so smitten....

We are completely smitten by Just Smitten - a super sweet range of stationary for the young and the young at heart.

"The primary focus was to create fresh and inviting selection of cards and gift tags which could be purchased in multiples of 10 at a realistic price. Ideal for anyone besotted with children, who appreciates quality and loves the idea of having adorable cards on hand for the next party invitation." says designer Jenny Peters.


All products have been crafted first-hand to reflect all the joy, wonder and playfulness in a little person’s life on a premium-textured stock, come with matching envelopes, are individually packaged, beautifully wrapped and ready to sent on.

take your pick at Magnolia Square in Randwick November 19-21 at Royal Randwick.

wugged up....

As with most successful ideas, Woolly Wugs came about after mothers Kate White and Sarah Abbott couldn't find what they were looking for. The search was for bedtime clothing and accessories suitable for Australian summers that were both stylish and comfortable.

The team set about designing a range of innovative pieces using textures and patterns with distinctive playful designs and functionality.Most importantly, Woolly Wugs’ range is designed specifically with the Australian climate in mind. Light and breathable, 100% natural fabrics for summer and comfortable, warm and cosy fabrics for winter.

Woolly Wugs products are a direct reflection of its founders…fresh, fun and colourful, bubbling over with happiness!

See the range at Magnolia Square at Randwick Racecourse November 19-21st.

thread instead...

There is an ancient Chinese belief that an invisible red thread connects our hearts and lives with those that we are destined to meet and love.

We have longed admired the delicate works of Lisa Tilse at the Red Thread and are now thrilled to have her involved in both our Melbourne and Sydney Magnolia Square events.

Lisa combines beautiful vintage and Japanese papers with hand drawn illustrations and personalised touches to create her individualised pieces. We love the heart boxes where hand cut vintage story books seem to float within the frame and the new collection of Sweetie Petites Dolls.

Sweetie Petites doll kits contain all you need to make your own Sweetie. The design of these little cute little dolls has been influenced by vintage and Japanese kawaii styles. They appeal to girls of all ages from toddlers to pre-teens and even adults who like to collect fun and quirky things.

Meet Lisa at Malvern Town Hall and Randwick Magnolia Square Fairs in November.

power dressing....

Here's a girl who knows what she wants! Power dressing to impress in her little Ollie and Max shirt dress.

What is even better is that the Ollie and Max range of tailored cotton shirting comes in grown up sizes! See the range at Magnolia Square in November Randwick Racecourse.

tie it up....

Created from a love of all things girlie and sweet, Little Choopie delivers a delightful range of must have hair accessories and age appropriate jewellery for little fashionistas. Creator, Amanda De Santis, a stay at home mum, was looking for something to fill her days whilst her little boy (Little Choopie) took his naps;

"At Little Choopie we are inspired by all things whimsical, and we strive to create a wholesome brand that evokes a sense of fun modern whimsy." she says.

To ensure the little boys aren't left out, Little Choopie also has a gorgeous range of t-shirts and bodysuits for babies and toddlers.

See the range at Magnolia Square in Sydney this November and you will have all the stocking fillers you need!

we heart....Bearly Warm

The lovey Katie from We heart books has delivered us another book review...whilst she waits patiently for her new little bub to make an arrival..........

One of the things we love about our work on We Heart Books is uncovering little-known artists and creatives who have turned their talents to story-telling, illustration and book production – all on their own! We carry a very special collection of self-published, handcrafted titles, sometimes helping these books to find an audience for the first time in Australia.

Robert Frank Hunter is one of these artists, and his stunning book, Bearly Warm , is a truly heart-warming story.

What is a polar bear to do if he can bearly get warm? He could try borrowing some clothes from a washing line, but it’s a problem when they bearly fit… and the owners are bearly happy… The restrained text in this book uses clever wordplay and quirky illustrations to relay a poignant and endearing story of giving. A beautiful story and a work of art – each copy is a limited and numbered edition.

