Preserves or tasteful Polish design for kids

December loves Christmas fairs, as people - every weekend more desperate - try to find beautiful and original presents, or just any gift ideas at all... This weekend in Warsaw I visited Przetwory (Preserves) fair dedicated to handmade crafts and small brands, and this year edition was focused especially on kids. You could find there various ideas for gifts, from tiny felt brooches, through unique toys (stuffed, wooden, paper), designer kids clothes and accessories. I bought there a few pretty things and left the place thinking of new must-haves for my little one (this list just won't stop growing...!).

So today I would like to present to you a few Polish kids brands that really caught my eye and which, hopefully, will keep on growing and gaining recognition. It's great to see so many talented people around!

Flawless designs soft casual clothes in oversize style, made from cotton knitwear. Warm, but not heavy, loose-fitting, they look like the perfect clothes to play in. I have already put the grey big hoodie on the to-buy list.

 

Photos from: facebook.com/flawlesspl

Miniio creates beautiful stylish doll houses, inspired by the best adult design, made with serious care and attention to detail, only in a mini-scale. I've already heard so much about them, but this is the first time I saw Miniio's creations in person, and I was really impressed. So if you're looking for a stylish abode for your daughter's Barbie, consider one of their wooden doll houses. 

And if you prefer a budget solution, why not buy a wallpaper sticker from Suodovo, Miniio's sister company, that will transform a simple Ikea shelf into a cool doll apartment.

Photos from: facebook.com/miniio

Fold me are beautiful paper toys that form two collections: Carol-singers and Cosmos. Each set contains twenty two 3D figurines that offer kids tons of fun - first as they are being cut out, assembled and sometimes also colored, and then when they serve as beautiful toys or decorations. Honestly, I couldn't imagine a better christmas tree garland for a house with a little kid.

Photos from: foldme.pl

Bookworms like us

One of the cool things about being a parent is that you can (re)discover the beauty of children's books. It's the magic of simple stories that hide deep and beautiful metaphors, the strength of fine illustrations that invite your imagination to unleash and also the bond that grows stronger when you're reading together. 

But even to those who won't be tempted by the beauty of reading, books can be really pretty objects that please the eye and decorate the room. So let's see how it can be done, shall we?

  

 

How to encourage little bookworms to reach for books? How to simplify navigation between their favorites? And how to bring out the full decorative potential of covers? Forward-facing shelves will do the trick by presenting your little one's library like a gallery.

Source: A Merry Mishap, First House on the Right and Kidsomania

Another go at forward-facing shelves, here made from Ikea spice racks.

Source: Apartment Therapy

A box-meets-coffee-table kind of furniture will store many books and facilitate browsing (just like vinyls in an old record store).

Source: Dejligheder

   

DIY mobile book-box and book-wagon - just gather your favorite books and bring to the reading nook.

Source: Cocon Etc. and Cory Connor Designs

 

 Speaking of reading nooks, have a look at some cozy little places, perfect for reading and relaxation.

Source: Visual Meringue and Sunshine on the Inside

Hideaways

Perhaps it's the memory of a time spent in the womb, or maybe even the smallest creatures have the need for some privacy and their own separate space. Whatever the reason, even a-few-month-old kids enjoy playing in cardboard boxes or crawling through tunnels. Our 9m son loves hiding under the blanket with his daddy - there his toys suddenly become more interesting and he giggles frantically playing peek-a-boo. As kids grow more independent, they invent their own secret hiding spaces, where they can unleash their imagination and play for hours, immersed in the wonderland.

Below I would like to show you some inspiring examples of little indoor hideaways - from teepees to castles and rockets. Kids' imagination has no limits, so why not feed it in someplace creative.

 

When I first read that this play hut from Our Children's Gorilla is called a Skull Cave, it sounded a bit creepy to me. But then if you think of Indiana Jones' adventures, the idea becomes much more fun, not to mention that hidden inside it, your kid will become a true mastermind ;) 

Source: Weekday Carnival 

 

A curious fan of space travels will surely love this cardboard spaceship. You can buy it from Cox&Cox and invite your kid to give it a personal touch by assembling and decorating its walls. 

Source: Cox&Cox 

 

Add some magic to a simple bed and cover it with cozy bed curtains. Grab your toys and embark on a great trip under a map-printed fabric. 

Source: Pinjacolada 

 

A teepee that matches a minimal living room design. While it looks rather austere on the outside, the true magic awaits inside. 

Source: Mokkasin 

 

This colorful teepee was hand-made for little Rowan. It contains books, pillows and a cheetah - what a perfect reading nook. 

Source: Jen Loves Kev 

 

A rather conceptual hideaway house, but who said you can't imagine the walls are there. 

Source: Jenni Juurinen 

  

My home is my castle. And it has a guest bedroom too, so hop in. 

Source: Nicety 

  

A mobile hideaway. It can be a smart solution for smaller houses or shared rooms, allowing to rearrange the space in seconds and... move on a bohemian trip or a rock tour. 

Source: Designoform 

Wood, paper, metal

Today let's have a look at toys that can be a healthy alternative to those popular plastic toys that hurt eyes and - pretty often - ears. Examples collected below are made (mostly) of natural materials. They are simple, functional and support kids' development... as well as good taste. 

