Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best for Babies by Independent Designers

slugs and snails tights snarfle
This Christmas I find myself with child for the first time – there he is above – and so naturally thoughts have turned to gifts that babies of Snarfle‘s age (give or take) might like to receive. Maybe it’s cos I live in design central (aka east london) but I am also lucky enough to have met some amazing kidswear designers in the past few months. Some live near here, and others have been introduced to me via social media – either way, it’s time to share the goodness. And I can promise you there will be not a pastel pink or baby blue in sight.

slugs and snails tights
First up – the amazingly designed and very practical tights for boys by Slugs and Snails. Snarfle was kindly sent some pairs to test drive and he has been living in them. Not only do they keep him super cosy but they ensure he is as mobile as he can be just as he is learning to crawl, and they feature the best patterns… spiders and spooks and skulls ‘n’ crossbones.

mini magpie pom pom dungarees
Next up, I am incredibly taken by Mini Magpie upcycled garments, which are hand made in London from old jumpers sourced from markets, car boots and charity shops. Not only is this a super ethical and individual way to dress your child, but Mini Magpie designs are fab.

corby tindersticks Nut_E_Smith
When is a plush for an adult and when does it suit a child? *Muses* I guess the best appeal to both. This Corby Tindersticks pillow mate is a quizzical character with a tiny head and a huge belly.

Bryony-Crane-Personalised-Dinosaur-Baby-Clothes-Dactyl
Bryony Crane is an Amelia’s Magazine illustrator who has turned her hand to decorating baby clothes with cute dinosaurs. Get yours personalised too!

change and go baby changing mat
It’s a tad pricier than your basic models but this change and go baby mat from Two Red Trees doubles as a place to store baby essentials – and boasts a great design.

kyna boutique liandlo hansel and gretel
If you are looking for a one stop shop to find great clothing for little ones why not check out Kyna Boutique, which stocks loads of great labels and gives very clear sizing instructions too. I particularly love the Liandlo brand, which features really bright playful print designs: unfortunately I didn’t read the sizing instructions at all (dur) and so this fab Hansel & Gretel babygro awaits Snarfle. He’s growing so damn fast it won’t be long.

baberoo giraffe tights
I love a good patterned legging and so naturally Snarfle does too (until he’s old enough to decide otherwise at any rate). Kyna Boutique stocks these fab Baberoo tights, in a giraffe design: get in, they even feature a tail.

oh baby london been inside for 9 months babygro
Oh Baby London is based barely more than a stones throw away from where I live in Brick Lane, yet I passed by for many years and gave it barely a second glance. Now I realise how brilliant Hannah’s designs are: the classic Been Inside for 9 Months was a prized hand me down that looked especially good paired with a witch’s hat on Halloween… and they make great leggings too. Throughout December Oh Baby London is running a daily half price special.

oh baby london fair isle playsuit
And how much do I heart this Sarah Lund inspired Christmas onesie? Modelled here by Snarfle‘s friend Eddie.

little night owl giraffe, owl horse toy
A twitter friend recommended that I check out homemade soft toys by Little Night Owl, saying that they are simply beautifully made. Why not commission her, quick?!

amelia baby crochet blanket by Kate Selene
I have been hankering after a bright crochet granny blanket like the one available on Two Red Trees for some time. This design is fortuitously called Amelia, hand crocheted by Kate Selene.

ricecracker_plush toy noodoll
Now for another plush: Snarfle may well find he has a special Noodoll playmate not unlike this one in his Christmas stocking come December 25th. It’s super soft and ever so snuggly – perfect for a little one.

Lettie Belle_ahoy-there-play-felt-set
Lettie Belle works with recycled textiles and I love her creative play felt sets. A lovely alternative to the garish plastic toys available everywhere you look.

this is lullaby waistcoat baby gro check
Snarfle was 6 weeks old when my baby brother got married and I had no idea where to look for something smart. I wish I had known about This is Lullaby, where you can pick up a bespoke babygro with waistcoat for a great price.

ruff and huddle please thankyou t-shirt
Ruff & Huddle clothing is currently aimed at 2-7 year olds but I’ll slip it in here as Lucy Brice, the lovely lady behind it, is one of the Mothers Meeting crew, and she’s ace. Think mega cool illustrations – can’t wait to see how the brand develops.

The Bright Company slim jyms
The Bright Company is another new kidswear brand set up by one of the extended Mothers Meeting family. They specialise in super comfy jersey pyjamas – Slim Jyms – printed with the bespoke Linea Hexx print in eco friendly inks. Everything is made in the UK.

hokolo reindeer top
Hokolo does the cutest bodysuit & top with a snowflake reindeer design and a puffed up red nose detail.

