Not all nurseries are about pastel colours and bunnies with fluffy cotton tails.

For something a little darker (but of course, still quite suitable), pop into Etsy’s The Little Fox. Artist Despina is inspired by vintage children’s books and toys, fairytales and music from the twenties and thirties. The results are gorgeous – rich, bordering on gothic and intriguing.

Doe-eyed characters (reminiscent of the much-loved Blythe dolls) set against dark woods, snow-covered hills and stormy skies dominate the collection of prints although my favourites are drawn from fairytales. What might have happened if Goldilocks had stayed with the three bears? A picnic perhaps?!

Despina’s Alice in Wonderland series, Curiouser and Curiouser, is everything Alice should be – enchanting, topsy-turvy and slightly odd. I love the print of the Red Queen playing croquet with flamingos and hedgehogs and equally, Alice set for a tea party – wearing a teapot on her head.

As well as prints, The Little Fox offers a selected range of designs as stationery, book plates, tote bags (adorable as library bags) and stunning pendants – the pendants are so well priced that you do have to ask yourself why bother with children’s plastic jewellery when they can have a precious piece of art instead?!

Prints are US$16 each, pendants range from US$15 to $20 and tote bags are $15. The Little Fox ships prints to Australia at no charge and other items, such as the pendants, for just US$3.