friday focus - little luv

With a cute name, and even cuter products, Little Luv is a new South Australian business specialising in handmade and vintage goodies for children.

Launched by my very talented friend and fellow mum, Little Luv had an unusual start - owner Mardi Zeunert literally found a sewing machine in hard rubbish and began to sew reusable shopping bags. She soon progressed to sewing mobiles, and Little Luv was born!

Little Luv currently stocks "birdy" and "save the whaleys" mobiles, nonite owls, nanna teddies, domino to go brooches, and vintage children's books.

I caught up with Mardi this week to discuss her business for the first feature in my new weekly post "Friday Focus".

Why did you start this business?
I launched this business because I felt there was a gap in the market, and wanted to start something from home that I could do as a hobby and unleash my creative side. I love markets and shopping and thought it was a great opportunity to fulfil that dream.

Where do you find inspiraton?
I find inspiration from magazines, online, markets, and retail shops. I am a magazine junkie and shopaholic - scary! Nature also inspires me.

Where do you work from?
I work from home in our spare bedroom.

How do you manage juggling mum duty with running your business?
It's not that easy, but I manage to find the time. You just have to be organised with your day - and hope that no tantrums erupt! I also work part-time for the 2010 Adelaide Festival in their PR team, so I am finding my time is stretched, but when you are doing something you love you make the time, even if it is at 9 at night! I also have a very supportive husband which is a godsend!

What is your favourite item from your range?
My personal favourite item is the first product I made, the birdy mobiles. All kids love birds and they really enhance a room. All my items are handmade and one-of-a-kind which is special.

Where can we purchase Little Luv products?

You can view my products online at my website. For orders and enquiries, please contact me on:
Ph: 0438 886 522
Email: pezed@adam .com.au

Little Luv will be at the Goodwood Christmas Market this Saturday, 28 November, from 9am - 3pm. The Little Luv stall will be located on the Goodwood Primary School Oval.

I will also be at the next Norwood Baby and Child Market on Sunday, 13 December, from 9am-3pm at Norwood Primary School.

Little Luv

http://www.littleluv.com.au/

liquidation auction - just kidding children's store

According to today's Advertiser Business pages, the children's store Just Kidding is in liquidation, only a year after relocating to its Mile End location!

I was saddened to hear this, as it's never nice to hear about local businesses closing down, and I've always found my shopping experience at Just Kidding to be very pleasant - the sales people were very helpful, and the store was well-stocked with beautiful products, in particular a wide range of wooden toys (including Brio trainsets, Pintoy kitchenware, Sirch ride-ons).

Two auctions are being held under instructions from the liquidators - one is an online auction, and can be accessed here (closes 30 November), and the other is a traditional auction taking place tomorrow (26 November). Details for the traditional auction can be accessed here. It's worth taking a look as there are plenty of products up for sale.

I wish all the staff of Just Kidding all the very best in their futures.

homemade play dough

Whilst I realise there is pre-made Play Dough on the market, I really enjoy making the homemade kind! It is so simple to do, ad you can involve your children in the task of making the dough as part of playtime.

I use the following recipe which was provided by my lovely Playgroup leader, Di. It's a no-cook method, and only takes about 5-10 minutes to make!

No-cook Homemade Play Dough

(makes about 2 cups)

2 cups of plain flour

1 cup of salt

1 tablespoon of Cream of Tartar

splash of oil

boiling water

food colouring - I use the liquid kind

Mix all of the dry ingredients together, making sure that the salt is mixed in well.

Add oil and hot water.

Add food colouring - let your children's imagination roam free here. This is a great way to explore the mixing and creating of new colours.

When adding liquid ingredients, be guided by consistency. The Play Dough should not stick to your hands. If it does, add more flour until you achieve the correct consistency.

Store in air-tight containers when not in use (otherwise the Play Dough will dry out). Plastic containers or zip-lock bags work well.

There are lots of other homemade Play Dough recipes out there to try, including cooked methods (see Cream of Tartar packet for one cooked version), but I prefer the no muss, no fuss, no cook one, as I can involve my young son without worrying, and don't feel like I'm slaving over a hot stove more than I already do!

You needn't buy the commercial brand Play Dough accessories either - you can find plenty of tools around the house to make shapes from and decorate your home made Play Dough eg, egg cups and tea cups (for cutting out small and large circles), cookie cutters, toothpicks for making arms for your Play Dough people (perhaps not for the littlies with oral fixations!), rolling pins, etc etc, you get the picture!

I've just made a fresh batch today while my son sleeps, so I'm looking forward to seeing what he comes up with this afternoon.

I hope you and your children enjoy home made Play Dough as much as we do in our house!

 

Image from Art Nest

little moo shoes

I've just stumbled across these gorgeous shoes for babies and children - am loving the red and white mary janes for little girls, and the navy and blue sandals for boys (pictured above).

Little Moo shoes are currently only available over the internet through the following stockists - Little Moo, Little Bare Bear, and Soda Pop Kids.

