Mother's Day Gift Ideas

From top to bottom – Vicki Penguin basket planter pot in blue from Hut 13 ($65.00), Zuzu square plaid throw from Safari Living ($426.00), Kantha quilt in tropicana forest green from Fossik ($199.00), Penelope Durston vintage blanket quilt ($330.00) and Guatemalan pom pom belt also from Cottage Industry ($120.00), Khadi & Co African throw from Ganim's Store ($350.00), and Olba watermelon stool from Jardan ($520.00). Background – Round and Round the Garden wallpaper in ginger jar blue by Anna Spiro for Porter's Paints ($220.00 for 10m x 152cm roll). Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

From top to bottom, left to right – Tooth & Nail coin purse in natural with aqua ($35.00) and wallet in black with copper foil ($125.00) by Georgie Cummings, Metepec candlestick with arms from Market Import ($39.50), Nesting Cones by Georgia Perry (from $65.00-$125.00), Gustavsberg Bersa by Stig Lindberg canister with cork lid from Angelucci ($99.00), Vicki Penguin pom pom plater from Hut 13 ($58.00), Dibbern teapot in ice blue from Safari Living ($142.00), Ceramike Artystyczna blue with white speck medium jug from Scarlet Jones ($85.00), Wooden Neighbourhoods by Georgia Perry ($25.00-$85.00), Bone Inlay small frame from Fenton & Fenton ($35.00), ceramic laundry bottle from Pan After ($52.00), Neon Tangerine Aerogram card from The Hungry Workshop ($7.00), ceramic lotion bottle from Pan After ($28.00), and Shuh necklace from Hut 13 ($45.00). Background - Mariedal Peony by Designers Guild ($276.00 per metre). Shelf painted in Melon Baby by Dulux. Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

From left to right – Terafeu orange goblet from Angelucci ($13.00), Marimekko glass pitcher in lilac from Safari Living ($119.00), Bone Inlay coasters ($80.00 for set of six) and Mayan Huipil handbag ($360.00) from Fenton & Fenton, Areaware bow woven x plastic bin from Pan After ($74.00), and Tree of Life candlestick from Market Import ($55.50). Background – Hydrangeas No.1 from Frankie and Swiss ($110.00 per metre).  Bottom surface painted in Wing Commander by Dulux. Flowers – Cecilia Fox. Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

If you follow TDF on Instagram you may have noticed we recently took a lease on our very own little (tiny) photo studio!  Ok so it's more of a rustic warehouse than a real studio at present, but we have grand plans ahead and I am SO excited about the potential of having this dedicated space to make all kinds of beautiful styled images for TDF.  PUMPED! So of course I was super keen to christen the new studio space with a fun, creative product shoot, and what better reason to sharpen my sourcing and styling skills than for a special Mother's Day feature! As you guys know, all religious / non-religious / overly commercialised holidays aside, I am a big believer in gift gifting between loved ones. Mother's Day would have to be one of the most important non-denominational annual holidays, because Mums are generally such a selfless bunch, and whether we admit it or not, sometimes we all need a little reminder to show our appreciation. Today's post brings together a bunch of ideas which we hope will be helpful on your hunt for the perfect Mother's Day gift for this coming Sunday.  We approached some of our favourite designers, artists and retailers, pulling together an eclectic edit of colour and clashing pattern. I was keen to go for a kind of contemporary 'floral-on-floral' action for this story - it seemed only fitting for the occasion! Since temperatures have taken a bit of a nosedive in recent weeks, we reckon a beautiful blanket, throw or quilt would be VERY well received this weekend - our top picks include the Zuzu square plaid throw from Safari Living ($426.00), Kantha quilt in tropicana forest green from excellent online store Fossik ($199.00), a stunning vintage blanket quilts from Penelope Durston ($330.00), or one of the Khadi & Co African throws from Ganim's Store ($350.00). If you reckon accessories are a better bet for your stylish Mama, we were very taken with the Mayan Tapestry bags from Fenton & Fenton ($360.00), whilst Country Road's fabulous new geometric print cosmetic bags ($29.95) are such a good buy!  The Flowering Gum print mini pouch by Utopia Goods ($59.00) is another winner (lots more designs / colourways available on their website), and Georgie Cummings' handprinted, handstitched leather pouches (from $35.00) have popped up again, because we just can't get enough of them! For the home, of course, there were no shortage of options.  My absolute FAVOURITE finds amongst this lot are Market Import's handpainted mexican candle holders (so many colours, designs available in store at the moment, and super affordable from $39.50), the Areaware plastic / woven baskets from Pan After (obsessed!) and that amazing Royal Copenhagen tableware from Angelucci Twentieth Century.  OH and if the budget allows (or if you have 6 siblings with whom to split the bill!) there really is nothing more wonderful that the gift of original artwork - like a beautiful new painting by Melbourne artist  Sandra Eterovic from Hut 13 ($650.00), or a floral oil painting by Sydney based Laura Jones ($1650). We hope this little feature will inspire a special gift for the all important Mums out there this coming weekend!  And if it all gets too hard, don't fret.  Simply take inspiration from the vibrant prints you see here, and go for a big bunch of gorgeous fresh flowers, preferably from your local independent florist - fail safe! BIG THANKS to all the lovely local retailers and designers for loaning us their gorgeous products for this shoot, especially Cecilia Fox in Brunswick, who provided flowers. Thanks also to my man Gordon Johnson for creating surfaces and shelves and L-brackets for this shoot at a moment's notice!  And to my dear amazing assistant Lisa Marie Corso for logistics / returns / captions!

