"Orbit" silver ring (AUD $135), "Orbit" silver bangle (AUD $265) and "Shadow" silver bangle (AUD $295) by Sydney jewellery designer Bilingual

Pure Wool Beanie with Detachable Flower (was USD $27, now USD $19 for a limited time) from Sheeps Clothing's Etsy store
Since I've spent the last couple of days shivering & freezing, I decided to put together a wish list of winter woolies and cosy clothing that I would like to wear right now, all at once! (As well as a bundle of knits for the whole family - like the sweetest little girl with the cream woollen beanie above.) I went 'virtual shopping' at Etsy and spied treasures from six different Australian sellers: Sheeps Clothing from Melbourne, Heidi and Seek from Melbourne, Me and Tex from Sydney, Lyptis from Melbourne, melpdesigns from Perth and Gaye Abandon from Melbourne (I love her motto, "Remember: belly warm = body warm").
Throughout the next week, I'll be posting my favourite winteries from these lovely labels, so make sure to stay tuned!

Vintage Button Scarflette in Pure Wool (left, USD $36) and Pure Wool Scarflette (right, USD $30) from Sheeps Clothing's Etsy store
Sheeps Clothing offers a gorgeous range of hand knitted accessories in colours and sizes to suit everybody. Each one is slightly different and made to order, specially for you. I really love the vintage button detail on the scarfette above left - and the design looks particularly warm too!
Every item in the Sheeps Clothing range of hats, scarves and hair accessories is lovingly created using 100% Australian pure wool. If you don't see the size or colour you are looking for, just contact them with a custom order...

Set of Two - Sweet Knitted Flower Hair Clips with Fabric Backing (left, USD $7) and Pure Hand Dyed Wool Beanie (right, USD $27) from Sheeps Clothing's Etsy store
When Stacey's boys were babies, she began searching for high quality, great looking knitwear for them, with little luck. Since she comes from a long line of knitters, she began knitting beanies and scarves herself, and experimented with different types & styles. The comments & compliments convinced Stacey to take the next step and launch her own label - and so, in 2007, Sheeps Clothing was born.
Since then the range has been expanded to include adult sizing and a beautiful new range of vintage button accessories. We're excited to hear that the label will be expanding and even exporting to the USA this year!

Pure Wool Open Knit Hat with Flower (left, adult size, was USD $29, now USD $20 for a limited time) and Pure Wool Beanie with Detachable Flower Feature (right, child/teen sizes, USD $27) from Sheeps Clothing's Etsy store
Stacey is passionate about teaching young people to knit and has a series of workshops planned for 2009 to hopefully introduce a lifelong love of the craft.
Find out more about Sheeps Clothing at:
the web site www.sheepsclothing.com.au
the blog www.sheepsclothingknits.blogspot.com
and of course, the store www.sheepsclothing.etsy.com
Sheeps Clothing is stocked in the following retail stores in Australia:
VIC: Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), Little by Little (Black Rock & Hampton), Meet Me at Mikes (Fitzroy), My Poppet (Caulfield South), Noah's Aeroplane (South Yarra), The Owl and The Pussycat (Sandringham) and Scadoodle (Southgate & Melbourne)
SA: Bimbo (Adelaide)
WA: Red Feathers & A Hula Skirt (Melville)
ONLINE: Leeloo.
Hohloma Bird Chain in Ivory, AUD $38.50 (was $55), by A Skulk Of Foxes
You'll need to move as quickly as a fox... or a rabbit... or a hummingbird to catch this one! Indie fave A Skulk Of Foxes is having a ONE DAY SALE where you'll save 30% on the entire range! (Friday 8th May 2009.)

