Castlebox

Castlebox has arrived in Sydney! Success at Matilda's Market Paddington 26 March 2011

2011-03-28T08:28:00.000+11:00

After some dramas and confusion, where we nearly lost our stall at the Matilda's Market, all was resolved and we got there in time to have an awesome day meeting our new fans in Sydney.

The vibe was just awesome and the Matilda blouse was hugely popular! We met so many new fans including adorable five and half year old Dillon. His mum got him the entire boy's collection. How cute and smart does he look!

Dillion tried out the outfit behind the tall Castlebox banner.

It was a really awesome feeling seeing how great the fit was on him. I remember the difficulty drawing up the pattern for the Leon shirt and sizing grades for the Classic V-neck jumper and Andre chinos and all the back and forth and hard work really paid off! The length, the sizing and the give in the pieces were just so perfect, I feel so elated to know that they fit so well and beautifully!

Have been looking for a boy model and can't believe we found one who looks just right. He loved the clothes too and was shy and just so adorable. Thank you Mary (Dillon's mum) for stopping by our stall at Matilda's market!

We can't wait for the next Matilda's :)

See you there.

What do you think about these cool paper cuts?

2011-01-31T15:23:00.001+11:00

Everything but the Paper Cut: Eye-popping Ways Artists Use Paper

In the year since the Museum of Art and Design reopened in its new digs on Columbus Circle, they've been delivering consistently compelling shows--from punk-rock lace to radical knitting experiments. The newest, "Slash: Paper Under the Knife", opened last weekend and runs through April 4, 2010.

The focus is paper--and the way contemporary artists have used paper itself as a medium, whether by cutting, tearing, burning, or shredding. In all, the show features 50 artists and a dozen installations made just for the show. Here's a sampling of the other works on display:

http://su.pr/2tW1FM

For full details and information, go to
Fast company

xoxo Castlebox ~ pour les beau enfants ~

Gorillaz - Plastic Beach awesome tracks!

2011-01-16T15:16:00.001+11:00

Freya fell asleep listening to #Gorillaz at JB Hifi. Great tracks on their Plastic beach album.

xoxo Castlebox ~ pour les beau enfants ~

Love the adult building block s- Artplay 3D set from Spacecraft Australia.

2011-01-14T10:52:00.001+11:00

This is such an amazing model making kit that allows you yo realise imagined cityscapes.

My daughter enjoys her own megablocks, but how nice it would be if I had my own building blocks for grown ups!

These architectural images from the 1960s were screen printed onto neatly tessellated wooden blocks made from old doors and salvaged timbers from recently demolished buildings.

Stewart Russell - founder of Spacecraft, discovered that some of these old doors were milled in 1880 and old- growth red cedar from West Canada. Apparently these trees grow to as high as 80meters and six meters round, & over 1500 yrs old. Debatably becoming more important than the buildings they became part of!

How amazing! Other works include this amazing Amsterdam bed linen. I think absolutely to die for!

See HOUSES issue 77
Homewares - www.spacecraftaustralia.com

xoxo Castlebox ~ pour les beau enfants ~

If only I could put it all in a picture!

2011-01-08T18:54:00.001+11:00

What beautiful typography! Thank you 'clockblock'.

xoxo Castlebox ~ pour les beau enfants ~

Love Vintage finds at Hunter Gatherer new store in Royal Arcade Melbourne

2011-01-07T16:27:00.002+11:00

How perfect for Hunter Gatherer to find a spot in the beautiful & timeless 19th century building of the Royal Arcade!

Newly refurbished section of the arcade is looking great with fresh lick of paint & clean windows.

I couldnt resist walking in to browse their neat & organised racks of vintage wares. I love that dresses stood with dresses & skirts with skirts!

Discovered a really cool vintage Giorgio Armani blazer in a tan color made in Italy and this irresistible vintage shirt dress orange with green polka dots and a frilled collar running down the front with square gold buttons (all still intact!) to add, softly fine pleats from the waist & lined!

O my god, just describing it is making me want it more. Lovely sales assistant to top it off! I did say to her if it's there tomorrow, I'll take it home with me!!

Perhaps I'll dream about it tonight!

Babar the elephant

2011-01-06T10:15:00.001+11:00

I'm really enjoying the childrens books meant for little Freya. I love the Melbourne city library!

Babar is keeping a special place in my heart & I hope hers too !

Great inspiration for Castlebox illustrated tees perhaps :) Thank you Jean!

The Murray

2010-12-27T14:55:00.001+11:00

Lovin' the Murray River.
Happy Holidays!;-)

Finders Keepers was a SUCCESS!!

2010-10-11T18:34:00.000+11:00

We had much fun at Finders Keepers on the weekend!
It was lovely to meet so many crafty and creative stallholders and get to know our customers:)

For those that took the time and made the trip to Docklands, THAnk YOU!

(Happy customer) - wears 9-10yr Madeleine Cardigan

Definitely felt that I am slowly mastering the art of setting up and packing!
It was totally awesome fun and can't wait to do the next market again.

Geelong! Fairy Floss Market on 24 October in 2 weeks.
How exciting! Can't wait to show our new arrivals!
Do Join us!

Whatever happened to creativity?

2010-09-24T09:24:00.000+10:00

Coming from a background of fine art, architecture and working in a creative industry of fine jewellery design and childrens' fashion, the Arts have always had a special place in my heart. The grey areas of copyrights, 'inspirational' research and its overall equation to economic value seems always a contestable debate between my peers and even my husband who sees the world from the other side.

