Polka Dot Club

I've had my eye on Jennifer Murphy's beautiful handmade bears for a while and have been thinking of making Eli, a tiny stuffed elephant from one of her downloadable patterns. I contacted Jennifer to ask a few questions about her work and to find out more about the POLKA DOT CLUB.

How did you start making bears and soft toys? My mom has always been a collector of things and in the 1980's she was especially drawn to old mohair teddy bears. At the time selling, they were selling for thousands of dollars, so she decided to try making them herself. The only place we could find the mohair fur that was similar to the old toys was in lining of vintage jackets. We would drive all over southern michigan to every thrift store gathering old jackets and ripping them up. This all started when I was 7 years old, and by the time I was 11 she had quit her conventional hospital job and was traveling all over the country selling her amazing teddy bears to collectors. An artist teddy bear movement was happening and there were huge shows popping up all over the world. Convention centres were filled with people making and buying teddy bears. It was a strange and amazing way to grow up. My mom built a business and made it work. I was inspired. I started out making bears from the scraps she couldn't use when I was 11. I would put a few of my bears out on her table at shows and began to draw collectors of my own. I put myself through college, making and selling bears, and in 2001 I launched my website www.jmurphybears.com. I've been making mohair and wool toys for what feels like my whole life. It's a strange and amazing thing to be a second generation teddy bear maker. What is the POLKA DOT CLUB? The POLKA DOT CLUB 
is a collection of heritage 
toys. Each bear is made by hand in Minneapolis, using the same materials and techniques employed by the finest toy makers over 100 years ago. The first teddy bears were designed and made out of mohair and it’s still the best fabric available today. Our mohair is woven on one of only a few looms left in the world. The mohair fibers (sheared from the mohair goat) are looped onto cotton backing, creating a 100% natural fur that’s durable, beautiful, and totally unique but because of its expense and rarity almost no toy makers use it today. Mohair ages very differently than the contemporary alternative - synthetic plush. It ages with dignity, showing it’s years gracefully and begs to be passed on from one generation to the next. Inside all PDC bears is 100% cotton stuffing and the Classic Bears are disk jointed allowing the head and limbs to turn freely. I hand embroider each nose one at a time with love and care. Every step, process, material, and fiber is chosen specifically with your child in mind - It's not easy or fast but every PDC bear is made with intention and love. What is the difference between the POLKA DOT CLUB and your own Jennifer Murphy Bears? I started making and selling my bears when I was so young, it was a business that slowly turned into a living before my eyes. I sold one-of-a-kind mohair pieces that looked like toys but were made for adult collectors to plop on a shelf and admire. I was basically making toys that weren't meant for kids, which just seemed wrong given my inspiration was old toys that were played with to the point of becoming hairless and deformed with love. No one was making mohair toys for kids today. Even Steiff, the first and finest maker of teddy bears and animals was making stuffed animals "not intended as a toys". I wanted kids besides my own, to have these objects, and have the pleasure of passing them on to their children. It has so much to do with those bears my mother and I admired when we began this whole thing in the 80's. Bears that were over 100 years old, and played with for generations. I wanted to start that again. How do your kits work? I'd love to make one - are they difficult? I'm really connected to the materials I use - mohair specifically is just so beautiful. I want everyone to be converted to it's magic so I've made patterns and supplies available on my website. While none of the patterns are easy, the instructions are incredibly detailed. There are videos and so many photos, in the 5 years they've been available, I think I had one person have an question about how to do something. That feels like a victory. Basically, there are the patterns and then there are the supplies needed to make those patterns. You can buy one or both. I think it's easier to make the project with the materials it was drafted for, but wool felt or even cotton would work too. Skip the synthetic fur though, the backings are just too thick for these patterns. I think it would just be an exercise in frustration. Where can people buy your bears? Both of my websites have online shops. In the JMurphyBears shop, there are patterns, supplies, and occasionally I update it with one of a kind and limited edition teddy bears and animals for collectors. I announce the date and time for the updates on my social media feeds and my mailing list. As for the POLKA DOT CLUB, there are a handful of pieces I make available all the time like the PDC Classic Bear, but I'm always working on new things. For instance this spring I made a Rolypoly linen Rabbit which was only available for a short time. I like to switch things up in the studio, it keeps the whole process fresh for me while bringing new designs in to the mix. What are your plans for the future? There are so many challenges in starting this new business. The POLKA DOT CLUB is now only a year old, though it took about 4 years to nail down all the details and legal issues not to mention the millions of little details I couldn't ignore before I was ready to launch it out into the world last summer. I feel like I'm just beginning to get my footing, but I have plans for new designs and pairing with other designers and artists for collaborations. Most importantly, I plan to spend this summer with my two little kids, the oldest of which heads to kindergarten this fall. How time flies.

