The Nest

Wooden Poetry

2009-08-01T14:39:00.001+08:00

What an innovative and playful rendition of the traditional rocking horse!

This award winning Scandinavian designed rabbit is bound to stretch any child's imagination.

Only two pieces available in Singapore. Comes in a neatly packaged box with easy to follow instructions fo30mins to put it together. If assembling isn't your thing, you may purchase the display piece at 20% off the retail price!

And yes, those floppy ears are made of genuine leather.

Made of Wood/MDF

Seat height: 300mm Weight: 7kg Suitable for 12 months & above

{ First Sale @ The Nest }

2009-05-29T17:15:00.006+08:00

Participating labels:

Psst: We were recently featured on Glamourpuss's blog. Click here to have a read on the fun Q&A session that was conducted by the lovely Daniela.

New Arrivals: Buttons & Bows

2009-05-15T16:37:00.003+08:00

We are thrilled to stock these little handmade numbers from a label called Buttons & Bows.

Each piece is painstakingly hand-sewn by the designer and I know she is very particular in terms of choosing the right fabric that is safe and soft for your precious one. Sizes are suited for toddlers within the age 1-3 yrs.

I have uploaded pictures of what we have in store. She has new designs that will be available end of May so stay tuned!

Goldilocks Westie Top $25 (Sz1/2/3 available)

Goldilocks Skirt $ 35 (Sz1/2/3 available)

Eva Top $40 (Sz 1/2/3 available)

L'll Prissy Pants (khaki) $45 (Sz1/2/3 available)

Goldilocks Westie Top $25 (Sz1/2/3 available)

Jolie Skirt $45 (Sz1/2/3 available)

{ Spotted: Jewellery Tree on the pages of Home & Decor }

2009-05-15T16:35:00.005+08:00

This Jewellery Tree that just arrived in Singapore for the first time made an appearance in April's issue of Home & Decor. It was featured under the Now Trends section...which is great!

The tree comes in black and white at the moment but we will be bringing in a new colour in the next couple of weeks so stay tuned to our blog for updates.

If you do not have a copy of Home & Decor, please click on Home & Decor. Do browse through the other trendy items that got featured as well.

{Snapshots of Boutiques @ Fort Canning }

2009-05-05T21:49:00.006+08:00

Strangely enough, I have never been to this part of Fort Canning Park and I was surprised by how tranquil and peaceful it was.

I must say it is a great place to hold a fair and the fair organiser had everything thought out. There were ample walking space, an interesting mix of products, kid's section equipped with a playing area and of course, tantalising coffee & baguettes to whet your appetite amidst the sounds of chirping birds and crickets.

What a great way to shop!

Our nook shared with Antipodean

Colourful melamine plates and quirky printed fabrics

{ Earth Hour 2009 thanks you }

2009-04-27T13:07:00.005+08:00

The recent Earth Hour inspired hundreds of millions of people across 88 countries to give their switches a flick.

Whilst 28th March is over, these group of passionate earth lovers are working to garner 1 billion votes before the Global Climate Change Conference held on 29th December 09. Check their website to see how you can help them achieve their goals.

Here's an official video of what went on around major cities round the globe last March.

{ Snapshots of Shophouse Fair }

2009-04-09T15:56:00.002+08:00

Here's our spot together with Antipodean

Happy shoppers

Outdoor children's area. Those melamine collection are too cute!

{ This Little Bunny... }

2009-04-09T15:42:00.003+08:00

Easter is here and it is all about chocolate eggs and fluffy bunnies.

The only Bunny print we have in our shop is now going on sale to mark this occasion. It's marked down to $115 (beans included). Come and get it soon as this is the last piece.

{ Boutiques @ Fort Canning }

2009-04-09T13:16:00.002+08:00

This is the first of the biannual fair in 2009.

Mark it down on your calendars!

Lot's of new vendors, returning vendors, a bakery to whip up a decadent range of cakes, muffins and coffee...

What a better way to spend a day surrounded by luscious greenery?

{ Switch it off }

2009-03-24T17:34:00.005+08:00

If you haven't already heard of Earth Hour, take a couple of minutes to find out more about this amazing cause.

What started out in Sydney in 2007 as an effort to increase global warming awareness transformed into a global event by 2008 where an estimated 50million people switched off their lights.

Pretty awesome isn't it?