Perhaps next time you start looking for gifts for your little ones (Xmas is pretty close), this list might be of help. 

Children love imitating adults but we're not always willing to allow them to do so (you wouldn't want your little one to drool over your iPhone or detach random keys from the keyboard...). But if they saw you snapping photos with Instagram (well, surely!), they will love having their own version of it. This wooden Anagram toy camera is a cool invention from Etsy's Twig Creative and a great gift for future little photographers. As an avid Instagram user, I'm thinking of getting one already.

Source: Twig Creative at Etsy

Shusha creates beautiful wooden learning toys that help kids develop motor skills, teach them logical thinking, as well as boost imagination and good taste. I especially like their wooden people's faces that allow to learn emotions by playing with tens of different expressions.

Source: Shusha Toys

FaceMaker wooden blocks from Miller Goodman offer the same kind of fun though the design is more universal, suiting anyone from 1 to 100 y.o. That's the power of simple form and unlimited imagination. Pure joy!
Source: Shhhop

 In hands (and eyes) of an imaginative child paper can be as inspiring as any other toy. Here are some unbelievably pretty paper creations from a Swedish artist Fideli Sundqvist that can take you places. 

Source: Fideli Sundqvist

Moving on! And what better way to combine the desire to do just like your parents and move around (after all, it's a recent skill that gives so much satisfaction) than riding your own bike, car or... animal?

As I've only learned recently, the best first bikes are those without pedals - or so called running bikes. There is a great variety of those, but I think I like most simple wooden bikes from Wishbone. And if they look too plain for you, perhaps Janod's Vespa-inspired wooden scooter would be a better choice? Both kinds are cute, stylish and guarantee great fun for kids.

Source: Lime Tree Kids and Wishbone

For interior use, you might consider ride ons. Wheely Bug offers great ride ons for kids as young as 1 y.o. Their cute creations are made of wood and offer a safe and fun way to zoom around the house or apartment (as the wheels can move in all directions, your little one won't get stuck meandering between pieces of furniture). It can also be used as a pusher when the child is learning to walk. I guess the only problem is choosing the perfect bug for your kiddo - will it be more fun to ride a pig, a lion or a ladybug? :)
Source: Wheely Bug

If you're not into cute animals, why not offer your child a (toy) car? My favorite little cars are Schylling's Speedster metal ride ons. The classic race car silhouette and vintage look guarantee the machine won't be limited to the kids room. And I guess the kids should enjoy it, too.

Source: Mrs Jones and Roadtrip In Finland

A beautiful nest

Before I had a child, I wasn't really into kids stuff. Basically, I believed that you cannot reconcile adult love for design with kids paraphernalia. At first glance, it all seemed vanilla to me - pale blue or sweet pink, ribbons, bears, flowers, hearts... Too much form, too little love and creativity.

Fortunately, once you start digging into the subject, you can happily discover many alternatives to mainstream pinks and blues, like the little bedrooms inspired by Scandinavian design, minimal or vintage style, that I'm presenting below.

Modern, joyful, light and serene thanks to neutral base palette (white, greys and, yes, black!), with occasional swatches of colour and artful design. Later this month, I will also show you some of my favorite kids clothes, toys and gadgets. Enjoy!

Multicolor swatches against pure white space bring joy and simplicity. I can imagine how kids must love playing in this room - you can feel the free-spirited, positive energy in the air.

Photo by Petra Bindel

Monochromatic, yet not boring, nor sad. Lively contrasting patterns liven up the space and make for a great background for the kids - either to play or sleep sound.

Source: Caisa K.

Monochromatic with just one strong graphic accent. Simple, vintage, warm - perfection. And I'd love to have this bedding myself!

Source: Kjerstis Lykke

Chill-out in whites. The monochromatic space feels soft and calm, perfect for a little bedroom.

Source: Petit brin de mimosa

Soft natural hues serve as background for colorful toys and books. Natural materials add warmth to the interior.

Source: Jelanie

Grey, black, white and yellow. The choice of colors is not obvious and it suits well both sexes, as well as different purposes of the room - from playtime to relaxation and sleep.

Source: Kesalla Kerran

A graphic grey wallpaper adds depth to the room and captures the imagination, inviting to dreamed-up travels and adventures.

Source: Mr Perswall

Black wall may not be the first choice for a child's bedroom, but here it works great, bringing out the colorful mobile, toys and accessories.

Source: Apartment Therapy

Yet another black wall, here in chalk paint, invites children to play. A contrasting wallpaper roll reminds us we're in a kids area and dotted lamp and bedding bring yet more light accents.

Source: Onszelf

One Tuesday afternoon...

One Tuesday afternoon my thirty-something life has changed rather dramatically. On becoming a mom, I have entered a previously unimaginable world of overwhelming baby cuteness, smelly diapers, tiny pretty outfits, belly aches, toothless smiles, elimination diet, baby gadget mania, sleep deprivation, losing hair and kilos. I am enjoying the blessings of having a joyful, user-friendly kid and gradually I have embraced most negatives as either inevitable or not that bad after all. I don't like bugging myself with trivial things, so I always prefer to move on to the good ones.

Here, I want to share some of the beautiful, fun, yummy and fascinating things that belong to the kids universe, and that are worth of an adult's attention. I hope you will enjoy them, too!

(c) Tove Jansson