MORE WINTER PLAY TIPS: DIY NAPKIN CRAFT!

A couple of months ago Make Me Iconic put out a message asking for anyone crafty to apply for a collab.

Fast forward three weeks and I am super excited to not only tell you I got the job but below is the what I made to go alongside their wooden tea set to extend play time.

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Gather these goodies! Sewing machine + thread (choose a fun colour), Iron, Ruler, Material scissors, Pencil, Material (in your favourite print)

Gather these goodies! Sewing machine + thread (choose a fun colour), Iron, Ruler, Material scissors, Pencil, Material (in your favourite print)

A little bit of maths. Measure and mark out 2 napkins (14.5 x 19cm each) plus 2 placemats (25 x 19cm)

A little bit of maths. Measure and mark out 2 napkins (14.5 x 19cm each) plus 2 placemats
(25 x 19cm)

Whip out the iron. Fold back one edge of the material by 1cm and iron flat.

Whip out the iron. Fold back one edge of the material by 1cm and iron flat.

Repeat again! Move clockwise around the material folding back each edge by 1cm and ironing flat as you go.

Repeat again! Move clockwise around the material folding back each edge by 1cm and ironing flat as you go.

Sewing time. Sew the edges down

Sewing time. Sew the edges down

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Source: https://makemeiconic.com/blogs/make-me-ico...

Images featured on Baby Donkie

On the lookout for an easy yet stylish way to store your kid's toys?

I have searched high and low for many years for a fun, flexible and stylish way to store toys and finally, I have found it!

The AY-KASA folding crates from Lillemor Lifestyle are the best way to store kid's clutter and toys.

Earlier in the year on the blog I wrote about How to Konmari your kids room.  You guys absolutely loved the post and all the different ideas on how to de-clutter your kid's rooms. 

As a mum of 4 kids, it can be a hard task trying to keep clutter and toys at bay and not let them overtake your house. I hope it isn’t just me, but don’t you find as soon as you clean and make the house tidy, within 5 minutes a mini tornado has occurred, and you are back to a messy house again! Arrghh! 

We recently added the AY-KASA folding crate from Lillemor Lifestyle to our product range and it has been an absolute sell out with multiple restocks! You guys are loving these storage crates and it isn't hard to see why.

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Mustard yellow is still a strong accent colour this year for children’s rooms but my advice is to use it sparingly. These crates are a great way to keep your kid's rooms relatively neat! And they super adaptable and can be used in so many ways. Look at the way The French Folk have stylishly added the crates to their toy storage shelf.

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In looking at the images, do you wonder why you have seen them before? Inspired by the super functional crates commonly used in supermarkets, Lillemore Lifestyle has refashioned the crates into smaller sizes and stylish colours, that fit right in wherever you use them at home.

Made from 100% recyclable food-safe plastic and designed to fold completely flat, saving 75% of space when not in use.

You can even use them to create dolls houses, dolls beds and more. How cool is this image from Jo Kim Photography! I loved it so much I made it my home page on my new website. Thank you Jo Kim!

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I love that they can stack on each other but also fold down for storage if you don’t want to use them. They are seriously one of the best ways to store your toys.

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I may also be secretly using the storage crates in my office to store paper, invoices and receipts but shhh don't tell the kids or they may want their crates back! 

How do you use your Lillemor Lifestyle Ay- Kasa folding crates in your home?

Comment below, I would love to hear from you.

Dong- Maria xox

Source: https://babydonkie.com.au/blogs/news/the-e...

Featured on Realestate.com.au

Top 5 kids’ room trends for 2019 by Belinda Kurtz

If a new room for your little (or not so little) people is on your agenda this year, let these top five kids’ room style predictions for 2019 get you inspired.

If you’re the type of home maker who always has an interior project on the go, no doubt you’ll be on the look out for the next way to get your hands dirty, or make a special creative mark on your home. There’s no better way to leave a lasting impression on the little ones in your life than by making over their boudoir. Follow my top five kids’ room trends for all the interior inspiration you need.

1. Vintage is back, baby!

Scandinavian style has been king for the past few years and while we’ve all enjoyed it, I’m thrilled to see a few more vintage pieces popping up around the place. Add a vintage touch to your children’s room by up-cycling an op-shop find or hanging a framed vintage poster or rug.

2. Mustard, navy and leopard

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Mustard yellow is still a strong accent colour this year for children’s rooms but my advice is to use it sparingly. I particularly love mustard when it’s paired with navy blue and some new season animal prints, such as leopard. I love using a graphic print to break up these two really strong colours. Use mustard cushions or a really cool bedside table – the items featured below are from Mustard Made.

