The Social Types

I recently discovered the work of talented young designer Jaz Isabella Dean and her latest project The Social Types. Jaz has designed a range of super cool greeting cards that are guaranteed to make yours the best looking gift, without a doubt. These are the cards that will get stuck on pin boards and popped into frames, as each one is a tiny work of art.

Taking inspiration from popular culture, the internet generation and her fashion background, the line incorporates unique graphics, illustrations and typography. Jaz has used striking black and white, bold colours, and gorgeous gold foil to create a series of designs that work beautifully together as well as stand alone. "I created The Social Types as a collection of prints I think customers will love themselves as well as love to share, to shake up the market and make greeting cards cool again," she says.

The Social Types studio is located in Karaka Bay, Auckland, where they are committed to using only the highest quality printing methods and sustainably sourced paper stock.

Pop over to the website to check out the full range, and make sure you follow The Social Types on Facebook and Instagram for all updates and new arrivals. Keep your eye out as the designs are all soon to available as art prints - yay!

Soft and Pretty Pastels

Now that Spring has sprung I'm noticing some beautiful soft colours emerging. Think soft green, powdery blue, dusky pink, peach and lemon.

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Pompom Home and Freedom Furniture both have some lovely examples of this, and I have selected a few from our Bibby + Brady shop too.

ella 4 tier shelf | broad stripe vessel | geo triangle print | bleeker st pendant
minnie slipper chair | tassel necklace | frenchy 4 seater sofa | tropical indoor/outdoor pouf
candy stripe futon cushions | bacall velvet wingback | hello! card

My GREAT.LY Boutique

Have you heard about GREAT.LY yet? It's such a brilliant concept and website, and I'm really excited to now be a part of it. There are three important players... the makers (all those clever people that create amazing products), the tastemakers (those who spend their days searching and writing about beautiful things, and who have built up an online presence - that's me!), and the shoppers (who want to buy all the awesome products - that's you!).

I am a tastemaker, which means that I have created a GREAT.LY boutique and filled it with my favourite products from the GREAT.LY makers. It's a win-win situation... the tastemakers promote and market their boutique, leaving the makers free to do what they do best - create. The tastemakers take a small cut on any products sold through their boutique. And the shoppers get one clean, non-cluttered market place with amazing products from around the world curated by the tastemakers who they already know and follow.

I have created seven different categories in my shop. For the Little Ones...

For your Home...

Stationery...

Beautiful Art...

Also, Great Reading, For your Office, and Accessorise. Pop over to check out all of my GREAT.LY boutique, and make sure you bookmark it as I will be adding and updating it all the time. Go on, become part of the GREAT.LY family.

Mother's Day

To all the mums out there, this Sunday is much anticipated and much deserved. Being a mum is the most rewarding, but also the most difficult job in the Universe! As they grow my three girls (currently 11 years and 9 years - twins) are getting a much better appreciation for me and all the things I do for them, so I'm really looking forward to this year's Mother's Day. 

All I ask for is no fighting from the kids, and no cooking from me (the kitchen is not my favourite place!). But if you think your Mum deserves a little something extra this year I have put together a selection of some of my faves from the Cush & Nooks shop. If there's anything on there you like, why not leave this page open on your home laptop (hint, hint).

blue blue ikat cushion cover | my blue suede cushion cover | you wonderful thing card
gold key tassel | teal key tassel | love you card | shibori baskets | just one thing print
royal blue key tassel | boho tassel necklace | lotus hanging pod chair | thank you muchly card

Favourite Finds

I don't intend for my 'favourite finds' to have any sort of theme, but there are times when it just seems to naturally happen. These recent discoveries all exhibit a simple and striking graphic nature.

Real Living style editor, Sarah Ellison, has added wallpaper designer to her list of talents. Her debut collection features six designs in various colourways - Cheetah, Leopard, Geometric, Triangles, Zigzag, and Splatter. My faves are blue splatter and black and white leopard - now, where to put them?!

Canvas bags have become a very popular storage choice. They make a fantastic toy bin, or plant holder, really you're only limited by your imagination. I love these ones by Lumiere Art & Co, I think I might get one to house my daughter's shoes.

Kikki.K is brilliant for keeping your life organised in the most stylish way. The new 2014 'Here & Now' collection is really cute in navy and peach, sporting spots and stripes.

I'm totally digging the gorgeous Henry and Co products designed by mountain biking legend (my mountain biking hubby seconds that), Vanessa Quin. The pillowcases, cushions, tea towels, and art prints are screen printed in Vanessa's Tauranga home studio. All are made with love and care in small batches with the aim to bring some colour and fun into your home. Here, here!

