KidStyleFile

Today’s post written by Miki

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Following on from yesterday’s coverage of Vintage Kit, today I continue to showcase some of the standout vintage/retro-inspired design collections from Bubble London 2009.

Powell Craft

Harking back to a gentler time, the Powell Craft range is an excellent example of the ‘vintage for comfort’ trend currently emerging. A family business, Powell Craft sources many of its materials in Kashmir, which are then used to create handmade classic clothing and homewares which have a comforting, nostalgic mood.

The Powell Craft collection includes ranges for ladies (the traditional nightwear is delicate and feminine), the home and of course, for children with crisp embroidered cotton pyjamas, pretty party dresses and soft knit layette pieces featuring.  There is also a nursery bedding range of cot quilts embroidered with traditional designs in exquisite detail.

Powell Craft do not currently have an Australian distributor, but a good selection of their range can be purchased from Mad Molly.co.uk who ship to Australia.

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Rachel Riley

Founded in 1994 by French-based English designer Rachel Riley, this line of clothing and accessories has since gone from strength to strength. The collections for women, girls, boys and infants quickly gained popularity due to the vintage feel deliberately created by the use of traditional needlecraft: smocking, French seams, ricrac, bias and mother of pearl buttons variously feature in the designs.

The prints are also traditional but with a hint of whimsy, and conversational prints such as flamingos, balloons and large-scale florals, along with polka dots, ginghams and stripes. Only high thread-count cotton is used, which adds to the luxurious feel of the clothing. However the clothes are designed for modern living: most are machine washable, easy to wear and leave children free to run and play.

Rachel Riley also design and manufacture children’s leather shoes in vintage styles to complement their clothing line.

A celebrity following is firmly in place, with Elle Macpherson, Nigella Lawson and Thandie Newton all counted on the customer list.

Rachel Riley clothes and shoes are available through their two stores in London and a third flagship store on Madison Avenue in New York. Australian shoppers can buy through the Rachel Riley website.

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Hansel & Gretel Knits

Irish designer Aine Clarke created Hansel & Gretel Knits when she found herself constantly complimented on the clothes she had hand-knitted for her own and friends’ children. Initially a small, home-based business, the orders continued to flood in until Clarke made the call to concentrate more fully on her growing line.

Using a combination of Irish traditional and contemporary techniques and designs, and a wide range of yarns and embellishments, the pieces have a fun, retro appeal. In many cases there are also coordinating hats and booties available. Perfect for active children, toddlers and babies, the knits are colourful and quirky and feel comfortably soft - no hint of scratchiness to bother sensitive skin.  All designs are machine washable and generously sized, adding to their practicality.

Chunky knits characterise the Winter ‘09/’10 collection while finer, more delicate yarns are being used for Summer ‘10.

At present Hansel and Gretel knits are not available to Australian shoppers, but we will be sure to update this as and when it changes.

Please check individual sites for postage and shipping details.

Today’s post written by Miki

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More news from Bubble London 2009 today, with Vintage Kit - www.vintagekit.com- a charming example of the growing trend towards nostalgic childrenswear design.

Lead designer Katherine Trigg, a former stylist, created the range after clothing she had made for her own children was widely admired.

Evoking a bygone era, the range features sweetly sentimental prints and simple, easy-to-wear cuts, enabling boys, girls and babies to dress and play in comfort.

The collection is made entirely in the UK, from Trigg’s hand-drawn prints being transformed into vintage-inspired cotton and silk fabrics at Laura Ashley’s fabric factory, right down to the completion of each individual piece.

Vintage Kit has rapidly gained attention with a celebrity following already in place. Kate Moss and UK actress/celebrity judge Amanda Holden have both dressed their children in pieces from the collection.

The meteoric rise of Vintage Kit’s popularity recently prompted the Walt Disney Co. to make contact with Trigg regarding the reinvention of nostalgic Disney clothing, and thus was the Vintage Kit Disney range born.

Old favourites Bambi, Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland make a comeback in a series of playful prints.  At present Vintage Kit Disney is exclusively a girlswear line, but a boys’ range of VK Disney featuring Buzz Lightyear is due out for Spring/Summer 2010.

Also on the horizon for Vintage Kit is an eagerly awaited bed linen range, coming soon.

At present there are no Australian stockists, but Vintage Kit is available to Australian shoppers through the Vintage Kit website, where most summer stock is currently 40% off for a limited time.