In 2009, let us all combine our efforts to meet their goal of 1 billion people. It is really simple.

Wherever you are, turn off your lights on 28th March (Saturday) at 8:30pm for 60 minutes. That's all it takes for your voice to be heard.

I reckon it's great fun to gather with a bunch of friends with lot's of candles, chips and beer to chatter the night away.

I will leave you with some pictures captured during 2008's Earth Hour by my friend Brandon in Sydney.

Lights out!

Mother Nature putting on a magnificent show during the Earth Hour period. Amazing shot Brandon!

{ Join us at the fair }

2009-03-24T16:35:00.005+08:00

Come 26th March, Tricia from Antipodean and myself will be participating at the very established Shophouse Fair for the first time.

Amongst our existing wares from the shop, there will be some New Arrivals as well. Prices of certain items will reduced exclusively at this fair so you wouldn't want to miss out on a good buy!

Keep a look out for us indoors at the Main Hall area.

The Shophouse occupies a pretty vast area and it is a perfect spot to hang out with your pals or your kids. When I am in the vicinity, I like to checkout Originals for their eclectic range of wooden furniture and Villa Bali (which is just round the corner) is a great venue for dinner/drinks.

{ The Greenhouse: Guerilla Gastronomy }

2009-03-06T16:14:00.003+08:00

All thanks to Commes des Garcons, our interest in Guerilla stores piqued when the avant garde designers decided to setup pop-up shops at random locations on a minimal budget.

Now, it must have taken a helluva creative and passionate person to materialise his vision of building a mobile eatery made out of recycled materials. This eco-savvy designer, Joost Bakker was so repulsed by the carbon footprint we are leaving behind he decided to show the world that something literally built out of waste can be just as chic. In fact, the eatery is modelled after his home in country Victoria.

Recently, Melbournians were blessed to be the very first to experience Guerilla Gastronomy at the iconic Federation Square.

The cafe/bar took a crazy 3 weeks to put together, made possible by the like-minded people he collaborated with. It will operate for merely 3 months.

The facade: See how it is literally squished in between the crevices of Fed Square. It is made out of bales of hay, supported with old shipping containers and plastic crates.

The roof top is a vegetable garden, where the produce will be served at the restaurant.

Chairs cast from old street signs (Note the "Prepare to Stop" chair and vegetable wall.

Recycled jam jars to serve your favourite brew.

Unfortunately, as with all guerilla concepts, this Greenhouse has been deconstructed (without leaving a single trace of waste) and is making its way to Sydney. It will be sprouting up in Milan too so keep your eyes peeled.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will end up here one day.

{ Bean bags restocked and new design! }

2009-03-06T16:03:00.003+08:00

The bean bags are now restocked with more designs and colours that will sate the appetite of both boys and girls.

A batch of shipment just arrived yesterday and this new design, Dreamy Owl is their current bestseller.

Dreamy Owl on pink (available in sand coloured base as well).

Wait! There is another good news. Due to the success of these bean bags, our supplier have increased their production to meet their expanding orders. They have reduced their costs for us and hence we are passing on the savings over to our customers.

New height chart design in store.

Wood Land height chart

We are expecting some new wall arts to be arriving in late March/Apr so check back this space for more updates.

{ Spotted }

2009-03-06T15:53:00.003+08:00

We were thrilled to grace the pages of Singapore's #1 Interior Design Magazine, Home & Decor's February 09 issue. I haven't had the chance to upload the pictures till now so if you missed our feature, here it is.

The Zaishu seat/table continues to charm editors for their captivating artwork, flat packed and functional capabilities.

The same goes for the Crackery range from Ornamented Life.

{ At last! A tree that works }

2009-02-19T17:27:00.004+08:00

I am truly excited about this jewellery tree.

I have been on this perpetual quest to discover various creative storage spaces to hold my costume jewelleries. I have yet to uncover anything that is practical, aesthetically pleasing and does not take up too much space.

Until I came across this duo of talented industrial designers from Sydney.

I heart this! The steel material means it is sturdy. The perforated holes will gladly hold all of your ear-rings (both studs and hanging ones) and you can hang your bracelets or necklaces over the branches. Love!

Available in Black or White for $89. Made in Australia.

Accessories are available for sale at the shop.

