*All prices listed in Australian dollars with GST included.

*All prices listed in Australian dollars with GST included.

*All prices listed in Australian dollars with GST included.

*All prices listed in Australian dollars with GST included.

Our Non-Fiction "Family Portrait" greeting cards - Inka the Birman cat, George the rat, Arthur the zebra finch and Henry the rabbit.
(These little characters are all pets of childhood friends!)

Gift Fair Fever swept through Sydney over the weekend with buyers from all over Australia (& beyond) flocking to Darling Harbour, Homebush and Moore Park. We were exhibiting at the fairest of them all, at LIFE inSTYLE. Having met new stockists and made new friends over the last five days, we thought it was time to introduce some of them to you! Stay tuned for a flood of posts over the next week or so...

Hudo Earring Rise / Slot - 4.5mm stem & 10mm base UV stabilized acrylic 65mm, 105mm & 145mm heights.

First though, I have a find for you! If you're a fellow maker/designer, you'll know how difficult it can be to get great product shots... When we were planning our product photos for LIFE inSTYLE, we went hunting for props that would suit the style of our cards - not just the usual retail display fare. We found the black perspex Spindle Set used in our "Family Portrait" greeting cards image (top) at www.hudo.com.au. Hudo manufactures a large range of sleek & stylish retail visual merchandising products - which, of course, are also perfect for photography props & trade fair displays.

Hudo UV stabilized 20mm clear & 10mm black acrylic - 170x150x150mm with 120mm high animal silhouette available in Deer, Doberman & Schnauzer.

The Hudo range is made from acrylic (perspex) and there are pieces to suit a large variety of products - from wall shelves, to magazine racks, risers, cute canine bookends, an innovative "belt bar", bag stands, an enormous selection of jewellery display pieces + more...

Hudo Leaning Wall Shelf - 25mm UV stabilized acrylic 2000mm x 240mm x 220mm.

Hudo products are all manufactured locally, and they have been supplying to stores across Australia for more than a decade. In fact, you've probably seen their products in the glossy pages of many Australian interiors magazines.

Hudo Ring Rings - 10mm thick UV stabilized acrylic available in two sizes of 30mm & 38mm diameter + Ring and Bangle Arcs - 3mm UV stabilized acrylic 55mm, 75mm & 120mm lengths with 5mm, 10mm & 15mm wide slot.

Most importantly, the service is top-notch! You'll find Hudo at:
Suite 1, 6-8 Pacific Hwy, St Leonards, NSW 2065. These cool acrylics are made to order, so make sure to phone 02 9966 5591, fax 02 9966 5960 or make contact via www.hudo.com.au for pricing & orders.

Hudo Belt Bar - 25mm thick UV stabilized acrylic available in two sizes (laser etch example only).

Congratulations to Claire Suzy Stannard whose exhibition, 'Version 1' at Gallery Adagio (Glebe), was really impressive! Little red dots were scattered throughout, which is always great to see on an opening night, and there were quite a few pieces that I wanted to take home - such as the pink acrylic wall pieces pictured above!

The bronze pieces were smaller than I expected from the images I'd seen previously, and the scale worked really well. You can see more of Claire's work at www.clairesuzystannard.com - from here you can choose to visit her art + design site (to see more of her sculptural work) or visit Stannard Inc to see her "mens & womens urban accessories". (Check out The Bronze Age range!!)

I'm looking forward to seeing lots more of Claire's work in the future! If you attended the exhibition, we'd love to hear your comments...

Accessories by Two Ladies + 1 Bird, who are exhibiting at the Wonderkind Bazaar at RMIT 8.10.2008 (sponsored by indie art & design).

As the Wonderkind Bazaar is nearly upon us, we'd like to share with you some of the thoughts & motivations of three of the stallholders - Two Ladies + 1 Bird, Reece A. Duncan and Julia Pattenden. Hope you enjoy these mini-interviews & there's more to come very soon... (P.S. Isn't the X-Ray lamp brilliant?!)

Two Ladies + 1 Bird

I 1. What motivated you to take part in the Wonderkind Bazaar?

2L+1B The opportunity to share our designs with the public and our passion for radical & funky styles. Also to know that there are people who would appreciate it out there.

I 2. Describe your process & products for us!

2L+1B We use plastic beads and heat them to make accessories. We mainly do necklaces and pins/brooches. Custom-made designs are also available to order.
P/S: Products are made with love!

I 3. What are you most looking forward to at the Bazaar?

2L+1B SALES!
(But also to help make the Wonderkind Bazaar a success!)

I Also make sure to check out the Two Ladies + 1 Bird Blog for heaps more fantastic plastic designs!

Lamp by Reece A. Duncan, who is exhibiting at the Wonderkind Bazaar at RMIT 8.10.2008 (sponsored by indie art & design).

Reece A. Duncan

I 1. What motivated you to take part in the Wonderkind Bazaar?

RAD The Wonderkind Bazaar is exactly the kind of DIYFS (Do it your fucking self) industriousness that everyone needs to get behind. These days trends are so homogenized. Wonderkind is a cure for unimaginative purchasing. Wonderkind could be huge if RMIT and the wider community of Melbourne take it into their hearts. And well they should. Even traditional places like the Vic Market started as a few farmers with stalls. I love Melbourne and our street culture so much that this was too good not to get behind.

