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3D gift cards with 3D glasses by innocentgirl (Andrea Innocent), available from Yradier

This month, we're thrilled to be offering up some fabulous finds from the new Yradier online store! Paloma Cole, who launched Yradier earlier this year, has chosen three very different products from Australian designers for one lucky indie to win. These are:

3D gift cards with 3D glasses by innocentgirl (Andrea Innocent), available from Yradier

Paloma Cole is a photography student at the Queensland College of Art and is surrounded by amazing artists on a daily basis! She launched the Yradier online store with the aim of featuring original artworks by emerging Brisbane artists. She also stocks jewellery, homewares and stationery by small Australian designers, and a small selection of quirky, hard to find goods from overseas... and GUESS WHAT? From now until the end of June, indie art & design readers can save 10% on purchases at Yradier! Simply enter the top secret discount code: indieness on the checkout page. Thank you Paloma!

Red Cup Studs by Trove Designs, available from Yradier

The store itself is slick & sleek! The photos are a treat & you can go straight to Australian products, or to the Brooch section (a Yradier specialty) to find some truly unique items. You'll also find original artworks including some intense acrylic paintings by Luke Kidd, as well as photographic prints by Paloma herself.

Small Rectangular Tokyo Handmade Wooden Photography Brooches by Jen Hall, available from Yradier

I was rather intrigued by the name "Yradier", and Paloma explained that it is actually the name of the composer who wrote the song 'La Paloma' - AND she also likes the way it looks when written! (By the way, it is pronounced 'irre-dear'.)

Large Rectangular Tokyo Handmade Wooden Photography Brooches by Jen Hall, available from Yradier

To enter the draw, all you need to do is suggest an Australian label/artist/designer you'd like to see stocked on Yradier's virtual shelves! Just comment on this post with your suggestion. (A one-word answer is enough, though if you know of a web site for your suggested label, please include it so we can all take a peek!) Entries close on June 30, 2008 and we'll draw a name at random & annouce the winner in the following week. (Oh, and make sure to visit http://yradier.bigcartel.com to check that your suggestion isn't already in the lineup!) I'm looking forward to hearing your ideas...

Leave a comment - we'd love to hear from you!

CONGRATULATIONS, Kim! You've been selected by George (pictured above) as the winner of our Georgie Love Giveaway! George was very happy for you, though a little disappointed that you're a cat person! Not to worry - a $50 Georgie Love gift voucher will be on the way shortly. (We'll contact you directly for delivery details.)

Green Eyes Cat Pendant by Erana & Daska available for AUD $25 from www.georgielove.com

As for our poll, the dog people won by a nose... a fairly long nose, with whiskers! The actual results were: 49% Dog People (36 votes), 37% Cat People (27 votes), and 10 people either couldn't decide or consider themselves both... (Sorry to those who felt they were choosing between their children!)

Fido Long Lost Lovesick Puppy softie by Daniela Catalano available for AUD $36 from www.georgielove.com

Pictured above are a couple of gift ideas for people on both sides of the poll. Hope you enjoy the shopping, Kim, and thanks again to Sal & George for offering up the prize!

This will be an exhibition not to be missed (if you're in Sydney, that is)... Not for profit online publication [weAREtheIMAGEmakers] is presenting an all girl exhibition with a crazy talented line up of female Australian artists. Hailing from all corners of the country, participating artists include:

• akina (lang leav) - www.akina.com.au
• andrea innocent - www.otoshimono.org
• brooke bobridge - www.brookebobridge.com
• eugenia tsimiklis - www.emikli.com
• kareena zerefos - www.kareenazerefos.com
• lillian piri - www.littlegalaxie.com
• love ariel - www.loveariel.com
• melissa stringer - www.myspace.com/girliepains
• mini graff - www.minigraff.com
• nanami cowdroy - www.nthread.net
• rebecca wetzler - www.rebeccawetzler.com
• smitten by stephanie - www.smittenbystephanie.com
• team kitten - www.teamkitten.com

I'm sure that list of talent you might wish you possess is motivation enough - but just in case you need some inspiration, I've included a selection of works that I adore from just a few grrrly girls below...