{ Spotted: Bowerbird }

2009-02-19T17:17:00.003+08:00

Bowerbird's ceramics were featured a couple of times in Jan09's issue of Home Decor.

To find out more about Bowerbird's range that are designed by a New Zealander, please click on her website Bowerbird or visit our shop to view the collection.

Ginseng Pot featured as a vase on the table

Ginseng pot ($225) & Peacock Jar ($195)

Ginseng Pot ($225) and Orange Small Platter ($195)

{ Love is... }

2009-02-12T15:28:00.002+08:00

As cliche as Valentine's Day is, no one is going to complain when they receive a little token of love right? I know I wouldn't.

Limited edition artwork

Eco-friendly card $7

Bursting With Love $7

{ Ushering in the Ox }

2009-01-23T14:05:00.005+08:00

Before we head off for the long weekend, I just want to highlight this lovely homegrown label that produces organic clothing for babies and adults.

Dean & Issy, the passionate founders of Belle & Dean moved from London to Singapore so they can introduce the organic clothes concept to a new place.

I'm glad they chose to produce their clothes in Singapore as the label is not only affordable, they provide free delivery to all parts of the island. Do take a look at their website to view the whole collection.

If you prefer to view and touch the real thing, we stock the baby range. One of my favourite items is this little number.

A cute little cardigan ($45) to keep your baby warm yet comfortable.
I knew I had to get something for my good friend's baby. Her little bub will look so cute in this bodysuit.

Sleeveless Hedgehog Bodysuit $22.50

For our international readers, Belle & Dean ships internationally.

Before I forget, please take note of our operating hours during CNY:-

24th January - 11am to 9pm

25th January - 11am to 5pm

26th January - CLOSED

27th January - CLOSED

29th January - 12pm to 9pm

I'm heading off to sunny Perth and I will return in February with postings of new goodies at the shop.

Happy holidays everyone!

{ Something For Your Furry Friends }

2009-01-15T16:11:00.004+08:00

Calling out to all pooch and feline lovers! There is no better time to pamper your furry pal.

The lovely Daniela of Glamourpuss is giving reduced prices for her Ree-Yong collection for the month of January.

Most of the stocks are available at The Nest. Alternatively you may view the products via her website.

I have attached some pictures from her web for your viewing pleasure.

First up, pet carriers.

This pet carrier is the solution to carrying your little friend around whilst running your errands in style. What more, the medium size carrier doubles up as a magazine holder. It is available in brown and white.

Pet carrier (small) - $129, reduced from $155

Pet carrier (medium) $139, reduced from $165

Please note that stocks are limited at this price!

There is a 10% discount for the remaining pet pieces for the month of January. If you were to to purchase 2 items from the Ree-Yong collection, you are entitled to another 5% discount. How great is that?

Check out the uber luxe cat condo.

Cat Condo (3 piece) - $299, now $269.10

Dog lounger (small) - $242.10 (after 10% discount), Dog dinner set (small) $139.50 (after discount). Don't forget to take off an additional 5% if you purchase 2 of these items.

A dog or cat's life isn't so bad eh?

{ Luxe, Fluffy Pillows }

2009-01-08T17:10:00.003+08:00

Thomas Paul is a designer based in New York. After a string of design stints at labels such as DKNY, Bill Blass and Calvin Klein, he went on to start his eponymous luxe pillow collection in 2001.

Every collection of pillows are snapped up quickly as the exclusive designs are limited in quantities. Each pillow is hand silk-screened and hand sewn. It is no surprise he has found success and has expanded into a wider range of accessories such as lamps, rugs, totes & etc.

He has been featured in various magazines in the US such as Vogue, Oprah, Elle Decor, Lucky and In Style.

Thomas Paul's pillows are now available in Singapore for the first time. There are 3 choices of fabrics to pick from:-

Linen
Cotton
100% luxe silk twill

You have the option of purchasing the luxurious fluffy feather inserts from us at an additional cost $50 for the 22" size.

The Linen series.

Seed 22" (Linen) available in Java and Corn colours.

The reversible side of Seed.

Kabuki 22" (Linen) available in Dove and Corn colours.

The 100% cotton range.

Zinia 18" in Grey

Nest 18" in Grey

Chrysanthemums 18" in Grey

The 100% luxe silk series.

