As shoppers of small brands ourselves, we know only too well how shopping small in the UK and online can be tricky. So, this year to make it easier, we’re super excited to have teamed up with twenty other independent online brands. Our aim is to make shopping small for Christmas simple and packed full of treats for you and your loved ones.

First thing’s first: how can you access these amazing small designers and business discounts? Simply sign up to just ONE of the brand’s newsletters mentioned below and you will be sent an invite and code to the Christmas Curated website. If you’re on our mailing list, you will already have received it but, if you’re not, pop over to our home page here, scroll down to the bottom and you can sign you right here. 

Below is our small business gift guide that is packed full of present ideas to help you to shop small for babies and big kids this Christmas. Plus, more brands will be joining soon so keep your eyes peeled!

 

How to Shop Small for baby gifts

Here are some of our favourite picks from some of the participating brands- but remember, they all do so much more!

 🎁 Rosie Meringue combines her graphic design skills and love for woodwork with her beautiful laser cut ply decor. From garlands to birth announcement plaques, these timeless pieces would be treasured pieces. 

🎁 Sisi & Seb have the most exquisite range of brands on their online boutique- from finding gorgeous Christmas Day outfits from Tocoto, or Louise Amish to these stunning Liewood bib capes for when baby tries their first Brussels sprout 🥴

🎁 Now Binibamba have sheepskins that you may not want to giveaway. They are uper soft and snuggly, but with serious style and functionality. Plus- have you seen the collaboration with Tiba and Marl?! 

🎁 Claude & Co is full of meaning to add a little sprinkle extra special in your gifts. The Part of Something tees and their donation to Meningitis charity are amazing, but these new journals are stunning. Aimed at the years 0-5 years old, there is space for 5 Christmases of jottings. 🎄

How to shop small for toddlers and children this Christmas

🎁 If you appreciate intricate design, you’ll love Little Hotdog Watson Hats and scarves that are not only eye catching but every feature has been carefully added to the max- making them seriously smart. 

🎁 Pop & Punch (well it wouldn’t be right if we didn’t mention ourselves, would it?!) have the magic sorted with our whimsical Fabelab doll range that all kids would love to tuck in at night with. 

🎁 Cuddledry have bath time down to a tee- so much so that they’ve had over 70 awards for making the end of the day a little calmer, warmer and less stressful!

🎁 We love Mini Maison who realise toys can be seriously cool and kids interiors as stylish as adults. With their own brand as well as highly curated retail, you might want it all. 🎄

 

How to shop small for parents this Christmas

Yes, they already have the main thing, that’s why we’ve put some extra thought into these...

🎁 As a parent, play can be daunting at times. The wonderful Claire Play HOORAY! gently shows us it doesn’t need to be hard. With her carefully created, purposeful but easy to set up PlayPROMPTS you could give the gift of play to a parent this Christmas

🎁 is there anything better than soft, organic sleepwear? Yes there is- family matching, soft, organic sleepwear- and Didi and Bud has the most gorgeous range loved by us all.

🎁 Totter and Tumble playmats are equally for the children as it is for parents, who love the wipedown and easy care function. And they LOVE that their house is still their home so when the kids are in bed, parents can enjoy their mulled wine and their family space.

🎁 Love travelling and camping in your family but hate the achey backs and slippy bed sheets, or maybe one parent is reluctant? The gift of Bundle Beds will solve your problems with their roll out fully formed beds (even double beds!) 🙌 🎄

 

How to shop small for expecting and new parents this Christmas 

Maybe you want to give them something practical that will help make their days easier, or something to keep forever to capture the journey of parenting.

Here are some of our favourite brands taking part in Christmas Curated, and why you and your little loved ones will adore them too.

🎁 Meminio is on our Christmas list this year - providing the most precious memories of a new baby with a beautifully crafted cases and folders to keep your treasures safe. So clever. 

🎁 Baby Grey have the most beautiful nursing rockers - an investment piece that will last for years and provide style in the daylight hours, and comfort at night.

