A BIG weekend of shopping ahead!

This weekend marks the run up to our Christmas shopping season with a fantastic double act, as Sydney and Adelaide will each host Mathilda’s Market. We’re very excited to have our markets headlining in two states and our talented and enthusiastic stallholders are gearing up to bring you another amazing shopping event.

As part of the unique Mathilda’s shopping experience we know you’ll be inspired by the creativity shown by our handpicked artisans and designers and discover some gorgeous hand crafted and original items, plus great gift ideas.

Sydney kicks off the festivities on Saturday with Mathilda’s Market setting up shop at beautiful Paddington Town Hall between 9am and 1pm. There are some fantastic offerings for Christmas shopping so why not tackle your gift list early and meet the craftspeople and designers behind the beautiful wares on offer. You might even pick up some decorating or craft tips along the way. We love Read&Bell, Nikki Catalano, Alfalfa, Laikonik, Frankie Small, and Rudy and the Dodo, but there are plenty more stallholders to discover, so visit the website for the full line up. Prepare to be very tempted! As well as shopping heaven for kids all under one roof, there will also be kids entertainment and yummy food to enjoy on the day. It’s not an event to be missed!

Sunday sees a special debut at Norwood Concert Hall (between 9am and 1pm) for Adelaide’s Mathilda’s Market. Along with 40 handpicked stallholders of the very highest calibre, we will also have face painting for the kids, plus coffee and refreshments. We always love to support new and local designers and our fabulous line up includes Katy Jane Designs, Koolaman Designs, Tillytom, Miss Mouse Designs, Sustainababy, and Sebastian and Sienna. There is so much on offer from our talented Adelaide stallholders and we’re counting down the days to get our retail fix! Click here for further info about the Adelaide Market, and create your wish list for the big day. 

And remember Adelaide friends this is the last Mathilda’s Market in Adelaide for 2010 so make sure you don’t miss out!

Jenny x

Mathilda's Market blogger

Two chances to WIN with Printspace and Giant Steps Go Trike

We always love a competition at Mathilda’s Market and we have two cracking ones to tell you about this week.

First up is Printspace who have 7 large prints to giveaway, worth $45 each. Created by Australian artists, Mara Girling and Nicholas Girling, these divine, original prints are a great way to brighten up your child’s room in a colourful and unique way. The designs are produced on fine quality archival art paper and with 50 to choose from (including cars, robots, owls and elephants), you’re bound to find one your child loves.

This could solve your Christmas pressie dilemmas very nicely! So make sure you enter, it could be your lucky day…Here are some pics of their gorgeous prints to tempt you.

To check out the full range visit www.printspace.com.au. The lucky winners can pick their favourite large print from the website. Click here to enter. Entries close Sunday 7 November 2010. 

Our second competition is from Go Trike from Giant Steps, who has two of its kids trikes up for offer, worth $145 each!

These sturdy and colourful trikes have a five point seat belt for safety, a sun shade for warmer days and the parent handle and freewheeling front wheel allows mum or dad to control the trike (if your little one is getting overly ambitious!), or you can use it as an alternative pusher.

If you haven’t already invested in a child’s trike, here is a chance not to be missed.  Just think how much they’ll love cruising around the park this summer on one of these little numbers.

Click here to enter. Entries close Sunday 7 November 2010. For a list of Go Trike retailers visit www.activeoutthere.com.au.

Good luck!

Jenny

Mathilda's Market blogger

Mathilda's Market in Adelaide - Helping hands needed!

With just a few sleeps to go, we’re getting excited about our next Mathilda’s Market in Adelaide, (Sunday 31 October). 

As some of you may already know, we have moved our Adelaide Market to the beautiful Norwood Concert Hall (175 The Parade, Norwood). Hopefully this hasn't caused too much confusion but we think you'll love our beautiful new Adelaide home just as much as we do. 

We can’t wait for the debut this Sunday and of course some fabulous shopping with 40 stallholders and some amazing wares for babies and kids to discover! Check out Tillytom, Sweet Georgie Pie, Miss Mouse Designs and Handmaid by helen hedding for starters but there will be heaps more to discover on the day. Click here for a sneak peek of what's on offer.

Our team at the Adelaide market is also on the lookout for some staff to help out on the day. If you are available and would like to join the Mathilda’s Market team (you’ll get to check out what’s on offer before the crowds arrive!), please email Danielle@mathildasmarket.com.au.

We'll be back in touch later this week with more previews of our Sydney and Adelaide markets, can’t wait!

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Jenny

Mathilda's Market Blogger

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Mathilda's Market in Sydney

In just two weeks time, Mathilda’s Market will be back in the Harbour City, at Paddington Town Hall on Saturday 30 October, to tempt Sydneysiders with some seriously covetable shopping for babies and kids.

Checking out the fantastic line up of stallholders (with exciting new additions), I’m feeling some retail therapy cravings coming on, and considering booking my plane ticket up to Sydney pronto!

