Knots and Knits

I met Megan who is behind this gorgeous little label last year at Maryanne Moodie’s Weaving classes up in Brisbane. She has completely cornered the market for these classy yet casual hand knitted bags and clutches in her signature quality rope and brass fittings. She makes every single one of them herself and also releases one off’s and numbered run’s for that ultra unique touch. The label seems to be catching on quite a bit up north, I saw a couple as I was wandering around at Christmas time up in Brissy- its high time we saw a bit more of Knots and Knits coming down Melbourne way! If you want something a bit different, great quality and a perfect summer bag- this is it.

Follow Knots and Knits on Instagram (knotsandknits)to be the first in the know of limited releases, one off releases and new season sneak peeks! I mean the red version limited release around Valentines day was seriously amazing!

Visit and shop Knots and Knits here

The news is….

Ok ok, so I know its now Feb and there has not been a post. Thats what you call all of a sudden having 4 random jobs and an ever recovering chronic fatigue syndromer! I swear if you want a job (or two or three) in fashion, just get a degree in Health! Everyone I went to uni with is in fashion (and something bigger than just in store!), only one of my uni friends is working in Public Health!

The big news of what I have been working on is an online store. I want to bring the best in small business to you. Starting off quite refined and then widening the scope, kids (my all time favourite to shop for) will be the initial venture and then the natural progression into women’s and homewares will ensue. I have BIG ideas so I hope you will follow along for the ride! It is all under a different name (SECRET! For now…) but the adventures will still continue on here, the blog will very much tie in!

What were your big finds over the summer? A lot of places shut up shop in the city but that means some of the holiday shopping and cafe spots get discovered! Share!

Rose St Trading Co

Last post for the year! Such a busy time of year, but if you’re still after a last minute gift then here is the store for you. I’d recommend going in rather than online, there is so much more in store!

Rose St Trading Co.
This gorgeous store has recently moved into Hawthorn. I watched as they moved in and set up just down the road from my work and it is just the kind of store at Glenferrie Road needed. A stunning store full of home wares, women’s accessories, jewellery, art- you get the idea. If you can’t find the perfect gift in here (for a female anyway) then I’m out of ideas! The cushions and lamps are seriously amazing and probably my favourite pieces in the store. You really could be there for a while looking through everything! And if you really love their style then Rose St offer interior design services. Wishing I could have a little bit of everything!

I haven’t been to the Armadale store but I am more than sure it is just as beautiful. You can also Rose St Trading Co stores in Albert Park and in Sydney. Find all the addresses you need to find Rose St Trading Co here

Rose St Trading Co website here and Facebook here (all pics below are from their Facebook page)

Why not have a wander down Glenferrie Road- especially in mid January the street is very quiet because everyone is away but all the stores should be open again after the Christmas break. There are some great shops including some other favourites of mine that are worth checking out- Mozi for well priced home wares and Hoss for luxe fashion and shoes.  And although I am not working there anymore as of very recently, I still say the kids store Petit et Grand is to die for, even if you don’t have kids just go and check out the gorgeous kids fashion!

I am looking forward to bringing you some exciting news in January (with my web luck- probably early Feb). Let me know any of your finds over summer!

           

Night Noodle Market

Coming into summer, there are SO many events in Melbourne, I think I’ll be doubling up for the next few weeks with events that are totally worth checking out!

Night Noodle Market- Melbourne
So the Night Noodle Market shave already been running in Sydney for years. Now it is our turn! From November 18-30th, every night there are Asian street style market stalls set up for dinner including stalls from some of the best Asian restaurants in the city. Food from a range of Asian countries will be represented, you may have to make multiple dinner trips in! Newcomer to Melbourne is Gelato Messina, who make the most amazing flavours of gelato I have ever seen and tasted. (About to open a store in Fitzroy! Maybe I should have written an entire blog entry just on them! I love gelato!!)

Some of the restaurants that will have stalls at the market include Chin Chin, Paperboy Kitchen, Hoy Pinoy and Dumpling Plus. These names don’t mean much to you? Check out the full menu here as part of the Melbourne Good Food Guide. Everyone in the comments here are whinging about the prices compared to ‘street food’ in Asia which is super cheap. When you are getting together some of the best chefs and restaurants in the city I am not expecting to pay $2 for my dinner, but I think they are also missing the point of this being a bit of fun, something different. I love a bit of chaos and atmosphere! Heres hoping the weather improves so we can enjoy it fully!

Night Noodle Markets are being held in the Alexandra Gardens from the 18-30th November times vary but from around 5-9 each night with some nights starting earlier, some open later. Check out the Good Food Guide or Broadsheet Melbourne for exact times.

(photo from Broadsheet Melbourne)

Kuku Design

So I have no idea how I stumbled across this label, there is no website or facebook page- it is all through Instagram! Based out of Melbourne, Kuku Design make wooden pendent lamp shades in an amazing floral type shape. Hard to describe, but there are pictures below. These would look perfect in nursery or kids room with the coloured pom pom trim or minus the pom poms these would look great as a feature light in a lounge or above/on a desk! They are amazingly unique and if you follow the instagram newsfeed you will see that they were experimenting with copper leaf which is exciting- anything with copper leaf is amazing! I’m excited to see where this label grows and goes!

