6 Australian Mother's Day Gift Ideas That She'll Really Want

Stuck for a Mother's Day gift idea? Look to Australian designers and artisans for a gift that supports our local talent and that Mum will really love (or share this list with a loved one for yourself!). Here's what I'd really love for Mother's Day.

The perfect match - ceramics and honey at Win's Creek Pottery and Meadery

More beautiful locally-made gift ideas for you: the lovely ceramics and honey (and ceramics holding honey!) from Win's Creek Pottery and Meadery near Canberra. Snap up ceramics and honey from this talented bunch!

Carry On Watson art suitcases

I met Catherine Bell, founder of Carry On Watson, at a friend's Christmas party recently and was so impressed with her beautiful suitcases featuring artworks that are real head-turners. Why own a boring suitcase, when you can carry one of these beauties. And never again wonder which luggage is yours at the baggage collection!

Loving right now - Kip and Co cutlery, Australian bird art, free Bonnie and Neil tea towels

The weather is trying to warm up and I've got colour on my mind. Here are a few beautiful pieces by Australian artists and designers that I'm loving right now:

Sneak peek: Tickle The Imagination magazine Issue 22: metamorphose

The new year is only 10 days away! As 2016 approaches, many of us are thinking of resolutions. 'Metamorphose' is an apt theme for the brand new Issue 22 of Tickle The Imagination magazine - full of ideas to inspire change and transformation. There are also lots of fun DIY craft ideas for summer holiday fun.

I love the beautiful cover with succulents potted in glass jars, encouraging us to 'turn your recycling into something lovely'; this is just one of the lovely and easy-to-achieve DIY and craft tutorials and other goodies that you'll find in Issue 22. Here are a few more of my favourite articles from this issue.

Dyson V6 Absolute cordless vacuum review

Cleaning the carpeted stairs in our home is one of the banes of my life. I dread the thought of clunking my heavy vacuum cleaner up and down the stairs, precariously balancing on a tread and inevitably falling/hitting the wall/scaring the kids. Nightmare. So I procrastinate and never do it; unless people are coming over. And that makes for an un-pretty situation re: the stairs.

Naturally, I jumped at the opportunity to receive and review the new Dyson V6 Absolute cordless handstick. It has a trigger control and futuristic style that reminds me of a Ghostbuster's GhostZapper gun. Or maybe a robot's hair dryer. It looks cool, but will it solve my procrastination issues around the problem spots in our house and car, and will I ever have clean stairs without the effort? Read on for my experiences using the V6:

Bondville Does One Fine Baby Sydney 2015

Saturday mornings are adventure morning for just Miss 8 and I while my youngest goes to gymnastics and my husband works out at our local YMCA. We love to catch a train together somewhere, and last weekend, we headed to Redfern to the One Fine Baby lifestyle show at Australian Technology Park. Would you like to come on a virtual tour with us?

First stop - the Dyson marquee, where we crafted up and storm threw caution to the wind and chucked glitter all over the carpet. Multiple times. Take that, glitter!

Such Great Heights new home decor, women's and girl's clothes

Such Great Heights dominated the cool kids' interiors scene in Australia with the original a-frame Wonder Tent play tent (which has been copied left, right, and centre) that converts into a simple and chic clothes stand. The family has since moved to New York City where they have landed with a splash launching new tent designs, home decor and all-new gorgeous clothing for women and girls in collaboration with some amazing artists! Kill me now!

Tiff Manuell art clutches and bags

South Australia-based artist Tiff Manuell makes the most amazing clutches and bags, as well as some great fashion, accessories and artwork. They are fun, cool and truly pieces of art.

Australian Mother's Day gift ideas 2015

Have you had your eyes peeled for something special for Mum/Nanna/Grandma? I've teamed up with some of my favourite bloggers to support buying local with our Australian Mother's Day Gift Guides. There are so many great local designers making goodies for Mums; here are ten gift ideas for Mums of all ages:

Bloggers Christmas wishlists 2014 - shop local!

It's gift-giving time! Looking for some ideas? Let's spend our dollars on local designers and Australian style this Christmas. Seven of my favourite bloggers have put together a wishlist of Australian-designed products that we are loving at the moment. Here is mine! Keep reading below for links to all the other blogger wishlists which I know you will be inspired by.

