“With children so easily fixated by computers, mobile phones, mp3 players and game play consoles – and at an ever increasing early age – some parents are expressing concerns that their children are becoming socially withdrawn. There’s a worry that children will start to lose the social skills that are nurtured through traditional group play” says Carl Shaw, ‘Head Honcho’ of www.toyella.com.

Just released, “Playful Homes” by Andrew Weaving is  not just another publication on kid’s rooms. The 240 pages book features twelve family homes, all designed

Boy (by director Taika Waititi), is a movie to add to the MUST SEE list . 

Inspired by the Tehuelches, the indigenous people of Patagonia, Pamela Greene creates a wonderful collection of

“Con su permiso pintores!”, a great exhibit that we visited at Mac (Museum of  Contemporary Art in Salta, Argentina). Children had been invited to

On the occasion of the International Dubai Art Fair in March, designers Zid Zid Kids will team with artist Yto Barrada to design an interactive lounge. The space called “Morocco to the Moon” will take visitors on a warm and whimsical trip to the moon, outer-space and beyond. An artist project sponsored exclusively by Louis Vuitton and Art Dubai.

I wish I could take the Argentinian landscapes back with me to London, and I wish I also could take that delicious reading room with its decor and books contents. I love Eastern European children’s books and illustrators but South American seem to have the same love for detailed + poetic drawings, for sophisticated colour palettes. So rich, so precious for children…

Something in the work of Miguel Palma is reminiscent of boys toys and puts me in a playful mood.

Courtesy of Miguel Palma and inc-livros

Today we were sorting out the book shelves to give some books to younger friends, but we could not we could not let that one go. An absolute favourite.

“Laurent tout seul”, The story of a little rabbit growing up and exploring the outside world alone. Text and ilustrations by Anais Vaugelade. L’Ecole des Loisirs. 

I watched two movies from Pirouettte interviews recently and I really liked them : The boy with the stripes pyjamas (Thanks Jenny Dalton) and Last train home (Thanks Lisa Wong). Today it’s my turn to recommend a movie : The Tree (Julie Bertuccelli, 2010). I watched it last night and I woke up with the images stuck in my head. The little Morgana Davies is very inspiring and the tree’s magic reminds a bit of Tim Walker with its octopus shape and little colorful lights.

Mimi’lou is a poetic and whimsical brand of home décor items that was launched by Miriam Derville in 2005.  A graphic designer, Miriam worked 10 years as an art director for Givenchy, Guerlain, Hugo Boss, before creating Mimi’lou.  A she loved designing for her kids and started to turned her illustrations into wall decals. The range expanded quickly into textile, stationery, lamps and accessories. Since then, the brand has developed great collaborations with well-know companies like Habitat, Paul & Joe, Monoprix. 

NEW! Mimi’lou is now available at ABC Carpet & Home, New York.

“What do boys like about Mimi Lou? Boys love to play with our stickers… like with our ‘A L’Aventure’ removable wall boarder for example, boys can imagine themselves pirates and put money in the treasure box, hang a batman in one corner of the room. The possibilities are endless! - What do girls like about Mimi Lou? The neon pink stars… what is better that pink when you are a girl? They also love to chose and help their mum put their décor in their room, fun time together!” 

The world map is brilliant and beautiful. I is made to play with and offer a multitude of possibilities to create different stories and learn at the same time. It comes with more than 50 dots with the names of capital cities, flags, animals, symbols. Children will learn the different capital cities in the world  and place them on the map, they will have fun putting the Eiffel tower in Paris, the pyramid in Egypt and so on..