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KidStyleFile Weekend Special Feature: Fabulous Footwear Finds

Posted: September 20th, 2008

Today, Miki reports on some fabulous footwear finds. It’s wonderful to know that funky and fashionable can meet, with baby and kids shoe designers producing shoes that not only look superb, but support healthy foot development. With kid’s feet constantly growing, you get the chance to have a bit of fun with choosing designs, and to make it even more fun, you can snap up some bargains here. Enjoy the weekend!

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It’s well known these days how important it is to buy quality footwear for children.  The better brands of children’s shoe are designed to ensure that the little feet they protect grow and develop properly, so it’s a vital investment to make on behalf of your kids.

Luckily for us, there’s a great range online, and they aren’t just ergonomically designed, they’re extremely cute to boot! (Te he :P )

Here are some of our favourites:

Run by unashamed shoe fanatic Fiona, Tiny Steps - www.tinysteps.com.au is shoe heaven for toddlers! With a fabulous range of shoes for newborns through to two years, and it’s good to know that she only stocks shoes which encourage proper foot development in babies and toddlers.

Stocking brands such as Pediped, Pedoodles, diddledumpling, ShooShoos and Kinder Klobber to name but a few, you can’t help but find something perfect for your little one here.

Personally I’m eyeing off the Pediped shoes for my little guy – the hard part is choosing which ones!

Tiny Steps shoes

From top left in rows: 

Pedoodles Flower Power $48.95
diddledumpling Snail Bootie $39.95
Pediped Tyler Navy $42.95
BlaBla Ladybug Booties $27.95

If you, like so many others – including our Ange -, are a big fan of fabulous US shoe brand Morgan & Milo then head straight to Charlipop Kids – www.charlipopkids.com.au.

Great for active kids, these are not only hard wearing but gorgeous to look at too!  Fresh, fun and sporty designs which are perfect for everyday use while still being a bit special.

The Morgan & Milo emphasis is on the fit, comfort and practical detailing, so these shoes are a winner anyway you look at it.

Don’t forget that you can get 10% off at Charlipop Kids Designer (yes, including Morgan & Milo) until 30 September!  Enter ‘KSF’ at checkout.

charlipop shoes

From top left in rows:

Morgan & Milo Avril Mary Jane Red Madras Patchwork Plaid $29.00  $26.10
Morgan & Milo Matilda Capri Blue Flower Print $29.00 $26.10
Morgan & Milo Gumboots Lou Lou Spots $45.00  $40.50
Morgan & Milo Libby Skimmer Olive Pinky $29.00  $26.10

Oh, how I love the collection of shoes at Buckets & Spades – www.bucketsandspades.com.au!  A great range of brands are there, including the delightfully frivolous (but somehow still practical) Lelli Kelly maryjanes and boots, Diesel sneakers, Fred Bare sandals, Agatha Ruiz De La Prada, Bimbi and the gorgeous Garvalin. My personal favourite, though, is Tip Toey Joey – adorable!!

Make sure you have a look at the extremely well-stocked Shoe Specials section at Buckets & Spades too!  That’s a great way to get premium quality shoes for the kids at big discounts.  And if there’s something in the full priced section that you adore, use the Shop 4 Kids discount code to take 10% off the price.  Just a tip. ;)

Buckets & Spades images

No links provided here as Buckets & Spades is a frames-based site.  Use the search function to find anything you want, or just select the ‘Shoes’ link on the homepage.
From top left in rows:

Discounts below show the 10% Shop4Kids discount off full-priced items.

Tip Toey Joey Wavey 030 K – Olive/Charcoal $49.50 $44.55
Agatha Ruiz De La Prada Shoes Abadia $139.00  $125.10
Lelli Kelly Papavero Mid $99.00  $89.10
Diesel Parawil $125.00 – $140.00 $112.50 – $125.00 depending on size.

If Fair Trade is important to you (and it is to me) then Skeanie – www.skeanie.com should be your first choice for pre-walker and toddler shoes.

