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!

I’ve never been a fan of baby journals because all the ones I’ve come across tend to be far too cutesy for my taste.  But I do like the idea of recording memories especially from a baby’s first year.  When Anya was born I couldn’t find a journal I liked, so I decided to create a large photo book where I recorded each month of her first year in photos and at the back I wrote about all the things I never wanted to forget.  My photo book was by Apple and it was beautifully printed with all my photo’s and written memories.  As much as I love my photo journal, I wish I had known about this baby journal by Pleased to Meet which I discovered a few days ago.  It’s so sweet but not cutesy with it’s simple illustrations and bold, bright colours.

Pleased to Meet are the creation of a German couple who make other delightful journals like the Book of Friends which is lovely for slightly older babies and a wedding journal called ‘We did it’.  They also have some really fun and chic limited edition prints with my favourite being the cat one even though I’m no cat lover!  Then you’ve got other stationery including cards, pretty boxes and more.  I found this lovely brand at Mokkasin which is a Swedish store I love and they have a selection of these goodies to buy.

Even though I’ve been married 10 years I’m still so very tempted by this beautiful wedding journal.  Sigh!

I always feel that I don’t share enough books on my blog and this year I would like to change that.  I’m a big fan of kids books and can’t stop buying them for my daughter.  So every time I come across a book that I think is a must have I will share.  This was a book I bought a year ago and we really love it.  Originally published in 1963, it made a comeback in 2010 and I’m not surprised.  It’s a simple book where you follow a long piece of string that takes you from one wonderful illustration to another all ordered from A to Z.  While it’s an alphabet book, it uses illustrations instead of letters to show the alphabet.  It’s fun for kids to guess what the drawings are and I love looking at the simple but delightful illustrations.  A Long Piece of String by William Wondriska is a must have in any kids library.

When I was a kid I remember being obsessed with origami.  It wasn’t just the beautiful art of folding paper that fascinated me but also the paper itself.  The detailed Japanese prints and bright, vivid colours, the smooth feel of the paper and the soft sheen all really grabbed me.  I remember using my origami sets to painstakingly cover my notebooks, pencil cases and anything else that I could manage.  And I always kept a secret stash of this paper hidden away in a drawer just in case… I’m sure I never had an origami paper emergency but I was always prepared!  So when I discovered Adeline Klam and her beautiful store it took me back to my ‘origami days’ and I was smitten.

Adeline Klam’s boutique is brimming with origami sets, Japanese fabrics, origami ornaments and much more.  She also uses the beautiful paper to make lamps, tissue boxes, photo albums and other little things for the home.  But if you’re more of a DIY’er, Adeline has put together craft books on ideas of how to use this paper.  There’s of course an origami book but there’s also a super cute book on kokeshi dolls and how to turn these wonderful little ladies in to all manner of everyday objects from cushions to paper garlands.  Discovering this store has really re-kindled my origami love and I can’t wait to indulge in this craft with my daughter who is a bit young at the moment but soon, very soon I shall introduce her to to this wonderful and beautiful paper craft. 

This week’s picks for mama and baby… with Christmas coming, let mama decorate with these colourful glass baubles while baby reads all about *Sad Santa

It’s 1st November so I think it’s time to start talking Christmas.  I will be bringing you lots of gift ideas for kids over the coming weeks but for the first time I will also be sharing some gift ideas for mama’s.  Apart from gifts, you’ll also find some fun Christmas crafts and lots of pretty decorations in the next few weeks.  I hope you enjoy them all.   In the meantime, you can always browse previous years Christmas gift ideas.

* Via Design work Life

I am completely besotted with this kids book called ‘I want my hat back’ by Jon Klassen.  It’s a story about a bear looking for his hat and while it sounds simple, there’s a clever message in there reminiscent of children who do something wrong and then try and cover it up with excuses and lies.  The story is told in a few words with beautiful illustrations that have humour and wit and there’s a wicked little twist at the end.

I bought this book yesterday with some others and this is definitely my daughters favourite and mine.  I think we’ve already read it five times but it’s been a pleasure since  I want my hat back is a delight for both adults and children and deserves a place in every little kids library.

I was searching for wooden alphabet blocks on etsy when one particular set caught my eye.  I clicked and was taken to a shop filled with beautiful illustrations not just on blocks but on wall prints and little books too.  I loved what I saw so ditched my previous post idea and decided to make today all about the British illustrator Julia Staite.  I do love etsy for the unique talent it’s filled with and Julia’s work is the perfect example.  Her illustrations are so pretty!  There’s lots of colour, some whimsical characters, quirky drawings and above all it’s fun.  The blocks are great for play but they’d also make lovely decorations for a nursery and Julia also offers personalised wooden alphabet blocks so you can have your babies name spelled out.  I’m very keen on the circus themed prints too which would work equally well in a toddler, kiddy or nursery space.  You can find all this and more over at Julia Staite’s shop.