Goldfinch 18" in Blue

Swallows 22" in Blue

Matryoska 22"

Matryoska 12" x 20"

{ Final Entry... }

2008-12-31T14:18:00.002+08:00

For 2008 that is.

Time to whip out your new organisers, diaries, New Year resolution lists + calendars.

What a great way to welcome 2009 by using one of these very cute, eco-friendly desktop calendars?

They are made out of sustainably harvested birch, imported all the way from "Sweet Home Alabama", US and they are $39.

This will look so pretty on my desk.

The cute designs will make me flippy happy when end of month arrives.

Happy New Year everybody! Be merry & drive safe.

{ Standing the test of time }

2008-12-24T15:38:00.002+08:00

The famous Transglass series by Tord Boontje was featured in Nov08's copy of Home Concepts.

I was pleased to see that it made an appearance under their "Standing The Test of Time" section. Right up there with the other designer classics such as George Nelson's clock and Philippe Starck's juicer.

Here's a peek if you haven't seen it already.

{ Gift Guide - Part 3 }

2008-12-16T18:48:00.005+08:00

Our final (possibly the most important) of our gift guide series, something for the ladies.

[ Clockwise from the left : Sunshine necklace by Hollieginger, Gold Edition German piggy bank, Antique Kimono bench/side table, Gorgeous dress with detachable cape available at Antipodean, Screen-printed art block, Triple scented candle, One-of-a-kind saucer set fused with gold lustre ]. Price ranges from $79 for the art block to $499 for the bench.

{ Gift Guide - Part 2 }

2008-12-12T16:25:00.002+08:00

Something for the guys...

[ Clockwise from the left: Artecnica's lidded carafe, vintage looking Oldtimer, the dramatic yet masculine Icarus light, the Australian Bushland side table/bench ].

{ Gift Guide - Part 1 }

2008-12-05T18:25:00.003+08:00

With X'mas lurking round the corner, we were inspired to compile our very first instalment of our Gift Guide series to assist those who are scratching their heads over what to buy or for those scouting for thoughtful and unique gifts.

Last minute shopping amidst blaring X'mas corals and arm jostling with fellow shoppers can be fun but having a guide in tow is definitely a saviour!

[ Clockwise from top left: Oh-so-cute Rocking Rabbit instead of the usual rocking horse, Handmade Moroccan shoes, Decorative shelf stand, Muslin wraps in cute animal prints, Shelf Stand (available in Bird design), Jetliner, Bean Bag (new designs available) ]. Price ranges from $49 for the muslin wraps to $345 for the rocking rabbit.

{ Party Pics }

2008-12-05T15:42:00.002+08:00

Thank you so much to those who took time from their precious weekend to attend our party. It was nice seeing all of you and we hope you had a great time.

Till the next party!

Cheers;

Ros & Dawn

Thank you Tricia, from Antipodean for the pretty cupcakes!

The lovely girls behind the scenes

{ Going Green }

2008-11-27T17:18:00.006+08:00

Max Kater used to hold a high flying position within the fashion industry when she decided to hang up her designer outfits (and her Birkin's) to be a stay-at-home-mum.

Shortly after, she got frustrated with the lack of quality organic cleaning products available in the market. She wanted something that was effective, 100% safe for her kids and pets and took the plunge to start her own organic cleaning label.

Boy am I glad she took the gamble as I love her whole product concept and the lovely packaging! It makes me want to display them instead of hiding it behind closed doors.

Dishwashing Liquid (set inc. rack + pot brushes)

Her efforts are certainly paying off as her products are now stocked in Japan, Canada, Australia and now Singapore.

Max's products are effective as it adopts the colloidal technology - used to clean up oil spills in the ocean. It works and yet it is 100% safe, biodegradable, negative impact to the environment and they are never tested on animals.

It's good knowing that as I am washing the dishes, all that suds going back into the sea is non-toxic.

Classic Boxed Set - consisting of 6 different products

Do not throw out the bottles after use as 1 litre refills are available for all of her products. It comes in 3 fragrances: Australian White Grapefruit, Juniperberry and Fragrance Free!

Max writes these quirky labels for her products and I will leave you with an excerpt from her Boy's Bathroom Cleaner".

{ Afternoon Soiree }

2008-11-27T13:31:00.002+08:00

Dawn & I are thrilled to be hosting our very first little tea party at the shop.

Isn't the invite cute? Thank you Hoang!

