giveaway winner

The lucky winner of the giveaway is:


Kristin of Hello Fallow


Congratulations!  Please contact us with your postal address.

Thanks to everyone for entering, and keep an eye out for our next giveaway.

giveaway - for the babes

Our giveaway this week is especially for those little [mostly] sweet-smelling bundles of delight.  If you have one, or know someone who does, check out these goodies.



'As I See It' print from designbirdie


soothing tui original bee balm for babies


and your choice of these two bibs from Green Valley Crafts

Remember the rules - you must be a follower to enter.  Then, just leave a comment - we're not picky, anything will do.  Though it would be helpful if you told us which bib design you'd prefer if you win.

For extra chances to win, mention this giveaway on your blog and/or facebook and let us know so we can be sure to put you down for the extra entries.

A winner will be drawn using a random number generator on Saturday afternoon NZST and this giveaway is open to everyone in the whole wide world.

questions for... Mandi Cromer

Mandi is the woman behind designbirdie.  She was nice enough to answer a few of our nosy questions...



Willow: Is designbirdie your full-time job?  Or your hobby?

Mandi: I'm a freelance illustrator with a background in Animation and Children's Educational software. But all my commercial and designbirdie illustration is squeezed around having two kids - who are still very mini - so lots of late nights when the house is quiet.

Willow: What inspired you to start your business?  And what inspires you now?

Mandi: I see things and think - I could try that- and I'm inspired by everyday life - patterns on clothes, teacups stacked in coffee shops, words, sayings, old writers, new phrases, spools, buttons - anything. I keep a visual diary and everything gets sketched up waiting for it's time to be used! I just decided to start designbirdie in May and have loved every second of it's very steep learning curve!

Willow: Where is your work space, and what do you need with you to begin working?

Mandi: I have a studio which is messy and I love it. I've promised myself that in January I WILL organize it.
 

Willow: What's your favourite snack to have while you work?

Mandi: Tea. Being Irish, we are never far away from a cup of tea. It's caused me problems before when my paint brush as accidentally landed in my teacup!

Willow: Who are your favourite artists?

Mandi: Can't beat some of the classic illustrators - Quentin Blake or Anita Jeram. I also love Cath Kidston and Emma Bridgewater for consistent designs and great business models.

Willow: What music do you listen to while you work?

Mandi: I love listening to audio books - Daphne du Maurier, Conan Doyle... it's got to be peaceful when I'm working, but never quiet.

Thanks for answering our questions Mandi!  You can find more designbirdie cutenesss at Mandi's etsy shop or website.   Also, watch this space for one of Mandi's prints appearing in an upcoming giveaway.  Woohoo!

gift guide - for the lads

Boys like noise, bad smells, grime, and adventure.  Remember this and a) you'll never run out ways to entertain an eight year old dude; and b) finding them awesome gifts will be wicked fun.  We can think of quite a few big lads who'd be pretty thrilled to receive some of these from santa too...


Backpack by LAYER x layer


Model boat kit from Hobbymasters

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis
The Swiss Family Robinson by Johann David Wyss

Coat by Patouche

Vintage binoculars from The Art Floozy

T-shirt by Wren Willow

Antique southern stars map from Blasts from the Past

Sooper hero cap by Soil

Reindeer print from The Animal Print Shop

Knights and dragon by Michael Engelberger from Nova Natural

Octopus pins by potatopotato

gift guide - for the lasses

For every girl - bold, curious, imaginative, gorgeous, thoughtful and intrepid.


Dress by Perry finalia


Necklace by Odette NY


Print by Theater Clouds


Brooch by Sarah McNeil


Colouring book from Katydid Paper Goods

Wooden horse by Buntspechte

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
The BFG by Roald Dahl
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery


Unicorn tattoo by Julia Pott


Play baking set by Busy Being Me


Paper dolls by The Black Apple

Crown by Stell & Livi

Doll by Viola Studio

Swan top by Dame Star Baby

dream party outfits

For these outfits to make the transition from dream to reality would require two things:

a) a squillion dollars
b) the ability to walk (gracefully) in heels higher than two inches

Willow's outfit

Moxie's outfit



Oh and also
 

c) an appropriately ritzy event to attend
 

Which actually sounds quite terrifying and not fun at all. Perhaps these are really outfits for a fancy pants dress up photo shoot with pals with homemade corn chips and guacamole (and bare feet) to finish. Yes, that's more our style.

giveaway draw

And the lucky winner of our very first giveaway is...


Trish!


Huzzah!!  Could you please get in touch to let us know your address so we may send it away to you before we decide to keep it ourselves.

Thank you all for entering.  We hope you'll all join in for the next giveaway, which we hope to announce next week.