KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Who said Maths shouldn’t be fun? A little while ago I discovered ‘New Math’ and fell utterly in love. Since then I’ve discovered Fashematics – www.fashematics.com – and I am completely smitten.

So what’s to love?

Fashematics is basically a clever fashion parlour game which decodes what a designer might have been thinking when they created a look. It is elegant arithmetic, designed to make you smile.

I don’t think the grown-up runway shows should have all the fun, so I’ve come up with some new equations with kids style in mind.

Your fashematics lesson for today: What do you get when you cross a Top Hat with a Bird Cage? Scroll down for the answer and some KSF fun with some outfits from the Spring/Summer 2009 collections from Polka, Ouch and Fred Bare.

The good news that there’s no homework: the take-home message is enjoy!

Visit Fashematics to view the original inspiration for my combinations.

Today’s post written by Edwina

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This year for Christmas I am trying very hard to buy lots of handmade goods for gifts. There are a couple of reasons for this, firstly to support small businesses and independant artists and designers, and secondly to feel safe in the knowledge that whoever is receiving the gift probably hasn’t already got one or is likely to get two of the same thing.

Buying handmade these days is also very easy and with sites like Madeit – and Etsy, with high quality wares presenting a new professional image for handmade goods.

A new handmade designer-maker collective from the US Fey Handmade brings together a wonderful collection of homewares, jewellery, clothing accessories, art and things for kids that are in some way inspired by nature and created by folks with a passion for design.

Personal favourites include the Mini Octopus which are not only great value, but would be cool gifts at the office, or for your childrens teachers or carers. After all who is not going to want a Mini Octopus for Christmas??!

There are a lot of lovely things to desire at Fey Handmade so head over and check it out. Sign up for the newsletter and get 15% off your first order.

1.  Casey Giclee Print by Christine Lindstrom – $US12.95
2.  Bird Mobile $US35
3.  Reusbale Veggie Bags by Wonder Thunder – $US20
4.  Mini Octopus – by Wonder Thunder – $US5.00
5.  Owl Clock by Decoy Lab – $US48.00
6. Organic Bird Cage Tote by Branch Handmade – $US20
7.  Ship Pillowcases by Branch Handmade – $US22.00
8.  Cuckoo Clock by Decoy Lab – $US28.00
9.  Octopus Accident Pillow by Wonder Thunder – $US25.00

Fey Handmade ship internationally for a flat rate of USD $17.95

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Russian Nesting Dolls have been a childhood favourite since Adam was a boy, but in recent years the trend has exploded and doesn’t look like easing anytime soon.

And, why should it? For us Mumma’s  – Babushka Dolls, also spelled Babooshka, and also known as Matryoshka Dolls, are the perfect symbol of mothering and children. We hold our family inside us, protecting them and giving them a snug home…. and when we are ready we can crack open and let them free!

I have collected a small sample of Babushka love to share today. I think my favourites would have to be the Beatles Babushka Onesie,  the Traditional Dolls or some of the amazing Babushka fabrics available online.

To Russia with love…

1. Garland of Babushka Dolls, $US32.50 from Etsy seller HollandFabricHouse
2. Babushka Doll Fabric FQ $US3.00 from Etsy seller HollandFabricHouse
3. Pencil Sharpeners, $5.95 from Kid’s Got Style
4. Babushka Brooch, $US12.00 from Etsy seller denardi
5. Flirty Bird Elastic and Clip $11.95 from Kid’s Got Style
6. Money Box $24.95 from Milly Molly Moo
7. Babushka 1″ Squares $US2.50 from Etsy Seller PictureMerchants
8. Traditional Matryoshka Doll $14.95 from Kid’s Got Style
9. Ish Babushka Pencil Case $14.95 from Milly Molly Moo
10. Baby Rattle $15.95 from Ollie Rose
11. The Beatles Babushka Onesie $US12.99 from Etsy seller trulysanctuary
12. Skipping Rope $7.95 from Kid’s Got Style
13. Soda Pop Baboushka Doll Jewellery Box $29.95 from Milly Molly Moo
14. Wheelie Travel Bag $49.95 from Milly Molly Moo
15. Babushka Lavender Dolls $14.95 from La Toriana
16. Blink Designs Wall Plaque $35.95 from My Poppet
17. Blink Designs Sewing Kit $26.00 from Hard to Find
18. Mama and Baby Babushka Doll, $100.00 from My Poppet

Please check individual stores for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Angela

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All of us here at KidStyleFile are sending out a big shout out to all of the fabulous Dads out there today: Happy Father’s Day! We couldn’t be Mums without you – and we wouldn’t be here without you!! We hope you share a wonderful day showered with the love of your family.

Here’s a cool Father’s Day special from National Geographic – “Best” Animal Dads; a beautiful pictorial with some amazing facts to delight and intrigue all ages.