These subtle and moving limited edition art prints are by Kareena Zerefos. Each print is AUD $185 and available from Kareena's "corner store". Above left is "Owl" and right, "Alex from Patras". "Owl" is also available as an A2 poster (printed on 100% recycled paper) for AUD $12. I'm very much looking forward to seeing Kareena's exhibition pieces!

The dreamy coloured pencil work of Lilly Piri is very well known & so beautiful. The artworks pictured above are "Off To See The World" (left) and "Relocation" (right).
A miniature print of "Relocation" (7.5" x 9"), is available from the Thumbtack Press for US $19.99. It is one of 25 different works which are for sale in this format. Gift cards, button sets, original artworks, postcards and the limited edition "silent water zine" (featuring 10 previously unpublished drawings by Lilly Piri and her husband, Heiko) are also all available through Lilly Piri's online store.

The distinctive, graphic & very lovely artworks below are by artist Brooke Bobridge. Having grown up in Perth, she's lived in Singapore, Nairobi, London & Edinburgh and currently calls Melbourne home. Brooke is inspired by big cities and travelling, and draws from Asian influences in her work. She is always exploring new designs and ideas for her hand-screenprinted works. Limited edition prints of her work are available from a number of online stores including one of our local favourites Moose: Art for Living - and her label, nightsidedown is coming soon!

The artwork above is "Lanterns 2007", and below, "Darjeeling 2007". I especially love the colour palettes Brooke has used in these two. The soft grey tones, reds & purples contrast beautifully with the crisp white elements. mmmm....wintery!

The Grrrls exhibition opens at 6pm this Friday evening (8.2.2008) at aMBUSH Gallery in Waterloo. It continues until Sunday 24.2.2008, with gallery opening hours of 12pm - 5pm, Wednesday through to Saturday. Special thanks to Liss for drawing my attention to this exhibition through her beautiful blog, Daydream Lily.

Aren't these little guys sweet? They're from Melbourne label Mistress of the Upper Fifth who designs & makes original & quirky accessories. These two are perspex brooches, with Scotty on the left and Kitty on the right. (AUD $35 each)

I remember many afternoons spent with my Mum & Nan in department stores (when they still sold haberdashery!) and fabric shops, leafing through pattern books that were almost bigger than I was at the time. Mistress of the Upper Fifth has used those familiar vintage dress patterns to create her range of Dress Pattern Wallets, (AUD $40 each). Each one has it's own unique personality.

How cute! These twin button sets are designed to be worn as pairs, with half of the image on the first button, and the other half on the second. Pictured above are the Girl with Balloons (left) and Giraffe (right). (AUD $12 each)

This Zip Wallet (AUD $35) provides the perfect solution to the drama of finding the right shrapnel from the depths of a crowded purse under the pressure of a surly cashier with a queue of impatient customers behind you. This ingenius design allows you to bypass the credit cards & receipts by zipping open at the depth of the coins themselves - or, zip open closer to the top to access a card with ease. Functionality aside, it looks really funky too!

Mistress of the Upper Fifth accessories & brooches can be found at the following stockists:

Online: Georgie Love
VIC: Hunter Gatherer, Hummingbird 60, April May, Kids in Berlin, Pussycat Black, Meet Me at Mikes, I Dream a Highway and A-nom'-a-ly'.

Could I be under the influence of a sugary spell, or have I simply fallen in love with the wonders of Magic Jelly? I have a feeling that the powers behind this flavoursome label have decided to use their artful magics for good - with just hint of evil here & there. The powers of which I speak take the form of Karena Colquhoun, a professional artist, illustrator & designer from Adelaide. She has an impressive range of artworks & gift items available for sale through her Etsy store at www.magicjelly.etsy.com and you can also find her at www.magicjelly.com.au and her blog www.magicjelly.typepad.com.