Wolf red acrylic brooch and Hummingbird mirror acrylic brooch, each AUD $12.60 (were $18), by A Skulk Of Foxes
You know we love Melbourne label A Skulk Of Foxes! Launched by jewellery designer Natalie Cirillo in 2006, the label has gained a loyal following, and the silver & resin critters now inhabit shops & galleries across Australia, New Zealand and the UK. (You can also read more in our previous indie art & design posts Forest Dwellers, July 2007 and Skulking Around Melbourne, August 2008.)
Squirrel Studs in Sterling Silver, AUD $62.30 (were $89), by A Skulk Of Foxes
For TODAY ONLY, ALL A Skulk Of Foxes products listed in the online store have been reduced by 30%.
Pagoda Acrylic Brooches, each AUD $31.50 (were $45), by A Skulk Of Foxes
Time is short, so I chose a few of my favourites from A Skulk Of Foxes' new products at www.askulkoffoxes.com.au and got typing straight away! Let us know which pieces are your favourites too...
Rabbit Cufflinks in Sterling Silver, AUD $104.30 (were $149), by A Skulk Of Foxes

Feline Fox necklace in cherrywood, AUD $49.50 by limedrop
Since I first spied the Feline Fox printed tee in Kids in Berlin a few seasons back, I've been in awe of the talent behind Melbourne label limedrop. I'm very happy to report that I now have my own Feline Fox in the form of the sweet cherrywood pendant draped over my neighbour's lime tree pictured above.

Lockface necklace in cherrywood, AUD $49.50 by limedrop
Platform (at LIFE inSTYLE) lured limedrop to Sydney to show off their unique line of cherrywood accessories. The stand was a beacon for those on the prowl for something edgy & cool! The intricate designs have been laser cut & engraved into cherrywood, which is also availble with a black, white, silver or gold veneer finish.

HER: Heart Turtleneck Long Sleeve Sweater (Charcoal) & Pleated Twist Pocket Skirt (Red Fade Check) and HIM: Soft Drape Cardigan (Black Modal), Moosehead T-shirt (White) & Baggy Pants (Cable Knit Print) by limedrop
limedrop's wooden accessories began with a set of hanging mobiles designed for an exhibition at Melbourne's Milly Sleeping (as part of the L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival in 2007). A number of extra hanging pendants were made into necklaces & quickly snapped up by customers!

Sinking Ship necklace in cherrywood with black veneer, AUD $49.50 by limedrop
I love limedrop's fresh & tangy marriage of illustration and jewellery design. The collection has a spirit of fun & adventure, storytelling & romance... just like the tale of the intrepid twosome who brought the label to life. limedrop began as a love story between designers Clea Garrick and Nathan Price. After falling for each other in their hometown in the tropical far reaches of the Northern Territory, they travelled hand in hand to Brisbane, Sydney, and finally to Melbourne, where they launched the label in 2005.

Floaty Fluted Collar Dress (Navy Check Crinkle) & Sateen Racer Jacket (Black Sateen) by limedrop
limedrop's sixth fashion collection entitled "The Huntsman" has arrived for Autumn | Winter 2009. limedrop are known for their use of clear lines, bold colours, structured pieces and curious proportions. I just love the colour & textures of the Floaty Fluted Collar Dress pictured above. Doesn't it make you long for chilly winter evenings?

Doily necklace (AUD $49.50) and Doily pop-out earrings (AUD $39.50) both in cherrywood with gold veneer by limedrop
The limedrop fashion range is both contemporary and wearable - and you know I adore the cherrywood accessories! There is so much energy in this label. Clea & Nathan are a clever pair and I can't wait to see where the fashion world takes them!

T-rex necklace in cherrywood, AUD $49.50 by limedrop GRRRRRR
The limedrop tree branches out to the following locations:
NSW: Our MishMash (Bondi), Via Alley (reopening in Surry Hills, March 2009), Pigeon Ground Records & Clothing (Camperdown)
VIC: Milly Sleeping (Carlton, Melbourne), Kids in Berlin (North Melbourne), In the Woods (Northcote, Melbourne), Lady Boutique (Melbourne City), Pussycat Black (Brunswick, Melbourne),
WA: Atlas Devine (Perth), Ruck Rover (Perth)
QLD: Outpost (Brisbane)
ACT: itrip iskip (Canberra)
ONLINE: Pitbull Mansion
INTERNATIONAL: Slick Willys (Dunedin, New Zealand), Iko Iko (Wellington & Auckland, New Zealand), Epitome (Singapore), Actually (Singapore), Tomodachi (Indonesia)
...and of course, they can be found online at www.limedrop.com.au!