Have a great day

Today’s post written by Angela

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Today is National Premmie Day, an initiative of the non-profit organisation, the National Premmie Foundation to help raise awareness and support funds for the 21,000 babies that are born pre-maturely in Australia each year.

21,000: that’s quite a number, and quite a rollercoaster for the babies and families who make up that statistic. Chances are you won’t have to go far to find someone who has had a prem baby in their lives – I’ve had two in mine. A big shout out to all the parents of prem babes out there!

Please show your support for premmie babies and their families today by making a donation to the National Premmie Foundation appeal (KidStyleFile has just donated $150), or by attending one of the fundraising events being held around the country.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Have you ever dreamed of being photographed by of Australia’s leading photographers and featured in a national advertising campaign? If you’re located in Sydney then that dream can become reality!

Babes in Arms are looking for outgoing, beautiful babies, kids and mamas to model a new baby sling for a photoshoot with the wonderful Sheena Cooke.

The ‘models’ sought for the shoot are:

• 2 x gorgeous mamas
• 2 x 4-6 mth old babies to pose in the sling
• 1 x 12-15 mth old in the sling
• 1 x 2-3yr old boy or girl to accompany mum and babes in sling

Location: Sydney beachside location, to be confirmed.
Date: One date in the range 21-28 July 2009 – sunny weather is required for the shoot.
Time: Mid morning, for a few hours – Babes in Arms are happy to work around your baby’s sleep times.

Reward: Each mother, baby and child team will receive a photo from the shoot, plus $250.00 worth of product of their choice from the Babes in Arms product range, including ERGObaby Carrier, Hug a Bub, Mayawrap, Peanut Shell, and BabyLegs.

How to apply: If you would like to be considered for the shoot, please email up to 3 photos of you and/or your babe/child (max photo size to 2MB per image), including your full name, name and age/s of your child/ren, and contact details details to Sheena Cooke. Please title your email ‘Babes in Arms Sydney Photoshoot’.

Closing date for applications: Saturday 18 July 2009.

Further information: Please email any queries that you have to Anita at Babes in Arms with the email subject title ‘Babes in Arms Sydney Photoshoot’.

Selection of Babes in Arms products that you could win! Clockwise from top left:

ERGOBaby Carrier $165.00 each
BabyLegs baby arm/leg warmers from $16.50 per pair
Peanut Shell Serendipity Baby Slings $119.00 each

Today’s post written by Miki

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Mention Scandanavian-designed furniture these days, and chances are the very first brand that comes to mind is IKEA – www.ikea.com.au.

I am a rabid and unashamed fan of IKEA.  I love the fact that as a company they take responsibility for using sustainable materials and ensuring a good working climate for their many factory employees.  I love that the IKEA founder, Ingvar Kamprad (currently the richest person in Europe) still drives his 1980s Volvo and flies economy class.  I love the tiny prices – although the instructional diagrams on putting items together have been known to beat me! – and most of all I love the clean, classy, thoughtful design.

The IKEA children’s range is just as good as the adults’ stuff.  There’s a truly wonderful range of toys and small furniture for the kids, along with bedding and decor, right down to feeding accessories. A few of my favourites are below, but the POANG armchair rates a special mention as a brilliant feeding/nursery chair – so much more attractive than the ones you usually see in baby shops!  You can also get a mini kids’ version which I adore too.  IKEA stores in Europe have recently started stocking a rocking chair version of the POANG, so let’s hope it hits Aussie shores soon!

If I had to pick just one other favourite, it would be the DUKTIG children’s cooking series. It must be said that a lot of what I love about this series is that it’s unisex. As the mum of a nearly-two-year-old boy who loves pretending to cook (bless him), it drives me mad that the vast majority of play kitchens and tea sets on the market are so overwhelmingly pink! The DUKTIG range is not only extremely tough and durable, it also looks great and has barely a smigeon of pink on it! Hurrah!

If you live in a city near an IKEA, you can make the pilgrimage in-store. For the rest of us you can order online from the IKEA Perth Store (the only IKEA to offer Australia-wide delivery) with IKEA Direct. There is a minimum order of $200, and IKEA will phone you with 24 hours of your order placement to confirm and advise delivery costs – minimum postage is $15 and then depends on weight and destination. Click here for more information.

Editor’s note: We are also big fans of IKEA at our house. We have Sniglar beds, an Expedit bookcase, the LOMSK Swivel airchair (which we know as ‘The Big Egg’: this toy goes on and on: even a 9 and a 7 year old played happily in it only last week! This is one of my top 10 toys for kids), the Rocking Moose, Vippig seesaw, 100% cotton fitted sheets, plates, bowls and cutlery, doll beds, dress ups, and many and various other toys and items, all of which were bought interstate and lugged onto a plane by moi!

