studio Nikulinsky Australiana Christmas Gift Guide 2019
Christmas time is hectic! Food, family, presents, stress, heat etc. I wonder if there is a parallel universe where Christmas is a relaxing affair? π
Anyway. You probably know about studio Nikulinsky because you love Australian flora and fauna, Philippa Nikulinsky's art - or botanical art in general. So I thought I would compile a gift guide that you will probably enjoy and hopefully find quite useful!
I created this guide to showcase:
- Small businesses (most I think are sole traders like me!)
- Local designers and makers (each listing notes where the business is located)
- Products designed and/or made in Australia
The guide is split into the following categories:
FOR HOME, TO WEAR, KIDS, TO DO, ART, CHRISTMAS, TO READ and LITTLE THINGS
I have also included business social media links so you can follow them for future purchases.
This is not paid advertising - it is a collection of products I believe are made with thought and love, that reflect all things good about our wide brown land. I hope you enjoy this guide (let me know!) and find a few Australian themed gifts for your friends and family, too.
Seasons greetings,
Angela Nikulinsky
FOR HOME
Ivy & Wood
Brisbane, Queensland
Hand-poured candles by Jess & Brad. They use high-quality ingredients, including natural soy wax and pure essential oils.
Bush Christmas candle from their Christmas collection – the packaging features rad artwork of Brisbane artist, Mel Baxter of Moonshine Madness.
Banksia Gifts
Gold Coast, Queensland
Made from responsibly-collected Banksia grandis – a Western Australian native – Banksia Gifts make these great Mini Aroma Pod Diffusers, which look great as well as making your rooms smell great!
Hilo & Bobbin
Camden, New South Wales
Lydia Rudd creates embroidered keepsakes including cushions, quilts and beautiful banners.
The Australiana mini banner is made with 100% cotton fabrics (lined with matching fabric, no exposed seems).
Jax and Co. Handcrafted
Waikerie, South Australia
Jax designs and makes all her products. Each piece is completely unique.
This botanical soap dish or trinket bowl is from Jax's gorgeous new BOTANICAL collection.
Shelby Sherritt Art
Ballarat, Victoria
Shelby Sherritt is ceramicist. Shelby actually got into ceramics as a healing tool to recover from her cancer treatments. Her Koala posy pots are hand sculpted with love (clearly!).
Blue Armadillo Design
East Fremantle, Western Australia
Quoll Tea towel featuring sleeping quoll with banksia. A hand screen printed 100% linen item.
CHRISTMAS
Atley.co
Melbourne, Victoria.
Lisa & Terry have a very sweet set of ceramic Christmas decorations available.
They're a neutral white (good for those minimalist xmas people) and are handcrafted in Melbourne.
Little Rowan Redhead
Sydney, New South Wales
I recently discovered the awesome work of visual artist Rowan Sivyer.
She has produced these very-excellent risograph Australiana christmas cards. They come as a set of four different cards with recycled envelopes.
Julia Chapman
Castlemaine, Victoria
Julia is an illustrator with a heap of sweet paintings of Australian birds and flora.
I especially love her festive Rosella Wrapping Paper - and it is a big A2 sheet, too.
FOR KIDS
Fleeci
Adelaide, South Australia
Fleeci is a giftware brand artist and designer Lisa Butler.
Lisa has handcrafted three cute soft toys made from polar fleece and eco felt. Koala, Wombat or Platypus?
Sow n Sow
Maleny, Queensland
Michelle Brady created Sow n Sow in 2010. She works with designer and illustrator Daniella Germain to create a beautiful range of eco-friendy products like this handcrafted mini flower press with a sweet Wattle design on the front.
Their motto is to 'share the joy of gardening' - can't argue with that!
Beadie Bug Play
West Hindmarsh, South Australia
Carley (& her helper elves) handcraft toys and learning resources from sustainable timbers.
I bought a set of Australian Animals Playdough Stamps as a 3rd birthday gift for one of my daughter's friends - they are a really beautiful product!
Two Little Ducklings
Preston, Victoria
Jacinta is the designer behind these cute Aussie animal flash cards.
Laminated with rounded corners, these should last for several kids! And they're printed in Australia.
Emondo Kids
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Sharon is the brainy mama behind Emondo Kids. Sick of every meal-time-battle (I hear you) Sharon designed these awesome bamboo plates.
Lizzy Lizard is my favourite. Does she come with an obedient toddler?
Archie N Me
Brisbane, Queensland
Renae started her business as a way to combat my postnatal depression. She makes unisex clothing in sizes 0000 to 3. I think this Australiana fabric is super sweet! Happy romping!
Modern Monty
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
These flash cards are the product of Modern Monty owners and Meg & Kelvin, and Brisbane watercolour artist Amanda Borchers.
The realistic art is also intended to start conversations about the natural world around us.
Dusty Road Apparel
Sydney, New South Wales
These organic cotton unisex harem pants are designed and made in Australia. Featuring a bright aqua background with a Weedy Sea Dragon pattern.