Today’s post written by Miki

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KidStyleFile’s Bubble London 2009 coverage gets into gear today, with exclusive coverage of one of the most exciting ranges exhibiting at the show: Sebra - www.sebra.dk - a unique Danish children’s interiors collection.

Designed at the children’s level, the Sebra range - including furniture, bedding, toys and other accessories - is bold and colourful with a distinctive Scandanavian feel.

A large part of the collection is handmade, and texture plays an important part in creating Sebra’s distinctive ethos. Utilising crochet, wools, cottons and wood, the range is extremely tactile and begs to be touched.

The Summer ‘09 Sebra collection has a strong focus on colour and imagination, both of which are very important in a child’s universe.  Animals as a design feature also play a strong part, with the Sebra design team (led by Mia Dela) reasoning that everyone, both child and adult alike, can relate to animals regardless of their geographical location. Animals have been given form and colour with spots, stripes and large tags in this collection, which creates a fun and appropriately childlike atmosphere.

Sebra’s range of bedding for children also incorporates texture as a key design feature, with the new ranges of bedding including ‘touchy tags’ - large fabric tags of different textures which children can use as comforters during sleep times.  The prints featured on the bedding are cheerful and bright, again primarily featuring animals.

In Australia, Sebra is exclusively stocked by Little Me Little You.

Today’s post written by Angela

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If you are in Sydney this coming weekend - specifically this Sunday 5th June - be sure to put this red letter event in your calendar: Mathilda’s Market - www.mathildasmarket.com.au.

Mathilda’s Market is the gold standard market of designer/maker baby and children’s wares in Australia, presenting the cream of crafters, designers and artists in one stunning event.

Anne Lewis, founder of Mathilda’s Market works hard to keep each event fresh and wonderful, with three quarters of the stall-holders being brand new to every event.

This Sunday you will find 70 stands packed with a diverse range of gorgeous produce exclusively for babies and children, from fashion, to shoes, to art, to dressups and much more, from the retro to the ultra modern. You will also find delicious food and drink at the venue to keep you refreshed, and there will be face painting for the kids to keep them smiling.

This edition of Matilda’s Market will be held at the St Ignatius College Riverview, Tambourine Bay Rd, Lane Cove, Sydney. The event runs from 9am-1pm. Entry and parking is absolutely FREE, so you’ll have more cash to spend on the abundance of goodies at hand

If you’re not in Sydney, do not despair: Mathilda’s Market makes it’s way around the country: stay tuned for more details of Matilda’s Market events coming to Brisbane and Perth on 19 July 2009.

Click on each image below for a sneak peek of some of the Sydney stallholders - prepare to drool!

Welcome to the May edition of ‘Mixtape Monday’, our last-Monday-of-the month burst of inspiration, brought to us by Jessica (www.greenmamma.org) by way of Justine at Mixtape Zine.

Jessica is a New Englander living outside of Washington, DC, where politics, protests and activism are a way of life. Always an idealist, Jessica is committed to raising environmental awareness as well as a green family. When she is away from her laptop and researching the latest on green living and natural parenting, you can find her climbing on the jungle gym or playing on the swings in her neighborhood.

Check out Jessica at Green Mamma, with green living tips for all folks, especially kids and parents. She is also a monthly contributor to API Speaks and 5 Minutes for Going Green.

(You can read previous Mixtape Monday posts here.)

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Go Local

Whatever your tastes may be (for food, drink, clothes, books, etc.), shopping at local and small businesses with your children allows them to see how to support the local economy (not to mention that your family is helping to minimise its carbon footprint, fuel consumption, and air pollution). Your children will also come to value real people, who are working hard in local shops and markets to supply your home with goods.

Bringing your children to local markets and shops offers an opportunity to socialise and save money too (if you enjoy haggling and vendors are willing to do so). As often as possible, when our family needs to purchase items new, we make an effort buy local from small businesses.

Buy Secondhand

When searching for items that are not available locally, one of the best ways to live environmentally is to search for secondhand products available online, in thrift shops, consignment stores, and at salvation sales. Not only will your family save money, but you’ll be helping prolong the life of an item and helping to divert what might have ended up in a landfill. Gently used items are usually in excellent condition and can be of better quality than similarly priced new items.

Also, crafty parents and children can find one-of-a-kind items to use for art projects and to remake into new items with a bit of sewing and embellishment. The possibilities at secondhand stores are endless with a little bit of creativity. The best part about making secondhand purchases with your children in mind is that you are modelling environmentally sound methods for shopping.

