Bubble London Recap
Wow! Two trade shows in one weekend! We have seen so many great children’s brands, our heads are spinning! Here are some highlights from yesterday at Bubble London:
- The new designs at Poppy feature a little girl riding around on a giraffe through a beautifully illustrated London town, and we can’t get enough. Absolutely fabulous designs and colours in the A/W collection. Much to look forward to!
- Olive Loves Alfie is launching a new range of interiors paint and their display was awesome! So many great colours.
- We were ultra impressed with the fantastic, happy collection at Tootsa Macginty. And apparently we weren’t the only ones — her stand was buzzing the entire day long! (And we loved the new haircut of Kate!)
- As always, the Hucklebones collection was stunning. And the creators, Dan and Zoe, couldn’t be more lovely.
- Seeing the hand-crafted pillows from Lettie Belle in person made us love them even more!
- Really like the sweet prints and fresh colours in the Old Rectory collection. And excited about their new baby pyjamas.
- The ilovegorgeous stand rocked our world. Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!
- Loved meeting Joanna from Babatude and seeing her luxuriously soft cashmere creations.
- The Spotty Otter outerwear collection is both functional and fun, and we think this is a brand on the rise (it’s already hugely popular at our kids’ schools!).
- With beautiful textiles from India, the entire Bouton collection really, really impressed us.
- It was really great to meet Helen from Helen Gordon and to see all her pieces in one place. We are big fans of her scrumptiously soft pyjamas and love her new circus print!
- The Aden & Anais collection is, as always, super impressive. So cool to see all their swaddle blankets hanging in one big row!
- Just listening to Yanina from Aravore discuss each piece in her collection makes you appreciate just how much thought and love went into each piece. Such a gem of a brand (and a lady!).
- The bright colours and happy messages in the Boys & Girls collection put a smile on our faces! That’s what childhood is all about!
- The NYC-based brand, Ode, which we first discovered at Playtime NYC last summer, featured a stunning collection and a new knitwear line. Such pretty textiles and loads of details!
- So nice to see the Dutch brand Kidscase both at Bubble and at Playtime. As always, it’s a can’t-go-wrong collection!
- We discovered the new label Beau Loves, and with their Zorro mask prints and playful designs, we think this is going to become a new favourite brand.
- We also discovered the new UK brand, Marmalade & Mash which made their debut at Bubble. This is a brand to watch for sure!
- We met the lovely Amynta from Tulip and Nettle who wowed us with her luxurious collection and beautiful photography.
- And finally, the Spanish brand Nadadelazos is super fun and funky, and we were already fans… but even more so now!
xx Courtney and Esther
The Baby Papoose (by the Good Flock)
The first line of the The Good Flock website reads: ‘The products we make can be buried in your backyard’. Which I think is such a daring first sentence, and is proof of the innovative and fun nature of Nikki and Marco, the people behind The Good Flock. Their belief is to use wholesome materials (from living sources or eco-systems that are able to regenerate themselves), work with a conscience (real craftspeople, responsible manufacturing), and design with minimal waste (use only what we need). I’ve been thinking — it sounds a bit like how I like to cook our food! But then applied to product design. An interesting slide can be found here, where the difference between the creation of a plastic iPad case is compared to the creation of a Good Flock IWooly.
Reason enough to purchase The Good Flock products, but there’s more: the products are really, really beautiful. Gorgeous vegetable tanned leather, domestic waxed canvas, patterned wool and buttons made from sustainable harvested tagua nuts are the main materials that are used to create simple but stylish bags, covers and wallets. The Good Flock has also created a Baby Papoose, a warm and wonderful baby wrap, made from their beautiful materials and just perfect to keep your baby cozy in his Bugaboo (works for the Frog, Chameleon but also very well for the Bee).
xxx Esther
Knitted Greens!
Somehow, over the course of this morning, I stumbled upon four different (!!) green knitted products. All SO cute, I just had to share…
- Green and white knitted jumper from Broer en Zus
- Green and white knitted doll from Dents de Loup
- Lucky Boy Sunday knitted tree from Thumbeline
- Green knitted teething ring from Unique Boutique
x Courtney
Macarons — an exciting new innovation from Germany
Yesterday I went to the Kleine Fabriek, the children’s trade fair here in Amsterdam. I love going to trade shows; it’s always fun to walk around, have chats with all of the business owners and designers and see their new collections. It was especially fun to meet Veit and Julie from the new brand Macarons — a lovely couple from Germany (sadly I didn’t meet their baby girl Cleo because she was asleep, but I heard rumours about how cute she is)!
Veit and Julie developed an innovative fabric, the IQ fabric, which is based on traditional production techniques that have been around for centuries in the South of Germany. With a soft and ‘fresh’ feeling organic cotton inside, which is woven together with a warm and water-resistant organic merino wool outside (and sometimes boiled to get a cool rippled felted effect), the IQ fabric is as warm and practical as it gets. But it doesn’t end there — the designs of the clothing line is so cute and different. Contrasting colours on the inside of the hems and collars let you play around with the shapes, sweet pompoms and prints ad lightness and fun — it is all so very, very delightful.
