If you haven’t already bought yourself a planner for the new year, then you must check out the range of 2012 Planner Calendars by Julia Kostreva. Julia Kostreva is a designer/illustrator based in San Francisco and has come out with a collection of eye-catching stationery, mixing bright colours and sleek, geometric prints. Check out the entire stationery range here > shop.juliakostreva.com/category/paper

If stationery’s not your thing, you can also take a look at her other products including quirky printed pillow covers and of course, her collection of art and print work.

All her items are available for purchase online - worldwide delivery included!

Visit her website > juliakostreva.com

Shop online > shop.juliakostreva.com

Read her blog> blog.juliakostreva.com

- Cherizza Almario , QH Web

This year my family has opted for the ’secret santa’ style of gift giving.  It goes like this : we put our names into a bowl one by one … we then close our eyes and repeatedly chant to ourselves, ‘please don’t draw Daniel, please don’t draw Daniel’ (who happens to be my brother. He is awful to buy for, there is always one in the family right?) I thankfully drew one of my sister’s names (ssssshhhh, it’s a secret!) Since then, I’ve been on a ‘under $50 dollar’ gift hunt and thought I would share my top 10 finds …

1/
Baby Bunny Rabbit Brooch from O design
> $26.00
http://www.madeit.com.au/detail.asp?id=426834

2/
Ice Ice Baby - Tea Towel by Dubblyou Studio
100% cotton tea towel, screen printed locally.
$12.00
http://www.etsy.com/listing/86785988/ice-ice-baby-tea-towel?ref=v1_other_2

3/
Bamboo coasters by Thea & Sami
Bamboo coasters are a design collaboration between designers Thea & Sami and Red Revival who laser cut them. Designed and made in Brisbane, Australia.
$24 set of 4
http://www.thea-sami.com.au/Coasters_Bamboo.html

4/
Ridley’s Classic Table Quoits Set
This tabletop sized set is ideal for a bit of after-dinner entertainment or for taking on picnics.
$19.95
http://www.larkmade.com.au

5/
Limited Edition - “Love you the longest of time” Print - Red
Hand printed on an antique 1893 printing press on 100% cotton rag archival paper (white colour) and printed the beautifully old fashioned way in Brisbane, Australia.
$45.00
http://bespokepress.bigcartel.com/product/limited-edition-love-you-the-longest-of-time-print-red

6/
The Little Veggie Patch Co: How to grow food in small spaces by Fabian Capomolla and Mat Pember, RRP $45.00 published by Pan Macmillan and available through all good book stores.

7/
Acrylic Diamond ring by : AMT
You don’t need to plan a diamond heist, these rings are a steal! This is the classic Tiffany-set diamond ring reworked in plastic by:AMT. Way more affordable and a lot more fun!
$29
http://www.oyemodern.com/rings/acrylic-diamond-ring-by-amt/prod_15.html

8/
CAVALLINI & CO. ANIMAL STICKY NOTES
Useful and beautiful sticky notes featuring wonderful animal themed images.
The Animal collection features 480 decorative sticky notes in 8 different animal themed designs in a variety of sizes.
$24.95
http://notemaker.com.au/products/cavallini-co-animal-sticky-notes-cavalinie-and-co

9/
Bright yellow, faceted coffee/sake cup
Small faceted white porcelain cup with a bright neon yellow coloured interior.
This range of cups have a heavy base that sits beautifully in the hand and is perfect for; coffee/espresso, sake and whisky.
$40.00
http://www.goldenink.com.au/products/bright-yellow-faceted-coffee-sake-cup

10/
K TOTE
TDK are proud to bring you our NEW summer range - a must-have TDK canvas tote perfect for those trips to the beach.
$28
http://www.thedesignkids.com.au/k-tote.html

Happy hunting! - Joanne Thies QH digital manager.

I am looking for lots of new blog content > email me and submit your new finds, ideas or events happening around Brisbane! joanne.thies@graphicpublishing.com.au

If you love fresh, letterpress inspired prints, you will love the works of Jan Skácelik - a graphic designer, photographer & composer from Czech Republic!

As described on Etsy, his prints are inspired by Scandinavian design and mid century modern - which you can definitely see through the use of clean lines, layouts and retro colours!

The ReStyle collection features a great mix of typographic art, quirky statements, slick vintage icons and retro illustrations and can definitely make for a quirky xmas present!

> You can view the collection + make purchases via his Etsy shop - ReStyle

> Jan also has a blog, which you can check out here

> Keep in touch via Facebook + Twitter

- Cherizza Almario, QH Web

Above: Materialistic designer Angie McCarthy and her studio!

View full Tea Towel Range

View full Napkin Range

I was doing some sneaky christmas gift googling during my work day this week (please don’t tell my boss!) and it really got me thinking about making a real effort this year - I want to make an impression on family and friends this Christmas. I want to give special homemade gifts … none of these last minute pre-packaged ‘gift packs’ or ‘this will do, right?’ gifts. I’m secretly fearing the overcrowded shopping centres full of screaming children and rogue trollies.  Im going to be organised and do my best to enjoy the ‘christmas gift’ buying process while impressing my friends and family with my very, very clever, stylish, unique gift giving!

I was thinking … textiles. Hand printed textiles. Locally made hand printed textiles.  Bright, graphic, interesting and fun (and functional!). I have accepted the fact its way too late to create my own home made gifts, potato stamps and acrylic paints just wont live up to the dream … trust me - I’ve tried!

I have always fantasised that my homemade gifts will bestow on me the status of ‘Gift Goddess’ amongst my loved ones. But realistically, I know that if I can’t make them myself then I must hunt … and hunt I did, and boy did I find!

