Let's Make | Halloween DIY

Not too long to go until Oct 31st and Halloween. This is one holiday I like to celebrate with the kids and since our neighbourhood has quite a few American expats homes there is always a huge crowd of trick or treaters on Halloween evening. We try and do a few fun Halloween activities on the days leading up to Halloween so I have collected a few that we like from the excellent DIY website Mr. Printables. They all have different difficult levels so there are something for every age. Most activities have downloadable templates where you can choose to either colour in or print an already coloured version. Have fun & scary time out there!!

Haunted Houses for Halloween Treats /  Halloween Colouring Pages / Ghost Boxes for Treats / BOO! Glasses / Bag O'Bones Halloween invitations / Halloween Masks.

Brand Watch | Paul & Paula Winter 14

A long time favourite of ours have been local label Paul &  Paula. Made by Kerstin Steger, a mother of two right here in Melbourne, Australia. I had to show her current Winter 14 range because it is packed with wonderful items for the little wardrobe. Lots of nice merino tops to keep them warm and a new batch of cool, quirky prints as well!

We can't walk past the rad 'No Way Jose' or the 'Wild Thing, you make my heart sing' top. I also love the gorgeous hand screened, little baby leggings and the warm vests and Hello Cardigan. All amazing things, created by hand. I truly love these independent designers and all the love they pour into their garments. If you haven't visited Kerstin's shop yet, you definitely should! You won't be disappointed...

:: PAUL & PAULA ::

Sponsor Highlight | CAPPIES and LANAS

Say hello to one of my new sponsors Cappies and Lanas, run by owner and creator Patrícia Lencastre. Inspired by the traditional Mozambique fabric called Capulanas, she quickly found a way to design unique clothing for unique kids. The unusual colourful fabric teamed up with a big dose of comfort means kids can look cool and feel unique at the same time.

I had the chance to catch up with the owner/founder, Patrícia recently and got to ask her a few questions regarding her label, Cappies and Lanas.

Can you tell us how Cappies and Lanas started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name?

This all started almost without me realizing it to tell you the truth! My husband, André, started traveling often to Mozambique and bringing me back the traditional fabric of the country - Capulanas. Back there women use it daily to wrap around their bodies, head or to carry their goods and babies! First I began to make clothes for myself and then I started doing some trousers to my son Manuel who is 2 year old. I loved seeing him so comfortable and with a unique style and all around us, people seamed to like it to so when we went to New York and was a big success over there there to...well, that´s when we thought: why not, let´s try this out! And the name come up also there, in conversation with our american cousin, we wanted something that was unique, easy to memorize and that at the same time reminded the origins of the project. 

How do you go about sourcing your fabric for all your unique clothes and what is the process behind making them?

One of the things that I love most about these patterns and styles is that you can dress your child colorfully but not childish...if you know what I mean. So that´s the basis for our patterns, to choose colors and combinations that at first wouldn't be obvious for a child to wear. We also work with very limited quantity of each pattern to assure that all styles are very limited, so you know that your Cappies and Lanas are not all over other children and that yours is a unique one.

 

We are very proud to be handmaking everything with special attention to all details and quality. All our cappies and lanas come with an adjustable waist belt so that they can follow the child´s growth. 

At the beginning I was making the clothes by myself but now I have some really nice ladies helping me out.

 
I love the comfortable look to Cappies and Lanas, I take it its an important factor for when choosing a particular style?

Well, with motherhood one of my biggest challenges when it came to dressing my son, was to find some comfortable clothing for him that was not sports wear! Comfort and quality are the most important characteristics for me when we´re talking about kids clothing but that does not mean that they can´t be stylish! And that´s what we are trying to do with Cappies and Lanas. 

Do you have any current favourites in your store?

Let me tell you that I honestly love them all but if I had to choose I would go for Cappie Atacama Rose and Cappie Blue Sun!  

Big thanks to Patrícia for chatting with us, and for the visit to the colourful world of Cappies and Lanas!

:: VISIT CAPPIES and LANAS ::
 

Brand Watch | Udder SS++ Collection

Handmade Australian label Udder had come out with another collection that is truly sustainable in every bit of the way.

Artist/Designer Fliss Dodd  explains, "In keeping with our philosophy of up-cycling fabrics for our creations, we have transformed a small collection of Winter pieces into a very special Summer collection. Each piece is hand embroidered with a double plus symbol (++) or as we like to call it, the 'double positive'. For us, from past to present to future, that no matter what happens, we can always see a positive in the outcomes."

