Australian bird melamine plates from Lalaland

You know by now that I'm a sucker for good Australiana, and these gorgeous melamine plates from Lalaland Design House fit the bill. They feature gorgeous illustrations by in-house illustrator Clarisse Djaja including a Zebra Finch, Yellow Breasted Sunbird, Purple Crowned Lorikeet and Flame Robin.

Icon ferry and tram prints for kids from Poppy Studio

OK, I'm expecting to see these prints pop up in all the cool kids' bedrooms. My friend Catherine gave me the head's up on Adelaide's Poppy Studio and I fell in love with these iconic Melbourne tram and Sydney ferry wall art prints for kids.

Seriously great. Nicole Kerley has a fun range of prints for children - the flamingo is pretty fantastic as well as the London prints and the Alphabet posters. Lots to choose from and the birth announcement prints are lovely too. You can find Poppy Studio wall art prints in the online store and stockists across Australia and online.

Images: Poppy Studio

Nomuu illustrated art cushions for kids

These brand new cushions from one of my favourite Australian illustrators Nomuu are hot, hot, hot. Gorgeous for a little one's room. I can picture one propped up on a white Eames rocker, or on Lilly & Lolly confetti spot bed linen-covered bed. Get your pre-order in now on the Nomuu website before they sell out! Read more about Nomuu here on Bondville.

Image: Nomuu

One Very Tired Wombat children's book by Renee Treml

Renee Treml is both a dear friend of mine and a talented illustrator-turned-author/illustrator. Her first children's book One Very Tired Wombat is a counting book for kids full of her incredible illustrations of Australian animals and... wait for it... is on the 2013 Crichton Award shortlist for new illustrators!

What is the message of your story for kids?

RT: Other than the counting theme, I wanted to show off some of my favourite (and sometimes lesser known) Australian birds. I always hope that after reading my book, a child will recognize a crested pigeon or fairy wren in the wild.

Is the Very Tired Wombat based on a real character?

RT: Wombat is based on a common wombat I saw at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Brisbane, in 2007 – just a few weeks after I moved to Australia. It was the first time I had ever seen a wombat and all he did was sleep, despite all the noisy children, lorikeets and kookaburras around him. I didn’t realize how impressed I was by his ability to just sleep until the illustrations started popping up in my imagination.

Where did your inspiration for this story come from?

RT: The story came to life after I started illustrating the above mentioned sleeping wombat – first I drew him with one frogmouth, then two galahs, then three kookas and so on. I kept hoping someone else would come along and write me a story featuring the wombat, which I could illustrate.  f course, this didn’t happen, so after my son was born I decided to try to write it myself.  It took well over a year for the story to transform from a straight-up boring counting book (1 frogmouth, 2 galahs…) to the story it is now.

Have you always been interested in illustrating animals, and in particular, Australian animals?

RT: I have always been interested in illustrating animals and I tend to be interested in whatever is in my immediate environment. In the States, it was chickadees and barred owls.  Here in Australia, it’s wombats and frogmouths and boobooks…

How did you decide to make the transition from illustrator to author and illustrator?

RT: Taking on a new title is tough – I didn’t study writing and was very unsure about claiming myself to be an author. But after Wombat was published and the second contract was signed I had to look myself in the mirror and repeat ‘I’m an author-illustrator’ until I believed it.

Are there any more children's books in the works?

RT: Yes! Colour for Curlews is due out in September – in fact it’s at the printers now and I’m anxiously awaiting my preview copy to arrive in a few weeks. Curlews is published by Random House Australia and follows the two curious curlews and a host of other birds as they get into mischief with my paint brushes and paint. (Of course Wombat makes a guest appearance as well.)  I am finishing up two other manuscripts that feature Aussie natives and another pesky one about a cheeky owl that I just can’t seem to whip into shape.

You can find One Very Tired Wombat in good bookstores including Fishpond, and Amazon. Read more about Renee Treml here on Bondville.

Images: One Very Tired Wombat

Super Duper Supertrooper Studio Scandi art for kids

Finding the gorgeous Supertrooper Studio at The Finders Keepers market in Sydney on the weekend was a real a-ha moment. I was literally stopped in my tracks by the Scandinavian-inspired artwork and homewares for kids.

