When I saw the Halloween and Christmas selection from Hotel Chocolat in July I thought it looked fantastic, I can’t believe they have added to it and made the range even better, my original post is here.
There really is something for everyone here,and its all done with fun and good taste, new items include extra Halloween goodies, Googly eyes, Pumpkins, skull and bones Boo bags and Count Choc-ula and a super duper posh box for the golden pirate’s head. New for Christmas is the sweetest dolls house made in a solid card so it can be used for play afterwards.
Needless to say, it not only looks good but tastes great too, well worth the extra pennies I’d say, its fast becoming my favourite chocolate brand.
Reindeer on a stick, a great stocking filler from Hotel Chocolat for Christmas 2011
Sweet little gift box, Christmas at Santa's house Hotel Chocolat Xmas 2011
Great little playhouse, Twinkle Toes Manor from Hotel Chocolat for Xmas 2011
Halloween special, Horrif Eyes from Hotel Chocolat for winter 2011
Little packets of Boo, Halloween shapes in a box from Hotel Chocolat for winter 2011
Hotel Chocolat Count Choc-ula vampire Chocolate for winter 2011
Chocolate filled stockings from Hotel Chocolat for Xmas 2011
Alternative Mince pies from Hotel Chocolat for Christmas 2011
Sweet Frosty the snowman for white chocolate lovers from Hotel Chocolat for Xmas 2011
Photos from Hotel Chocolat and Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
All posts copyright to Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction Nov 2009 – 2011
Amazing fish tank but is it safe?
October 1, 2011
Wow, have you seen this amazing Fish tank by Psalt.
I can’t help but wonder if a toddler would pull it all the way off but I am very impressed with the design.
One of the items to be featured in Design Event 14th – 18th October in Newcastle, England showcasing design products from the North of the UK.
Fish tank by Psalt
An invitation to visit the wonderful Donna Wilson’s East End loft workrooms was not one to be passed by even on a day where the rain bucketed down in tropical style storms. Now in her 8th year of business and with an international reputation all the goods are still hand made in the UK.
New goodies for winter 2011 and 2012 were on display in a wonderland of colour and inspiration. freshly laundered cushion covers were hanging up on a giant ceiling rack to dry, they are knitted elsewhere but then washed for a felted effect and sewn in the workrooms and pile upon pile of vibrant woollen knits surrounded the display area.
New in this season are baby blankets with a nautical theme with brightly coloured waves and a new round cushion with the Owl and the Pussycat sailing away in their boat. Hot water bottles show the same theme. There is a new knitted swan scarf for women and children and a new soft toy called Koala with a smart green neckerchief.
Other new cushions feature bold bright Icelandic patterns, with scarves, armwarmers and mittens in the same distinctive patterns and colourways. I can report that Donna is delightful and showed off her ceramics with a selection of fruit and pastries for those who made the journey. She will also be selling through the online store Theo featured on this post here.
Donna Wilson in her loft workroom and warehouse
The new 'Message in a Bottle" knitted range for winter 2011 from Donna Wilson
The new giant teddy 'Koala" and Icelandic patterned cushions from Donna Wilson for winter 2011
' Ship in a bottle' hot water bottle covers from Donna Wilson for winter 2011
Amazing stuffed shelves and the new scarves featuring Scandinavian style houses from Donna Wilson for winter 2011
The range now includes a brilliant ceramics collection too at Donna Wilson
Cards, quirky shaped cushions and felt place mats are also in the expanded ranges at Donna Wilson
The decorated loft with drying rack at Donna Wilson
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
All posts copyright to Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction Nov 2009-2011
Since the closure of his named store in 2008 Thorsten van Elten had kept an online presence with Theo, a website for the quirky and collectable in a small way, he has now expanded the selection and is giving the site a lot more attention, even cooking us all a Black Forest Gateau to his grandmother’s recipe for his recent open day!
The store was known amongst design afficianado’s as the place to find the latest and coolest items hot from the design fairs.
New items for this winter such as the crinkled glasses and jug by Rob Brandt mix with old favourites such as the pigeon light by Ed Carpenter and woolly sheep by Hanns-Peter Krafft and there is a multitude of smaller gift items to choose from including a great selection of Donna Wilson goodies (more on Donna later this week). Children’s tablewear, tin and wood toys and even the most sophisticated times table you have ever seen also play a part in his selections.
By the way Theo is his middle name, so he’s keeping his name in there still, and the store has a very nifty canvas shopper free while stocks last for orders over £50 too.
Thorsten van Elten and his Black Forest Gateau, very delicious it was too.
New graphic cushions and simple toys from Theo for winter 2011
Eat the Vegetables plate range from Theo for winter 2011
Wonderful sit on woolly sheep selection by Hanns-Peter Krafft at Theo online store
Cushion selection from Marianne Diemer at Theo online store
The amazing KoeKoeK feather clock by Chris Koens, the white feather is a second hand so is continually in motion
Sweet little woodland creatures by Erzgebirge from Germany at Theo online store
By Graziela 1970's patterns on children's tablewear and posters at Theo online store for winter 2011
New version in glass of the white porcelain classic crinkle cup by Rob Brandt at Theo online store for winter 2011
Quite possibly the smartest times table poster ever! A lesson in typography too at Theo online store for winter 2011
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
All posts copyright to Smudgetikka – permission must be asked for reproduction Nov 2009-2011
Just Gorgeous, new vintage dolls from quirky London store Lapin and Me
February 25, 2011
Quick post, just arrived and at Lapin and Me this weekend, amazing dolls £75 each.