I hope you all had a wonderful break over the holidays! We took some time off over Christmas followed by a camping holiday at Depot Beach (near Bateman's Bay, NSW). As you can imagine, we've returned feeling much refreshed and a little over-excited once again about all things indie...

Guess who has launched a shiny new online store? The well-known & much loved Ruck Rover General Store! Ruck Rover began in 2006 when sisters Claire & Isabelle decided it was time to work for themselves doing what they wanted, playing any music they liked and buying everything they loved.
Well.. they've spent the last two years selling all those things they love, supporting small, independent designers from Australia and all over the world, and making quite a name for themselves in the process.

Outskirts Opulent tee (left) & Broken Eyes tee (right), AUD $69 each.
Ruck Rover General Store has offered the folk of Perth a truly unique shopping experience, and now they've made it a whole lot easier for the rest of us to join in... and look at what I found! The illustrations of Melbourne's Dylan Martorell are incredible, and featured on the Outskirts t-shirts pictured above and below.

Outskirts Fox tee (left, AUD $69) & Ruck Rover Hearts top (right, AUD $20)
My pick of the girls' fashion is the Ruck Rover summer lovin' top (above right), which just happens to be an absolute steal at the moment - reduced from AUD $88 to only $20! Plenty of love there...

Moe Moe earrings, L to R: Flight earrings, Ruck Rover Bird earrings, Tricycle earrings - AUD $29.95 each pair.
Moe Moe earrings are always a favourite, and if you're wondering about those birdies - YES, they are the Ruck Rover signature chirpers.

Sunday Morning Old Map and Plants exercise books, AUD $15 each.
More Dylan Martorell illustrations on these Sunday Morning exercise books containing graph paper pages. I really want some of these for myself, and at AUD $15, they definitely won't break the budget.
Pop over to www.ruckrover.com.au & choose your own favourites from Ruck Rover's selection of womens, mens & babies fashion and accessories, stationery and homewares. Or if you live in Perth, drop by in person to
Shop 4, 595 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, WA, 6050.
Phone: (08) 9228 3502.