Thank you Jennifer! Please visit www.polkadotclub.com to find out more.

A Mouthful of Milk Teeth

It's not surprising that I love this new collection by Lu Flux called A Mouthful of Milk Teeth. It combines patchwork, kid's clothes and knitwear - three of my favourite things. Each piece is made to order from a mix of cotton and wool yarns and the items have great names, like Gummy Trousers, Flossy Skirt and Molar Helmet. Hmm, it's all a lot more fun than going to the dentist.

P.S. I like their Bear dress for grown ups too.

What Mother Made

One of the very first pieces of clothing that I bought for Wren was a cute little printed romper from a small label called What Mother Made at Broadway Market. I was immediately drawn to the traditional shapes and colourful prints on the stall and thankfully, I wasn't the only one. What Mother Made have continued to grow, and they now produce a large collection of handmade kid's clothes that look like your Mother could have made them. Their new Autumn/Winter collection has just launched, so I chatted to founder Charlotte to find out a little more about the brand.

What inspired you to start What Mother Made? My grandmother used to make my Mum's clothes, my Mum used to make my clothes, so this passion for making garments is in our family and has always existed. I really wanted to carry on that tradition, it's something I feel we've lost in recent years. What Mother Made initially started as a hobby, then for the Royal Wedding we made a few pieces to sell at a local craft market. Everything sold out and since then we haven't looked back. What are the ideas behind the most recent collection? We were looking through family photos of when we were children, reminiscing. The clothes we were dressed in gave me food for thought. The shapes and textures were amazing and so it inspired us to create our own 'heritage' collection. What materials do you use and where do you make the clothes? We hand-make everything from a studio in Dalston, East London, and we're proud that we have been able to keep the process British. We use a lot of different fabrics; cottons, herringbone wool, African prints and fleck tweeds. Texture is really important to the new collection and the extra dimension it gives to the clothing. Where do you sell? We're stocked in a number of places across London at the moment (In With the Old, 57 Amwell Street, EC1R 1UR, Archie's Boutique) as well as through our website www.whatmothermade.co.uk. We've also kept the original stall we had when we first started the business over 2 years ago at Broadway Market, Hackney, every Saturday from 10am - 5pm. Do you have any children? If so, what is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Yes we have two. Madison who is six, and Arlo who is about to turn one. At home with the children we love making things; cars, magic telescopes, treasure boxes out of cereal boxes and bottle tops. If you can glue it or cut it, they'll be making something out of it! What is your favourite children's book? We recently bought the entire Roald Dahl collection at a car boot sale and are currently reading The Witches with Madison. They are absolutely timeless those stories and reading them to Madison is like being transported back to your youth. They're just brilliant to read. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? Lots, we're in the middle of planning for next year's seasons and we're looking to take the brand to Australia and Scandinavia towards the end of the year. We're also looking into British collaborations so watch this space...

www.whatmothermade.co.uk

Postcards 04: Just So Festival

Last weekend we went to the Just So Festival at the beautiful Rode Hall in Cheshire, and let me tell you, it was more than just so, it was fantastic! The festival is for children and families of all ages and there is something there to capture everybody's imagination. There was storytelling, doll making, cowboy training, sandcastle building, crafts, camping, delicious food and fairies. For babies there was also a special "shiny things" tent, quiet areas and lots of bubbles! Wren and Fred both had a brilliant time as did we grown ups. Here are a few of our festival highlights...

1. Tipis. 2. The cowboy training area, which turned out many a fine cowboy and cowgirl. 3. Wren's festival styles. 4. Playing in the sand in the High Seas area. 5. Snack time. I failed to take photos of any of our food because I was too busy eating but it was all very delicious! 6. Watching a band sing songs about vegetables. They were surprisingly good! 7. A resident owl. 8. Craft tents in the woodland. 9. Magic. 10. Paper mushrooms under the trees. 11. Two bumblebees having a chat by the boathouse.

www.justsofestival.org.uk

Project Jelly

I recently met Natalie Collier from Project Jelly and was inspired to hear her talk about her fundraising footwear designs. She makes great jelly shoes (I love the unisex Watermelon Rocks colour combination) and 25% of the profit from every pair goes directly to Mencap, a charity which supports people with a learning disabilities, their families and their carers. It's exciting to find someone working with charity in a fun and innovative way, so I asked Natalie to tell us a little bit more about the project...

