy, two friends who met in Perth with complimentary skills and a shared vision, have collaborated on personalised children's invitations and stationery under the label KatyJane Designs.

Featuring a very now mix of modern and vintage styles, the stationery range includes party invitations, gift and thank you tags, ribbons, party bags, and seasonal cards (with off-the-shelf invitation packs, baby announcements and designs for grown-ups coming soon).

And with baby names like Rose, Grace, Isabella, Oliver, Ruby, Ava, Benjamin and Thomas currently topping the charts, these designs that hark back to another era seem particularly appropriate. You can even choose a range of products in a coordinating design for a seamless look.

You can find KatyJane Designs in the online store as well as at stockists (coming soon).

Images: KatyJane Designs.

Drool-worthy Design: Redheads Matches

If you're a redhead, you'll probably know that there is a secret unspoken Redhead Club. That is, the knowing looks you reserve for other ginger-tinted cohorts that include shared childhoods spent doused in sunscreen, using lemon juice to erase those freckles, being teased with all sorts of ungodly nicknames and enviously watching all those brown berries at the beach while you glow with your milky white skin. And that includes the auburn redheads like me.

However, I think we also share a special affinity with the hue and a slightly smug knowledge that we're in the minority and somehow a bit special? (maybe that's the natural defense for all that teasing). Anyhow, I've long loved the iconic redhead image on the box of Redheads matches, but it wasn't until I spied a vintage sign in the ultra-cool home of my friends Mellissa (a fabulous redhead) and Geordie that I thought I should check out more about a much loved Australian design icon.

It turns out that Redheads are this year celebrating 60 years of fire-lighting domination in Australian homes. Originally manufactured in Richmond, Victoria by Bryant and May, the matches are now manufactured in Sweden by Swedish Match. The matches have had four design iterations featuring "Miss Redhead", starting in 1946. The 1971 version (bottom left) was created by Brian Sadgrove and then updated in 1975 to cleverly match the hair colour with the matchbox, therefore bypassing any hairstyle fashion trend issues.
"Miss Redhead" today is an Australian cultural icon and the subject of hundreds of caricatures and makeovers in annual contests sponsored by Redheads. Winning entries are featured on collectors' series and commemorative theme matchboxes.

You can find out more about Redheads and other Australian design icons in the book Symbols of Australia by Mimmo Cozzolino and Fysh Rutherford. And I'll be glowing with the fact that our iconic Australian lady sports flame-hued locks.

Images: top - Steph Bond; middle and bottom - Redheads

Drool-worthy Design: Thea and Sami textiles

All the cool crafty types in Brisbane seem to be learning screenprinting from Thea Samios. Thea runs the Thea and Sami Design and Print Studio where she specialises in the small batch production of fabulous hand-crafted fabrics, eco-fashions and homewares.

The Thea and Sami range includes linen, natural and organic fabrics, organic cotton t-shirts, homewares and accessories featuring her screenprinted designs. There is also a stunning Thea and Sami hand-printed fashion line (maybe you've seen the amazing Brisbane Skirt, worn by the State Premier of Queensland?) available at select stockists around Australia.

All of Thea's original designs are hand-printed using water-based, solvent-free inks on natural and organic fabric. You can find Thea and Sami products in the online store and you can get all the inside goss on the Thea and Sami blog. Thea runs screenprinting workshops in her Capalaba studio and will be demonstrating at the Brisbane Stitches and Craft Show this month.

Images: Thea and Sami

Drool-worthy Design: Lily & Cino stationery

It was so lovely to meet Michelle from Lily & Cino at the ABCD Meetup on Thursday night. Michelle is a very busy lady and runs a graphic design studio as well as producing a fantastic range of personalised stationery and greeting cards featuring her illustrations.

The Lily & Cino range includes lovely wedding stationery, baby announcements, party invitations, moving announcements and the very clever 'dating cards'. Want my digits?

You can customise your stationery with your name, monogram, a special logo and text and here is the killer feature - you can save your designs on the website! I love the damask design which is so hip right now, and the butterflies are super sweet.

You can find Lily & Cino custom stationery via the website. Check out Michelle's graphic design services on the Lily & Cino Studio site, and peruse Michelle's cool finds on her blog A Lily In Bloom.

Images: Lily & Cino

Drool-worthy Design: Blossom Creations textiles

By popular demand, Erin Dando from Blossom Creations has just launched a range of limited edition eco-friendly textiles for sale by the half metre. Printed using water-based solvent-free inks on gorgeous hemp, the sturdy fabric is ideal for homewares and soft furnishings. Or you could save yourself the trouble and snap up some cushions, napkins, placemats and more from the Blossom Creations store.

Another neat addition to the Blossom Creations range are some lovely rubber stamps with botanical designs with recycled timber handles. Say goodbye to buying wrapping paper as now you can make your own stylish prints. Or stamp onto fabric for a one-of-a-kind design.

Blossom Creations operates under environmentally sustainable best practices. You can find Blossom Creations in the online store and at various stockists.

Images: Blossom Creations

Drool-worthy Design: Laughing Bird textiles

Next time you need a gift for a loved one overseas, DON'T sigh and relegate yourself to a souvenir store. Simply click over to the very talented print designers at Laughing Bird and snap up a gorgeous contemporary Australiana tea towel, apron, lavendar bag or t-shirt and gift card.

I particularly love the linen tea towels that I think are stand-alone art pieces, featuring native Australian flora and fauna (no doubt inspired by the studio's beautiful location in the Blue Mountains, NSW). Have a close look at the kangaroo and joey - made entirely out of wildflowers. And a lot more stylish than a stuffed koala!

You can find Laughing Bird products in the online store and at stockists online and around Australia.

Images: Laughing Bird

Drool-worthy Design: Bird textiles, fashion and homewares

The gorgeous eco-friendly textiles of Bird textiles are instantly recognisable. The brainchild of Rachel Bending, the colours and design of Bird textiles are inspired by the elements of beautiful Byron Bay. The label has a strong cult following, and Bird texiles now grace products from fashion to home furnishing to stationery.

Rachel's philosophy is passionately about sustainability in design and the Bird studio in Byron Bay is a temple of social harmony and environmental responsibility. The botanical designs are hand-drawn, printed using water-based dyes and handmade into delightful products using solar power.

One of my favourite products in the collection is the collaborative Zaishu featuring Bird designs on the iconic stool/table.

You can find Bird Textiles at HQ store and studio in Byron Bay, the Emporium in Surry Hills, Sydney, online at the Bird Textile online store and at stockists around Australia (check the website for details).

PS: Look! The Bird logo incorporates a darling bird illustrated by another favourite, Emma Magenta.

Image: top left - Zaishu, top right - stationery, bottom left - fabric, all via Bird Textiles

Drool-worthy Design: DANDI textiles and homewares

Sydney-based DANDI are a close-knit group of industrial designers creating gorgeous textiles and products for kitchen, dining and home.

The team designs modern, botanically-inpsired prints applied to a range of products. The collection currently includes tableware (napkins, placemats, tablerunners, oil cloth), kitchen essentials (tea towels, aprons, pot holders), and other fabulous pieces for the home such as ironing board covers, pin boards and totes.

One of my favourite products outside of the textiles range is the eco-friendly bamboo chopping board with intricately etched lorrikeet design. Absolutely stunning in real life too.

You can find DANDI tableware on the DANDI online store. Check the DANDI website for stockists around Australia, New Zealand and online. You can find behind-the-scenes info on the DANDI blog.

Image: DANDI