mondocherry fabric coming soon...

We have been working on some exciting new projects behind the scenes at mondocherry and we thought we would share a little preview as to what we have been up to. For a long time we have been dreaming of creating a range of fabric to compliment our artworks and we have finally put the wheels in motion. Based originally on the sketches Sue does while on the phone, we have been modifying, spending late nights swotting up on computer software, and discussing colours till we sound like a Pantone colour chart! We are still in the baby stages of getting samples (Joy was so excited to see them rolling off the machine below) and planning products, but with help from the gorgeous girls from Frankie and Swiss and all two tonne of Florence, things are moving quickly. We'll keep you posted!

photocopying fabric...

There are lots of different things you can use when you run out of wrapping paper - newspaper, maps, and even aluminium foil. But one trick we sometimes use for small gifts is to photocopy fabric. We love our Canon all-in-one printer copiers which reproduce the colours pretty well. You can use just about any fabric you might have lying around or even iron out a favourite patterned skirt, dress or pillowcase! Just add ribbon or tape to finish the present off.

We have been experimenting with other uses for the beautiful paper that results from photocopied fabric. The idea for these paper boats came from the inspiring book Ganz in Liberty which is full of creative uses for liberty fabrics... we just wish we could read German! Wouldn't these boats look beautiful as place cards for a special party or even just sailing along a mantlepiece or sideboard? Paper chains and bunting can also be whizzed up quickly without having to take a trip to a shop for specialty papers.

So, get those machines warmed up and let us know what you make!

PS. If you need a refresher on how to make paper boats, you can find the instructions here.

time for some pastels...

One of the things that we all enjoy about our mondocherry work is the diversity of what we do. One day we might be working with vintage papers, giving our scissors and hands a really good workout, but the next day our desks might be almost buried under beautiful fabrics and shiny sequins. We might go from spending many hours creating an extra large artwork, to sewing up a handful of our business cards which are wonderful for almost instant creative gratification!

Just lately I seem to have been working with a lot of bright, saturated colours, so it has been a real pleasure to create a pastel artwork for a change. This 3d blossom heart (created from lots of tiny hand-cut hearts) was inspired by these sweet little bowls and egg cups that Mum brought back from her home in Dubai.

Pop over to our website to see examples of this artwork in other colours, or email us if you have a particular request!

kate lauren designs...

Setting up a nursery for the first time is very exciting, and a big part of creating the overall decorating scheme is choosing the linen. It can sometime be hard to find something that is soft enough for bub and yet stylish enough for the parents! We are very impressed by the beautiful range from Kate Lauren Designs which includes timeless cot linens, super-soft blankets, cushions , lamps and co-ordinating decor. They are all designed by the very lovely Julie, who, with three children of her own, knows just what every stylish baby and small child needs. Have a look at the delightful Bella Grace cushion which one of Clare's daughters loves so much she carries it all around the house with her!

The Kate Lauren Designs website is due to launch any day now, but in the meantime you can see the whole range on Facebook.

time to get organised - part one...

Work space and playroom...

Being creative equates to being messy - something I struggle with on a daily basis. Working from home definitely has its advantages, especially the flexible hours while my two children are still young. However, sharing a workspace with my children's playroom means that we can all create an enormous amount of mess in a very short time. Piles of my fabric and paper snippings, together with the kid's lego, crayons and playdough, can become more than a bit overwhelming if not contained.

While I have no desire to live in a showroom house, I certainly feel much better when I know that there is a place for everything to return to at the end of the day. So my philosophy this year has been to spend less money on 'stuff' and instead I've invested in some decent storage (and quite a lot of time!).

Without a doubt, the key to getting organised is ridding yourself of excess stuff. I try to follow the rule that if something is purchased or brought into the house, then something must be given away or disposed of! This doesn't always happen of course, but I try to apply the rule whenever I can.

My work space is finally operating efficiently thanks to an enormous number of kikki.k storage boxes and folders. I could not bring myself to buy these all at once, so instead I have been treating myself to a couple each week, building up this collection over time.

