by Raquel on September 10, 2010
The design equivalent of a caffeine fix, these perky handmade softies are a fabulously quirky way to shake interiors out of a dull slumber. Forming part of a design project to provide sustainable medicine and educational supplies to communities in East Africa, the eclectic novelties are imagined and made by children using traditional Masai woven fabrics. There is, naturally, a full range of African animals, plus Queen and King, Cloud, Lightening Bolt and the absolutely charming - my favourite - Change of Heart. When you buy one, the funds are invested back into the community.
Available from Melbourne design house, Lightly, it would be a sin to leave their wonderful shop without also taking a quick peek at their immensely popular recycled china wall art. 
Clouds drift while Swallows and butterflies flutter by, all in a dreamy scape of patterned saucers, including a playfully elegant special edition reclaimed from fine bone china, such as Willow, Dalton, Staffordshire and Royal Vale.
♥ From $40
♥ Lightly
Tagged as:
Fair Trade,
Handmade,
Kids,
Recycled,
Repurposed
by Raquel on September 8, 2010
This delightful ceramic Early Bird light from Perch! Design has caught my fancy. Evidently, I’m not the only one; Early Bird is their best seller and now he’s available in colour: yellow, light orange, brown, green and gray, I’m sure his popularity will well and truly take flight! A fabulously fun and quirky touch for kid’s rooms, the light comes out from his wings and tail (cute!) and if you live outside the US, it can be specially wired for your country.
Perch! Design’s homewares are all handmade from earthenware, using non toxic glazes, paints, and processes with minimal impact on the environment. Another new release with plenty of playful character is their Rabbit Vessel (pictured above). What will you use it for? That’s entirely up to you; Perch! Design create their objects with multi-functionality at heart so you can make do with them as best pleases!
♥ $52 - $200USD
♥ Perch! Design
Tagged as:
Handmade,
Kids
by Raquel on August 30, 2010
Recently I’ve been 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.
Each comes with a tea light powered by a sun shaped solar panel; as dusk descends the friendly nighttime pals are animated with a soothing, very striking glow. 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
