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Mr Panda children's wall art by Look at the Wall

These gorgeous creations are by Melbourne designer Monique Gaspar. She recently launched her label, Look at the Wall, after she was inspired to decorate the walls of her own boy's rooms. She's always loved craft, but working full time as a medical imaging technologist (taking X-rays), she struggled to find enough time. This project, however, expanded quickly into a home-based business which currently offers 10 limited edition designs - each one handmade from a different selection of papers so you know it's unique!

Children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Monique chooses from a vast array of different papers such as handmade and processed papers, magazines, recycled, maps & more... (If anyone wants to find a home for their scrap papers, Monique can put them to good use!)

Cheeky Monkey children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Monique is very flexible, and is more than happy to work with a specific colour scheme or customise an artwork with a child's name. I'm rather taken with the idea of a series of the same design - each one with different details and colour schemes. You can see above how good the different "Cheeky Monkey" designs would look hanging together.

Squirrel children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Look at the Wall collages measure 30 x 30 x 1.2cm and come with a protective polyurethane matte varnish and a sawtooth hanger ready to be hung on your wall. They will surely delight little minds with colours, textures & happy animal friends. Each step of the process has been handmade with love - from initial drawing, to cutting & sanding the wood, then choosing & cutting the paper designs and assembling the collage. Monique likens choosing the complimenting colours to picking out clothes, and considers this the hardest part - not all colours go together!

Cats on a Fence & Hungry Hippos children's wall art by Look at the Wall

Each children's wall art collage is available for AUD $120, from the
Look at the Wall web site, and from the following stockists:

VIC: My Poppet (Caulfield South), 1001 Things for Kids (Carlton North)
NSW: Fragile (Bondi Junction)
SA: One Small Room (Croydon)
ONLINE: Kids Gift List, Wallspace, Urban Child, Beyond Pink and Blue, Beautifly, Shophouse, Giggle Smile Designs, Rosie Pose, Lala Baby, Chic Kids, Mini Echo

[weAREtheIMAGEmakers] is a not for profit online publication which promotes australian artists, illustrators, designers and photographers. The site was launched in 2005 & since then, a new issue has been published online every couple of months, each featuring interviews with some of Australia's most talented artists and photographers. The first official WATIM event was last year's 12x12 exhibition at Sydney's aMBUSH gallery and the time has come for a sequel! (WATIM also held the Grrrls group show which we posted about back in February and have supported many others.)

Artwork by James Hancock, exhibitor in the 12x12 exhibition presented by [weAREtheIMAGEmakers]

12x12 is back with a fresh new line-up of artists from all over the country, and WATIM is taking this visual treat to audiences in both Sydney & Melbourne. As you'll probably have gathered by now, 12 Australian artists were invited to participate, exhibiting 12 artworks created on 12"x12" canvasses. I'm looking forward to seeing the result - it promises to be impressive!

Artwork by ghostpatrol, exhibitor in the 12x12 exhibition presented by [weAREtheIMAGEmakers]

The 12 participating artists are from all around Australia...

apeseven - www.apeseven.com (Sydney)
ghostpatrol - www.ghostpatrol.net (Melbourne)
jae copp - www.soopkichn.com (Gold Coast)
james hancock - www.jamesgulliverhancock.com (Sydney)
jeremyville - www.jeremyville.com (Sydney)
junior - www.flickr.com/photos/juniorland (Melbourne)
luke feldman - www.skaffs.com {Melbourne)
miso - www.cityofreubens.com (Melbourne)
paul meates - www.wasnotme.com (Perth)
plump oyster- www.plumpoyster.com (Brisbane)
sam smith - www.blackbookno1.com (Gold Coast)
smc[3] - www.myspace.com/smc333 (Sydney)

Artwork by apeseven, exhibitor in the 12x12 exhibition presented by [weAREtheIMAGEmakers]

Both Liss of Daydream Lily & Julia of Studio Home Creative posted about miso's amazing work last week. I can't wait to see what she'll be exhibiting at 12x12... and I don't have to wait long at all! 12x12 opens tonight at aMBUSH gallery just one suburb away in Waterloo.

Artwork by jae copp, exhibitor in the 12x12 exhibition presented by [weAREtheIMAGEmakers]

Opening night in Sydney is Friday 20.6.2008, from 6pm - 9pm at aMBUSH gallery with the exhibition continuing until Saturday 5.7.2008. 12x12 then travels to Melbourne to open at no vacancy gallery on Friday 18.7.2008 (6pm - 9pm) and continues until Friday 25.7.2008.

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!

As I listen to that haunting Portishead track, I'm admiring a range of brooches & pendants that also possess a wooden heart. These beautifully crafted jewellery pieces are made by Shonah Tomkins, a Melbourne designer who works with fabric, resin & wood. Her designs are stocked in boutiques around Australia, and a few weeks ago, the Shonah Jewellery Design web site was launched!

All of Shonah's designs feature her original screen printed fabrics or vintage & patchwork fabrics which are mounted on Tasmanian Oak. You can choose a rectangular shaped pendant to highlight the fabric patterns (including various prints from "Baroque Wallpaper", "Oriental" and "Arts & Craft Movement"), or go for gorgeous animal/object shapes including "Indigo Bunting Bird", "Giraffe", "Alpaca" & "Lantern". These are availble in the Arts & Craft Movement fabric options. I adore the Lantern design - the shape is so striking, especially when worn over a dark top... Pictured in both of the images above, it is available as a brooch for AUD $45 or pendant for AUD $77.