Styles are limited so if you see a sweet outfit for this festive season and those summer days don't miss out! I love this way of thinking and not letting anything go to waste, and I am truly impressed how well the winter pieces have transformed into a summer version. How comfy doesn't the zip up Jasper hoodie look? And it teams up perfectly with the raw track shorts in Sea Blue for the boys and for girls we really like the gorgeous Evie dress. Add a unique jellyfish brooch for a fun detail. 

See the whole S++ collection here, and right now Udder ships worldwide so no need for the rest of the world to miss out!

:: UDDER ::

Brand Watch | Lion of Leisure

Sometimes you want to write about a label simply because you can see how much time they spend on details and quality. This is one of those times. Lion of Leisure hails from Antwerp in Belgium and is a small, independent kids clothing brand. Started by designers Matthew Grove and Saskia Solberg, all their products are printed by hand and in 100% Organic cotton (GOTS certified). Each t-shirt is printed with biodegradable ink and packed in an re-usable 100% organic cotton bag.

I love the fact that they have focused on local craftsmanship and make garments that look and feel special with a graphic identity inspired by their own detailed, whimsical animal illustrations with a humorous twist to them. It is also a great bonus that the tees are unisex. We got the chance to try out two of them and my kids picked the Lion Logo tee and the Fox T. The graphic, illustrated print is something that definitely struck a cord with the kids and they can't wait to try them out.

Besides t-shirts they also make some great looking animal pillows/toys and tote bags that also can be found in their etsy shop. Another retailer that stocks Lion of Leisure and ships worldwide is Orange Mayonnaise.

For more info and details visit:

:: LION OF LEISURE ::

TOYS | Miller Goodman

I get excited when there is a toy that gets my creative juices going and Miller Goodman's shape/facemaker blocks are one of those toys!  The endless ways of creating characters are mesmerizing and is promising hours of fun. The blocks perfectly illustrate Miller Goodman's commitment to combine function with the highest design principles. The result produces a beautiful, sensitive classic toy for kids and adults alike.

These blocks come in different variations that are all available at Orange Mayonnaise right now.

1. PLAYSHAPES
2. FACEMAKER
3. DELUX SHAPEMAKER
4. MINI FACEMAKER
5. SHAPEMAKER

Caped Crusader by Udder

The wonderful hand crafted capes & masks by Udder is back in new fabric! Become a little superhero and get on a mission with these cape & mask sets. Made from high quality 100% cotton fabric which has been hand printed and hand dyed.

Comes with reversible sides to match the mood of the superhero. Cape measures approx 52cm long & 54cm wide (at the bottom).

Get your little superhero kitted up here:

:: UDDER ::

New In | Double Wax Suede by 10IS

You feel extra lucky when a pair of new, great quality shoes arrive in the mail. It is funny, even when they are not for you but for your son, you still feel lucky and can't wait to unwrap them! Above is a few shots I took of my sons new sneakers, Double Wax Suede in green by 10IS.

Last year we got to try out this pair from 10IS Classic Tennis that we were extremely happy with. I love the nice break from velcro but without loosing the speed of it since the zip function is so much quicker than tying the laces in the morning. This time around they have even added another zipper to the design and made it a twin zip. which have been a great addition. Now you simply pull the whole front down and the foot slips easily in the shoe. These shoes just gets better with time. The shoes we got last year is still in use and the lovely suede is now a bit softer and the zipper slides easy up and down which makes it perfect for a four year old to put them on and off at school/kinder.

The comfortable insole (removable) makes it a great all around shoe, and it even comes in two sizes, wide fitted (blue) or thin fitted (orange, which fits most body types and is the default sole that comes with the shoe. ) By adding two options for customers, it is easier to adapt the comfort and support of the shoes for different foot types.

The new AW 13 collection has a lot of great options in colours and materials for both boys and girls which you can view here.

You can find 10IS online at My Little Square & Oii Design and for an extended list of retailers, please visit:

:: 10IS CLASSIC TENNIS ::

On Their Heads | CTH Mini

As Spring is fast approaching and eventually Summer not too far behind,  it is high time getting some new caps for the kids. As soon as Spring starts down here its mandatory at school and Daycare with hats on the head. Here are 3 new additions to the head wear this year. We have been a long time fan of Swedish CTH Mini who have made quality hats since 1885!

We picked the beautiful Börje Jr, VäxboLin for the boy (such a nice and airy fabric on this one) , and the unisex Frank Jr, Twill Khaki that both can use, and the Bella Jr. Chirk Cerise for the girl.
Since summer is around the corner (hopefully) over here, I will start to cover some summer items as well here on the blog, so keep your eyes out if you need to stock up on things like swim wear, summer wardrobe, summer shoes etc. They will come up under the fitting headline HELLO SUMMER soon.

