KidStyleFile

Written by Raquel

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September rolls on, which can only mean one thing. Yep, time to dig out the cossies and make plans for the beach! While you’re there, pull out your notepad and start scribbling down some Xmas ideas, because after September comes October… and well, you know the rest… This month’s Green Guide includes some out and about essentials and one or two things to jot down for the Big Man in Red. Enjoy!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1. If you thought cork was only good for 4” platform shoes, kitchen trivets and bottle stoppers, then take a gander at Bambu’s latest offering. The unique Cork Bib get its retro-ish looks from cork fabric, an innovation that is not only soft to touch, but machine washable, stain resistance, hypo-allergenic and anti-microbial too. Which begs the question: are cork playsuits next?
2.  Homemade baby purees will travel, thanks to Beaba’s nifty lil’ solution, the Babypote. Made from ultra squeezable silicon, the handy design has a snap on lid, wide neck for filling and cleaning, and is BPA-free, making it an ultra eco friendly alternative to the many, slurp n’ toss options overtaking supermarkets. Not yet available in Australia, until then, you’ll need to nab one via an international e-tailer or cajole a holidaying friend into bringing bubs back one.
3. Here’s something totally rad that’ll put a big smile on kids’ dials – in fact, grab a pencil, because these guys are ace additions to the Chrissy list. Sumobot, Gyrobot, Daisy Diplodocus and Terry Triceratops are a kid-tastic, moveable wooden toy made from sustainably sourced Beechwood. Available in small and large sizes, the characters are the latest release from Australian company Go Home Junior and come chock full of play possibilities, not unlike the kids themselves.
4. Designer-mum Laura Stevanz freely admits to channeling her northern European sisters to create Little Bossy Boots, an awesome local solution for tikes who like to flash a bit of Scandi cool without clocking up the air miles. The organic range for 0-4 years includes bodysuits, tees, dresses and blankets, all freshly lit with funky prints and touting affordable prices parents will really dig.
5. Take two creative friends with two children and an itch to create a unique collection of apparel for mums and their brood, and what do you get? Two, which in my books equals twice as nice, thanks to the combination of playful prints and gorgeously shaded organic cotton. Made in New York, Two’s kids’ tees for 1 to 4 year olds feature cheeky designs silk screened with eco inks – there’s a donkey, a necklace and the odd, rogue moustache .. perfectly happy, whimsical wear for imaginative kids.
6. Pretty and cooly chic, The Measure’s clever revamp of men’s Oxford shirts is a splendid breath of lovely, complete with poppy-licious embellishment and comfortably smart styling. In sizing from six months to six years, options include checks, stripes, blues and pastels, plus three different sleeve lengths. There’s also a super sweet ruffle design, and both looks are terrific for shirting around in on meltingly-hot summer days.
7. Wet swimmers and cars, happy parents do not make. But help is at hand, in the form of Beatrice and her equally charming counterpart, Patrice: adorable organic cotton bags who also happen to be your beach day saviours. Just gather up the drippy results of the kids’ water antics, the goggles, sand encrusted sunblock and throw ‘em all into their awesomely practical, water proof pockets. Dandy and handy, if they look familiar you may remember artist Caroline Castagna-Suarez’s (aka My Name is Simone) super zero plush doll from here.
8. If you’re been wondering whether to bag it or not, Swedish brand, If You Care, has the ecologically sound and healthy answer. Their unbleached, chlorine free lunch bags are made from renewable spruce trees and come in handy bundles of 48, kindly packaged in unbleached, recycled boxes. Go ahead, bag up those school lunches .. and know you’re doing it in good, green conscience.
9. Awww, how cute – from dull and ugly, to soft and lovely, plastic bottles have never been more adorable! Poppa the Puppy’s sweet face is animated with a hand stitched nose and freckles, the handiwork of fair trade artisans in Sri Lanka, and while her super snuggly organic cotton contours are filled with recycled PET bottles, it’s a fair bet this is one huggable pup who’ll never end up on the waste pile.
10.  Need an easy way to eye-tag the kids in a crowd .. throw ‘em in this visual clanger from London label Boys & Girls. Awesomely cool, organic, inexpensive and in sizing all the way to ten years, Aussie nippers can now spruce up for summer in these blindingly bold, fair trade duds – yes, they’ve arrived, kids get your UK fashion fix here.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Written by Raquel

