JUST LAUNCHED: MAYA ORGANIC WOODEN TOYS

The toy market is flooded with landfill-clogging plastic monstrosities (kids love ‘em, parents loathe ‘em) but there is always room for a new brand that delivers beautiful hand-crafted wooden toys. Maya Organic Wooden Toys include charming pull-along trains, spinning tops and rattles made from sustainable Hale wood trees which are not felled so they are able to grow back. How lovely is that? Produced in Channapatna, India, using traditional handicraft techniques and natural dyes such as turmeric and indigo, these toys are the kind you’ll be wanting to keep in the family for generations.

From £14 at Bob and Blossom, Igloo Kids and Kidsen.

www.mayaorganic.com

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Chic Mum: Jasmine Guinness

 

Jasmine Guinness with gorgeous Ruby

Model, heiress and toy shop owner, Jasmine Guinness, 36, has three children, Elwood, Otis and Ruby and lives between Notting Hill and Wales

Greatest style challenge since having kids?
Finding things that fit and don't show up baby sick/food/muddy hand prints.

How long do you allow yourself to get ready?
For going out about 20-30 minutes and I do my make up in the car on the way.

Quick beauty tips and tricks?
Moisturiser, concealer and powder is better than foundation for me.

Your off-duty outfit, for when it's just you and the kids?
Jeans, hoodie and trainers.

Beauty product you could not live without?
Moisturiser, am trying out Avon's new Anew at the moment, I have high hopes! Also L'Occitane's rose oil mist is delicious.

Who is your hairdresser?
A friend whose house I go round to - I don't like salons much.

Health tip?
Drink lots of water and sleep I'm afraid.

Favourite fashion labels?
H&M, COS and GAP. Designers are harder to choose because there are so many great ones. I love Moschino, Bella Freud, Vivienne Westwood, Roland Mouret, Tara Scarlet, Rick Owens, Louis Vuitton, Richard Nicoll and of course Giles Deacon. A very eclectic mix and I'm sure I have left off lots more favourites, don't even start me on shoes and bags!

Favourite kids' labels?
H&M, GAP and Little Fashion Gallery. For baby presents of course I love our brand new own label Honeyjam baby knitwear.

Where do you hunt for fashion bargains?
I love TKMaxx but never get the time to go. Portobello Market is still an amazing treasure trove of beauties and bargains.

Favourite secret shop/website?
Apart from Honeyjam of course, my favourite secret shop is Lutyens and Rubenstein book shop (21 Kensington Park Road, W11 2EU).

Your ultimate style icons?
Lauren Bacall, Dita von Teese and Katharine Hepburn.

Desert island fashion item?
A hoodie to sleep in so I could keep bugs away from my head…and a bikini?

Honeyjam, 2 Blenheim Crescent, London W11 1NN (www.honeyjam.co.uk/0207 243 0449) Ladbroke Grove tube.

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CLB ♥ Hop Toy Shop's animal bike bells

Tring, triiiiiiiiiing! How cool are these animal face bike bells by Crazy Stuff? Just landed at East London's wonderful independent toy emporium, Hop Toy Shop, there are four to choose from: eagle, cat, bunny and croc. CLB is particularly loving the angry eagle - that face just says 'get outta my way'. Surely the latest must-have scooter accessory. £10 each at Hop Toy Shop

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Mask Animo: recycled cardboard masks

How much fun are these graphic animal masks? Made from recycled cardboard by French company Mask Animo, each one is cut out ready to paint in the colour of your choice before being assembled with tabs. Easy peasy!


We're just not sure who will have more fun, mummy or child? Set of eight masks, £12.50 at Eside.co.uk

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CLB ♥ Everyone Dreams of Peace colouring book

We love the humorous, spidery line drawings in this new 64 page colouring book which encourages your little one to read, colour, draw and dream. Perfect for little peace crusaders in the making. Divine! Everyone Dreams of Peace by Freddy Deane £18 at www.e-side.co.uk

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Eeny Meeny: a stylish new kids exchange shop

Nothing beats the thrill of discovering a new independent children's wear boutique for CLB. Our good friend Rachael alerted us to this new local shop selling gorgeous second hand clothing alongside unusual new clothes, toys and nursery accessories (ages 0-6) and so Evie and I headed down there on Sunday morning. Tucked away in residential North London 'hood of Tufnell Park, Eeeny Meeny is bright and elegantly designed children's wear shop with the added bonus of selling well-priced exchange clothes - a rarity in London. The nearly new range includes good quality labels like Petit Bateau, Cacharel and Ralph Lauren but the owners will also take the odd piece of Gap or Monsoon kids (50 per cent is paid for clothes selected up front). Everything has to be in excellent condition - check the website here for specifics. New ranges include vintagey looking frocks, hand knitted tank tops and a fantastic selection of old-fashioned toys (it's a great place to fill party bags with lots of bits and bobs under a fiver). The latest addition to CLB's sacred little black book.

Eeny Meeny, Campdale Road, Tufnell Park, London N7 0EA (020 0011 4202/www.eenymeenykids.co.uk) Open Tue-Sat 10am-5pm (closed Mon), Sun 11am-4pm. Tufnell Park tube. Parking if free after 12pm and all day Sat and Sun.

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