Link Collective

The Link Collective based in Japan produce contemporary textiles using traditional Japanese screen printing techniques. We loved their designs so much we decided to purchase one for our resident designer Chantel for her birthday. Check out their beautiful works at: www.thelinkcollective.com

Helvetitee

Found this quirky retail site yesterday which caters to all lovers of Helvetica. We all know American Apparel's famous use of the typeface in simple and effective type-based design, not to mention the ten gazillion other wonderful and successful applications worldwide of this classic, beautiful, friendly and neat font. Now you can head to helvetitee.com to order your very own custom-printed tee featuring the copy of your choice. Shipping is free worldwide. Click through their 'randomize' options if you can't think of anything for yourself, some great ideas there as well. Love a smart, simple uncomplicated creative retail idea!

Washi Washi

A few years back I picked up a book in New York called the "MT Kamoi Masking Tape Book". I didn't really know what it was about, but have since observed a growing trend for Washi Tape: printed Japanese rice paper masking tape. It's very crafty and I haven't yet been able to think of any genuinely useful ideas for its application, but it is soooo pretty and I love the uncoated paper finish. Have a look at Etsy for a growing list of sellers offering this delightful stuff.

How to find the perfect gift this Christmas

Just in time for December, Boheem presents 'How to find the perfect gift this Christmas' – the ultimate go-to gift guide. This is for anyone who has ever, like me, found themselves in the quietest corner of the shopping mall (which, at this time of year, doesn't really exist) rocking back and forth, holding their knees to their chest and softly whimpering for not being able to pick something which really shows Dad how much he's appreciated. Or more recently, for anyone who finds online shopping more like a choose-your-own-adventure, where one link takes them to another, and another, until they're not at all Christmas shopping but watching silly giggling babies on YouTube.

To see the whole gift guide in its entirety (and as a bigger file) where there are more categories which cover sports, clothes and gadgets, head to www.boheem.com.au/christmas2012.html. 

Laser Cutting

Currently trying to source an affordable die-cutting or laser-cutting solution for an annual report we are working on, and whilst researching, I found this interesting little business. Online Laser Cutting can cut almost anything: wood (lots of types), acrylic, paper, plastic, mattboard... and since they also promise to ship anywhere, apparently the only thing limiting your next laser-cut project is your imagination.

And by the way, if any one knows a great way of punching 143 x 3mm holes into paper for a larger run of 1500 A4 covers... I'd love to know about it!

Odette Williams

Now here's a little online store to keep in mind next time you're on the search for unique and special gifts for kids. Odette Williams is a dear friend of Boheem's and seems to make beautiful anything she chooses to turn her hand to. She's created a lovely range of baby's and kids onesies and tshirts and is offering these at her shop, as well as some really sweet lovingly made collages, plus fun apron sets.

Although she will always call Australia home, Odette lives and works in New York. We're so excited to see her launch this range and can't wait to see what else might be added to the collection in the coming months and years.

Shoes of Prey

In the olden days, people... the well to do at least... used to go to a tailor for their clothes, a milliner for their head attire and when after a pair of shoes, the town bootmaker was the man (sorry, girls) for the job. Footwear was lovingly and painstakingly hand made, and repaired by the local cobbler season after season to gain the absolute maximum lifespan. These days, we have a boundless array of foot fashion to choose from... but we've not yet had the pleasure of specifying EXACTLY what material, colour, finish and heel height we're wanting, until now. Enter Shoes of Prey.

Actually, it is a similar concept to what Converse and a couple of other sporting shoes companies have offered for a while. But the key difference is these are fancy, dressy shoes for us girls. Choose from soft leather, patent leather, glitter, snake skin, fish skin, cotton, silk or lace. Choose the style, the fit, the laces, the heel height, go completely Priscilla-esque or Nanna-style... and create a pair of shoes which is uniquely you.

Inaluxe Prints

Aren't these prints just lovely? They are by Inaluxe, a little design studio in country Victoria owned and run by Kristina Sostarko and Jason Odd. I absolutely love the attention to detail which has been applied to these wonderfully organic, slightly retro  prints. The colour palettes are just beautifully resolved. These guys offer a wide range all designed in the same style as both small and large prints. Their online Cartel store makes it all too easy to make one of them yours.

Prints now available at the Boheem Shop!