Find and follow Kuku Design on instagram under kukudesign
Contact- info.kukudesign@gmail.com
(All photos are from Kuku Design Instagram)

Lily and the Weasel

Finally, another store you can go and visit! There have been requests for more bricks-and-mortar stores in and around Melbourne to visit! Here you go-

Lily and the Weasel
Visited this little gem recently, it is the shining light amongst the somewhat questionable Swan Street. The perfect store for gifts, I adore their range of ceramics unique kids items. I was after a Kim Wallace Ceramics platter for a gift, I kind of wanted to avoid the postage charge from ordering online (don’t we all- it all adds up!) so hunted down where they were stocked in Melbourne. Surprise surprise I did not leave with the platter as intended but some other beautiful mugs and some serving dishes. My absolute favourites are the crisp white dishes with little sparrow sitting on the side and bright glaze on the inside of the bowl. Simply stunning. There are many great Australian brands in the store including Emily Green‘s necklaces, Angus and Celeste ceramics, Weasel soft toys and Victoria Mason jewellery just to name a few. There is also quite a homage to the area with skipping girl bookends and items vintage printed with the Richmond postcode. Very Melbourne.

A mix of pictures from the Lily and the Weasel website show some of their amazing products, it is definitely worth a visit!

Lily and the Weasel- 173 Swan Street, Richmond

Fictional Objects

Fictional Objects

No I’m not writing about imaginary things. Fictional Objects is a Melbourne based bed linen company that is less than a year old and already doing amazing things!! My personal style fluctuates between very classic almost vintage styles and soft modern prints, so this range is my perfect go to for the softer modern prints. Yellow, coral, navy and soft blacks feature with small print arrows, triangles and spots to create quite a minimal look yet remaining interesting. And the best part? Their ranges go from cot size through to king.

Small runs of each line mean theres no mass producing which is something I personally love and admire, its such a good feeling having something thats not around everywhere!! The designs are made to mix and match, yet I can also see them fitting with many other combinations- I would personally put the yellow pillow cases with just about anything, even clashing with other prints or florals.

I’m yet to try them out but pretty happy to have discovered this range, as soon as the million layers have come off my bed from winter then it will be time for the change! You can also check them out at the next Finders Keepers Market if you missed seeing them there last time!!

Visit Fictional Objects here. (All pics are from their site.)

Fictional Objects

Fictional Objects

No I’m not writing about imaginary things. Fictional Objects is a Melbourne based bed linen company that is less than a year old and already doing amazing things!! My personal style fluctuates between very classic almost vintage styles and soft modern prints, so this range is my perfect go to for the softer modern prints. Yellow, coral, navy and soft blacks feature with small print arrows, triangles and spots to create quite a minimal look yet remaining interesting. And the best part? Their ranges go from cot size through to king.

Small runs of each line mean theres no mass producing which is something I personally love and admire, its such a good feeling having something thats not around everywhere!! The designs are made to mix and match, yet I can also see them fitting with many other combinations- I would personally put the yellow pillow cases with just about anything, even clashing with other prints or florals.

I’m yet to try them out but pretty happy to have discovered this range, as soon as the million layers have come off my bed from winter then it will be time for the change! You can also check them out at the next Finders Keepers Market if you missed seeing them there last time!!

Visit Fictional Objects here. (All pics are from their site.)

Kini Swimwear

I earlier in the year I came across this brilliant Australian business and since it is warming up I thought now was the time to share! I LOVE this idea!!

Kini Swimwear-
How many of us do not fit the regular two piece bikinis, tankinis or whatever swimwear sizes are out there? Need a different size top to bottom? Do you know what you like but just can’t find it? Kini Swimwear may be your answer! (sorry that sounds like a tele-sales pitch) This brilliant idea lets you pick from two piece, tankini or one piece and choose the style, cup shape, embellishment and fabric, then colour it in how ever you like! How great is that?!! The combinations are almost endless! It end up being about the same as buying a pair of Seafolly but the best part is you have something that you have chosen in a style and colour that suits you!! I have spent so long playing around with colours, trims, frills and styles! Have a go, its so fun! I have added pics below of a few designs I came up with just to demonstrate a few of the options. There is a full size guide as well which is very helpful!

Let me know what you come up with!

Kini Swimwear found here

 

 

Bridget Bodenham & Kim Wallace Ceramics

I have a thing for pottery and ceramics. In my collection so far I have many beautiful bone or ceramic teacups, a teapot and a beautiful and unique hand painted bowl from France. And one Polish pottery (blue and white) handmade vase from- you guessed it- Poland. I love all these pieces but most of the teacups are antique family sets that I cannot bring myself to use frequently (and tiny!). So I was excited to come across and love these two talented ladies. They tick all the boxes- small business, Australian made, hand made, stylish and completely functional- none of this only-for-special-occasions business!!

I think sometimes we get in our head that ceramics are still going to be all mass produced wheel spun bowls with paintings like the 90’s Italian pasta bowl theme. The styles of these two artists are quite unique from each other and I hope you love them as much as I do! Both ranges make great unique gifts that are a little bit special (birthday hint hint to sister…)!!

Bridget Bodenham
Bridget makes a wide range of pottery but my all time favourite are her teacups. They are natural clay with a gold handle- I love a touch of gold! There is something about handmade pieces that are amazing, each item is unique and there are no set measurements that can be strictly stuck to. To perfect a style in a casual way is tough, but she nails it. Her items are available in Melbourne at Mr Kilty and she does the rounds of art and pottery markets and exhibitions.

Find Bridget’s site here

Kim Wallace Ceramics
Such a different style to Bridget, Kim imprints lace and patterns in her pieces which are mainly white clay and colour is added to highlight the detail. This collection is a bit more structured but such stunning and classic pieces, I absolutely adore!! You can find Kim’s work at the next Finders Keepers market if you missed her there last time!

Find Kim’s site here

Pictures are from respective websites

Bridget Bodenham teacup and saucer

Kim Wallace Ceramics- simple yet elegant!