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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Little Punk stick-on T-shirts launch

Toddlers aren't always at their most compliant when getting dressed. Miss E, for example, has VERY strong ideas about what she WILL and WON'T wear right now. At the moment anything with a pocket is IN and anything with stripes is firmly OUT. Helen Keenan, mum to a three-year-old thought a solution around the problem might be to incorporate stickers into the routine. Every kid loves stickers after all. She developed a range of T-shirt range with velcro and fabric stickers so children might actually enjoy the process of getting dressed and has just launched her label, Little Punk London. We love the idea but are yet to try them with Miss E though....it's either going to be a case of LOVE or HATE. We'll keep you posted. From £26.99 each at wwww.littlepunklondon.com

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CLB ♥ aden + anais Hello Kitty collaboration

Aden + Anais - Hello Kitty bibs

Oh LOOK, two of our favourite brands just got together. Aden + anais, makers of the cult printed muslins that any self respecting 10 month old can't live without, has paired up with world mega-brand Hello Kitty. The limited edition pieces include Hello Kitty printed swaddle packs, £40, blankets, £49.95 and bibs, £25. We can't think of a better new baby girl gift this spring. Available from April 1 at www.adenandanais.co.uk

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Heart cushion, £19.99, Zara Home

Enjoy this day with your little ones. Don't you find handmade Valentine's cards from your children the best? I also heart this poem by Carol Ann Duffy which somes up the love I feel when I watch my babes sleeping. What's making you go mushy this Valentine's Day?

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CLB ♥ Ruby Red natural beauty products

Ruby Red's Soothing Shea Skin Cream, £18 for 60ml

There are zillions of beauty products on the market but it's not often that CLB comes across one that we truly LOVE. Ruby Red is a UK brand, founded by Martine and Mike Ruby, who were inspired to create the range after a trip to South-East Asia where plants are usedin women's beauty regimes. The Rubys, who like to call their products 'botanical', rather than 'natural', have also made sure they are free from nasty chemicals, SLS, parabens, sulphates, petrochemicals, synthetic perfumes and dyes and are not tested on animals. Brownie points. The CLB family has been testing the Reviving Body Cleanser, which bursts with zingy lime and red mandarin and includes lovely cedarwood to boost circulation. Scrummy and refreshing! Shower-time just got a little bit more fragrant. www.rubyredcosmetics.co.uk

Ruby Red's Reviving Body Cleanser, £32 for a bumper 500ml bottle

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Top ten cool kids things for 2013

Miss Evelyn and Little Lola Maud enjoying the snow today



Hello, hello and happy 2013! To kick off the new year in style, we thought we'd bring you ten things we're most excited about this year. So here goes: cute fashion finds, keepsakes to cherish, brilliant organic products and some fab sheepskin slippers to keep tiny toes warm in these near-Arctic conditions. Enjoy!

Polish mountain slippers for little ones

1. Polish mountain slippers or 'mounties'.
Our brilliant Polish nanny, Sylvie, came back from her homeland with sheepskin slippers for Evie and Lola and the girls absolutely love them. Me too - they are so snug, cosy and beautifully embroidered. Luckily you needn't schlep to Eastern Europe to get them - CLB has found similar on Etsy.

 

Little Pinecone's delectable super-fine New Zealand merino designs including this newborn set, £19.95

2. Little Pinecone

Since acquiring this beautiful reversible merino hoodie last spring, Little Lola has worn it practically every day. Merino is a great year-round wool that keeps you warm when its cold (nice and toasty for a day like today) and cool when it's hot. Miracle! We adore this small independent brand specialising in soft modern merino pieces for babies and children.
www.littlepineconemerino.com

First Impressions' exquisite baby casts

3. First Impressions

We utterly cherish the bronze baby feet and hand casts we commissioned First Impressions to do when the girls were both teeny weeny. The north London-based company has been immortalising baby's tiny hands and feet in bronze, silver and crystal for the past 25 years. Now, they can even create a 3D moulds of your little cherub's face and put turn them into cufflinks. Not surprisingly, they have a vast celebrity following including stylish mums Stella McCartney and Victoria Beckham, who got baby Harper's feet cast in solid gold.
www.firstimpressions.org.uk

Petit chic at new-in-the-UK French website Melijoe.com

4. Melijoe.com

We're really excited about this well-established French kids' designer website launches in the UK this week. Stocking a well-edited selection of pieces by labels like Little Marc Jacobs, John Galliano Kids and Rykiel Enfant, it is tres tres chic.
www.melijoe.co.uk

BMW does a buggy with MacLaren. A match made in engineering heaven?

5. BMW for Maclaren

Bring together a German car manufacturer and a British buggy company and what do you get? Possibly the zippiest, smartest buggies around. In a range that promises to deliver luxury, elegance and sporty elements, we can be sure these will be a hit with dads and car-loving mums everywhere. Available exclusively at Harrods from the beginning of February.
www.harrods.com

Delicious organic baby products by Child's Farm

6. Child's Farm organic children's products

The CLB household is IN LOVE with this glorious smelling product by Hampshire-based brand Childs Farm. Free of nasty chemicals, they feature delicious ingredients like tangerine oil, sweet orange and strawberry and mint. Yum-mmmy. From £4.69 for bubble bath.
www.childsfarm.com

Little Puggle's exciting craft boxes

7. Little Puggle gift boxes 

We are looking forward to buying themed boxes at Little Puggle. The online company offers a special subscription service where they send a new monthly activity box for budding craftsters, tailored to age and interests, but you can also buy one-off boxes as gifts. From £16.95 for a Mini Surprise Box.
www.littlepuggle.com

No Added Sugar's fab new shop in Notting Hill

8. No Added Sugar's newish kids boutique 

Located in Notting Hill's lovely Ledbury Road, No Added Sugar's first shop showcases the super-cool London kids brand beautifully. We look forward to exploring properly ASAP.