As this is a season of giving, we have lined up a pretty interesting mix of goody bags for the first 30 early birds. Whoopee!

Over at The Nest, we will be giving away some items from our favourite label!

A couple of sponsors along Holland Village have contributed to the goody bags as well. I shall not reveal the goodies as surprises are always good right?

We will be releasing some new products whilst Antipodean will be putting up their new arrivals of pretty frocks from Australia.

Deck out in your favourite outfits and see you all this Saturday.

{ Scented Notes }

2008-11-25T15:12:00.003+08:00

This particular Sydney label stood out amongst the numerous Candles & Fragrances companies we had to choose from.

We were inspired by Nicole, the founder who is so passionate about fragrance that she decided to start up her own label. She concentrates on a small category of products so that she can spend more time on concocting new scents.

Nicole used to work at Chanel Fragrances so yeah, she definitely know what what she's doing.

We love their products as the quality is undeniable, their range of scents are sophisticated and refreshing. Most importantly, they are affordable.

I cave in to certain luxuries but I can't bring myself to light up that $200 candle without feeling any guilt. On the other hand, I don't want to pay $40 for a candle but smells artificial. A balance can be struck somewhere and that is where Nicole comes in.

People tend to forget how important a scented space is after spending so much money on decor. Like accessories, I view them as that thoughtful personal touch you can add to your home or space.

Nicole believes in layering. This simply means you don't have to purchase the exact same scent for your whole house. Over at the shop, we have 6 different flavoured diffusers and they not only blend so beautifully, the scents are surprisingly refreshing and not overwhelming.

Come by the shop to check out their latest scents, Cumquat and Lemongrass. The lotion and body bar have a new evocative scent, Amalfi Coast. It smells just like the ocean.

Psst: Did I mention that their diffusers are water-based and hence, doubles up as a body mist as well?

Brilliant!

{ Kiddy Chic }

2008-10-30T14:31:00.016+08:00

This chic company from Australia has a delightful range of children's decor that is designed for everyday use. I heart their bean bags. The colours are fresh, the animal applique in their vintage inspired fabric are oh-so-cute. I wish I had such whimsical items as a kid. I can totally see myself bouncing off these bean bags with glee.

Here are some of the designs we have at the shop.

Ok, I know the pictures aren't very clear but I just wanted to show how it is displayed at the shop.

The new colour this season: Watermelon. Looks yummylicious!

Cushions

Shelf stands (which can double up as a jewellery holder)

Bookends

Height chart that comes with 3 wooden pegs to track your heigh progress!

If you have an upcoming kid's birthday to attend or if you're looking for an early X'mas pressie...I'm sure any child (or parent) will be mighty pleased to receive any of these lovely accents.

{Our 1st Feature}

2008-10-24T15:19:00.009+08:00

We are thrilled to be featured in this month's issue of Home Concepts. As you all know, we are a new space so it was really nice getting spotted within a short period of time.

Check out the current issue which features the new look for Home Concepts. I like it way better as the presentation looks fresher, hipper and the articles are more design oriented.

{Objects of Lust}

2008-10-23T12:43:00.019+08:00

These slot together panels of artwork from Australia ticks all the right boxes for smart and thoughtful design.

R Functional: Use as a seat or a table. Serves as an artwork too!
R Stylish: the founder, a reputable furniture designer collaborates with international artistes to come up with intricate cultural designs
R Sturdy – don't let their pretty designs fool you. They can hold up to a whopping 150kg worth of items.
R Eco-friendly: sustainably grown Australian wood pine. They are certified as Good Environmental Choice product
R Cool factor: Recently voted as one of 20 Australian Design triumphs by Vogue Living (right up there with the creator of plastic bank notes!).

I shall let the pictures do the talking..

Japanese Koi

Australian Bushland

Antique Kimono

Featured in Oct08 Home Concepts magazine as the Editor's chosen Flavour of the Month.

{The Enchanting Glow}

2008-10-08T15:34:00.039+08:00

I first laid eyes on the luminous Garland lamp a few years ago at a shop in Melbourne. I stood there gazing at it for a while. The delicate fairy-tale like pattern and the shadows that it casts on the wall evokes images of walking through an enchanted forest. I was m e s m e r i z e d!

Some of you may recognise it as this product has been featured in various leading design magazines round the globe and they are a permanent collection at MoMa New York and Victoria Albert Museum, London.