What inspired you to start Project Jelly? Breastfeeding during the midnight hours and feeling like I needed to fundraise more! It's a long story, but put simply I wanted to challenge myself to make a change and see if I could start something new. Notebooks of ideas and gazillions of hours later, Project Jelly was born.

What are the ideas behind the current collection? The very simple idea of fusing a great children's shoe (made in the UK) with a big fundraising element. We have launched two colours this S/S13. Watermelon Rocks is our unisex red with a neon line sole. It's our bestseller! Who knew that all the cool Mamas were sick of navy for boys? So I'm really chuffed that the unisex red has gone down so well. We also have our glittery transparent Raspberry Mivi, which is very obviously inspired by the ice cream van lollies of the 1980's - YUM! These two will now be our core brand colours with two new exciting colour combinations due to be launched for S/S14. We would love to hear of fresh colour suggestions from our customers, so please send any ideas to hello@projectjelly.com

What materials do you use and where do you manufacture? It's a secret Jelly recipe blend! No, seriously they are made for us in a stunning Victorian factory in Northampton, the home of British shoe manufacturing. We use an injection moulding process based on the original shoe moulds from the early 1980's. Our Project Jellies are homegrown and proudly made in Great Britain. Plus, any overstock gets ground down and recycled into new shoes.

Do you have any children? If so, what is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Yes, two gorgeous Jellytots! Darcy is two and a half years old and baby Jude. Darcy is in shoe heaven and keeps rummaging through for a fresh pair every now and again. I think I've started off a shoe fetish for her like her Mama. They are crazy about each other and on a good day we love to hang out in our local woods and 'find the fairies' or hang with our buddies at Dulwich Park. On a bad day we're chasing around the house singing Mr Tumbles. The family is certainly complete - chaos reigns but it's all adreneline charged fun!

What is your favourite children's book? Mine is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (enough said!) and a very battered copy of The Walker Book of Poems c.1979. Darcy's is Pip and Posy and the hilarious Sarah Dyer picture book The Girl with the Birds Nest Hair.

Do you have any exciting plans for the future? YES!! A neon orange unisex welly boot for A/W13. We want to keep on raising money for Mencap and designing exciting new shoes. We are backed by the British Footwear Association who are helping us to draw up some future plans so please stay in touch and watch this space.

www.projectjelly.com

Bunny Ears

I was recently asked to come up with three ways to upcycle a coat hanger by Pretty Nostalgic magazine. I made a bird mobile from Recycled Home, some kid's bunny ears and a slightly crazy wire weaving. Here are my instructions for the bunny ears:

You will need: Plastic headband, wire coat hanger, pliers, gaffer tape, scissors, PVA glue, fabric scraps.

1. Stretch out your coat hanger using the pliers and create the shape of two elongated bunny ears, the wonkier the better. 2. Stick the wire ears onto the headband using gaffer tape. Be generous, you need to make sure they are secure. 3. Using sharp scissors, cut your fabric into long strips about 2cm wide. Try to keep the strips an even width all the way along. 4. Using a small piece of tape about 1cm long, fix the end of a fabric strip onto the headband and begin to wrap the fabric around the band, covering the tape as you go. 5. Take your time and keep it as neat and firm as possible. When you get to the end of a strip, secure it with a 1cm piece of tape. 6. When you start wrapping a new piece of fabric, secure it in place with tape and make sure you wrap the fabric over it to hide any joins. 7. Continue wrapping until you have covered all the wire ears and the headband. 8. Instead of tape, secure the final fabric end with a drop of PVA glue and leave to dry. Trim any loose edges for a neat finish or leave raw for a more authentic furry look.

You can see this and my other two upcycled pieces in the latest issue of Pretty Nostalgic.

Tootsa MacGinty

I recently bought Wren the Bude trouser by Tootsa MacGinty from a great local kids shop. I was intrigued by the name (as we live in Bude) and wondered if they were a local company. A quick google told me no, they're based in London, but no doubt designer Kates' love of surfing inspired the name (this is a major surfing area!) I am very impressed with the quality and style of the trousers and bought them, fully intending that they would eventually be passed down to little brother Fred. It turns out that all Tootsa MacGinty's clothing (apart from a few dresses) is unisex. Kate founded the brand in reaction to the overwhelming genderisation of children's clothes – sludgy colours and camouflage for boys and glitzy princess themes for girls. “I believe our world is filled with colour, and everything is a possibility,” she says, “children like colour, they have big imaginations, they enjoy pretending, they love to dream and for them the world is full of possibilities. I don’t intend to limit their imaginations or make their world smaller by putting them in a sea of pinks and blues, or clothes that look like they were meant for adults.” I couldn't agree more and contacted Kate to find out more about the brand.

