Your King's Speech

With the UK and Ireland celebrating celebrating World Book Day on March 3rd, we're joining the party this week and sharing all our favourite reads and storytelling arts! We have kicked things off with two brilliant reads - Food Is Fun and The Lost Thing - the Australian book that is now an Oscar winning short film! Today I am very belatedly sharing with you a wonderful tool to help your boys tell a story. In light of the dashing Colin Firth's award winning performance, ( it's all about Oscar today!) you too can encourage your noble offspring to become great orators! Adorn your little prince with the Ellie Bellie Kids Story Crown - featuring illustrations by award winning designer Linda Olliver - and begin your once upon a time with the printed elements of a tale ready to be told. All that is needed is a head, a keen imagination, a little regal countenance and a very happy ending.

Oscar - The Lost Thing

We are lucky enough to own a copy of Oscar winning The Lost Thing - a jaw droppingly unconventional animation by the oh so talented Australian illustrator, author and director Shaun Tan. The story of a boy who befriends a rather odd shaped 'lost thing' is humble yet so emotive and I would have to say is probably THE most incredible little film I have seen, as not only are the boys completely spellbound, but so am I, every time we treat ourselves to its full 15 minutes. (Scroll down to watch the trailer)
So hooray for humble stories, hooray for illustration, and hooray for Aussie talent!

Food is Fun!

With World Book Day only days away, we are celebrating our favourite leaves this week. We begin with one fantastic title and it's all about Food and Fun. Tick! Our great friends at Anorak were kind enough to share a copy of their latest endeavour with us, Food is Fun!, and boy did we love it. This fun guide is just that, add a sprinkling of history, a spattering of education, a good dollop of easy peasy recipes (we attempted the Super Easy Cake a Monkey Could Make), and voila, you'll have yourself an afternoon filled with batter, crazy vegetables and a lot more know how on how to get your kids involved in the kitchen. No fancy pants photography, no Masterchef mysteries, just simple fun and frollicks, Anorak-style. Thumbs UP

Our little chef

Sock it to me!

I am usually totally unimpressed with standard sock options for boys, sludgy colours, garish graphics continue to disappoint.I am generally a fiend for accessories and so am secretly squealing over my latest discovery! Yet another creative tour de force from Sweden, Sock Designers offer a bright and vivacious collection of organic cotton socks for kids and grown ups, seriously, stripes have really never looked so good!

Akkar mini

Jigger Mini

Heilo Mini

Fitting Feet

We all know the importance of fitting little feet with the correct sized shoes. Our friends at Little Scandinavian have created a very useful guide on how to properly measure precious peds if and when buying shoes online. Here is what you should do...

Bathtime Snap

Now here's everyone's favourite card game that you can now play in and out of the water!
How simple and clever are the people from Milliwik!

Mio and Mao

Our favourite Londoner has stopped by to share a recent discovery. If you're mad about cats, you'll love Julie's latest animation fun-sation.

Monday morning, bleary eyed, a bit grumpy and not quite ready for a new week I took myself to the kitchen to brew a cup of coffee to help get me out the door on time for work.
While the coffee was heating up I flicked mindlessly through the TV stations and stumbled upon something way more fun and engaging than the morning news….

Mio Mao is a stop frame claymation series produced in Italy by Misseri Studios and Mad Mouse Movies. I’ve never seen it before but have since discovered that the original series was made 30 years ago, the second series in 2005.

Mio (white) and Mao (red) are two curious and playful kittens that investigate things hidden in their garden. They had discovered a peacock in the episode I came across, and it was a combination of how the kittens were animated (they get all squished as they move along and then re-morph into lovely shapes), the bright colours of the clay against a simple white background and Derek Griffiths’ (early Play School and Bod) narration that sucked me in and helped sooth my Monday morning humphh!

Each episode is about five minutes long, and you can find them on You Tube or even follow them on Facebook!

I’m not exactly sure what age demographic these kittens will appeal to, but all I can say is that for a few minutes I was completely hooked, so hopefully some of your children will be too!

Enjoy.

Stop Motion at Moomah

I have mentioned the highly motivating Moomah before, but I wanted to tell all you New Yorkers about the latest workshops happening in your 'hood. The rest of the world, be envious, as emmy-award winning animator Danielle Ash leads a Stop Motion Animation workshop in the coming months. Students will experiment with a variety of materials and techniques, including lego animation, clay-mation, found object and chalk drawing. Coincidentally this week I was writing my contribution for the next Classic Play e-zine and this is exactly what I was discussing - getting behind the camera rather than sitting in front of a big screen for a change. Go check it out!