Grow your own food

With a seed packet, some dirt, water, and time, your children can have a wonderful hands-on experience with gardening. Watching a seed sprout into a small plant, and then waiting for a plant to grow, bud, and produce vegetables allows children to see the processes and hard work involved, on a larger scale, with farming foods.

To encourage our daughter to participate in caring for our small vegetable garden, we purchased small gardening tools for her, allowed her to dig and plant seedlings, and invited her and our neighbours’ children to water the garden several nights each week.

Growing a garden with children is a fun way for them to learn about plants, and is a wonderful way to teach the value of patience and hard work. Our daughter not only enjoyed working in the garden but delighted in picking and eating what she’d helped grow.

Connect

One of the easiest ways to feel at one with nature is to simply find a path in the woods and walk.

Every week our family ventures onto a path in our neighbourhood that takes us through woods, over streams, and up small mountains. We see birds, deer, insects of all kinds, and many varieties of trees, shrubs, and fungi. Our daughter loves to point out and identify what she sees; my husband and I savour the quiet and stillness available when we are in the midst of Mother Nature.

Other great ways to connect with nature include practising outdoor yoga, going to a park and bird watching. As my daughter grows older, I hope to discover new ways to include a love of nature into her life. It is amazing how much our children are capable of; they make such excellent and natural caretakers of the earth.

This article can be found in issue 7 of Mixtape Zine. You can buy current and back-catalogue issues of Mixtape here (the current issue is limited-edition hard-copy; back-catalogue issues are available in PDF only.)

Today’s post written by Miki

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Time for more luscious kids bedding - hurrah!  And I think you’ll be pleased to see what I’ve saved for Part II of this post (if you missed Part I, click here).

Starting off today’s field we have Boodalee, in-store now at Ekidna Kids. With striking, eye-catching designs, the Boodalee range features 250 thread count 100% cotton percale, and it’s dyed using a special process to ensure superior colourfastness.  Refreshingly modern and heartwarmingly colourful, this is a range for just about any child and home!

We all love chic homegrown Aussie brand mill&mia, but did you know that they do bed linen as well as their stunning range of clothing?  Yep, they sure do - and it’s as slick as the rest of their range. Starting from $67.50 for a cot duvet or sheet set, there’s a big range of colours and subtle patterns to choose from.

Another seriously stylish Australian brand is Zero+ Designs.  Designed by two mums (one whose background was in retail and the other an interior designer), the range is fresh and modern while incorporating traditional elements - think trucks and butterflies - in a funky new way.  There’s also a truly excellent range of bedding accessories such as cushions, sheet sets and so on.

More homegrown goodness is up next, with sproutdesigns.  Oh my oh my, how I love this brand! There’s a drool-worthy range of hand-screenprinted fabrics and products (all designed and made in Australia of course), and the bedding range has to be seen to be believed.  You should also check out the fabulous selection of room accessories, and for the crafty ones amongst us, you’ll be thrilled to know that sproutdesigns’ fabrics are available by the metre.

The Living Textiles Company has a decent range of products stocked at 9 Months Waiting, and this is an excellent option if you’re after a sweet, traditional design for your nursery.  Once again, this is an Australian-owned company who use only 100% cotton percale, and who rigorously test their products to ensure quality and value for money.

If you want to give your nursery that WOW factor then go for a real investment piece - you’re bound to find a perfect set at Miss Tati & Friends.  Not only is there an enormous selection of cot and single bedding of exceptional quality imported from the US, almost all of it is 40+% off! Miss Tati & Friends also stock a lovely range from Red Plum Linen, another Australian classic.

Lastly but most certainly not leastly is Cot Couture.  An Adelaide-based custom range, Cot Couture is distinctive not only for the spectacular range of fabrics available but also for the fact that the customer can request any combination they like.  Most of the Cot Couture comforters are reversible, meaning that simply flipping over the comforter will create a whole new look.  Ingenious!