I applaud Hilary Glow and Stella Minahan's article in Meanjin Quarter and just had to share it (a small section from Meanjin Quarterly - Vol 69 No. 3)

Whatever happened to creativity?

The concept of creativity from the visual and performing arts implies and act of imaginative practice intended to express original ideas. But the notion of creativity has been overused to become almost meaningless. Type 'creativity' or 'creative' into your search engine and you come up with, for example, cruise ship holidays, business leadership programs, bar mitzvahs, management systems, - everything in other words. And if everything is creative then nothing is. As 'creative' become synonymous with any new product in the marketplace, what is disappearing is any special claim that artists might reasonable make about what they do and how they go about it. The concept of idiosyncratic, distinctive creativity has been refashioned or 'hollowed out' to suit the management of commerce and industry. It is hollowed out because this versio of creativity ignores the possibility that creative activity might exist unhampered by the rational calculation of end-use. Creativity as a set of 'imaginative practices' with their own intrinsic value has lost its specific tie to culture in general and the arts in particular.

Why does it matter?

The answer is that creative practice is the defining characteristics of the arts. There is no other unifying principle to which the arts can sensibly lay claim. Not all art is innovative, or beautiful, or truth-seeking, or cutting edge. But no matter their other qualities, the arts are by definition the product of creative practices. in an environment of limited and often precarious funding, the arts sector needs to be recognized for its distinctive capacity to produce value that is cultural, symbolic, aesthetic, spiritual and expressive, but may not equate with economic value.

Melbourne's best coffee!

2010-09-22T09:03:00.001+10:00

Breakie with my best mate at Cafe e torta. Royal Arcade - little Collins Melbourne. :) we *heart* coffee!

Adam & Eve contemplations

2010-09-02T08:55:00.001+10:00

Melbourne Flinders St Station 830am

2010-08-26T08:33:00.000+10:00

Waiting for a platform.
Waiting ... Waiting...
Flinders St station so near... Yet so far

Stephen Wiltshire

2010-08-25T09:30:00.000+10:00

I spend some quiet time on my weekday mornings before work at the City Library.

Today 'Yen' Issue 45, 2010 magazine keeps me company.
Just had to share this amazing article on Stephen Wiltshire.
Diagnosed with autism at age 3, Stephen communicated primarily through his art work. Didn't learn to speak till he was 9 - encouraged by teachers who temporarily took away his art supplies so he'll be forced to ask for them. His first words were "paper" and "pencil".

See how he has captured the art world's attention. Returning after a primary school excursion to the centre of London he sat down and sketched the buildings he'd seen in astonishing detail - entirely from memory.

Talk about photographic memory! Now 36, he has his own galleries and travels the world with his sister. In Sydney, he recently recreated the view from the Sydney Tower after observing it for just 30minutes.

Amazing! Kudos to you Stephen!

We are lovin' Matilda's market Hawthorn

2010-08-22T09:59:00.001+10:00

Enjoying this amazing day at Matilda's Market. Shopping frenzy:-)

Matilda's Market Sunday 22 August Hawthorn Town Hall

2010-08-20T15:53:00.001+10:00

We’re frantically busy and jumping up and down with excitement, as we prepare for our forthcoming appearance at Mathilda’s Market! You’ll find us there onSunday 22nd August, and we’d love you to pop along and say hello. Mathilda’s is the home of unique, stylish and exquisite baby & kids’ products, made by some of Australia’s cleverest crafters, artisans and designers.

Anne Lewis from Mathilda’s meticulously selects the stallholders at each Market to bring shoppers the perfect mix of clothing, accessories, home wares and toys for little people.

Everything at Mathilda’s is either lovingly handmade, or manufactured in small quantities, and just too irresistible to pass up!

Most stallholders at Mathilda’s Market don’t have a shopfront, so prepare to unearth some truly original and utterly delectable finds.

Where: Hawthorn Town Hall, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn. More info at: www.mathildasmarket.com.au

Melbourne City Magazine

2010-08-19T08:35:00.000+10:00

Was handed this at the Parliament station this morning.

Lovin' the cover! Right near the arcade where I work close by.

Go sci-fanatics! cityweekly.newspaperdirect.com

Miscellaneous Mum - Fathers' day giveaway

2010-08-19T03:11:00.001+10:00

Thank you Karen from Miscellaneous Mum -she writes an awesome blog that I've really enjoyed following lately - www.miscmum.com

I rarely win any competitions and am thrilled to be chosen to receive this Father's day prize - we know who the gift will be going to.

(Sorry geekhusband, iPhone4 has to wait. Lets go easy on the bank for the moment okay.) I'm really excited! Can't wait to get this book in the mail and have a first peek. I love childrens books and illustrations.

Anna Walker's work is awesome!

Thanks again Karen!! You have made my day:-)

Politically correct dolls

2010-08-17T13:21:00.001+10:00

Saw these at a French owned hypermarket (that has over 150,000 stores throughout the world) during our holiday travels in Asia last month. They are on special at about AUD$5.

So which doll would you pick? Are there clothes we can buy as well for them?? I kinda like the green one.

Bondville: Stylish Kids: Castlebox

2010-08-17T12:03:00.000+10:00

We are so proud to be featured in Bondville this week. It has really made our day! Thank you for the post :)

Bondville: Stylish Kids: Castlebox

Castlebox is here!

2010-08-16T15:48:00.000+10:00

Finally Castlebox is on Blogspot!

wooohooo.... spent an embarassing amount of time

trying to make this work and also find and buy a suitable app on my iphone.

Please do not tell my geekhusband how much I spent and (especially how long I took).

test test....