Brickstix

It seems that some of the best emerging toys are those made by parents for their kids. This is definitely the case with Brickstix - an innovative accessory for classic building bricks. These reusable decals transform your Lego using three boytastic themes - space, metro and transport - and will be loved by parents for fine motor skill practice and quiet play activity! You can find them at the terrific aMuse Toys in the US, hopefully we'll see them internationally soon

Celebrate the Boy!

For the month of February, Dana at Made, and Made by Rae have been celebrating the boy for a second successful year! Whoopeeee!! Click over to visit their extensive collection of clothing tips, crafts, style and boyish charm. There are great sewing tutorials, like this one on how to make and line trousers that even tempt me to dust off my little sewing machine this winter.

Our petit oiseau

My Mum gave the boys this little bird a few years ago. It has an old fashioned key and when turned, the bird pecks imaginary seeds from his imaginary ground. We love him and and I have always wondered where to find some more. Until now... The exquisite little Petit Pan shop in Montmartre can help you! They even sell online, hmm yes, I'll take one of everything thanks!

Our favourite little bird

Carp lantern

Tin soldier

Beautiful kites

Cushion Craze

How totally and utterly gorgeous are these cushions by Jessica Nielsen. I just can't stop oogling over them! Perhaps I could 'pretend' to get them for the boys room, but accidentally scatter them in mine?

Art Month Sydney

If you are in Sydney next month then this should be hot on your activity TO DO list  - Sydney Art Month. With Leanne Rossler of Dinosaur Designs involved, this is sure to be a wonderful experience celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of Sydney's art scene. To celebrate the launch of the Art Adventure Gallery Guide there will be lots of FREE creative activities for kids held at the National Art School in Darlinghurst, and the chance to collect your gallery guide featuring activities by leading artists. Follow your art with your kids in tow! February 26th 2-4pm, mark it on your calendar. It'll be a goodie!

Little Scout

A new online store has opened in the UK and I have to say I am EXCITED (even though I live on the other side of the world!). What I love is the fact that they share a very similar ethos to The Brothers Trimm, aiming to find fun things for boys to discover, build and conquer, in a way that comes naturally to them. www.littlescout.co.uk is now open for business so please do go visit, you've got a treat in store.


Here's just a few of my favourite finds..

Shylling Mini Tool Box

                                                               Shylling Bike Aeroplane

Paper Pod Plane

The Adventurer's Notebook

Family Weekend

I have been offline for a few days, taking a break from chasing my tail, enjoying a few days of dedicated family time up the coast. We went on an impromptu camping trip in the heavenly Coles Bay, where you can still get a site, right on the beach, in the middle of summer, with very little hassle.
No mobile coverage, no distractions, just the ocean, possums and the gentle paddle of passing kayakers - oh yes it was bliss. Only problem was that just as we were getting right into our sea creature collecting and camp side etiquette, we had to pack up and come home!

Coles Bay, Freycinet Peninsula

Animal Ink

To avoid the common biro on the arm look, how about these super cool tattoos! I know which I'd prefer...

via Modern Kiddo

Play Pins

I'm a big fan of Draw! Pilgrim and when I found her little badges (or pins, depending on where you live,) well, I knew I needed to add quite a few to my collection. It's the vibrant colours, that just say 'hello, I'm a kid'. Hey wouldn't they be a great idea for older boys party favors or even little rewards? 

Dib Dib Dib

Brush up on your camp songs each morning behind this badge worthy shower curtain! Or if you're sports mad, then this one's for you...

Robot Coasting

Serve your milk and cookies from this collection and maybe these robots will do more than wave at you! I reckon they're just itching to jump up and shake your hand! Hey they'll probably serve you too.

Spicing up Story Time

I bet this little picture will be making the social media rounds. I've already seen it on three interfaces and knew I just had to share it with you. In the spirit of my recent DIY shelving post, this is another winner, all thanks to IKEA 'Bekvam' spice racks and a little imagination.

via Oh Dee Doh

Boys Room Bliss

Be still my aching design heart. Oh to decorate my boys room like this! The Dutch just have good design flowing through their veins, don't they? Here is a delicious peak at founder of BijzonderMOOI*, Sandra Jacobs son's room. Just look at all that recycled furniture - with a lick of paint, it's as good as new, and oh so stylish. Fantastisk!

via Bloesem Kids. Photos by Style Cookie

Love Kits

If you want your boys to send  their own message of love,but need a little help getting started, then why not pick up one of these Valentine Kits and leave them to express themselves. Or if you need Cupid to give you a headstart, then never fear, he's got the perfect lovin' kit for you to send that special message.

Etch-a-Sketch T's

With Valentine's only a week away I can't help but jump on the bandwagon of love...It's what makes the world go round now isn't it?
Don't you just want to frame this T-shirt? It's just cuter than cute. You should see the dinosaur version...