Hokolo baby gift set christmas rattle babygro
I also love the quintessentially British Hokolo hand crocheted orb rattle.

Hedgehog lamp by white rabbit england
Looking for a quirky nightlight? How about this fab bone china Herbert the Hedgehog lamp from White Rabbit England?

the big forest felt toys
At Craft Central I fell in love with these felted creatures by The Big Forest – they can be hung on the door to your child’s room, and my what a talking point they would be. Especially the badger.

Madi Illustration Santa's little monster
Finally – news of a competition for the kids: Amelia’s Magazine contributor Madi Illustration invites you to show off your colouring in skills and be in with a chance to win one of her illustrated books: all the information can be found on this link.

I do hope that this Christmas you will check out the fantastic wares from these independent designers and shops. There’s more to come… hold tight cos it takes AGES to get these blogs together.

Categories ,2012, ,Baberoo, ,Baby Changing Mat, ,Baby Gifts, ,Babygro, ,Been Inside for 9 Months, ,Brick Lane, ,Bryony Crane, ,Christmas, ,Clothing, ,Corby Tindersticks, ,Craft Central, ,hand crocheted orb rattle, ,Hansel & Gretel, ,Herbert the Hedgehog, ,Hokolo, ,Kate Selene, ,Kyna Boutique, ,Leggings, ,Lettie Belle, ,Liandlo, ,Linea Hexx, ,Little Night Owl, ,Lucy Brice, ,Madi Illustration, ,Mini Magpie, ,Mothers Meeting, ,Noodoll, ,Oh Baby London, ,Onesie, ,Playsuit, ,Plushie, ,Ruff & Huddle, ,Sarah Lund, ,Slim Jyms, ,Slugs and Snails, ,Snarfle, ,The Big Forest, ,The Bright Company, ,This is Lullaby, ,tights, ,Toys, ,Two Red Trees, ,Upcycled, ,White Rabbit England

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best Design Gifts For Men

Bianca Green in love with iphone cover
In Love With iphone cover by Bianca Green.

Most men love a bit of gadget based frippery, and there is an almost endless choice of iphone decor out there. Amidst the huge amount of guff on Society6 (it’s surprising how few things work when just plonked on, say, a hoodie), there are some gems, shown here for your delection…

fimbis iphone cover geometric glow
This neon abstract Geometric Glow is by Fimbis.

Ewan Arnolda vintage camera iphone case
The fake vintage camera is a perennially good look – particularly fun if you are into self portraits as the cover design will register in the mirror! By Ewan Arnold.

kate hasted iphone cover japanese flower
I think the most unusual has to be this iphone cover by textile designer Kate Hasted, inspired by Japanese flowers.

GlyphicBlack_Phone Pop vinyl iphone backs
For iphone 5 users why not take a look at these new vinyl backs with bold optical designs by Phone Pop?

Glove & Hate Oven Gloves, Stuart Gardiner
If the man you are buying for loves cooking why not surprise him with these fab Glove and Hate oven gloves? They come complete with hairy wrists and chunky gold bracelet: by Stuart Gardiner at Howkapow?

WOODEN KUKSA CUP - CLASSIC DESIGN brokedown palace
And those who like camping: what about this Kuksa outdoor wooden cup of traditional Sami design, available on new website The Brokedown Palace. A great place to find the perfect present for those who love the great outdoors.

derek shop notebooks
Does your man love nice stationery? I adore these illustrated notebooks (including one by contributor Lorna Scobie) from Dereks Shop.

soma gallery bike parts notebook
Or if your man is a bike lover, how about this Bike Parts notebook, by Luke James for Noodoll, available on Soma Gallery.

2013 wall planner calendar
This fab 2013 Wall Planner is from Present and Correct, the most fantastic website for all graphic design and stationery buffs.

office in a christmas cracker present correct
They also do an ‘Office in a Christmas Cracker‘ which is beautifully put together.

retro pop calendar present correct
And to sit on the table, a vintage rolling plastic calendar.

craig yamey hans_downe plush
Does he like collectibles? If so how about this fantastic plush toy by Craig Yamey for Constructive Studio? Hans Downe is part of the limited edition Yam Kids range: strange creatures all.

printstagram calendar
On a more personalised tangent – if you’ve got the time and you’re a social media nut nut like myself, why not make an instagram calendar with printstagram? If you don’t have time to edit you can just stream the photos off your phone and bung them all in!

seven gauge studios lambswool scarf
Moving on to clothing: I adore this lambswool scarf by Seven Gauge Studios on Two Red Trees.

Stonemen mens briefs rob yelling horses
Or if you prefer something with a bit more humour – how about these brilliant boxer shorts with wild horses stampeding all over them? By Rob Yelling for Stonemen.