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It’s time for another round up of all that’s good, groovy and green in kids’ gear … from yummy birthday cake decorations to awesome, kid-riffic backpacks, August is bursting with earth friendly finds.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1. Gee whiz, I couldn’t help but break into a little round of applause when I spotted this green makeover of the plastic doodle pad. Made in Japan by Oekaki, the beautiful wooden drawing board comes with wooden stampers and pencil, plus an organic cotton drawstring bag to pack it all away in. Lovely.
2. Jaws will drop when your birthday boy or girl eye’s light upon this fantabulously huge chocolate freckle number. Handmade in Australia, the 10cm tall, totally edible piece would give even Augustus Gloop a fair run for his chocolate lovin’ chops.
3. How do you make a kid covetable singlet – you know, the one they never want to take off? Well, line up and pay attention, because lovely local label Nan’s Garden is giving us all a lesson in eco-cool fashion. Their fun Sesame Street singlets cutely combine organic cotton, recycled curtain and some much loved puppets. Available in sizing 00 to 6 years.
4. A funny thing happens when kids go walking: they find sticks. What are sticks good for? Well, if you’re under 5ft, pretty much everything, which is why this branch holder is simply genius. In three colours and sizes, it transforms bored kids into play day gladiators, and all from what’s just lying on the ground.
5. There may be many a use for old jacquard towels, but not many would be as practical and as pretty as My Poppet’s lovely revamp. This gorgeous bib is brilliantly absorbent and only $8.50, that’s the beauty and value of clever upcycling.
6. It’ll be a few years before the kids will be making their own dinner (and maybe yours too?), but there’s nothing to stop ‘em getting in a wee spot of practice right now -  especially if it doesn’t involve creating any mucky messes in the kitchen. Green Toys have just the thing. Made from BPA free recycled milk containers, this 27 piece pizza making set comes with order forms and a delivery box, so line up mum and get ready to place an order.
7.  It might be a little wrong to covet your kids’ gear, but this seriously cute backpack is so right you won’t be able to help yourself.  A-splash with kaleidoscope prints, Fluf’s new companion to their sweet lunch sacks earns a A+ thanks to smart styling that includes an organic cotton outer, water resistant lining and little internal spot for the tikes to scribble their name … bags it first!
8. So many renovating shows, so many spiffy interiors: hands up if you’ve got a sudden itch to round up all those lay-about dolls and errant toy trucks? Lucky for us, Le Petit Beatnik’s industrially chic toy box is here to lift us from the décor dumps. Made from pine, the stunning organiser comes with lockable castor wheels, and for those with multiple munchins to pick up after, they can also be personalised for maximum order. Oh, and once you’ve finessed the kids’ rooms, why not pep up their wardrobes? Le Petit Beatnik also make a pretty dandy line of organic tees and rompers.
9. If you think these slippers look adorable now, what ’til you spy them on your little fella’s feet. The woollen wonders are the creation of British label Oromono, who hand make them for tots 1 to 3 years, from their London studio. There’s four terrific themes: farmyard, garden, transport and jungle, an impressive collection that’ll tickle the kids’ toes and their fancy.
10. These blocks may not appeal to adults (no renovations going on here), but that’s OK, because they’re meant for the tots, and they’re not just another stack ‘em and crash ‘em set either. Nope, the geometric puzzlers aim to tease kids’ grey matter into some pretty clever cognitive computations. It’ll be fun. They may even become Rubik cube champs .. at the very least, you’ll have a few moments of quiet. Sounds good.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Written by Raquel