We are really excited to announce the launch of our new range of typographic prints, now available at the Boheem Shop as well as at our Etsy Store. We've framed a couple of them and have them hanging in our own homes, and they are already proving to be really popular. Some of these ideas have been bubbling away in the background in between client projects for a while now, so it's really nice that we're finally able to share them with you. We hope you like them!

Baggu Bags

We have been fans of Baggu reusable bags for some time, but with the relatively recent introduction of their leather range (top), we are officially wholeheartedly Baggu devotees. The simple designs are delightfully elegant, and the leather is sooooo very soft. We also love the colour options... one for each season plus a couple of extras perhaps? Bottom row is the Duck (book) Bag, the Laptop Sleeve and the Daypack. Note to self for gift ideas!

Mulbury

Look what I found. A little online shop which sells rescued timber picture frames, industrial furniture and lots of other delightful antique (and faux antique) goodies for the home. Mulbury is based in Melbourne and whilst admittedly I do find their collection a bit hit and miss, there are definitely some really special, unique pieces I know I won't be able to live without for too much longer. 

Keeping up with Keep Cups

Congratulations Abigail and Jamie Forsyth, sibling team and creators of the wonderful, revolutionary, reusable, dishwasher safe, BPA free and colourful Keep Cups. I only just realised when I saw them featured in a US design magazine last month, that they've only just hit international soil. I've been using and loving my Keep Cup for a couple of years now. The thing I love about it most is that unlike the old-fashioned thermal outdoor mugs which keep your beverage scolding and shockingly hot, these ingenious polypropylene little guys keep your coffee warm the same way a ceramic mug might. If you're reading this and you haven't thought of that perfect mother's day gift yet, I'm telling you... this is the thing!!

Elemeno

That's about how it goes. Elemeno T from this etsy store.

Dunlin Home

Well if you're looking for gift ideas this Christmas, and hoping to find something with classic, understated and original style for your loved ones (or me... he he!), check out new Australian homewares store, Dunlin Home. It's a collection of elegant pieces inspired by the olden days in the country, when milk jugs were actually used to serve milk, and fruit from the orchard was collected in a pretty woven basket. Check them out!

Spoonflower

Do the words 'custom printed fabric' make your heart skip a beat?

A good friend of mind recently told me about Spoonflower, which we now (at Boheem) consider somewhat 'life changing'. This site allows anyone to design, upload, print and create custom made fabrics.

There is no minimum order, they have a selection of really nice natural fabrics, the printing process is eco-friendly and yes, they ship internationally.

The website is extensive, well organised, with thousands of samples of past prints and projects.

Spoonflower will even send you a swatch and colour sample book for just $2.

Amazing and definitely worth a look: www.spoonflower.com

RawSpace

Stumbled across this site the other day, and have added it to my list of places to visit when looking for the perfect gift idea. A great variety of homewares and goodies at a wide range of prices. Actually, some of the prices seem a little odd to me – I'm pretty sure the replicate Eames Rocker shouldn't be $549 for example...! But anyway lots of great ideas in one place – I'll definitely be heading back to Rawspace this Christmas.

Quite possibly, many of us have heard of the Renegade Craft Fair... the luckier of us will have experienced the hand-made spectacle first-hand. But did we know that the Renegade also has an outstanding online store? At renegadehandmade.com you can see all the goodies listed here, plus many more. 1. Paper Series Print by Gold Teeth Brooklyn: $50, 2. NYC Rubber Stamp Set by the Yellow Owl Workshop, $12, 3. Coin purse by Calico, $20, 4. Alphabet poster by 1 Canoe 2, $39, 5. Thank you cards by 1 Canoe 2, $12, 6. Hello Vase Throw Pillow by Leah Duncan, $54

My type of typewriter

The typewriter is dead... long live the typewriter. This old, beloved letter-making machine has captured the hearts of a handful of illustrators and gift-makers: Christine Berrie, Rachael King Birch, Tabitha Emma, The Bold Banana, and Ask Alice.

Wallpaper from the 70s

Bling it up, people! I'm not really sure if decorating with wallpaper is on its way in or out, but honestly I don't really care. These designs from Wallpaper From The 70s are just beautiful. I'm sure I can find something to cover with some of these gorgeous patterns...

Knock Knock

Don't you just love a list. As far as I'm concerned, if it's written down somewhere it's as good as done. Check out these quirky note pads from Knock Knock: they make a quirky gift idea... but in the interest of achieving ultimate order in my own life, I think I might grab a couple for myself. Order online from the US Knock Knock website or here in Oz from Hart and Heim.