What inspired you to start Tootsa MacGinty? It’s a complete cliché but the birth of my daughter! And a subsequent return to living in London after living in Australia, the US and France since my late teens. I was working as a womenswear designer and was shocked by the stark gendering of children's wear and toys on offer on the British high street, so set about creating a stylish alternative. Where does the name come from? It is actually a term of endearment my daughter’s father uses. It is completely made-up gobbledygook! I didn’t want to choose a name that already had a preconceived connotation. I like that it is phonetic, sounds nice and looks good when written ….and is easy to Google! What are the ideas behind the current collection? The current Spring/Summer 2013 collection is inspired by the long summer holidays of childhood. In my memory they felt endless (no doubt, when my daughter starts school, as a parent they’ll feel eternal!) British seaside influences are found throughout the collection, such as the colourful “bunting” all over print, deckchair stripes, ice lollies, donkeys and sea creatures. What materials do you use and where do you manufacture? We always use natural materials (100% cotton, lambswool, cashmere etc.) and choose fabrics that wear and wash well; it is important that the garments will last to pass down to another child. We do most of our manufacturing in Portugal and a very small amount of denim comes from China. Everything is delivered softly pre-washed, itch free, pre-shrunk and ready-to-wear. What is your favourite thing to do with your daughter? Walking our big hairy sheep dog Rufus, going to see a good movie together (a bit of a rarity in kids film but when you see a good one it’s great to watch her little face light up!) Also, I like to get my running gear on and my daughter will jump on her scooter. No personal bests are ever achieved but it’s a good way to let off some steam. Plus baking and cooking – her favourite bit is the washing up! What is your favourite children's book? I love all the books by Allen and Janet Ahlberg. I read them as a child and now enjoy reading them to my daughter. Dr Seuss is great too. Fabulous to read-out-loud and always with a great moral story – The Lorax has felt particularly relevant of late. Does Tootsa MacGinty have any exciting plans for the future? We have extended our range up to a size 8 year old - available in late July/early August 2013. We've also just launched into the US market and I am looking forward to returning to New York this summer to build on the contacts and stockists we have already made.

Thank you Kate! Please visit the Tootsa MacGinty webshop here.

Oeuf A/W13

I'm digging the fantastical woodland theme of the new Oeuf autumn/winter clothing collection. Full of knitted crowns, Ewok ears, medieval-style dresses and bear suits, it is perfect for your little forest folk. All Oeuf's clothes are Fair Trade and very beautifully crafted from 100% baby alpaca. I like the fact that when you buy these special knits, you're not only purchasing an heirloom piece but also helping to transform the lives of women and children in Bolivia. Oeuf pays its makers a living wage and they work in small self-managing groups, making decisions as a democracy. This allows their children to go to school and greatly improves the quality of the artisans' lives. So happily, each piece is created for the benefit of everyone - you and them.

Pala Mino

I am crazy about this new kids' label Pala Mino! Designer Louise Coughlan, used to make costumes for Giffords Circus and now she designs magical children's clothes. The pieces are all beautifully handcrafted using vintage fabrics and trims from Louise's treasured textile stash. The styles are playful and fun, yet also timeless. They are pieces to be treasured for a lifetime, as they amplify the carefree nature of childhood. I interviewed Louise to find out more: What inspired you to start Pala Mino? I work freelance as a costume maker and I get most of my work from industry costumiers. In addition to the work room, they also have a large warehouse and I like to look through the rails at lunchtimes. I am always drawn to the beautiful fabrics and shapes of the children's section, so I started taking patterns of my favourite pieces and it kind of went from there. What is the inspiration behind the current collection? I'm inspired by costume, film, pattern, shape, colour and fabric. I love films that transport you using pace, landscape and music. I often think of characters and imagine what their children might wear, Jane from Paris, Texas is a current favourite. I am influenced by my costume background but like to be inspired by a cinematic persona rather than a theatrical character. What materials do you use? Cotton, silk, wool, viscose. I prefer to use natural fabric. I have sourced vintage fabric through the years. I am usually drawn to print and/or colour. It's the same with trims and buttons. I have also taken clothing apart and re used it for small pieces like a collar, facing or piping. I am a sucker for a graphic print and get a kick out an unexpected colour combo. What is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Have a lazy morning in bed at the weekend. If we have no plans, there's nothing better than eating breakfast in bed. Then hanging out, reading, chatting, drawing, watching stuff on the laptop. It doesn't happen as much as I would like though, we always seem to be too busy. What is your favourite children's book? I think it is probably Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was the first book my eldest son loved reading by himself, up until then he would only read short stories. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? Oh yeah, as long as I can keep making and being creative. At the moment I do all the making and dyeing myself, if it gets too much I already know very skilled people who can help out. The process is as important to me as the product, this is reflected in the price point but the garments are not throw away. I'm hoping that they will be cherished, well worn and handed down.