I 2. Describe your process & products for us!

RAD I like products with something to say. Not always good things, but something at least. Most of my products come with stories. The "Corporate Punishment" shirts clearly tell a story. The X-Ray lamps come with a story too. Same goes for the randmfoto coasters and a lot of the other stuff that I'll have for people to peruse and purchase.

I 3. What are you most looking forward to at the Bazaar?

RAD I'm looking forward to the communal spirit, really. People admiring and checking out each others' handy works. Buying things that speak to them, laughing at things that tickle their humour. Enjoying the experience. I know everyone will want to see what the stallholders will be bringing to the table for themselves.

Handmade softie by Julia Pattenden, who is exhibiting at the Wonderkind Bazaar at RMIT 8.10.2008 (sponsored by indie art & design).

Julia Pattenden

I 1. What motivated you to take part in the Wonderkind Bazaar?

JP My bestest friend sent me a cheeky email on the day that the Wonderkind Bazaar form was due in. With it she had attached the form and the guideline and requirements. The email read:

"Hey Jules,
Thought you may be interested in setting up a stall with your badges and cutie stuff?
Charlotte xx"

Intrigued, I had a look at the 'guidelines and requirements' document and read about the Wonderkind Bazaar. I love markets, I love people and I love arts and crafts. This all seemed too fun to miss!

I 2. Describe your process & products for us!

JP I love little creatures. This led me to drawing them and stylizing them. I also have a habit of buying pretty floral fabrics and colorful buttons. Put these things together and you've got yourself a little soft toy badge, or as I like to call them, 'Your New Friend'.

I 3. What are you most looking forward to at the Bazaar?

JP Seeing other people’s beautiful creations and chatting with lovely people. It is also a great opportunity to showcase my work and get some feedback on it and possibly suggestions for future pieces.

Bridget Bodenham, Crackers, 2008, unglazed, sculpted, cut and pierced high fired stoneware clay.

The Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award Exhibition 2008 showcases some of Australia's most exciting, outward-looking and globally focussed
design. Recognised as the most prestigious award in Australian design, the show opens tomorrow at Object Gallery in Surry Hills (Sydney) and continues until 2.11.2008. There are 10 finalists, and we're giving you a sneak peak of just four of the works here - I don't want to spoil the surprise for those of you who can make it in person! (Each designer is represented by their Award entry as well as other designs from their broader body of work.)

Pictured above is "Nutcrackers" by Bridget Bodenham. These forms are directly influenced by the movement of grinding, cracking and crushing. They refer to the prehistoric or early food gathering cultures where food preparation was a physical act deeply connected to the environment and fundamental to the wellbeing of society. Bridget developed the forms through an intuitive play approach to weight, shape & surface texture. I particularly love the warm, muted earth colours and surface design!

John Hoogendoorn, Aurora Lamp, 2008, opal acrylic.

John Hoogendoorn's "Aurora Lamp" (pictured above) explores ideas in strengthening the emotional bond between objects and the user. It is made from acrylic layers representing the letter 'J'. Each part is twisted in relation to its neighbour to allow a complex 3D form to materialize from simple two dimensional components.

Trent Jansen, Kissing Pendants, 2008, pressed aluminium, CAD drawing.

The design of Trent Jansen's "Kissing Pendants" (above) is so simple - and brilliant! I would love to have these guys illuminating my personal space. The Kissing Pendants were designed as a sustainable piece of lighting, aiming to be involved in a lasting personal relationship with their owner, fostered by the human characteristics that this piece possesses. The pendants are an expression of the intimacy that exists between two people when they kiss. When the lights are off, the two shades hand separately, side by side, but when pushed together are held by a magnetic attraction. A magnetic reed switch then turns the lights on simultaneously.

Christina Waterson, Plexa Module, 2007, stainless steel.

"Plexa#1" (above) is Christina Waterson's series of interlocking modules that allow the individual to experiment, reinvent and personalise their surroundings. As modules are interlocked, the natural geometries that stem from material properties create elusive forms and surfaces. Plexa#1 is designed to use the otherwise useless strips leftover from industrial sheet processes and cutting.

If you live in Sydney, do get along - admission & inspiration are free! The Bombay Sapphire Design Discovery Award Exhibition 2008 is on at Object Gallery from 6.9.2008 to 2.11.2008. (St Margarets 417 Bourke Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010. T. 02 9361 4511)

Fozi is the new credit card sized tripod designed by Timetale to improve your digital camera snapshots! This incredibly convenient little gadget folds flat so you can carry it everywhere you go. When presented with a photo op, simply unfold Fozy & fasten the hinge to create a stand suitable for digital cameras, phone cameras or even media players. Made from polypropylene, the Fozi features three main supports and a variety of little plastic teeth. It has been designed to hold your camera in a number of different ways and the hinge has been tested to last more than 1000 full reversals. Especially good for low light situations, you could use Fozi to take photos out on the town, or perhaps at dinner with friends - including ALL of your smiling faces of course! (By using Fozi with your camera's self-timer.)

The Fozi tripod is available in 7 different colours: pink (as pictured above), blue, red, black, white, clear & clear striped. It is availble to purchase from the Timetale web site & the price is hard to believe - AUD $5.95 including postage to anywhere in Australia! That certainly won't break the Christmas budget...

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'.