Made from soft, high quality leather uppers and designed to be non-slip for both walkers and crawlers, these little shoes are just adorable.  I also love the toddler boots and shoes – perfect for a little person who is determined to be a big person and wants the boots to prove it!

The baby shoes make ideal baby shower/new baby gifts, so take advantage of the Skeanie FREE giftwrapping service!

Skeanie shoes

From top left in rows: 

Red Boots $39.95
Black Leather Toddler Boots $49.95  $39.95
Pink Sandals $29.95
Green Sneakers $29.95

La-La Baby – www.lalababy.com.au – make the most adorable slippers, which are super soft cotton and wool felt, guaranteed to keep baby’s toes snuggly and warm.  These are the perfect baby shower present and they’re so affordable that you don’t have to stop at one pair!

La La Baby also stock Chookleaf shoes designed for kids aged 9 months up, with lovely soft leather and bright, fun designs (for pics, see below).

Ten Sticky Fingers – www.tenstickyfingers.com.au – stock the most exquisite little booties made by mother & daughter team Red Thread Designs.  These booties are handmade using only the finest materials and the cutest little buttons, and no two booties are alike.  These booties are also heavily discounted at the moment to make way for new stock coming. Couture booties on the cheap: I love it!

La La Baby/10 Sticky Fingers shoes

From top left in rows: 

La La Baby Apple Soft Baby Slippers $18.95
Red Thread Designs ‘Little Pink Duck’ Booties $19.50  $11.90
Red Thread Designs Citrus Tart Slippers $19.50  $11.90
Chookleaf Tan Loafers at La-La Baby $54.95  $47.95

Please check individual sites for postage details.

The Boutique & the Unique – The rise of the independent designer: A Multimedia Experience

Posted: August 31st, 2008

Today I want to introduce you to some fine established and up-and-coming Australian baby and kids product designers.

These talented and individuals pour their heart and soul into their work, resulting in the most wonderful artifacts that truly capture the magic of childhood.

I also want to send out a big shout out to everyone who is inspired to create and bring what you imagine to life. However young or old you are, or big or small your enterprise, your passion represents a positivity, individuality and diversity in the world that burns bright.

Vive the independent designer!

Below, view my multimedia presentation of 10 Australian designers (Chalk ‘n’ Cheese, Paper Wings, mill&mia, Red Thread Designs, Imprintables, Quinn Macool, Look at the Wall, Red Wagon, Miss Haidee, Evie LaLa).

There is music, so turn it up :)

Click to play Boutique & Unique

Get inspired with this directory of resources that will lead you to a bevy of unique and boutique Australian baby and kids designers showcasing their talent locally and internationally.

On your doorstep

• Hope Street Markets, Sydney (www.hopestreetsmarkets.com)
• Magnolia Square, Melbourne (www.magnoliasquare.com.au)
• Mothers Market, Hobart (hobartmothersmarket.blogspot.com)
• South Bank Lifestyle Market, Brisbane (www.southbankmarket.com.au)

Online & around the world

• Made It – Australian independent designers selling online (www.madeit.com.au)
• Bubble – The Kids Trade Show (www.bubbletradeshows.com)
• Playtime Paris – The International tradeshow dedicated to children’s universe and maternity wear (www.playtimeparis.com)
• Life inSTYLE/ Kids inSTYLE tradeshow, Australia (www.lifeinstyle.com.au)

Pick up the current issue of My Child magazine, and turn to page 12, to read my Trend Watch article on independent designers. 

Warm up with a Fire-Sale at Ten Sticky Fingers: Up to 80% off – Hurry Hurry, drive the fire truck!!

Posted: August 20th, 2008

Nee na nee na!! Coming through with a wild and crazy wholesale clearance of stock at Ten Sticky Fingers – www.tenstickyfingers.com.au.

Casey at TSF is preparing for the coming season, and has decided to cut to the chase with 50-80% off store-wide. Absolutely every single item in every category – winter stock and current season alike – has been slashed to go. Prices have already been marked down for you, and the sale runs while stocks last only

YOWZA! That is *hot*!

