I’ve been wanting to do an Easter themed post and I’ve been thinking of ideas ranging from bunny decor to Easter crafts.  But then I stopped to think about what kids (and I) love the most about Easter and the answer was obvious… chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate.  I don’t mean just chocolate eggs, but fun, yummy and slightly unusual chocolate desserts that kids and adults will adore.  So I went on the hunt for sweet chocolate treats that aren’t too hard to make but still have the wow factor and of course the yum factor.  And since it’s Easter, there’s no need for any guilt… just indulge, I know I will.

How delightful does this chocolate tart look?  But it gets better… this chocolate tart is made with a dash of tahini (sesame paste).  The creator of this delicious tart didn’t have peanut butter and used tahini instead… I am dying to try it.  I found this over at Cannelle et Vanille where you’ll find the recipe.

I don’t know a kid who doesn’t like nutella so these nutella tarts are sure to be a hit.  And for that extra special dimension, they have some salt in them.  The best part is that you don’t have to get involved in making the chocolate filling, just scoop it out of a jar.  These are mini ones so they’re great for a party too.  You’ll find the recipe at Spoon Fork Bacon.

The ultimate chocolate chip cookie?  That’s how they’re described by their creator and I believe her.  The gooey, chocolatey, deliciously inviting centre has me sold.  I think this is a sweet treat that no kid or adult can possibly resist.  I found the recipe at Not without Salt.

What a great idea!  Chocolate covered potato crisps (or chips if you’re not British).  Could this be the ultimate comfort food treat?  And in even better news, there’s no slaving over a hot stove or oven involved.  They’d be great for a kids party although I can’t imagine the adults laying off but also perfect as a lazy {Easter} Sunday afternoon treat.  Find out how to make them at Spoon Fork Bacon.

Have a lovely Easter! And before I go, here are some more delicious and beautiful looking sweet treats.

I have a huge soft spot for polka dots especially for children, so when I saw these polka dot shoes it was instant love.  Made in Japan by Sayang Design, these shoes are handcrafted in soft leather and they’re designed by parents who have paid attention to every single detail from style to comfort.  The lace-up ones would look cool on boy or girl and no little girl could go wrong wearing any of the gorgeous ballet pumps.

These polka dot shoes come in a range of colours including some plain ones that are extremely wantable too.  You can visit Sayang Design to see the collection.  Unfortunately they don’t ship internationally but Rakuten (Japan’s global marketplace) have a selection and they ship to several countries.

When you’re thinking colours for your toddler or kids room, black & white probably don’t even come up.  It’s definitely not the most popular choice of colour scheme for a kiddy room but if done right, it works and how!  Black and white rooms can look super stunning and can really have the wow factor.  It may not be for everyone but I’m a big fan and I’ve rounded up 5 kids rooms that do black & white oh so well:

I love them all but if I had to choose a favourite, I think it would be number 2.  I love how the black and white cars with hints of red are placed by the window and I love the bed too.  I also like the idea of having a chalkboard wall as they’ve done in rooms 4 and 5. It’s easy to do and any kid would love it. 

Image credits: 1. French by Design  2. Style files  3. Think decor  4. Onszelf  5. The want monster

A while ago I shared some whimsical mouse mobiles with you which proved to be a popular find.  Those mouse mobiles were the creation of Laurence Bonnet, a French lady with a penchant for making delicate little treasures that are oh so beautiful.  Today I’m lusting after her newest hand made creations which include these adorable pajama clad mice that come complete with a little wire frame bed and can be suspended from the ceiling… perfect little eye candy above a cot or toddler bed.  These sleeping mouse mobiles are a limited edition creation where each piece is unique and numbered.

All of Laurence’s mobiles and soft toys are hand made with the greatest attention to detail and lots and lots of imagination.  Another of her new creations are these cuddly and cool looking bears.  I love the whole father son thing and I love how cool and collected papa bear looks with his scarf, top hat and suspenders ensemble.  Laurence sells her creations under the Rose Miniscule name and that’s where you’ll find all these gorgeous little treasures.

I am loving these knitted cabinets… how cool are they?!  And they not only look amazing but they’re portable too.  They can work in any kiddy or adult space but I’m especially loving it for a baby and toddler room.  The cabinet can be placed on the legs or on the floor so making it accessible for small hands too.  You can store all manner of things from toys to books to clothes for the bambino.  I’m picturing a rustic, bohemian chic nursery with lots of vintage touches and one of these cabinets to finish off the look.

