KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Leah

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

We all know what they say about rainbows. Find the end of one and there lays a pot of gold ready for the taking. Well today, I think I’ve found the end of the toy rainbow with the exquisite Rainbow Puppen -www.rainbowpuppen.com.au.

Browing the pages of Rainbow Puppen is not unlike strolling the cobblestone streets of Europe and peering into the windows of the finest stores. This store has sourced all of the finest in European quality toys, from Germany’s Kathe Kruse dolls and toys (celebrating their centenary this year) to Europe’s oldest wooden toy manufacturer (circa 1831) Sevi.

For a moment I’m in Moirans-en-montagne, France as I discover the delights of the 99 year old Vilac Wooden Toy company. I fall in love with the Vilac Rocket Money Box before blinking and finding myself in Bavaria, Germany amongst the Montessori Inspired delights of Selecta Spielzeug of Germany where I pounce on Montino, a gorgeous caterpillar that moves when his strings are pulled. Take a look at Rainbow Puppen and see where you are taken!

Shop at Rainbow Puppen and spend $75+ to receive FREE postage Australia-wide.

1. Selecta Mansion (Made in Germany) $599.00
2. Erzi pizza to Fill (Made in Germany) $25.95
3. Vilac Gardening Set $54.95
4. Vilac Fire Station (Made in France) $37.50
5. Hand Puppet Nicki Princess (Made in Germany) $35.00
6. La Marelle Colouring Book (Made in France) $19.95
7. Kathe Kruse Baby Mein At Home (Made in Germany) $135.00
8. Les Jolis Pas Beaux Cat $68.20
9. Vilac Aeroplane (Made in France) $85.00
10. Erzi Pirate Vessel (Made in Germany) $44.95

Rainbow Puppen stock brands including La Marelle, Kathy Kruse, Sevi, nic Toys, Elodie Details, Selecta Spielzeug, Erzi, Vilac, Moulin Roty, Trudi, L’oiseau Bateau Toys and home accessories, and Cuboro Marble Track System.

Rainbow Puppen charge a low flat rate charge of $5.95 applies Australia-wide, with orders $75+ shipped free, Australia wide. For further shipping details, read here.

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Some people just have the knack when it comes to getting things done with style. Terri Binch of is one such person: Terri has four children ranging from 11 months up to 17 years, so she knows a thing or two about raising kids, and she’s just launched the most splendiforous online baby and kids boutique, Little Styles – www.littlestyles.com.au.

Catering for newborn babies through boys and girls up to 4 years, you can take your pick from fashion, accessories, toys, decor, gifts, and books, from over *70* local and OS brands, via the stunningly beautiful online shopfront. Makes me feel, cool calm and collected just to look at it!

KidStyleFile readers get the jump with 10% off all purchases over $65.00 (not including postage) until 31 May 2009. Enter ‘KSF-May’ at checkout to redeem. Another piece of sugar for you now: until 30 April you’ll also get FREE postage on all orders – WA-HOO! Another freebie you want? Well try the FREE Little Styles signature gift wrapping on for size, complete with custom printed ribbon and gift tag; very swish-o!

To warm you up here is a taste of the fine choices available to you at Little Styles: Aden & Anais, Adiri, Alex, Alimrose Designs, Annabel Trends, Baby Gund, Babylegs, Babylicious, Baobab, Bebe, Bebe Au Lait, Big by Fiona Scanlan, Blabla, Bluebird & Honey, Bobbleart, Books To Wear, Built, Busybee Friends, Cheeky Little Soles, Cheeky Monkey, Cloud B, Cocoon Couture, Deglingos, Elodie Details, Fish Lilly, Flirty Bird, ForWalls, French Bull, Fresh Baked, Gaia Organic Cotton, Gertie and Me, Giimmo, Global Style custom , Haba, Hess-Spielzeug, Infancy, Infantino, Isoki, Itch Design, Jack & Lily, Jasnor, Kathe Kruse, Lakeland Design, Lark and Friends, L’il Fraser Collection, Little Chipipi, Little Styles, Love Police, Mamas and Papas, Marquise, Melissa & Doug toys, Miatom, Minimonkey, Minti, Moppit, Muddy Cloud, Noo Design, Pink Theodore, Plum, Purebaby, Rush, Russ, Sevi, Sigikid, Skeanie, Skip Hop, Sooki Baby, SwaddleDesigns®, Three Little Trees, Tiny Mammoth, Tiny Revolutionary, Tiny Tribe, Vintage Kid, Walnut, Well Spotted, Woof!, and WOW Toys.