🎁 etta loves isn’t just a muslin and baby essential brand- they put serious science into their stylish muslins, blankets and playmats. Designed to capture your babies with millimetre-precise patterns, you can give a babe a magical sensory experience, and parents a little peace.

🎁 Fornessi has the softest, snuggliest way to carriers for you to hold your baby close. The wraps of breathable, ecological material with gorgeous soft colours extend across the range of baby essentials.  🎄

How to shop small this Christmas for grown-ups and homeware this Christmas

🎁 the modern and playful art prints and paper goods from The Little Jones would look just as good in the kids room as it would in the living room- plus personalisation is an easy win with these as gifts. 

🎁 Avery Row on-the-go playmats and blankets are ideal for the family home, or for the grandparents and relatives who want to accommodate the kids but not the kid-stuff!

🎁 once you have one Artisanne basket, you’ll want them all. Started by two sisters, Elizabeth and Emma, who lived in Senegal for 6 years and brought back with them a relationship forged directly with the weavers, who craft beautiful and sturdy basketry.

🎁One Mama One Shed collection revolves around the message of buy well, waste less. Enamel crockery and metalwork that’s designed to stay in your home, not the landfill. Plus, they’re gorgeous and personalised.

🎁 Giving the gift of memories is a precious one. Family Rule wooden height rulers are the most gorgeous way to mark the most treasured moments of life and look beautiful in any home- especially with the hand painted and personalised touch. 🎄

 

Hope the gift guide has been really helpful. Don’t forget to gain access to Christmas Curated sign up to our newsletter here. 

 

L x

 

We are keen to support small business and Indy brands both in Pop & Punch and in our home. You can’t deny the holiday season is now upon us and no doubt you are being bombarded with ads, images and sales from all the big boys on the high street, but I want you to remember the little guys too. Shopping small really does create a jump of joy, a wiggle, a dance across the kitchen floor and or a squashed squeal so we don’t wake the sleeping baby. 
Buying from these brands means you are buying into something that adds a personal touch to your holiday decorations, these are the items that you will pull out year on year, having them invoke memories, bringing a soft smile as you hang them up once again. Even getting just one of these beautiful decorations is the start of creating you Indy Christmas too, maybe you can go all out and splurge on lots, maybe you add one to your collection each year. However you go about it, we have some great ideas from lots of gorgeous small brands for you to choose from. Consider this you shopping list, gift guide and Indy round up all in one. 
I thought I would break this up for you to make it a little easier for you to find what you are looking for. 

 

For the Cake and your table

I absolutely love this greenery cake topper from Bow Beaus, personalised and so different, there are always the festive animals to adorn your cakes too this year, even better is that you can add to the collection each year and they are great for the mantel too.
RRP £9.50

Not everything on the table needs to be festive, I for one do not have a holiday themed table cloth or napkins, I would rather have something that is used frequently and loved all year round. These napkin rings from Konoc can be personalised for your guests as a favour, or with your favourite words to use time and again. 
RRP from £10

Keeping with the non seasonal theme, these liberty print Napkins from Coco & Wolf would look perfect with the Konoc rings, plus you would want to show them off all the time! 
RRP from £25

 

Everyone loves to sprinkle a bit of cheer on the table, these concrete stars from Bells and Whistles Makes are great for bringing our year after year, you could use them for any occasion as well. 
RRP from £12

 

Twinkling Lights  

Poms poms are everywhere, and frankly we can’t get enough of them, why not adorn your Christmas tree with from Pom Pom fairy lights from Melanie Porter, or even drape over your mantel to make it twinkle.
RRP £24

I'm also completely in love with these plain fairy light hoops from Melanie Porter, I want them hanging all over our walls! Pom poms, holly or golf leaf, pick your favourite. 
RRP £32

 

Up your wreath game this year with a little message for your visitors, the new Noel fairy Light hoop, available form Pop & Punch, is perfect for welcoming guests, or as an extravagant tree decorations too. Want a custom colour? Then click here to order direct. 
RRP £38

