If you're looking for something a little different in a baby book, then
you can't get much sweeter than the 100th Anniversary Edition
of
Mother Stork's Baby Book. It's a world away from contemporary baby books and its original antique typeface and illustrations by Albertine Randall Wheelan are
simply charming with their turn-of-last-century feel.
Each lovingly made, archival quality book contains poetry from famous wordsmiths including
Lewis Carroll, Eugene Field and Robert Louis Stevenson. Like the 1904 edition, it is hardbound and covered in linen cloth,
with a lovely dust jacket for extra protection.
Every care has been taken with ensuring that the Mother's Stork
Baby Book will endure
and stay beautifully preserved. Each book is wrapped in acid-free tissue paper
and placed in its very own box. No detail has escaped attention - also
included is a gel pen and 240 acid-free photo corners, as well
as a gift tag. It's a complete gift, finshed off with beautiful striped
ribbon - all you have to do is write on the tag!
The reprinting
of this heirloom baby book came about in 2004, when Elizabeth Brantley
discovered her Grandmother's original Mother's Stork book filled in by her Great Grandmother. From that
moment, she set about reproducing it - the fact that it's now in its
third printing is an indication of its huge success! She is now
branching out into creating other beautiful products for babies.
From Kistner Supply, who will happily ship to Australia for about
US$40. The book retails for US$135 and co-ordinating prints are available for the nursery
for $185, or two for $150 each. The site has a wonderful page by
page view of the book, so you can see exactly what you're getting.
We love Eeni Meeni Miini Moh here at Babyology. The natural fabrics, muted colours and infinite attention to detail in the brand’s gorgeous babywear, wraps and accessories are hallmarks of designer Elizabeth O’Connor-Cowley. And now we’re loving her a whole lot more. Why? Because she’s just released a stunning range of lifestyle accessories for adults, called article.
Natural fabrics and muted tones are also the focus for article but in textures and shades more suited to adult palates. So expect clay, chocolate and charcoal rather than musty pinks and blues, and canvas and wool rather than cotton. Of course, all this doesn’t mean Elizabeth’s newest designs are not still super-handy where little ones are concerned.
We like the beanbags and cushions, perfect for creating cosy nests for reading books or just for snuggling with your little ones. They make stylish elbow savers when doing jigsaws or playing other games on the floor. We can’t go past article’s utterly useful cylinder storage boxes. Use them to keep the kids’ toys in stylish order in the living room or pinch them to hold baby bits and pieces in a neutral-themed nursery. Article also have a great range of totes and bags perfect for kid and baby-toting dads. (Hello, did someone say Father’s Day!)
You can find article in boutiques soon or get yours online direct from the designer here. Cushions cost from $59, cylinders from $19, bags from $79 and beanbag covers for $249, with a little extra for postage. The initial range is all made up of limited editions, some as small as 500, so act fast!
Reuseable bags have become essential in my household. Ever since I
discovered bags like Envirosax, which I can fold up and pop
inside my handbag so they're never forgotten in the car boot, they've
been my constant companions. We have drastically
reduced the number of plastic bags we use out of concern for the
increased waste we began to generate once we had children. We also set
up a compost a few weeks ago - it's powering along nicely and our bin
is much emptier. We thought it was important to model environmentally
conscious behaviour to our sons from very early on in their lives so
that they will go on to behave the same way in their lifetimes.
Up until recently the offerings for reuseable bags were less than
chic, to say the least. Now that the Envirosax have taken the market
by storm, I've been on the lookout for other designs and fabrics, to
add to my growing stash. It's becoming an extension of my love of
handbags, but without the huge pricetags! Envirosax cost $8.50 for one or $37.95 for 5 bags.
With my eternal love of polka
dots,
of course I was going to fall in love with the very stylish
Built NY Market Tote.