The Macarons collection will be in stores after summer — and we can’t wait.
xxx Esther
Funny finger worms from Hervé Tullet
Ava got this little book ‘The Game of Finger Worms‘ by Hervé Tullet for Christmas and she absolutely adores it. The concept is so simple (a hole in the book through which you can stick your finger with a little face drawn on it), but the effect on a 19-month-old is so big! She has a little face drawn on her finger as well, and it’s become her new little friend. Cute!
Available through Amazon UK
xxx Esther
Sal de Coco –bedding from Spain
Bedtime should be a happy affair, and this colourful bedding from Spanish brand Sal de Coco will set the atmosphere in the bedroom just right. Cute prints and playful illustrations, fresh colours, and the best quality cotton you can imagine make Sal de Coco a worthwhile bedding affair. Sal de Coco is distributed internationally through cool kids furniture company Ninetonine, so if you’re interested in purchasing shoot them an email here.
xxx Esther
Sweet windmills from Broken Tricycle
It’s summer down under and the Broken Tricycle collection shows! I love those summery pieces with their sweet patterns — how awfully cute are the little windmills? As a Dutch girl I can only approve! All the Broken Tricycle essentials are made from organic, fair trade cotton and are perfect for babies up to two years old.
xxx Esther
Romantic nightgowns for sweet princesses
I love my kids always and always but to see them when they’ve just woken up, all warm and confused, and with their cheeks rosy and hair messy, it makes me melt every single time. So sweet! I also have a related fondness for sweet pyjamas and nighties for my children. A freshly bathed child in a clean and cute pyjama — I love it!
Snugg Nightwear is where I discovered the above nightgown for Ava and it’s just gorgeous. Made from cotton and with sweet butterfly details, I’m sure she will look cuter than cute in it… Snugg Nightwear also sells some of my other favourite nightwear brands (like Hatley, Claessens, Petit Bateau and Toffee Moon), and it’s all superbly organised so you can search by brand, price or age — super easy for nighttime lovers like me!
xxx Esther
Gorgeous hat/scarf/mittens sets from Mini McGhee
It’s nowhere near as cold as last year, but still cold enough for warm woollens — here in the Netherlands we tend to take the kids around on the back of our bicycles (or in the bakfiets), so kids have to be bundled up in the winter. These SUPER soft Pixie hats from Mini McGhee are comfy to wear (made from lambswool so soft it feels like cashmere!), and look truly adorable on. Slightly oversized, it makes their little faces look like elves. I love the green one (I’m really into green these days), and the matching gloves and scarves are oh so cute! Good news: they are also available in grown up sizes now. For me, for me!!
xxx Esther
The cutest penguin!
The moment I took this little guy out of his box I was smitten. He’s so sweet! It’s just incredible how much character a knitted soft toy can have. And made from 100% alpaca, he’s super soft too. I’m sure Ava will love him as much as I do — this little guy will be waiting for her under our Christmas tree!
Found in the toy department of Alexandalexa, and made by i golfini della nonna.
xxx Esther
Seascape products from Jersey
There’s something incredibly luxurious about the Seascape products — I just love the gentle smell and stylish packaging of them. All products are created with ingredients sourced from the Jersey shores (a little island which is part of Great Britain but located close to France). Lavender, beeswax and milk come from decennia old, local family run businesses who all share in the success of the company. So romantic! There’s a lovely maternity range and some beautiful products for children too — all paraben, silicone, petroleum and sulphate free and without artificial colours or fragrances. Just lovely!
xxx Esther
Tannhäuser — quality cashmere with colourful details
I’ve been in touch with the lovely Dana from Tannhäuser for a few years now, and she’s kept me in the loop on the progress of building her brand, perfecting her cashmere collections (and the birth of her baby called Rosa!). It’s really interesting to hear how translating an interesting idea into a quality collection is not always easy, dealing with suppliers in Nepal, making sure the quality and fit of the collections are as perfect as you want them to be and that they arrive in time. But Dana succeeded and Tannhäuser has grown into an amazing brand with a beautiful collection which reflects Dana’s perfectionism in every aspect. The quality of the cashmere is outstanding, and the different shades of soft grey in combination with the colourful dots make the pieces ever so different and stylish. So cool! For stockists please check the website.
xxx Esther
Cashmere Balaclavas from Nilka
I had no idea that these cosy little hats had an official name. Did you? They’re called balaclavas… and the place to find the most exquisite cashmere balaclavas in a wide range of colours is a lovely new site called Nilka.
The balaclavas are knitted and hand finished in the finest Scottish cashmere, making them cosy and soft. You can opt for the classic look in a variety of colours… or my favourite, the one with teddy bear ears. What I like about them is that they cover the ears and the neck, and you don’t have to worry about your child’s hat falling off or getting lost. Balaclava might be my new favourite word this winter…
xx Courtney
PS – That’s my daughter, Ivy, in the top photo looking awfully pleased with her new teddy bear hat!
