PetitEcoKIDS

DIY | Upcycle Wine Corks into Flower Vases

2012-02-22T08:00:00+11:00

I love this tutorial by Zakka Life! Turn wine corks into tiny flower vases. I can just picture a collection of these ready to be filled by little hands after a walk outdoors!

Kemper & Co. Kids | Sustainable furniture design for kids

2012-02-20T15:21:14+11:00

When it comes to kids play spaces I am all for incorporating them into the family living areas. Partly because we live in a smallish house and don’t have a separate playroom but maily because I enjoy having our daughter around and seeing her play; and seems to play independently for longer when we are about.

Now, I am no interior design extraordinaire but I like our living area to look nice and surround ourselves with beautiful, meaningful objects and this is where the gorgeous designs by Kemper and Co. Kids come into the picture. Lara, the creative mind behind Kemper & Co. Kids is on a quest to bring style and sustainability back into children’s furniture; yes the words style and children’s furniture can go together!

Kemper & Co. Kids designs are colourful and stimulating for little ones as well as being easy on the eyes for us adults. But the story doesn’t end there; their chairs, tables and accessories are also super eco-friendly as they are manufactured with FSC certified wood, painted with VOC paint and have a water based finish.

Kemper & Co Kids online store

Kemper & Co Kids Facebook page

Mom Style | Up-cycled necklace

2012-02-13T10:13:04+11:00

I think this is the first time I feature something for us moms in this space, about time!

I spotted this pretty necklace at Alchemy over the weekend and it has stuck on my mind. I love the simplicity of it and the fact that it is made from skaboard decks... just amazing!

PlayMe | Wooden toys for toddlers and preschoolers

2012-02-01T08:51:36+11:00

My daughter is in full preschool mode at the moment and naturally showing an increased interest in toys that require more concentration and have something to “work out”. Of course there is still a lot of imaginary play going on and it is fascinating to see how at times she’ll happily play for hours making up stories and other times where she’ll ask us to sit down with her to engage in a more learn-oriented activity.

With that in mind we have been bringing out toys she hadn’t shown interest in yet and I am looking at adding one or two toys to develop her thinking and reasoning skills. I have tried to stay away from plastic, battery operated toys so far and although I am pretty sure the time for more hi tech games will come, for now I still see a lot of value in toys with a slower pace.

PlayMe Toys has a lovely selection of preschool toys to help develop numeracy, reasoning, construction and musical skills. They are made from Beech wood to international safety standards.

Clockwise from top right:

{1} Counting Beads | AUD $87.50

{2} Xylophone | AUD $137.45

{3} Treasure Box Construction Kit | AUD $107.45

All available at Coccinella

PlayMe toys also has a collection of infant and toddler toys.

Back to School Guide | Packing a waste-free lunchbox

2012-01-23T11:12:34+11:00

Is anyone thinking about back to school days yet? It’s not too far away for us here in Australia so in case you are, here are a few suggestions to help make those lunchboxes waste-free and easy to pack.

Clockwise from Top Left:

{1} Bee & Ladubug Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Beatrix NY at Cornflowerblue | AUD $19.95

{2} Set of two Snackpacks with water resistant lining by Fluf at Cornflowerblue | AUD $24.95

{3} Stainless Steel Lunch Box set by ECOlunchbox at Buxton Baby | AUD $25.95

{4} Blue Airplane insulated Lunch Box by SoYoung Mother at Cool Kids NYC | USD $29.95

{5} Biodegradable and Reusable Lunch Baggie by Keep Leaf at Buxton Baby | AUD $8.95

{6} Scooter Insulated Bag by SoYoung Mother at Cool Kids NYC | USD $27.95

{7} Stainless Steel Coloured Lunch Boxes by LunchBots at Buxton Baby | AUD $22.95

{8} Organic Cotton Lunch Bag with removable lining by Fluf at Cornflowerblue | AUD $29.95