1. SMILA SOL Ceiling Lamp, $39.95
2. VIPPIG Seesaw, $99.00
3. POANG Armchair, $159.00
4. LEKA Baby Gym, $44.95
5. DUKTIG 10 Piece Tea/Coffee Set, $16.95
6. EKORRE Rocking Moose, $69.00
7. ANTILOP High Chair w/ Safety Belt, $39.00
8. TROFAST Storage Combination, $499.00
9. IKEA PS LOMSK Swivel Armchair, $149.00

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Ok, ok, rainy days can be fun for watching raindrops on the windows and making puddles to jump in. But at our house it usually doesn’t take long before frustration and boredom can creep in. TV and computer games can be a good distraction but they usually don’t last the distance. So for the days when going out seems too hard it is good to have a few winter-time activities up your sleeve.

I thought I would share some of the coolest project I have found – some are more time consuming and complex, which would be good for the little ones who thrive on a big task, and some like indoor hopscotch from (mum-of-4!) Stephanie at NieNie Dialogues, and the fake moustache from Lisa at 5 Orange Potatoes can be quick projects that can spin off with a little imagination into an afternoon of fun.

I hope they help when a back-up plan needs to be instigated fast!

Cardboard Doll House at Esprit Cabane

Indoor Hopscotch by Stephanie at NieNie Dialogues

Fake Moustache Tutorial by Lisa at 5 Orange Potatoes

Carnation Flower Tutorial at Folding Trees

Block Printing by Daria at Glitter Goodes

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Marilyn once said diamonds are a girls best friend, to which I say hear, hear! I would only add that when it comes to day-dreaming Paris is a girls better friend. It is hard to resist the romance of this beautiful city and all that it has come to represent.

Chic, stylish, fashionable, and French – if only I was describing myself!

Luckily, I can console myself with a quick escape into some gorgeous Parisian websites for a virtual immersion in taste and sensibility. First stop is this fantastic blog, les vestiaire de jeanne, which is a delicacy of chic Parisian fashion.

I haven’t been able to find out much more information about the designer or whether the clothes are modelled by her daughter or sister. Either way the stunning Jeanne is delightfully French and she looks postively lovely in everything!  I love the simplicity of the pieces which are made from Belgian Linen and available at European boutiques and online at enfant terrible (in Canada).

I also check in on the enfant moderne website to keep track of more petit sweets for the lovely little ones.

For the ultimate in designer childrens wear with beautiful European styling you can’t go past Bonpoint. The boutique is famous for its party frocks and boiled wool cardigans. Apparently Suri Cruise wore a Bonpoint dress in her Vanity Fair debut, and needless to say, Bonpoint is a big favourite with celebmoms.

If you happen to be visiting Paris any time soon then do have a look at the new(ish) department store called Merci. It is a uber upmarket op-shop and is the brain child of Bernand and Marie-France Cohen the couple behind Bonpoint.

It has a few levels that includes coffee shop, florist, habadashery, second hand books and even a fragrance store. There is of course vintage designer bags and clothes and also a designer corner where designers such as YSL, Stella McCartney, Azzaro, Alexis Mabille and Marni design new pieces that sell at a lot less, as well as cut price kids clothes from Bonpoint.

All of the profits are channelled into a foundation to support children’s charities in Madagascar. Bravo for shopping with a conscience!

For more inspiration and dreaming head over to the Paris Pool at Flickr – Bon Voyage!

Today’s post written by Edwina

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Today I’d like to introduce you to Three Potato Four – www.threepotatofourshop.com – the ideal place to pass some time with a cuppa and a piece of toast and invest in some quality products.

A truly inspiring mix of vintage, new and limited edition pieces from design duo Janet Morales & Stu Eli, this delightful store is full of the kinds of desirable objects that would fill any home with cosiness and comfort.

Three Potato Four’s kids section is super cute: there are dreamy vintage toys, French money boxes, home decor and accessories to be found here.

There are also some wonderful new and vintage prints in-store and exclusive to Three Potato Four. I love the photographs by Elizabeth Soule of toy cars out on adventures – perfect for boys rooms.

I am also completely smitten by the retro feel of the Manhattan Poster by Jim Datz, the colour, the boroughs – I love it!

Also look out for some lovely 1960’s Montessori Posters with inspiring quotations, the artwork is done by Lucia Pearce, an artist who went on to work for Charles and Ray Eames.

Here are some images to get you inspired, head over and check it out for yourself. Enjoy!

From left to right in rows:

Hand Decorated Zoo Bank – USD$65.00
Tin Wind-Up Globe – USD$35.00
Bird Botanical Print – Sunflower – USD$30.00
“Missouri” by Elizabeth Soule – USD$62.00
Around The World Children’s Tin Pail – USD$25.00
Montessori Poster – USD$120.00
Plush Blue-Eyed Bunny by Shinzi Katoh – USD$32.00
French Money Box – Owl – USD$32.00
Denmark Coin Bank Kit – USD$10.00
French Money Box – Pear – USD$24.00
Manhattan Poster by Jim Datz – USD$48.00
Chubby Nutcracker Drummer Musical Wind-Up – USD$65.00

Three Potato Four ship internationally. Email the store for a quote for postage to your location.