#80 Rocking Chair

It's no secret that sometimes when the nesting craze hits expectant parents, it can be easy to go a bit overboard & end up with things that aren't needed & are never used.

However you can also end up in the opposite situation where something you dismissed as frivolous, really would have been quite incredibly nice, if not necessary, to have.

That was the case for me & the concept of a feeding chair. I realised that not having one was a mistake quite early on in the piece but had a strange (but unfortunately not uncommon)  little stubborn thing going on with myself that stopped me from rectifying the situation & as a result spent about a year in odd & uncomfortable nighttime feeding positions while dreaming of a comfy chair.

I'm now a bit in love with the Nurseryworks sleepytime rocker nursery chair - Ecru....

      

I have that first chair bookmarked as a bit of a dream for any possible future babies...

I think perhaps I would spend a lot more time accidentally sleeping in the nursery in a chair like that? But surely worth it?

The Nurseryworks chairs aren't cheap however, available from bebe online for $1249.95 & the stool for $699.95 with 10% off for bebe VIP members.

So I think that for me, this will be an inspiration chair...

Cx

#75 Wooden Toys by Wood Mouse

There isn't even the slightest chance that these wooden phones will stop the mischievous monkeys from sneaking off with yours, but they're still cute no?

  

The figures from the Children of Nature series -Spring & Summer are sweet, very much in the Waldorf style, & are released in quite limited quantities.
Hand cut hardwood poplar with wood burnt details, Wood Mouse uses only non-toxic water based paints & each piece is sanded by hand to a perfectly smooth finish before being coated with beeswax & organic jojoba oils.

 
  
  
  

Wood Mouse pieces, especially considering that to break or even damage them would be near impossible, are very affordable. All those pictured with the exception of the block set come in at under $20.

Cx

#65 Twig Pencils

I bought these twig pencils from Oxfam Australia (who i am a huge fan of) for my nieces some time ago.
They were so cute, very well made & most importantly the pencils work really well
(You know how some pencils are a bit waxy & you have to press too hard to get any colour?).
'Oxfam Australia has been working with communities for more than 50 years & have learnt that simply giving hand outs is not the answer. Instead, they provide people with the skills & resources to help them create their own solutions to poverty.'wit



They are made in Thailand & usually cost only $8.95 but were recently on sale for $5 so understandably they are now out of stock. Unfortunately because I'd love to get some more!

Similar options are available from else where, like these 10 piece sets from A Toy Garden.
The largest set costs $14.95, the middle $12.95 & the small is $9.95.



Cx

#62 Petit Collage Wood Prints

As it might be apparent, I have somewhat of a soft spot for wooden toys... wood in general really.
I love the warmth & textures of natural products used in home ware's, I also much prefer a neutral palette with textural interest & accent colours as opposed to a lot of brights.
No surprise then that I'm very fond of wood prints.
This sample of prints from Petit Collage are a great example both of wood prints & as little glimpse of how effective a pop of colour against a neutral scheme can be.

 
  
 
 

 

They are printed on to sustainably harvested maple veneer & are available in two sizes - either 8"x10" (matted) for $15, or 11"x14" (matted) for $25. They also available mounted in a hardwood maple wood frame for $45 in the smaller size or $65 in the larger.
The frames use acrylic in the place of glass so as to be safer for a child's room.

Those bears are absolutely adorable but I think my top pick of these is the village, on the basis that it will be more suitable for a longer period of time.

#60 Cutlery, Plates, Bowls + A Lunch Box

How lovely do these bambu baby spoons from Bamboo Village look? They're 100% natural bamboo & are finished with a top grade, food safe oil. A set of 2 is only $14.95.

I also really like this second set which are also bambu & 100% natural bamboo, available from
moo said the cow for $14.95 & this gorgeous bambu baby bowl which for $29.95.

 


This lunch box via Rakuten is quite simply awesome? Although I think the website is having some problems with their currency conversions as the lunch boxes are marked at $19- $25, except this one which is apparently priced at $93... well as i said, it is pretty awesome? I'm pretty sure it's a glitch.

 

These plates & bowls from Smiling Planet are made from 100% recycled  high grade polypropylene plastic, contain no BPA, no lead, no toxic inks, phthalates & no PCV.
Also nice to know that as the image is sub surface, it won't scratch off. 
Plates are $14.95 & bowls are $13.95.

     

The ballerina mouse plate says 'when i dance i am ten feet tall' & the lion plate says 'some roar, i just smile'.
Nawww!
I like these a lot.

Cx

#59 Bamboo Children's Clocks & Eco Friendly Toothbrushes

I have just discovered Bamboo Village.
Look. At. These. Clocks....
Squeeee! These decoylab clocks are natural bamboo, have a natural oil finish & no ticking sound... Nursery perfect.
I just love them!

 
 

The hare & the hedgehog are priced $69.95, the owl & elephant at $79.95.  I can't decide which is my favourite! Which is yours?

'The Environmental Toothbrush', also available from Bamboo Village, was the winner of the 2009 Green Invention People's Choice Award & were invented by an Australian dentist.
It is estimated that over 30 million plastic toothbrushes used & disposed of by Australians every year, that amounts to approximately 1000 tonnes of landfill... a mind blowing figure as it stands without even taking into account that it's only representative of an annual figure!
The Environmental Toothbrush can be disposed of in compost or landfill & will completely bio-degrade into soil in six months -  two years.
It is made predominately of bamboo which is 100% biodegradable & has natural antobacterial properties, the bamboo is heat treated to carbonise the surface, giving it a quality finish & a longer life span, this process also boosts it's water resistance & prevents the growth of bacterias & molds.
The bristles are made from a polymer which is also resistant to microbial growth.
Available in three styles - soft bristle, medium bristle & children's soft bristle, they cost only $3 each or $36 for a box of 12. Less than a regular toothbrush & a lot more environmentally responsible.
Also, they're pretty no?



I'm definitely going to order some, I'll let you know how they go!

Do you suppose I should test drive a clock as well?
You know, research *ahem*...

Cx

#58 Wooden Teether's, Camera's + Educational Blocks

An exceptionally lovely friend of mine sent me a link for Little Sapling Toys today.
OH MY...

           
How on earth would you choose just one?! So beautifully finished.
All teether's are handcrafted from Hard Rock Maple a non splintering wood which is naturally anti-bacterial, non-allergenic & non toxic with no exterior finish but are instead sanded to satin smoothness.
They come in a cotton drawstring carrying pouch & have an option of being personalised with a name, as shown on the camera below.
Not be be outdone by the teether's look at these, which may very well be THE most awesome blocks in the world...
   
As you can see (among other options) they are available in a set of letters which only spells out a name, the whole alphabet in upper & lower case, the alphabet with braille & the alphabet with asl. Without a doubt another brilliant educational toy!
Last but by no means least...
 
These ridiculously excellent cameras are made from Maple & Walnut,  finished with beeswax & jojoba oil.
Complete with viewfinder, spinning selector 'switch', a lens that turns to "focus" & a contrasting digital screen on the back they are obviously perfect for the serious young photographer!
Or *ahem* a not so young one?

Little Sapling Toys also have a blog, that so far I am really enjoying!
As if I didn't already think they were wonderful beyond belief? They plant a tree for every toy sold.

Cx