Welcome to a new week! I hope you had a wonderful weekend!




Let's kick the new week off with the F's....




Felt

Felt is a fabulous online marketplace for New Zealand designers and craftspeople to promote their handmade work and connect with buyers.

Owner, operator and designer, Lucy Arnold is the driving force behind Felt. Lucy's desire to promote 'handmade' as a consumer choice grew from a keen interest in the workings and integrity of making a living from producing handmade goods.

The Felt marketplace features a whole spectrum of products. The last time I checked there were 19 categories and 62 sub-categories - ranging from Clothing to Art, Toys to Textiles - there is something for every part of your home (and body!).

Check out Felt and support Handmade...

L-R: Olive Dotty Baby Booties by PedroSprout, Floral Bloom Swing Tags by MJBooks, Little Forest Pin by InMyBackyard.


(images from Felt)


NOTES:
Shop online at Felt
Read the Felt blog


Flat Pack

Don't you love how you can just about buy ANYTHING flat packed these days, and there are so many fabulous choices..

I thought I would showcase this Stool / Small Table. What I love about these stools /small tables is their simplicity in design, yet the finishing and detail of the prints are intricate and creative.

Named the 'Zaishu', this clever little Stool / Small Table by Matthew Butler and Helen Punton is designed and made in Australia from native plantation pine. Each Zaishu is hand painted or printed using water-based inks and varnish. Zaishu also feature artwork from various community groups and showcases endangered tribal art and hand painted work from the last of the Bollywood artists.

(images from Zaishu)


NOTES:

To see the complete range and /or to purchase visit Zaishu
Also see reform school for more information and to purchase the 'TribeWanted Baby Zaishu' with the proceeds benefiting the Mali District School (in Fiji), supporting arts and sustainability education.


Extra: Visit the Ponoko blog for some fabulous flat pack furniture and some outdoor equipment for kiddlies..




Frazier&Wing Mobiles

Who would of thought that cutting up some glossy's could result in something as beautiful as these mobiles by Frazier&Wing.

Designer / Artist Heather Frazier established Frazier&Wing in 2006. Her gorgeous mobiles are constructed using carefully selected imagery from magazine pages. Each piece is hand cut and strung with mono filament - taking up to eight hours to make. Each one is a true labour of love.

(images from Frazier&Wing)

NOTES:
To view the whole collection and / or to purchase visit Frazier&Wing
International Shipping is available.



Finches (and other birds)

I was browsing around etsy - as you do - and came across 'FromTikiWithLove'. I am not sure of the name of the clever person behind 'FromTikiWithLove', but her illustrations are beautiful.

What we do know about her is from her profile - "I am a 25 year old medical illustrator who lives in the burbs of Chicago. When I am not drawing hearts and guts, I enjoy illustrating and painting birds. I have a parrot named Tiki and a backyard full of bird friends that visit my utopia of feeder."

Here's the goodness...

L-R Top Row: A Pair of Goldies, Big Blue. Bottom Row: Yell-O Blackbird, Bonjour, Lil Robin.


(images from FromTikiWithLove)


NOTES:
Visit FromTikiWithLove's Blog
To see the complete collection and or to purchase, visit FromTikiWithLove's Etsy Shop
Extra: For all your Bird related Goodies, visit The Fat Finch.

UPDATE: August 08' ** New Information**
I have recently discovered CG Arts -

"Carolina Gudanowski runs C.G. Arts, a company providing medical illustration services, and just recently bird art! Carolina started her Etsy store, From Tiki with Love, in 2008, to showcase and sell her bird art creations. Visit the shop www.fromtikiwithlove.etsy.com or shop from this site, using PayPal checkout."

So there you go, From Tiki With Love is the fabulous work of Carolina Gudanowski : )



Monday's Art Find..

It's Monday again, which means I get to showcase an artist (or in this case two!).


This Weeks Art Find: Tim and Tigerlily Biskup

I was so inspired the other day after a visit to one of my daily reads - sfgirlbybay - that I showed the post to my son (aged 5) who also got all excited, and we are now working on an exhibition to have together!

The post in question was about Tim and Tigerlily Biskup and their current exhibition (finishes on July 27th) at the Grasshut Corp Gallery in Portland Oregon.

The father and daughter duo (Tigerlily is aged five), have contributed 40 new works to the exhibition that they have worked on individually and together.

