Huge News -

It has been awhile... alot is going on... really.
After 4 years we though we would test the theory that an online business can be run from anywhere in the world,  with the dream of anywhere in mind. 


Two months of testing later it seems not quite.. or not as well as our customers deserve.


With 2 alternatives either 


a - cross our fingers , hope for the best and that our customers forgive us for the less than lovely packaging, occasional missing item and blue instead of pink...

or

b- pop fiona kate in hibernation, continue planning fabulous things to be released in spring

we chose option b 

you can read all about where and what we doing here

to thank you all 

we would like to offer our fiona kate customers 

2 for 1 

on all boxes, chalkboards ,sacks, labels, cushions & letters for all orders 

 feb 20 - 25

so make a list , 
get sorted, 
buy a gift one for me & one for you
memory boxes
store photos
create a playroom
artworks sorted
baby gifts
plan a winter revamp

while stocks last!

a gorgeous cafe needed

We are on the look out... can you help?
we need a gorgeous concept store or cafe...with a comfy sense of style... your local? A place where people stop to chat, look in your windows... our fiona kate local favourites are the armchair collective and the sugar mill
If you know one send them here. We have a gorgeous range of cushions we want them to use, mix up & get their space sorted .... for absolutely nothing... just a few great pics that we can show and share... like us and comment  your favourite things at that destination.  to be in the running...australia wide

We figure it's always lovely to hear great things about new places and we will get the positive feedback to the cafes too.

all the things to think about

Back to school..  everyone is happy with their new teachers and now it's on to the practical stuff..

getting a little organised... or in denial and having fun

Recently we have moved out of the little blue house. For 9 months. Right now that seems to be a very long time. we love our home. I will share more about this later. One thing we did was sort everything out. We have so much more room and found lots of lost treasure. the one thing i did notice was how much lighter I felt with each cupboard or room sorted. It was addictive and truly our house was done in no time. Lots of our friends are having a try before they buy with tents bikes kayaks etc.

A fabulous start to 2012

Will this year be a bench full of treasure that turn to scrap? Missed parties and lost school stuff? nope.. not this year. Have some fun before it all starts again. Aa box waiting for the artwork. Pop it in each day and at the end of the term have a good sort through , a trip down memory lane and cull cull cull cull. ( really it's for the best)

Add a new label to last years folders.

Always wanted a postie and couldn't justify it. imagine all those photos, postcards business cards and colour charts within easy reach. You can use a noticeboard also.


We have lots of lovely new stockists that are keen for this year. 


Hopefully there is one near you

happy new year

Are you feeling all summery and relaxed? we are 
During January the fiona kate blog will be weekly. 
Whilst we are all enjoying the the sun sand and our families.
Happy 2012

things made & found

I am sure you are packing, wrapping and finishing this week too. A pact made back in winter no more purchasing means all decorations and wrapping are to made using bits and pieces at home 


( there is a reason for this I will share this later)... 


Once agin washi tape comes to the rescue


We also have a wonderful giveaway on facebook so make sure you enter. I would much rather send you this box chock full of gorgeous storage goodies than keep walking around it... wanting to open it...wanting to use it...


Only 4 days to go until the man in red arrives.
 we love christmas at Fiona kate so many people have our gorgeous sacks ready and waiting

interview made in australia - Robert Gordon

At  the time of year when it's all about family. Todays interview is with Kate Gordon from Robert Gordon. 3 generations of the same family have worked in this business. Can you imagine the cacophony of ideas when they are all together! it would be lovely to see the evolution of pieces

 We were thrilled when our postie was used in the robert gordon display at the trade fair.... more design crush.  

Why did you decide on australian made initially?

My parents, Robert and Barbara Gordon, started the pottery in 1979. Dad's mum, June Dyson, was a potter. We are three generations of potters, with a heritage that goes for over 60 years. We have always made pots in Australia.

Did you look into manufacturing overseas also?

About eight years ago the Australian market became very tough. Australians were no longer supporting local manufacturing. The gift industry became all about the dollar and in order to compete we started manufacturing overseas. We continue to work with factories in China and

Vietnam, developing quality products.  We are very proud of our imported product. My family and I all work very closely with the factories overseas, designing and developing the products. It is a very hands-on process.

We are pleased that today there is a shift and more and more customers are supporting our Australian made.

Can you describe the process of idea to first samples? Was the learning

curve steep

Ideas for our products come from all sorts of places - our history, my grandma's pottery, my mum's heritage (she is English), what our customers want or need and so on. There have been some hits and some misses over the years. We try not to dwell on anything and to learn from our mistakes.

What would you do differently if you did it again?

We are learning to follow our instincts better, and not necessarily follow trends.

The best thing about australian made?

The quality and the people who make it.

What do you hope for australian manufacturing in the future?

I hope that Australians continue to support Australian made products. There has been a big return to buying quality local made products. People are looking for things that they love and that have a history. We are so very proud of our product and of our factory in Pakenham. Our

staff are hard working. Supporting our Australian made supports them.