Seriously, Terri is not mucking around – she has A1 taste! I have to make a particular mention of two US brands Terri is stocking that are exclusive to Little Styles, Swaddle Designs – very funky bibs, sleeping bags, and accessories for style-conscious bubs – and Muddy Cloud, the cutest little polar-schnugglies (read more here). Also, fans of Jack & Lily shoes, your search has ended: Little Styles is the place to be!

This is only the start from this already great store: sign up to the Little Styles newsletter (put your email addy into the little envelope on the LS homepage) to stay in the loop.

Take 10% off orders over $65.00 with code ‘KSF-May’ until 31 May 2009. Automatic free postage also applies on all purchases until midnight 30 April 2009.

1. Busybee Penguin Lunch Bag $24.95
2. Muddy Cloud Buddies $24.95 each
3. Bluebird and Honey Stripey Elephant Romper $39.95
4. Pink Theodore Mini Bubble Clips – Juliette $8.95 set
5. Sooki Baby Betsey in France Snapsuit $26.95
6. Sooki Baby Betsey in France Frill Leggings $24.95
7. Freshbaked Crew Neck Print Tee – Navy $29.95
8. Freshbaked Boys Infant-Toddler Jean $49.95
9. My First ABC Board Book by Eric Carle $9.95
10. Pure Baby Red Chick Stitch Blanket $89.95
11. Skip HOP Swipe Baby Wipes Case $19.95
12. Wooden Quacking Ducks Pull-along Toy $16.95
13. Elodie Details Pram Bag – Rockabilly Dot $179.95
14. Kathe Kruse Sqeaky Fairy – Grassland $17.95
15. Swaddle Designs zzZipMe Sack – Blue Mod Circles $49.95

Little Styles charge a flat rate of $7.50 for Express Post Australia-wide on all orders. Orders over $150.00 are delivered Express, FREE of charge, Australia-wide. All orders placed before 1pm on business days will be posted that same day (exludes orders containing custom-made products) . International orders are warmly welcomed. Please see the Little Styles Orders and Delivery FAQ for full details on delivery and shipping.

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Today I want to introduce you to a Swiss phenomena: the remarkable Cuboro Marble Run System. Cuboro (pronounced cue-bore-oh) is a set of solid wooden cubes (around 5×5cm) with holes, and/or half-holes, at various locations in the blocks, allowing the marble to roll through, and/or providing a ‘track’ for the marble to run on, depending on how you put your creation together.

Creator Matthias Etter originated the concept in 1985, driven by the philosophies of play, experimentation, and exploration, and competition and completion, from childhood to old-age. His work with disabled children also refined the ease of use of the product while retaining the focus on engagement, and stimulation.

Cuboro’s tagline is “The Marble Track for a Lifetime”, in alignment with Etter’s belief in llifelong learning. Cuboro has developed a huge following internationally with both children, and adults fascinated by the product’s simplicity and innumerable configurations – there are even Cuboro Championships held throughout Europe and in the UK – and it has won a plethora of prestigious awards.

Cuboro is recommended for ages from 4 years upwards. For children from 3 years, you can purchase the Cugolino, Cuboro ‘junior’, which is fully comptatible with the Cuboro System when you are ready to take the step up. You can start with the basic Cuboro kit and extend this with the supplementary kits (there are 12 base Cuboro kits and 70 variation/supplemental kits).

Cuboro and Cugolino are an environmentally friendly product; they are made in Switzerland from FSC accredited Swiss beech wood. Needless to say, the quality is exemplary!

My husband walked in while I was writing, saw the Cuboro and said: “WOW! Can we get one of those??” Way to go!!

You (and me!) can purchase the Cuboro and Cugolino Marble Run Systems at Rainbow Puppen – www.rainbowpuppen.com.au – who also stock the largest range of Kathe Kruse products in Australia, as well as quality European toys and accessories from La Marelle, Selecta Spielzeug, Erzi, Vilac, and L’oiseau Bateau.

Place an order over $75.00 of any products at Rainbow Puppen, and receive FREE postage Australia-wide. For orders under $75.00, a low flat rate charge of $5.95 applies Australia-wide.

I’ll leave you with a European cinema release of an ad for Cuboro. I can’t recall ever having seen an Australian cinema show an advertisment for a ‘toy’ (with the exception of electronic gaming systems): let me know if I’m wrong.

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Rainbow Puppen – www.rainbowpuppen.com.au – purveyors of the largest range of Kathe Kruse products in Australia, and also also stockists of quality European toys from Selecta Spielzeug, Erzi, Vilac, L’oiseau Bateau Toys and Home Accessories, and the Cuboro Marble Track System, have now brought the equisite La Marelle products from France to Australia.

La Marelle produces a superb range of colouring books, bags, pencils and crockery illustrated by different artists, and the result is true works of art that are just magic to behold! You can find out more about the La Marelle range on the La Marelle website.

