January 2011
45 posts
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Here is "The Lonely Beast" by Chris Judge
This weekend we dropped in to the launch of The Lonely Beast, a new picture book by Irish illustrator Chris Judge. Although our kiddo was not particularly taken with the life-size Beast at the launch, he was certainly enthusiastic about his new bedtime read.
This story of a rare Beast, who loves his gardening and his cakes, on a trip to the big city to find friends is a lively, richly...
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Pop & Lolli wall art
I have a general fear of wall stickers as all I can think of is doctors waiting rooms and grimy stickers peeling at the edges from countless children picking and picking at them. However Pop & Lolli may finally have something to make me reconsider. Their wall stickers are extra large so not lost in the background and the design and style are very nice indeed. They even have my new chair in...
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Sleepy King soft toys
With the birth of Cal, and many other babies among our group of friends, I fully intended to become a sewing genius and craft magical gifts and clothes from left over curtains and old jumpers. As yet this plan has not come to fruition. However for Savannah May at Sleepy King this is what she has done. Her animal creations are now available to share with the world as well as her very lucky son....
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Curious Circus - Introduction to Dinosaurs iPad...
As baby spends half the day eagerly holding out dinosaurs from his small wooden puzzle set I thought it time to learn their actual names. And to do this I, of course, had to download the ever so fun iPad app from Curious Circus, An Early Introduction to Dinosaurs with ‘tickle me fun’. The illustrations by Michael Paul Terranova are beautiful and not too scary for a soon to be toddler....
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LuckyBoySunday
I have been seeing images of these pixie like knitted creatures everywhere and finally thanks to lmnop blog I finally know where they are from. LuckyBoySunday was started to create their “own version of a child’s reality” and they have definitely done that. They create two collections a year with the next due out in Summer 2011.
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CINQMAI Créations
CINQMAI Créations contains the handmade toys and paper goods of Caroline Briel. And of course one of our favourite things, alphabet prints but this time a little different, an alphabet garland.
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Star Wars™ Cupcake Decorating Kit
These may be for a birthday far, far away but I have two little nephews who I think would be very excited to see these turning up at a birthday party not so far away. Who would have thought we would see the Dark Lord in grease-proof paper with eco-friendly soy ink. See it here, buy it here. (via Holycool.net)
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Boden maternity wear
I don’t know how many times I filled out Boden surveys while I was pregnant asking for maternity wear but finally, a year or so too late, they’re here. Not the widest range but pretty and practical with, no doubt, the Boden quality that always pleases.
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New chair
Hooray! The new reproduction of a reproduction of an Eames rocking chair arrived today. This definitely should have been an earlier purchase when night time feeds required calm quiet surroundings and rocking. Instead we had story time and little rock to sleep before this afternoons nap time. After, of course, baby had to have a full and detailed exploration of every part of the chair and box.
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Richard Lampert - IMM Cologne 2011
New children’s furniture design and plenty of storage pieces from international designers for Richard Lampert at IMM Cologne. Fun pieces like the ‘Pit Stop’ bean bag chair and hour glass rocker will keep the children very happy too. See more photos and details here. (via Design Boom)
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BabyLegs
Very popular across the water but not so well known here, many thanks to new mum Laura for letting us know about BabyLegs. Like my previous solution of the rather special homemade leg warmers, BabyLegs are a more stylish fix to the chilly gap caused by short baby socks and pulled up trousers or skirts. With a range designed for warmth, fun and lighter pairs for sun protection they have a style for...
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Eames Rocking Rocker
I have wanted an upstairs bedroom chair for ages and was torn between reasonably sized chairs that would fit and lovely big rocking chairs. A perfect half way chair seemed to be an Eames Rocking chair however my budget couldn’t stretch to it. A quick look on eBay and I discovered one at least $400 cheaper than many I have seen advertised. I have ordered it in white…now all we have to...
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Little Red Stuga Landscape
Love these mountain beanbags and rug landscape from Little Red Stuga. The beanbags feature mount Fuji, Kilimanjaro and Mount Everest and each has a pattern unique to the mountain and details the mountain’s name and height. (via Huset)
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Mimi's Circus - Gallery competition
Not only do Mimi’s Circus have everything your heart desires for your little ones they are also running a very generous competition for those of you who are nearly there with your dream nursery. Submit pictures of your perfected child’s room by 31st January to be in with a chance of winning a DKK 500 voucher to their webshop. See details on their tumblr blog or on the main site.