Louise can produce all the pieces in different sizes to order. Please don't hesitate to get in touch!

Indikidual

Indikidual are one of my favourite new kids' brands. They make relaxed and comfy, organic cotton clothes with cute prints and playful details, which are just the sort of thing children should wear to play in. My favourites are the denim button back Bubble top and yellow banana print harem trousers. I interviewed founder Syreeta Johnson to find out more about the brand.

What inspired you to start Indikidual? When I went back to work after having my daughter Minnie and really struggled to get the balance between my job, Minnie, and my own life so I started to think of alternative solutions. I have always worked in fashion and have been a buyer and designer for women's, men's and kids' wear so I just decided to do what I do but for myself. Now I can work my schedule around family life which is great. I no longer feel like I'm being pulled in all directions! I love creating clothing which is a bit different to your usual kids' wear. When Minnie was born I was shocked that she had such a strong personality from such a young age and I really wanted to create a clothing range that reflected that kids are quirky, funny and unique in their own little way. What are the ideas behind the current collection? The SS13 collection is all about travel, with banana shaped balloons on the babygrows and colourful images of Russian architecture. The all over prints are geometric and colours are monochrome mixed with bold brights. The shapes are mostly unisex and can be mixed and matched to create a range of different looks. What materials do you use and where do you manufacture the pieces? We use 100% Organic Jersey from India. I'm really exited to be adding some organic indigo denim for AW13. What is your favourite thing to do with your kids? Me and Minnie love dancing. We often have a 'disco' in the living room, usually around 5ish when I'm running out of ideas! We pull down the blinds, put Minnie's disco light on and blast some tunes. She loves anything with a good beat, Daft Punk is a big favourite. She's totally mastered the robot by watching their 'Around the World' video! What is your favourite children's book? We love Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. Pippi is such a cool little girl, she does as she pleases, makes up crazy stories and turns everything into an adventure. Do you have any exciting plans for the future? We are just about to start working on the photoshoot for next spring/summers collection which is always exciting. Then we have all the trade shows coming up, this year we will be in London, Paris and Florence. I'm really looking forward to Paris, my sister is coming with me so I will have a partner in crime!

Caramel Baby & Child A/W 13

How adorable are these autumn/winter preview shots from Caramel Baby & Child? I am quite taken with every detail - the colours, the shoes, the tights and the hair, not to mention the clothes! I always love Caramel Baby & Child's collections  and it looks like next season will be no exception. Now I just have to work out a way to become a six year old again in time for winter...

www.caramel-shop.co.uk

Kids: Little Bird

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A lot of the kids' clothes I feature on here are fairly expensive, so it's nice to include a range that is more budget friendly - and from good old Mothercare no less! Their spring/summer Little Bird collection really is adorable. Designed by Jools Oliver, it features vintage-inspired smock dresses, toadstool pyjamas, rainbow-trimmed rain jackets and the cutest little pair of red T-bar shoes. The prices are fantastic too - those red buckle shoes are just £15! Mothercare is one of those great British brands that has an iconic history. It is where my mother used to shop and still the first place she goes for kids' things. I think Jools has done a great job to tap into this vintage vibe and continue Mothercare's tradition of making stylish children's clothes that are affordable for everyone.

www.mothercare.com

Cloth Books: Ex Libris Handmade

I love these handmade cloth books by Victoria van der Laan. Victoria has been making things since 1976 and has an etsy shop selling her charming custom-made books for babies, kids and adults. I'm very impressed with her range of topics - there are books on science, dinosaurs, woodland creatures, musical instruments, fruit, mammals and transport to name just a few! Each book features interesting and non-traditional applique images as well as having a stylish typographic front cover. If you want a personalised book, Victoria can also embroider a child's (or adult's) name on the front, making a wonderful and very unique gift.