This title and some brand new handcrafted titles will be available from We Heart Books at Magnolia Square Malvern in November and Brighton in December...( and you might get a sneak peak at the newest member of the We heart books family...awww cute!)

scissors and paper and parties....

Think of yourself as a bit of a party animal? Well these girls could teach you a thing or two! Nathalie from Imprintables and Naomi from Hello Naomi have joined creative forces to bring you Scissors.Paper.Cake.

The result is a sugary sweet, total solution for a gorgeous children's celebrations. From the oh-so stylish invitations through to delicious gourmet spreads, the girls will ensure your party is one that's talked about for years to come. Choose from different themes or have the girls custom plan something just for you. I love that the boys things are just as amazing as the girls....(says the mother of three boys who is often frustrated at the lack of imaginative bits and bobs for little lads)

Come and meet Naomi and Nathalie at Magnolia Square in Sydney November 19, 20 and 21st and discuss your next tiny and small merriment.

oh deer......

Wanted to share with you a fabulous website full of inspiring ideas for children's bedrooms and nurseries. Ohdeedoh is a virtual showcase of ideas and concepts for children's rooms. Vintage, contemporary, celebrity, boys and girls..whatever your taste you find some fabulous examples here. My pick was this eclectic room full of sentimental and handmade gems. Have to love the bed made from a shipping pallet and the framed vintage handkerchiefs passed down from a lovely great grandmother. What a special place!

Check out Ohdeedoh but be warned - It a beautiful way to lose a few hours!

and you too.....

Lots has been happening at And Me Too lately. And Me Too is ready to launch ARTtee; a range of printed tees for girls and boys. You will adore the printed bird stack tee which features the talents of Printspace designer Mara Girling. These little birds are tweeting the numbers one to five in French.

You will still find your old favourites; striped tees, the much loved number jersey and an ever fresh range of Liberty fabrics and accessories. The styling is beautifully simple and the quality impeccable. Shop online or see the range at Magnolia Square to help stuff the Christmas stocking.

oh la la......

Oh la la......we love these adorable baby shoes from evie la la. See them at Malvern Town Hall soon!

rev it up.....

Gelati Art is all about fun with a nice dose of style thrown in. Specialising in printed canvas art for children's rooms, Gelati Art's philosophy is to create high quality, designer wall art that will appeal to children and their parents but without a designer price-tag.

Boys will delight in the speedy machines seen in Motorbikes and Racer and girls will be pleading for the sweet cupcake and teaparty designs. A fantastic, cost effective way to bring some personality and a burst of colourful fun into your child's room.

Gelati Art will be showcasing the range at Magnolia Square in Randwick but if you can't wait that long....shop online.

the happy nappy....

When is a nappy not really a nappy? When it is a Bambooty happy nappy! We know mothers are the clever, but Amelia Singh may be more clever than most coming up with this ingenious solution to nappy woes.

Enter Bambooty, a range of fashionable, affordable, eco-friendly nappies that ensure comfort for bub and convenience for mum ( and dad of course!) Made from luxuriously soft bamboo, the nappies are both absorbent and naturally anti fungal and antibacterial. Being free from the toxic chemicals and bleach associated with disposable nappies they are also much gentler on baby's skin. Gentler too on the environment and being reuseable from one baby to the next, they are also much gentler on the pocket.

I must admit that despite all those fabulous things, this is the line that most stood out to me! -
"No folding, no pins, no soaking, no bleach, no leaks, no chemicals, no waste, no worries. Welcome to the world of modern cloth." Gotta love that!

See Bambooty at Magnolia Square in Randwick this November.

a whale of a time..

Katy and Jane, two good friends inspired by a love of beautiful things, high quality and a desire for something a little bit different have set about launching their new range....KatyJane Designs.

A collection of retro inspired cards, invitations and ribbon, that reflects the duo's passion for design and providing a personal touch.

We are particularly taken by Mr Whale...but there are lots of gorgeous choices...all a step away from the typical, overdone designs we are accustomed to seeing of late.

Melbourne shoppers will have the chance to see the collection at the Malvern Christmas Fair November 26 - 28th.

princess for a day...