This is Tigerlily's first show, while her Dad Tim has been exhibiting far and near and all over the world. Tim said "We've been drawing and painting together since (tigerlily) was able to hold a crayon. We've always been inspired by each others art, so the idea of doing a show together was inevitable."

Thanks so much sfgirlbybay and Tim and Tigerlily for the inspiration!

(Clockwise from top left: Helpers, Faces, Painting 350 and Animal Parade)


(images from Grass Hut Corp Gallery)

NOTES:
To view Tim and Tigerlily's exhibition pieces visit Grass Hut Corp Gallery.
To view more of Tim's work visit Flopdoodle
Read Tim's blog.


And that's it for Monday!! See you tomorrow for G!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Here are some E's to end the week on - Enjoy!

Eon

Iconic Auckland Design Store Eon, started its life in 1999. It was created to house and expose the talent and creativity displayed by New Zealand designers.It's founder, Angela Roper (a talented designer herself), has committed herself and her business to the NZ design industry.

Eon's growth has seen it move twice - from it's original store in Kingsland, to Freemans Bay in 2002, and then most recently to it's new 650m2 space in Old Sofrana House in the Britomart Precinct

Eon has an online store, (thank goodness) which effortlessly brings it's collection to the world. Housing New Zealand's largest collection of locally designed furniture, homewares and design pieces, there is something for every part of your home - From outdoor furniture like the Stuzzi to the beautiful Maraetai Grey dinnerware.

NZ design is definitely something to celebrate - and Eon gives us the opportunity to grasp it with both hands!

Here are some goodies from Eon's online store:

Clockwise from top left: Marcia Scott Kitset Stools, Nautilus Light, Dom Hall Table, Bol Polycarbonate Fruit Bowls, Angie Dennis Pohutukawa, Stuzzi, Sweet Pea Handmade Toys

(images from Eon)

NOTES:
Visit Eon at Old Sofrana House, 16 Customs Street East, Britomart. Auckland

or shop online anytime (they ship just about anything to just about anywhere!)

Eeboo

We can't go past the E's without mentioning Eeboo.

Eeboo has been one of our staple brands over in the Apple of My Eye Collection. The complete range is a stroke of genius - with a winning combination of colour and vitality, a splash of style and a good dose of superb illustration. Each piece is the perfect addition to a child's room.

Here are my favourite picks from the range:

Clockwise from top left: Counting Bird Wall Cards, Squirrel Notebook, Fireman Growth Chart and Animal Bingo

(images from Eeboo)

NOTES:
To see tte complete range, visit Eeboo.

For NZ stockists, see Lil Boutique

Or, to purchase in NZ, visit Apple of My Eye

Esther Diamond

When you are (like I am), a sucker for gorgeous linen (and the odd bunny or two) - you can't go past Esther Diamond.

Based in the Hawkes Bay, Sandi Reefman produces the fabulous Linen range 'Esther Diamond'. Sandi's collection reflects the qualities of her Grandmother, after whom the range is named -

"Esther was very self-sufficient and retained a staunchness and sense of humour to help her survive. These qualities that made Esther the woman that she was are reflected in today in Esther Diamond products."

Sandi also collaborates with some fantastic NZ artists to produce a range of unforgettable and iconic products...

I am only going to give you a taste of what is available because I want you to go and have a look!

L-R:Bunny Bed Linen and Dick Frizzell Lamp Shade

(images from Esther Diamond and Eon)

NOTES:

The Esther Diamond website is well worth a look (even if you aren't a sucker for gorgeous linen and bunnies! The photography on it is beautiful!

For stockists see HERE
If you are after a 'rather accommodating' place to stay in the Hawkes Bay - visit Esther's Place.

Eye Candy from Etsy

If you arent an Etsy fan already, it's about time you were.. here's a few goodies to get you started.. I had to stop at 4 otherwise I would get carried away.... enjoy!!

Some Print - Tara Hogan and Belle and Boo

and some Ceramics - The Runny Bunny and Paige Russell

Go on - get on over to Etsy and have a look!

and tomorrow?? well, it's the weekend here, so see you back on Monday for F : )

This is where I live.. here's hoping for a weekend of sunshine, so we can enjoy it!

Titahi Bay by Jake Faulkner

See you Monday!