I have also been organising the children's art. Bigger drawings and paintings are kept in A3 storage boxes while their special drawings are kept in these ring binders - one for each year (starting from age 3) for each child.

When my son was young we purchased the large Expedit bookcase from IKEA (shown below) and I cannot sing it's praises enough for organising all the toys, books, etc. My kids know where to find everything and can pack it all away again. The colour co-ordinated books might be too much for some, but they make me happy! These books are obviously too high for my kids to reach, but I make sure they always have a selection on their level, and both also have bookcases in their bedrooms.

So bring on the mess! I can cope knowing that I can pop everything back in its place when I need to. I would love to hear your tips on organising and will share some more of mine in a future post.

rustic roses...

I'm busy packaging orders today - not my favourite job, but one made a whole lot more enjoyable by these beautiful roses sitting on the table nearby. I love displaying flowers in this very rustic box, picked up at a market years ago. The rough box highlights the softness of the petals and the vibrant colour of the roses almost glows when compared with the dark wood.

Do you have something beautiful brightening up your day?

crate expectations...

Don't you just love a shop where there are gorgeous new items every time you visit, you can always find the perfect gift, and you feel at home when you walk through the door? Crate Expectations in Malvern is a favourite haunt of Joy's for all these reasons, and over the 15 months she has lived in Melbourne she has visited often! Here are a few photos to give you a feel for the shop... make sure you put it on your "to do" list when you are next in Melbourne.

So much to see, so little time!

These beautiful blues brought a touch of the seaside to a cold Melbourne day.

This display would be perfect for a hallway. The light shining through those bottles and vases was stunning.

We loved this classic sofa piled high with colourful cushions in the window.

Unexpected colour combinations are so inspiring.

Beautiful packaging in glass bowls.

Colourful baby toys with personality!

A divine choice of pampering products and candles.

magnificent Melbourne...

We've been having such a lovely day hanging out together - not something we get to do very often now. Melbourne is well known for its cool winter days, gorgeous shops, and fantastic coffee, all of which we experienced today. We even managed to fit in a facial!

We are surprisingly organised for tomorrow's Boutique Markets in Hawthorn, and so were able to keep today free to have some fun while our wonderful husbands looked after our children.
First up was a spot of window shopping at some of Joy's favourite homeware shops including the divine Crate Expectations in Malvern which is so gorgeous it deserves its own post (coming next week).

Coffe at Phillappa's was just what we needed by mid-morning. If you haven't tried their tomato chutney, you have to track down a jar. It is seriously addictive!

We spent our afternoon being pampered, and enjoying more window shopping and are now back home packing up our artworks, cards and decorations ready for market tomorrow. Please pop in for a visit between 9am and 1pm if you are somewhere close by.

Off to get ready for dinner on Chapel St with our lovely bloggy friends, A-M, Rachael and Taryn - a great way to finish off a fantastic day.

and

makeover for a $5 chair...

I couldn't walk past this little chair '(before photo' shown below) at a chairty shop, despite it's slightly wonky leg and lack of comfy cushion. I knew it would be the perfect compliment to my daughter's dressing table, which was also a second hand bargain. My husband did all the dirty work - sanding, painting and fixing the leg - while I got busy sewing a cushion from some of my favourite Japanese fabric. I'm pretty chuffed with the result.

new artwork for the Boutique Markets, Melbourne....

I am super excited to be heading off to Melbourne later this week for the launch of the Boutique Markets in that city. Make sure you reserve this Sunday, 10th July to come and see us at the Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood St, from 9am to 1pm, and browse through loads of gorgeous wares from artists, designers and crafters.

We have made these two new artworks especially for the Boutique Markets. Measuring 70cm x 70cm and 38cm x 38cm respectively, they are both created from hundreds of tiny hand-cut-with-scissors hearts shaped to form 3-d blossoms.

If monotones are not your thing. we make these artworks in colour too!

white and wood...

We are very inspired by white and wood at the moment. We love the way the wood 'warms up' the white and emphasises the different textures, making feathers look fluffier, china look finer and doilies look more intricate.

What is your inspiration for this weekend?