Doll houses can be picture-perfect but are they ‘realistic’? Doll house enthusiast Annina Günter set about creating a doll house that includes coats and shoes crowding the hallway, a bathroom with a veneer of grime and coffee mugs left on the kitchen sink.
They say the simple things in life are often the best and it doesn’t come simpler than this.
It’s 2am. You’re fumbling with your newborn’s growsuit after a middle-of-the-night nappy change. Those snaps are darn tricky at that time of night – I always ended up one button out, leaving a gaping hole near one of baby’s knees and a bunchy bit near the other.
Since having my own babies a delightful trend in baby toys has emerged – felted wool. While I couldn’t take full advantage of felted rattles, balls and friendly creatures for my own children, I can for friends with new babies and my first shopping stop will be Asher Jasper.
I don’t have an iPad (yet) but this cool gadget could very well make me rush out to buy one.
If I told you I’d just listened to an album with moments that reminded me of Barry Manilow’s ‘easy listening’ genius, songs that were Chris Isaak at his crooning best and sounds that were pure Harry Connick Jr pop swing you couldn’t be blamed for thinking ‘What a mess!’ You might also think it a … [Read more.]
If there is one sure fire way to engage toddlers with a book, it is to choose a story that rhymes. Add some farm animals up to mischief and you have a charming book that is likely to turn story-time into sing-along time.
No, you’re not looking at a scene from Alice in Wonderland – it really is a little door within a door.
Some people are incredibly creative. When I discover new mothers who find time to be incredibly creative, I’m doubly impressed. When I had newborns the most creative thing I ever did was artfully arrange their stacks of swaddling wraps. Needless to say, when I found Adele Enersen’s photo blog I was blown away. It’s beautiful. … [Read more.]
My grandfather once told me that to ‘make your million’ (a million dollars was a lot back in the eighties!), all you had to do was create a super cheap, collectible toy for kids and turn it into a craze. I’ve thought about what he said so many times in recent years as I shell … [Read more.]
Parenting confession – I bought these magnetic dress-up dolls for me, not my daughter. Just because I got them from a toy shop, daughter in tow, with the sales assistant saying to her “You’re a lucky girl!” is beside the point. Although it does explain why my daughter has been desperate to get her mitts … [Read more.]
I have two independent bookshops near my house and I frequent both of them – in fact, going to the bookshop for a browse is always much anticipated by my children. I can’t even imagine what it would be like to have the Poplar Children’s Book Store as my ‘local’ (that’s not to say your … [Read more.]