We Are Scout blog launch

Two of my favourite Australian bloggers (and friends), Lisa from the red thread and Rebecca from WeeBirdy, have teamed up to create a brand new lifestyle blog - We Are Scout - which launched today. I know you'll love it.

Make: Easter craft projects for kids

If you're looking for some fun craft activities to do with the kids this week before Easter, hop over to my friend Lisa Tilse's excellent blog the red thread for these two gorgeous craft tutorials:

Make bunny softies from socks:

and a sweet Easter bunny costume and egg hunt bag:

Do you recognise the littlest Miss Bondville?! She was such a good little model. I love this photo of us together.

There are also some great Easter printables over at TinyMe and some fun tutorials at Mum's Business including my articles on making Easter branch decorations, Easter hats and Easter cooking treats.

Have fun getting ready for Easter this week!

Images: the red thread

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

Issue One of Scout online magazine by Lisa Tilse

Joining the elite group of magazines with great content that are also gorgeous to look through (hello Kinfolk, Fete and Hello May!) is the fresh new online mag Scout by my dear friend Lisa Tilse (of the red thread). Lisa is an endless inspiration to me - her style and creative vision are amazing and her new magazine is a natural extension of this.

Sydney-based Lisa is a talented crafter, so you will naturally find beautiful craft projects in Scout, from simple but chic ideas through to more challenging craftwork.

Browse through this magazine and you will also be right on top of the latest lifestyle trends. Each section is themed with a current colour palette that Lisa loves.

Issue One of Scout contains 146 pages, including nine craft tutorials, patterns, printables, gift wish lists, curated recipes from five food bloggers and a fabulous giveaway. I cannot wait to get stuck into the watercolour gem printables craft project in the magazine - I'm planning to make a sweet mobile.

I'm honoured to be included in the first issue of Scout with a selection of my favourite choices for Australian-designed gift ideas for kids. The wish lists from eight bloggers and creatives (pretty amazing company!) are just about all you'll need when gift-buying.

Lisa is a perfectionist and has painstakingly created this entire magazine (including every photo) and all graphic design herself. It's a work of art. I encourage you to head over to purchase your copy of Scout - there are so many lovely ideas to drool over and keep you busy over the holiday period. And then proceed directly to Lisa's wonderful blog the red thread for more inspiration.

Images: Scout

Hello Tokyo fabric range from Lisa Tilse at the red thread - 30% off

Lisa Tilse (the red thread) is well known for her beautifully designed craft panels and softie DIY kits, as well as her graphic design, craft, styling and art. Lisa has taken her love for cute Japanese kawaii-style design and created a gorgeous range of fabric and craft panels for Robert Kaufman Fabrics. I got a sneak-peek of the fabrics when Lisa came over to do a mini photo-shoot in my daughter's bedroom:

The Hello Tokyo range is absolutely gorgeous in real life too. I love the fun, bright colour palette, and of course those super-cute Japanese kokeshi dolls and sweet kitty cat character panels to sew up into cushions and softies, or use for applique.

The Hello Tokyo fabric range will be available in the US later in the year, and is stocked in Australia at various retailers now (no stockist list yet, but check via your favourite search engine). And we're in luck! the remnant warehouse is offering Hello Tokyo at 30% off for Australian customers until 18th June, 2013. (Prices are displayed at the full cost – discount is applied at checkout). I can't even wait to have a quilt made with these fabrics. I might even try my hand at it myself. Happy shopping and crafting!

Images: Lisa Tilse | the red thread

(prices displayed are the full cost – discount is applied at checkout) - See more at: http://www.theredthreadblog.com/#sthash.ldjcTuEa.dpuf

NEW LOOK BONDVILLE

Surprise! I know that I've mentioned a few times that I have been working with Lisa (the red thread) on a re-design for Bondville. Ta da!!!  I am so excited about it - it's a fresh look for Bondville that allows the Australian-designed products I feature to really shine, which is a huge priority for me.

