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

Every day is magic - advent calendars

Although in Poland the tradition of advent calendars isn't very strong, I love the idea of building anticipation before Christmas with tiny gifts or treats. 

When I was a kid, on the 6th of December (Saint Nicolas' name day) my parents used to give me a chocolate advent calendar with small chocolate pieces hidden under numbered sections for every day of December, up until the 24th. Since I loved sweets, I couldn't resist eating all 6 chocolates from those first days of the month at once, but then I would discipline myself, and for the following days I would only open and eat one piece a day, celebrating each precious bite. I still love this memory, so every December I keep sharing chocolate advent calendars with my parents and my husband.

Chocolate calendars are the easiest way for a Christmas warm-up. But if you're not happy with a ready-made box of chocolates, how about preparing your own little piece of Christmas art? Just look at the examples below for inspiration.

Woodland calendar with handmade paper creatures and scenery - if you use them to roleplay with your kid, they will last much longer than just advent time.

Triangle envelopes form a garland filled with advent gifts. Simple and stylish - just pick the colors that will best match the interior.

On the road to Christmas, you can visit little cardboard houses which hide tiny everyday treats. How creative! 

Source: Snug Online

   

Decorated pegs and brown paper parcels make for very simple and pretty calendars. Great for kids and adults alike.

Source: Ramme Aalvor, Stylizmo and Kjerstis Lykke

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