3. Pastels, done differently

Pastels are still beautiful for your children’s rooms and, when used well, can last well into their teen years. Recently, I’ve been putting a bit of a twist on your usual pastel space by adding in a graphic print, such as this black and white kid’s room. It’s an unexpected touch that breaks up the soft colour palette, adding a modern touch while still being sweet.

4. Boho is here to stay

There’s a lot of lovely cane pieces available for children, and mixed with all the boho style homewares in stores, you can create the perfect space for your newborn all the way up to teens. Mix cane and timber back with embroidered cushions and throws. Add in a few plants and you’re well on your way. If you’re decorating for a teen, add in a hanging chair.

5. KonMari for kids

A huge trend in 2019 is getting the most out of your storage solutions and organisation. Having a place for everything in your children’s spaces allows them to be more autonomous and will encourage them to keep their rooms tidy and clutter-free. Create special spaces around your children’s rooms for all of their belongings – a place to display their Lego creations or trophies or a pin board for pictures, ribbons or special notes. Hooks are a must for bags, necklaces, sports medals, etc.

https://www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/top-5-kids-room-trends-for-2019/?rsf=ps%3Afacebook%3Alife%3Aids

Source: https://www.realestate.com.au/lifestyle/to...

Our home was featured on House Perv!

WORDS: Laura Jackel

A striking monochrome palette with splashes of colour awaits as you step into this modern mid-terrace in Warners Bay with its oversized timber front door. The vibrant, light and youthful feel makes perfect sense when you consider that Lee is a talented children’s product stylist. 

Let the sleek, yet sweet and bijou home of Lee, Peter and Grace, give you all of the beautiful happy-family feels for this month’s fresh and fabulous House Perv. 

Enjoy!

IMAGES: Atelier Photography

Tell us about how the design and history of your home? 
L: The house is the middle terrace of four near-identical homes completed in 2014 by GR Homes. We liked the fact this one was in a great location near the lake, and that we could be creative by adapting its layout and style to suit our requirements. 

P: We amended almost every aspect to its initial design to allow for better flow and extra light, as it is sandwiched between two other homes and has no side windows. For example we removed the wall above the staircase and changed the direction that the front door opened. We also added more storage cupboards in the kitchen, and bespoke quality finishes such as the sleek kitchen cabinets and Caesarstone benchtops. 

Who lives in your home? 
 L: I’m Lee Seaman, a freelance stylist specialising in children’s products and lifestyle photography with a background in graphic design, and I run my own business, You Give Me Grace. I live with Peter Seaman, my husband who’s a Business Analyst at NIB, and our beautiful daughter Grace who is nearly three-years-old. 

The modest size of your home was important to you; can you tell us why? 
P: We both care a lot about the environment and while we did consider buying a big property on land like many of our friends were doing, we thought about what we wanted for the future. The conclusion we reached was that we wanted a practical modest-sized home in a good location that we wouldn’t be tempted to overfill with junk! 
I think that home owners can become obsessed by consuming ‘stuff’ in order to fill every little space in their house, so by keeping our home petite, but being clever with storage and flow, we hope to be happy and comfortable here for many years to come. 

L: The other benefit of buying a small home is being able to afford to be closer to the parks, shops and cafes of Warners Bay. We can walk everywhere with Grace, which is wonderful. 
I also love our low maintenance and completely paved backyard, giving us more dedicated family time. 

How would you describe your personal style? 
 L: I used to always love black and white, so everything in the house was initially styled in a monochrome palette. It sounds clichéd but when Grace came into the world, she also brought more colour and playfulness to my style, which you can see around the house, particularly of course in her bedroom and now also in my work! I am now very lucky to work with some amazing brands such as, Mustard Made, Rachel Castle, Baby Donkie and The Gathered Store that allow me to further explore my style and love of colour. 

What do you love most about your home? 
P: I love that it is a practical size to keep tidy and clean and as it is new it is also very low maintenance. We had it insulated and sound proofed when built, so I also love that it is super quiet! 

L: I love the flow of our home and I also love its location in Warner’s Bay. My favourite room is Grace’s beautiful bedroom with its bright, sweet colour scheme and decor. It is also the room that got me started working as a children’s product stylist so it means a lot to me personally. 

Finally, can you tell us a little about how you both met? 
L: We met through mutual friends in 2007. I was working as a graphic designer after finishing my studies at TAFE, and Peter was then at university studying Information Technology. Peter is originally from Orange and I am from the Central Coast, but our studies and work united us in Newcastle and we both love living and raising our daughter here in this beautiful part of the world.