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Molly Meg - Miniature Design for Children
It’s about time we got baby a little chair for himself. He’s still struggling to get up onto the couch but is ever so proud of himself when he manages to climb onto the lower chairs. I am tempted to go the quick and easy option of a little Ikea set but should probably make the effort to check the second hand shops instead. Alternatively there is the online temptation that is Molly...
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Lord of the Rings - Nerd plush goodness
So it will be a while before we can show baby the wonder that is the Lord of the Rings trilogy but not so long before he can enjoy these excellent Lord of the Rings plushies. Our baby will be King of the Nerd babies. See them here, get them here. (Via BB Blog)
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Petite Lemon - On the go ABC
I think we could very easily have a blog purely based on alphabet prints. This On the Go print can be personalised at Petite Lemon.
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I Love You With All My Feet - Pretty prints
A selection of cheery prints suitable for any child’s room at I Love You With All My Feet. This one might be a handy gift for a little one getting new glasses. Eye Doctor for $15. (via Papernstitch)
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The Lowercase - Home decor for baby
As seen…everywhere but I still had to feature them as there are so many beautiful things I want for baby’s room on their site. The Lowercase are from a background in publishing and graphic design and have now turned their focus to quality deco with “creativity and individuality”. They also offer a complimentary design service consultation where using floor plans or pics of...
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Super easy homemade leg warmers
As I can’t really justify buying the very lovely Stonz snow booties but the weather is still cold I needed to do something to fix the constant breezy gap between baby’s sock’s and the bottom of his trousers, which ride up when he is out and about in the pram. We tried tights, but for nappy changes in public changing rooms tights, trousers and shoes proove a little awkward. And...
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Peacocks, Trees and Squirrels!
Between her dad’s paintings and sketches and variously newly purchased or previously owned items, the walls in baby’s nursery are getting pretty packed. However I think I could just manage to find space for these oh so pretty Counting Peacock and Peaceful Tree prints prints from Sugarfresh.
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Downhomeamy - Organic Baby Bibs
I wish I had discovered Downhomeamy’s beautiful organic baby bibs a little earlier. Baby is now at the point where it’s a raincoat required at meal times rather than a delicate bib. In his early months, as he needed milk bibs constantly, I was on the look out for stylish but reasonably priced bibs. Finally here they are. But silver lining, in discovering these I also discovered the...
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Babies' Day Out: Coffees, Books and The Dead Zoo
With the snow and cold weather easing off we finally managed another day trip out with Cal and Edie together. Starting with brunch in Carluccios, (lattes and eggs for the mummies and milk or water and liga for babies) browsed the buy one get one free picture books in Waterstones and finished up with a tour of the Natural History Museum, The Dead Zoo, with Cal’s aunt.
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Caroline Lisfranc - Mon Sac a Joujoux
Cal’s Mum and I were recently discussing the difficulty in finding a really nice toychest or toybox, if anyone has any ideas please contribute them here! In the meantime I rather like Caroline Lisfranc’s toy bags, or Mon Sac a Joujoux, which look great, are super multicoloured, which always goes down well here, and are above all portable! I’m quite fond of her Eurobears too,...
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Five Go Mad
Once again easy living magazine has sent me online to find yet another fabulous design site. Five Go Mad showcases various British designers and has ranges for the home, men, women and of course kids. I don’t have a house big enough to incorporate all I would like from this site so I’m just going to cherry pick my favourites which today are the fantastic Russian Doll pyjamas, the...
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Mr Perswall Wallpaper
More of our favourite things, maps and alphabets. Wall size images on wall paper from Mr Perswall. Wide range of wall charts, town maps and other images available. (via Purple Area , via @Maxwellat)
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Werner Design Werks Inc - Alphabeasties
Love these Alphabeasties flash cards from Werner Design Werks featured on Small for Big. Clearly we are a bit alphabet obsessed at the moment but these are gorgeous and like the idea of the floor puzzle on the back. Cuddly alphabet animals on the Werner Design Werks site are super cute too.
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BabyBjörn - Self Feeding miracle
Maybe it was just good timing or maybe those people at BabyBjörn really do know exactly how to make good baby products but last night at dinner baby was drinking from an open top cup and using his own spoon to feed himself and the only change was his new BabyBjörn dinner set. BPA free they are designed to allow baby to self feed with ease and they most certainly work. Yes, the kitchen was still...
