by Raquel on August 30, 2010
Oh my goodness, I’m seriously swooning over these amazing lights from ♥ The Original Metal Box Company. Made of powder coated steel, the ♥ NightNightLight comes in four Über cool designs: Rhinoceros, Elephant, Robot and Bear, but what I’m really in a fizz about is the solar feature.
They each come with a solar powered tea light and solar panel (sun shaped!) and look amazing at night. Seriously, when the kids see these they’ll want to go to bed; better yet, they’ll want to stay there! All of which means, I’m putting my hands up for one ASAP!
♥ £25.99
♥ Nigel’s Eco Store
via ♥ Babygadget
by Raquel on August 30, 2010
I‘m a bit of a decor junkie, that is, I develop random crushes for inanimate objects, often. My latest fancy is these quirky little puffs of upcycled woollyness from NZ label ♥ Seam. They’re bright, playful and would look pretty sweet in kid’s rooms or anywhere else the family likes to kick back and get comfy .. fab!
♥ From $65NZ
♥ Kina
Tagged as:
Handmade,
Kids,
Recycled
by Raquel on August 29, 2010
Here’s one for Dad, hint: father’s day. And yes, this is my entire round up of dad’s day recommendations; I like to keep it simple and one great idea’s enough, no?
So, ever wondered what happened to all those pool tables, the ones everybody seemed to have in their homes, along with corner bars, back when? Well, the clever folk at Auckland based indie label, Luxford St, have repurposed some of them into these incredibly rad messenger bags. And if the idea of slinging a pool table around one’s neck seems a tad hefty, fear not. The bags are made just from the wool felt table tops and there’s not a hole in sight. Ergo, no chance of potting something you didn’t mean to.
The funky design comes in green or black with adjustable strap and inside pocket, and at a reasonable $85, I’m chalking this one up to a seriously awesome pressie for pops.
♥ From $85NZ
♥ Endemic World
Tagged as:
Bags,
Handmade,
Recycled
by Raquel on August 27, 2010
If you have a deconstructing tot or two running around your home, eco toy maker ♥ Aroundsquare has just the thing to harness their energy. Their Good Wood Deconstruction blocks are made of sustainable rubberwood and come in plain recycled cardboard packaging with no script, just beautifully crafted pieces of wood for kids to make with as they please.
These clever sets of abstract shapes work wonderfully alone, or with each other, for a super creative play session that doesn’t need batteries; this one’s powered purely by the infinite imagination and curiosity of kids, that is, it’s endless!
Aroundsquare operates as a social enterprise, with at least 30% or profits plowed back into charitable endeavours, plus customers themselves have the option donate one of the sets to a childcare centre in a developing country for a mere $12USD. The companies creator, Mathew Heibert, is an education specialist and consultant who also manages a Canadian government program promoting early childhood education in Egypt.
♥ From $29.99 USD
♥ Aroundsquare
Tagged as:
Kids,
Preschoolers,
Wooden
by Raquel on August 26, 2010
Say hello to Babushkups, a super sweet trio of cups which nest inside one another when not in use.
Oh, and they’re not plastic either. Refreshingly these drinking dolls are made from durable, dishwasher safe borosilicate glass; ‘cause sometimes the kids are better at managing real tableware than we give them credit for.
♥ $18
♥ The Tribe Store
Tagged as:
Bottles & Cups,
BPA-free,
Kids,
Preschoolers
by Raquel on August 23, 2010
I love the idea of a piggy bank with the concept of charity built in. After all, kids may follow by example but, as for the rest of us, a thing only truly becomes known to them when it is ‘done’.
Created by US design duo, ♥ Materious, this nesting pair of ♥ Momma and Child piggy banks is a wonderful tool for teaching children about giving; there’s also terrific value in the visual impact: the little pig resting against the larger neatly reinforces ideas of unity, protection and nurturing.
And if your child tries to place them alone, she’ll soon discover these piggies can only stand when together .. a neat design trick conceptualising how individual actions affect others; our interdependency and its importance.
The cleverly considered ‘good little piggy’ set is hand cast in ceramic, in either brilliant white of pale pink, and is a fantastic prompt for starting a dialogue about giving, then reinforcing it through action .. the larger vessel is for personal savings, the smaller for charitable donations, though there’s always the option to flip it!
♥ $54USD
♥ Piggy
Tagged as:
Kids
by Raquel on August 22, 2010
Yes, I’m double-dipping (I’m with you George), but I couldn’t leave Gallop Lifestyle without mentioning these retro cool wall hangings by Melbourne label ♥ Love.
Made from wood veneer, the nifty self-assembly kits are based on original drawings of Love’s creator, Melbourne artist Geneine Honey, and - in my opinion - are just the bee’s knees!
If you’re as taken with the cute whimsy of Painted Girl (far top) as I, you’ll also adore Love’s necklaces, earrings and brooches, where Painted Girl features, along with an eclectic parade of quirkily cool characters and playful scenes.
♥ $65 - $70
♥ Gallop Lifestyle
Tagged as:
Handmade,
Kids,
Wooden
by Raquel on August 22, 2010
I received an email from Annie Bowen of wonderful new eco store ♥ Gallop Lifestyle - it’s so divine, I’m wondering if she’ll let me move in? - which led me to the delightful handmade wonders of textile artist Aly Peel that Gallop Lifestyle carry.
Under her label ♥ Maiike, Aly upcycles old jumpers, cleaning, felting and cutting them into squares, which she then fashions into an exquisite collection of cot quilts, cushions and scarfs.
While there’s quite a few lovely blanket options for baby, quilts are another matter. So I was thrilled when I spied these sumptuous puffs of sustainable goodness - what a stunning heirloom piece for babies cot!
The thrills don’t end there. As a sustainable artist, Aly doesn’t allow anything to go to waste; any leftover material is used to create super snugglie softies. There’s monkeys, rabbits and cats, all equally adorable, thus making it impossible to single out any one of these lovely play pals for special mention - each and everyone would totally delight your little guy or girl.
♥ $72 - $259
♥ Gallop Lifestyle
Tagged as:
Baby,
Handmade,
Preschoolers,
Recycled,
Toddlers
by Raquel on August 12, 2010
I want one, I want one! Oh yes, this supercalifragilisticexpialidocius ♥ Modern Playhouse makes me want to .. PLAY!
Created by two San Francisco mums, the minimalist indoor/outdoor cubby has a sophisticated design that fits neatly into modern homes, providing a delightful haven for littlies to create, play and imagine.
Constructed from locally sourced sustainable wood, the sturdy design comes in two models, Circle or Wedge, with optional furniture and acessories. And while sleek in profile, its full of possibility thanks to a flexible modular design which makes it suitable for toddlers and young adolescents.
On sale 1 September, Modern Playhouse will be taking pre-orders from 15 August.
♥ Modern Playhouse
via Minor Details
Tagged as:
Kids,
Natural,
Preschoolers,
Recycled,
Toddlers,
Wooden
by Raquel on August 12, 2010
I can’t think of many cooler ways to chase away spooky shadows in the kid’s room than with one of these excellent sun jars. A hit in orange or blue, I’m totally tickled by the addition of pink to Suck UK’s range.
A kid wowing lesson in capturing the sun; a solar powered cell stores direct sunlight and then automatically distributes it via a stunning night time glow .. sealed tight, the cordless light is terrific indoors and out, and is a totally child friendly way to calm night time fears!
♥ $59.95
♥ Shop Until
Tagged as:
Kids,
Preschoolers,
Reusable,
Toddlers