Books are one of my favourite things to give and receive.  I can’t imagine not giving ebabee no.1 at least a couple of books every Christmas, birthday and many, many times in between.  Children’s books are magical and you can never have enough.  For this year’s book gift list I’ve picked out many children’s books that we’ve enjoyed and there are a few that I have yet to buy, but they’re on my Christmas list too.  All the books offer something special either for their clever stories, beautiful illustrations, creativity or even their quirkiness.  Here’s the list of books mainly for 2 year olds to around 6 year olds:

1.  ‘The Life of Mr Mustache’ by Studio Violet.  Charming and oh so creative is this book from Fine Little Day.

2.   ‘My Friends’ by Taro Gomi is a sweet and simple book and is a firm favourite in this home.

3.   ’100 Things’ by Masayuki Sebe is a happy book that gets the little minds counting and observing.

4.   ‘The Book with a Hole’ by Herve Tullet -  I haven’t got this yet but it looks rather cool and quirky.

5.   ‘A Bit Lost’ by Chris Haughton is a cute story with really beautiful illustrations in the most wondeful colours.

6.  ‘Beware of the Frog’ by William Bee is an entertaining read with a great twist and some retro-esque illustrations.

7.  ‘Not a Box’ by Antoinette Portis.  A book about a box that’s not a box… it’s a car, a house or whatever you child’s imagination wants it to be.  We all know kids adore boxes and this book captures the magic of the humble box so well.

8.  Made to Play!: Handmade Toys and Crafts for Growing Imaginations by Joel Henriques.  A book full of fun, simple and beautiful toy making crafts by talented dad Joel.  I haven’t got this yet but I know Joel’s work well and he is one super imaginative and talented guy.

9.  ‘The Blue Pebble’ by Anne-Gaelle Balpe.  A sweet story with a little moral that has been drawn out in beautiful pictures that have a bit of a old fashioned feel.

10  ‘Animal Alphabet Circus’ by Tupera Tupera (a couple ot Japanese illustrators).  The entire alphabet is illustrated through circus animals beautifully drawn.   All the words are in Japanese and English.  This is a real feast for the eyes and one I can’t wait to get.

You can lots see more Christmas gift ideas here: Wooden toys, gifts for newborns and babies, paper gifts and soft toys.

Yesterday I had a massive dig around the world wide web.  The mission was of course to find more gorgeous goodies to share with you.  I’m happy to say: mission accomplished.  One of my most favourite finds was Emilie Vast.  A french artist/designer who mainly creates children’s books as well as jewellery and also transforms her illustrations in to beautiful stationery and wall art.  Her work immediately grabbed my imagination and I don’t think it’s difficult to see why.  It is truly beautiful and has a delicacy and sophistication which makes it childish but with bags of appeal for adults too.

Emile Vast’s books and illustrations use a lot of black, white and grey with splashes of bold colour.  It all comes together to create visuals so eye-catching.  Even though all her children’s books are in French I’m still seriously tempted.  You don’t need words to appreciate art this stunning.  At the moment I’ve found a small selection of her work for sale over at the very lovely Poisson Bulle (you’ll be hearing more about them another day).  They’ve got specially commissioned wall declas and books by Emilie on offer.  Prices range from €10 for a book and between €15 – €69 for the decals and shipping is €18 to the UK.  Worldwide shipping is also on offer.  If I find more stuff, I promise you’ll be the first to know.

My most recent book purchase for ebabee no.1 was ‘Good Little Wolf’ by Nadia Shireen.  It turned out to be such a fabby little book, I had to share.  The illustrations are just delightful and the story is such a winner.  The story goes:

“Once upon a time there was a wolf called Rolf – a good little wolf who liked baking cakes and was always kind to his friends.  But real wolves aren’t supposed to be good – they’re supposed to be BIG and BAD. Can a good little wolf still be a real wolf?”

Funny, hugely entertaining and even a twist in the tale… what more could anyone want?  This is Nadia Shireens first book for children, and what a book. I’m so hoping (praying even) that there’s more to come and very soon.  To get Good Little Wolf head to Amazon where it costs £3.75 with free delivery.

*Photo from Porte Magazine