Kickcan & Conkers: January 2011

Monday, 31 January 2011

Work In Progress: Quinn

I'm so pleased to see Jessica blogging again.

And just look what she's up to...

My images of the day!

All images copyright Jessica Quinn

Colour My Monday #20

How can I have possibly missed these two bright, graphic posters by the thoroughly modern duo Deuz?

Perhaps I was too busy drooling over their much-talked about playmats?

C'est très, très bon tout ça !

Can't wait to see what's coming next... definitely one to watch out for in 2011 and beyond!

List of stockists here.

Sunday, 30 January 2011

The Paper Bag #1

Mon cher Papa, je suis bien sage,

Marie-Thérèse , St Barbé 1949

Dear Daddy, I'm a very good girl

Marie - Thérèse, St Barbé 1949

The Teaparty, a postcard I bought last year
My Image of The Day

& the start of a new mini-feature - The Paper Bag

I have a huge collection of vintage paper finds to share.

Back later with My Five Faves

and please, pop over here and vote today,

Saturday, 29 January 2011

Colour My Chores

Hey, Zoé, you're a genius!

It takes an awful lot to get me excited about daily chores...

There's no doubt about it, cooking, washing and shopping never looked so appealing!

Guess I'll have to ask Mr B. to buy me one of your brand new kitchen, laundry room or shops to make and display.

Clever, colourful and fun - for little and big kids alike...

Zoé de Las Cases is full of surprises.

Friday, 28 January 2011

Soaring Love

Miss Mimoko you make me smile.

Your work just keeps on getting better and better!

Hands up those who'd love to have one of Misako's handmade Valentine's greeting kites...

Yes, I'm not surprised, but she's only making seven, so do keep an eye on her shop, they fly off fast.

I hope you all have a wonderful, fun and relaxing weekend. Please don't forget to vote for Kickcan & Conkers in the Homies, it won't take a tick, and I'd be extremely grateful. Thanks!

Mandarine

Atelier Charivari

Schlitzohren

My images of the day

because it's so nice to see a touch of colour amongst all the grey...

Inspiration: Collars and Ties

Old meets New

Formal but Fun

Dots and Flowers

Starch with a Swing...

I don't often feature kids' fashion on Kickcan & Conkers but who can resist Octobre Rose's collar and tie photo-collages? I love Satine Violette's creations, remember?

A huge thank you to the 30 or so people who have voted for me in the Best Kids Design Blog category of the Homies. Keep 'em 'comin' please, you have until next Wednesday.

Well, just because I've made it through to the finals of The Homies and I'm trying to drum up some support (a huge thanks to those who've already voted), doesn't mean to say that we can't have a bit of fun around here. I mean, that's what it's all about isn't it?

So, I have a new Czech word for you - GOLO, nice in'it?

What's even nicer is all the wonderful things you can make with it, I mean, with a GOLO

And what's nicer still is that GOLOS are both child and environment-friendly (3 years and up) EN-certified eco-toys made by people who care.

I want a GOLO, don't you?

You really should have a look at the rest of Karel Makovsky's site, there are some lovely wooden jigsaws and toys on there. Thank you once again Marie for sharing such wonderful treasures!

Thursday, 27 January 2011

Feeling Bubbly

Enjoying the simple things in life...

My image of the day.

Backflips for Breakfast

adatine

Hey, I"m back!

Two days rest, early to bed, early to rise,

and I feel on top of the world!

And, I have some great news...

I made it through to the Best Kids Design Blog Finals for the Homies!

Unbelievable! Thank You! A last-minute attempt and I'm through to the top 10.

The competition is tough, and I have little chance of winning, but if I make you smile, if you enjoy my unusual finds, if you're a K&C fan or a newcomer to this fun (I hope!)place,...

I'd appreciate your support.

You can only vote once

and it's over here

Kickcan and Conkers

Modern and Vintage for Kids and The Young at Heart!

Merci!

Wednesday, 26 January 2011

Cups of Smiles

It's the little simple things

that make me smile

Aren't Fé's animal cups wonderful?

She should start a small business

I would love to drink out of these everyday!

Jasmine

She looks a little sad here Jasmine, doesn't she?

Maybe she spent most of yesterday ill in bed like Miles and I -

Ahh, winter bugs, who needs 'em eh?

Un Grand Merci to all those that nominated me yesterday, it was all very last-minute...

I found Justine and her beautiful friend thanks to another very gifted soft toy maker Rose Miniscule. You really need to go have a look at her recent work La Musette

Just what the Doctor ordered!

Tuesday, 25 January 2011

The Homies

Hey, I wasn't going to ask but there's literally only a few hours left to nominate Kickcan & Conkers as one of the top six Kids Design Blogs in this year's Homies organised by Apartment Therapy / Ohdeedoh. If you have a minute, and you think K&C is worthy of making it through to the second round tomorrow, would you please hop over here and enter the following information

Name: kickcan and conkers
URL: http://www.kickcanandconkers.blogspot.com/

Thank you - and a special thanks to The Brothers Trimm, Lil'Magoolie and Dentsdeloup for your votes!

Aroundsquare

Aroundsquare is a small social enterprise - not a business - "devoted to healthy development inside and out". It is involved in a variety of endeavours with leverage creativity and learning and strives to provide high quality, beneficial products and services for greater good.

It's founder, educator, eco-toy developer and international consultant Matt Hiebet claims that his toys "’ll knock the ever-blinkin lights right out of the cheap plastic disposable whizimagig that’s collecting dust at the back of your closet". You've probably already seen or perhaps bought his award-winning Twig building blocks, but it's his colourful Goodwood Deconstruction Blocks that caught my eye.

Committed to sustainability, aroundsquare's Goodwood sets are made from forest-friendly wood in a small, ethically run Chinese factory (yes, that's right, China). You can even donate a playset to a childcare centre in the developing world for just $12.

Simple, no-fuss packaging, colourful and sustainable - One I will obviously be keeping an eye on!

via

Perfect!

What more can I say?

I love Furze Chan's brand new Rabbit and Penguin paper puppet kits!

Monday, 24 January 2011

Colour My Monday #19

Dandy - modern exercise chair revisited, 2007

Improbable History, 2007

Finding Your Inner Chair (skateboard), 2007

Is it a bird?

Is it a plane?

No, it's a chair

Imagined by Peter Shires

A bit of fun, colourful design to brighten up your day!

Thanks Dominique!

Shop Watch: Mr Kitly

A fine address Down Under.

As well as stocking Renilde's beautiful mobiles and textile work and a nice selection of art, magazines and objects for the home, Mr Kitly has a small children's section, featuring Fog-Linen products, Japanese wooden stamps and Cara bowls.

A pleasure to browse, definitely one to bookmark, me thinks.