Made from
Neoprene, which is wetsuit fabric, it will protect your groceries from
bumps, and be as eyecatching as a designer handbag as you
peruse the market stalls or supermarket aisles. It will also
effectively insulate heat-sensitive items so you can afford to linger
over
that coffee before rushing home.
This one will set you back $49.95 but it is gorgeous!
This
Reisenthel Modern Grocery Tote
may be the best option for
a nappy bag that we've seen that is both amazingly cheap, yet cute to
look at. It has bottle-sized pockets externally, and a large main
compartment for nappies and wipes. There is also a removable zippered
pocket to keep your keys and mobile from floating around. It's designed
to be a grocery bag, but we can see the potential for a great throw
around nappy bag!
The gorgeous Built NY polka dot tote is available locally from
Bristol and Brooks
who ship all the items on their site free of charge Australia-wide!
Alternatively, both bags can be purchased from
Reuseable Bags, a US site which offers very reasonable international shipping.
There are those that have embraced the idea of being the very best
Auntie in the world - the one who does all the fun stuff,
gives the parents a break, has a deeply fulfilling relationship with
the kids, and who gets to hand them back at the end of the day! Our
kids have a fab Great Aunt who never tires of holding the baby, jumps
at the chance to see them, and who can give a stern order
when needed.
Now here's a parenting website dedicated to non-parents - those essential people who care so much and take such an interest
in our young people, but for whom there is often very little support and information.
Savvy Auntie
provides fun and useful articles on topics such as nutrition,
the value of reading, special needs, activities and entertainment, and
there's even a forum for swapping ideas with other cool Aunties!
Savvy Auntie also deals with tricky topics that can crop up when
dealing with children such as establishing boundaries,
feelings of favouritism for a particular child, and identifying when a
child may need professional help.
Having resources to draw from that have a significant other's
perspective in mind, will no doubt serve to enrich children's lives.
Savvy Auntie's
founder Melanie Notkin realised how little information there was in cyberspace for people such as herself - an enthusiastic ABR
(Auntie By Relation) and ABC (Auntie By Choice) - yes there's even 'Savvy-Speak'! She's filled the gap admirably with the development of Savvy Auntie.
The site has an advisory board and panel of experts who contribute articles, advise and conduct ongoing research.
The site was launched just weeks ago, and is still in the process of being perfected, hence the Beta sign near the logo. I can't
wait to see what more the 'Auntiepedia' will have to offer. Check out the blog and forums too.
Savvy Auntie is sure
to be one that I forward on to the women in our lives who love kids!
There’s something heading our way from China this week that has everyone at Babyology cheering like crazy. And it’s not the Beijing Olympics. It’s this range of adorably kitsch goodies by Dumpling Dynasty that we discovered at the kids inSTYLE trade show in Melbourne last week.
Brit designers Fiona Hewitt and Andy Tainton channelled their years as ex-pats wandering the back alleys of Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore to come up with this Asian-inspired collection of useful kits and other bits that are gorgeously, unashamedly kitsch. And we love every last one of them. We’re tipping the cutesy Cookies Wallet is going to become a must-have item for hip mums everywhere - and their teenage daughters!
We also love the Sewing Kit – right down to its sweet little Dumpling Dynasty-branded cotton reels. I want one and I can’t even sew. That’s how gorgeous it is. The rest of the range includes an Explorer Kit with real compass, a Baking Kit for turning out cupcakes and cookies with zing and a girly Pigtail Kit - in Communist red, of course. Cute, cute, cute. All of them are contained in adorable vintage-style tins with just the right amount of whimsy and retro cool to balance the schmaltz. Not just for kids – these make super-charming housewarming or birthday presents for teens and grown-ups too.
You can find Dumpling Dynasty products online at Cradlerock or get your Dumpling fix direct from Australian suppliers Lark, who also do all manner of other retro delights. Kits cost $29.95 each, the Cookie Wallet retails for $34.95 and other items in the Dumpling Dynasty range start from $14.95. Don’t forget to add a few dollars extra for postage.