 

Candles are perfect for any time of the year, why not add some winter scents to your home with the simply stunning new ‘By the fireside’ scent from Boho Candle. Their candles are handmade with natural waxes, essential and fragrance oils, the perfect vegan and eco candle. Don’t forget to head to their Instagram for some great advice on how to burn your candle to get the most out of it. 
RRP large candle £18.50

 

Banners, Bunting and Wall Decor 

We've hung paper pom poms in our lantern light since we moved to this house, this Noel Orb from Flat Chance is now the top of my wish list for a new hanging feature. Abbi, the creator behind the beautiful wire words, has come up with a truly original Christmas decoration that you will want to pull out year after year. 
RRP £18 

Pom poms are a must this Christmas, and The Sewcial Circle has all the pom poms you could desire, with beautiful bunting in your choice of colours. Its unique and certain to please even the most bah humbug of visitors. The lovely Katie also had great pom pom making kits, why not get the kids involved and make a string of poms for the tree?
RRP £36

 

This merry and bright stitched Christmas banner from Cotton Clara is right up there are one of my favourite indy decorations I have found this year, you can but it as a kit or with the stitching done for you. It's something that you can look at each year and still love, this would be such an awesome addition to our decorations!
RRP £49 

 

Every house needs a Santa please stop here sign, I absolutely love the modern update that Roscoe Rules has given their version. You can choose your metallic colour or have it natural, perfect for any interior, and making sure the big man doesn't miss your house out! 
RRP £15

I'm sure your seen the lovely banners from Happy Sunday Studio all over your grid this year. Their Christmas addition, 'Merry and Bright' is so simple and stunning that it is sure to be a huge hit. I have no doubt you'll be seeing it all over the place soon.
RRP from £45.  

'Frank' from Frankly Decor is the perfect combination of pom pom and cute (can you see the theme this year yet?). What colour would you choose? I love the pale pink, the idea of going a little more non traditional with colours this Christmas I think. 
RRP £7

For the Mantel 

I have a thing for reindeer decorations, there I've said it, and these absolute beauties from Matt Baldwin Design tick all the boxes, their simple plywood design is perfect for any decoration collection. 
RRP from £8

I first saw these beautiful trees made from old books at the Shop Small Event last year, The Paper Peony will be back again this year with her stunning trees. Sadly these won't be available online as they can get crushed in shipping, but if you are at the event this year then grab them quick, they sold out fast last year. In three sizes, starting at £7, they are a great addition to any mantel this year. 
RRP from £7

Whether it's for the mantel, the cake or for in a stocking, Bow Beaus party animals are such a fun way of adding some cheer and sparkle. My favourite is obviously the reindeer, closely followed by the penguin, but we all know Poppy will pick the dinosaur for the cake this year! 
RRP festive animals from £8

Don’t forget the Tree 

Personalised baubles are everywhere, but these are some of my favourites, ones that I think everyone will love. 

Handwritten personalised baubles, perfect for any tree, I’ll be ordering them this week ready to collect at the Christmas Markets. If you fancy getting one done while you browse, then the lovely Carla from Kitty Makes will be at The Shop Small Event.
RRP £6.50

Paper cutting is such a  great skill, and these baubles from The Paper Peony showcase it so well, simple and stunning, these are great as a gift as well. Available in two sizes and lots of colour options, you are sure to find the option to suit you. 
RRP from £5.50

Laser cut tree decorations, we bought lots of the personalised ones from Rosie Meringue last year as gift tags for the family, this year it’s time to get the ones I hankered after before. There is something to suit everyone here. 
RRP from £5 for an individual and £15 for a set

Keeping with the laser cut theme, I am completely in love with these sweet mini reindeer, candy canes, snowflakes and many more, plus there are pom poms, see I said pom poms were going to pop up throughout the guide! These beauties are from Frankly Decor. 
RRP £8

What about these colourful, fun tree decorations from Stellar and Cloud? They would add some colour and magic to any tree. 
RRP from £6.50

 

Want a fun activity to keep the kids entertained over the holidays, then these super sweet, make your own decorations sets from Cotton Twist are perfect. It comes with everything you need to get started and is the perfect gift to help any time crunched parents out. 

