Tidings of comfort and joy

Kickcan & Conkers Shop now open!

One of our beacons in blogland has just given us all a very big Christmas present! The very talented Deborah from Kickcan & Conkers has just launched her much anticipated online store and boy is it chock full of budding brilliance. No need to say any more, just head on over and get ready to indulge yourself in some unique, original and significant artistic finds. Congratulations Deb!

Christmas Day respite

After the turkey's been tackled, the prawns have been picked, you and all your little ones may need a little quiet time. Our very favourite book and now very favourite 'movie' is being shown on ABC2 on Christmas Day. Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers is a story beloved my many and if we're in need of a little respite, we may call in a favour and watch 'the boy' and 'the penguin' just one more time....

Operation Gingerbread

We braved the driving rain today for a very important Christmas project - Operation Gingerbread House! We were excited. Off we drove to our lovely friends home for a morning of muffins and making. This was a first foray into the world of candy construction for the family Trim(m) and I'm not sure who was more looking forward to the excursion, the grown ups or the kids.

So I'll admit I had to stop myself from taking over and unleashing my inner decorator, after all, this was for the kids right? The results were terrific, I just don't think you can go wrong anyway, as no matter how wonky or over the top, these traditional Christmas treats are just so much fun to create. We'll be sure to continue this new tradition in 2012.

Is it a bird, is it a plane?

Here's one of those toys that you can imagine Dad's and uncle's 'borrowing' on Christmas Day. The Superbird is inspired by Leonardo's flying machine. (NO people, not Dicaprio, the OTHER famous Leo). It flies with gusto, flaps its wings in very realistic fashion and doesn't need any batteries. And look at those colours!

Little Brilliance

If you're looking for a great book this Christmas look no further than David Walliams. Better known as one half of comic duo Little Britain, his latest foray into children's writing is nothing short of brilliant. His books are flying off the shelves and loved by kids aged 9+. Heralded as the Roald Dahl and with illustrations by Quentin Blake, they are perfect for those reluctant to read and sure to fetch a giggle or two over turkey.
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Miniature Marvel

Ok so if I was in Hamburg I would be sure to take the boys here!. And their Dad. And we'd fly their Grandad in from Dublin....

The house that Daddy built

We have just come home from a sugary extravaganza. I don't think the boys are ever going to be the same again.... We spent the evening watching their Daddy create a giant gingerbread house for a function he is catering for tomorrow night. Seriously, there were lollies for Ireland - chocolates, jellies, candy canes, lollypops - you name it. It was sugar nirvana! I thought you might enjoy some photos of the men at 'work'. How fun to visit Daddy at work and help him make, do and play. Lucky boys.

St. Nicholas is comin' to town

The beauty of Christmas is the ability to tweak the traditions to suit your family ethos. Our favourite melancholy merrymakers from Flannery O Kafka certainly don't follow the mainstream. Just check out their happy family snap from last year! Need I say more? Here's their take on the yuletide season....

In our house we don't really 'do' Santa Claus.  After all, our kids would surely get some sort of inferiority complex when they realize that most kids get about 10x the presents they get.  Their good behaviour would  seem highly unrecognised!  On Christmas Day, they give and get gifts from their parents and family.  

On the 5th of December however, St. Nicholas does make an appearance.  The children put a shoe outside their door in preparation for St. Nicholas Day.  He makes a visit in the night and gives the children a chocolate Santa, chocolate coins, and cold hard cash.  The coins are symbolic of the gift-giving Nicholas is reported to have done in his lifetime--putting coins into stockings and shoes of the poor.  In keeping with the outward focus, the money we give the children is for them to put toward buying Christmas presents for others.  

2 shoes pictured...but we've got 5 to fill!

It might all sound ideal, but the catch is: we're the parents of the kids who tell your kids Santa Claus isn't alive any more.  And for that, we apologize.

Happy St. Nicholas Day,
flannery o'kafka
(and family)

Nesting Dolls for Boys!

I shared my admiration for Swedish illustrator Ingela Arrhenius over on Kidstylefile recently. I'm delighted to see a new addition to her fabulous collection for Studio Matryoshka. With a big nod to the oh so popular mid century style, you could fall instantly in love with her range of nesting dolls - character dolls or animals galore - the trouble will be deciding which collection to choose!

Good Ol' Charlie Brown

All you Charlie Brown fans  - me included - will be super excited to hear that Japanese clothing brand Uniqlo are releasing a new range of kids t-shirts next year to celebrate the classic Peanuts Cartoons of yesteryear. I have my eye on snoopy the pilot on his red kennel - fills me with happy nostalgia!

London Calling

London is very much on my mind this week as my sister brings a new bundle into the world. I think this print on canvas by Barry Goodman is a winner and I reckon it would look rather good in my nephew's nursery...

Dreading December?

Hello and welcome to December. Yep it's that time of year again when Mum's go into over-drive and lists get out of control.
This year I've decided to keep things manageable. Working in the bookshop gives me a major advantage. Over the past two weeks I've been steadily gathering a bundle of goodies that I hope will work well in the present department. Combine that with some Dish Pig teatowels, exclude my own family who I'll be shopping for online (postage to the UK and Ireland is just a stupid added cost), and I am all set for the big day of giving!
I've been wondering what to write about this month on The Brothers Trimm. So many blogs are displaying a mighty amount of product to tempt your tastebuds, I'm not sure you need the same from me?

How can I help? I guess that's the question tonight....