This week was all about Wren’s birthday. She turned two on Tuesday and we celebrated with a little party at home over the weekend. It was very simple, just a couple of friends and we got the kids making pizzas. Wren was very lucky and got lots of nice presents; a Clothkits dolly and xylophone from her grandparents, some new crayons and books from friends and real, child-sized cooking equipment from us. It rained all day on her actual birthday, so we spent the day inside baking cakes and biscuits with her new tools.

1. Sprinkles. 2 & 3. Playing with new toys. 4. Party Fred. 5. Cloth Kitty. 6, 7 & 8. Baking. 9. Wren’s biscuits.

I bought our great party plates, cups and hats from Molly-Meg.

I am crazy about this new kids’ label Pala Mino! Designer Louise Coughlan, used to make costumes for Giffords Circus and now she designs magical children’s clothes. The pieces are all beautifully handcrafted using vintage fabrics and trims from Louise’s treasured textile stash. The styles are playful and fun, yet also timeless. They are pieces to be treasured for a lifetime, as they amplify the carefree nature of childhood. I interviewed Louise to find out more:
What inspired you to start Pala Mino?
I work freelance as a costume maker and I get most of my work from industry costumiers. In addition to the work room, they also have a large warehouse and I like to look through the rails at lunchtimes. I am always drawn to the beautiful fabrics and shapes of the children’s section, so I started taking patterns of my favourite pieces and it kind of went from there.
What is the inspiration behind the current collection?
I’m inspired by costume, film, pattern, shape, colour and fabric. I love films that transport you using pace, landscape and music. I often think of characters and imagine what their children might wear, Jane from Paris, Texas is a current favourite. I am influenced by my costume background but like to be inspired by a cinematic persona rather than a theatrical character.
What materials do you use?
Cotton, silk, wool, viscose. I prefer to use natural fabric. I have sourced vintage fabric through the years. I am usually drawn to print and/or colour. It’s the same with trims and buttons. I have also taken clothing apart and re used it for small pieces like a collar, facing or piping. I am a sucker for a graphic print and get a kick out an unexpected colour combo.
What is your favourite thing to do with your kids?
Have a lazy morning in bed at the weekend. If we have no plans, there’s nothing better than eating breakfast in bed. Then hanging out, reading, chatting, drawing, watching stuff on the laptop. It doesn’t happen as much as I would like though, we always seem to be too busy.
What is your favourite children’s book?
I think it is probably Diary of a Wimpy Kid. It was the first book my eldest son loved reading by himself, up until then he would only read short stories.
Do you have any exciting plans for the future?
Oh yeah, as long as I can keep making and being creative. At the moment I do all the making and dyeing myself, if it gets too much I already know very skilled people who can help out. The process is as important to me as the product, this is reflected in the price point but the garments are not throw away. I’m hoping that they will be cherished, well worn and handed down.

Louise can produce all the pieces in different sizes to order. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch!

How about Dahlia’s? They are one of my favourite flowers and remind me of old men tending allotments wearing dungarees. Plant some now for lots of late summer flowers that are perfect for cutting and bringing inside. I like the garish bright colours best, but these soft white ones are pretty too.

Photo by Kara Rosenlund

My friend Sarah has just opened a new shop called Magpie & Hen, which sells ‘preloved treasures for little ones.’ Sarah is a former textile designer and trend forecaster, who now uses her finely tuned eye to hunt down vintage pieces that are playful, graphic, decorative and nostalgic. The shop includes books, toys and clothes that would be equally at home in a toy box or designers’ studio. There are objects for play, display, and inspiration, including illustrated vintage books and wooden toys that would make great props as well as being fun to play with. All the objects are very well photographed and I particularly enjoy reading her detailed descriptions of each piece. Stock is updated regularly so please keep on checking back. Here are a few of my current favourites:

1. Vintage Brio pull-along wooden duck. 2. The Sun Shone on the Elephant. 3. Vintage Fisher Price 1978 cooker hob toy. 4. Vintage French glass. 5. Vintage wooden pull-along xylophone. 6. Vintage unisex cropped dungarees.

1. Tiny toes. 2. Stripes. 3 & 5. I finally used my Christmas present – a trip to the St Moritz Cowshed spa – it was amazing! 4. Steely gaze. 6. Big toes. 7. Wild swimming. 8. The winding road home.

Mama: Kestral Soar tan sandals by Clarks Originals.
Papa: Letters From Everest: A First-Hand Account from the Epic First Ascent by George Lowe and Huw Lewis-Jones.
Baby: red Tip Toe shorts with braces by Jessie and James from Liberty.
House: wooden chopping boards from Bodie and Fou.