The illustrated city art prints first caught my attention. The Super Places collection includes Sydney, Melbourne, Manly, Fremantle (with more to come), translated into posters, cushions and tea towels. Who doesn't love a graphic homage to their favourite city - and Supertrooper Studio does it so well...

This kids' memory card game is features fun, stylised animals in classic red, blue, black and white. The quality of these cards is lovely:

 The kids' animal artwork is also available as wall prints which would work well in both boys' and girl's rooms:

 I particularly love this MiniTipi canvas store playhouse/teepee for kids:

Based in Manly, Supertrooper Studio is one to watch. I can imagine these gorgeous graphics as bedding, quilting fabric, kids' fashion and any number of applications. These guys are hot! You can find Supertrooper Studio products in the online store.

Images: Supertrooper Studio

Inaluxe wall art sale on Temple & Webster

I'm kind of over-excited about the Inaluxe wall art sale over on Temple & Webster today. All my favourite mid-century modern-style Inaluxe prints are discounted:

Inaluxe for Earth Greetings stationery

Oh what a beautiful marriage: the distinctively cool illustrations of two of my all-time favourite Australian artists - Kristina Sostarko and Jason Odd from Inaluxe - and the eco-friendly goodness of the Earth Greetings stationery company. This perfect collaboration features stylized Australian native birds and flora adorning greeting cards and wrapping paper. This is so completely up my alley, I can hardly stand it...

Among the designs you will find wildflowers, and native birds such as the Kookaburra, Leser Sooty Owl, Owlet Nightjar, WhiteBreasted Whistler and a pair of fantastic Gang Gang Cockatoos. The wrapping paper and greeting cards are made carbon neutrally in Australia, from luxuriously thick 100% post-consumer waste card, printed with vegetable-based ink and the cards are paired with a recycled envelope

Get the whole collection quick sticks, frame it, and adorn your walls with mid-century modern-inspired amazingness, Aussie-style. (I know, I'm excited).

You can find Inaluxe for Earth Greetings stationery products in the Earth Greetings online store as well as stockists around Australia and New Zealand. Read more about Inaluxe here on Bondville and Earth Greetings right here.

Images: Earth Greetings

The Hungry Workshop & Koskela presents Rituals - get your letterpress on

If you're a fan of letterpress and Australian illustration, then you will love Ritual - an exhibit being held at Koskela as party of Art & About Sydney.

Letterpress cool kids The Hungry Workshop, based in Melbourne, have pulled together a stellar group of Australian artists including Beci Orpin, Ben Ashton-Bell, Drunk Park, Eirian Chapman, Georgia Perry, Kindred Studio, Lauren Carney, Luke Lucas, Malade Pathetics and Spew Corp for a hand-printed letterpress exhibition. The exhibition will feature limited edition prints and unique, one-of-a-kind overprints.

There are lots of other great actitives happening for Art & About Sydney, including some fun events that are child-friendly too. Organiser Jenna Hipgrave - one half of The Hungry Workshop duo - is a friend of mine from Brisbane, so I'll be heading along to the opening night on Saturday 22nd Sept 2012, 5-7pm - hope to see you there.

Update: The Hungry Workshop and Malade Pathetics are also hosting a lino and type workshop from 1 - 4:30pm before the Exhibit opening. Participants will be exploring the fundamental principles of letterpress, relief printing and typography, through simple, hands-on techniques. Check out the Koskela website for more details - looks great!

Image: The Hungry Workshop

Udessi Australian art store relaunches

I am so excited that my friend Kim Wallace has relaunched the Udessi Australian art store after an overseas hiatus. Kim was ahead over her time when she launched Udessi in 2008; it really was one of the first places online to find Australian-designed independent art and design.

It's great to see the new Udessi back online with five launch artists that I love: Renee Treml, Sweet William, Beth Emily, Wendy Britton and Kim's own ceramic jewellery and vessels. On the site you'll find a range of original artworks, Australian art prints, ceramics, jewellery as well as Australian-designed handmade art and toys for kids.

Not only does Kim have a great idea for beautiful art, but she is a master stylist and shows you how each piece can work in your home with her own styled images.  

Head over to the relaunched Udessi Australian art store and say Hi from me. There are some great re-opening discounts available and a great giveaway - see the Udessi blog for details. Welcome back Kim!

