Zoé de las Cases cardboard play scenes
Love, love, love these vibrant cardboard playscenes from Zoé de las Cases. Made of hardwearing thick card, they come flatpacked and ready to asssemble, with fixtures and fittings to attach. The wallpaper designs and colour palette lend them a funky Fifties vibe and I can imagine getting hours of pretend play out of them. Choose [...]
10 Medieval Fancy Dress Ideas for Camp Bestival
If you’ve ever been to Bestival or Camp Bestival, you’ll know that dressing up is all part of the fun. Every year, organiser Rob da Bank decides on a theme for the Saturday and there’s a big parade involving as many festival-goers as possible. This year’s Camp Bestival theme is medieval, so think knight, princesses, [...]
Playsam – a lighter side
July 12, 2011 by Myf · Leave a Comment
I’ve always found the glossy, black and red products from Swedish company Playsam a little too macho for my tastes: indeed, a lot of their range is labelled as ‘executive toys’, and clearly isn’t aimed at kids at all. But I was won over by the simplicity and bright colours of their little sail boat. Plus, [...]
Toca Boca games for iPod, iPad and iPhone
July 6, 2011 by Myf · 7 Comments
The Guardian tipped me off about the Toca Boca suite of games for iPod, iPhone and iPad – and I am glad it did, because they really are delightful. Unlike many other games, they have a strong design sensibility, with the sort of illustration you’d expect to see in the best picture books.They are also [...]
Hot shop: Cool in Cloth
Barnstaple-based boutique Cool in Cloth was founded by Elizabeth Mason with the intention of giving ‘children children a better planet to inherit’. Consequently, you’ll find eco, organic and ethical clothing brands such as Aravore, Organics For Kids, Pili Pala, Frugi and PEA (Pure English Alpaca) stocked on the (virtual) shelves, plus Aden & Anais muslins [...]
New goodies at Lettie Belle
Loving the latest creations from Lettie Belle, aka textile designer Laura Anne Marsden. First up, a contemporary take on perennial favourite Fuzzy Felts. LB’s Felt Play Sets come in three designs – Garden, Woodland and Ahoy There! – and are packaged in an organic cotton button-down case, so you’re less likely to lose any pieces. [...]
Mud Pies and other Recipes
June 30, 2011 by Myf · Leave a Comment
Some kids love to create culinary masterpieces for their dollies and teddies, out of petals, leaves, puddle water and mud. I know, because I’ve got one of them – though I suspect that with her, it’s more an excuse to get muddy and stir things with sticks than it is any early blossoming of a [...]
Atsuyo et Akiko Angel Wings
How divine is this plumage?! New York designer Atsuyo et Akiko is behind these feather angel wings which feature little gold stars and ice blue ribbon straps. They’d look stunning for dressing up but would also look great with a party dress for the girl who likes to make an entrance or even for the [...]
10 Best: ideas for a circus-themed nursery
Who doesn’t love the circus as a motif? It’s an absolutely brilliant theme for a child’s room as it combines vibrant colour, animals and (providing your offspring isn’t a coulrophobic) clowns. Here’s our pick of big-top buys. For the walls, I give you two equally fabulous paper options. 1) The muted vintage sketches of [...]
Mini ice-cream shop… or open-topped building
April 13, 2011 by Myf · Leave a Comment
We all know that, provided with nothing else, kids will play with three pebbles and a bit of string. That is the beauty of open-ended toys like this piece from Mouta. It’s sold as “a small open-topped building… or an ice cream shop?” – the question mark is theirs. I could form a theory that [...]
Habitat Croquet and Golf Sets
April 13, 2011 by Natalie · Leave a Comment
I can’t believe my baby Nia and Lu’s Alfie are two this week – eek! We’re still making up our minds about what to get and on my travels I spotted that Habitat have come up trumps with these stylish wooden croquet and golf sets. I love the croquet set with it’s cutesy Japanese style [...]
Make Your Own: Felted Pasta
Our kids all love their pretend play kitchens so imaginative tactile play food is certainly very appealing. I love these simple tutorials by One Inch World to make felted ravioli and farfalle bowtie pasta. Too cool. Incidentally, these are great birthday gift ideas. via Artatheart Images copyright One Inch World
Clothkits Wigwam
March 31, 2011 by Natalie · 2 Comments
Behold the hotness that are Clothkits made to order wigwams featuring a retro bird, apple and flower print designed by Brighton based artist Jane Foster. Available in lime green or big red, they’re 1.6m in height and you’ll need to get four 2m bamboo poles from your local garden centre to finish off. Use both [...]
Rokka Play wooden rocker/boat/theatre/kitchen!
March 29, 2011 by Lucy · 2 Comments
My friend Michelle tipped me off about Rokka Play having spotted it in a design magazine. The brainchild of Cornish mamas Sam and Vanessa, the Rokka is a versatile toy that grows with your little one. The starter pack consists of a birch plywood Rokka seesaw, and a Cornish fishing boat accessory pack containing a vibrant [...]
Magical Fairy Dresses by Tutu du Monde
For a delicious, whimsy luxe tutu with embellishments and extra detailing, I’d make a dash to Tutu du Monde. Inspired by Parisian ballerinas, these fairy dresses are really stunning. They’re handmade and hand dyed so each one is a one off, and they have a magical, romantic feel. When Nia (now 23 months) was sent [...]