Garland lamp in Brass & Silver. Also available in White and Black Chrome

The intricate pattern is laser cut onto metal sheets and it comes in a flat pack. All you have to do is to wrap the sheets around an existing bulb, bend the patterns into shape and voila! You're done.

If the hanging version isn't your thing, the Garland lamp comes in a table lamp stand version. The stand is "touch" sensitive so just tap to turn it on, tap to adjust the brightness (3 levels of brightness), tap to switch it off. Note: I have searched for challenging spots all over the stand to, you know, check if there is a spot where it is not able detect. Passes the tapping test. Pretty cool eh?

Garland lamp stand in Silver (available in Brass as displayed at the shop)

Since that first sighting of his works, Tord Boontje the Dutch designer who is now based in France has become even more famous. He was named Designer of the Year by Design Museum and Elle Decoration, UK. The Garland lamp is just one of the few of his designs that has garnered numerous design award nominations.

Here is another design where the cascading layers of floral and animal foliage creates the captivating look of Midsummer Light. It was my little project one rainy afternoon and it took me less than 20mins to assemble it. It is made out of Tyvek a super-resistant material against water, temperature and tear. They can even be hand washed.

Midsummer greeting customers at the stairway

It makes me smile when I see customers study it with much curiosity as they walk up the stairs. They are available in Fading Red, Fading Lilac and Green/Yellow.

The next light is Dawn's favourite. The Icarus is constructed from multiple layers of polyester, cut to resemble a bird's wing. It is lightweight, delicate and larger in size as compared to the other designs. Simple concept but dramatic effect right?

Icarus in white

It’s a wrap!

2008-10-07T12:10:00.026+08:00

Let's talk about baby wraps (nah, I was not referring to that celebrated wrap dress) though these wraps are just as stylish and comfortable for the little ones.

The general gripe about baby wraps are that the materials used are too thick for our sultry climate, the sizes are too small (newborns will outgrow them too quickly) and that the designs are either plain or too "cute-sey".

Along comes a duo of Aussie moms based in US who recognised the above problems as they struggled to find suitable wraps in preparation for their pregnancies. They were specifically looking for muslin wraps as it was commonly used in Australia. Why Muslin?

The open weave allows air to flow through which makes the fabric breathable and hence reduces the likelihood of nappy rash. In addition, the fabric gets softer after every wash.

These savvy mothers decided to craft their own range of muslin wraps that are not only generous in size, their fun and contemporary designs turned them into instant hits with nurses, various mother groups and Hollywood celebrities!

Preview of some designs we have in store

Whilst they might be a little pricier as compared to other wraps available in the market, thanks to their bigger size and stylish designs, they are not limited to just swaddling. Many mothers uses them as nursing covers, stroller blankets, play mat, tummy time & etc...

These little numbers has often been listed amongst the top 10 items a pregnant mother should purchase. They have also received strong, positive reviews on various established parenting forums and blogs.

I don't know about you but I get a cheap thrill when I spot a celebrity using the same stuff as me so if get a kick as well, check out some of the celebrity users.

Naomi Watts

Jessica Alba

Matthew McConaughey

Patrick Dempsey

Images courtesy of Popsugar & Just Jared.

Grand Prix Fever

2008-09-26T14:43:00.011+08:00

Unless you have been living under a shell, you would have felt the buzz going around town (or hit by the bad traffic situation).

I personally am not a F1 fanatic but I appreciate the sexy cornering at high speed, roaring engines and of course, some of the drivers are pretty decent eye candy right? Oh wait...back to cars.

Racer F1 - Red

You don't have to be a car enthusiast to acknowledge the artistic simplicity of Scandinavian designs. This leading design company from Sweden is renowned for creating innovative and timeless wooden toys for the young and the young at heart.

I particularly like how sleek they look and how they will compliment your existing collection. Don't they look like work of art? Well, these cars have been exhibited in numerous museums (eg. Moma NY) and galleries round the world...

Words of appreciation

2008-09-24T16:14:00.010+08:00

Logo designs can be a painful process especially for those who can't draw (me!). Dawn and I pored through countless designs before we finally decided on this one. When we saw this design, we knew it was "the one". It was spot on and we are glad that the feedback so far has been very positive.