Frank Stationery

I have an amazing and inspirational online shop to introduce you to... Frank Stationery not only has an awesome range of products, but for every piece of stationery sold, they give the same item away to a child in need. That's a win-win!

Frank founders, Jason and Jess, have travelled the world together, and seen first-hand the level of poverty in many countries. After arriving back in New Zealand they started to explore the needs of our youth and discovered that many Kiwi kids lack basic school resources. Passionate about creativity and business, Jason and Jess founded Frank with the intention of providing stationery to those in need.

The Frank range is super cool, your kids will love it. I'm sure they'll be excited about learning and creating with these products - notebooks, pens, pencils, a ruler and eraser, backpacks and gift packs. With the start of the new school year just around the corner, we parents will need to get our kids' stationery packs organised. We can buy from the Frank range with the knowledge that we'll be buying excellent quality, and helping another child too. And we won't have to spend hours covering the books with the Frank range of notebooks - they're way too cool to cover up.

I love this buy-one-give-one concept. An education will open up the world to a child, and Jason and Jess want to help enable our kids to complete their education, and set them up for a great future. Go and check out the website for yourself and you too can help.

Introducing Whitebook

We all love to shop, right?! I know I do, and so do Sally Brochocka and Emma Robertson. But these two, who have been friends for many years, have decided the best kind of shopping is when you're buying products that are caring for our local and global environment. So together they have created an amazing online shop called Whitebook.

They have done all the hard work for us and collated a fabulous range of products, all beautifully designed, all created with fair ethics, and all good for our planet. For example, these oh-so-cute Animal Beanies are made in Bali by rice farmer's wives. The women can crochet up to two hats a day, which doubles their family's daily income. In an environment where employment opportunities for women are rare, it's a a wonderful thing, and the additional income is life-changing for the families.

Another incredible range is the Made jewellery which is all produced in Kenya, providing skills and opportunities for local artisans. They use a combination of traditional and Western methods, and all their materials are sourced responsibly. Made have collaborated with such powerhouses as Louis Vuitton, Topshop, John Lewis, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

There are loads of gorgeous gift ideas if you're still looking for Christmas present ideas. These sweet 100% recycled notecards by Ecojot come in a pack of 10, and would make great stocking stuffers. Ecojot's mission is to give children in need around the world a workbook and pen to write their way out of poverty and violence.

A very cool range of drink bottles and lunch boxes by Earthlust, will be a big hit with little and big kids alike. Earthlust are committed to donating 1% of annual net revenues to environmental organisations worldwide.

I love the cool stationery by Remarkable. The UK company take waste products destined for the dump and turn them into fabulous new products. Like their colourful pocket notebooks made from 100% recycled card and paper; and their sleek, black coloured pencils made from old CD cases.

When you've chosen and wrapped all your presents, you'll need (and want) some of these adorable Tikitibu gift tags. The wooden tags, made from sustainable sourced wood, can also be used as decorations on your tree, or around your home. And the paper gift tags will make any present look super special.

This is just some of what Whitebook has to offer, so make sure you pop over to see the full range for yourself. And keep up to date with all the news on their Facebook page.

kikki.K

I have big love for beautiful stationery. Pretty paper and pens are something I coveted as a child, and that passion hasn't paled now that I'm an adult. kikki.K is the answer to all my stationery prayers. They have delicious solutions to all your organisational problems, and amazing style for all your stationery needs.

I'm looking at getting an iPad Mini, and am so excited already, it's the perfect size to slip into my handbag. When I discovered this iPad Mini case in mint leather with gold polka dots and a gorgeous co-ordinating gold striped rollerball pen, my excitement was tenfold!

With 2014 creeping up on us, I've got my eye on this cute A6 diary. Once again nice and compact for me to carry around in my bag. I know my new iPad will have a calendar and diary built in, but I still like to have a paper one to jot down notes and appointments. And this one has beautiful quotes and stickers as well.

Because presentation is really important to me I definitely want some stripe & dot envelopes - they are so cool.

And my friends and family won't want to unwrap their gifts when they're wrapped like this.

Now that I've looked after my own needs, how about my girls?! They have inherited my love of pretty things, and there is plenty to excite them too at kikki.K.

Cards as Art

Let's start this Monday off with...

and...

These gorgeous 'Ma and Grandy' cards are the latest products to arrive in the Cush & Nooks online store. The combination of fun colour, pattern, and typography makes them an absolute winner in my book. These cards will keep on giving - once you give them to someone, they will be able to use them as little pieces of art. I think they'd be adorable in a kid's room, pop them in a frame or attach with washi tape, mix them up with some of your other favourites. Here are some images to inspire you...

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There's a card for every occasion, and they are all delightful. See the full range and more details here.