Entries from June 2013

The rain doesn’t seem to want to leave us alone here in London.  My loud and repeated chanting of ‘rain, rain go away’ hasn’t done the trick.  My 4 year old daughter is luckily a big fan of board games so we do spend time playing these on rainy days.  But once you’ve played Snakes & Ladders 14 times in a row, it’s either time to scream or move on.  The other rainy day activity that is always greeted with squeals of delight is crafting and DIY.  So I went looking for a few fun and most importantly easy crafts and here’s what I liked: "colourful paper beads kids DIY"

These DIY paper beads are easy to make and look so pretty too.  The ones pictured are made of origami paper but you can use any paper you like.  So really all you need is paper and a bit of glue.  Once made, these can be threaded to make bracelets, necklaces or even a garland for your kids room. "DIY kids face mask on a stick"These over-sized face masks on a stick are so cute!  Very easy to make and your child can get as creative as they like with the faces.  Make hats or crowns, glue on straws for the hair or use glitter to add a bit of sparkle… the possibilities are endless. "DIY edible finger paints"I love these DIY {edible} finger paints because not only can you make as many colours as you like, but this is one DIY that will entertain even babies.  Since the paints are edible, babies and get as creative (and messy!) as they like without you needing to worry.

"handmade cat soft toy"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. "handmade soft toy cats"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 Youttle 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!

"french bedlinen for kids"Today, I’m delighted to introduce you to my newest sponsor Petit Home.  As the name suggests, Petit Home is a shop filled with delightful home accessories and decorations for babies and kids.  The owner Amelie is French so you’ll find many beautiful French brands in her store including some of my favourites like April Showers, Mimi’Lou and Zu.  In addition to the French brands, Amelie has carefully selected a few other brands that also have bags of style. 

"French nursery decor uk"In the UK it’s not always easy to find some of the most covetable French kids decor brands but with UK based Petit Home you have exactly that and all under one roof.  From bedding to wall art and lighting, you could easily kit out your entire nursery or kids room from Petit Home.  I love that Amelie has chosen products that are sometimes fun, sometimes quirky and sometimes beautiful, giving us a range of styles to choose from.  While Petit Home has some of my favourite kids decor brands on offer, today I’m really loving that whimsical baby rabbit lamp…  so crazy cute!  I’m so glad to have Petit Home on board and I hope you enjoy their offerings as much as I do. 

"chunky knits for girls"Finally, finally we have a hint of summer here in London.  The sun is shining and we are wearing short sleeves and sunglasses.  While I am celebrating the desperately awaited arrival of the sun,  there is one Autumn/Winter collection I can’t resist sharing with you right now.  I know chunky knits and woolies are the furthest things from our minds but once you’ve seen this collection you’ll wish winter was back!

Paade Mode is a newish Latvian brand that makes clothes for boys and girls aged 0-8 years.  I’ve pictured a selection from the girls range but there are equally cool knits and more for the boys too.  In the girls collection I love the deep emerald greens and ruby reds that perfectly compliment the more neutral tones.  And the chunky knits paired with sheer, delicate skirts looks so cool.  The leggings in the collection too deserve a mention.  The Autumn/Winter collection like all the other collections, is designed to be dressed up or down so the clothes can be worn for an occasion or as everyday wear.  I visited Paade Mode’s site a few days ago because I wanted to order this dress for my daughter from the current collection.  But now that I’ve seen this newest collection, I don’t think I’ll be able to stop at just one dress!  This collection isn’t available yet but should be towards the end of the Summer.  Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

mama & baby…

June 6, 2013

"mini japanese space saving desks"This week’s picks for mama & baby… let both mama and baby get these matching mini Japanese space-saving desks.  How cute are they?  Want!

"handmade dolls rag dolls"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. 

"handmade rag dolls"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

"girls silk satin bikini"What’s not to love about this wonderful new collection by Wovenplay for Spring Summer 2013?  Full of understated drama and whimsy coupled with that magical touch that only Wovenplay can deliver.  This may be my favourite ever Wovenplay collection but then again I think that about every new collection of theirs.

"dressing up clothes for girls"In every collection I usually have a favourite piece but here I’m struggling to choose just one or even two pieces.  Everything is divine from the silk satin bikini to the orange stripey sunsuit.   Truly magical stuff…

"purple girls swimsuit"I’m off to dream about adding a little bit of Wovenplay magic to Anya’s wardrobe…

"belgian designer shop for kids"Even though I’ve been writing this blog for a while now, I still get very excited when I discover a new kids shop especially when it’s full of cute little things.  It really is that kid in a candy store kind of feeling and that’s exactly how I felt when I found guapitO!  From Belgium, guapitO! have a fun range of decor, clothes and accessories for kids.  Things like that cat bag and those neon bracelets are so adorable and I also love the gold and silver rabbit lamps.  These are the kind of things that maybe you don’t actually need in your life but if you have them, they will definitely put a smile on your face each day.  And besides, I’m a real fan of little things like these that add those special details to your home or to an outfit. 

 

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