Without her, we would have really struggled with the design process. We had ideas in our head but we needed someone who is able to translate our scrambled thoughts onto paper. This lady not only did that but went above and beyond in designing something that exceeded our expectations.

She has been very patient with us and managed to sense what we wanted even though we couldn't spell it out clearly. So a special shoutout to her.

Oinker Theo!

2008-09-23T12:58:00.001+08:00

Please welcome this uber chic piggy who is setting foot on our shores for the very first time.

His name is Theosaurus, more affectionately known as Theo. He hails from Germany and his porcelain is made from one of the oldest German porcelain manufacturer. When I say old, it goes as far back as the 17^th century!

Theo comes in two different positions and we can't quite decide which one we like better. Theo standing or Theo sitting? Hmm...Both have their perks.

White Sitting (sold to lovely WY, please don't forget to feed him!)

The little feet of the standing ones are made of cork, once again produced by the oldest cork specialist in Germany (only the very best for this piggy!).

The sitting Theo version features a quality metal lock.

We do think they look great as a pair (don't we all suffer from such typical indecisiveness?).

Whether you're going to use him as a money bank or as a decor piece...he is bound to be a conversation starter.

The white edition will appeal to fans of minimalist + contemporarist. For those who likes a modern twist on traditional items, check out the Blau Dresmer edition which features 19th century inspired patterns.

Blau Dresmer editions

Images by: Theosaurus

A 2nd Chance

2008-09-21T21:17:00.019+08:00

I was in awe when I first heard the story behind the Crackery range from Ornamented Life.

The creative brainchild of Joana Meroz who's based in The Netherlands and who is a true advocate to the concept of "Reduce - Recycle - Reuse". She deliberately collects white porcelain that are chipped or cracked and transforms them into individual treasures. How does she do that?

She celebrates their imperfections by highlighting every chip and/or crack by fusing them with gold luster. She transfers her signature floral blossom art onto every piece to represent the beginnings of a new lease of life.

Spoon

Contemporary Saucer Set

Classic Saucer (which can double as a dessert plate)+ Cup.

Repairing of broken ceramics with gold lacquer is Joana's contemporary take of an ancient Japanese tradition.

Every fault is unique, every piece is truly one of a kind.

Dinner Plate

To see more of Joana's works, do visit us at the shop.

We have Nested!

2008-09-18T23:17:00.041+08:00

It has been an amazing week! The cocktail of anxiety, excitement and "OMG I need a coffee" has pulled us through… We have Nested!

The soft opening went without any major glitches. Our cosy little corner at Antipodean is proudly adorned with beautiful objects that we have carefully selected from around the world. Amidst the frenzy of sourcing, setting up shop and the odd lethal paper cuts from unpacking, we are very excited to be able to present our first collection.

We want to thank everyone who dropped by to show their support at the soft opening. We hope you liked what you saw. A special mention to Tricia and her team of lovely assistants from Antipodean for being so helpful and patient.

Our philosophy at The Nest is pretty simple. To search the globe for pieces that we love and then bring them back home, to our Nest, one which we hope will inspire you to adopt.

The lifestyle idea grew organically as we are both drawn to anything beautiful, i.e., we love to shop! Inspiration was drawn from our travels and stints overseas where we often lament on the lack of interesting items in Singapore.

We consciously steer away from the usual mainstream, mass produced items. We have painstakingly hand-picked objects that are individual, fresh, functional and of course beautiful.

In the course of sourcing, we discovered our attraction to designers who have an interesting take on recycled or reusable items. Sustainability is our future and our efforts here are a gentle nod to green beauty.

It has been amazing to see what various artistes can conjure with their refreshing imagination and creativity. For instance, we are proud to introduce Joana Meroz from Netherlands, who collects chipped ceramics, and then give them a new lease of life by fusing the cracks with gold luster. Me and Amber, who screenprint their art onto old book pages, exuding a vintage aesthetic that is both beautiful and sustainable. TranSglass series utilises recycled glass bottles by transforming them into fluid glasswares with the aid of old world crafting techniques from Guatemala, creating jobs for the local artisans.

Oh! Did we mention that these products are here in Singapore for the first time?

In the next few days, we will be posting more information on the various products we have in store. In the meantime, here are a couple of images of our Nest.

Note: Email us at thenestshop@gmail.com to be on our mailing list.

Cheers;

Ros & Dawn