Did you see the gorgeous Bondville logo that Lisa hand drew?!? She is so talented and I am thrilled to have her mark on my site.

This is Phase I of the makeover - what do you think? (OK, don't really tell me - I only want to hear good things). You'll see some tweaks and changes continue over the next few days (read 'weeks'), so please bear with me if you notice any glitches.

Here's a little snapshot of the old design which served me so well at the time.

Huge thanks go to Lisa for interpreting my vision and creating a phenomenal logo and helping me with layout choices and style. Also thanks to my dear Harris who is always patient with me and always helpa out when my html skills lack (like overriding template styles in CSS - he is so cool). I'll let  you know when we get to Phase II, but in the meantime, enjoy and look around!
Steph
x

Loving: The Storybook Rabbit iPhone Cases

I can't take any friends with me when I go to The Finders Keepers market. They get so bored - probably because I spend all my time catching up with stallholder friends and introducing myself to new ones, collecting business cards and sussing out gorgeous Australian-designed goods to write about.

This weekend I went with my friend Lisa (the red thread) (and her daughter Roxy) who does exactly the same thing, so it was perfect. Here's a cute photo that Lisa took of me devouring a bowl of raw pumpkin, pesto, olives and tomatoes from the Veggie Van. Hee hee!

And here is the Christmas present to me from my girls that I bought and surreptitiously handed to Mr Bondville to wrap up for me - the cutest ever iPhone case by The Storybook Rabbit. You might remember (from this post) that I have been looking for an iPhone case for the longest time - mine is black leather - and finally I found something that spoke to me straight away. Bunting! Cute shy rabbit wearing a dress with Peter Pan collar! Australian illustration! And something the girls will love too. Perfect.

These were just one of the many great products for sale by The Storybook Rabbit (read more about Kelly and her designs here on Bondville) and many other Australian designers at the markets. More favourites coming your way soon!

In the meantime, you can find the iPhone cases and more in The Storybook Rabbit online store. 

Image: The Storybook Rabbit

the red thread 50% off artworks online garage sale

My talented friend Lisa of the red thread is hosting a once-only online garage sale with her back catalogue of artworks available for at least 50% off!

Head over to the red thread garage sale pop up shop to grab yourself some great artwork at a bargain, including SushiBird Tiles, vintage Heart Boxes, vintage Storybook Tiles. Gorgeous for kids' rooms.

Hurry - this is the last of Lisa's artworks and most are one-off designs. They won't last long, and won't be released again. Happy shopping!

Image: the red thread

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

Kids' Crafternoon Felting and Beading books

My friend Lisa Tilse has just had a felt craft tutorial published in one of the new Kids' Crafternoon books Felting and Beading (Hardie Grant) edited by Canberra-based Kathreen Ricketson, and they both look fab.

Kids' Crafternoon Felting features projects from 25 crafters including animal finger puppets, a felted hat, a moneybox pig and wrist cuffs. Kids' Crafternoon Beading tutorials include bird earrings, brooches made from lego, a wind chime and beaded wall hangings. The craft activities in both books (and previous Kids' Crafternoon books Sewing and Papercraft) are aimed squarely at kids 7 to 12 years.

Lisa contributed a super-cool Zombie Critters keyring tutorial that I already know we'll be making:

Images: Lisa Tilse (the red thread)

 If you'd like to win a copy of the books, be quick and head over to Lisa's blog by Monday 21st November 2011 to enter.

I don't have the full contributor list yet, but I do know that another of my favourite creative people Cate Holst also has a featured craft tutorial. Can't wait to check it out.

the red thread House Tour on The Design Files

My friend Lisa (the red thread) has her gorgeous sun-filled home featured on The Design Files today. Lisa's home is truly one of the most warm, creative, happy places to be and I think Lucy did an amazing job capturing the light and the feeling of her home. There is so much to love; it's a style I aspire to. Head over to The Design Files to check out more images from Lisa's home, and then over to the red thread blog to let Lisa know you love it too.

Image: The Design Files