Many a mother has complained about the lack of children’s clothing for 7 -14 year olds.  Summer + Quincy a new children’s store in Sydney aims sell clothes that children want to wear and, more importantly, that mothers want them in to, too – clothes at the right price, in quality fabrics with an emphasis on colour.  As a mother of a 9 year old boy I was most excited to discover this shop.  So hard to find classic/cool clothes for a boy that don’t have some surf label screaming across the front.  Nothing against surf labels, or the people who wear them – its just that we live a long way from any beach, my children are the closest thing to being ghostly white and if I was being really honest – I am conservative and old fashioned and I think surf clothes look untidy!  Now that I have written that my son will probably refuse to wear anything else for the rest of his life, thats the way things usually turn out for parents……

So anyway that is my secret of the day, the store is located at 222 Edgecliff Road, Woollahra –  a skip and a jump from Bondi Junction.  Summer +Quincy are not selling on line yet, but I will be sure to let you know when they do.

Thursday 29th October, Essential Style, Sydney Morning Herald

bowerbird was delighted to welcome lots of new people into the nest after this great exposure in the SMH.

Three designers have launched a new idea in an old building this week – Georges on Collins is hosting its first pop-up store, thanks to Airdrie Makim (Joolz), Kristy Barber (Kuwaii), and Nikolina Kucan (Nikolina Concepts). The threesome met as the winning designers of the The Spirit of the Black Dress competition, which exhibited its winning designs at Georges over Melbourne Spring Fashion Week.

Joolz– 2009 Nolcha (NY) currently lists Joolz among the top 100 independent designers in the world (there were only two Australian designers chosen to be added to this prestigious list), 2009 Spirit of the Black Dress MSFW winning design, 2008 Australian Fashion Awards Finalist – Best Up and Coming Designer, and Best Accessory Designer. 2007 Awarded Accessories Brand of the Year runner-up (beating Dolce & Gabbana, Swatch, Adidas and Fossil)

Below are some stunning images of their opening night.  mybowerbird.com is lucky enough to list Joolz in the Accessories Directory or you can just visit her website here.

Just had to share these shots with everyone.  I recently spent a week on the NSW South Coast town of Mollymook.  We were sharing a relaxed lunch with some friends and these whales put on a little show in the water right in front of us.  Fortunately our friends had a small boat and we ventured out for a closer look.  Most definitely one of the most breath taking experiences.  Simply majestic. 

Check this out.  I love the concept and I think it would actually be a whole lot of fun to go with a little group of girl friends, have a few glasses of bubbles and have a peak at what is on offer.  Swap My Style events allow you to swap fashion items that you no longer wear. Upgrade, update and refresh your wardrobe without feeling guilty!  It could be fun…..  Go to www.swapmystyle.com.au to have a look at where and when these pop up events are coming your way.  If you do go or have been, come back and share your experience in the comments section below – I really want to know more??? Sharing is good.

mybowerbird.com was recently written up on the fabulous web site Fashion Exposed online.  This article was sent out to 18,000 recipients and I m very grateful for both the exposure and kind words written by Belinda Smart.  See here to read full article. http://fashionexposedonline.com.au/blog/Bowerbird-helps-labels-fly#comments

Well I know its still officially winter, but I am not known for a good memory so when I find something good I have to share it then and there or it might get lost in the pile of ‘to talk about list’.

I am a self confessed spray tan/sponge tan – in fact any tanning device that is available without sitting in the sun I am willing to try.  My pale, freckled skin most certainly shows the signs of a girl who spent many a day blistering herself in the sun as a teenager.  The result was always the same, unable to sit down for days, crying as my mother dunked me in epson salt baths and days of lathering my skin in Vitamin E cream so as not to peel.  I always peeled and I never tanned. Now in my early 30’s I have already had one skin cancer removed.  So baking biscuits is about as good as it get for me!

Spray tanning can be great, expensive, smelly and if you happen to get someone who is inexperienced an absolute nightmare.  I think everyone has had at least one experience when the have ended up with bright orange palms or an elbow that looks like you have not bathed for a few weeks.

Recently I had the pleasure of a long weekend in Port Douglas.  As fabulous as it sounded the thought of not having woollen tights, scarves and turtle neck jumpers was rather frightening!  It is far to cold to contemplate standing like a star fish in a spray tan booth, so I decided to test Model Co’s newly  released SUNSPONGE CUSTOM SELF-TAN.  (now that is a mouthful, tounge twister)  Unlike the name, the lotion was easy to use, comes with an ‘ergonomically’ designed applicator and as you can see below I came out looking just fabulous…………okay it’s not me, not even nearly me.  It did however produce an even, moisturisng healthy looking glow to my skin.  I know Nicole Kidman was supposed to bring back the ‘white is in’ thing, sorry but it just doesn’t work for me.  For whatever reason, that healthy glow makes you feel healthy, hides cellulite and gives you the freedom to wear clothes that you would otherwise not quite have the confidence to pull off.

Check out Model Co web site, it is easy to use and their products are a good price point.  Especially if you have small children, who chew, paint or regularly smear your lipsticks on their dolls, or your car dash board, as is the most recent case in my house hold.  Not quite as painful to witness if the lipstick didn’t cost you an arm and a leg!

Welcome to the 1st mybowerbird blog.  6 months ago I did not know what a blog was, let alone imagine that I would be writing my own!

Now that all the back end ’stuff’ of the site is set up, away I go, building the nest. I love to shop and I love interesting things and I love to share my finds……….I also love a bargain so I am looking forward to filling that sale page.

I can’t wait to make mybowerbird.com bigger and better, there will be book reviews, garden clubs and video and all sorts of things to keep an eye out for – so make sure you subscribe – so you dont miss out.  I often find a site and think, I will come back to this and then a week later I cant remember the address or even what it was that I wanted to revisit.  I hope that mybowerbird.com will be a useful gallery for everyone.

Check these nests out, this is a picture of a real bowerbird nest, sent to me by a friend while I was building the site.  I found them fascinating and so pretty.  These are the bowers built by the male bird to attract the females.  Amazing.

What is a blog?  Blogs can be as simple as a collection of peoples favourite things or as complex as a personal diary.  Growing up it was all about covering your work with your arm and keeping everything to yourself.  Now it seems we just share everything across the world wide web.  Not sure I have made my mind up on this.  As a private person, it can be kind of creepy, however there are some blogs that I have discovered and am richer for the experience.  My favourite is Coty Farqarah whose blog is rich with style, gardens, photography and gorgeousness.  I must thank Coty for her sharing her insight into the blog world.  Take a peak at her work. http://cotyfarquhar.blogspot.com/ Stunning.

Thank you for visiting mybowerbird.com  I look forward to finding you great things.  Use the blog to ask questions, add comment or perhaps there is something particular you are searching for.  Enjoy