Pictured above are two limited edition art prints. On the left is "Miss Ruby", a hand-painted screen print from a limited edition of 40. Here, the inspiration, image and substrate have been intertwined to create a unique work. The gaze of the subject transfers her character into the present while the viewer is taken back almost 100 years into the past. Karena has printed onto pages of an old damaged book called "The Tennyson Birthday Book". The book itself was given to Miss Ruby Holder on her birthday, 29.3.1911. Since the book is filled with the hand written names of her friends and family, Karena chose to depict Miss Ruby, looking a little weary as she may have done after posing for a portrait photograph from that era. She created the print (US $35.00) using her Print Gocco and hand-coloured the image with acrylics.

On the right, we have the popular "Stuff No. 1" limited edition Gocco screen print (US $12.00). This is Magic Jelly's tribute to spot illustrations & limited colour palettes, a celebration of halftones, ink & paper! Light-hearted in orange & indigo, it is filled with the flotsam & jetsam that collect in our lives & remain vivid in our memories.

Among the Magic Jelly goods on offer are the greeting cards "Magic Jellies" - such a jaunty design (as my great aunt would say!), and "Heart Attack" which spreads the peace & love with little red hearts (US $4.50 each). Both have been screen printed using the Print Gocco. Isn't it great when your greeting card really is a gift in itself?

The pocket mirrors pictured above would make fantastic gifts. The "Black Forest" design (US $12.50) comes personalised with the recipient's name, surrounded by a few shadowy friends, and the "Good Dog" (US $9.50) is my favourite - his zipped up smile is so cheeky & his brown eyes so adoring! The Magic Jelly packaging with handprinted backing cards tops it all off.

Above left is the 4 colour Gocco limited edition screen print "Fox and Flowers" (US $12.00). The fox's coat features a gorgeous orange pattern, complimented by the floral star shapes in the background. The "Sunday Morning" digital art print (right, US $12.00) is a striking comic-style illustration named after the Velvet Underground song of the same title.

"Floyd's epiphany arrived in the shape of a fat white dove just as he was about to deliver a killer right hook to his opponent. He pulled off his gloves & went for a walk in the sunshine... Everybody needs an epiphany sometime!" (from Magic Jelly's description)

This two-tone image has been Gocco screen printed onto the pages of a surveyer's notebook from the 1930s. The inks are vibrant and the double image seems to suggest the moments just before and after that sudden change of heart. Another detail that you may not notice at first, is the boxing gloves have been cut independently from a second page of text creating a subtle contrast between the gloves & the rest of the image. Another limited edition, is it available for US $18.00.

"No. 5" (left, $45.00) is an original mixed media artwork from the "Benediction" series of 60 unique pieces. It features screen printed and collaged elements (from vintage ephemera and new papers). There is a wonderful balance created by the careful selection & placement of textures and colours, and by the arresting gaze of the masked woman's face. The photograph on the right shows a different piece from the "Benediction" series framed.

Both the images above are limited edition art prints on canvas panels. On the left is "Gone To Earth, Plate Two" (US $18.00), an eerie meeting of fairytale woodland creatures and a carefully arranged human portrait. "Giddyup" (right, US $18.00) is similarly wicked but drawn in the elegant style of vintage engravings, using lines & halftones.

One final surprise: when I contacted Magic Jelly (whom I discovered on Indiepublic), Karena was kind enough to offer me some of her goodies as samples! So the first Indie Art & Design giveaway will really be something special - certainly not to be missed! Stay tuned for my next post...

Father's Day is fast approaching, so here at Indie Art & Design, we've been assembling a selection of great gift ideas for September 2nd (next Sunday). I know at least three lucky dads who will receive some of the following pressies!

Deshabillé is an Australian luxury lounge & sleepwear label which offers casual clothing perfectly suited to unwinding at home - fashionable yet practical garments in which to relax, retire for the night, or even pop out to the shops. A concept perfectly suited to Father's Day, don't you think?