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Brrrrr, did someone say temperature drop? Time to grab an organic quilt, a wool covered hottie, some glow in the dark Pjs and cosy up with the kids!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1. Some things just don’t seem to go together, for instance, peas and ice cream. But then again, perhaps it’s all in the execution? After all, some would swear pea flavoured ice cream is a dandy treat, even as sweet as this Super Star Stamp Necklace. Stamp necklace? Yep, it turns out this odd pairing make an adorable couple. Hung on a hemp string, flip the handmade wooden figurine over and she turns from a pretty piece of neck bling to a stella stamp – just the very thing needed for spreading a little twinkle throughout the day.
2.  Speaking of unusual twosomes, breathtaking and jigsaws are a couple of words I wouldn’t normally piece together(!), but this fabulous Animal Globe deserves the accolade. Quite unlike anything you may have seen before, it’s been beautifully handcrafted from baltic birch, cherry or mahogany plywood and is bustling with an animated menagerie of colourful wildlife. The 7” puzzle consists of 75 pieces, or you can super size to a mighty 11”- 205 piece version! Bella Puzzles also have a stunning collection of story book puzzles – fantastic for a special gift – and for something extra personal, there’s photo puzzles and customised options too.
3.  Flying in at number three is Hop & Peck’s beautifully crafted wooden toys and accessories. Handmade from birch plywood in Essex, UK, these simply striking products owe their good looks to unfussy lines and clever ideas: the Bunny Ears egg cup (top) and Twizzer mobile (wind it up, then watch it spin down!) are just two of the standouts amongst the gorgeously crafted wares.
4.  Time to ROC the wardrobe, Swedish style! Katvig is taking ‘green’ to a new level with its funky range of kids wear made not just from organic cotton but the actual leftovers from the spinning of organic cotton!! The Recycled Organic Cotton (R.O.C) pieces are aglow in violet and seaweed, rather fittingly (and fashionably) blazing the eco trail in both technology and colour!
5.  I spy with my little eye a new addition to eco décor: Eye Play Studio. With their design sights aimed at sprucing up kids’ rooms, this homegrown brand is entertaining the imaginations of children with liberal splashes of vivid colour and fantastical whimsy. Their first collection, Eco Friends, consists of coordinating canvas artworks, giclée prints and cushions made from sustainable plantation woods, eco inks and organic cottons. With themes like Captain Mischief the Pacific Pirate and Lilli the Garden Pixie, there’s sure to be one just right for your wee tike.
6. Is it possible to have a crush on a cup? Or rather, six cups? Each lovely tumbler winks out from their recycled cardboard box in a pretty gelato shade, but it’s their 100% compostable profile that really puts a smile on my dial. Bury one of these little E-Cups and they’ll completely break down in 12-18 months, never to take up space in a dreadful landfill. Of course, no one will be burying these lovelies at the back of the cupboard. Nope, they’ll be at the front and in demand: food safe and heat proof to 120 degrees, what’s not to dig about this fabulously green alternative to melamine?
7. Owl about this? The fabulously long-lived energy saving classic, the hottie, has come over all cute n’ chirpy in an upcycled woollen vintage blanket cover. And there’s more than one use for this tweet coverup of a childhood favourite. When it’s not keeping tootsies toasty at night, ZippityDooDah’s lovely cover is equally good at tucking pyjamas away or perking up beds as an adorable pillow accent. I’ll hoot to that!
8. Its hard to believe there may be a home without a set of wooden planks, but if yours is one of them, then these building sets from Green Hat Workshop are begging for an invite! The Australian made New Zealand pine planks are available in 100 and 200 sets: no batteries, no wires, instructions or tricks – just add an over energetic, hugely inventive child (ie, any child!) for loads of busy, limitless play!
9. What’s organic, black and glows in the dark? Your son, wearing a pair of these awesome pyjamas from French eco label Gribouille! Yep, its the stuff of a young boy’s dreams (and hopefully the key to getting him to bed) so it’s no surprise to learn that behind this neat concept is a mother of two, Charlotte Bohn, whose background in architecture and design, and her own children’s artistic exploration, provided terrific inspiration for the playful pieces. Made from 100% certified organic cotton, the pyjamas come with six non-toxic phosphorescent felts: colour in then expose to light for a few moments for a glowing result! Gribouille also have a kiddy-cool selection of colour-in tees with water based, non-toxic felts for both girls and boys.
10. Daisies, butterflies and cherries: an enchanting reminder that spring is arriving in the shape of Suna Studio’s sunny, super snuggly eco quilts. Handmade from organic cotton and filled with organic batting, the lovely designs also feature some pretty funky alligators and tigers, abstract castles and sun-shiny Japanese prints – many of which work wonderfully for both girls and boys decor. Oh, and if you fancy one for yourself, Suna Studio also accepts custom orders.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Post written by Raquel