Ten Sticky Fingers delivers a perfect blend of individuality, practicality and affordablity, and brings a beautiful dash of hand-made love and Australian design flair into our lives; so while these prices are bargain basement, the quality of the products is certainly not.

Casey stocks predominately Australian owned and operated labels including Little Brown Mouse, and Heavenly Creatures , (the most gorgeous one-off clothing pieces) and Black Eyed Susie (a huge talent out of Tasmania, my wild and wonderful home state) , Wasabi Kids (a slice of Harajuku, Japan, Australian style: we have the Froggie and Mushroom Tees, and the Mushroom Swing Top. I love the Piggy Pants, too. Apparently the ears aren’t sewn down on the pants, resulting in them wiggling as bubba crawls along: too cute!!), Cinti Does Vintage (timeless class), Barbara Sansoni Designs (wonderful eco and kid friendly soft toys; we have several of these in out house, and they are truly lovely! The removable clothing is a lovely detail), Tonic (luxe bathing products), The Little Experience (great for winter rainy days!), Baby Cupcakes (baby socks in flan, sushi and cupcake form: make perfect gifts), Heavenly Creatures (beautiful quality), and Casey’s own divine vintage-inspired label which she runs with her mum, Judy, Red Thread Designs (superb felt booties and accessories, and hand-knit hats).

I promise that you will be absolutely stunned by the beauty of Ten Sticky Fingers’ product range, and completely knocked out by the prices.

Picks of the day below, and yes, those really are the right prices!! Get over there before it’s all sold out!

Left to right by rows:

ten-sticky-fingers-picks.jpg

Red Thread Designs Apple Crumble Booties $19.50 $11.90
Wasabi Kids Mustard Mushroom Tee $23.90 $11.50
Barbara Sansoni Designs Cuddly Elephant
$25.00 $16.00
Wasabi Kids Piggy Pants $27.00 $16.50
Heavenly Creatures Red Stripe Tee
$35.00 $20.00
Heavenly Creatures Heidi Dress $65.00 $30.00
Babycupcake Socks & Silicone Patty Pan set $10.00 $5.00
The Little Experience Endangered Species Create-It Finger Puppet Kit $19.00 $5.50
Black Eyed Susie Green Retro Trimmed Cords $44.90 $25.00
Red Thread Designs Vintage Cuff $19.50 $11.90
Cinti Does Vintage Autumn Leaves Baby Kimono $69.95 $32.00
Edward and Lilly Sweet Teddy and Cuddly Cat $37.50 $20.50
Little Brown Mouse Black and White Spot Dress $46.00 $23.00

Ten Sticky Fingers charge $5.50* flat rate delivery (conditions apply) Australia wide.

Premiere

Click here to visit the BabyLegs website
Click here to visit the Little Pinwheel website
Click here to visit the Baobab website
Click here to visit the My Baby Rocks website
Click here to visit the Metro Mum website
Click here to visit the 5 Little Monkeys website
Click here to visit the Three Little Owls website
Click here to visit the Mathilda's Market website
Click here to visit the ShopHouse website
Click here to visit the Raspberry Rascals website
Click here to visit the Ten Little Indians website
Click here to visit the Cocoon Couture website
Click here to visit the Little Chipipi website
Click here to visit the Little Styles website
Click here to visit the Cheeky Little Monsters website
Click here to visit the Where Did You Get That? website
Click here to visit the Paperartzi Boutique website
Click here to visit the Cornflower Blue website
Click here to visit the My Keiko website
Click here to visit the Chic Kids website
Click here to visit the Love Your Camera website
Click here to visit the Enchanted Child website
Click here to visit the Forwalls website
Click here to visit the Buckets and Spades website
Click here to visit the Eternal Creation website
Click here to visit the Baby Bjorn website
Click here to visit the Monkeytail & Wellington website
Click here to visit the Yooneek website
Click here to visit the Vintage Kid website
Click here to visit the The Bees Knees Kids website
Click here to visit the Infancy website
Click here to visit the Baby Kingdom website