Browsing through the endless shelves at our favourite virtual department store. Etsy, today, this gorgeous little print caught my eye.

Every girl loves a princess, and this one, framed in ornate letterpress and printed in soft, muted tones, is a very sweet choice.


Available at the DearDodo store.

splish splash....

We all know how damaging the Australian sun can be on our children's skin but we are still so tempted by the itsy bitsy teeny weeny polka dot bikinis.....here's a way to combine both.

Babes in the Shade came about like most good ideas, after a fruitless search for something similar. The range of protective swimwear are UPF 50+ and are chlorine and salt-water resistant. Babes in the Shade ensures fashion meets functionality – all sun shirts are designed with zip fasteners for easy changing and have long sleeves for maximum protection.

So now you can be a safety and fashion conscious mum all in one! See the full range at Randwick November 19th, 20th and 21st.

all the better to see you with...

The adventure of everyone's favourite childhood classic, Little Red Riding Hood has been captured in this cute piece from Urchin.

Created from vintage odds and ends these hand worked canvas artworks are perfect for adorning the walls of a nursery or playroom and letting the imagination run wild.

Urchin's ambitions are simple - to create great children's clothes and accessories everyone will love, especially kids! The range includes clothing as well as decor pieces, each being hand finished with carefully selected materials, each item coming with a personal touch.

See the gorgeous range at Magnolia Square in Sydney November 19th ,20th and 21st.

my child spring 09....

I'm sure by now you all have your copy in hand of the Spring 2009 Spring Issue of My Child Magazine. As usual, its bursting with practical advice for parents and is a virtual style guide for trendy tots and their folks.

We were thrilled to collaborate with My Child, Paperklip and Little Bird Photography to bring you a delightful new craft series. Gorgeous little hearts that are a pleasure to make and encourage creative time between parent and child...great excuse to grab the scissors and get crafting!

We had fun pouring over the mag, playing 'spot the clever Magnolia Square retailer'! Gracing the pages we found And Me Too, RedBerry, we heart books, Kindergallery, Huckleberry Lane, Koolaman Designs to name a few.

Now, i must be off....nothing like a coffee and a good book!

dreamin of sweet?.....

Sweet Dream Cakes, headed up by baking genius, Yogi Johnstone, creates delicious morsels of edible art.

What began as a solution to a party cake dilemma has now evolved into a bespoke cake and cookie service were very rarely is the same cake made twice. Catering for children's birthdays to corporate girts and weddings, there isn't much Yogi can't create...and she does like a good challenge!

Sweet Dreams Cakes were a hit with the Tiny and Smalls at the July Magnolia Square in Sydney, where many little guys and gals were spotted munching away on a cookie wand. We choose the gorgeous animal stamped biccies for our 'favourite things' stand..and yes the taste test proved that they were as good as they looked!

Keep your eye out for some scrumptious Christmas offerings at Magnolia Square Sydney November. Photos courtesy of The Shoe of Salvation blog.

spanish for 'we love'......

Tonight's online talent search lead me to these darling little images created by spanish artist Blanca Gómezcosas. Black and white line works so beautifully with the colour bursts, making these french inspired folk totally charming.

A nice find for boys in a world often dominated by all things pretty and pink. Available here.

you name it...

As parents we know the constant battle of lost belongings....here's a stylish solution. Mio Towels has a fabulous range of personalised bags, pencil cases, back packs, cushions, pillow cases and yes, you guessed it...towels.

Mio towels uses quality Australian made towels, all custom monogrammed with your child's name. Our pick are these gorgeous linen pyjama sacks...perfect for hanging off the end of the bedhead.

If you missed Mio towels in Malvern, look out for them at the Sydney and Melbourne Christmas events.

rubber ducky you're the one.....

Quack, Quack, who wouldn't be delighted arriving at this Duck themed party! We love the original idea...worlds away from princesses and super hero's...a visual feast of colour and style.

Not that we would expect anything less from the very stylish Suzi of Alannnah Rose stationary....here she offers up her tips for creating the perfect party...like this one held for her duck loving daughter recently.