There are a couple of special deals running on Cot Couture at the moment: firstly, there’s a sale section on the CC site of ends-of-line fabrics - comforters ordered in these are $125, down from $185. Next, if you want a different fabric, have a look at the range stocked at Chic Mother & Baby as you can take 10% off Cot Couture there using the code ‘VIPJoff’ until June 30.

a. Boodalee Circus Duvet & Sham Set, $249.95 from Ekidna Kids
b. Boodalee Castle Duvet & Sham Set, $249.95 from Ekidna Kids
c. mill&mia Bed Linen - Blue/White Spot, $97.50 for single size from mill&mia online store
d. Zero+ Designs Bedspread - Fairy Floss, $189.00 from Zero Plus Designs online store
e. sproutdesign Giraffe Quilt Cover + Sham, $250.00 from sproutdesign online store
f. Living Textiles 3 Piece Cot Sheet Set - Sea Of Dreams, $69.95 from 9 Months Waiting
g. Rue Cler 3 Piece Cot Set, $815.00 from Miss Tati & Friends
h. Living Textiles 3 Piece Bassinet/Cradle Set - Bella Butterfly, $59.95 $51.00 from 9 Months Waiting

As always, please check individual sites for postage details, and have a look at the KidStyleFile All Current Deals page to make sure you’re getting the best deal on your purchase.

Today’s post written by Miki

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I’m just back from Bubble London ‘the kids tradeshow’ where I was lucky enough to meet some fabulous exhibitors - there were over 150 present - and take in the 2010 collections. It was a great atmosphere I’ll be sharing it with you by delivering extensive coverage of the show over the next couple of weeks.

It was fantastic to see an Aussie contingent there.  Some of KidStyleFile’s favourite homegrown brands were present, including Oobi, Rock Your Baby, Littlehorn, Minihaha, Tea Princess and Three Little Trees. Judging by how busy their stands were, it looked like the crowd were impressed - as well they should be!

Stay tuned for detailed coverage, coming soon.

A snapshot of Bubble London - Images Copyright KidStyleFile. All Rights reserved.

Today’s post written by Bec

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Beat the celebrities to these fab new handmade trends for your baby and children. For more trend shopping go to madeit.com.au.

View more madeit.com.au KidStyleFile Five Fabulous Finds posts here.

		Funky Crochet Newborn Little Bear Hat Seller - funkyhooker Price - $25.00 More info/Buy It
		Denim Recycle Nappy (small) Seller - FlannelFings Price - $34.95 More info/Buy It
		Crocheted size 4-6 slippers (other sizes available) Seller - twinklekids Price - $24.00 More info/Buy It
		Flobib - Purple Haze Seller - Flobib Price - $24.99 More info/Buy It
		Mockingbird Designs Vintage fabric/ribbon necklace Seller - Mockingbird Price - $12.95 More info/Buy It

All prices quoted are AUD$. Please contact individual sellers for postage and delivery information.

Today’s post written by Angela

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Just a reminder that the KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey finishes at midnight on June 30, so you only have one week left to express your views on online shopping, favourite stores, labels, toys, magazines, and more, to go into the draw to win from the prize pool of over $12,000.00.

This year’s prize sponsors include prestigious Australian baby and kids fashion labels Moppit, Toetum, Baobab, Oobi Baby & Kids, and Polka, high end baby-goods brands Babymoov, and ERGObaby Carrier, award-winning decor pieces from Cocoon Couture, state of the art toys from Intelliplay, and magazine subscriptions from established parenting magazine My Child, and new baby and kids style publication Little One Baby.

In addition, KidStyleFile will be donating 50 cents for every completed copy of the KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey to national children’s charity Make-A-Wish ® Australia.

The survey takes only 5 minutes to complete, and if you refer a friend (or 5!) you get the corresponding number of extra chances to win. How cool is that??!!

One in 30 participants will win a prize, so don’t miss your chance  - Click here to start the survey now.

Completion and submission of the survey implies your acceptance of the full Survey Terms and Conditions.

KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey Prize Draw - Prize List and Description

There are 93 prizes to be awarded. The prizes, their value, and the sponsoring organisation, are detailed below. All prize values quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). The total value of the Prize Pool is AUD$12,360.20. The cost of postage to send the prizes to the winners is additional to the prize value, and is covered by the sponsoring businesses.

Moppit (www.moppit.com.au) - 5 Prize Packs as follows:

• 5 x $500.00 rrp Moppit Clothing Packs

Value of each prize pack $500.00. Total prize pool value $2,500.00 + delivery charges.
Note: styles shown indicative only.

Rose & Lily (www.roseandlily.com.au) - 10 x 5 piece Prize Packs as follows:

• 1 x Babymoov Bébédelice rrp $199.99
• 1 x Babymoov sippy cup rrp $19.99
• 1 x Babymoov food bowl rrp $19.99
• 2 x Babymoov long sleeve shirt bibs rrp $19.99 ea

Value of each prize pack $279.95. Total prize pool value $2,799.50 + delivery charges.