It didn’t take long to come across MATERIALIST (my hero!) online. I found their website and was instantly attracted to their fun, colourful tea towels, napkins and home wares … so many talking pieces! All the ‘perfect gift’ boxes seem to be ticked, I can almost feel that burst of excitement when my gift is ripped opened on Christmas morning (or when the sticky tape is slowly, delicately peeled off the wrapping paper - which fyi actually drives me crazy. Please don’t do it. If you’re reading this and getting a gift from me. Just humour me and rip that christmas wrapping like a wild tiger. Please?

We have so many talented Australian designers selling their products in local stores and online - I feel like I just want to shout it from the roofs - wake up people. Its so easy to buy affordable, local, unique gifts and home wares!

So, in the lead up to Christmas Im going to hand pick my fave Australian online designs weekly! Starting here with MATERIALIST. (Disclaimer: My co-worker actually brought to my attention that Materialistic is listed in the current Spring 2011/QH issue under the Design + feature. What a very naughty employee I am - not paying enough attention to features in the actual magazine I work for! If you did want to pick up the issue - find it online here > Materialist features on page 21). The range of eye catching fun tea towels and unique napkins pictured are my top picks.

I will leave you with this little quote by Materialistic designer Angie McCarthy … “My designs are based on things I love and would like to see in my own home, and what my friends would love to receive as a gift – something creative, that’s unique in colour and design, yet simple in form. My products aren’t things you can’t live without – they are things you love and just have to have.”

View Materialistic’s BLOG > http://www.materialistic.com.au/blog/

Oh, if you have any Australian made gift ideas or fave local designers - email me! joanne.thies@graphicpublishing.com.au

Happy gift hunting!

Joanne Thies - QH online

We all love something unique: Something inventive; something special. And this is why we are loving Greg Hatton!

Far from being mass produced, Greg makes the most of re-using and recycling materials to come up with ingenious ways of incorporating environmentally conscious ideas into modern yet rustic looking furniture.

We can see just how much heart and skill he puts into each piece. With a strong focus on the environment how could you not be inspired by Greg’s concepts!

> Just check out his webpage here

- Despina Papamanolis, QH Guest blogger

Who would have ever thought that sitting on cardboard could be classy? Well David Graas from the Netherlands is mixing things up a little with his innovative and creative take on using cardboard to create beautiful yet quirky pieces of furniture.

His pieces take me back to my product design studies at uni and being instructed to construct a chair purely out of corrugated cardboard.

With the lifespan of cardboard, I would’ve never thought that my design could actually be used as ‘real’ furniture. It is possible and it all lies with David Graas!

What I most love about his concepts is that idea of flat-packing. We’ve all seen it done with IKEA’s range of do-it-yourself furniture, but his takes flat-packing to a new level.

No need for screws, nails or glue, many of his chair designs can just be slotted together (easy enough for a child to put together!).

But what I absolutely admire, and what many of you ‘greenies’ might too, is that his use of one material and the simple dis-assembly of the chairs makes it perfect for recycling!

> Check out  his website: www.davidgraas.com

- QH Guest blogger, Despina Papamanolis

Although I’m not yet a parent, I can’t help but adore everything from Noosh! Noosh creates  quality unique and quirky, but most of all fun rooms for kids. And all their stuff is Australian made!

We are loving the Gigi Alphabet wall hangings at the moment. They come in a raw MDF finish, which is perfect for a do-it-yourself painting job so you can customise and decorate to fit your colour scheme.

> You can by them online through the Noosh website … visit noosh.com.au for more!

- Despina Papamanolis, QH Guest blogger

Brisbane designer Simon Hooper gives woodworking a contemporary and redefined image. His impressive craftsmanship captures the beauty of the materials he uses, making any of his pieces a visual experience.

He uses rare recycled timbers, weaving together his visionary skills and craft in cabinet-making to create Art Deco inspired pieces with a modern finish.

If his work takes your fancy, you can even commission Simon to work his wonders on your very own stunning piece of furniture.

> You can find out more about Simon Hooper and contact him through his website at simonhooperfurniture.com

Or

> Follow his blog at simonhooperfurniture.com/blog

- Despina Papamanolis, QH Guest blogger

Dearwood - an emerging young Sydney-based boutique company puts a new spin on hand screen printed and small run bespoke wallpaper.

Vicki Mientjes (the heart of Dearwood arts) designs + creates the range of wallpapers… making each one even more unique!

Take a look at the Japanese inspired ‘Waves’ wallpaper…hand drawn by Vicki herself > check it out!

Dearwood design and screenprint all their wallpapers using local craftsmen, who work up and down 30 metre tables, screen by screen. All their papers are created using water-based pigment inks and have a non-woven base, making it more sustainable - it is 100% recyclable at a paper mill!

The best part is, unlike digital printing, no two orders will be exactly the same - making it a truly bespoke and beautiful collection, perfect for that special place in your home.

If Dearwood wallpapers have already become a ‘must-have’ for your home, keep in mind that their wallpaper is hand printed to order. Which means, you must allow up to three weeks for delivery.

> Contact Vicki: 0438 028 019 OR email info.wallpaper@dearwood.com.au

> Check out the full range: www.dearwood.com.au

QH loves Aussie designers! Having already been featured in the Summer 2010/11 issue of Queensland Homes, we just can not get enough of Melbourne-based print gurus, Poulier + Poulier.

Being surrounded daily by typography of some sort or another, Poulier + Poulier does a great job in transforming one of our favourite current trends and making it into works of art for the home.

Poulier + Poulier make a wicked range of prints, bags and totes, cards and tea towels inspired by authentic optical test charts. Each optical test chart is hand pulled using environmentally friendly inks onto imported, artist quality paper or premium quality linen.

> You can view the entire range + purchase online at www.poulierandpoulier.com.au