For more info on CTH Mini please visit their website to find a stockists near you.

Where the Wild Things Live...

Oh to be a kid again and rule your own domain, looking out over toys, wild adventures and your very own HUT! Love this idea that basically takes a tree house and turns it into a bunk bed.

REVIEW | FLATOUT FRANKIE

One of the great benefits about writing a kids blog is that you get chances to review things like toys! We were very happy to hear from the makers of Flatout Frankie - a New Zealand brand of cardboard designed toys. The flat pack toys are not only creative but also easy on the environment and very smart on space!

The kids were very excited to fetch home a large flat packed parcel containing one racer car and a cooking oven. I had to explain to the kids that it was like making a big puzzle which they thought was a great idea. Today we had a chance to build it all together with the kids in the afternoon sun and it was such a fun thing to do together.  We started with the racer car and our 3 year old was very excited to get to help Daddy put it all together. We are happy to report that the putting together part was easy! Sometimes you buy things that sort of takes too long to put together and by the time its done there might be frustration in the air, but no such thing here. The design is well made and you just need to fold and insert. The racing car was done in about 10 minutes and then the little guy was off....Vroooooom!

Since its made of cardboard its easy to lift and run with for the little ones. It was a big hit straight away. All sorts of car noises came out of him as he ran around trying it out. While he was occupied we started on the cooking oven. It was made in 3 easy steps and then it was ready to start cooking with. M was so excited to see it done and it took her no time at all to run and get some play food and start cooking away. In fact the announcement of a newly opened restaurant came after only 10 minutes of playing with it. We were all invited of course to try out the menu.

These sort of toys get a big tick of approval from us. Not only are they fun to play with but they are something you can build with the kids and they encourage creative and active play. I also love the fact that they are 100% recyclable and when the kids are done playing with them you can always flat pack them for easy storage and take them out again and again.

Another plus is the fact that they get a second life after the kids have decorated them (you can of course also leave them in their white, striking bold graphic state as well). My son had a great time painting on lights and racing stripes on the side of the car and I think it added to the love of the car since he made it his very own. After the kids had a go with the car and the oven they switched toys and then another hour passed and new experiences were had. Definitely four thumbs up from this family!!

For more info and finding a stockist near you go to >>

:: FLATOUT FRANKIE ::

Sponsor highlight | Two Els

Say a big welcome to my newest sponsor Two Els! Two Els is a new kids wear brand based in NYC metro area. Their motto is they believe children can be chic and glamorous and still be playful and cute. All their garments is 100% handmade and only comes in limited quantities.

I had the chance to ask the creator of Two Els, Hollie Kim a couple of questions and here are her answers.

Can you tell us a little about how Two Els started? What is your inspiration, and how did you come up with the name? 

I was originally a men's wear designer before I started Two Els. Actually there was about two years gap between my last career and Two Els. I stepped into the fashion world at Parsons and was one of the students with the "Big Dream", becoming a famous designer in NYC. But the reality was not so easy. I had worked here and there but never felt like I found the right place. Then I had my first kid Lana (2yr). Plan changed. I decide to put down everything and stay home for her till she goes to school. Then I had my second one Luhann (1yr). Still staying at home, enjoying the blast moments with my family but there was always something in my mind. Fashion! I couldn't stop thinking about designing and making clothing for the two years of staying home as a mom. Then there was always my amazing husband Jason who encouraged me to have my own clothing line. With his incredible support, even though my kids are still baby/toddler, Two Els really did happened and I can't thank him enough for that.

Two Els clothing mostly get inspired by NYC kids, the way how they look, talk and play. I tried to mix the glamorous and magnetic city atmosphere with vintage feel into the collection with silhouette and color.

Plus I enjoy playing with little details and shapes, keeping the color and pattern simple but eye-catching and hope it all shows in my collection.

I and my husband had so many ideas of our brand name but he came up with this name Two Ls which is from our kids' initial, Lana and Luhann than I changed Ls to Els. That's how we named our brand.

What makes Two Els different from other kids fashion labels?

Two Els is 100% handmade. I put my craftsmanship and joy of creation into every single clothing I make as well as my love for kids. Of course it takes more time and effort to complete them. But that represents how much I care about kids. Even when I pick fabrics, I make sure to put extra time and effort to find the right fabric that is practical yet chic. 

If you could describe Two Els in 3 words what would they be?

Chic, glamorous and playful?

:: Visit TWO ELS ::