Categories
Homewares

My new homewares shopping obsession: TK Maxx!

Sponsored TK Maxx

TK Maxx has arrived in Australia and I couldn’t be more excited! You see, I was a regular TK Maxx shopper for years in the UK and loved the thrill of finding a designer bargain. I love how stock changes all the time and you never know what you’re going to find. But that’s half the fun! I basically never bought jeans or sunnies anywhere else!

TK Maxx is huge in Europe and TJX Companies Inc have almost 4,000 stores worldwide. That’s a lot of global buying power! Now Australia has 38 stores since the brand came here in April, buying out Trade Secret (and since converting them) but also opening in four brand new locations. I got to check out the Top Ryde store last week (one of the new stores based on the European stores’ design and layout) and it was just like I remembered from home. As a bonus, the home section (they also sell fashion, toys, kid’s stuff and bath and beauty, luggage, footwear and accessories) was much bigger. Winning!

Check out these gorgeous decor items from about $20

While I was there to join other influencers for a fun gift wrapping workshop with Vivienne Anthon from The Daily Wrap, I must admit I was most excited to check out what was on the shelves, and from a gift shopping perspective, it was fantastic. (The odd gift to self is also allowed at this time of year though, right?!). If you haven’t bought your decorations yet, or you want to add to them, you will find some amazing baubles from Europe at a fraction of the price you’d expect to pay. There were so many beautiful glass ornaments but I dare not buy them with a boisterous toddler in the house. One day…

Just a few of the cushions I discovered!
Expert gift wrapper Vivienne and I

The TK Maxx model works as follows: a network of buyers negotiate deals to buy excess stock from manufacturers and department stores, among others, both overseas and here in Australia, and bring it to stores. Every store will have something different and once it’s gone, it’s gone. Thousands of new items arrive weekly. It only takes four hours for new arrivals to get from delivery to store to the shelves, so you could really visit morning and afternoon and find different treasures! Many of the products are designer labels and the prices are seriously discounted.

Another thing I love about TK Maxx is you’re more than likely to pick up something you can’t find in any other stores, and when it comes to gift giving, this is a great bonus. Who wants to get the same old same old candles (speaking of which, they have lots!)?

Other bloggers and I were given $100 to spend in store and the haul I picked up was crazy: various Christmas baubles, string lights, and two beautiful glass and brass boxes (hello, gifts to self!) for less than half what I’d expect to pay elsewhere. We were then given tips from Vivienne on how to disguise them under the Christmas tree.

I always have the best wrapping intentions but more often than not leave it last minute and end up with a supermarket wrap and sticky tape scenario! But top tip from Vivienne: use double-sided tape! It immediately looks 10 times better! I am inspired to do better this year (watch this space). TK Maxx also have an amazing selection of Christmas wrap and ribbon: again, if you want to be a little different, head here for your wrap as well as your gifts!

For obvious reasons, you can’t shop online, but you an find out more about TK Maxx and your nearest store here.

 

Categories
Expert Tips Styling

Easy but impressive Christmas gift wrapping tutorial

If you’re anything like me, you always start the Christmas season with the best intentions. You fantasise about getting your shopping done early, giving people the most unique and heartfelt gifts and wrapping them up with a nice little bow. But come Christmas Eve, that dream is a distant memory, and instead it becomes a mad dash to the finish line! And where do you cut corners? You get rid of that lovely wrapping!

But this year Typo want to change that. So they’re sharing this step by step guide to a Vintage Woodlands wrapping look with us and it is absolutely gorgeous. And, allegedly, hassle free!

Instructions:

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1. Choose your base paper (we love a good kraft paper base) and wrap your present using on-a-roll tape ensuring all edges are nicely creased.

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2. 
Using a contrasting paper, either another bold print or a complimentary solid colour (we’ve opted for classic kraft paper), cut a strip about half of the width of your present. Tuck the edges of the paper underneath (the best trick to hide your messy edges) and wrap around the centre of the present, taping it at the bottom of the present.