RRP £16.95

 

Keep the shop small theme, these unique origami tree decorations from Little B are just a lovely way to add a touch of shop small to your Christmas. Handmade and lovingly created, they are great as a gift too. 
RRP £6

Stockings to hang by the fire 

Want a stocking with a difference this year? Let's face it animal print is here to stay, we are all still obsessed and well it was bound to make its way into our Christmas decorations. I am not afraid to admit that I am going to be finding a way to get this beauty past my other half fairly soon. This one comes ready made, but there are great kits too, tassel garlands and amazing tassel decorations too. 
RRP stocking from £70

How sweet is this Dixie Deer stocking from Little Jagger? perfect for Santa to fill while the little ones are sleeping. Handmade in Yorkshire, they are a great addition to your little ones room.  
RRP £20

 

Festive Pyjamas to keep us all warm

Christmas is all about matching Pyjamas and cosy nights together all huddled under a blanket, watching a film with a big bowl of popcorn, though in our case we'd be fighting Pop's for the popcorn. I've chosen pyjamas that have longevity, you won't just want them for Christmas, as they are all perfect all winter though. 

First up is Didi & Bud, we've got mulled trees, you might even see these popping up in our seasonal photos soon too. They are absolutely gorgeous and available in two colourways and in lots of styles to suit everyone from tiny babes, to mum and dad as well. 
RRP from £20-£45

West Stanton have just released to cutest print winter pyjamas, in cool blues with hints of mulberry and green, They are just the sweetest winter design for your little ones. P.S. they also do sleep suits too. 
RRP £32
 

Lets not forget The Bright Company, their sage green family pyjamas are the perfect winter addition, with a subtle tree embroidery they are perfect to see you through the cold winter we are due. From baby grows to adult sizes, there is something for everyone. 
RRP from £25-£50

 

Last, but by no means least, we have our winter dolls and elves, beautiful advent calendars and a wonderful curated collection of the best Christmas gifts. 

 

Happy  Shopping 

 

L x

The heat of summer is long gone, but your home still shows it, the light textures, brighter colours and fresh fabrics.

 

Adding textured cushions and throws is a quick and easy way to update. 

Moving into Autumn and Winter may mean holidays, pumpkins and spice, or maybe to you, it’s straight into winter warmth, lighting the fire and embracing the woolly blankets.

 
Why not use the long evenings to make one of these beauties from Lauren Aston Designs? 

Subconscious you probably change a free things in your home as the temperature changes, but did you know that Scandinavian countries do so much more. Light fresh linen curtains are changed for thicker fabrics that insulate, rugs become thick and luxurious, blankets are swapped over, cushions are swapped for textures and fabrics that make you want to reach out and touch them.

Cosy rugs from Lorena Canals, to squish your feet in and keep out the cold. 

Linens and cottons become velvets, suedes and wools, colours become deeper and darker, heavier patterns become more popular too. Be careful not to shut out all the light though, keep some lighter elements for balance, and make sure your lighting also reflects the change, table and floor lamps can help to achieve this too. Twinkling lights are perfect to add some warmth too.

 

 

Wool and velvet are the perfect autumn/winter fabrics.  

This year we’ve even gone a little further in our home, moving the house around a little to create a cosy reading corner, adding some more think and luxurious rugs and more velvet textures to our accessories. Moved some art around too, and added a few prints as well to help change it all up. Ironically we are also still decorating our kitchen, play area, dining area and utility, as they are all one space we’ve used the same colour, we’ve gone lighter, reflecting the calm we want in the space, but dressed it up for the season with black metals, dark woods and rich textures.