Do have a look at their site its fantastic, they always have a wonderful selection of desirable collectables and quirky decorative accessories and homewear pieces. Email info@lapinandme.co.uk
Vintage doll from Lapin and Me £75
Vintage doll from Lapin and Me £75
Photos by Lapin and Me – all rights reserved
Some special bits’n’bobs for little ones from Top Drawer trade show
February 15, 2011
Its a little late but my visit to Top Drawer got backtracked by all the fashion fairs I have done since. I found some cute things there though and for those of you that love a good gift card I can tell you there will be some truly stunning ones hitting the shops in 6 months time.
Have you seen these mad doggie bags yet? From Fuzzy Nation. Just potty and not actually for little kids but I can see they would love them. They are either soooo cute or quite revolting depending on your tastes!
Fuzzy Nation fantastic doggy bags and purses at Top Drawer
Paris Hilton style doggie bag from Fuzzy Nation
Tartan and stripes are new lines at Fuzzy Nation
On a more tasteful note I loved the creations of Catherine Tough who stuffs and moulds knitted forest creatures into a myriad colourways
Catherine Tough knitted forest creatures
Splendid tweed and spotty hounds at Catherine Tough, she makes owls too in this range
Cute Easter chicks knitted by Catherine Tough
Well this does seem to have turned into an animal section so maybe I’ll do graphics next time and leave you with some of the ever delightful pieces by Anne – Claire Petit, just love that birdcage,
Anne-Claire Petit birdcage at Top Drawer
Rainbow favorite crochet cotton animals by Anne-Claire Petit
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
Mori Tower Tokyo, a great place to take kids, its not just about the view, buy the Takashi Murakami toys too!
December 3, 2010
The Mori building is the tallest tower in Tokyo with public access to see that astonishing city spread out below you but it is so much more than just an observation tower. As well as being part of the Roppongi Hills shopping development there is a really good art gallery with a very nice toy shop attached too which is great for kids. The observation level on floor 52 also has restaurants and bars, it is light and airy and spacious with plenty of windows to view from and the view is stunning.
The art exhibition I saw was Metabolism: Urbanism and Architecture which ended in November and I can really recommend if it comes over to the West at all, if the quality of that was the norm then I think whatever is there will be good. For Christmas there is a special Sky Planetarium installation which sounds great fun too.
The museum shop has a lot of great quality tin painted toys and some amazing detailed street scenes and there is a tie in for Roppongi Hills with the well known Japanese artist Takashi Murakami who has created children’s soft toys and hand puppets,fridge magnets, a Monopoly set and many posters and special sweet and cookie tins for the centre.
Tokyo view with a typhoon approaching from the Mori Tower
Takashi Murakami created special soft toys for the Roppongi Hills complex in Tokyo
Takashi Murakami Monopoly set from the Mori Tower Tokyo
Tokyo diarama street scene from Museum gift shop at Mori Tower Tokyo
Cute metal penguins from Mori Art Museum gift store
Vintage look tin toys from the Mori museum gift store
Vintage look tin cars and trucks from the Mori museum gift store
Waterfall in optical glass from the Metabolism: Urbanism and Architecture exhibit at the Mori Gallery
- White trees floating in gallery space by Kuribayashi from Japanese larch trees, pulp and paper
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
Light and bright, children’s goods for spring from The White Company
December 1, 2010
So nice to see these sweet shades for children in the depths of winter. Much as I love the snow we have had today, the light is unremittingly dull so roll on springtime please.
Pastels and florals are key at The White Company and The Little White Company with a new set of large decorative letters, patchwork quilts and gingham and floral rabbits and sweet floral pumps. Also chic are the grey stone hearts with chalk for personal messages and the enamelware set of jugs and buckets for the beach house.
Fresh cotton toys and patchwork quilts at The White Company for spring 2011
Floral letters from The White Company for spring 2011
Cute floral children's sneakers
Union Jack quilts and pillows for boy's bedding
Slate hearts with chalk for sweet messages
- Gorgeous white enamelware for summer 2011
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
Best in Show, love these knitted hounds, I know they are not supposed to be toy’s but….
October 8, 2010
Congratulations to the Guardian newspaper for picking up on this new title ” Best in Show” and giving me the biggest smile all week.
This purports to be a book for those desperate for a dog but unable to care for one because of circumstances, no problem because you can knit you favorite show dog instead!
The dogs will be on display at the Collins & Brown stand at the Knit & Stitch show, Alexandra Palace from October 7-10 and the book is published by Collins and Brown. There are 25 different patterns in all, just a few of my favorite beauties here.
Best in Show the Bassett Hound
Best in Show, the English Bulldog
Best in Show West Highland terrier
Best in Show, the knitted poodle
- Best in Show knitted English Sheepdog
Best in Show the knitted Jack Russell
All photos by Holly Joliffe – all rights reserved
Oliver Bonas new store opening in Victoria, gifts galore.
March 22, 2010
On Thursday last week Oliver Bonas opened their newest store in Victoria at 16/17 Kingsgate Parade with balloons, champagne and cupcakes for everyone who wandered in and invited press journalists.
The store is large with a huge selection of kids gifts and books and as always there is a good choice for those searching for presents for offspring of friends and relatives at short notice plus cards and wrapping paper all in a one stop shop. While its stock is not particularly individual the fact that the stores are widely available means its a sure bet if you are in a rush.
Some of my favorite items are below, I skipped the kids clothing as the range on show seemed fairly basic T-shirting but more exciting items may appear later in the year.
Cheeky tray, dishes and spoons at Oliver Bona
Retro look tin motorbike
Retro vintage look robot toy
There is a good choice of wrapping paper
Cute soft toys too
Plenty of choice with day glo boxes in all sizes
All photos by Smudgetikka – all rights reserved
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