Scarlet Winter
something for the weekend...
Our weekly round-up of nice things from around the web...
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| illustration by the wonderful Dallas Clayton |
unbelievably cute shoes for little lasses one / two / three
how to make an origami elephant
My Mum is an Airplane - sweet Russian animated film by Yulya Aronova.
an amazing tool if your child is learning to write: type in their name, or any word really, and this site will generate printable tracing pages for them to practice on!
Lego catalogue from 1973. I had the windmill and lorry set.
On the subject of Lego, did you see the study which found that Lego faces are getting angrier?
I love the most recent Che and Fidel post, especially the gorgeous shot of Poet all rugged up in her Kokonor jacket like a sweet little babushka doll.
posted by Kat
blogs we love - lamb loves fox
Have you ever set yourself the goal to take 365 photos of your children, one for each day? If so, I found some inspiration for you - Lamb Loves Fox is where one Aussie mama posts gorgeous daily portraits of her two sweet little ones, and we get to ooh and ahh at all the pretty pictures. So much cuteness! Would you, or have you, started a daily or weekly portrait series of your own?
Thank you to Lamb Loves Fox for letting us share her beautiful images
meet the maker...
Meet Rachael and Ishak, the sweet couple behind Milk & Masuki. We chatted with them about their handprinted baby wares, the benefits of organic cotton, and Princess Smartypants...
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| Rachael in the Milk & Masuki studio |
Can you tell us the story of Milk & Masuki? How did you start out?
Milk and Masuki came into being when our little man came into the world almost two years ago. We were looking for some cool organic baby bits for him and alas found not a lot. We had also been looking for a way to use our visual arts background as a means of supporting our new family so we thought we’d throw caution to the wind, quit our jobs and start up our own baby label.
What inspires your designs?
We are quite eclectic when it comes to inspiration, we love looking at art and interior design and so take a lot of cues from design which is very un-baby related, which I think (I hope) gives us an edge.
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| Handprinting gorgeous Milk & Masuki dribble bibs |
And all of the designs are hand printed by you? Can you take us through the process?
Yes! We have a lovely print studio next to our house where we design all of our textiles, and print most of them too. The process is quite straight forward, the designing usually takes months of agonizing and refining, we then get our printing screen burnt with our designs, mix up our colours, and off we go.
We love how family oriented Milk + Masuki is, how do you juggle family life and work life with your cute little boy in tow?
Ah, well truthfully, it’s a huge struggle with a little one as we’re constantly going to markets and traveling around on top of design and production deadlines. In the end we have made it work for us (lots of very late nights!). We usually take turns caring for him, but I still think the best thing about our business is that we have every meal- breakfast, lunch and dinner- together as a family. I’m sure not many people can say that theses days, so we feel extraordinarily lucky.
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| Ishak screenprinting in the studio |
Using organic cotton is a huge part of your brand's ethos, is it something you're very passionate about? Why is that?
For us using organic cotton for Milk and Masuki was an easy decision to make. I think the greatest thing is that we have become more passionate about it the more we understand its benefits. In the beginning we knew its environmental and personal benefits but as we researched, we discovered that we’re supporting an industry which benefits the workers and farmers in developing nations too, which is important to us. The W.H.O. released some scary statistics about the health risks of cotton farmers so its hard not to be passionate about an alternative product which helps so many people and our planet too, not to mention that it feels so luxurious on our skin.
And now for one silly question - when you were a child, who was your hero and why? It could be a fictional or real person...
Ooh, that’s a good one. When I was little I read theses picture books called ‘Princess Smarty Pants’ (it sounds awful but they were truly gold.) The little Princess was a real rebel and went motorbike riding and got up to all sorts of mischief, I thought she was fabulous, what a role model!
sunshiney day!
handknitted swan vest $39
Rare Rabbit hair bobbles $4 each
Rare Rabbit wooden loveheart necklace $19
Teecat handprinted owl tee (shown folded) $35
handmade cord pinafore by Cathy $39
Danefae striped leggings $20
pom-pom beanie by Karin $29
snap-watch $15
Something for the (long) weekend...
Our weekly round-up of nice things from around the web.
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| illustration by Gertrude Elliot, The Golden Song Book (1940's) |
VINTAGE
The Vintage Lunchbox Archive and the Vintage Toy Archive are two lovely Tumblr blogs featuring, you guessed it, a whole bunch of fantastic retro lunch boxes and toys!
Sort of similar to Pinterest, but just for vintage and retro photos, Retronaut is a giant archive organised into categories. Super cool and quite addictive.