The new eco-velvet range from Nobodinoz is the perfect place to start, with it luxurious soft texture and rich tones, it’s sure to delight. 

 

Change the kids bedrooms and playrooms too. 

These changes can easily be carried out in children’s rooms and play areas too, without great expense, and keeping them fun and exciting. In small spaces, just change a few things, nothing too over powering, otherwise you will suck all the light from the room. We have swapped light rugs for a more velvety grey (and washable rug) from Lorena Canals, her bedding is now oversized and in the new print from Nobodinoz, Gold Confetti/Magic Green. 

 

We’ve also added in a few new cushions in winter colours, feel rich and knitted for a cosy feeling. I especially love this one from Sophie home, winter without being Christmas themed.

This winter rainbow from Sophie Home is a favourite in our house.  

Why not make a few small changes in your home to create a winter haven?

 

Have fun.

 

L x

 

 

At Blue Ticking we are a little obsessed with furniture that has character and a past. We love how a simple vintage school desk or old letterpress tray can
transform a space and add real charm. We also love mixing the old with the
new and this is exactly what we have tried to do in our two daughters
bedrooms. They each have two or three vintage pieces that sit perfectly
alongside more modern items and room décor. For me, this is the key; picking
a small number of stand out heritage gems that help bring the room together
and give it a unique feel.

When we redecorated Edith and Maggie’s rooms last year we knew that we
wanted a desk to feature highly. Both kids love to colour and create and a
desk provides the perfect spot for this. Now Edith is a bit older (the grand old
age of 8) and has a lot more ‘stuff’ we knew that she needed more space to
house everything and get her creative juices flowing!

We therefore chose a wooden double desk that had a shelf underneath for her pads and stationary. To add another pop of colour and to tie everything in we chose a metal legged chair which we then sprayed blue. Above her desk Edith has lots of prints and vintage Amish barn stars, a Block pegboard to hang her bits and bobs and a cork pin board. It very much feels like her space and shouts of her personality, which is exactly what we wanted.

Maggie is a bit younger (6) so we decided to go for a single desk in her room,
but like her sister she has a lot of stationary so we chose one with a lift up lid
to store everything inside. To make it a bit different for her we then added a
chalkboard lid, which she uses all the time to practice her sums and doodle!
We then paired it with a red metal legged chair. Like Edith she has a Block
pegboard above her desk as well has her favourite swinging rabbit sticker by
HAM. Maggies room feels very playful and again reflects her cheeky
personality. 

As well as the desks they each have a older style chest of drawers as well as
caddies on castors which again tie in really well with the other room décor. It
can seem daunting at first to come up with a scheme for a room, but I have
certainly learnt over the years not to be afraid to give something ago or to mix
and match styles.

Both rooms will grow with them and whilst we will no doubt change things
around we have tried to ensure it’s a space that works for them now and in
the future. By adding two or three vintage pieces to a room means you can
swap things around as the space and they evolve.

Picking the perfect vintage desk

I have talked quite a lot about our daughters desks because these for us are
the focal points of their rooms. To help you decide what desk to go for here
are a few questions to consider before making a purchase.

• How long do you want the desk to last for? Is it s stopgap or would you rather get something that works for some time? Personally I would always invest in something that lasts and will grow with the child.
• What will they use the desk for? If homework maybe focus on a bigger worktop so they have plenty of space for all their books etc.
• If you have siblings would it be worth getting a double desk so they can sit together?
• Will the desk be used to house all their stationary and pads etc. If it is, maybe think about one with a lift up lid or shelf underneath
• Do you want a single or double, a metal or wooden desk? There are lots of different shapes and styles out there to suit every space and discerning little person and parent!

Setting up your own creative space

I’ve touched on creative spaces a little above because they are an important
part of our home and family life. The kids each have a desk in their rooms
which they use for more solo creative activities and then we also have a craft
table in the playroom which they often use together. We passionately
believe that having a creative space is so important for children and
adults alike. They enable kids be kids and grown ups to relax and
feel inspired. No matter how big or small we all need that nook, desk
or corner to do our thing.