The Little Moo website has a handy sizing guide so that you should be fairly confident of ordering the correct size (I always worry about this when buying over the net).

At around $49, these may not be the cheapest leather shoes on the market, but you will be supporting an Australian brand and they are still cheaper than most Clarks!

product of the week - Ikea Expedit shelving units

Ok, so it's not a new product, but I like to think of it as an "oldy but a goody". I have 5 of these throughout my house, and whilst that may seem a little excessive on initial thought, they're all currently put to excellent use.

Reasons why I love the Expedit? Here are but a few:

• variety - the Expedit is currently available in a number of sizes, ranging from a 1 cube x 4 cube style (narrow and tall) to a 4 cube x 4 cube style. It is also available in white, birch and walnut colours;
• value for money - priced from $89 - $249 per shelving unit (depending on size), the Expedit is a relatively inexpensive piece of furniture, and yet my experience is that it doesn't appear cheap or to be of poor quality (compared with some other similar units I have purchased from bargain shops);
• versatility - pre-children, my husband and I utilised a 4x4 Expedit as a kitchen cupboard. It now lives in the nursery, housing toys, books, blankets, and clothes;
• appearance - simple, sleek lines scream Scandinavian design, and allows for your own creativity and displays to become the focus point;
• ability to customise - from the drawer and door inserts available in white, red or black, to a large array (does Ikea ever do anything to a small extent?!) of baskets and storage boxes that fit into the cubes, the Expedit's appearance can easily be altered, depending on its required function or your desire for something different!

I've also recently stumbled onto Grippiks Surface Accents, a Sydney-based company that manufactures and sells online a range of pre-measured, pre-cut graphic prints that stick to Ikea furniture. There are currently 6 designs available for Expedit drawer and door inserts - they're worth checking out if you want something a bit different for the nursery or playroom, without the hassle of cutting wallpaper yourself! Now why didn't I think of that?
I could go on all day, but, in summary, if you're looking for a relatively easy Ikea piece to put together (I have actually managed to put one together without help from my husband!), that provides a space for housing all manner of children's gear, I highly recommend the Ikea Expedit.

christmas markets

The Credit Union Christmas Pageant's come and gone, and Santa's well and truly ensconsed at the Magic Cave. This can only mean one thing - time to start the Christmas shopping!

Whilst we may not boast Christmas markets quite as spectacular as those in Europe (think Frankfurt or Cologne in Germany), Adelaide will host an array of markets featuring childrensware and crafts in the lead up to Christmas this year. Whilst not all exclusively stocking Christmas items, they will no doubt offer a wealth of opportunities to pick up some unique presents for your children, loved ones, or yourself!

Here's a rundown of the upcoming markets in Adelaide:

• Mums & Bubs Market - preloved and handmade items - 28 November, Alan Scott Park, Morphetville (Race Park)
• Goodwood Christmas Market - 28 November, Goodwood Road Precinct
• Christmas Earth Fair - 4-5 December, Adelaide Showgrounds, Wayville
• Norwood Child & Baby Market - 13 December, Norwood Primary School, Osmond Tce, Norwood
• Gilles Street Market - 29 November, 6 December, 13 December, Gilles Street Primary School, Adelaide

If you know of any other markets in Adelaide, or better yet, regional South Australia, I'd love to hear from you!

kidzone - new shop on king william road

This just in - Kidzone opened a new premises at 101 King William Road (between Mary and Arthur Streets) today!

I'm told that whilst this location will be more focussed towards furniture, it will still stock accessories and other children's products.

I think it's great to see the emergence of a children's store on King William Road, which I've felt has lacked this shopping element for some time now. And if it's anywhere as jam packed with goodies as its Unley Road counterpart, you're sure to find something there to love and purchase.

i love tiddles and chich

It's official, I am totally in love with the Adelaide and Melbourne based children's clothing brand Tiddles and Chich. If you haven't already discovered it, watch out, as it is utterly addictive!

Founded by two mums, the French-inspired clothes are designed and made in Australia, and are available in sizes 000-10. Currently the label produces two collections a year. Their Summer 2009 collection is currently available and it is completely covetable!

Having a son, I am so thankful to see a label producing beautiful and classic clothes for boys, historically the poorer cousin in children's clothing. I'm not the only one either - I happen to have a friend who has bought almost everything available this season for her gorgeous boys (and I don't blame her!). Of course, the Tiddles and Chich girls' range is equally as stunning!

I unfortunately missed their recent trunk show in Adelaide, but luckily for me (and unluckily for the credit card) Tiddles and Chich is now available online at their website, as well as being stocked by Adelaide stores Baby Bien on Melbourne Street, and Plume Petite in Grange.

My favourite item from this season's collection? These beautiful Liberty-fabric cotton shorts for girls - I have a baby daughter due in February 2010, and I couldn't resist buying her a pair for next summer! Like I said, I'm in love!