- Start with the invitation. Our new kids range of invitations has been designed to be easy to theme. Pick a colour, pattern or element in the design and go from there. For our Little Duck theme we worked around the colour palette of red and white with a touch of yellow.

- Balloons and lanterns were used in red and white to introduce colour and to pick up on the polkadot pattern in the invitations.

- On the table clear glass candy jars were filled with red and white lollies, and finished with red and white polka dot ribbon.

- Flowers are also a great way to bring in colour and add a soft touch to the table - for the duck party we put a pretty mix of white and yellow and finished the white pots with red bows.

- Food choices also followed the colour palette - honey joys in red patty pans, cupcakes with icing ducks and homemade duck gingerbread seamlessly fit with the overall theme.

- Don't be afraid to mix and match patterns, and add little details. Patterned fabric around store bought drink bottles is a simple craft project with big effect. Ribbon is also a great inexpensive way of adding colour and festivity, so get creative.

- Think about your party theme and what games you can play to tie in with your theme - Felt was cut out a duck shape to play pin the beak on the duck - an easy to make alternative to pin the tail on the donkey. Pass the parcel was done to the 'Five little ducks' song and a duck Pinata was found at a local balloon store.

-Finish on theme - Alannah Rose's new party bag tags add the perfect finishing touch to your party bag. A little rubber duck was added into each bag as a thank you for guests.
______

Gingerbread Ducks Recipe

Gingerbread is easy to make and kids love it. Cookie cutters are readily available in all sorts of shapes and sizes, so it's likely you'll find one to fit your invite theme. If you can't find the right shape, stick with a basic shape like circles and ice in different colours to make polkadots in your theme colours.

Arrange on white plates or pack individually in cello bags for a take home treat.

Preparation Time
30 minutes
Cooking Time
8 minutes

Ingredients

* 2 cups (300g) plain flour
* 1 tsp bicarb of soda
* 2 tsp ground ginger
* 90g butter
* 1/2 cup (80g) brown sugar
* 1/3 cup (125g) golden syrup
* 5cm biscuit cutter in shape of choice (we used a duck shape)
* Prepared icing

Directions

1. Sift flour, soda and ginger into a bowl. Place butter, sugar and golden syrup into a saucepan. Cook over low heat, until butter melts and sugar dissolves. Cool.
2. Pour the syrup into the flour mixture, and combine. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead until smooth. Cover with plastic and chill for 30 minutes.
3. Preheat oven to 180°C. Line two baking trays with non-stick baking paper. Roll out dough on a lightly floured surface until 5mm thick. Cut out shapes and carefully place onto trays. Bake for 8 minutes.
4. Cool biscuits on trays for 5 minutes, then onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Ice with Royal icing
* 1 eggwhite
* 1 1/4 cups pure icing sugar, sifted
* 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
* drops of food colour of choice

Using a fork, beat eggwhite in a bowl until foamy. Gradually beat in icing sugar until combined.
Stir in lemon juice. Add food colouring to desired colour. Decorate gingerbread with icing. Set aside for 20 minutes or until set. Serve.

Thanks Suzi!!!

have your cake....

These heavenly images are from UK children's clothing collection 'let them eat cake'.

Being described as pieces of visual art by the designer Felicity, seems almost an understatement as each garment looks to be a layering of exquisite fabrics and couture design.

"I wanted to create unique clothes with an emphasis on long lasting quality. The clothes give a nod to vintage styling but have a thoroughly modern edge. Let Them Eat Cake celebrates the freedom of childhood through a soft vintage colour palette, it's whimsical nature allows for movement and fun! " Says Felicity.

The photography speaks volumes and seems to take you to another place and time - completely divine!

it's back....

For those of you who missed And Me Too at the last Magnolia Square...never fear- it's back!

A gorgeous collection bursting with contemporary pieces designed with little folk in mind. The signature look teams classic Liberty fabrics with spots and stripes and throws in denim and soft quality cottons.