With this in mind I thought it might be helpful to provide some top tips on what
you might want to consider when putting a creative space together.

1. Pick a designated space in the home where your child feels
comfortable and relaxed. It could be in their room or in a more
communal space. It doesn’t have to be a big space, just a space that
they feel happy and creative in.

2. Ask them what they would like in their creative space. It could be a
desk or simply a few cushions in the corner where they can sit and
draw or read.

3. In order for kids to be creative they need things to hand. Try and have
a creative station that they can reach and can easily get things out.
Obviously make sure it includes items which you are happy for them to
use without you, so it will be age appropriate.

4. Make sure it’s a usable space and not one that just looks great, as
tempting gas this is!

5. Our children love showing off the things they have created so if you
have space why not add a gallery wall to hang pictures or include a
display cupboard for all their creations!

You can read lots more about creative spaces and peruse our selection of
desks and other paraphernalia on our website.

 

Enjoy creating! 

Helen

 

To help you get packing (and, let’s face it, starting is often the hardest bit!) you could use our lovely animal string bags, perfect for keeping everything in and they come in different designs so each child can have their own little pal to be in charge of on your journey. We always fill ours with:

• Magic painting – obviously we have the dinosaurs and mermaids! Poppy can’t decide between the two so they often both find their way into her bag. They, also, do really lovely sticker books which can be a life saver if you’re going anywhere long haul and need something mess-free and that they can zone out with. (We get ours from Gennanory)

• This genius water brush pen is great for having water on the go. If you get delayed or stuck somewhere, they can simply draw all over the cobbles / pavement / walls quite safely and it really can help to boost their creativity. We always have this in the changing bag, too, for times of distraction!

• A mermaid doll from our gorgeous new Fabelab collection, to encourage some imaginative play and a book to tie in with the character we choose. A brilliant tip for travelling on a plane is to wrap them up (tin foil is brilliant for this) and save them for when boredom kicks in. You could set a timer on your phone to go off every 20 minutes or so and they unwrap their next surprise. Create a scene from their favourite book and then the last ‘surprise’ that they unwrap is the book itself. Endless possibilities with these beautiful soft toys.

• Coin purse for their holiday spends (Poppy’s fave is the unicorn at the moment... although she’s less keen on actually spending its contents and prefers to empty my purse for that...!)

• A muzzy blanket for comfort for us, as well as being perfect for cleaning up those inevitable spills, to help their dolly to have a sleep and they’re, also, ideal for creating a bit of shade, too).

• Stickers from hey there stickers. Borne out of the desire to allow kids and their families more time for creating and making, these gorgeous stickers are ideal for popping into travel bags to keep young minds busy on long, tedious journeys. The number and letter packs are great for a bit of fun learning, too. Not forgetting the notepad and led is essential for all the notes they make about their parents!!

Hopefully that has given you some inspiration for keeping your little ones happy on your summer journeys and provides some help for the dreaded packing. Keep the long sunny days and cold drinks in mind and remember to share your snaps with us over on social media! We love to see where you’re taking your purchases and the adventures that they take your children on.

Happy holidays!

Pop & Punch x

 Guest blog by Emily Bright, Parrot Street Book Club

I don’t know about you, but isn’t finding an activity that’s ridiculously fun and yet incredibly good for you like the holy grail? We believe reading is just that kind of magic activity and helping children to get into the habit of reading for fun can be life changing for them.

A cosy den to get lost in with your children

There’s a huge push on reading for pleasure in schools at the moment and it’s not simply about improving reading skills. Yes, reading obviously improves language and vocabulary but research also shows that when children enjoy reading and choose to spend time reading regularly, there are huge social, emotional and even physical benefits. Reading boostsempathy which children will then apply to their friendships and learning. It also stimulates imagination and creativity. Children that still read for fun as teenagers are more likely to enjoy not only academic success but lower levels of stress and depression than their peers.