Last week, Bilingual launched their new jewellery range, "Cirque" with an exhibition at Gaffa Gallery (Sydney). Once again, the handcrafted designs were inventive and just stunning. Displayed hanging by a red silk thread and framed by a wooden hoop was Act Un, Act Deux and Act Trois. This new collection of unisex pieces draws on the mystery and intrigue of Cirque Nouveau, and each design can be worn as either a pendant or a ring. As rings, the three Acts represent familiar circus elements: Juggling, Contortion and Acrobatics, while as pendants, the rings they represent the surreal spectacle of aerial silk.
I think my favourite from the new collection is Act Deux - a geometric design representing the body bending art of contortion, demonstrating the human body's unique ability to form various shapes. It really gives the sense of constant movement as small changes in your perspective create strikingly different shapes within the piece - especially when worn as a pendant. Looking forward to seeing the new designs on the Bilingual web site soon! Bilingual will also be appearing at the PYD Designer markets at Danks St Waterloo this Sunday 26th October 2008, 10 am - 4pm.
Announcing the WINNER of our Bilingual Giveaway:
Thank you to all our lovely readers who entered this competition! The Instinct Rings are so beautiful, I wish we had set for each of you... However, there can be only one winner and the name drawn from our Chinese clay pot full of entries was Melinda (from Australia) - CONGRATULATIONS! Melinda was one of the 67% of voters who said they'd share the ring set with someone special.
Text Cufflinks featuring section of text taken from a page of the book Vanity Fair, US $62 from www.simonewalsh.com
Simone Walsh is not only a designer of beautiful & very personal jewellery, but she is also a highly skilled craftsperson. For over 15 years, she has been making each piece by hand using a variety of techniques including detailed sawpiercing, etching, repousse, casting and more... She applies her talents to wearable jewellery (as featured here) as well as a diverse array of exhibition pieces when she has the opportunity. This work is more conceptual in nature and has taken many intriguing forms which you can read more about at www.simonewalsh.com. (I was drawn to the series titled "the things my grandmother never told me".)
Victorian Cut Out Pendant, US $68 from www.simonewalsh.com
We first mentioned the work of Simone Walsh when we featured her handmade sterling silver loop chain with each loop carefully hammered into shape. When I heard a couple of weeks ago that she was about to release a completely new range, I couldn't wait to see the new designs...
Victorian inspired jewellery by Simone Walsh
Simone's new range has been inspired by her "fascination with Victorian-era aesthetics - the mish-mash of cultural and historical influences, a hint of modernity and a strong connection between words (or ideas) and visual design and art".
"There is also the mixture of culture with nature which seems to be so much a part of aesthetics from this period - something I also find endlessly fascinating."
Cameo Earrings, US $48 from www.simonewalsh.com
I really love the blackened background effect in the Cameo Earrings (pictured above, US $48). There are so many layers of texture among these silver jewellery pieces - the etched patterns, the combination of handcut shapes, and the varied colours all obtained from the same material. A matching Cameo Pendant is also available (US $62).
Picture Frame Pendant - Rectangle, US $72 from www.simonewalsh.com
Simone sells her jewellery through a number of sites including her own, www.simonewalsh.com and you can also find out more through her blog make me! By the way, don't you think her product photography is incredible? It's no mean feat to capture photographs that represent your products so well - especially when you have shiny, reflective surfaces to deal with! I especially love the setting and lighting for the Text Cufflinks at the top of this post!
Victorian Etched Pendant - Damask, US $68 from www.simonewalsh.com
I am so excited to announce that we have a very special set of Bilingual "Instinct" interlocking rings to giveaway to one VERY lucky reader! I fell in love with the Bilingual label when I first discovered their unique interlocking rings a little over a year ago. Both the designs and the underlying ideas seemed to speak to me on a very personal level, and I'm sure many couples prefer this intimate & understated concept to traditional wedding rings.
This is such a special prize, and the set of rings is valued at $350 (AUD). The sterling silver "Instinct" rings can be linked to form one wearable piece or unified object and worn as a single piece for one, or separated and worn by each individual. If you plan to share - what could make a better gift for your loved one? To enter the draw, simply tell us whether you'd WEAR Bilingual's "Instinct" rings individually, or SHARE them with someone special! Make sure you're registered (quick + free) & logged in, and vote in the box at the top left of this page. Entries close 30.9.2008, and the winner will be drawn on 1.10.2008. Indies from all countries are eligible!
We will tell the tale of Bilingual in a number of instalments throughout September, starting, not surprisingly, at the beginning. The Bilingual collections are designed by Sydney-based Marta Niegowska. By day, she works as an interior designer (who finds herself obsessed with ceilings), and by night she uses the age old form of moulding wax into the sleek, contemporary forms of her unique unisex jewellery.
Born in Warsaw and moving to Australia with her parents when she was 4 years old, Marta always had a desire to create. After graduating from Sydney's COFA, she entred the interior design field, but soon became restless. She explains, "I was producing designs but physically I was just typing at a keyboard. I wanted to make something!"
A set of interlocking rings made for her partner saw the birth of Bilingual. The unusual designs drew attention and Marta found herself taking orders. She soon launched Bilingual at the Powerhouse Museum Youngblood Design Markets during Sydney Design Week in 2005. Since then, the brand has gained quite a following, and Marta has regularly exhibited her work at selected galleries and stores around Sydney.
Marta Niegowska, designer for Bilingual.
Marta works strictly in sterling silver due to its functionality and wearability. Much of her work is created using the 'Lost Wax' process, each design hand carved from wax and then cast in metal. More than just a beautiful adornment, wearers of Marta's designs are drawn to her concepts as much as her craftsmanship.
Integral to each piece is the concept of design for both men and women. Marta sees the unisex form as a way to completely explore an idea. The challenge is to ensure a piece does not become too feminine or masculine, and the designer will wear a design prototype for some months to gauge its functionality and success as a piece for the collection. Due to this extended process, Bilingual releases one concise collection per year. They are certainly worth the wait!
ENTER NOW! To enter the draw for a set of Bilingual's "Instinct" rings, tell us whether you'd WEAR the interlocking rings individually as a unified object, or SHARE them with someone special! Make sure you're registered & logged in, and vote in the box at the top left of this page.
Guess what? We're currently visiting Melbourne with new season samples for our own label, Non-Fiction! In addition to printed womens tees & greeting cards, we've released our first range of mens tees, totes & archival prints. I love travelling around to so many of my favourite boutiques - especially since I don't get to see the Melbourne ones all that often, but it's definitely torture resisting temptation at each stop!
We're so excited about the new prints - we'd love to hear what you think & photos should appear on our web site (www.non-fiction.com.au) within a couple of weeks... Pictured above, clockwise from top left are: "Family Portrait II" womens t-shirt, "Bowerbird" tote, "Satellite" mens t-shirt & "Inka" greeting card (from the Family Portrait series). Hope you like them!
P.S. If there are retailers who stock Australian designers reading, we'd love to hear from you, wherever you are!