Come to our Craft Party in Sydney

Come and join us for a free craft party! Lisa (the red thread) and I are hosting an abcd social in collaboration with Etsy Australia in Sydney on Saturday 7th June 2014. Bring an old photo, have a cup of tea and a chat and get your craft on with other friendly creative types.

ALAS hipster Australian pyjamas for Mums

Now these are pyjamas that you can definitely show off for the morning paper dash, or to put out the bins. Australian sleewear label ALAS creates cool pyjamas for grown-up with cute patterns, made from organic or Fairtrade cotton sateen and brushed jersey (see the website for more of ALAS's sustainability practices). These are my favourite pieces from the current 'Telescope' collection - loving all those tiny stars and moons!

Quick - send this post to your other half. Begone the Mumsy flannels. You deserve hip pyjamas for Mother's Day! I'll have one of each please. 

You can find the new Telescope pyjama range on the ALAS website.

Images: ALAS

New kikki.K x T2 Soder Tea

What a fantastic collaboration - much-loved Australian brands kikki.K and T2 have collaborated on a limited edition tea, inspired by the Swedish tea Soderblandning. I was lucky to try Soder Tea at a kikki.K event recently and it is lovely - a floral black tea which I took with a dash of milk. I've been dying for the in-store release!

Fika with kikki.K - copper gold metallics trend

I recently received in invitation to good to refuse - a lovely morning tea/traditional Swedish Fika at Fika Swedish Kitchen in Manly to meet with Kristina Karlsson of kikki.K and view designs for the next few months. So lucky!

Super-chic Logitech Case+ for iPhone and cool UE Mini Boom speaker giveaway!

I love my mobile. And I'm happy to have finally found some slick accessories for it that are beautifully-designed and functional too. The folks at Logitech recently sent me three products from their new super-chic case+ range for iPhone 5/5S to trial. I immediately fell for the case+drive phone mount for the car and my husband snapped up the case+energy spare battery pack (he just had to have it).

The system starts with a case+ iPhone case with magnetic panel on the back. The magnet connects the phone with accessories in the range, and also means you can pop your mobile up on the fridge (or any other metal surface) to use as a timer or to read recipes.

Here are the three accessories that I tested:

Valentine's Day roses

What a lovely job I have. These gorgeous flowers from Bondville partner FreshFlowers.com.au arrived for me yesterday as part of their Valentines Month Of Love campaign - thirty short-stemmed red Cupids Roses! How lucky!

Love: the kikki.K gold heart mug

Not just for Valentine's Day, this gold heart mug would be my every-day mug. I love it to bits. Dishwasher-safe, gold metallic graphic on fine porcelain. Pick one up quick from kikki.K before they all disappear.

Image: kikki.K

My Australian Valentines Day wishlist 2014

This might be a good post to forward to the other half. This is my actual Valentine's Day wishlist this year. I've chosen some goodies from Australian designers that I would love to find wrapped up with a bow for Valentine's Day. Just one will do.

1. Wristwatch - brushed rose/walnut leather from The Horse, $129.00. I haven't worn a watch for years, but this stylish number from The Horse in Newcastle might win me back. This style is sold out at the moment, but keep an eye out for new stock of this hot item.
2. Gang Gang Cockatoo illustration art print from Beth-Emily, $28.91-$58.63. There's an amazing creaky-door-sounding Gang Gang Cockatoo that visits our big gum tree in our front yard from time to time. It's as breath-taking as Beth-Emily's illustrations.I'd love an A3 print with a generous mat and skinny black frame.
3. Hello doormat from Down To The Woods, $75.00. I'm on the waiting list at Lark along with a gazillion others, but this doormat must be mine. I actually love the yellow and grey version even more, but this black mat will look great with our red front door.
4. Sweetheart studs in rose gold from Naomi Murrell, $25.00. I'm all about rose gold and these sweet studs would be an everyday staple. And they are hearts.
5. Emily Green hobes from Hobes, $159.00. This collaboration between the divine Emily Green, printers Frankie & Swiss, and cobblers Hobes is a trifecta of cool. Perfect for Autumn with cropped skinny jeans or pants.

Fingers crossed!

Free printable 2014 calendar from The TomKat Studio

Happy New Year friends! I hope you had a fantastic break and re-charged the batteries. Last year I lived and breathed by The TomKat Studio calendar and this year lovely Kim has designed a 2014 version that's just as rainbow-happy. Love it to bits.

You can get download and print The TomKat Studio 2014 calendar for free at The TomKat Studio.

Image: The TomKat Studio