Shonah has a flare for textiles, and combined her skills with her passion for unique jewellery to launch her label in 2006. Her pieces begin life in the hands of her father, who hand crafts pieces of Tasmanian oak in a quaint country town. For her new range, Shonah then combines pieces with resin & fabric, and has them laser cut into the quirky animal & object shapes such as the "Indigo Bunting Bird" pictured above (brooch AUD $45, pendant AUD $77).

The Rectangle pendants and brooches are simple & stunning. I particularly like the red/cream design from the Baroque Wallpaper series, pictured below (brooch AUD $35, pendant AUD $55). For more info & fabric options, beautiful photos, or to place an order, visit the brand new Shonah Jewellery Design web site, or check out one of the following stockists:

VIC: Love It (Melbourne City), Luft (North Fitzroy), Body (St Kilda East), Dollhouse (St Kilda), Emia (Sorrento), Kundalini Rising (Fitzroy), Prato (Echuca), Lustre (Ballarat), Manque Design (Westgarth), Queen Clothing (Collingwood & Windsor), Souk Lifestyle (Northcote & Armadale), Sentient Being (Eltham), I dream a Highway (Northcote), Nicola (Armadale), Cactus Jam (Melbourne City, Hawthorn, Port Melbourne)
NSW: Morrison (Sydney)
QLD: D’Pinga (Noosa)
WA: Morrison Fremantle & Claremont
TAS: Lustre (Hobart & Launceston), Inside Home and Gifts (Hobart)
ONLINE: Georgie Love

Well, I didn't have any luck on the horses this Melbourne Cup, but I did find a trifecta of horse-themed goodies to lift the spirits! The Stallion Cuff (above, AUD $78) from Fuzz Design Workshop is bold & beautiful. Made from cast pewter and formed acrylic, this galloper can certainly make the distance.

The etched wooden Hobby Horse brooch pictured above is from popular local label Allira (AUD $35). This young filly shows talent (and a lovely wood grain) but may have trouble finding direction!

In third place is this burgundy bib top from Secret Squirrel Clothing featuring a stampede of brumbies on the front. A fine finish with optional belt detail. It is available for online purchase from YTBA for AUD $80.

Following on from my last post, Meet Tyrone will be part of a group exhibition titled "Animal Conclave", opening this Thursday evening (18th Oct) at Blank Space Gallery in Surry Hills. On display will be new works based on "Animals
in 3D", (the theme of Meet Tyrone's current season tees & hoodies). I'm really looking forward to seeing more of Bill Chen's artworks. He combines his talents as a 3D animator, graphic designer & artist to produce captivating three-dimensional artworks such as the one featured on the flyer above.

Meet Tyrone will be joined by SMC and Striker - the three independent artists collaborating to fuse a rustic earthy theme with street style.

I haven't yet seen the work of SMC and Striker, but the exhibition info describes them as follows:
"SMC is a self-taught artist who uses character based styles & images, concentrating on simple black definite lines & a minimal colour palette...
His influences include 60's comics, cubism & Japanese pop art."
"Like his squid brethren that hide amongst the rocks of the ocean, 'Striker' hides amongst the citizens of the city... Half man, half squid, 'Strikers' images are on the darker side of the ocean."

The exhibition runs from Thursday 18th - Wednesday 24th October. I'll look forward hearing your comments!

These sumptuous, predominantly leather handbags have been hand-crafted by Chenny K, who is based in Adelaide, South Australia. Everything here is a limited edition and each design has its own name and personality. Pictured above is the Flippod leather shoulder bag which is available for AUD $169.
It fastens with a magnetic clasp, and has been designed to stay comfortably around your arm.

Leather was chosen as the main focus for the label due to its strength and textures, as well as being a long lasting material. Chenny K uses a classical approach to design - using simple forms and adding a twist of something new and surprising to make each bag truly unique. They have created an impressively large collection of original designs, all of which reflect the essence of the brand - playful, chic & functional products that make a difference to the way in which a woman feels when purchasing or receiving a Chenny K gift. Pictured above are the Kou (left, AUD $129) and the Future Biscuit leather handbags (right, AUD $139). I particularly love the bold style of the Kou bag with its use of negative space to create handles.

While leather is the signature material of the Chenny K collection, other fabrics such as silk or denim are used to compliment the range. Pictured above are two fabric handbag designs - the Incu .03 (left, AUD $59) and the Scroll .01 (right, AUD $79) which features a wonderfully-shaped wooden handle.

The leather theme is continued above in the Ripe leather bag with its narrow straps and folded edge (left, AUD $99) and the Forever shoulder bag (right, AUD $139). The traditional shape for a handle has been rotated 90 degrees for the Window Wrist .01 (below left, AUD $49), creating both a striking visual shape, and a bag that fits comfortably around your wrist without ever getting in the way. The feature silk panel adds a finishing touch to this creative design. Finally, the gorgeous Camera Bag pictured below (right, AUD $39) may not fit my 30yo SLR, but it would be perfect for your slimline digital camera :) Once again, the detailing is simple, functional, and compliments the design perfectly! The entire range is designed & made in Australia and full descriptions of each bag are available at Chenny K's online store at www.chennyk.com. Delivery is free, no matter where in the world you live and the quality of craftsmanship ensures you will love your purchase for many years to come!

So clever! I love the concept of this table & chair set which is also an ideal size for small apartments & tiny terraces like mine. With a hollow lattice construction, they are strong yet light & are finished with a feature veneer in American Walnut. The Australian designer Michael Hill has sinced moved into the corporate design world & only a couple of these gems are still available. You'll find them a couple of hours south of Sydney, at Berry gallery Flying Pig Precinct. The table retails for AUD $1250 and the chairs AUD $375 each.