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!

Hayloft

Located on Föhr, a small island in the North Sea, architects Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matz have converted the hayloft of an old thatched farmhouse into a beautiful and modern apartment. The spotty tiles, pale pine boards and nest-like wooden beds, make the space feel both minimal and cosy. The bold use of colour is inspiring too, yet it appears subtle when surrounded by a sea of white. The interior is inspired by tradition, as the architects were keen to incorporate the Friesian heritage of the island into the interior. "The space is very much influenced by the place - its history, traditions and nature," says Matz. "In the traditional houses at least one wall in the dining rooms would be covered in patterned tiles, as a way of showing wealth. Since we wanted to bring light into the house, we thought that tiles would be a great reflective material and at the same time something so present in all Friesan houses." They have also embraced the classic Friesian colour palette of moody blues and greens, highlighting these North Sea inspired colours on the tiles, beds and ropes that are suspended from the ceiling. The polka dot grid pattern of the tiles is unusually created by drilling into the centre of each tile and revealing the bright blue grout behind it. I love this idea of creating pattern through space, however I'm not sure how great it will be to keep clean!

How About?

How about having a nice sit down with a cup of tea, on a Mathilda chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso? Yes please! Launched in Milan last month, the chair features Patricia's signature inspirational colour and material mixes, with a curved plywood backrest wrapped in woven rush and bound to A-shaped wooden legs. This chair has all the makings of a modern classic; they look amazing now but I think they will look even better with age, when the wood is weathered and the rush a little worn. The sign of a good chair, indeed.

www.moroso.it

What We (Wish We) Wore

Andrew wanted to join in with What We (Wish We) Wore this week and he chose to wear a pea green suit by Gucci!! It's an odd choice for a man who lives in scruffy jeans and checked shirts but still, it's nice to see him smartening himself up! Since Andrew looks so dapper, the rest of us have had to make a bit more effort than normal too.

Wren: Paper bag costume by OMY Design & Play from Molly-Meg. Andrew: Cotton canvas green suit by Gucci from Mr Porter, White organic T-shirt from American Apparel and canvas shoes from Vans. Rebecca: V-neck shift dress by Richard Nicoll and sandals by Sam Edelman. Fred: Handmade turtle costume with a green babygrow and painted cardboard shell.

Illustration by Andrew Wightman

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

The Dark

I love Jon Klassen's illustrations in this new book by Lemony Snicket. The Dark tells the story of Laszlo, a lovely little boy who leads a strangely solitary existence and is scared of the dark. Klassen's nostalgic illustrations are delightful, embracing a warm rosy palette combined with the bold forms of the ever lurking blackness. If you have ever been scared of the dark, I thoroughly recommend you read this book!

A Few Photos...

1. Fred flying. 2, 3 & 4. We took a day trip to Fowey. 5. A couple of new books for Wren Now I am Big and I Can Do It Myself by Stephen Krensky and Sara Gillingham. 6. Pear blossom in the garden. 7. Fred on a Liberty print patchwork blanket made by my Mum. 8. Running about in the garden. 9. Andrew's studio and log store.

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

Beldi Rugs

Beldi is a Moroccan word meaning traditional, rural and natural. It is also the perfect name for a company which sources vintage Moroccan rugs. Each Beldi rug is unique - an authentic piece of folk art, traditionally hand-woven by a married woman after she has had children. She would usually work on it each day, with love and care, sometimes for as long as a year. The rugs are firmly rooted in the culture and landscape that produced them as they are also made from the wool of sheep that roam Morocco's Middle Atlas Mountains. I love the colour, pattern and wonky shapes of all the different rugs, some dating back as far as the 1940's and 50's. From the surprisingly contemporary looking designs of the Beni Ouarain and Azilal rugs, to the wildly colourful Boucherouite and Boujad rugs. I am also intrigued by the story of how they were made and the idea that each rug tells us a little about the woman who crafted it.

www.beldirugs.com

Mama Papa Baby House

Mama - Repurposed patched Levi's from No 6 Store. Papa - Bird print rucksack by Herschel from Liberty. Baby - Shoes by Chaussures Eureka. House - Mirror by Paul Blease from FAO.

New: Boutique Gallery

Now that I am a thirty-something mum of two, I find that some of the clothes which I wore in my twenties are no longer appropriate. Lately I've been struggling to find clothing that I feel good about, however one of my new go-to brands is Boutique by Jaeger. This diffusion line by Jaeger has got the balance just right - the clothes are grown-up but still fun and fashionable. I was excited to learn that the team at Jaeger have just expanded this collection by opening Boutique Gallery. Situated on the second floor of the Jaeger store on Regent Street, the brand new gallery showcases innovative, British design alongside Jaeger's Boutique collection. The edit includes a mix of fashion, jewellery, beauty and books with pieces by Studio Nicholson, Preen, Suzannah, Lara Bohinc and Mawi. This is an exciting new concept and sounds like a great way to bring new customers into the store as well as giving emerging designers an opportunity to show their products in this coveted location.

