We’re thrilled to have Real Living as a partner for Life Instyle Sydney 2012!

We love Real Living for it’s inspiring imagery and it’s entertaining and practical advice. As editor Deb Bibby explains, “Real Living is like that stylish, got-it-together friend you turn to for advice: part interior stylist, part personal shopper, part life coach.”

Look out for Real Living journalists and photographers at the show, and have your media kits and marketing collateral ready!

For more information visit: http://homes.ninemsn.com.au/real-living

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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We’ve caught the bug. The very contagious, very addictive, very design feasting pinning bug. Yes, Life Instyle has landed on Pinterest.

We wrote a little while back about our love for this new platform, and how businesses like Project 82 were incorporating into their website. We decided that was perfect for our target audiences, looked like serious fun and it was time for us to jump in and pin.

We’ll use our Pinterest boards to pin photos from our blog, from our shows and favourite images from around the web, all sorted into categories for easy digesting (and repinning!).

If you’re in the business of visual inspiration, we highly recommend adding Pinterest to your digital marketing toolkit. Don’t be put off the by ‘invitation only’ subscriber process – you will be issued an account soon after requesting one. We recommend requesting a personal account and a second account for your business, making sure you secure the Pinterest web address for your business.

And if you end up creating a Pinterest account for your business to pin your products, make sure each pin has a keyword rich description of your image and a link back to your website.

Follow Life Instyle on Pinterest: pinterest.com/lifeinstyle

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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We love summer. We love shoes. We love summer shoes. Hurrah, Soludos are coming to Life Instyle Sydney 2012!

Soludos are based on the traditional espadrilles that have been sold in the markets and on beaches in the Mediterranean for centuries. It’s the perfect shoe for the beach, the city and everywhere in-between. The natural jute sole and all cotton upper creates a shoe that breathes, proving that there is life beyond thongs.

Started in the US and having expanding globally, they’ve only recently arrived in Australia. As part of their citizenship test they’ve collaborated Australian fashion brand Bassike, which has definitely earned them top marks.

They’re also in cahoots with Oyster Magazine to find the ultimate photo that captures chilled summer vibes. The prize is a very hot New York summer ‘vacation’. More information here. Get clicking.

For more information visit: www.soludos.com

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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Some people are driven to make. To craft. To care. To vision. And to produce with their hands. Maya Walsh, Creative Director of her brand Maya Muse Textiles is one such artist.

Maya founded her business in 2010 with a
 desire to design and make beautiful, thoughtful
 products which celebrate the joy of the
 handmade. Sydney based, the company makes all their products made the old fashioned way, screen printed by hand by Maya using hand mixed inks. The sewing is split between Maya and a local seamstress. Maya is passionate about supporting local industry as well as having a hands on approach to every step of the process.

As Maya explains “I think there is an honesty to handmade techniques which imbues each product with a special quality that can only be achieved in the absence of mass production. I hope that the use of traditional techniques and natural fibers works perfectly to complement modern, innovative prints in a delicious palette.”

The range includes hand screen printed cushions, tea towels,
 wheat bags, eye pillows, door snakes, door stops, and bag holders. Be sure to say hello to Maya at Life Instyle Sydney 2012.

How did you end up where you are today?
I studied a Bachelor of Design at COFA, and since graduating in 2003 I have worked as a commercial textile designer both here in Sydney and for 5 years in London. I have worked inhouse for both fashion and homewares labels, as well as for print studios who supply designs to many international labels. I love textile design and really enjoyed working for larger companies and being part of a team to put a collection together, but now I really love being able to go right back to basics with old fashioned techniques and local manufacturing.

What’s the best thing about what you do?
Creative freedom, I love being able to explore an idea, and then chat to customers directly about their response to it. With a small business, when a customer absolutely loves my products it is so rewarding.

When did you start exhibiting at Life Instyle?
This upcoming Life Instyle will be my first. I am very excited!

Why do you choose to exhibit at Life Instyle?
I would like to expand exposure to Maya Muse and grow the brand.

What can we expect from you at the next show?
I am hoping to have some new prints and an expanded tablewear range available.

Right now I’m:
Eating… Thai
Drinking… Gin and tonic
Reading… Harry Potter. I am very behind the times and embarrassingly addicted!
Planning… Concept boards for the upcoming range
Enjoying… Catching up with friends

For more information visit: www.mayamusetextiles.com.au

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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Life Instyle regulars will be familiar with the gorgeous women’s wear label tickets for coco, but may not know about the exciting new brand cousins Brooke and Danni have invited to the party. Introducing Mr Fallow.