Pictured above is the mens Summer Tee - perfect to be worn with the Summer Stripe Pant (above left) or maybe the Husk Pant (above right), perhaps even for an afternoon snooze in the sun this Sunday. The Summer Tee is a slim fit, 100% cotton jersey with a soft vintage wash and comes in Aqua, Warm Grey or White (AUD $29.90). The Summer Stripe Pant is available in Warm Grey (pictured) or Aqua stripes for AUD $49.90. The Husk Pant is available in Warm Grey or Green and is currently on special - reduced from AUD $49.90 to just $25.00!

The Whitewash Pant (below left) is a new addition to the Deshabillé range for this summer (which is nearly here, judging by today's warm weather - in Sydney at least). This 100% cotton 'whitewash' printed mens pyjama pant has front pockets, elastic waist & drawstring. Available in two colours - White (as pictured) and Deep Sea, AUD $49.95. All of these, plus many more styles are available (WITH complimentary Father's Day gift wrapping) from the Deshabillé online store at www.deshabille.com.au or from stockists throughout NSW, VIC, QLD and WA.

This stylish handmade leather bag is the "te. fold" from te., a label that began while designer Jarren Borghero was living in Japan. "Te" is Japanese for "hand", signifying that all te. products are hand made from start to finish. The designer sketched the idea, cut the pattern, sourced the materials and contructed the product. In other words, he poured his heart into its creation so that you too will fall in love with it!

Featuring quality craftsmanship, vegetable tanned leathers, hand stitching and a range of colours combining rich browns with contrasting aqua, blue or green, the te. fold would make a unique gift. Something your dad would keep for years to come... It measures 19 x 20cm and comes with three large pouches and a pocket and adjustable leather straps. The te. fold is available from www.temono.com.au for AUD $165 and you can also find it at www.georgielove.com.

Is your dad a purveyor of all things cool? If he's hip to the jive or just needs a few fashion tips, he might find some clues in "Cool Hunting" by Australian photographer and net junkie, Dave Evans. The book was published last year by South Australia's East Street Publications and features an irreverent, ironic and eclectic mix of products designed in every corner of the globe.

Cool Hunting takes trend watching from the virtual world and places it carefully on your coffee table, along with a plate of URLs and chocolate biscuits. (Chocolate biscuits not included.) It retails for AUD $24.95 & I spotted a copy at Better Read Than Dead in Newtown the other day...

These washer bags are from the Mister Uchi range. They are made from PVC coated nylon and would make ideal gifts for dads who like style & simplicity. Pictured above is the Carry All bag which measures 24cm x 12cm x 12cm, and sells for AUD $36.95. The versatile Hanger Bag (below left) features an internal metal hook to allow it to hang while open. It measures 28cm x 8cm x 8cm and sells for AUD $54.95. (Prices are quoted from the Rushfaster online store.)

The Uchi label was launched in 2001 with the intent of providing travel and bath bags that are both functional and beautiful. The popular Uchi product range is now sold thoughout Australia as well as internationally. You can see more of the range at the Uchi web site at www.uchi.com.au - you can also email them for a list of stockists (which includes Pentimento in Newtown, Sydney).

If your Dad already has everything he could ever need, why not give him something for his best friend? Dogue, House of Canine Couture has a great collection of canine accessories to totally spoil your pooch. Pictured above is the luxurious Ruby range of leather collars. These top quality collars are handstitched and come in four sizes, ranging in price from AUD $80 (S) to $140 (XL).

For something more colourful, the Stanley range features striped leather collars to suit any shade of coat or personality. Five sizes are available ranging from 35cm (AUD $31.50) through to 60cm ($48.50). These Dogue collars, as well as matching leads and everything else your dog could desire are available from the Dogue online store at www.dogue.com.au.