Creating a calm and quite space for your children

With so many digital distractions competing for our children’s time and attention these days we need to do more to help getour kids into the habit of reading. Making books and reading an important part of family life is key. Here are 5 tips for building the reading habit, whatever your children’s age:

 

About Parrot Street 

Emily Bright and Sarah Campbell run Parrot Street Book Club, an exciting monthly book subscription for primary school-aged kids designed to supercharge kids’ love of reading. Each month children receive a brand-new chapter book to keep and a fun-filled activity pack inspired by that book, including book club-style questions, puzzles, crafts, a recipe and more. They specialise in hunting out titles that parents and children might not have easily discovered on their own, introducing families to a fabulous range of books, authors and genres.

Why not creat the perfect reading nook for you and your child to get lost in with our comfy beanbags, inspiring teepees and cosy blankets. 

 

Choosing the shade that is just right.

Whilst we are told it’s only paint, it is the most cost effective way to transform a room. It can also be a complete waste of money, time and environmental resources if you get it wrong, something that is super easy to do. The last thing I would suggest is picking a paint colour of the shelf and thinking “that’ll be alright” because it probably wont be right.

Read more

Choosing baby and children’s toys and products can be a serious headache for eco-minded and stylish parents. We shop organic, recycle our packaging and rinse out our reusable water bottles, only to glance around our homes at the sea of plastic tat and disposable party bag nick knacks that our little ones have accumulated. There is no doubting the popularity of this garish (and most commonly noisy) stuff with the little people, but there are so many alternatives now.

We want to help you banish more of the plastic tat, and buy better and more sustainable products, as well as find products for your children, that fit into your home and style. Sometimes we find a brand that just goes hand in hand with all of our gorgeous products and completely nails what we are aiming to achieve. Enter Totter & Tumble, they are the bee knees when it comes to the one product wonder, the most practical, stylish, sustainable and beautiful playmats you ever did see. 

Now most of you will suddenly think of  those 'lovely' puzzle mats, you know the ones you have to take apart and hose down to clean the vomit out of, that you can  never get clean again due to the texture on the surface. I searched high and low for a better alternative, for bigger mats and for something that would fit in with our interiors, failing on both accounts and settling for some large and neutral coloured puzzle mats, also coming across lots of the brands that we now stock. Then I found Totter & Tumble on Instagram before both of our respective launches, by that time Pops was running, climbing and steaming her way around the house, the puzzle mat banish to be used as a gym floor in the garage. I followed avidly to see what was coming, and revealed in awe at these gorgeous mats that I was cursing weren't around a year earlier. They are a perfect match for any family home, and even better is how well they go with our range. The idea is that it is a product that will last though childhood and well beyond, something that we also want for all of our products, share them with siblings, cousins and they can pass them to their children in turn.

From being the perfect crash landing from our house frame bed, only 4 inches off the floor, it can still wake your little one when she roll out, the soft landing of the Totter & Tumble mat can prevent them from waking. This is definitely the case for us, with our wooden floors thought the house, a little roll from our fidget usual wakes her, but not now. It also creates a great surface for hours of play with our wooden toys, now loud bangs and clatters as towers go tumbling, toys aren't quite reached and white playing pretend in our beautiful teepees.  

Its fab and so lightweight that you can easily carry it outside, take a teepee for shade, grab a sack full of toys and play in the garden too. What I love most about it is how easily all the designs fit in with all of our ranges. From the beautiful neutral 'The Nomad' design, that honestly looks amazing with all our toy storage sacks, although we especially love it with some of the bolder colour ways, like the gold stella/blue night, gold secrets/green magic and gold secrets/sunset . 

For me, and especially with Living Coral being Pantones colour of the year for 2019, the clear favourite is 'The Dreamer'. Its soft coral tone gives it a modern but colourful feel along with the geometry of the prints are the perfect combination for our Nobodinoz beanbags, they all mix and match, creating soft, warm and comfortable play spaces for all ages. 

