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.

Mini ceramic vases by Paper Boat Press

For anyone that has ever received a little gift or offering foraged by a small person, these mini handmade ceramic vases with magnets by Paper Boat Press in Brisbane are absolutely perfect. Pop the tiniest of blooms in and stick on the fridge for both you and your wee one to admire. I love them Kylie!

Handmade furniture for kids from Little Red Industries

While putting together my daughter's study space (remember this post?), I came across this amazing handmade furniture by Sydney-based Natasha Dickins of Little Red Industries. This gal can wield a power tool! Natasha creates original designs as well as revamping preloved furniture to create beautiful  pieces like this special table which would make a great study desk:

Peachy Baby handmade a-frame tent cubbies

If you missed out on your favourite a-frame tent cubby design from Such Great Heights, Ebony O'Connor from Peachy Baby has made a very cute version with black crosses and mint paint-dipped tips. Shown below open and folded for storage.

Crochet watermelon rug for girl's rooms

Do you remember the cute-as house shadow box with pirate scene styled by Karen from Yellow Dandy? Karen is also a keen crafter and sells these amazing handmade crocheted watermelon rugs in her Etsy store. They are beyond fantastic - just look at the face on Karen's gorgeous daughter Willow. Loving it! More great news from Karen - she is opening her very own online store chock-full of gorgeous clothes, design and fun for kids. Can't wait!

If you love watermelons as much as I do, head over to our watermelon birthday party that we had in January with watermelon cake and more!

Image: Yellow Dandy

The Dharma Door fair trade hessian sacks and buckets for toy storage

Are toys a disaster zone at your place too? We have two ugly white plastic tubs that I desperately need to repurpose for camping and replace instead with these super-stylish fair trade hessian sacks and buckets from The Dharma Door. Both designs are made from natural hessian and original hand-printed fabrics or recycled kantha-stitched sari fabric and every piece is handmade.

Black and White kids' gift ideas on madeit

I was a guest editor on the madeit blog this week and had a ball choosing eight cute on-trend black-and-white gifts for kids from the small indie Australian makers. There were so many great options to choose from - head to the madeit blog to see them all with links through to the madeit stores. Thanks for having me, madeit!

Teepee onesie and harem pants set for baby

I'm putting together a blog post for Madeit.com.au today and came across this sweet baby outfit, handmade by lolli + bean. So cute! Margot can make this set to order in different sizes. The teepee is finished with hand-stitching and the cotton pants, elasticated at the ankles, would go with everything. Top marks lolli + bean!

Image: lolli + bean

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

I got Mum this Kim Wallace Ceramics bowl for Mother's Day

Yesterday I visited my friend Kim Wallace at her ceramics studio on the Sunshine Coast for a catch-up and a lovely lunch. We chatted as Kim stamped a few of her pieces and talked about colour trends and her whopping 300-bowl order for Matt Moran's new restaurant. So fun! Thank you Kim!

I was also there to pick up a Mother's Day gift for my Mum and fell for this shallow bowl - one of the new pieces from her Ebb Tide collection. I can't wait to see what Mum thinks.

You can find Kim Wallace ceramics in the online store. Watch out for a huge sale this week on the Vintage Lace collection - get in quick.

Image: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville

Bramwell Designs hip kids bed linen

When Bramwell Designs followed me on Instagram yesterday I clicked through, as I always do, to find out more about the lovely people who follow along. I just about had a heart attack when I saw the gorgeous handmade kids' bed linen. So totally amazing!

The sweetest handmade party dress from Hot Fudge

Robyn from handmade children's clothing label Hot Fudge in Sydney is a dear reader and I happened to spot this gorgeous party dress in her online store last night.

In fresh colours with gorgeous sleeve ruffle detail and bow-tie back, this limited edition handmade dress in sizes 2-5 is a winner. You can find Hot Fudge dresses for girls in the online store.

Image: Boutique Baby Photography for Hot Fudge

L'ASCARI handmade Man Candles

I'm on a roll with great Father's Day gifts this week. I found these gorgeous Man Candles from Australian label L'ASCARI on the weekend at the Sunshine Coast and fell for their snappy packaging, nostalgic charm and man-friendly scents.

The full L'ASCARI collection includes candles, reed diffusers, man candles and votive candles. Each candle is made by hand-pouring pure soy wax and hand-mixing the perfumes here in Australia.

How fun are the Man Candle scents - Sawdust, Vodka & Schnapps, Old Oak Tree, Open Field and Espresso! Perfect for the office, bathroom or the man cave. I think I'd like one for me too.

You can find L'ascari in the online store as well as stockists across Australia.

Images: L'ASCARI

Raw Ceramics handmade screenprinted vessels

Brisbane-based ceramicist Freda and designer/screen-printer husband Aaron are the brains behind fun homewares label Raw Ceramics. Along with potters Anthony and Mandy, they create fun, vintage-inspired ceramics that make great gifts.

I'm all about the Dad's BBQ Pot For The Lot vessel for, well, anything. It's got me dreaming of pulled pork and ribs. The dog food bowls are brilliant, and I'd love a milk jug or two. The vintage-style graphics make these pieces great for the blokes too. In fact, this is a good one to keep up your sleeve for Father's Day which is just around the corner.

Each Raw Ceramics vessel is thrown on a wheel, fired, hand-glazed, screen-printed, and re-fired by the team in Brisbane. Love it.