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You wouldn’t guess it’s winter by looking at all these cheery goods for children – from fire-truck red shoes to blossom pink blankies and glowing orange chalkboard paint, June is raining down with colourful kid-covetable gear!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1. In school, pencil cases are big. BIG. Luckily local fave Apple & Bee have just the very thing to catch their fancy. A matching accessory to their popular children’s organic cotton messenger bags, these pencil cases come with cute metal apple key chain and a tear sheet of letters, so kids can mark ‘em as theirs by slipping their name into the front pockets. Neat!
2. Take a straw, cross it with some zany coloured dots and the odd glow in the dark swirl and what have you got? Strawesome! A doozy of an idea, these handcrafted kid-tough borosilicate glass straws come bent, straight, clear and coloured; everything you need to give the party some eco-cool flavour, or just to make dinner time that much more fun!
3. Wow. Interior stylist Sibella Court has teamed up with Murobond paints to create something the kids are going to love: fabulously bold chalkboard paint! Available in 12 smashing colours, from blue Oceania, deep pink Cherry noise and orange Dragonfly, the low VOC water based paints can be applied to any paintable surface around the house, including furniture.
4. It’s OK to go a little gaga over a thing, especially if that thing has crocheted flowers and looks like something Richie Cunningham’s mum would’ve made. Anne-Claire Petit’s handmade organic cotton baby blankets come in blue, pink and cream: for instant nanna-charm just add to cots or prams and combine with one adorably chubby baby!
5. Hurray! There’s finally a little something for mum and while it’s small, its role in the lives of exhausted parents is huge. I speak of course of coffee or more specifically, the cup we take it in! Whether you like it short, white, flat or doubled, it’ll taste soooo much nicer in one of these awesome reusable coffee cups from Melbourne design collective Hookturn Industries. Made from silicon, the newly released vintage hues include pink, blue, mint and lemon and are a gorgeously eco friendly way to get your coffee on the go (because not everyone has time to indulge in a cafe setting).
6. Far out brussel sprout! Just when you think kids couldn’t get any cuter, up pops fair trade UK label Piccalilly with their newly released dressing-up designs to give them extra sparkle! The new costumes include a charming Daisy Petal Tutu, a glorious Dragonfly and the sweetly coloured Rose, Violet and Woodbine Flower Fairy dresses, all ethically made by hand on the island of Bali.
7. Show me a little girl and I’ll show you the rightful owner of this delightful Flower Patch Purse. A bountiful keeper of treasures, it’s a sweet place for her to grow her pocket money pile and has the lovely benefit of providing employment to the Nepalese women who hand make it from wonderfully tactile Australian wool.
8. In my house the kids dig Nintendo, but its not the games they’re into, it’s making voice recordings of each other. All of which makes it a rather expensive gadget for such a simple but cool amusement; fortunately there’s a much cheaper option – one that’s easier for little hands to master! Richard Upchurch’s ace voice recorder has been handcrafted from sustainable wood and comes with all the kids need: a 30 second record time and, for extra giggles, adjustable speed and pitch when playing back.
9. Oh dear, it’s pretty tough deciding between all the terrifically cute shoes for kids, especially when you have the likes of French footwear label Easy Peasy and their gob-smackingly cute creations to choose from. Made from all natural soft leather, they’re all so darn cute you’ll be hard pressed to narrow down your faves – suffice to say, more than one pair will probably be needed, non? To add to the joy, the eco minded company has even created some kiddy cool reusable packaging: the shoes come in funky canvas bags that convert to backpacks, puppets and anything else the kids can imagine!
10. These wonderful baby mobiles from Etsy seller Pom Love have me oohing and aahing. She’s cleverly downsized that ever popular décor accessory, paper pom poms, attaching  sweet puffs of recycled loveliness to silver wire frames. A gorgeous introduction to the whimsical world of paper craft for baby, the mobiles have six pom poms (delivered fully open) in a plethora of beautifully coordinated colour sets: Vintage Quilts, Mint Charming and Hermione Says are terrifically striking or go ahead and custom select your own shades.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Post written by Raquel

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Yes, we ‘wool’ embrace the cold but if you’re not convinced, perhaps one of the lovely hand knit snugglies in this month’s round up will help you warm to the chillier temps – Enjoy!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1.      Old habits are hard to ditch. Take for instance, plastic. We know glass is healthier, only we can’t help but be a bit of a nervous nelly about its revival. Feeling our collective hesitation, a clever US mum has dreamed up a unique solution that lets us have the best of both. The 5 Phases feeding system is a glass bottle in a plastic, BPA-free shell. Ergo, no worrying about broken glass or spilt milk for that matter – problem solved!

