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

More light for long autumn evenings

Since the last daylight saving time change, days have become way too short for me and it just keeps surprising me how early it's getting dark these days. Everyday strolls with my little one guarantee a regular dose of sunlight and fresh (chilly!) air, but as the evenings are getting longer, it calls for some extra sources of light.
Once your kid starts cruising around the house, placing candles and tealights around isn't such a good idea anymore. So what are the wiser lighting options? 

Below you can find some ideas to brighten your evenings and please your and your kid's eyes with soft, atmospheric light. Enjoy! :)

 

String light balls will decorate the room even when they're not lit, and in the evening they'll color nearby furniture and walls with warm magic light. 

Source: Kråkvik & D'Orazio and Cable and Cotton

 This Miffy lamp adds a giant load of cuteness to the room and some pretty, diffused light to play or nap to.

Source: Monjolishop

A tree hut lamp - if the forest theme is too much for you, try it on a simple wall. You'll like the soft and mysterious light it brings to the room. It's nice to imagine that up there, someone is watching over you when you sleep.

Source: Modern Treetop Baby @Etsy

 

Egmont White Rabbit night lamp is a half-century old classic which matches really well simple modern design. It will bring warm, comforting light to the room and chase away any bad dreams.

Source: Bodie and Fou

Hiding (from) the toys

At the end of the day, when your apartment is flooded with toys big and small, colorful cubes, cups, duplo bricks, books, crayons, etc, you need a good place to hide the toys for the night. 

It would be best if the solution allowed your kid to easily access the toys, so she or he can take things out to play and then (hopefully) put them back. That's why regular furniture doesn't always come in handy. 
It would also be great if it blended well with the general look and feel of the playroom. And for that reason, I'm not a big fan of gigantic tupperware-style storage boxes.

So what are the alternatives? Below you will find some simple and pretty inventive ideas for storing toys that are practical, fun and easy to apply. And as you'll see, most of the will cost you next to nothing. Let me know which ones you like best!

  

This is a solution that I'm currently testing at home and I really like it. A straw basket can hide many toys, it is easy to access and safe for your kid. And once you decide it's not big enough for all the treasures to contain, you can always claim it back and use for storing your laundry, grocery shopping, etc.

Source: A Merry Mishap and The Designer Pad

Good old shelves + cookie boxes as treasure chests. Metal boxes are great for storing your kids' precious little items plus they blend well with other toys.

Source: Helt Enkelt Hos Mig

If you're lucky, you can assembly a similar wire storage from old metal crates or vintage shopping baskets. If you don't have those, but love this industrial look, why not buy it online.

Source: Baby & Child Restoration Hardware

An old fruit crate upcycled to a cool toy box. Easy, low-cost and fun. Since it is mobile, kids can move it around the house and place right where the fun is starting.

Source: Design Happens

 

Wooden boxes can be a good basis for a DIY module rack. I think I prefer the painted version, as it is both more dynamic and makes the toys stand out more. You can also decorate the boxes with wrapping paper or wallpaper.

Source: Petit Monde and Noosh Loves...

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