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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, GEORGIE LOVE!
It's been two years today since Sally & George (her gorgeous mutt) launched www.georgielove.com, the first Australian online store to stock local handmade goodies & promote Australian emerging artists & designers!

"Life Aquatic Earrings" by Trove, AUD $30, and "Double Dove Necklace" by Erana & Daska, AUD $60 from www.georgielove.com

To celebrate this milestone, Georgie Love has kindly given us a $50 gift voucher - to be won by one lucky indie reader! The winner then gets to go shopping & choose whatever takes their fancy from the Georgie Love lineup. (By the way, there are plenty of products for the boys, too!)

"Moths Wall Hangings" by Made by White, AUD $70 from www.georgielove.com

Entering couldn't be easier...
All you need to do is tell us whether you're a CAT PERSON or a DOG PERSON. (There's even a third "non-committal" option for those of you who can't or dare not decide!)

"Robot Notecards" by Dudley Redhead, AUD $8, and "Quilted Wrap" by wife, AUD $150 from www.georgielove.com

Though I don't think I'll be eligible to win, I couldn't help but browse through the Georgie Love treasure trove & think about what I might choose if I were about to spend that voucher... Hope you like my picks! Of course, you can visit www.georgielove.com to make your own choices - if there's something that catches your eye, why not leave us a comment...

I think these are my favourites! I've had my eye on them for quite a while... "Lady Stitch Studs" by Sweet Dreams & Monsters, AUD $20 from www.georgielove.com

Entries will be open until the end of April (30.4.2008), so if you're not already an indie art & design member, register now, and VOTE on that all-important poll! Both the winner and the poll results will be announced in the first week of May. I'm certainly looking forward to it! (Can you guess which way I'll be voting?)

"Grumpy Rabbit Spotty Coin Purse" by Pocket Carnival, AUD $20 from www.georgielove.com

Bird Song 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by by Linogirl (sold).

These ceramic pieces by Linogirl are just so lovely! I'm really taken by the ceramic disk pictured above, titled "Bird Song", even though I know that it has just been purchased by another lucky Linogirl admirer... "Down the Garden Path" is an exhibition currently showing at Mad Gallery featuring the work of Kerry Scheen. On display are Kerry's small (8cm) and large (14.5 cm) hand painted ceramic disks which are designed to hang and are double sided. She describes them as "what one might find in a true garden one that hasn't been affected by toxic herbasides and pesticides".

First Bird in Spring Ceramic Pendant by Linogirl, AUD $60.

"Down the Garden Path" is showing until February 24th, and the gallery is located in Lancefield - part of the Macedon Ranges shire and 1 hour from Melbourne heading towards Bendigo. Kerry is lucky enough to work from her home studio in the Macedon Ranges. I have no doubt that her own garden provides plenty of inspiration for her whimsical, cheerful imagery.

Sebastian 8cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $115.

The ceramic disks on display are an extension of Linogirl's range of wearable ceramic objects. The disks, pendants, brooches & rings are all handmade and one-off pieces, each with it's own character and beauty. I'm sure some of you have visited Kerry at the Linogirl stall at the Rose Street Artists Market in Fitzroy, or perhaps spied her pieces in Brunswick Bound (Brunswick, VIC), Louey & Lane Gallery (Glenhuntly, VIC) or Two Birds in the Bush (Woodend, VIC).

Small Bud Ceramic Brooch by Linogirl, AUD $40.

A selection of Kerry's ceramic jewellery is also available to purchase through her web site at www.linogirl.com.au. A Linogirl ceramic object would certainly make a special, unique gift (or gift to self)!

Search 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $220.

I really love the dual textures of the hand shaped ceramic and the hand painted images used throughout the Linogirl collection. The contrast between the two is shown beautifully in the ceramic disk above, titled "Search". I love the colours too... and the gorgeous surprised expression on the girl's face.

Ping 8cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $115.

If you live near Melbourne, make sure to visit "Down the Garden Path" sometime in the coming week! Mad Gallery is located at 19 High St, Lancefield, VIC. (Ph. 03 5429 1432) Apparently, they serve fantastic coffee, so all the better!

Collecting 14.5cm Ceramic Disk by Linogirl, AUD $220.

We had a wonderful time in Melbourne, and somewhere between hijinks with Fritz Herbert the daschund puppy and $4 pizzas at Bimbo Deluxe, we found time for some shopping! Among my favourite finds were these impressive lightshades by designer Alex Earl. Both the "Lionfish Lightshade" (pictured above) and the "Butterfly Lightshade" (pictured below) are currently in the window of Wilkins & Kent, 230 Brunswick St, Fitzroy. The Butterfly Lightshade retails for AUD $275, while the Lionfish Lightshade is available in two sizes - small for AUD $185, large for AUD $285. To view more of Alex's work, visit his web site at www.alexearl.com.au.

Non-Fiction is hitting the road and travelling to Melbourne next week. We will be in town from Monday May 7 through to Thursday May 10. We're looking forward to meeting with retailers and showing off our t-shirts for Spring 2007 | Summer 2008 and our new range of gift cards, including the Green Grocer Cicada design pictured above. If you are interested in our product range, we'd love to meet you! Drop me a line at cp@non-fiction.com.au or call us on 02 9565 1997.

For those of you who are yet to discover this wonderful site, Moose: Art for Living is all about creative people. It showcases work by incredible artists from all over Australia and each item sold comes with a small Artist Profile so you can become an expert on the pieces you purchase! The web site itself is a breath of fresh air - the minimalist design allows you to browse the artworks almost in a gallery style fashion. The online store currently stocks art, jewellery, fibre and ceramic works.

Recent additions to the artist lineup include jewellery designers Lola&Bailey (pictured above), and Bowkett Brooches (pictured below). The "Dali Pendant" (above left) and "Broadhurst Pendant" (above right) feature in Lola&Bailey's first collection of dynamic jewellery pieces. Their pendants are precision cut in perspex, and finished with Sterling Silver rivets, silk cord and nifty magnetic clasps. Each pendant displays multiple personalities as the wearer can choose to tie the cord along any part of the piece, transforming it into something completely different. (Pendants are AUD $65 each.)

Sandra Bowkett's range of ceramic jewellery features delicate, detailed images hand-applied to brooches made from Southern Ice Porcelain. She is passionate about creating objects that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also contribute to the user's sense of enjoyment, and Bowkett Brooches do just that. "Butterflies Brooch 1" (AUD $28) and "Red Rose & Cobalt Brooch 1" (AUD $32) are uniquely styled and would make very personal gifts.

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).

Sweet Papillon is Nicole Sharratt's Byron Bay boutique, from where she creates exquisite handmade jewellery pieces which she describes as "classic, detailed, timeless and very feminine". She began with market stalls in Sydney and now has stockists throughout Australia and internationally. I've pictured three pieces from her web site as I couldn't possibly choose just one favourite. Above are her Green Dragonfly Earrings with forest green diamontes (AUD $86). Pictured below is the gorgeous Bird Jewel Box (AUD $54) which I'm thinking would make a great gift for a friend I have in mind..., and the Oriental Charm Necklace (AUD $169.99) of which the reds are so sumptuous.