Place a doily smack bang in the middle for a bit of vintage love. Grab your trim of choice — we can’t overlook the jute twine for a more rustic look and to stay in a neutral colour scheme. Wrap it around the centre of your present three or four times, crossing it over itself each time. Fasten by tying a knot.

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3. 
Using one of Typo’s wooden ornaments, write a personalised message to your recipient and affix to the gift using the jute twine.

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4. 
That’s it! An amazingly simple yet standout gift to place under the tree!

Shop Typo cards and wrap online.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Gift guide: 4 great ideas for your favourite clean freak!

If somone in your life loves a sparkling home as much as I do, there are some gorgeous options out there for Christmas gifts, which will be appreciated much more than a vacuum cleaner or a mop, I’m telling you! Even better, these brands are all Aussie (okay, one Kiwi sneaked in!) and the gifts are all under $80.cleaning christmas gifts interiors addict gift guide

Clockwise from top: Murchsion-Hume Classic Six Boxed Set, $76.95; The Aromatherapy Co. kitchen soap and nailbrush, $15.95; Bondi Wash Christmas Pack, mini home care trio, $35; Voyager Room Mist, $32.

Categories
Art

Cotton On Body collaborate with Morgan Connoley on art prints

In a first for Cotton On Body, the affordable, on-trend fashion brand has collaborated with Victorian artist Morgan Connoley of Colour & Skulls, in the creation of three custom prints.

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Morgan Connoley

With the aim to make art accessible to all, prints will be $19.95 and fit in with Cotton On Body’s upcoming Christmas collection, which is a new take on the tropical print. Think pineapples, palms, botanical prints and cacti.

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As a successful illustrator and graphic designer, Cotton On Body saw Morgan as the ideal collaborator. With work that is a whimsical mix of the inky, beautiful and macabre, Morgan successfully combines colour, femininity and nature into her art. Approached earlier this year regarding the partnership, it was an idea Morgan naturally jumped at and looking at the end result, she couldn’t be more excited!

“The prints for Cotton On Body are the perfect combination of Colour & Skulls and summertime,” says Morgan. “The prints represent the heart and soul of Colour & Skulls and epitomise the energy and spirit of the Cotton On Body girl. They are on trend and affordable, which widens my audience to a new demographic.”

Calling the opportunity, “a pinch myself moment,” Morgan sees the experience as one of her biggest milestones to date. Yet she has already had a very impressive career, working as a graphic designer by day and under her art alias, Colour & Skulls, by night. She is also the co-founder of the Geelong Illustrators Collective and a board member at Courthouse Youth ARTS Geelong, being very passionate about exposing and working with emerging talent within her local region.

Morgan’s prints will sit alongside Cotton On Body’s varied selection of Christmas gifting solutions and will be available in stores nationally from 17 November 2014.

Categories
Interiors Addict

Go Christmas shopping with free delivery to Australia from Marks & Spencer

As you may know, I finished our honeymoon in the UK last week, spending time with friends and family. It was so lovely to hang out at my dad’s in front of a roaring open fire. Which reminds me, Christmas is the only time of year I get really homesick! For me, Christmas shopping is always fun and in England, Marks & Spencer is always involved, whether it’s hitting up the food court (oh, WHEN are they bringing M&S Food to Australia?!), buying a few new baubles or some gift sets for relatives.

Some EXCELLENT news I just became aware of is that dear old M&S are offering free shipping to Australia (for a limited time, so that could end any time, so be quick) on orders over 30GBP (just over $50). So I seriously suggest you check out their Christmas decorations, not to mention their famous 3 for 2 offers (these were very important when it came to making pocket money stretch back in the day).

M&S christmas

Above (clockwise, left to right) are a few of my top picks: Christmas city wrapping paper, mandarin, clove and cinnamon room spray (it’s all about festive smells too!), pine cone garland with gold berries (so English to have one of these draped over the fireplace!) and make your own Christmas crackers set.