Betty Babushka and Chester Chipmunk Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Betty Jo seems set to take over the world - now that the Melbourne-based label has been picked up by global brand Paul Smith! Her cute & quirky lino characters already populate many boutiques & gift stores all around the country. Designer Liz Jones has been making jewellery for many years, and creates the Betty Jo range using recycled vintage lino and secondhand buttons. She has always had an interest in found & recycled materials and loves to fossick through op shops.

Sascha Scotty and Bunny Lino Pendants by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

Each piece in the Betty Jo range is handmade so all the creatures have individual personalities & no two are the same. The wide-button-eyed animals are available as badges or pendants, and even the chain used for the pendants has a wonderful retro feel. For an animal-lover like me, it's a hard choice between them - especially when there are soooo many from which to choose! Perhaps, since last night I watched Best In Show again on late night Sunday television, Sascha Scotty will be my favourite today. Cute as a button - just like Winky the Norwich Terrier!

Claude Pussycat and Orlando Owl Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

To find out more about the techniques & tales of Betty Jo Designs, visit www.ambiguoushourse.com/another-cool-artist/ or the Betty Jo Designs blog at www.linoforest.blogspot.com.

Pip Pony and Ronaldo Rabbit Lino Badges by Betty Jo Designs (images from www.georgielove.com)

You will soon find Betty Jo Designs in Paris, New York & London, but if you're looking for something closer to home, her stable of stockists include:

VIC: Scally and Trombone (Fitzroy), Douglas and Hope (Fitzroy & Melbourne City), Queen (Fitzroy & Windsor), Pussy Cat Black (Brunswick), Monk House (Brunswick East), April May (North Fitzroy), The Cats Meow (Melbourne City), Order & Progress (Melbourne City), Craft Victoria (Melbourne City), Dot & Herby (St Kilda), Lupa (Northcote), Meet Me at Mikes (Richmond), Milly Sleeping (Carlton), Hudson (Balaclava), Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), Moustache (Fitzroy), a-nom-a-ly (Belmont)

NSW: Collect (Surry Hills), Incu (Paddington), MCA Store (Circular Quay), Paris Texas (Surry Hills), Body (Woollahra), Mrs Peel (Leura)

ACT: The Hive (Braddon)

SA: Irving Baby (Adelaide), Best Wishes (Parkside), Clubhouse Lane Boutique (Croydon)

WA: Billy & Rose (Fremantle & Mt Lawley), Store (Claremont), Form (Perth)

QLD: Craft Qld (Fortitude Valley), Cairns Regional Gallery (Cairns), Cherry Blossom Bookstore (Paddington)

NZ: iko iko (Wellington)

ONLINE: www.georgielove.com

These wonderful artworks are by Melbourne artist Madeleine Stamer of Little Circus Design. Through her flowing marks & decorative patterns you can sense the energy of both the natural and the supernatural worlds from which she draws her inspiration. Both original works on paper and limited editions of 10 signed & numbered giclee prints are available of each painting (POA). Pictured above is "Dog with Babe", and below "Skeleton Lovers" and "Lucky Fertile Rooster".

I fell in love with Hamb's simply & beautifully drawn illustrations when I read of Simon Obarzanek and his childhood companion, Snippy the sausage dog. Snippy is the inspiration for the Melbourne artist's latest project - a range of clothing including t-shirts, wool jumpers, skirts and accessories. Pictured above is the Street Fighters men's tee, AUD $64. Below is the Butterflybee canvas bag, AUD $50 and an item I hope to be wearing this winter... the Classic Dog wool jumper, AUD $105. The Hamb range is available online at www.hamb.com.au and is also stocked at Currency (Fitzroy), Scarf (St Kilda), Village Idiom (Yarraville), Bolis (Port Melbourne), Hummingbird 60 (Northcote), The Cats Meow (Melbourne), Tarmac 1 (Fortitude Valley), Small Rhino (Hobart), Method Clothing (Perth) & Modern Love (Wellington).