Have fun creating your space with these perfect combinations!

L x

We were very kindly gifted this beautiful Totter & Tumble playmat to use for our new photography, and Poppy's think sits perfect in her room, giving her a comfy place to play with her dolls house for hours. 

I am a mum, I am an interior design, a small business owner, but today, first and foremost I am Poppy’s mum. There was a time when I never thought that would be my life, but now it is and I’m so proud that I can say that.
 

To understand, let me start from the beginning.

I spent my 20s being told I wouldn’t conceive, if by some miracle I did, then I wouldn’t carry to term. I was told repeatedly my body wasn’t capable, but that was OK to me, I was young, family was far from my mind and besides, I had always said from a young age that I wanted to adopt. Then along came Mr Pop & Punch and that all changed, and now we have this incredible little girl, there is a lot that happened in between meeting Ed and having Poppy. We went on adventures, made plans to travel, work and enjoy sometime before trying to adopt. I was competing in Power-lifting (yes a random sport, but I loved it), between training, diet and a last ditch attempt to reduce my pain, we somehow got Poppy. Something that I never quite believed until she was here and we were tentatively leaving the hospital wondering why they would just let us leave and not make sure we knew what we were doing! It wasn’t plain sailing, I say yes lets have another, Ed says HELL NO, he cannot possible go through another pregnancy, but considering that he is a complete baby thief and is usually found cuddling babies at any gathering, I think i'll be able to persuade him. 

So here we are with this tenacious, strong willed, stubborn and bubbly little girl, who quite honestly rules this house with an iron fist! 

All this made me changed my priorities though, I suddenly no longer wanted to return to a job where I was commuting for 3 hours a day, was away from home for 13 hours a day, and was always working on my days off anyway. It was time to get some balance back, I was not going to miss 5 bedtimes a night, only have 1 day a week with all of us together. Don’t get me wrong, I know that works for some people, but it wasn’t the life we wanted for our family. 
 

I had this nagging in my mind, that it was finally time have my dream shop, a destination for interiors, with a little coffee shop where people can stop and have a break between choosing fabrics for their curtains, pulling schemes together and to chat in. I realised that over time this shop had changed in my mind, I felt that community of the coffee shop I sought, I had in fact found through groups and social media, friends in those squares who supported, encouraged and empowered. I no longer left I needed a physical premises, It was going to be online. 

I am lucky, Ed has skill set that means between the two of us the day to day work, website, advertising, buying and selling was covered. We had the idea and developed it over time, we spent our evenings chatting plans, researching, asking questions and making decisions. The name was something I deliberated over for a while, for fear it sounded like a drinks company, but it has stuck to us like glue, and so it was registered! We were going to do this! Our plan is to be a one stop shop for children’s interiors, a destination still, for children’s and teens decor and accessories. Where you can buy products that stand the test of time, are versatile to work in a nursery through to a teen room and to also champion some small brands as well. 
 

We now stock major international children’s lifestyle brands, as well as working with small independent makers to produce exclusive prints and products just for us to stock. Though our prints by Sunshine for Breakfast, we want to teach children to love themselves, be empowered to conquer the world and remind them that they are brave and capable. 

The shop launched in Mid August, for now we started with just 5 brands, in the 6 months we've been live we've expanded to offer newborn gifts, toys for toddlers, furniture and so much more. We have an exciting year planned in 2019, and to keep offering more exciting brands and products to make your life easier and more beautiful.  Offering inspiration boards, room plans and so much more, this year is the year we will grow and expand more and more. 

For now, this is the beginning of our story, we plan to grow, expand and branch out, we want you to be a part of our story too, with so many gorgeous products to buy, why not start updating your children’s space now? 

Have fun planning 

Laura
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Taking Poppy's nursery from unisex beauty to a light, bright and playful toddlers room. Giving her space to play, read and sleep, as well as somewhere for us to enjoy with her.

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