New Zaishu art stools and side tables

I'm busy processing orders and tallying up proceeds from the Bondville Charity Auction, but wanted to share with you this super-cute stool from Zaishu. Made from sustainable birch ply, Matthew Butler collaborates with Australian artists to create these flat-pack furniture pieces with fun designs. I've seen them used as seating and as side tables and they always draw comments. This design by Melbourne illustrators Tin and Ed is particularly cute; a great way to add art to the kid zones in your house. You can find Zaishu in the online store (and next weekend at The Big Design Market in Melbourne). Read more about Zaishu here on Bondville.

Image: Zaishu 

Dudley Co amazing toddler ride ons

Hang on - a cool toy for the kids that ticks the boxes of the design-sensitive too?!? Dudley Co.'s Courtney Wall and her carpenter husband create these fantastic toddler ride-on scooters in Brisbane. Each piece is hand-crafted and screen-printed in Brisbane to suit one to four-year-olds. So great.

Dudley Co.'s ride ons are handmade in Brisbane using certified plywood, sealed with a water-based polish, and finished with solid rubber casters and water-based paints. The ride on is available in three designs, but as they are hand screen-printed, each is unique. They are tested by the couple's son and his friends who love them to bits. I can see why!

You can find Dudley Co.'s ride ons in the online store.

Image: Dudley Co.

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

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

Treehorn geo-faceted wood jewellery and toys

I was reading State of Green online store newsletter recently and spotted these incredible handmade wood jewellery pieces by Tasmanian artisan Joe Chester of Treehorn. Seriously folks! I'll have one please. Make that one of each...

The Treehorn collection of geo-faceted necklaces, pendants, bangles, kitchen boards and building blocks are handmade by Joe using only reclaimed, recycled or sustainably grown timber (such as Tasmanian Oak and Douglas Fir). In fact, pieces are often made items from wood trimmings on the workshop floor.

The amazing building blocks would make a fantastic gift for a child of design-savvy parents, but I can also imagine them piled up on display in an adult's room, or even a work desk. Much cooler than a stress ball, that's for sure.

You can find Treehorn wood jewellery and products in the online store as well as at stockists across Australia and New Zealand.

Images: Treehorn

Made By White Australian animal brooches

Regular Bondville readers will know that I have an obsession with Australian-made. And if it's designed in Australia, made in Australia and features Australian wildlife, I'm just as happy as a pig in mud. I might even have to do a round-up of some of my favourite modern Australiana. In the meantime, get your Easter Bilby on, and adorn your lapel/scarf/tote with a cute Australian animal brooch by those clever girls at Made By White.

Etched in wood using a laser and then hand-painted, the range of Aussie animal brooches includes the Bilby, a camp Fairy Penguin, Mum and baby Wombats, an apple-hugging Koala and a sugar glider hitching a lift on a paper airplane. They are all fantastic, but I'm thinking that the Bilby would be a perfect Easter gift for a little someone.

You can find the Made By White brooches in the online store.

Images: Made By White

Hip Products: That Vintage

So many wonderful Australian designers have been unearthed during the fundraising process for the QLD Floods. I was beyond excited to discover the beautiful woodwork of Sophie Hill from That Vintage. Sophie auctioned off many of her pieces on Facebook and raised $3,689 for the QLD Flood Relief Appeal. Thank you Sophie for all your hard work. (that's Sophie there in the top pic. Ain't she cute.)

Sophie's range of wood jewellery is handmade from Tasmanian Myrtle timber and includes brooches, rings, pendants, earrings and necklaces. Based in Launceston, Sophie is a self-confessed bird lover. Her designs started with a Tasmanian Blue Wren and a Common Sparrow and have developed to include all manner of flora and fauna as well as lovely intricate fretwork-like patterns.

You can find That Vintage jewellery on Madeit (Australia), Etsy, and stockists across Australia and New Zealand. And to celebrate the That Vintage 3rd birthday, shipping to Australian addresses is free for the month of February 2011! Check out the That Vintage blog and Facebook page for behind-the-scenes info.

Images: That Vintage

Australian Artist Spotlight: The Red Thread

Kim has a great eye for Australian art, so if she is featuring an artist in her online gallery Udessi, you know their work is going to be great. Lisa Tilse from The Red Thread has a lovely selection of cards and paintings on wood in the store that I love.

The cards are cleverly printed on thin wood that can be popped into an envelope and would make a real impact upon opening. The tiles are also timber and feature hand painting and Japanese paper collage to reveal delicate birds nestled amongst foliage.

Lisa is based in Sydney and creates unique one-off and limited edition art. Her range includes montages and painted timber pieces, children's potraits, and delicate framed paper hearts that are heart-breaking. Lisa also works as a graphic designer, and accepts commissioned work including art, illustration, and pattern design.

You can find The Red Thread pieces on the website as well as stores across Australia and online at Udessi. You can find out more about Lisa's world on her blog.

Image: The Red Thread via Udessi