Redrum Toddy Suit, AUD $120 and Roary Tartan Toddy Suit, AUD $135 from Toddy Sleepwear
Fun & fantastic, Toddy Sleepwear is a new label with some irresistible designs! These onesies and such have been designed by Melbourne's Michelle Legge and are 100% Australian made, using the softest Australian cotton/lycra fabric (and featuring Michelle's original prints).

Porky Rollo Tartan Shorties, AUD $40, Haggis-Ababa Tartan Singlet, AUD $60, The Amy Toddy Suit, AUD $120 and It's Plaid To See Tartan Cardy, AUD $90 from Toddy Sleepwear
With a bed bug for a logo, unisex designs, and even a bum flap in the signature onesie or "Toddy Suit", Toddy offers an offbeat alternative to the mainstream fare. Michelle sees the Toddy Suit as the ultimate winter pajama - "a practical winter garment and a quirky talking piece rich in retro-culture, the ideal combination for both the comfort and fashion conscious." The Winter 2008 collection is titled "Log Cabin Lullaby". Prepare to be surprised & delighted as murky monsters, bacteria bugs and forest freaks creep out from under your bed... you'll sleep safe & sound in a snugly Toddy Suit for sure!

Roary Tartan Toddy Suit, AUD $135 from Toddy Sleepwear
Completing the Toddy range is a series of sleepwear staples, each treated with a unique design twist to keep things interesting. In keeping with the retro children's pajama theme, Toddy also offers matching PJ sets consisting of lusciously long rib-trimmed leggings and quirky shoulder buttoned long-sleeve tops plus the usual suspects like boxer-style shorties, racer-back singlets & cosy cap-sleeved t-shirt nighties.

Buzzem Fuzzem Tartan Nighty, AUD $70, Haggis-Ababa Tartan Singlet, AUD $60, Blood Runner Tartan Legging, AUD $80, Galaxy Goanna PJ Top, AUD $80 and Orgen Borgen Tartan Legging, AUD $80 from Toddy Sleepwear
Toddy Sleepwear is available from the Toddy web site at www.toddy.com.au, where you'll also find size charts, plenty of cute pics, and... your perfect pajama, of course! So get back in the spirit of pillow fights and bed time stories & make Toddy the perfect excuse to sleep in on a winter weekend!

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