Love these hip fair trade felt softies

I just love these felt softies from Bondville sponsor Happy As Larry Designs. Just look at them! Rabbit and Bono are great for cuddling and as display pieces. They are great gifts for both boys and girls and are made with love in Nepal with pure NZ wool. You can find them in the Happy As Larry Designs online store or at stockists around Australia, US, Israel and online.

Image: Happy As Larry Designs

Make: Free Superhero doll craft pattern

So you crafty types out there - what do you think of these gorgeous DIY Superhero dolls designed by my friend Lisa from the red thread? Head to Lisa's blog now to get the free pattern for these dolls and surprise the little ones in your life. Great for using up scrap fabric!

Image: the red thread

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

Owl Know How by Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles

Thanks to my friends at The Finders Keepers for the heads up - fresh off the press is this fabulous 32-page children's book (and product range) by Aussie collaborators Cat Rabbit and Isobel Knowles. Owl Know How is illustrated with photos of Cat Rabbit's amazing plush characters in animator Cat and Isobel's built enviroments.

 
Owl Know How started out as an animation project that Cat Rabbit and Isobel worked together on, and an empire was born. It's gorgeous, and I dearly hope there will be more.

In the Owl Know HOw book, prepare to be transported to Cloud Town, where Cornelia Rabbit lives next door to her best friend Orvi, and problems are solved with the help of owls. Lots of owls! The book comes with it's very own owl pattern for you to make your own felt owl (see finished owl top).

Look out also for the Owl Know How shop where you can pick up the book, plush figures, button badges, handkerchiefs, totes, and limited edition packs of all the goodies as well as a signed copy of the book, gocco-printed bookplate and poster.

Read more about Cat Rabbit here on Bondville.

Images: Owl Know How

Herbert and Friends softies, cushions and cards

Another super find from my outing to Koskela a few weeks ago were beautifully-made softies by Torunn from Herbert and Friends. Half-Swedish Torunn lives in Sydney and creates said softies, cushions and greeting cards featuring her quirky-cool characters.

Torunn's softies are made from recycled felt, cotton, faux fur and eco-friendly filling. Can you stand those little faces? The cushions would be great in either a girl's or boy's room and the greeting cards would work well for both girls and boys too.

You can find Herbert and Friends in the online store as well as stockists around Australia and online.

Images: Herbert and Friends

Fede handcrafted soft toys

I came across these super-cool soft toy rattles for babies and thought you would love them too. fede soft toys are unexpected shapes - hammers! spanners! cutlery!, handmade from fun vintage and new fabrics, unisex design, and made locally in Adelaide. Lots of boxes to tick right there.

Roxy Longsocks sewing pattern from the red thread

Here's a lovely Christmas gift for a crafty friend or family member. Or for you to make this lovely gift for a special little person. Lisa Tilse from the red thread has just released a new sewing pattern + fabric face panel for these super-cute Roxy Longsocks dolls, named after her daughter.

How cute! The kit contains a sewing pattern and instructions and a face panel of your choice printed on linen/cotton blend fabric. Then simply choose from your own fabric stash and stuffing to create the doll. It's also a great way to use up scraps of fabric that you love. 

The Springtime version features a mini capelet and the Wintertime version includes a scarf and goodie pattern.You can also make your own felt or fabric face with the included pattern. The finished doll is lovely and big at around 66cm / 22.5 inches tall. 

You can find Roxy Longsocks pattern and panels in the red thread online store and in select fabric quilting shops in Australia and New Zealand early 2012.

Images: the red thread

Hip Products: Daisy Doe crochet animals

I have so much respect for the crafty souls who can make gorgeous throws, cushions and woolen goodies using not much more than yarn and a crochet hook. Amp the hard-factor up a level and you get clever clogs like Sydney crochet hook-master Erin Matthews.

Check out these gorgeous soft toys by Erin under her Daisy Doe label. Inspired by the Japanese 'amigurumi' style, she crochets these super-cute softies by hand. Erin has a big love of animals and her softie collection includes a range of kill-me-cute bunnies, bears, reindeer and more.

Hip Products: Cat Rabbit plush and jewellery

You want an heirloom gift for a child but don't want to go the baby spoon/silver brush and comb set/baby bracelet route (you know what I'm talking about). And you want something modern, memorable and fun. Something that they will have forever.

The totally amazing hand-crafted plush creatures from Cat Rabbit just might fit the bill. These quirky-cool pieces of art have huge personalities. Characters like the fur-covered owls, fez-adorned bears, folk costume-wearing raccoons and nerdy glass-wearing rabbits look as if they have stepped right out of a storybook

You might also like Cat Rabbit jewellery (necklaces, hair combs, brooches) or Wall Art for yourself. I just couldn't resist the raccoon cufflinks!

You can find Cat Rabbit in the Etsy store, at markets (check the blog) and at galleries and stockists around Australia (and online).

And how cool: "To celebrate the Vietnamese year of the Cat and the Chinese year of the Rabbit (hereby known as the year of the Cat-Rabbit) there is 25% off everything in the store until the 13th of February 2011!". More behind-the-scenes info on the Cat-Rabbit blog here.

Images: Cat Rabbit

Hip Products: Made by Maisie dolls and softies

I met Catherine from Made by Maisie at the BrisStyle markets last year and immediately fell in love with her lovingly hand-crafted dolls and softies. Each piece is made from wool felt, Japanese, homespun and 1930's reproduction fabrics with hand-embroidered faces; little pieces of art!