EATS
I just love this adorable video which aired at the recent TEDx in Sydney. Babies tasting stuff for the first time - in slow motion. Scrumptious!
EATS
I just love this adorable video which aired at the recent TEDx in Sydney. Babies tasting stuff for the first time - in slow motion. Scrumptious!
Amazing lunchbox ideas - we need 'em! Half way through the year it's pretty easy to lose inspiration for healthy, yummy school (or preschool) lunches.
LEARN
"How do I get my kid interested in science?"
This story basket is a really sweet idea over at One Perfect Day.
LEARN
"How do I get my kid interested in science?"
This story basket is a really sweet idea over at One Perfect Day.
posted by Kat
ride on
No it's not a Mexican dia de muertos shrine - it's our new sugar skull cushion ($39) having a headshot taken with Micro Scooter handlebars. Strange pairing - great colours!
I love that you can replace individual bits of the Micro Scooters as wear and tear requires it - especially useful if you're handing the scooter down to more children. Customise with these rad handlebars for $15 a pair.
All of these new wares are available in-store now!
strawberry shortcake
hookie hangers $3 each
hand-knitted cardigan $45
hand-knitted pompom beanie by Karin $29
hand-knitted bloomers by Karin $35
blogs we love - pilze apfeli
Pilze Apfeli is a sweet blog from Provence, France. Mostly made up of family snapshots, we get to see little glimpses of a very French childhood, some incredible scenery, and cute vintage bits & bobs - there's really a lot to love. Here are some favourite tidbits from the Pilze Apfeli archives.
all images from Pilze Apfeli blog
posted by Kat
Cat Party!
Uimi 100% merino wool beanie $35
Handknitted grey cat twins by Margaret $39 each
crochet kitty cat by Wendy $39
cosy knitted baby pants by Karin $39
Sture & Lisa cat onesie $35
posted by Kat
Something for the weekend...
Our weekly round-up of nice things from around the web.
MAKE |
| Die Roller-Kinder, by Josef Heinrich Darchinger, 1955 |
Clare shares 52 things she made. Love all that handmade goodness!
It's getting chillier by the day, just about time to roll out the cold and flu remedies. This one from The Veggie Mama is suitable for wee ones and looks yummy.
PLAY
This vintage animal puzzle is so special. But of course if you don't have a spare $400, you can find a similar modern version here. Phew.
Gorgeous photo essay by Gabriele Galimberti exploring the favourite toys of children from all around the world.
Really nice colouring-in sheets you can print for free over at Made By Joel.
READ
For a brief time you can read Sheila Heti's first children's book We Need a Horse online. The words and illustrations (by Claire Rojas) are really special.
Print out these cute as pie book plates by Helen Dardik and get the kids to make their mark on some favourite books. This is a cute idea if you were giving a book as a gift too, to include a bookplate with the recipient's name.
DO
The Vivid Festival light shows are now on in Sydney! The last few years have been truly spectacular, and it's really great fun to rug up the whole family and take a wander around the lit-up harbour.
First Position, a ballet documentary. An inspiring film for aspiring ballerina girls and boys, and their parents too.
Vintage Book Love - Toddles Travels by Boat
The cloth pages of this little vintage rag-book are so well loved and soft with age - isn't it lovely? Celia always manages to find the best vintage treasures...
Shorties Knitters - Victoria
Oh we do love a visit from our Shorties knitters. Especially when one of these lovely ladies pops in with a bag full of woolly, cosy goodies! This week Victoria made us more of her best selling vests and jumpers, and very kindly let me ask her a few questions for our little blog.
When did you learn to knit? Oh I think I must have been very young...see I grew up in Germany, and it was during the war, so I would have been about five or six. My tante (aunty) Hilda, who was really a second mother to me, taught me how to knit. I can actually remember spending all this time knitting a tiny potholder as a gift for my mother, and the next morning finding that my tante Hilda had finished it for me, and patched up all of my uneven stitches.
Did you always knit? There was a long stretch of time where I didn't really knit very much, if at all. When I had my own young children, I really focused on sewing clothing for them, which I really loved. But it was when I retired, about five years ago, that I picked up the knitting again.
What is it that you really love to knit? Well I have to say, I do enjoy making children's and baby clothes very much. It's nice and fast, and you get to see the finished product rather quickly so it makes for a satisfying project. And of course my grandchildren (aged between 3 and 13) are always a pleasure to knit for. Mostly, I love a challenge - I'm not interested in making exactly the same thing twice, it has to be different each time.
And that is why we love her! You can find many of Victoria's stunning handmade pieces in store, and a few online too.
posted by Kat
Extra! Extra!
meanwhile, on Instagram...