These knitted cabinets are designed by Beril Cicek, a young Turkish designer.  She focuses on hand made products using natural materials especially wood.  To find out more about these gorgeous cabinets visit Beril’s site.

* Via Cirkus ** Image 3 via Elle

I’ve had my eye on Les Zigouis for the longest time but recently realised that I hadn’t shared and this is definitely a brand not to be missed.  Les Zigouis is the brainchild of Barbra, a Parisian mama who has an eye for superbly unique style.  She mainly creates kids clothes that are bordering on the world of dressing up and fantasy but also makes some accessories like bags and art.  Her kids clothes are quirky and eclectic in a way I’ve never seen before and I’m very drawn to them.

There is an element of high drama to these clothes that I’m loving.  You can see that there are influences drawn from clowns and circuses, from vintage styles and from animal shapes but all brought together in an amazingly creative way which is why Barbra’s stuff is so exceptionally different.  I love the funky bear hat and also the clown like collar.  The little denim shorts with braces are very cool too.

All these dreamy clothes are part of the Spring Summer 2012 collection and you’ll find these and more over at Les Zigouis.

I’m a big fan of wooden toys not only because they look good but also because they last and last and last.  This weekend I went on the hunt for a wooden rattle that I wanted to gift to a friend’s bambino.  I was looking for something unusual and of course beautiful.  I ended up finding 4 that I loved and now I have a new dilema… how can I choose between these 4, they’re all so lovely! Here are a few more details on the 4 chosen ones:

1 & 2.  A fish shaped rattle and a sphere shaped rattle both of which are made in the German Alps using only local timbers.  Both look beautifully crafted and are described ‘as an absolute joy to hold for both adults and children’.  You can get these 2 at a store called Objects of Use where they sell many other covetable wooden goodies too.  3.  This wooden rattle by Timbur is a perfect new baby gift.  I’m loving the flowing curves, the smooth finish and the combination of light and dark wood.  4. Handcrafted in the USA, these Earnest Efforts wooden baby rattles are filled with beans or lentils and are great for teething too.  They come in various woods so you can choose light or dark.   Both the Timbur rattle and the Earnest Efforts one are available from Fawn & Forest.

There is so much wonderful art out there for kids rooms and today I bring you another artist that I love.  These are the creations of Australian Amy Borrell who is an illustrator, designer and pattern maker.  I’m really drawn to the soft watercolours that Amy uses and the subtle style of her work. 

I think these prints would be fabulous eye candy in a  nursery or a toddler room.  I would be tempted to have a few of them, not just one.  My favorite is the clowns on stilts but the boy holding the starry balloon sparks my imagination too.  And as far as kids circus prints go, Amy’s version called ‘Ta-Da’ is one of the most appealing I’ve seen.  I discovered this circus one at L’affiche Moderne where you can buy it or check out Cake with Giants which is Amy’s shop and has a bigger selection.

Here are some more lovely kids room posters and prints.

Ever since I spotted this wallpaper in Milk Magazine, I have been besotted with it.  The dark, enchanting forest theme is so striking, so bold, so impactful.  This ‘Foret Noire’ wallpaper is by Nathalie Lete, a Parisian artist whose creations are inspired by her travels, vintage toys and old engravings of animals an flowers.  Nathalie creates kids books, toys, ceramics and also one off pieces all of which are colourful, poetic and sometimes almost bordering on strange but always in a very creative way.  This forest wallpaper would make a magnificent feature wall in a kids room but I think it would look very cool in a nursery too. 

And as for the lovely vintage inspired kids Tica chair in the picture, I found it over a Laurette Deco and I fell for it.  I thought the red works so well against the black wallpaper and the style of chair compliments the wallpaper too so I wanted to feature it.  To buy this wallpaper which also comes in a pale green, head to Lapin & Me.  

While I’m talking wallpapers, have a look at the Pip Early Bird Wallpaper… it’s one of my favourites!

I am utterly smitten by Makie’s new collection.  I am in want of the entire range… it’s that stunning!  For today, I’ve picked out some of the gorgeous dresses that they have on offer.  There are summery florals, flowy sundresses and minimalist cuts in solid colours for babies and girls up to 10 years old.

Makie are New York based and all the clothes from their own collection are made in the US.  But they also sell carefully chosen pieces from some other exquisite designers.  There is plenty of gorgeous stuff not just for girls but for boys and babies too.

I love all the prints and the all the attention to detail like the blue stripey dress with the bronze straps and the beige silk dress with delicate crystals and bold orange straps.  Head to Makie to see the entire exquisite collection and prepare to fall in love with it all, I know I have!