www.etsy.com/shop/exlibrishandmade

Kids: Very French Gangsters

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I love this French brand which makes super cool prescription eyewear for three to fourteen year olds. Very French Gangsters launched last year and has now expanded their range to include four different styles, all available as both glasses and sunglasses. Each style also comes in several different colours and materials. I wore glasses as a child and the choice out there was pretty dismal, so I'm delighted to finally see someone offering a range for kids that is both stylish and good for their eyes.

www.veryfrenchgangsters.com

New Book: Donna Wilson's Creative Creatures

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Donna Wilson's designs always bring a smile to my face. They are fun, bright and more often than not, fuzzy. I particularly like her knitted creatures, so I was excited to see that she has a new kids craft book out called Donna Wilson's Creative Creatures, which gives step-by-step instructions on how to make lots of fun toys and games. My favourite projects include Big Ted and Wilbur's Mitten Kitten, Charlie's banana bunting and Olive Owl's Kite. The book is also presented in a really fun way as each project is photographed as a jolly diorama, so even if (like me) you don't have a lot of time to make things, it's still a good book to look at. Donna has also started a new kids blog called Birdie and Bear, where you can follow her adventures with her beautiful new baby boy.

www.donnawilson.com

Kids: Lilly Marthe Ebener

Lilly Marthe Ebener is a fashion editor and stylist, based in Paris. She also designs beautiful handmade knitwear. Lilly designs for adults and children but I think her babies' collection is the best. It features vintage ski-inspired sweaters, ponchos and woolly trousers all hand-knitted from 100% alpaca. Her accessories collection is pretty cute too with pom-pom trimmed boots, bonnets and mittens in lovely shades of fox brown, cream and crimson. For more information and stockists, please check out Lilly's website.

www.lillymarthe-ebener.com

Kids: Misha & Puff

I am loving the new spring collection from Misha and Puff. It features shrunken sweaters, pixie hats and romper suits, all hand-knitted with two-tone organic cotton and silk yarn in a chunky seed stitch. The shapes are just right for playing in and the choice of yarn gives the pieces a modern edge. The collection is also very unisex, which I am all for.

Misha and Puff was founded in 2011 after owner Anna's baby son spent his first winter keeping warm while swaddled head-to-toe in her handmade knits. She then set to work on creating a collection of thoughtfully designed and handcrafted, long-lasting heirloom pieces. Each piece is hand-knitted in New England and designed to be purchased a little big then worn until just a tad too small. Perfect for ever-growing kids!

www.shop.misha-and-puff.com

Jess Brown Dolls

I am slightly obsessed with dolls at the moment as I want to buy Wren a doll for Christmas. It will be her first doll so I want it to be special. I've been looking into all the different options available - rag doll, vinyl doll, Waldorf doll, soft-bodied doll - the list is pretty long and confusing! One thing has become apparent though and that is that most dolls are weird, ugly creatures that I don't want in my home! This is certainly not the case with Jess Brown's beautiful rag dolls though. I love their wide starry-eyed gaze and heart-shaped mouth, their tea-stained bodies and their cashmere hair cropped close to their heads. Jess's dolls are handmade from scraps of high quality vintage fabric and if I was buying a doll for myself (not a one and a half year old) these are definitely what I would choose.

www.jessbrowndesign.com

Introducing: Fred

Our little boy was born on Sunday morning at 8.20am. His name is Fred Wightman. We have spent the week doing very little, just relaxing and getting to know him. I'm looking forward to more of the same over the weekend...

Kids: Cabbages & Kings

With winter coming, my thoughts have turned to wrapping up my little ones in lots of woolly layers. Cabbages & Kings collection of colourful leg warmers and infinity scarves are perfect for this, as they can be thrown on top of everyday clothes to add extra warmth. Also, because the pieces are unisex and can be worn by several age groups, they are great for sharing between siblings – something I am increasingly having to think about…

The range was launched this year by Alexandra Gizela, a former model who was inspired to create her own line of accessories when she couldn’t find any that she particularly liked for her own children. Fascinated by Andean culture, specifically the centuries long traditions of weaving and hand-knits, she decided to make this the starting point for her collection.

All the accessories are hand made by Peruvian artisans in a fair trade environment. The weavers work in collaboration with a network made up of community groups, churches and non-governmental organizations to strengthen the local economy and community. The result is a collection of beautifully made, fair trade and fun, kids accessories.

www.cabbagesandkingsny.com