2.      Sure, our aspirations for knitting hand made woollies may not quite match ahem, our efforts but that’s OK because we have knit designer extraordinaire JK Lange. Not only is this German fashion artist saving us the toil, her stunning creations for Teenytini would most likely leave any effort we made in the dust. Crafted using carefully selected naturally dyed fibres: wool, silk, cashmere, the collection for 0-4 year olds includes skirts, jumpers, pinafores and dungarees, all one of a kind pieces just like your lil’ kiddy wink.

3.      If you can’t convince your tot it’s bedtime one of these sweet toddler pillows from Little Finch Studio may just do the trick. Handmade from 100% organic cotton sateen filled with a safe, hypoallergenic corn fibre insert, they’ll help convince him bed’s a great place to be and give him a wonderful night’s sleep. Each pillow has two different prints and can also be bought separately or in sets with a large baby blanket and change pad.

4.      If you’re looking for a way to avoid hair brushing tantrums you could always cover up unruly tresses with this super sweet Jester hat, thus avoiding the impending stand off with fashionable flair! This charming wool felt hat is crafted by Etsy seller Felting Pot, who can customise it in the colour, size and style of your choice.

5.      Papoose’s new Pure range is sure to tickle a few hearts, after all what little monkey wouldn’t love another?! Made with certified organic cotton, the playful primate owes his striking colours to natural plant dyes and has been fairly made in Nepal. He’s joined by a gaggle of equally endearing giraffes, dogs, cats and teddies ready to join him and because of their handcrafted nature, no two are exactly alike.

6.      They say you shouldn’t play favourites, but I fear kids will ‘bearly’ give other teddy’s a look in when their chubby lil’ fingers touch upon this fabulously fluffy friend. Hand knit with dreamily soft wool by MooBeeTees, she’s been filled with eco friendly corn husk fibre, making her perfect snuggly material on wintry nights.

7.      You’ve gotta feel for the poor ol’ hippo – when it comes to children’s gear he rarely gets a look in, not with all the elephants and bunnies hogging the limelight. Fortunately Elana Rosa Designs is remedying this with her super huggable Organic Hippo Friend who’s a striking vision in aqua blue and fuchsia profiles. Screen printed onto organic cotton sateen, there’s a beautiful graphic print on the underside, with Sheep and Owl designs available as well.

8.      After a 70′s flashback? Think retro tube socks or better yet, pick some up. Hank and JoJo’s stripeytime travellers are packed in an awesome reusable tin lunch box (sweet!) with funky unisex colours that’ll make everyone’s life easier. The eco toe warmers have another nifty feature or rather they don’t. There’s no heel patch which means kids can stretch ‘em out and wear ‘em  a little longer, a clever touch that gives these sustainable socks extra legs.

9.      Grrrrr!!! Who says monsters are just for boys? This ‘Girls like monsters too’ organic tee comes with a cute puffed sleeve and a Snarly Flying Dragon, and while he may have sprung from the freaky imaginings of a young boy, he looks pretty darn cute on the fairer sex! Created in Perth by former journalist Jacqui Schofield, Jackson’s Monsters showcases the quirky drawings of her young son Jackson on an organic canvas of long and short sleeved tops.

10.      Cute as a bunny, crafty as a fox; Montreal based Moon and Sparrow’s handmade baby wear  lives up to appearances. Kimono wraps, gowns and onesies are animated with the delightfully drawn critters of graphic artist and illustrator Sandra Dumais, who hand silk screens them onto winter weight Indian organic cotton with veggie dyes. Available in sizing up to 18mths, crocodiles, beavers and a lovely new heart print also feature against a gorgeous backdrop of grass green, violet blue, mustard yellow and watermelon pink.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.

