Inspiration: Endless Summer

I know I've mentioned their work before, and many of you will already have seen a few of these images on pinterest, but I just can't get enough of these beautiful playthings designed by creative duo extraordinaire Fredericks & Mae.

Modern, graphic and eye-catching, these designs are everything I love. A serious shop crush if ever there was one!

Good Morning

Wall-Animal Escape - Yuko Haro

Good Night Bear - Yoko Mori

 Good Morning!

Or should I say

Good Evening?

I thought we'd end the week with some fun finds from Japan.

Red and Green Apple Berets - The Mad Hatter's Knock (Google Translation)

Arabian Headdress - Atsuko Nose

Rocking Wear - Yoshihiko Office

An enchanting world, n'est-ce-pas? 

I think you'll find that design-led Japanese store Good Evening offers toys and objects like no other. Everyone needs an Apple Beret in their life, don't you think?

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Toys

Miles woke up this morning and decided he wanted to build a racing car. Out came the notebook and pencil, plans were sketched over breakfast and then into the garage he went with Papa. I don't think I've ever seen him so determined or excited.

They've worked hard all afternoon and been test-driving for the past half hour. A few more tweaks here and there, a lick of paint perhaps... but what a joy to see! No matter how long it lasts, Miles will remember this special moment for years, I'm sure.

This afternoon spent in the workshop reminded me of a trailer I watched a few weeks ago. Part of a series of documentaries entitled Guide To The Poles, produced by Adam Mickiewicz Institut, "Toys" takes a look at the circumstances which shaped the imaginations of todays generation of Polish artists and designers.

"A comb and a few coins, an elastic band, a few bottle caps..." "What has a greater impact on a child's development - a room full of expensive toys or perhaps no toys at all?"

Food For Thought - n'est-ce pas?

More information about the documentary 'Toys" and vintage Polish toys in general from this excellent blog.

Toy Horse Travels

"Being an object that doesn't change or move, my challenge is to create a different, thoughtful scene every day"

Cassia Beck of Lola's Room, Cassia Rose and Violet May fame (see previous post) played with a toy horse when she was a child.

She has decided to photograph it every day for a year and is hoping to make her collection into a book. You can follow the project on her horse blog and buy prints of her daily images from her etsy store Lola's Room.

Enjoy!

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Koosi

Dutch window decorator and graphic designer Koosi loves colour.
If you're ever looking for fun, affordable vintage paper goods or bright handmade one-of-a-kind clothes for your little ones, this pretty etsy store is definitely worth a visit.

Turning Pages

Good Morning!
Happy Bastille Day!
I thought with celebrate with some colourful finds from Ellen Van De Sande's blog.
If you like vintage books, toys, games, typography, arts & crafts and design, you will love
Turning Pages
Go say hi from me, she's one of my favourites!

à bientôt!

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

Whip it good!

Embroidered dolls by Paola McClure

Enzo Animals

Miniature black painted sheep

Colour, click and roll vehicles

Lots and lots of wonderful toys, curious objects and rare finds at my shop of the day WhippetGrey.