Etsy Finds: Sea Stones

Alphabet Sea Stones

A simple, easy-to-make educational toy

You can either collect and paint your own or order a personalised set from here.

My Find of The Day

As we start to think about going back to school...

Ribbons & Balloons

 Fashion photography and styling: Santa Bindemane; photo editing: Edite Kirse.

Hey! It's Monday!

Time to shake off those back-to-work blues

by injecting some fun and colour into your lives.

And what better way to start the week than with a nice cheeky grin and some bright yellow balloons?

I love the styling for Cotton Bunny's vintage ribbon dresses, available from 

anton.b.

This brand new Riga-based kids' concept store aims to be a platform for designers from Latvia and the Baltic States, and I for one will be following their blog.

 Told you so, I bet you feel better already!

Nice Things From a Nice Place

Latvieshu Alphabet

Firecross

Liibieshu Alphabet

The Sun

Latgalieshu Alphabet

The Moon

I really like this postcard range printed on recycled paper and designed by Latvian company Nice Things.
Did you know that there are three official languages in Latvia? I think these three alphabet cards would look striking together in a frame, as would a selection of traditional Latvian patterns.
Nice Things' products are only available in Latvia for the moment, but they do intend to open an online shop.
Send them an email if you'd like to buy something.

And if you haven't already explored this link, now's the time to do so!

Rijada

A while ago, when I was looking for these funny Russian toys I'd bookmarked last year, I came across this beautiful Latvian home decor and was intrigued... Eastern European, traditional meets contemporary, natural linen, wood, wicker, whites, browns and greys ... everything that I love, and nope, I wasn't disappointed.

Home Textile Collection - 5 elements
Eva Vevere & Rihards Funts

Mushroom Lamp Collection
Baiba Lindane & Ugis Gailis, BU Design

The Charm of the Countryside Collection - Rijada Design Studio

When I delved a bit further, I found some wonderful eco-friendly toys and objects for kids and the young at heart

Progressive Family

Duck

Barn Blocks

Alice's Mirror

What do you think?

The award-winning Rijada Design Studio was set up in 2006 by five students from the Art Academy of Latvia Department of Industrial and Environmental Design with the goal to promoting communication between designers and society in Latvia. They hope that their Design Drive Project will become a creative platform for Latvian and European designers in Latvia, giving them the opportunity to exchange ideas, experience and knowledge.

Rijada's products are sold in a number of Baltic design stores in Latvia and they are actively seeking new partnerships in Europe.

Via Design in Central and Eastern Europe

annasusanna, peter und hanna

Good Morning Monday!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend.

We had rain, drizzle and more rain...

So, I thought we'd start the week with some colour and vitamins from a brand new online shop

annasusanna, peter und hanna

Seeing you is like eating vitamins card

Many of you will already be familiar with Ieva Jansone's photography and blog, Dinge Die Ich Mag (things that I like). If you aren't, may I suggest that you sit down for five minutes to browse her portfolio and soak up all the beautiful images (I love Garten and her Polaroid album).

I've been following Ieva's blog for a while, intrigued by her Latvian origins, her present life in Germany, her love of vintage toys and her ability to appreciate and enhance the simple things in life.

Her new shop is full of surprises, that I doubt you'll find anywhere else on the web - original postcards, kids' artwork, polaroid stickers, board games and gorgeous wooden toys crafted in Estonia await you here. It's fun, fresh and unique - why don't you push the door and go see for yourself....

Polaroid sticker-book

Engelsspuren card

Mannamemo game

All images copyright Ieva Jansone / annasusanna, peter und hanna.