All pieces above available from Boutique Gallery. 1. Silk scarf from Age of Reason. 2. Palm tree dress by Boutique by Jaeger. 3. Pink dress by Goat. 4. Dress by Preen. 5. In the Spirit of Capri by Assouline. 6. Shirt and trousers by Studio Nicholson. 6. Colour block blouse by Jaeger London.

P.S. Jaeger also have a great outlet sale on their website.

www.jaeger.co.uk

House Tour: Anna & Ed

Here is the latest house tour that I have posted on Apartment Therapy. It's a beautiful Victorian townhouse in Oxford belonging to Anna and Ed Chipperfield. Anna is an interior designer and one of my favourite things about her house is the detached barn at the bottom of the garden. It is boarded from floor to ceiling in plywood. I also love her kitchen. It's light, bright and has just the right balance of function and fun. To see the full tour please click here.

A Few Photos...

1. Watching windmills blowing in the breeze. 2. Fred enjoying some spring sunshine. 3. Picking and eating lots of rhubarb from the garden. 4. We dug out this old rug from the attic that I designed with Stepevi a few years ago. 5. Learning new words with these animal alphabet flash cards by Lisa DeJohn. 6. Wren, always curious, always investigating. 7. Her new boots.

Herriott Grace

Herriott Grace sell beautiful handmade wooden objects, porcelain tableware, kitchen linens and accessories. They are a father and daughter team and I love the unlikely story of how they began working together. Nikole and Lance both live in Canada 3400 kilometers apart: his workshop is in Victoria, British Columbia, while her studio is in Toronto, Ontario. When Nikole first made her home more than halfway across the country from her father, they started to send packages to each other. In some of the packages, Lance included his own hand carved spoons. Nikole loved them and knew they were special. One day she thought that others might appreciate her father’s work, so she asked if he would ever want to share his pieces. He took a while to think about it and after some convincing, agreed to her plan, "but only with people that understood and cared about the time and effort spent on each piece." She told him, “Leave it to me, I know just the sort.” And with that, Herriott Grace was born.

www.herriottgrace.com

What We (Wish We) Wore

This is the first of a new regular blog series called What We (Wish We) Wore. Inspired by Gemma Correll and Sarah Dyer, it's a fun twist on the What We Wore photographs that I'm sure you will have seen on lots of other blogs. Now, I'm not really one for posing in photos and to be honest, my wardrobe has seen better days so this is a fun way for me to indulge in a little bit of fantasy dressing. It's also the start of a new collaboration between Andrew and myself. I'll be putting together the outfits and he'll be doing the drawing.

Fred: Striped romper by Agnes B. Kids. Rebecca: Indigo twill smock by MHL Margaret Howell, Petit New Standard jeans by APC, red almond toe pumps by Megumi Ochi at Couverture & The Garbstore. Wren: Pear print top by Bobo Choses, Banana print trousers by Indikidual, Cardigan hand knitted by Granny.

Illustration by Andrew Wightman

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

Interiors: Jersey Ice Cream Company

The Jersey Ice Cream Company are Tara Mangini and Percy Bright, designers and builders of beautiful things. The couple named themselves after a long-forgotten ice cream company whose embossing stamp they found at their first flea market together. This fittingly lighthearted name both connects the company to the past and sets the tone for their delicately sweet work. Together the pair transform spaces with a wonderful lightness of touch, using reclaimed materials and vintage pieces. I love their use of texture with a restrained colour palette and splashes of black. I also particularly like the fact that together, Tara and Percy offer a complete range of skills - design, sourcing, carpentry and styling, meaning that they can personally complete a whole project themselves, with little need for outside help. If you are interested in seeing more of the wonderful work of the Jersey Ice Cream Company, visit their website. They also have an online vintage shop here.

www.jerseyicecreamco.com

House Tour: Sophie & Nick

Remember that pretty pink bathroom that I featured a few weeks ago? Well here is a peek at the rest of the house. It belongs to my good friends Sophie and Nick and I shot it recently for Apartment Therapy. You can look at the full house tour here. Sophie and Nick are a very stylish couple who live in a large Victorian house in Manchester with their two daughters. It is one of my favourite places to visit, as they have a happy home with lots of good stuff to look at, great food at the table and are generally excellent company. Thank you for letting me feature you Sophie & Nick!

Lucky Boy Sunday

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Here are some more lovely knits by Lucky Boy Sunday. Their work magically straddles the worlds of both adults and children, bringing a poetic, artistic sensibility to the everyday. I love the hazy sun-drenched quality of these s/s 13 campaign shots. All Lucky Boy Sunday’s designs are made from the highest grade alpaca wool, which is as soft as cashmere. Produced in Bolivia and knitted in cooperatives working under fair trade principles, their designs are made to withstand the rigours of child’s play whilst also appealing to grown ups.

www.luckyboysunday.dk