Toetum (www.toetum.com) - 5 Individual Prizes as follows:

• 5  x $200.00 rrp Toetum Clothing Packs

Total prize pool value $1000.00 + delivery charges

Note: styles shown indicative only.

Cocoon Couture (www.cocooncouture.com) - 7 x 2 Piece Prize Packs as follows:

• 1 x Cocoon Couture (Earlybird or Timmy Tiger design)Bean Bag Cover (beans not included) rrp $99.95
• 1 Cocoon Couture (Earlybird or Timmy Tiger design) rrp $49.95

Value of each prize pack $149.90
Total prize pool value $1049.30 + delivery charges

Babes in Arms (www.babesinarms.com.au) - 8 Individual Prizes as follows:

1. 1 Organic ERGO Carrier $209.00 rrp + 1 pack of 3 pair of Babylegs $49.50
2. 1 NEW ERGO Sport Carrier $165.00 rrp + 1 pack of 3 pair of Babylegs $49.50
3. 1 NEW ‘Serendipity’ reversible Peanut Shell $129.00 rrp + 1 pack of 3 pair of Babylegs $49.50
4. 2 packs of 6 pair of Babylegs $99.00 rrp each
5. 3 packs of 3 pair of Babylegs $49.50 rrp each

Total prize pool value $998.00 + delivery charges

Intelliplay (www.intelliplay.com.au) - 12 Individual Prizes as follows:

• 12 x Crazy Forts @ $89.95 rrp each

Total prize pool value $1079.40 + delivery charges

Polka (www.polkakids.com.au) - 2 Prizes as follows:

• 2 x $250 Polka Clothing Packs

Total prize pool value $500.00 + delivery charges

Note: styles shown indicative only.

Baobab: 2 Prizes as follows:

• 2 x $250.00 RRP Baobab.com.au Gift Vouchers

Total prize pool value $500.00 + delivery charges

Note: styles shown indicative only.

Oobi Baby & Kids: 2 Prizes as follows:

• 2 x $250 Oobi Baby & Kids Clothing Packs

Total prize pool value $500.00 + delivery charges

Note: styles shown indicative only.

Little One Baby (www.littleonebaby.com.au) - 30 Prizes as follows:

• 30  x 1 Year Little One Baby magazine subscriptions( 2 issues) @ $29.90 rrp each

Total prize pool value $897.00 + delivery charges

My Child (www.mychildmagazine.com.au) - 10 Prizes as follows:

• 10  x 2 Year My Child magazine Subscriptions (8 issues) @ $53.70 rrp each

Total prize pool value $537.00 + delivery charges

*****Click here to start the survey now*****

Today’s post written by Angela

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Whether you enjoy the finer things for your baby, are seeking some inspiration for your child’s decor, wondering how real mums do it, or just enjoy a bit of quality eye-candy, freshly launched Australian magazine Little One Baby - www.littleonebaby.com.au - is right up your alley.

Offering beautiful ideas, stylish solutions, real life nurseries, and stories from real mums, as well as gorgeous fashion and stunning products for your little one, Little One Baby has burst onto the scene, instantly filling a niche for baby and kids decor and style ideas for Australian parents.

I got my hands on a copy last week, and I must say Little One Baby is really something special. From the super-silky paper stock (which feels lovely to the hand and make a lovely sound as you turn the pages - (these little pleasures are pure luxury to me!) to the superlative photography throughout, you are sure to be impressed and inspired. Little One Baby is available from all good newsagents now for $14.95, or subscribe here to never miss an issue.

To celebrate the launch of Little One Baby, Amy Doak, the editor of Little One Baby, is offering you some great opportunities to win copies of the mag and other great goodies.

• Go into the draw to win one of over $750 worth of great prizes here.
• Refer your friends and go into the draw to win copies of Little One Baby for you and your peeps here.
• Subscribe to receive Little One Baby and go into the draw to win 1 of 300 Paper Eskimo stationery packs.

Last, but not least, Little One Baby are a sponsor of the 2009 KidStyleFile Annual Reader Survey: complete the survey and go into the draw to win 1 of 30 subscriptions.

Little One Baby is published bi-annually: Issue one (Winter ‘09 ) is on stands now. Watch for issue 2  (Summer ‘09/’10) - on stands October 19.