57 Ledbury Road, W11 2AA (0207 221 3212/www.noaddedsugar.com).

 

Kids will love these Gruffalo plaster

9. Gruffalo plasters

We'll be taking the pain out of grazes with these cute Julia Donaldson-inspired plasters. Can't think of a better way to spend £4.25. www.bodieandfou.com

10. Tales from the Shed
We've been meaning to visit our local theatre, Chickenshed, for the past year, and finally we've booked tickets to see the colourful, lively and interactive performance 'Tales from the Shed' performance next month. Can't wait. Tickets from £5.50.
www.chickenshed.org.uk 

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NEW! Rice DK home wares at Sistersguild

How delicious are these brightly-coloured lampshades? CLB discovered them on a recent trawl of our favourite fashion and decor website, Sistersguild, which specialises in beautiful, handmade and hard-to-get kids clothing and home wares. The charming site also happens to stock a fine range of Rice DK, the Danish home brand known for its handmade toy baskets and bold-hued plastic bowls and cups. Check out the wonderful new collection at Sistersguild

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NEWS! The Conran Shop's new 'Kids' Shop'

Marc Newson's White Rocky, £642

Gone are the days when the focal point of a child's bedroom was the Danger Mouse duvet set. These days you little ones' bedrooms are the ultimate showcase for your own style and flair - who cares if the rest of the house is a mess? The Conran Shop have been listening to their style-mad parent customers and from Sept 20 will launch a special new 'Kids' Shop'. Shoppers will find over 650 children's interiors products at the very upper end of the designer scale from Marc Newson minimalist white rocking horse (above) to the charming Canal House wardrobes (pictured below). The ground floor will be transformed into a fantastical children's wonderland with neon-painted play sheds, candy coloured sheepskin bean bags and tree houses bunk beds. CLB is happy to hear there will be a fine range of haberdashery (buttons, sweing kits and fabrics) with oil cloth and ribbon to buy by the metre.

The Kids Shop at The Conran Shop, Michelin House  81 Fulham Road, London, Greater London SW3 6RD (020 7589 7401/www.conranshop.co.uk)

Hand painted tiger wall light, £120

Hand painted animal wall lights, £120 each

Canal House wardrobe, in various colours

Sheepskin bean bag, £110, in a selection of colours

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CLB ♥ A Little Something

Romper, was £20, now £12

Something, one of London's loveliest independent gift shops has recently relocated online. While we miss the airy Bloomsbury store, it's fab to have access to Toni Hornton's wonderful mix of accessories, homewares and childrens clothing at the click of a URL. Horton has also recently launched her own exquisite range of baby and kidswear, A Little Something, which includes charming merino/cashmere knits. Little Lola has been wearing the above top, £55, off and on all year - a great all-year-around piece. While your there have a look at the other labels (Hucklebones and I Love Gorgeous included) for boys, girls and babies, many of them currently on sale. www.something-shop.com

A Little Something merino/cashmere dress, £55

A Little Something merino/cashmere cardigan, £60

Bag, £18

I Love Gorgeous outfit, was £51, now £28

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CLB ♥ Seven Smooches recycled puppets

How charming are these handmade puppets by innovative Chicago-based label Seven Smooches? Each one is totally unique and environmentally friendly - they are all hand-crafted in recycled wool and cashmere. Can't think of a more original baby present. £28 at Molly Meg.

 

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Three fab raincoats

Rain mac, £112.50, Hucklebones

April is certainly living up to its rainy reputation (how can there still be a drought?) There is a silver lining however: it's the perfect excuse to invest in a new raincoat for your wee one. Here are three modern classics CLB loves...

Flannel-lined parka, £47, American Apparel

Unisex mac, £76, Petit Bateau at Little Liberty

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Easter ideas: Donna Wilson eggs

Bored of the same old branded Easter eggs? Check out Donna Wilson's delicious designs for Rococo chocolate, from £9.95. The award-winning London-based designer (a long time favourite of CLB's) has applied her whimsical sensibilites to choccie eggs. Yummy! The only problem is that they look far too pretty to eat. The solution? Give them along with one of her cute and highly collectible egg cups, £11.20. At Donna Wilson.

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CLB ♥ Briar Rose hair bands

Large Bow Minnie, £20

Looking for an eye-catching party accessory for your little one? Check out Briar Rose's gorgeous range of oversized hair bows in vintagey floral and polk-dot prints. Each piece is designed and handmade by stylish Cotswolds-based mummy Holly von Bock, who has recently started her own adorable style blog, Champers and Wellies (love your style Holly!) Happily, these aren't just for tiny heads as Holly designs them for grown-ups too. Hurrah! Check out Briar Rose's Not on the High Street shop here. Happy Valentine's Day ♥

Minnie Bow hairband, £15

Mother and daughter hairbands, £30

Maggie Crossover hairband, £16

 

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