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The Small Object - Alphabet Chart
OK so we are really into alphabets at the moment. Baby made me sing the alphabet song ten times in a row today, he pulls my hand towards the page of letters to indicate he wants me to do it again. So I am definitely in favour of having lots of different versions to look at while we do. This very nice one is from The Small Object and is based on the range of rubber prints created through the year
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Brendan Wenzel Illustrations
I love love love these animal illustrations from Brendan Wenzel. Featuring primarily animals of South East Asia each illustration gives the status of the animal indicating if it is endangered or “doing alright”. Sadly most of them are endangered or threatened. Wenzel’s Etsy shop is sadly empty at the moment but you can get a Wildlife of Vietnam Print supporting the Jane Goodall...
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A Bit Lost - Chris Haughton
I had eyed up picture book, A Bit Lost, before Christmas and was very happy when a friend gave it as a generous gift to baby. It is only now that I realise that illustrator Chris Haughton is actually Irish too. Always nice to support locals without realising it because the product is actually good. Will have to pay more attention during the Toy Show…
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Supermarket - Geemo Toy from Brooklyn Junior
Ok so this one isn’t for baby yet but I am definitely intrigued. For 3s and over, Geemo Toy is a magnetic building block in organic shapes which becomes as much art or alien landscape once connected. Non toxic and washable and available online from Supermarket.
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Keep Calm A to Z
There is definitely an alphabet print for every taste and style. These excellent Gentleman’s, Lady’s, New York and London A to Zs from Keep Calm gallery.
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Blue Caravan - Bobka Organic Baby Shoes
It’s when I see things like this, I am definitely jealous of Edie’s mum. Bobka organic baby shoes are the sweetest things for two feet. Not sure they’d look quite right on Cal….. Available from Blue Caravan ethical design market.
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Waddler Clothing
Probably one of the most gorgeous and wearable collection of baby and toddler clothes I have seen. Waddler clothes are produced to fair trade standards by an adventuring family from London who found their new home in the Andean region between Argentina, Peru and Bolivia.
Made of baby Alpaca wool in a process where they have full visibilty of production from the grazing alpaca to the local...
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Withings Smart Baby Monitor
Emailed to me from Cal’s granny, this one would definitely come in handy on nights when his daddy has to work late and misses bedtime hugs. Withings Smart Baby Monitor connects to your iPhone for monitoring and also like a remote control for bedtime music and temperature and humidity tracking. Handy for daddy’s journey home on the train. Available in March 2011.
Light of the North Bunting
Definitely agree with Pip from Meet Me At Mikes. There is a place in this world for bunting especially if it looks like Light of the North Bunting from Ghostpatrol and Miso.
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Creme Anglaise
It is the very lucky child that has a room decorated with products from Creme Anglaise. Mobiles, cushions, rocking chairs and every one of them beautiful.
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Boon Glo LED Nightlight
I am intrigued to see the new Boon nightlight in the flesh when it is launched this Spring. Removable balls that glow for up to half an hour in your choice of colour and are safe for little ones to play with, BPA, PVC and phthalate free as with all Boon products. Another aid in the ever lasting quest of encouraging baby to bed. (via Inhabitots)
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P'kolino Nesting Birds
I have become very aware of how many things in my house are smashable, ornaments really are not a possibility with a soon to be wobbler. So in a house of an ever expanding toy collection finding toys that are nice for adults to look at too makes sense. I am very happy with the Plan stacking tree that arrived for baby from Santa (due to a smaller than expected top stacking portion it is solely...
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Little Fashion Gallery Sale - Rabbit Earmuffs
With the prospect of two more months of snow and freezing weather it is definitely time to stock up on any required winter baby clothes from the sales before the shops are full of spring collections that are of little use for quite some time. Little Fashion Gallery have a very nice 60% off section to their sale with my favourite item being the practical and cute (especially for kids who refuse...
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Esthex Travel
Esthex fans keep an eye out for their new travel range, one more week till it launches!
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Champagne Chairs
Feeling a little creative but a little cash poor this new years? If you haven’t already cleared out all your green recycling hold onto the new year’s champagne waste and take part in a little champagne chair competition and create some very unique dolls house furniture with Lilla. (via Little Scandanavian)
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mossière - Imagination
You are probably aware that I like the idea of walls filled with inspirational and thought provoking images for our little one, though the main prevention to this plan is indecision and cost in equal parts. This Imagination poster, designed in the style of an eye test poster, from mossière would be lovely in a quiet corner to prompt some positive day dreaming.