ART
Eggpicnic
Sydney, New South Wales
Designers & birders Camila & Chris make bright fine art animal prints. One of the best things about their art is how they donate a portion of their profits to conservation charities. Good dudes.
For over a year I have been trying to decide which print to buy!
Lalleuca
Perth, Western Australia
Tracey Gibbs is a botanical artist with a love for bold colour. Her Wedding Bush screen print is my favourite. You can get giclée prints in A2 and A3 size. Tracey is also creating a kids book to be released in 2020, yay!
Gumdots
Perth, Western Australia
Renee Bauhofer is a fineliner artist and Conservation Biologist. She hopes her art will inspire a love of the environment and raise awareness about conservation issues.
Discover all the living things in Renee's illustration Great Southern Land.
The Scenic Route
Burketown, North Queensland
The Scenic Route is the creative project of artist and designer Victoria McGrane.
Her Rainforest Rescue Daintree 2020 Calendar is extra special as $5 from every calendar sold is donated directly to Rainforest Rescue.
Sofie Seyah
Perth, Western Australia
Sofie describes herself as an Illustrator, Marine Scientist, Mother, Daydreamer, Bohemian & Pottymouth!
Her ocean-inspired artworks are a reflection of her love of the sea and all things in it.
Wildberry Art
Esperance, Western Australia
Jenny draws and paints beautiful artworks that are then turned into fabric wall decals.
She is reopening her shop on the first weekend of November and I can't wait to see what new decals she has available!
TO WEAR
Myrtle & Me
Meander Valley, Tasmania
Jocelyn Parry-Jones uses her photographs of Australian flora and fauna to create a range of beautiful jewellery.
These cufflinks are handmade using sustainably sourced bamboo, glass and silver plated backs. Photograph taken at Tynwald Park, Tasmania.
Oddspark
Brisbane, Queensland
Tiffany Hancock is a graphic designer, avid sewer, and keen modern jive dancer.
The Sturt Desert Pea is such a festive flower. I love Tiffany's acrylic stud earrings - perfect for parents of young children who have grabby hands!
Pademelon Studio
Sydney, New South Wales
Jewellery designer Kiara Spencer-Smith creates these amazing banksia earrings, 'The Talking Talismans.'
They feature original hand drawn illustrations, laser etched onto gorgeous, richly coloured plantation mahogany plywood.
The Aurora Fae
Geeveston, Tasmania
Is there a platypus swimming on your jumper? Perhaps there should be.
I totally dig these enamel pins designed by Ariel of The Aurora Fae in Geeveston, Tasmania. She is also a talented maker of other beautiful things, and a really lovely person. <3
Marley Made This
Newcastle, New South Wales
Julie hand makes polymer clay earrings (studs and dangles). She recently posted about these very festive Christmas Cassowaries on her instagram page. Cute.
JessesMess
Melbourne, Victoria
You are probably familiar with the prolific Jess Racklyeft. Her illustrations are so sweet and translate well to a range of gorgeous products.
These "Flock of Cockatoos" socks are delightful - and Australian made!
Pixie Nut & Co
Nimbin, New South Wales
Philippa designs and paints super cute Australian flora and fauna. These brooches are a lightweight pop of colour to your outfit (I own the Spotted Quoll brooch and wear it all the time!)
Printed and laser cut from FSC certified 3mm ply wood, Philippa is very eco-conscious and packages her products plastic-free.
LITTLE THINGS
Friends in the Leaves
Tasmania
Aurore McLeod is an illustrator and mixed media artist creating cute creatures with watercolour and textile.
She hand-makes to order animal coin purses from 100% wool felt. The wombat is my favourite!
Australian Timber Pens
Queensland
I love a handmade pen! These are made from Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) found in WA.
The wood is then shipped over to Simon in Queensland and then he sent them back over to me as beautiful custom streamline chrome-finish pens. They are gift boxed and refillable!
TO DO
Lily Adelaide Upton
Adelaide, South Australia
I've been following Lily on Instagram for ages. She makes really beautiful embroidery art but also creates Learn to Embroider kits!
I've had my eye on this Australian Native Scatter design beginners kit and embroidery tutorial. This kit has everything - floss, hoop, fabric, instructions, pattern, thread snips and even a tea bag! Put the kettle on.
TO READ
Moira Court
My eldest daughter and I love reading 'Colour Me' (Illustrated by Moira Court and written by Ezekiel Kwaymullina) - so much so that I purchased a print of a rainbow by Moira for my daughter's bedroom wall.
Her new book looks even more fantastic and has just been released! I'm going to get a copy right away.
Philippa Nikulinsky
Perth, Western Australia
How could I not mention my mother-in-law's new book?
Nikulinsky Unfolded is a concertina book that contains one of Philippa's long scroll paintings. Beautifully reproduced on textured paper - it is a pretty unique and uniquely Australian book.
