uimi.... oh wow!

So I have discovered this gorgeous brand while floating around online... uimi how did I not know about them? The colours, the materials are all so amazing. Here are some great Summer scarves, (see more here) but there are also Winter ones, and beautiful things for babies and kids and blankets for the home. What a great find at the end of the working week. Happy now. xx

Alvin Lustig... born modern

Some book jacket designs here. Great colour and use of simple shapes.
Wish list: Born Modern. The Life and Design if Alvin Lustig. A book by Steven Heller and Elaine Lustig Cohen. Find out more about this amazing designer here.

oh ah more loveliness... Helbak Scherning

Two very talented women from Denmark make up this gorgeous shop which I would love to visit.
One does ceramics (Helbak), the other jewelry (Scherning), Simple shapes, delicious colours. You can't look at this stuff and not feel good.

A customer of ours commented on one of the Helbak pieces we have in our products shots, and how she has just come back from a trip in Europe which included visiting this shop.... (oh, I am very jealous!!). I promptly hopped online to find out more about this little piece of ceramic heaven (of which I knew nothing about, shame on me) and you can too, have a look see here, it's lovely.

Tea Towels, Pantone and more.

Is it possible to want everything in one shop?
I think it is.... I have just stumbled across this place called Illustrated Living.
It's not actually a place but an online store... and it is packed with stuff that I just love:
Pantone mugs
Eames Office Notebooks
Ferm Living Tea Towels (see above).
Donna Wilson Breakfast in Bed Tray
Love Poster Karlek
and heaps more.

And I think they deliver to Australia too. Oh ah trouble.
xx

Wishlist... more Orla!

Orla Kiely is one lovely brand. I know that's nothing new. It's been talked about for quite some time now. And we in the land down under, have had the pleasure of having these gorgeous wares for sale here for a little while now. But I am yet to purchase and am still dreaming of some simple yet oh so gorgeous bedlinen. Hmmm, I kinda like the bed too... any ideas where I might find one???????  xx

Little Eats... our latest design project

and a super useful web site if you live in Melbourne, like to eat out and have kids!

Nick and I have just completed a wonderful project for a company called Little Eats.
The concept is simple but so exciting, the site is full of reviews on heaps of fabulous cafes around Melbourne. My fav is Birdie Num Nums. There are also great tips on eating out with kids, interviews and heaps more.

Every Mum I have told has exclaimed "ohhhh that's such a good idea!!!!" Have a peek, you'll find loads of yummy places to eat and enjoy time with your little ones...

It was such a fun project to work on  - thanks Jem! xx

love a good quote...

a favourite quote of mine, now in a typography only version. and coming soon in a variety of colours. see here. Like it but want another colour? Let me know. night night xx

Wanted: Slimline Lounge, Angelucci 20th Century

For those of you who don't know, I am obsessed with sofas, chairs, stools.... especially the mid 20th century variety. So here is one of my favs and all going well, one I will get for my house (once our little renovation is complete - it's still in the design phase but hey, girl's gotta be organised!) It's from a fabulous local design store called Angelucci 20th Century, and it is heaven in a furniture store. Not only do they make this gorgeous sofas based on George Nelsons' 1952 design, they also have a delicious selection of vintage goodies.

inspired... miroslav sasek

As you have probably guessed, I am a lover of vintage childrens books, especially those created during the mid 2oth century. Here is my latest obsession... Miroslav Sasek. I have admired these books for ages and finally bought one (The is New York) for my Archer's 1st birthday in July. I found this decision of which fabulous book in the series to choose quite easy. This is because a. New York would have to be my favourite city away from home (and am devastated to think I was last there 10 years ago... goodness...), b. I want to buy all of them anyway and c. everyone loves a fireman!! ;) Nick and I hope this obsession will spark a love of travel and different cultures in our boys.

Oh, and how cool is it that there's one on Australia.... I mean it was produced and thousand years ago...... I think I will order it next. xxx

inspired... alain gree

just beautiful.... alain gree.

the pinback badge...

I have been selling these little badges at markets for a few months now, and they are selling in a couple of stores, but I have just realised that they aren't for sale online yet. I have been meaning to put them into the etsy store.... its been on my list of things to do for about 3 weeks now. At least I can tick off 'take photo of badge'. But I think I'll save the actual etsy listing for another day. Not sure why, sometimes I just need to build up to stuff. Small stuff, big stuff, doesn't matter.

etsy find.... bailey doesn't bark!

bailey doesn't bark is a stunning shop full of gorgeous tableware, home accessories and stationery. And the photography is just beautiful, rich and dramatic! love it.

the claudettes....

These cards are so cute! See full range here.

Our boy is nearly...

one! And we are having a little gathering for him. Just a little party for family. Intimate is nice. Our house is too tiny at the moment to fill it with a million kids and their parents. Here's a snippet of the invite. Green theme, lovely shades of. Why green? Well, our oldest has decided that Archer's (birthday boy) favourite colour is green, so green it is.

cute bib

This is the cutest bib from Chick Pea (Made in Australia! Nice.)

OPEN !

It's so great when others like what you do. And even more wonderful when they are inspired to include you on their blog... Check out Three Buttons blog, full of gorgeous finds, where we got a lovely little write up. Great place to find out about interesting arty, crafty designy bits. I am thrilled... my bank account not so much.

Angela, the owner of Three Buttons, also has another blog which I will now be addicted to, called OPEN. It features independent stores and cafes in Melbourne. Now to find the time to visit them....

one more thing...

.... Nick and I have been busy making up badges for our 2 markets this week / weekend. Photo is not the best, I just took in on my phone in not the best light, but I wanted to quickly get something happening. These are done, which is great. Tick. Always helps when you hire the equipment and it HAS to be back by 9.30am. So we were up until the wee hours making these little darlings. Now really back to printing and packing.... Magnolia Square starts tomorrow!!!! Hope to see you there. xx

roaring birthday card

I am designing a set of birthday cards for the markets next week to see how they go. I have always wanted to do some, (other than the printable pdf ones, not that there are many of those for sale yet!) but the time has never been right. Now I feel like I have something going on that I like. Hopefully others will like them too. It's funny I have been doing my own cards for friends and family for ages.....
Now I am just filling in time while the dinner cooks, and my better half of putting the 2nd boy to bed. Nice.

let's get busy!

After many days of non blogging, non tweeting, non facebook etc, I am finally back. Where was I? I was out. Well that's not entirely true, I have been online, uploading work and doing bits and bobs but not in the same manic frenzy that I am usually in. Which was some what of a relief. And we even went away for Mothers Day weekend, and spent a lovely time with some precious friends, celebrating their son's 3rd birthday and also being a mum. (love my two boys, they are so funny and so sweet.) No internet, no computer, no work, just for 2 days. Nice. Refreshing. Now I am back. And I am happy to be back, ready to sink my teeth into the next big thing.....
Next week, 2 events,
1. Our first time with a stall at Magnolia Square's Tiny and Small. For those one you who don't live in Melbourne and don't have kids, it's a gorgeous event in which you can find some unique and beautiful products.
2. Second is Sonny and Coco market, also in Melbourne, and will be full for wonderful handmade goodies.

So for the next week, I shall be making, cutting, sticking, packing and creating my little heart out.

Wish us luck. xx
ps. photo shows work by Nick and me.

Collection

A little collage of things that I like.... for whatever reason, could be the colour, the texture, the shape... a scribble. Some are mine some from magazines from years ago.