Derek Shop M.hulot SKINNY-RHODESIA-BELT-AVOCADO-2
This beautiful handmade Skinny Rhodesia leather belt is by M.Hulot and it is available on Dereks Shop.

Niza Huang PETROLEUM cufflinks
For jewellery I am particularly taken by Niza Huang‘s petroleum cufflinks – inspired by the preciousness of ‘black gold‘.

Lars Beller Fjetland wood penguin
As far as beautiful objects go, I love these re-turned wooden birds created from scrap wood by Finnish designer Lars-Beller Fjetland on The Lollipop Shoppe.

lovi-birch-ply-moominmamma
Maybe he remembers the Moomins? Then this birch ply family by Lovi on Hus and Hem is just the ticket.

Garudio Studiage flat pet pug
Does your man hanker after a pet? If he’s as dotty for pugs as mine then he’ll love this festive specimen bearing Christmas antlers by Garudio Studiage.

reindeer head by armstrong ward
Or he might prefer this ace felted reindeer head by Armstrong Ward on Not on the High Street.

mozaa game
Finally – if he’s into games how about Mozaa, a colourful combination of puzzle and mosaic, bound to be loved by all design fiends.

dice for change
And in 2013 maybe he’ll fancy playing with his Dice for Change: featuring beautifully designed pictograms to inspire daily random acts of kindness.

More to come :)

Categories ,2012, ,2013 Wall Planner, ,Armstrong Ward, ,Belt, ,Bianca Green, ,Bike Parts, ,calendar, ,Christmas, ,Constructive Studio, ,Craig Yamey, ,Dice for Change, ,Ewan Arnold, ,Fimbis, ,Flat pets, ,Garudio Studiage, ,Geometric Glow, ,Glove and Hate oven gloves, ,Hans Downe, ,Howkapow. Love Hate, ,Hus and Hem, ,instagram, ,iphone 5, ,iphone covers, ,Journal, ,Kate Hasted, ,Kuksa, ,Lars-Beller Fjetland, ,Lorna Scobie, ,Lovi, ,Luke James, ,M.Hulot, ,Mens’ gifts, ,Moomins, ,Mozaa, ,Niza Huang, ,Noodoll, ,Not On The High Street, ,Notebooks, ,Office in a Christmas Cracker, ,Oven Gloves, ,Petroleum Cufflinks, ,Phone Pop!, ,Plush, ,Present and Correct, ,printstagram, ,Pug, ,Pumpkin Sputnik, ,Rob Yelling, ,Seven Gauge Studios, ,Society6, ,Soma Gallery, ,stationery, ,Stonemen, ,Stuart Gardiner, ,The Brokedown Palace, ,The Lollipop Shoppe, ,toy, ,Two Red Trees, ,Yam Kids

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Amelia’s Magazine | Christmas Gift Ideas 2012: Best for Babies by Independent Designers

slugs and snails tights snarfle
This Christmas I find myself with child for the first time – there he is above – and so naturally thoughts have turned to gifts that babies of Snarfle‘s age (give or take) might like to receive. Maybe it’s cos I live in design central (aka east london) but I am also lucky enough to have met some amazing kidswear designers in the past few months. Some live near here, and others have been introduced to me via social media – either way, it’s time to share the goodness. And I can promise you there will be not a pastel pink or baby blue in sight.

slugs and snails tights
First up – the amazingly designed and very practical tights for boys by Slugs and Snails. Snarfle was kindly sent some pairs to test drive and he has been living in them. Not only do they keep him super cosy but they ensure he is as mobile as he can be just as he is learning to crawl, and they feature the best patterns… spiders and spooks and skulls ‘n’ crossbones.

mini magpie pom pom dungarees
Next up, I am incredibly taken by Mini Magpie upcycled garments, which are hand made in London from old jumpers sourced from markets, car boots and charity shops. Not only is this a super ethical and individual way to dress your child, but Mini Magpie designs are fab.

corby tindersticks Nut_E_Smith
When is a plush for an adult and when does it suit a child? *Muses* I guess the best appeal to both. This Corby Tindersticks pillow mate is a quizzical character with a tiny head and a huge belly.