Indikidual are one of my favourite new kids’ brands. They make relaxed and comfy, organic cotton clothes with cute prints and playful details, which are just the sort of thing children should wear to play in. My favourites are the denim button back Bubble top and yellow banana print harem trousers. I interviewed founder Syreeta Johnson to find out more about the brand.

What inspired you to start Indikidual?
When I went back to work after having my daughter Minnie and really struggled to get the balance between my job, Minnie, and my own life so I started to think of alternative solutions. I have always worked in fashion and have been a buyer and designer for women’s, men’s and kids’ wear so I just decided to do what I do but for myself. Now I can work my schedule around family life which is great. I no longer feel like I’m being pulled in all directions!
I love creating clothing which is a bit different to your usual kids’ wear. When Minnie was born I was shocked that she had such a strong personality from such a young age and I really wanted to create a clothing range that reflected that kids are quirky, funny and unique in their own little way.
What are the ideas behind the current collection?
The SS13 collection is all about travel, with banana shaped balloons on the babygrows and colourful images of Russian architecture. The all over prints are geometric and colours are monochrome mixed with bold brights.
The shapes are mostly unisex and can be mixed and matched to create a range of different looks.
What materials do you use and where do you manufacture the pieces?
We use 100% Organic Jersey from India. I’m really exited to be adding some organic indigo denim for AW13.
What is your favourite thing to do with your kids?
Me and Minnie love dancing. We often have a ‘disco’ in the living room, usually around 5ish when I’m running out of ideas! We pull down the blinds, put Minnie’s disco light on and blast some tunes. She loves anything with a good beat, Daft Punk is a big favourite. She’s totally mastered the robot by watching their ‘Around the World’ video!
What is your favourite children’s book?
We love Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren. Pippi is such a cool little girl, she does as she pleases, makes up crazy stories and turns everything into an adventure.
Do you have any exciting plans for the future?
We are just about to start working on the photoshoot for next spring/summers collection which is always exciting. Then we have all the trade shows coming up, this year we will be in London, Paris and Florence. I’m really looking forward to Paris, my sister is coming with me so I will have a partner in crime!

Located on Föhr, a small island in the North Sea, architects Francesco Di Gregorio and Karin Matz have converted the hayloft of an old thatched farmhouse into a beautiful and modern apartment. The spotty tiles, pale pine boards and nest-like wooden beds, make the space feel both minimal and cosy. The bold use of colour is inspiring too, yet it appears subtle when surrounded by a sea of white.
The interior is inspired by tradition, as the architects were keen to incorporate the Friesian heritage of the island into the interior. “The space is very much influenced by the place – its history, traditions and nature,” says Matz. “In the traditional houses at least one wall in the dining rooms would be covered in patterned tiles, as a way of showing wealth. Since we wanted to bring light into the house, we thought that tiles would be a great reflective material and at the same time something so present in all Friesan houses.” They have also embraced the classic Friesian colour palette of moody blues and greens, highlighting these North Sea inspired colours on the tiles, beds and ropes that are suspended from the ceiling.
The polka dot grid pattern of the tiles is unusually created by drilling into the centre of each tile and revealing the bright blue grout behind it. I love this idea of creating pattern through space, however I’m not sure how great it will be to keep clean!

How about having a nice sit down with a cup of tea, on a Mathilda chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso? Yes please! Launched in Milan last month, the chair features Patricia’s signature inspirational colour and material mixes, with a curved plywood backrest wrapped in woven rush and bound to A-shaped wooden legs.
This chair has all the makings of a modern classic; they look amazing now but I think they will look even better with age, when the wood is weathered and the rush a little worn. The sign of a good chair, indeed.

www.moroso.it

Andrew wanted to join in with What We (Wish We) Wore this week and he chose to wear a pea green suit by Gucci!! It’s an odd choice for a man who lives in scruffy jeans and checked shirts but still, it’s nice to see him smartening himself up! Since Andrew looks so dapper, the rest of us have had to make a bit more effort than normal too.

Wren: Paper bag costume by OMY Design & Play from Molly-Meg.
Andrew: Cotton canvas green suit by Gucci from Mr Porter, White organic T-shirt from American Apparel and canvas shoes from Vans.
Rebecca: V-neck shift dress by Richard Nicoll and sandals by Sam Edelman.
Fred: Handmade turtle costume with a green babygrow and painted cardboard shell.

Illustration by Andrew Wightman