The range is transeasonal and timeless in design making it perfect for passing down through through the siblings. We love that the range goes out to an 8 in boys and all the way to a 12 for girls making it easy to dress children as children.

See And Me Too at Magnolia Square Malvern Town Hall or browse through the range online.

hoot hoot...

With a new baby in their lives (Chloe - now 3), bee and tree owners Larn and Joe saw the culmination of several things. They became more and more interested in the benefits of organic produce including clothing. And for Larn, a new creative project was perfect to bring balance to the days spent at home with Chloe.

Bee and tree aims to create comfortable, design-oriented organic pieces for bubbas. Little creatures, namely these little owls and Mimi the Mouse featured in this range are brought to life by artist Jane Reiseger

The beautifully soft, unisex range with all the benefits of organic cottons is on show at Magnolia Square this week! Click here for more info on the fair.

quality quilts....

Kathryn is the creative force behind Maggie and Sparrow; makers of fine quilts and beautiful handcrafted pockets of cute. A self confessed perfectionist, her attention to detail and sharp eye for design and beauty is evident in the quality of workmanship in her products.

Along with her elegant and modern quilts, there will be the odd jambo elephant & birdie num num mobile swaying, funky and stylish letter cushions, and for the master chef in the house, a gorgeous apron or two.

Her enchanting collections will be available at Magnolia Square next week. Click here for a full list of retailers who will be showing.

home sweet home...

Experiencing a bit of cubby envy? ...yeah, me too!....how totally divine is this outdoor play room! Erika from mikodesigns is in the running for the Best Mummy award for this gorgeous excuse for a cubby house!

Complete with patchwork curtains, a sunny veranda and a mini gourmet kitchen, what child wouldn't adore this. Even the cushions are to treasure, re purposed from vintage scarves.

For more pics, see Ericka's blog...she also has some lovely things in her etsy shop...

giddy up....

Lise Taylor, editor of My Child Magazine couldn't go past the iconic range of children's furniture and awarded the My Child Magazine favourite things award to Little Nest at Magnolia Square Sydney.

Our debut range of child sized replica furniture respectfully pays tribute to 20th century modern classic furniture designs, which are true icons in the contemporary design world. We are inspired by innovative design, technology and fresh ideas.

The giddy up children's chair is a replica of the 1973 Pony chair by Eero Aarnio and is surprisingly comfortable and can be appreciated by everyone in the household - it certainly proved a hit with Lise!

Spring is in the air, flowers are in bloom and the birds are nesting. We love this time of year and to celebrate are bringing you another tightly curated array of superb retailers. Each has been selected for their unique signature, exceptional quality and contemporary appeal. Meet the makers behind the products and be inspired by their stories. Our tiny and small concept has everything for hip little people and their parents so come along and see the delightful range of children's clothing, accessories, jewellery, decor pieces, art and gourmets goodies.

Malvern Town Hall (corner Glenferrie Rd and High St)

Thursday 6th August 10am-9pm

Friday 7th August 10am - 5pm

Saturday 8th August 10am - 4pm

Click here for a list of retailers on show. We look forward to seeing you and your Tiny and Small soon!!!

sweet indeed......

Sweet William is made up of sisters, Shelley, Paula and Jeanine spread from New Zealand to Melbourne. Apart by many miles but together in their passionate for creating all manner of interesting things. Sweet William was named after a pet Persian cat and the flower, Sweet William which represents friendship - a name with both meaning and a sense nostalgia.

"We draw inspiration from all over the place - motherhood, markets, magazines, blogs, film, music, art, design, nature, colour, pattern, etc., and we have a thing for the past, especially old children’s books and vintage fabrics. Illustrating is at the core of Sweet William. We try and keep our products unique by incorporating our very own original artwork."

Paula is the illustrator, her drawings are incorporated into products by Jeanine and Shelley, who love to sew. Recycling and up cycling are key elements in the designs; most of the craft materials are thrifted and or vintage from papers, fabrics, buttons and old games.

Stroll through the range in the Etsy shop or even better, at Magnolia Square in August.

just because .....

just because i thought this was so pretty.....