Mr Fallow is delightful and resourceful, with a keen eye for design. Infact he’s hand picked a treasure trove of charming pieces for the home. His selection criteria is quite simple; it must have a history, a story to tell, it must be as equally functional as it is beautiful and above all, it must be must worthy of adoration.

Debuting at Life Instyle Sydney, Mr Fallow brings hand stitched vintage sari quilts, exquisite antique grain sack cushions and leather trimmed bags, and unique one off rarities. He also has quite a thing for ethically preserved taxidermy.

Meet Mr Fallow and his worldly delights in just over four weeks time at Life Instyle Sydney 2012.

For more information visit: www.mrfallow.com.au

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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We’re delighted to announce that our Sydney 2012 Exhibitor List is now accessible on our website! Go to > lifeinstyle.com.au > Who’s Exhibiting.

Simply select which show you are interested in (Life Instyle, Kids Instyle or First Instyle) and the product category. You’ll then see a drop down list of all the exhibitors showing in that category, a description and product images.  So you can start planning your visit now.

And don’t forget to pre-register to speed up your entry into the show. Only five weeks to go! Register here.

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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After a stellar debut in Melbourne 2010, Bonnie and Neil have gone from strength to strength.

Here’s a preview of what you’ll find from this fabulous duo at Life Instyle Sydney 2012: new shadow box motifs, geometric designs, stenciled trestle tables and table ware, and fresh soft furnishings. LOVE!

For more information visit: www.bonnieandneil.com.au

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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From entrepreneurial beginnings as a 6 year old plasticine jewellery maker, Kate Richmond’s adult self long suspected she was destined to run her own crafty gig. And after a stint by the sea, she was inspired. Two years later, this gorgeous gift card and tea towel brand is flourishing, and will be on show at Life Instyle Sydney 2012.

Tell us about the Elly Oak brand.
Premium quality papers + inks and Scandinavian inspired designs combine to produce our deliciously bright and modern range of greeting cards. The playful designs are perfect for both children and adults.

The collection offers both hand screen-printed cards (making each one a unique little piece of art) and a range of printed square cards and gift tags. Plus hand screen printed tea towels are a new addition to the range.

Elly Oak hopes to provide people with beautiful, simple designs that are fresh and unique. The brand represents a love of colour, uncluttered design and handcrafted art.

How did you end up where you are today?
I started my own greeting card business about two years ago. The idea came about when I went down to Lorne and spent a month living at our beach house down on the Great Ocean Road. I took down my paints and started stenciling some designs of flowers onto cards. A local shop loved and bought them, which gave me the confidence to try out some stockists in Melbourne.

I was so excited about how the cards looked, and played around with all sorts of colourful variations, it really was a very creative time for me. I’ll always remember the excitement I felt as I saw people’s reactions to my designs and realised I may have a little business opportunity on my hands.

Also, I think I was always destined to do this. As a child I was always making things. I once made an ‘Australiana’ necklace out of bright green plasticine, with all sorts of gumnuts and bush leaves going on. My mum fired it in the oven for me, and drove me to the local gift shop as I wanted to try and sell it. The owner was very diplomatic, and whilst she didn’t take the necklace, I walked away thinking I’d like to make and sell things for a living…I was 6!

What’s the best thing about what you do?
The flexibility to manage my own time. And the fact that I finally get to be creative all day every day, rather than just during the times when I’m working on a hobby project. Being creative makes me feel incredibly content.

The other thing I like about what I do is being able to work from home. I get up, walk to work…15 seconds across the hallway (I don’t miss driving in peak hour traffic), and turn on my computer. Then I’ll walk down to the local shops and get my morning coffee. I’m a creature of habit, and like this little morning routine of going for a walk, and chatting to everyone. Probably important too, because sometimes I can go a whole day in my studio without seeing or talking to anyone else.

I converted the spare room into my office/studio, so the space acts as both an are where I screen print, and also where I do all my admin…an interesting combination, as both jobs can get very messy at times. But I went out to Ikea and Bunnings and bought lots of shelving, white storage boxes etc, and the space (when I’m organised) looks clean, fresh and neat…there is a lot of natural light which helps.

I also painted an enormous door from the hardware store with white paint, and put it on trestle legs. This means I can leave all my ideas spread out and I don’t have to always pack things away. In fact this is how I often come up with my ideas…I will walk out of the room, and a day or so later when I walk back in, a collection of papers is lying on top of one another and I suddenly realise it’s a lovely combination of patterns and colours, and I see a greeting card in the pile of mess.

