Mixing prints and patterns is bang on trend at the moment.  Polka dots with stripes, bold florals with graphic patterns and clashing colours can all work so well together in an outfit.  Maybe the theory of ‘opposites attract’ is true after all.  Being more of a minimalist, this is one trend I haven’t fully got the hang of but I’m trying.  I’ve been looking for inspiration and guess where I found it?  You guessed it… in these cats!  Taking fashion advice from a cat seems more than a bit crazy but these cats really know how to mix patterns and make them work, don’t you think?  I just love each and every combination on offer. This new cat shop is called You Little and all the soft toy cats are handmade by a French mama.  The cat is called Kim but she takes on many exciting looks from colourful vintage florals to pastel polka dots.  Apart from their chic fashion sense, there is so much more to love about these cats even for non-cat lovers like me.  The oversized bow-ties, their sleepy expressions and not to mention their cuteness levels.  Oh, and I’m sure the kids will love these soft toys too!  You’ll find these lovely soft toys at You Little where you can even have your child’s name embroidered on or you can also find a selection at the stylish Little You boutique.  And next time you see me wearing bold patterns and prints, you’ll know where I got my inspiration!

Handmade dolls are probably one of my most favourite kinds of soft toy.  I love the idea that somebody imagines a character in their head, then on paper and finally brings this person to life using just fabric and their hands.  All of the handmade dolls that I’ve featured on here have been so different from each other and that’s what makes them special as each one is based purely on the unique imagination of their creator.  My latest find are these elegant, long limbed ladies by Snuggly Ugly. 

Created by a Venezuelan mama called Indira who lives in NYC,  she makes her pretty rag dolls using re-cycled cashmere and wool sweaters.  The dolls in her collection are all made to order so you can even choose the hair colour you like best.  I love the calm, sophisticated look of these dolls as well as their simple but stylish dresses.  Also each one has a little hair accessory which just adds that finishing touch to their outfits.  I can imagine these dolls becoming firm friends with their little owners.  You can see more of these handmade rag dolls and Indira’s other creations over at her shop Snuggly Ugly. 

I recently discovered these mouse house sets and I couldn’t resist sharing.  How sweet are they?  The minute I laid eyes on them it brought a big smile to my face.  What an absolutely adorable idea.  I love the little details like the tiny vogue magazine, the storage basket, the knitting needles and that teeny cloud pillow.   I thought it would be fun to imagine what kind of mouse would live in each house so I paired them up with cute little mice from Maileg’s delightful range.  The mouse house sets are entirely handmade by Alessandra Taccia who has a lovely shop called Knots.  Alessandra doesn’t make many things but what she does make is so creative and imaginative.  I hope these mouse house sets bring a big smile to your face, just like they did to mine. Happy, smiley weekend to you all!

This week’ picks for mama & baby… let mama decorate with these pastel coloured steel armchairs while baby plays with that sweet pram garland.

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.

This week’s picks for mama & baby… let mama carry her mobile in this quirky iPhone case while baby plays with that eclectic bunny soft toy.

*Bunny soft toy discovered on pinterest.  Are you on pinterest?  If you are, here’s where you can see my pinterest boards.

I love yellow!  It’s such a happy colour, don’t you think?  It’s probably my favourite colour especially for kids and babies.  And since the sun has graced us with it’s presence after months, I thought it was time to do a yellow post.  Here’s what I currently love for a happy, sunny summer:

1. Bird drawing book…  2. Patent leather dolly shoe…  3. Handmade lion soft toy…  4. Lemon tote bag or storage sack…  5. Harper sunsuit with triangle design…  6.  Modern striped citrine rug…  7. Printed rabbit patch baby quilt.

Last Friday, we received a wonderful surprise in the post, all the way from Buenos Aires.  The super talented Adriana Torres sent us this delightful crochet lion rattle in a bed.  I have long been a fan of Adriana’s handmade creations which include adorable crochet toys, blankets and home wares.  This little lion with his beautiful blanket and bed is super cute and has already charmed my daughter (and me!).  Adriana’s brand is Miga de Pan where you can see more of her work or if you’d like to buy any of her creations, you’ll find a selection at Couverture.  If you haven’t come across Miga de Pan before then I seriously urge you to take a look… you won’t be disappointed.  And of course, a huge thanks to Adriana for this very special delivery.  

I saw these gorgeous floppy DIY sheep soft toys and I had to share them with you.  If you are a knitter, how can you resist making them?  I’ve come across these sheep before to buy but making them yourself is even better.  You can choose your colours, the sizes and you can make as many as you want.  I love the colours chosen here but the choice is yours.  My mother-in-law is the knitter in this family so I’ll be asking her to make a few of these.  I discovered these softies at Fawn & Forest but for full instructions visit Lebenslustiger.

This week’s picks for mama & baby… let mama wear this pretty lemon yellow necklace with wooden beads while baby plays with that yellow nosed crochet elephant rattle.