Place an order over $75.00 of any products at Rainbow Puppen, and receive FREE postage Australia-wide. (For orders under $75.00, a low flat rate charge of $5.95 applies, within Australia).

Just a heads-up that La Marelle is selling like hot cakes, so head on over to Rainbow Puppen and move fast!

La Marelle colouring books, $19.95, La Marelle Pencil Sets in Tin Cases, $34.95, La Marelle Bags $39.95-$54.95

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Somewhat aloof, mythical, and mesmerising, the rabbit form has remained virtually unchanged since its first apprearance on the planet. The rabbit is a great design, and a master of reproduction, and therefore, along with the chick and egg, an iconic symbol of Easter abundance and – plus they’re super cute!!

I unashamedly admit I am a “rabbit person” – I had house rabbit for decades – and I am significantly responsible for the ongoing success of Cadbury.

Easter blends bunnies and chocolate, and I couldn’t be happier!

If you’re on the hunt for the most bunderful gift for your own little rabbit this Easter, be sure to hop to it, and check out the finds below. You can buy all the below online, while you’re munching on a nice quiet pre-Easter egg

A. Sarah Jane Studios Button Badges, Set of 2 at Monkeytail & Wellington – $6.50 $5.20

B. Playsam Rocking Rabbit at Little Living – $429.00 $295.00

C. Peter Rabbit Pullalong Toy at La Toriana – $29.95

D. La Marelle Colouring Book from Rainbow Puppen – $19.95

E. Ikaboo Mini-Glow Night Light from 5 Little Monkeys – $39.95 $34.95

F. Kathe Kruse Luckies Mini Rabbit at The Hip Infant – $15.95

G. Dumpling Dynasty DIY Bunny Kit at Lark Made – $29.95

H. Stickmeon Sir Rabbit Wall Sticker at Stickmeon – $66.00

I. Schleich Black and White Rabbit at Little Possums Toys – $4.75

J. Toys Pure Rabbit Puzzle at The Hip Infant – $13.95

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

I told you about My Wooden Toys – www.mywoodentoys.com.au – and their very fine sale a couple of weeks ago, and wanted to give you an update now I have received my order.

After purchasing two Tap-a-Pics, the 5 room dolls-house furniture, the Lacing Lion, and Lacing Cheese (thanks Aunties and Great-Aunties for the Christmas moolah that facilitated these buys!), as well as a sensory board for my new-nephew to be, I received immediate warm and friendly contact from Douglas, the owner of My Wooden Toys. My parcel arrived but a day later with each tiy neatly wrapped in purple tissue.

Each toy has been a big hit, the lacing toys satisfying my girls’ irrepressible desire to weave and thread, the Tap-a-Pics serving as an outlet to be both creative and to whack things with hammers, and the dollhouse furniture has been configured endless times (and is a HUGE bargain for what you get!!)

I wait with baited breath to see how the sensory board goes over. It’s all I can do to resist tearing off the paper and playing with it myself!!

Needless to say I am thrilled, and will definitely be heading over to My Wooden Toys for more goodies in the future.

Head on over to see the full range of fine wooden toys currently on Sale at My Wooden Toys for yourself.

My Wooden Toys sell wooden toys, and quality softies, from Kobba, Djeco, Le Toy Van, Pintoy, Hape, Kathe Kruse, and more.

Note that there are 2 pages of specials, so be sure to click through to the second page.

My Wooden Toys charge $8.40 per order Australia wide. MWT also ship some smaller items FREE: look for the clearly marked ‘Postage Free’ products. View full details here.

Today’s post written by Angela

……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Oh, I do love wooden toys. Their natural, tactile form is soothing and stimulating all at once, and they just last and last.

A sale on wooden toys is always a cause for celebration, and the fact that Christmas has just come and gone is no deterrent to me: I pop things away for future gifting.

My Wooden Toys – www.mywoodentoys.com.au – sell a beautiful range of wooden toys (as well as quality softies) from Kobba, Djeco, Le Toy Van, Pintoy, Hape, Kathe Kruse, and more, that delight and inspire me.

Today, I have snaffled up a Tap-a-Pic – a cork board with tiles, tacks and tiny hammer for exercising creativity – and additional furniture for our doll’s house: a 5 room set for only $26.50 – an incredible bargain!

My other fave picks are pictured below, with sale prices quoted, while stocks last only.

Head on over to view the full range of fine wooden toys currently on Sale at My Wooden Toys.

Note that there are 2 pages of specials, so be sure to click through to the second page.

My Wooden Toys charge $8.40 per order Australia wide. MWT also ship some smaller items FREE: look for the clearly marked ‘Postage Free’ products. View full details here.