When did you start exhibiting at Life Instyle?
February 2011

Why do you exhibit at Life Instyle?
Three reasons…
1. It’s an unbelievable opportunity to have all your target buyers under the one roof at the one time. It gives me maximum exposure to my target audience.
2. It’s a perfect fit for my brand…high end, boutique, artisan-focussed, and a little bit different from everything else.
3. It’s a collection of very talented and inspiring people and companies, and it’s good to be surrounded by such positive and creative energy.

What has been your Life Instyle highlight?
Seeing Olivia Newton John wandering around at Sydney Life Instyle last February. I love a bit of celebrity star spotting. Also, the day that a very big card company took a lot of my range was definitely an exciting moment.

What can we expect from you at the next show?
I will have new designs, as always (I like to keep things fresh and new, plus I have a whole folder of designs and ideas just waiting to get out there on a greeting card). I will also launch some new stationery lines.

Right now I’m:
Eating… Vietnamese rice paper rolls. I never realised they were so easy to make.
Drinking… One good coffee each morning (two makes me go a little loopy). And banana smoothies, made with yoghurt if I’m being healthy, and made with ice cream if I’m feeling reckless.
Reading… Peter Temple’s Broken Shore, a great Australian crime novel. Picked up an old copy at a bookshop in Sydney and can’t put it down. Also anything to with the Himalayas, Mt Everest and trekking. I’m a bit obsessed after just coming back from a month-long trek in Nepal. Dark Summit and Into Thin Air are great reads. I am fascinated by people who choose to climb Everest.
Hearing… People mowing their lawn all the time. Summer is definitely in the air.
Planning… A trip. Anywhere and everywhere. Even if I never end up going, I always have a few trip ideas on the boil, I love traveling.
Buying… Any perfume from Mecca. Perfume is my weakness, and Mecca sells the best.
Enjoying… Simon Baker in The Mentalist! I am also loving the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency on Sunday nights.

For more information visit: www.ellyoak.com

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::
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Oscar needed a big boy bed. Unfortunately after a global search his mum couldn’t find one that was well designed, high quality, affordable, functional and stylish. So Oscar stayed in his cot. And his mum Kristy Withers took matters into her own hands. She founded Incy Interiors and Oscar now has a selection of beautiful beds to slumber in.

On show for the first time at Kids Instyle in Sydney 2012, Incy Interiors specialises in designer children’s and babies furniture and room accessories – cots, beds, change tables/dressers, bookcases, side tables, chairs and wall art. Finishes include: Driftwood, French Provincial, Metal and a Panelled range. We welcome Incy Interiors to the Kids Instyle family!

How did you end up where you are today?
Prior to founding Incy I spent over 10 years working in marketing and finance. Most recently I spent the last 5 years at eBay managing their Marketing/Communications team. When my son (Oscar) reached 2 years of age we decided to move him to a ‘big boy bed’ after months of extensive searching I was getting increasingly frustrated and Oscar was still in his cot. Around the same time after 18 months of struggling to balance a crazy full time job with a toddler and a husband who worked away I decided to create Incy.

What’s the best thing about what you do?
I get to do what I love everyday!

Why do you exhibit at Kids Instyle?
It is the number one tradeshow for the children’s industry.

What can we expect from you at the next show?
We will be unveiling our new range of cots/beds and children’s chairs in gorgeous spring colours.

Right now I’m:
Eating… anything quick and easy
Drinking… lots of coffee
Reading… e-mails!
Hearing… Baby Einstein
Planning… for our new range launch at KIS in February
Enjoying… my newborn baby – Polly, hence the above answers!

For more information visit: www.incyinteriors.com.au

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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We’re delighted to again have the fabulous crew from KidStyleFile.com.au on board as a sponsor for Kids Instyle, Sydney 2012!  Kids Instyle exhibitors be sure to put your best foot forward for the KidStyleFile bloggers on the hunt for the best new kids products at KIS.

And we’d like to give a shoutout to their new website: HomeStyleFile.com.au. This new site is dedicated to bringing you the news on homewares and lifestyle products together with fantastic discounts and offers direct from the stores, designers and wholesalers.  Each weekday the site delivers news of sales, reader discounts, special offer and more. Pop over and check it out today.

:: Life Instyle Sydney, 23 – 26 February 2012. Register Now. ::

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