It’s definitely time to get down to some serious shopping and get organized for Christmas, so here’s a taster of what’s on offer….

First up I wanted to tell you about Lillie Bee, a boutique clothing and organic t-shirt range which is a one-stop shop for everything you could need for your little one’s summer wardrobe.

They have divine onesies for bubs, cute tees, pants, skirts and shorts for girls and boys and accessories including crochet hair clips and hair-bands. There is a lot to love from the range but check these out for starters….

On the clothes theme, Pipstars, sell appliquéd and hand screen printed clothes which are produced in limited runs so your toddler or bub will be a stylish stand out this summer. Visit the stall to stock up for the warmer months with tees, singlets, sundresses and shirts, all featuring unique designs, which your little angel will love wearing.

Mi hombresito (or little man in Spanish), is one of the exciting new additions to the Mathilda’s Market fold. Hailing from Byron Bay, these gorgeous clothes and accessories are just for boys so that you can dress the little man in your life with style. Proof that it’s not just the girls who can have fun with clothes! The beautiful range has a slight 70s vive and has some very cool stuff for boys with shirts, suede waistcoats, hoodies and cargo shorts. Definitely not one to be missed!

For something slightly different, Laikonik, create unique, handmade, keepsake albums called Once-A-Year Books with original designs inspired by Polish folk art. They are a great way to chronicle your child’s first years in a beautiful book and are a fabulous gift idea for Christmas. Great for the child (or parent) that has everything!

The books are handmade in Australia using eco friendly materials and high quality acid free pages. Each book also comes with a little Chatter Book, a small notebook for keeping a record of your child’s first words and funny sayings. Laikonik also sell a range of stylish screen printed recycled wrapping paper and gift cards – so it’s a perfect chance to stock up your stationary drawer.

For more Christmas ideas, Oliver’s Twisty Tales, has a gorgeous range of handmade and australian made dolls, toys, quilts, and dressing up items. Their new range includes the fabulous ‘Topsy Turvey’ reversible dolls that flip upside down to reveal classic fairytale characters (including Snow White, Rapunzel and Cinderella) in contrasting outfits, the perfect gift for a little girl. They also sell traditional quilts and blankets for babies and toddlers, and for dress ups and parties, ‘Pirouette Pettiskirts’, that little misses will love.

Last but not least, I had to mention one of our stallholders from inter-state Little Snoring, who are travelling from Tasmania to be with us in Sydney. Little Snoring make some truly unique toys, accessories and homewares with some of their new items including snuggly hand-stitched toys using natural fibres, children’s necklaces  (check out the gumball and lady bird designs below), and cushions.

Again there are some great ideas for pressies, choose from the Pocket Pandas or French Poodles toys, log cabin patchwork pillows and pretty pendants and necklaces for little girls. Very tempting stuff…

CLICK HERE http://mathildasmarket.com.au/sydney/ for a preview of all these stallholders and more. I guarantee your ‘wish list’ will be as long as mine! Happy shopping in Sydney...

Jenny x

Mathilda’s Market blogger

Getting crafty with paper and beyond

With Christmas on the not too distant horizon, it’s not surprising that my thoughts are turning to cards and decorations and our Mathilda’s Market stallholders are giving me plenty of inspiration for some gorgeous gifts and home ideas.

One of the first I wanted to share is a fabulous business inspired by all things paper,The Paper Tie Affair. Originally they sold unique Christmas decorations but have expanded their range to include a paperholics dream of stationary, artwork and home décor using both vintage and new paper designs.

With so much to choose from, I was racking up my wish-list pretty quickly.

Check out these gorgeous items just for starters....

Stunning paper garlands in heaps of different designs for kids party decorations or dressing up their rooms:

Colourful bunting in different colours and patterns to brighten up kids rooms, parties, courtyards or anywhere…

Vintage inspired gift tags, a great way to make any pressie look extra special:

Stylish magnetic memo holders in vintage inspired prints:

The Paper Tie Affair will be making their Sydney Mathilda’s Market debut on October 30 at Paddington Town Hall and will also be in Brisbane for the Mathilda’s Christmas Market on November 6 so make sure you visit as you won’t be disappointed! If you are can’t wait until then click here to visit their website-The Paper Tie Affair.

Not strictly all about paper but divine nonetheless, Redberry Design are best known for their origami mobiles but they design everything from lamps to notebooks and candles to clothing.

A new addition to the Mathilda’s Market line up, their range is made from individually designed and printed fabric and paper and is inspired by nature.

The origiami mobiles and artwork are made by hand with printed paper and are stunning for kids rooms or around the house as a design statement:

If you’re looking for a great gift idea the pouches are made from felt and custom printed fabric finished with a wood button. They’d be great to carry around your ipod, phone or trinkets:

Or the candles and table lamps can be used anywhere around the house and make a gorgeous feature:

Redberry Design will also be at the Sydney Mathilda’s Market at Paddington Town Hall on October 30. Click here to check out their website for a preview-Redberry Design.

Jenny x

Mathilda’s Market Blogger