Half term is nearly upon us again!  Is it just me or is this year zipping by?  With half term coming, I thought it would be fun to share a DIY project and the lovely people at Kata Golda created one especially for my readers.  You may have come across Kata Golda but in case you haven’t, they are seriously creative crafters.  They have a shop full of handmade things which you can buy or if you’re a crafter yourself, they have some DIY books and colourful wool felt packs too.

Kata has a penchant for playing and creating with wool felt so we thought these adorable little turtles would be a cute project to share.  Once made, these little creatures can of course be played with or displayed on a shelf but there is so much more you can do with them.  They’d make a cute addition to a party bag, they can be used as place settings at a kids birthday or just to decorate the table.  You could make a mobile with the 3 of them or a brooch with the littlest one… the possibilities are endless.  Here are the instructions:

Print the template and cut out the template pieces with paper scissors. If you wish to make all three turtles, print one template at 100%, one at 75% and one at 125%.  Then place the pieces on the felt and cut out the felt shapes with fabric scissors.  Note that you will cut out 2 of the body pieces and 1 shell piece for each turtle you make. Stitch the eyes on one body piece using 3-ply black embroidery floss. Use a satin stitch and place the 2 eyes wide apart.

Using a blanket stitch and 2-ply black thread, stitch the 2 body pieces together.  Next, use a double running stitch to sew eight “U” shapes on the shell layer with 2-ply gold embroidery floss.  Now you need to attach the shell to the body.  To do this, whip stitch the shell piece to only the top layer of the body three quarters of the way around.  Leave an opening and stuff.  Continue your stitch and close the hole.  Repeat these steps for each additional turtle and you’re done.

Here are more details and all the templates you’ll need:

• Turtle template
• Tools, materials, tips and helpful hints
• A guide to the stitches used

You can also find more DIY projects and crafting ideas on Kata’s blog.  Hope you all have a fun long weekend and see you next week.

This week’s picks for mama & baby… let mama wear this cornflower blue printed pencil skirt while baby plays with that cornflower blue striped rag doll.

My parents never kept any of my baby toys or clothes.  This never mattered to me until I had a child and now I really wish they had.  My father was in a job where he moved countries every 3 to 4 years so when the time came for us all to up and go, big clear outs were inevitable.  And besides I think my mother is a bit of a divester.  She’s never been one to hoard her possessions and loves getting rid of clutter.  But she did keep one adorable little vintage chair that was used by her and her sister when they were babies, then by my brother and me and now it’s Anya’s.  Anya loves being told stories about her mama using the chair.  That’s the wonderful thing about good vintage furniture and toys… they can be passed down from generation to generation and they gather so many wonderful memories along the way.

I love the thought of passing down furniture and toys but if you don’t have your own, the next best thing is finding a good vintage shop.  And today I wanted to share my latest find – Roger Bontemps.  It’s a new French vintage shop that looks super promising.  Their online doors aren’t even open yet but should be opening in the next week.  They will be selling vintage kids furniture, toys and more but they have also created their own small line of vintage inspired clothes, bed linen and accessories.  I couldn’t find too many pictures but I liked what I did see especially that rattan crib and the bed linen in it.  Can’t wait to see more…

‘Chic for kids’ is how this Italian brand describe themselves and boy is it true!  Simple linen clothes and accessories embellished with adorable little details is what you’ll find at Minimu.  That fish bib and those dusty pink bloomers – how incredibly sweet are they?  I only wish I had a little baby to put them on…

While the Minimu Spring Summer 2013 baby range is to die for, the girls range is no less impressive.  The dresses and tops on offer are so pretty and so stylish without being fussy or cutesy.  They have just the right amount of subtle detail to make them stand out from the crowd.  I’ve got my eye on that yellow polka dot dress which just shouts summer to me.  Minimu is very much becoming a firm favourite here… how can anybody resist such sweet chic-ness (is that even a word?!).