Images: Udessi

Wendy June illustrations and artwork

Another fun The Finders Keepers market discovery for me was the artwork of Wendy June. I loved Wendy's acrylic hugging owl brooches so much that I bought one each for my nieces in the US. You'll find illustrations as diverse as beasties, kittens, Chinese dragons, cartoon birds, little folk with shaggy hair and creepy-cool houses inspired by the streets of North Fitzroy in Melbourne.

Based in Melbourne, Wendy creates a range of products based on her illustrations including notepads, tea towels, magnets, cards, art prints, brooches, stuffed toys and amazing laser-cut wooden houses to hang on your walls.

Wendy-June's online store is full of products that would make great gifts for kids and adults. Look out for her work at markets too (see the website for details).

Images: Wendy June

Beth-Emily artwork and scarves

Oh the gorgeousness of Beth-Emily's ethereal artwork. I was lucky to meet Beth-Emily in person at The Finders Keepers market in Sydney and have a chat to her about her beautiful artwork and see some of her pieces in person.

We were chatting about the preserved birds at the museum and how amazing it is that the staff let you sit down with a piece to examine and draw from. Having a real-life model suits Beth-Emily's super-realistic style, which is hard to capture when drawing from photos. Can you imagine being an artist and spending your days drawing birds in a museum?!? Such a romantic notion.

Hobart-based Beth-Emily's ornithology, flora and fauna artwork is also gorgeous in real-life and was being snapped up left, right and centre at The Finders Keepers. They would make a beautiful gift for a young girl or teenager, and I bet Mum would like one too.

Beth-Emily has also recently expanded the application of her artwork onto these divine silk scarves. Keep an eye out for them at markets (check Beth-Emily's blog for details).

You can find Beth-Emily's artwork in her online store on Etsy.

Images: Beth-Emily

Sunday Morning Designs bed linen, clothes, art and kids products

It was exciting to see my friend Renee Treml's artwork at the new Koskela showroom on the weekend, and work by Feed The Dog (read my article from way back in 2008 here). There were also some simple but super-effective wood block houses, dipped in pink fluoro paint that I would love, love, love for our new place.

Another product that caught my eye (thanks to the great packaging) were the tshirt-soft cotton jersey pillow cases and doona covers printed with line illustrations by Dylan Martorell, by Sunday Morning Designs. My friend Mary has a pillow on her bed, and they would also work beautifully in a young person's room. I had to know more...

Sunday Morning Designs is a collaboration between Melbourne-based Lichen Kemp and Jitske Wiersma, featuring the illustrations of Lichen's partner Dylan Martorell. There are story-reading rabbits, lounging elephants and inquisitive owls amongst Dylan's delightful artwork. The current Sunday Morning Designs collection includes bed linen (pillow cases, doona covers), wall art (prints, wall hangings), clothing, accessories and jewellery (for adults and kids), stationery (greeting cards), and kids products (cardboard masks, colouring books, pencil cases, plates).

Sunday Morning Designs also uses top-line sustainable production methods including using local materials, small independent Melbourne based manufacturers, eco-friendly inks, recycled papers, vintage fabrics, green energy and pedal power. So much to love about this local design studio.

You can find Sunday Morning Designs products in the online store as well as stockists around Australia, NZ and France. (Oh and the jewellery is currently all half-price. Get it while it's hot!)

Images: Sunday Morning Designs (top image of bed from House and Garden magazine, Oct 2011)

Curio & Curio printed homewares and Two Ruffians wall art

Clair Wyman and Nick Young are the proprieters of the amazing Curio & Curio store (in Flinders, VIC), online store, and printed homewares label, as well as Nick's illustration brand Two Ruffians, and the couple's limited cushion and prints collection 'Takin' Shapes'. You'll find all sorts of cool textiles for home and wall art with Clair and Nick's signature look of neutrals with bright splashes of colour.

The Curio & Curio homewares range collection includes ottomans, cushions, tea towels, lingerie bags and makeup bags. The cushions, ottomans and wall art are great for adults' and kids' spaces alike. Nothing like a dash of neon or a cool combi van to ignite the imagination.

You can find Curio & Curio products in the online store, the Flinders store, and at stockists across Australia. Nick's illustrations are available in the Two Ruffians online store.

PS - Clair has also designed some amazing removable wallpaper and wall stickers for The Wall Sticker Company. Drool!

Images: Curio & Curio