You can find Raw Ceramics vessels, bowls, jugs, and dishes in the online store as well as stockists across Australia.

Images: Raw Ceramics

Ellie Beck recycled skateboard jewellery

Hang on - super-cool necklaces and bangles handmade from recycled/upcycled skateboard decks? I'm in! My friend Ellie Beck and her husband Sam Messina make these amazing jewellery pieces using their stash of broken skateboards in the hinterland of Murwillumbah in Northern NSW. They're bright, fun, sustainable and each piece is one-of-a-kind - totally my style.

These bangles are cut, sanded and finished by hand. Each has a coloured side and a cool scratched-graphic side to amp up the cred.

Most skateboards are made from seven-ply of Canadian Maple in a rainbow of colours.

The rainbow skateboard deck bead necklaces are incredible too. Each is strung on a vintage brass chain.

Honestly, you can't go wrong with any of Ellie and Sam's skateboard pieces - either for yourself or as a gift. Head over to the Ellie Beck online store to pick one up. I love them all.

Images: Ellie Beck

ouch flower dip-dyed tassel garland room decor

Can you imagine how gorgeous this handmade tassel garland by ouch flower would look in a girl's room? Each tassel is hand-dyed in Melbourne by Pippa to your colour choice. Head over to the ouch flower online store to find tassel garlands, macrame hangers, tassels and beautiful wall hangings. You'll love them all! (Thanks Pippa for stopping by Bondville to comment - and so lovely to find that you're a fellow Voices of 2013 finalist!).

Image: Ouchflower

Fable Baby super-cute sustainable handmade baby clothes

Another great find at The Finders Keepers markets in Sydney on the weekend was the beautiful sustainable baby clothes from Melbourne lable Fable Baby. There were hand-screenprinted polka dot cropped sweaters and stripey leggings, farm animal prints and knottied onesies. I love the cuffed sleeves on the tees. Oh, and the knits were beyond cute (poncho with pom poms, anyone?).

1. Hand Knitted Chunky Unisex Organic Cotton Hooded Vest - Light Grey 2. Organic Cotton Long Sleeve Top - Navy Animals on Cream 3. Handmade Unisex Cotton Spot Shorts - Blue & White 4. Handmade Unisex Cropped Spot Sweater - Grey & White 5. Organic Cotton Knottie Sleep Suit Onesie - Red Spots on Cream 6. Hand Printed Organic Cotton Leggings - Navy Animals on White

Fable Baby was established exactly one year ago by cousins Phoebe Newlan and Prue Ryan with their combined backgrounds in textile and fashion design. Fable Baby uses only high quality organic and/or locally-produced fabrics. Knitted pieces are made from either organic cotton yarn from Peru or hand-dyed wool and silk from the Otways of Victoria. All garments are designed, hand-printed and handmade in Melbourne.

The current collection includes tees, knotted onesies, shorts, pants, bibs and the cutest knits you ever did see. All babywear items are thoughtfully designed with easy dressing in mind. For new Mums, that design element can make all the difference between a lovely clothing gift that sits on the shelf and one that is worn daily. With lots of unisex colours and designs, Fable Baby is a no-brainer go-to gift for a newborn or baby shower.


You can find Fable Baby in the online store as well as stockists listed on the website.

Images: Fable Baby

So Little Time painted wooden jewellery

I love my So Little Time wooden laser-cut earrings so much that I literally have not taken them off since my birthday. In fact I am wearing them right now! I have these cute-as-a-button neon orange dipped wood disc earrings that were given to me by my dear friend Anni...

Partners Kirsty and Josh hand-craft their earrings, brooches, and necklaces from locally-sourced or recycled wood, shaping them and painting them in their Melbourne studio. I particularly love the geo ball and faceted necklaces - like wooden crystals!

 How gorgeous is this wooden locket for keeping a pic of your loved ones close to your heart...

I can hardly resist this sweet ice cream brooch - what a gorgeous gift or party favour for a little one...

Thank you so much Anni for such a thoughtful gift - you know me so well! x

You can find So Little Time jewellery in the online Etsy store and at the upcoming The Finders Keepers market in Sydney next weekend (their last market for a long time!). Tell them I sent you.

Images: So Little Time

Made By Mosey's handmade rainbow dreamer mobile

I'm so taken with this mobile - reminiscent of a dreamcatcher don't you think? - by Madeleine Sargent from Made by Mosey. Each mobile features colourful wooden beads and those stunning patchwork feathers, made by hand. I can only imagine that they take an age to create. There are all sorts of colours in the Made by Mosey online store, but this rainbow mobile has my heart. Do you have a favourite?

Read more about Made by Mosey here on Bondville.

Image: Made by Mosey

BOXY handmade jewellery - the next big thing

I received this gorgeous BOXY necklace for my birthday last month from my friend Laura and I'm completely obsessed with it.

BOXY is designed and handmade by Sally Jarmaine in her studio by the beach near Sydney. Sally's pieces are fun, bright and so very on-trend. Each necklace is hand-modelled in polymer clay and strung on leather cord, then anointed its very own name to match its personality. This one is called 'confetti':

I could eat them all. You can find BOXY in the online etsy store, select stockists in NSW and Victoria and at the upcoming The Finders Keepers markets in Sydney.

Images: Steph Bond-Hutkin | Bondville