Handknitted wares, a shiny red apple, one very cute deer and two sweet little boys -
these are a few of my favourite things from the Shorties instagram this week.
these are a few of my favourite things from the Shorties instagram this week.
Bathe + Brush
I was working in the shop when a box filled with these beautiful combs and bath goodies from Brightwood arrived. Of course we had to take some pretty pictures of them! There's really something very special about well crafted, useful objects - what a perfect gift they would make for a new little person.
Boxwood has dehumidifying properties that can help to remove heat and inhibit fungal growth.
It can help to manage itching and dandruff.
Turkish cotton towel $49
boxwood whale nailbrush $12
boxwood bear comb $15
hair brushes $20
On-the-go comb $15
Infant bath-mitt $15
It can help to manage itching and dandruff.
Turkish cotton towel $49
boxwood whale nailbrush $12
boxwood bear comb $15
hair brushes $20
On-the-go comb $15
Infant bath-mitt $15
posted by Kat
Little Oldie
LEFT TO RIGHT
crochet happy bear by Mel $25
Naturebaby organic cotton onesie $29
O2 handmade cap $35
Udder cotton bib $19
handknitted cotton cardigan $49
crochet rocket ship $49
Pastel love
handknitted cotton cardi $45
Pretty Pickings handmade vintage dress/top $49
handknitted cotton singlet $39
Pretty Pickings vintage skirt $39
Apple Lunchbox
Fresh from the tree! How darn cute are these apple lunchboxes? Made in Germany by Koziol, and designed by Luisa Finke, the container has lots of room inside for lunch-time goodies and snacks. It's made from food-safe and contaminant free plastic, is 100% recyclable, and has a sturdy snap closure that makes it perfect for children (but grown ups are allowed to have one too!)
Measurements: Length 15.5 cm, Width 16.3 cm, Height 8.6 cm
Available in-store at Shorties
Autumn tunes....
Munster corduroy jeans $79
Dena Pezzano reversible winter hat $39
hand-knitted mittens $15
Walnut suede boots $79.95
Yarnworks cotton socks - 3 pairs for $29
striped ukulele $29
Watch It! Marine Boy
70's cartoon Marine Boy is still a treasure, love that adorable theme song too!
I'm only happy when it rains...
CLOCKWISE:
Spalding hi-bounce balls $3 each
recycled paper notebook $12
Broken Tricycle organic cotton windcheater $35
Kidsagogo corduroy dress $59
oilcloth purse/pouch $15
Munster 'Slim Roy' cords $79
Kip boots in red suede by Walnut $79.95
Tending the Garden
Dena Pezzano reversible hat $39
retro pull-along puppy $29
Blafre bed linen set $119
Vilac garden tools kit $59
Bolz stand-alone spinning top $19
Littlehorn neon red jeans $59
High Contrast
Keith Haring yo-yo's by Vilac $19
fair trade finger puppets $5 each
Happy Socks leopard knee-highs $16
Besties markers $15
crochet beanie by Mel $19
Klippan polka dot baby blanket $85
Minti reversible bib $19
crochet handpuppets $25 each
handknitted panda beanie by Margaret $49
Out of Africa
Littlephant leather/cotton nappy bag $189
Hide & Seek stripe batwing tees in pink or yellow $35
handknitted vest $39?
Eeboo 100 piece World Map Puzzle $25 (only partly shown here)
Afribeads fair-trade elephant made in Uganda $35
Minti tracksuit shorts $45
Baby It's Cold Outside
warm and cosy lambskin booties by Naturebaby
handknitted baby pants $39
Broken Tricycle beaver long sleeved tee $35
Noli Noli handmade wooden rattle $45
Yarnworks cotton socks (pack of 3 pairs) $29
Fox friend by Ladedah
handknitted wool vest made by Victoria $35
You are getting sleepy...
Duns long orange flowers bodysuit $39
Shorties 'sleepy' bodysuit $29
Hookie vintage style hanger $9 pack of three
Alexander Girard 'Colours' board book $25
handmade fold-up changemat $45
Shorties reversible bib $15
hand-knitted scotty dog $35
Watch It! Old school Playschool
John Hamblin brings his special kind of ad-lib theatre to Playschool in the early 90's. I loved this story when I was a kid! Kat
Birds of a feather...
Missie Munster 'tickle' tee $45
oilcloth zip pouch $15
Walnut leather boots $65
Moochie Lou handmade slim cut pants $45
Kitsch Kitchen rattle $19
Edwina Bolger blankie sausage dog $39
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