The current Made by Maisie range includes Maisie dolls, Big Sister Maisie dolls, Bears, Kokeshi dolls and custom-made dolls. These dolls would make a stunning gift for any little girl (and the bears are super-cute for boys too). Something very special to be handed down.

You can find Made By Maisie dolls and softies in the Etsy store and at markets around Brisbane. Check out the Made By Maisie blog for market information, updates and new releases.

Images: Made by Maisie

Funky Monkey sock monkeys

There is something about sock monkeys that makes me smile. Maybe it's the cheeky face, or the crazy long arms and legs. Certainly, it's great to know that they are handmade, and often crafted from worn-out socks. And they are a great American folk art tradition reaching back 100 years.

I was excited to find these fantastic Funky Monkey sock monkeys at the Eumundi Markets today. Hand-crafted locally, these cuddly toys had particularly groovy duds, including sock monkey-print pants, embroidered vests and pearl jewellery. The monkeys are fashioned using a vintage pattern and made with love. They would make a fantastic gift for a newborn, and are certainly an heirloom toy.

You can find Funky Monkey sock monkeys on the Funky Monkey online store, on Madeit (Australia) and at various markets including the Eumundi Markets. Stop by the Funky Monkey Facebook page for updates.

Images: Funky Monkey

Hip Products: Wicked Child Designs softies

We've had a rough weekend in Australia with a disappointing result in our federal elections and a hung parliament. If you need a target to take out your frustration, look no further than the hysterical softie caricatures by Brisbane-based Teneale Muir from Wicked Child Designs.

You can choose your very own tongue-in-cheeck Julia Gillard or Tony Abbott doll (the hair! those ears! the budgie smugglers!) complete with miniature canvas and easel to display their cheeky story.

Clever Teneale also has a range of other fun long-legged softie characters including Jesus, Nietzsche, and her original designs. These are the kind of toys that grown-ups can appreciate too. Keep an eye out for more topical designs.

You can find Wicked Child Designs softies in the Etsy store online and at various markets. Check the Wicked Child Designs blog for more information.

Images: Wicked Child Designs

Hip Products: OK, Let's Sew! patterns and kits

My friend Lisa from The Red Thread is such a clever thing. I've written about Lisa's SushiBird Tiles and her Sweetie Petites before and now there are two new gorgeous sewing patterns to add to the OK, Let's Sew! collection.

The Ooshka Babushka doll pattern makes a doll 41 cm tall - great for cuddling or as a pillow. Ooshka Babushka Pattern Kits include a gorgeous face panel printed on linen/cotton blend fabric, a sewing pattern and instructions. You can choose from a cute blonde, redhead or dark-haired doll, and there are instructions for an applique face if you want to create your own.

The Hello Birdie pillow pattern makes a generous 44 cm x 34 cm bird with quilt-like feathers. And if you're not the sewing type, keep an eye out on The Red Thread website as finished pillows will be available to purchase soon.

You can find these OK, Let's Sew! patterns and kits on The Red Thread website and at various stockists around the world. If you're in Sydney this weekend, you can also find them at the excellent Mathila's Markets in Riverview on Sunday from 9am - 1pm (look for The Red Thread stand). See you there!

Images: The Red Thread

Hip Products: Ruby Rosebud Designs softies

My lovely friend Kim was over for morning tea yesterday and came armed with a surprise for our little ones. A gorgeous Kim Wallace ceramic bird for our eldest and a lovely hand towel and this special owl by Ruby Rosebud Designs for our newborn. Thanks Kim!

Brisbane-based Ruby Rosebud Designs also makes a selection of lovely items for little ones including owl softies, soft cotton baby shoes, wall art, gorgeous dolls and owl doorstops.

You can find Ruby Rosebud Designs in the online store and at upcoming markets. Check the Ruby Rosebud Design blog for new designs and market details.

You'll also find Ruby Rosebud Designs at the Mathilda's Market this weekend in Brisbane. Here are all the details:
And shop online for kids products from great stores in the Australian Online Kids and Baby Store Directory.

Image: Steph Bond

Stylish Kids: Jetta's Nest art and craft

I first met artist Samantha from Jetta's Nest at our Brown Owls group in Brisbane where she wowed us all with an incredible doll she had made with an intricately-painted sassy face. Since then, Sam's gorgeous faces have gone on to adorn button badges, as well as a range of soft toys, prints, art cards and gorgeous clothes for kids.

I particularly adore the range of Jetta's Nest appliqued children's clothes that incorporate Sam's art along with recycled/vintage materials. I have proudly collected a few pieces for little Sophie (both above) including the one-of-a-kind toadstool top and the gorgeous Flutterby top made from a recycled Holly Hobbie quilt cover, recycled doily and recycled buttons. Both destined for the "keep me" pile of special clothes.

October is a really important month for us to all do our small part for Breast Cancer Awareness and Sam is generously donating 50% of the proceeds of her limited edition pink Lola Buttonhead brooches to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

You can find the crafty art of Jetta's Nest (and you can also put in a custom order) on Etsy and MadeIt (Australia) as well as various markets (including the upcoming BrisStyle handmade market in Deceomber). Check out the Jetta's Nest blog for a sneak peek on upcoming designs.

Images: top - Steph Bond and others - Jetta's Nest