Yesterday my daughter had a play date with another little girl and they got hooked on the colour green.  The two girls kept saying ‘green’ louder and louder and then bursting in to fits of laughter.  They then started adding an extra word and coming up with things like ‘green toast’, ‘green dog’… the idea being to pair it with something that most definitely isn’t green.  This produced more laughter and eventually the inevitable bathroom humour ensued followed by the loudest giggles ever!  I don’t know how 4 year old minds work but I do know this little game tickled them pink!  While I didn’t take part in the game, it did get me thinking of the colour green and I realised I’d never done a green post.  I always think that green isn’t a colour I’m naturally drawn to but then again there are so many shades of it that there really is a green for everyone (my personal favourite is mint green) and so I thought it would be fun to look for a few things in different shades of green and here’s what I found:

1.  green linen sunsuit by wolfechild…  2.  minty green toddler duvet set by garbo & friends…  3.  forest green firs pillowcase by fine little day…  4.   shades of green bird poster by silke bonde…  5.  ice-cream green playhouse by lucky boy sunday…  6. dark green book called Grandpa Green by Lane Smith.

Happy weekend all and see you next week!

This week’s picks for mama & baby… let mama carry her shopping in this simple but stylish canvas tote while baby wears that minimal drawstring jersey dress.

Yesterday I was feeling the love for these neon sandals and today I’m continuing with the neon obsession but this time for these pretty bracelets and necklaces for girls.  Delicate, bright and unashamedly girly these jewels are by the French Louise Misha.  I love the striking colours, the sweet tassels and even the cute little cloth bags they come in.  Louise Misha is the creation of 2 friends who started their own line after being inspired by a trip to India.  I completely get this since India is a place full of colour, inspiration and beautiful things (OK maybe I’m biased but its still true ).  Apart from girls jewellery, Louise Misha also make other accessories, some clothes and I’ve just spotted some pretty little bikini’s too.  My sponsors French Blossom have a range of their goodies so if you have a girly girl (like me) then this is one brand not to miss!

These gorgeous sandals are called ‘Avarcas’ and are a traditional Menorcan sandal.  They caught the attention of a French family who now make these shoes for babies, kids and adults too so there’s something for everyone.   Minorquines also make a few other different styles of sandal but the unisex Avarcas were my favourite.  I’m seriously tempted by the neons but then again, I love my neutrals too!  Neon, neutral or classic… what will you choose?

Last week I was at my favourite magazine shop* in London which stocks magazines from across the globe and also has very limited edition ones that are hard to find.  Seriously, the choice they offer is staggering and this place definitely qualifies as a magazine lovers paradise.  So naturally while I was there I indulged in a few magazines – some that I hadn’t read before and some old favourites like Milk.  While flicking through Milk yesterday a cute puppy like object caught my eye and I had a better look.  I discovered Pana Objects started by a group of friends who wanted to add a little fun and beauty to everyday things.  Based in Thailand, their sweet little objects are all crafted from wood and designed with love.  I adore those little Apple charger caps… what a cute idea!  And those coat hooks are simple and stylish for any space while that puppy dog lamp is perfect for a kids room.  Sweet!

*In case you’re interested, I don’t know the name of the magazine shop but you’ll find it at 66 Charlotte St.

A couple of months ago I was on a mission to buy my daughter a swimsuit.  I kind of left it to the last minute so ordering online wasn’t an option and I also felt like a trip to the shops.  I set off excitedly, dreaming of bright colours and stylish cuts and started wondering how I would choose just one swimsuit.  I hit the first shop which was disappointing but I still had hope.  Four shops later and I began to despair.  The choice out there was really uninspiring, bland and boring.  Maybe because the summer collections weren’t fully in or maybe because kids swimsuits are just designed to be dull.  I had to buy something so I did but I went home feeling flat and disappointed.  Then, last week I came across this new Spring Summer 2013 collection by Little Creative Factory and my faith in kids swim gear was fully restored!  How gorgeous is this swimwear?  I want it in my size, please.

Little Creative Factory is the creation of 2 Spanish mama’s who make swimwear, some clothes and lots of wonderful hats for kids.    The 2 creative mums say they get their inspiration from observing the little things in life and from the enthusiasm, freshness and spontaneity of their little girls.  I love the classic styles that ooze understated glamour and are just so darn chic!  Amongst their offerings are some really adorable balloon-style drawstring tops, some cute baby bloomers and a hat collection that is just wow.  All the clothes would make for perfect beachwear or just dreamy and chic summer wear.  Little Creative Factory don’t yet sell online but you can contact them through their website to find out more.  Next time I’m swimwear shopping for Anya, I know who’s door I’ll be knocking on.

Happy Friday guys and hope the sun shines for you this weekend!