(PS, Suri Cruise has been photographed wearing this label - praise indeed from the world's best-known mini-fashionista!)

christmas pageants

Yes, it's that time of year already (where did 2009 go?), and in South Australia we are fortunate to have a number of Christmas pageants to take the children to.
It's only one sleep until the Credit Union Christmas Pageant in Adelaide - I doubt any of us expected the scorching heat that is forecast for tomorrow (39 degrees Celcius), but for those of you who will still be brave enough to attend, click here for details of the route, hot weather tips, and start and end times. I have such fond memories of attending the pageant as a child - all of us cousins used to pile onto the back of my grandfather's flat-bed truck which my uncle would have parked in a prime position earlier that morning. I'm now looking forward to creating similar memories for my children!

South Australia is fortunate enough to have a number of other pageants on offer - here is a list of some other pageants on offer this year:

• Murray Bridge Christmas Pageant & Fireworks display - 21 November
• Glenelg Pageant - 22 November
• Norwood Christmas Pageant - 28 November
• Port Pirie Christmas Pageant - 5 December
• Meningie Christmas Pageant - 6 December
• Port Broughton & District Community Christmas Pageant - 12 December
• Tailem Bend Christmas Parade - 18 December

This list is not exhaustive, and I'd love to hear from you should you be aware of any other pageants on offer in South Australia this year.
The Adelaide Christmas Pageant also marks the opening of the Magic Cave in David Jones - I didn't take my little one last year until the week before Christmas ... big mistake! We lined up as soon as DJs opened, but still had to wait in line for 2 hours. I must admit that I still prefer the old John Martin's Magic Cave, but perhaps that's because my memories of it are through the eyes of a child. My tip - if you really want to experience the Magic Cave, try and get there earlier than the week before Christmas when the last minute rush begins. Try and take hubby (I called mine to duck out of work and meet us there) or a grandparent as support, as inevitably your child will need a toilet-stop/nappy change/run around whilst waiting to see Santa, and having someone to hold your place in line (or, better still, do the running around with child!) will make the visit all the less stressful.

Also remember that a lot of local shopping centres have a Santa in attendance for photos - this can often be a less stressful option than the Magic Cave or other department store Santas.

Let the countdown to Christmas begin!

image from www.planbooktravel.com.au/

colouring and sticker fun!

During these sweltering days, I have been trying to come up with activities to keep my toddler occupied inside and out of the heat. Yes, I must admit that I have resorted to the odd DVD, but mostly we've been getting creative with our colouring in and "stickering".
My little man is nearly 18 months, and adores these activities. It's amazing how much time we can spend on the one pasttime, when normally he's bored after 10 minutes of something.

I have discovered the joys of the Cheap As Chips craft aisles as a result of this latest obsession - they sell great colouring-in books and pads of stickers (180 stickers!) for $2 each! At that price, I'm not caring that we go through a sticker pad every few days.

Crayola also have a great website from which you can print free colouring-in pages.

As for our tools, it's washable crayons for now. After the little man ate or lost nearly the entire first set of Crayolas we bought, I opted to purchase the cheaper Dora the Explorer crayons on our next trip to Big W. On arriving home, however, I realised the error of my ways - I have learnt that a higher price does, in fact, equal better quality when it comes to crayons. We have found the Dora crayons to be a lot messier and harder for a toddler to use as they require more pressure to show up on paper. So now it's back to the Crayolas!

product of the week - woolly wugs sleeping bags

A heatwave has well and truly hit South Australia this week, with temperatures soaring into the high 30s. Luckily for me, my dad and stepmum gave my toddler these fabulous new sleeping bags from Woolly Wugs just in time.

Made from 100% cotton, these light weight sleeping bags have kept my little man comfortable all night despite the heat. I've been dressing him in a short sleeved onesie and just popping him into the bag with no other covers over him in his cot.

The sleeping bags come in packs of two, and and are sized for newborns to two year olds.

I love the design, the fact that they dried in less than half an hour after their first wash (!) and that they are Australian-designed. In fact, they are the brainchild of two mothers from right here in South Australia. It's always great to know that you can support local companies whilst also benefitting from a great product.

I have already seen them in Kidzone on Unley Road, but you can also purchase directly from the Woolly Wugs website.

With the predictions for a long, hot summer, I know that these sleeping bags will be getting a lot of use in my household!

image from Woolly Wugs

mumspiration begins

Well, after discovering a passion for reading blogs, and accepting the fact that daytime tv will only sustain me during my toddler's naps for a limited time, I have decided to start my own blog.

I intend for mumspiration to become my way of keeping track of all the things i am loving for my first born and the next one who is on the way. I'm aiming to focus on things that are accessible for south australian families, but will no doubt have to include some of the amazing things i am finding on overseas blogs and websites.
Perhaps along the way others will be inspired to try out some of the activities i trial, or shops i visit!
First things first though ... the Norwood Child and Baby Market is on this Sunday at Norwood Primary School from 9am til 3pm. I haven't had the pleasure yet, but I hear that the market is great and I love that Adelaide is expanding its markets culture - I still desperately miss the Orange Lane Markets!