Bryony-Crane-Personalised-Dinosaur-Baby-Clothes-Dactyl
Bryony Crane is an Amelia’s Magazine illustrator who has turned her hand to decorating baby clothes with cute dinosaurs. Get yours personalised too!

change and go baby changing mat
It’s a tad pricier than your basic models but this change and go baby mat from Two Red Trees doubles as a place to store baby essentials – and boasts a great design.

kyna boutique liandlo hansel and gretel
If you are looking for a one stop shop to find great clothing for little ones why not check out Kyna Boutique, which stocks loads of great labels and gives very clear sizing instructions too. I particularly love the Liandlo brand, which features really bright playful print designs: unfortunately I didn’t read the sizing instructions at all (dur) and so this fab Hansel & Gretel babygro awaits Snarfle. He’s growing so damn fast it won’t be long.

baberoo giraffe tights
I love a good patterned legging and so naturally Snarfle does too (until he’s old enough to decide otherwise at any rate). Kyna Boutique stocks these fab Baberoo tights, in a giraffe design: get in, they even feature a tail.

oh baby london been inside for 9 months babygro
Oh Baby London is based barely more than a stones throw away from where I live in Brick Lane, yet I passed by for many years and gave it barely a second glance. Now I realise how brilliant Hannah’s designs are: the classic Been Inside for 9 Months was a prized hand me down that looked especially good paired with a witch’s hat on Halloween… and they make great leggings too. Throughout December Oh Baby London is running a daily half price special.

oh baby london fair isle playsuit
And how much do I heart this Sarah Lund inspired Christmas onesie? Modelled here by Snarfle‘s friend Eddie.

little night owl giraffe, owl horse toy
A twitter friend recommended that I check out homemade soft toys by Little Night Owl, saying that they are simply beautifully made. Why not commission her, quick?!

amelia baby crochet blanket by Kate Selene
I have been hankering after a bright crochet granny blanket like the one available on Two Red Trees for some time. This design is fortuitously called Amelia, hand crocheted by Kate Selene.

ricecracker_plush toy noodoll
Now for another plush: Snarfle may well find he has a special Noodoll playmate not unlike this one in his Christmas stocking come December 25th. It’s super soft and ever so snuggly – perfect for a little one.

Lettie Belle_ahoy-there-play-felt-set
Lettie Belle works with recycled textiles and I love her creative play felt sets. A lovely alternative to the garish plastic toys available everywhere you look.

this is lullaby waistcoat baby gro check
Snarfle was 6 weeks old when my baby brother got married and I had no idea where to look for something smart. I wish I had known about This is Lullaby, where you can pick up a bespoke babygro with waistcoat for a great price.

ruff and huddle please thankyou t-shirt
Ruff & Huddle clothing is currently aimed at 2-7 year olds but I’ll slip it in here as Lucy Brice, the lovely lady behind it, is one of the Mothers Meeting crew, and she’s ace. Think mega cool illustrations – can’t wait to see how the brand develops.

The Bright Company slim jyms
The Bright Company is another new kidswear brand set up by one of the extended Mothers Meeting family. They specialise in super comfy jersey pyjamas – Slim Jyms – printed with the bespoke Linea Hexx print in eco friendly inks. Everything is made in the UK.

hokolo reindeer top
Hokolo does the cutest bodysuit & top with a snowflake reindeer design and a puffed up red nose detail.

Hokolo baby gift set christmas rattle babygro
I also love the quintessentially British Hokolo hand crocheted orb rattle.

Hedgehog lamp by white rabbit england
Looking for a quirky nightlight? How about this fab bone china Herbert the Hedgehog lamp from White Rabbit England?

the big forest felt toys
At Craft Central I fell in love with these felted creatures by The Big Forest – they can be hung on the door to your child’s room, and my what a talking point they would be. Especially the badger.

Madi Illustration Santa's little monster
Finally – news of a competition for the kids: Amelia’s Magazine contributor Madi Illustration invites you to show off your colouring in skills and be in with a chance to win one of her illustrated books: all the information can be found on this link.

I do hope that this Christmas you will check out the fantastic wares from these independent designers and shops. There’s more to come… hold tight cos it takes AGES to get these blogs together.

Categories ,2012, ,Baberoo, ,Baby Changing Mat, ,Baby Gifts, ,Babygro, ,Been Inside for 9 Months, ,Brick Lane, ,Bryony Crane, ,Christmas, ,Clothing, ,Corby Tindersticks, ,Craft Central, ,hand crocheted orb rattle, ,Hansel & Gretel, ,Herbert the Hedgehog, ,Hokolo, ,Kate Selene, ,Kyna Boutique, ,Leggings, ,Lettie Belle, ,Liandlo, ,Linea Hexx, ,Little Night Owl, ,Lucy Brice, ,Madi Illustration, ,Mini Magpie, ,Mothers Meeting, ,Noodoll, ,Oh Baby London, ,Onesie, ,Playsuit, ,Plushie, ,Ruff & Huddle, ,Sarah Lund, ,Slim Jyms, ,Slugs and Snails, ,Snarfle, ,The Big Forest, ,The Bright Company, ,This is Lullaby, ,tights, ,Toys, ,Two Red Trees, ,Upcycled, ,White Rabbit England

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