From top to bottom, left to right – Dramatic Grape Aerogram card by The Hungry Workshop ($7.00), Nesting Cones by Georgia Perry ($65.00-$125.00), seed hoop earrings ($275.00) and taco friendship band in silver ($55.00) by Lucy Folk, Royal Copenhagen small dish by Marianne Johnson from Angelucci ($90.00), mint prism brick from Pan After ($16.00), Royal Copenhagen large dish by Marianne Johnson from Angelucci ($148.00), All Spice bracelets by Lucy Folk ($45.00 each), Bone Inlay coasters from Fenton & Fenton $80.00 for set of six), Cicada Milky Way napkin from Utopia Goods ($16.95), Open Sesame bangle by Lucy Folk ($230.00), Royal Copenhagen medium dish Marianne Johnson from Angelucci ($135.00), minted pea bracelet by Lucy Folk ($132.00), Gustavsberg Bersa by Stig Lindberg large plate ($99.00) and cup and saucer set ($148.00) from Angelucci. Background – Garden Floral tablecloth in pink by Bonnie and Neil ($185.00). Flowers – Cecilia Fox. Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

From left to right, top to bottom – Bento party crochet bracelet by Lucy Folk ($85.00), Shaker doll in blue ($130.00) and Ceramike Artystyczna small cups ($29.00 each) from Scarlet Jones, geometric print medium cosmetic bag from Country Road ($29.95), Sweet Orange & Cedarwood hand soap ($34.00), Jojoba & Carmellia balancing cream ($36) and Chamomile & Walnut scrub ($42.00) by Jacqueline Evans Naturopathic Skincare, Flowering Gum print mini pouch by Utopia Goods ($59.00), Dumbo Feather magazines (an annual subscription costs $45.00), Toscane jug ($59.50) and Fasano speckle jug ($22.50) from Market Import, and Heath Nash flower brooch ($15.00) and Serax canvas pot ($75.00) from Pan After. Background – Indigo Flowering Gum upholstery fabric by Utopia Goods ($69.00 per metre). Shelf painted in Mondrian Blue by Dulux. Flowers – Cecilia Fox. Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.

From top to bottom, left to right – woven tapestry with reclaimed silk and metallic threads by Maryanne Moodie (commissions start from $200.00-$350.00), 'The Man Who Never Was' painting by Sandra Eterovic available at Hut 13 ($650.00, 30cm x 40cm, acrylic on wood), 'Hope's Flowers' painting by Laura Jones ($1650, 36cm x 39cm, oil on linen), Jai Vasicek cross from Fenton & Fenton ($120.00), and Georgia Perry. Background – Infinite Multitudes by Frankie and Swiss ($110 per metre). Photo – Sean Fennessy, styling – Lucy Feagins / The Design Files.