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Hello Hanna Placemat Sets• Adorable Baby Cashmere — from Les Tricots de Margot
Tripp Trapp Newborn Set
There are so many great new baby gadgets and baby gear on the market these days that I am almost sad I don’t have a newborn to check them all out! Take the Tripp Trapp Newborn Set – such a great new invention. I always found it a bit sad not to have my children at the table when they were little babies. They were normally in a bouncy chair under the table or somewhere in a corner. I love the idea of this contraption which you assemble onto a normal Tripp Trapp chair (I think every single of us Babyccino girls have these highchairs for our kids). It means that the child can sit and be part of the family from the start. It also means that you don’t inadvertently trip over them, because you have momentarily forgotten that they have been stuck somewhere on the floor.
- Emilie
P.S. While I am at it here is another great newborn invention: a white noise iphone app that apparently calms down newborns immediately!
Sweet ladybug pyjamas!
These darling ladybug pyjamas are so cute — Ava is walking around in one as I type and I could eat her up. I also think these pyjamas would make the perfect Christmas pyjamas, wouldn’t they? I think Ava will wear them on Christmas morning… (Available from BabyBarn.)
xxx Esther
Party dresses from I Love Gorgeous!
It’s that time of year again. Dark afternoons, cold mornings, pumpkin and cabbage soup on the menu, and… the anticipation of the holidays ahead. This year, I have petrol blue in my head when I think about Christmas! Combined with fresh white stars and glittery gold… Is it a coincidence that there are lots of darling petrol blue dresses in this year’s collection of I Love Gorgeous? It fits in just perfectly with what I have in mind! As always, I Love Gorgeous strikes the exact right tone for little and big girls alike — how cute will Sara (6) and Ava (1) look, holding each other’s hands on Christmas day, in their perfectly petrol party dresses?
xxx Esther
Little bird, Little bird
I’m not sure if it’s simply the influence of the internet or if it has another reason, but there’s more and more Australia in my life these days. I keep discovering great brands and boutiques from down under, meeting lovely Australian people and I keep hearing about how the grass is greener, the sweets are sweeter and the sun is sunnier there, far away, on the other side of the world. I hope to find out for myself one day!
Bird Textile is one of those amazing Australian brands I got to know very recently, and I’m smitten. I admire the gorgeous and unique textiles all screen-printed by hand with water-based dyes on organic cotton fabrics. The homeware collection is amazing — and by the way, it’s all created using solar energy — have a look at the pillows and how beautiful are those placemats and table runners? (Wouldn’t they make a perfect Christmas gift?) I’m also loving the new children’s collection Little Bird, Little Bird, with beautiful classic designs, all hand-crafted with care and with cute little details like smocks, pleats and fabric-covered buttons — all made from Bird Textile’s signature nature-inspired fabrics and sweet as a button.
xxx Esther
Nadadelazos
I’ve been waiting, waiting for Ava to start walking, just because I’ve had this adorable oversized Nadadelazos jumpsuit (pictured left) hanging in her bedroom! I could only imagine how cute it was going to be, and now that she has started to trot around, with her legs wide apart (not sure if that is for reasons of her nappy or to keep her balance!) I have final proof: Nadadelazos is really as cute as it gets. I love how happy and relaxed the winter collection is… and so different in a very sweet way!
Nadadelazos is available through Sweet William.
xxx Esther
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Favourite Toys : Just what the Doctor Ordered!• Favourite Toys: Paperpod Cardboard Dolls House
• Our Kids’ Favourite Toys
A baby play mat that’s modern and stylish (for a change)!
I remember how shocked I was with the playmats available on the market when my babies were born. I seriously didn’t know how fast I could hide them under the sofa once they were finished playing! Definitely not the case for mums who are the proud owner of one of the stylish mats designed by the cool girls from Deuz! Made from 100% organic cotton and full of energetic colors and exciting features like loops to grab, rings to hold and chew, and with a removable cover for easy wash-n-wear care, the Duez play mats will not necessarily need to leave the living room floor at all!
xxx Esther
Cute Fairytale Pyjamas from Helen Gordon
Helen Gordon is a UK-based shop with the most adorable Fairytale-inspired products. You can find everything from pencil cases, notebooks, bibs, wallpaper, gift wrap, aprons, tote bags, clothing and pyjamas… all in the sweetest little designs and retro patterns. I recently got these Hansel and Gretel jersey pyjamas for my daughter and when they arrived she immediately insisted she put them on and wear them for the rest of the day. And I don’t blame her — they are incredibly soft and cosy, softer than any of her other pyjamas for sure! (Also available as a babygro for babies or in the more traditional button-up style, pictured.)
-Courtney
ONE YEAR AGO WE WROTE ABOUT:
• Ribbed Hooded Jacket from Nui Organics• Little red riding hood — pop-up!