Post written by Raquel

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April’s the month for discovering a new kind of hero, rocking out autumn in scrappy skirts,  borrowing your daughter’s handbags and of course, having lot’s of fun doing it!

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

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1.      Feeling a little too serious? Time to call in Super Zero! No ordinary hero, this boredom busting guy’s been hand made from organic cotton and is fully prepped for his first big assignment: injecting as much silliness into the day as a kid can handle (rumour has it, he also fights crime). Created by Caroline Castagna-Suarez, Super Zero is joined by six other quirkily endearing pals, including a cute petal of a doll called Daisy and a divorced public accountant named Jean-Louis.

2.      Who says it’s wrong to borrow your little girl’s accessories? Yes, I imagine you can’t imagine wanting to, but then have you seen Zolima’s range of sweet purses and suitcases for girls? Using a mix of organic cottons, silk, cashmeres and linens featuring stunning Asian inspired prints, Zolima manages the unique feat of aligning both mum and daughter’s style sensibilities in a gorgeous, must have range of kids’ clothes and accessories.

3.      For something as impressive as the amount of pencils kids go through in a school year, check out these wonderfully bright Remarkable scribes. Encased in recycled CDs, plastic cups and polystyrene they’re a groovy lesson in recycling kids can pack in their pencil cases.

4.      For parents who’ve ever fantasised about scooping up all the ‘zillion little things’ and trading them in for one big multi-playable item, this could be it. The Rokka’s 4 in-1 design morphs with your child’s desires: see-saw today, boat tomorrow, den the next, and even a chair and table set when a little drawing time is demanded! Need more? The clever design can be extended further with optional add-ons turning it into a play kitchen and theatre.

5.      Forget wearing your heart on your sleeve, tots – who are well practiced in emotional displays – can wear theirs on their soles. Handmade from recycled sweaters and leather,  Orland Boot and Shoe’s light footed booties are the vision of fashion designer, crafter and mum, Heather River, who uses reclaimed and recycled fabrics: leather remnants, sweaters and vintage buttons, to create especially cute shoes for littlies to find their feet in.

6.      Remember these neat mats I featured back here? Well now Modern Twist have teamed up with the creative folk over at DwellStudio to bring dining tables some new doodling designs. Made from BPA-free silk-screened silicon, the DwellStudio & Modern-Twist Placemats come in gift boxes complete with pens and, with a quick rub of a damp cloth, mop up blank to be coloured over and over again.

7.      I spy with my little eye your daughter’s new favourite skirt! An unmissable artwork of leather scraps, the Rockin’ Rainbow Skirt is sure to illuminate dreary days and instil in your girl a future nostalgia for all things patchworky. Handmade by Amsterdam based label Ninacity, each skirt is uniquely pieced together with bright jolts of leather scraps.

8.      If you’re going to do the winter blues, let me recommend something as snazzily smart and cozy as LamanBlu’s collection of dresses and separates for girls. Winner of the Rising Star Award for Design, US based Holli Gibson’s upmarket eco friendly clothing for 6 month to 6 year olds combines vivid solids and beautiful prints: antique lace and snow leopard, to simply striking effect. Featuring faux fur, gold trims and freshwater pearls, the latest fall 2011 collection is dedicated to the charity Falling Whistles.

9.      No doubt there’ll be some eyes glistening when ol’ gamers spy this retro toy. Made from rubber wood, the Space Pinball Game beams in pop coloured graphics and delights as a fully functioning pinball machine; complete with flippers, bell, cymbal, spinner and bouncer. Time to unplug the Nintendo, round up the kids and tell ‘em, it’s game on!

10.  Sure it’s OK and even green, to want to make do with your usual totes for lugging around baby’s bits, but do you really want to age yourself unnecessarily from the sheer frustration of trying to find her rattle/nappy/rusk in its deep (and deeply unorganised) recesses? Time for a wee fashion epiphany: French brand Zazazou’s fair trade, organic cotton nappy bag has four internal pockets, one external, a changing mat and looks great – proof positive that carrying nappies is not only practical, it’s a coolly chic affair.

The Green Guide is published on the second Friday of each month. Read previous ‘The Green Guide’ posts here.

Please check individual sites for pricing and postage details and be sure to survey the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal. Need to convert currency? Use the Xe.com currency conversion tool.