Teddy bear Picnic Pinterest board

After last years success of having a Pinterest board to organise my thoughts for my daughters 1st birthday party, I have started to collate another ideas board on Pinterest for this years party....themed Teddy Bear Picnic.

I'm thinking red & white gingham table cloth which will set the colour theme, with the book The Teddy Bears Picnic  as the inspiration.

As for the food table, there is an abundance of ideas I've found. From turning chocolate flavoured macarons into cake pops decorated with a teddy bear face, to oreo cake pops, to little teddy bear dinner bread rolls with pinched sides for ears & eadible markers to draw the face, to honey joys in red& white gingham cupcake wrappers, to bumble bee cupcakes to teddy bear shaped chocolates on a stick, little tea cup creations made from coloured buscuits & marshmallows, and something honey flavoured in mason jars with a quaint little red & white fabric lid (like a shower cap on top). I also found gorgeous brownies & blondies which had the middle swapped. I thought they would look great with little teddys, instead of hearts.

As for decorating the table, I was thinking lots of big old fashioned picnic baskets. I was hoping one basket would be filled with cake pops & chocolate teddys on a stick, another would hold the cutlery. I was thinking mini picnic baskets instead of plates, gummi bears filling glass jars with cake pops protruding out & of course red & white gingham accents like cupcake cases, ribbon & serviettes. I'm sure more ideas with pop up over the next few months.I still need to an idea for the backdrop...that is, the wall behind the 

Table. 

Next up, the activities tables.I hope to set up a room with lots of little tables so the kids can move between the different activities. I also hope to set up a big red&white gingham picnic rug where all the children can play with their teddy bears, sit & eat their teddy bears picnic. Of course lots of nice wooden "food"toys will be in the middle to play with. 

I have pinned so many great activity ideas on my Pinterest board that match the theme. 

Some activities I hope to set up include, teddy bear colouring sheets & picnic basket activity sheets where the kids can draw what goes inside the picnic basket.There are lots of activity sheets on my Pinterest board.

 A table with teddy bear "birth certificates" with kitchen scales & measuring tape to help complete the certificate.

A table with  teddy bear shaped cookies and lots of little bowls filled with fun things to decorate them with like icing pens, m&ms,choc buds, fondant etc

A table  with teddy bear masks & craft supplies to decorate them with. it would be great to present the craft supplies in a picnic basket. 

So, there you have it. Lots & lots of ideas...now to execute them over the next few months so dreams become reality!!! 

Off to party plan...

Check out my Teddy bear picnic Pinterest board here:

http://m.pinterest.com/twineysworkshop/teddy-bear-picnic-party/

Some fun & inspiring pics from my Pinterest board...

Shop of the week: Seed Heritage

This weeks shop of the week is Seed Heritage clothing for kids....

Seed is an Aussie label which started in suburbia Melbourne. From there it has flourished & they now have shops all over Australia & a few in Asia.

Seed heritage has womens, girls, boys , baby & now teen clothes & even a candy store. Today I'm reviewing the kids shop.

I adore Seed kids clothing & accessories. Their clothing is right on trend as well as being playful, fun, a bit quirky & chić.

I think they are known for their brightly coloured patterned leggings. No colour in the rainbow is ever missing and no pattern is overlooked. From stars, leopard print, stripes & bold colours. They really add a bit of oomph to your child's outfit & it's fun seeing them deessed in something besides blue jeans.

Their current collection is filled with cute jumpers, from sequinned squirrels, bunnies with Pom Pom tails, perky looking parrots & other cute little critters. They always have lots of gorgeous cardigans for girls (which is important for a Melbourne girl, no matter what age as our weather is so unpredictable) & some smart looking jackets for boys. I would say the boys clothes are a bit more conservative than the girls with a focus on smart & handsome but always with a bit of edginess like a pop of colour.

They also have a beautiful baby range with classic jumpsuits, fun little leggings for both sexes (their current collection has mo's for boys & penguins for girl - über cute! ) And always with cosy & cute little beanies! It's hard to go pass seed for a newborn present.

But it's their accessories which take my breath away & the money from my wallet! It's impossible for me to walk into a Seed store & not come out with a pair of hair clips! They have bowls of accessories that look like liquorice allsorts & bubble gum balls. I feel like when I'm at their front counter I am in a candy store, not a clothing store!

And it doesn't end there, they also have brightly coloured headbands, cute as a button handbags & shoes which are simply too cool for school.

Seed Heritage is a fun filled shop which stimulates your senses & makes you feel happy as you browse around looking at their clothes, accessories & cool shop fit out.

Shop of the week: Peter Alexander

I love pajamas!
And I love Peter Alexander Pajamas.
I have been wearing them since I was a teenager ordering them off the catalogue - how Peter Alexander started his business.  I still remember the pair I took on School camp!
They last FOREVER and have always been fun, quirky and comfortable enough that you wouldn't hesitate to wear them all day or even out of the house! Of course I'm wearing the flannelette as I write this blog post!

So, this weeks Shop of the week goes to the Pajama king - Peter Alexander!

Peter Alexander has a great story. Melbourne born and bred, he was voted "least likely to succeed" at high school according to Wiki. I guess he took that negative attitude towards him and turned it into something fabulous. Not only is he an entrepreneur but he is a great guy (I've heard him talk in the past) and has a great business which is full of  fun.

His PJs are quirky, kawaii - cute, colourful, humourous and also classic. He has fun styles like toasters, vegemite, gingerbread men, ducks, clouds, rainbows, dogs - his passion and so many more fun filled designs he has come up with over the past 25+ years... They are also classy & chic with beautiful florals and gorgeous colours. PA also designs fun mens PJs - the current collection includes beetle cars, eggs and toast and dog cross bones to name a few. Of course they have some equally as cute kids PJs - and some kids Pjs even match the womens collection  - what a great Mother's Day present, matching PJs! Too cute!
Accessories, ugg boots, knick knacks, books and other fun things fill the gaps between PJs in store.

Peter Alexander's shop windows, just like his Pjs make you happy. How could I resist walking pass this cute window and not snap away for shop of the week. It just made me smile.

With over 50 stores in Australia and New Zealand - I guess he proved his High school teachers and peers wrong - nothing better than that is there!!

check out his website here  - winter in Aus is on its way. Who wouldn't want to be pulling on a pair of his flannel Pjs on a cold, rainy night or a pair of cute boxer shorts for those going into the warmer weather.

Finders Keepers Market

200 designers showcased in one space...I was in Australian design heaven!

On Saturday I headed to the Finders Keepers Market at the Royal Exhibition building.
The market had a great vibe with live music, the Frankie caravan and fairy floss all in the grand surroundings of the Exhibition building.

I love how this market has such a large amount of designers in one spot and continues to have new emerging designers featured in each market. It really is great to see new market holders at these markets, some of whom released their very first ranges at the market. I felt like I was at the 'frontline' of Australian design.

Everything was covered from accessories, to homewares, craft products, paper goods and even live music. Trending was lots of brightly coloured cushions, neon and pastel accessories, lots of  fluro pink and orange and lots of  hand-formed polymer clay necklaces and bangles in vibrant colours and shapes. Emily Green has always been the stand out in these clay beaded necklaces. Check out the pics below of all the candy coloured necklaces I saw on the day and the gorgeous pillows I was loving by Dan300.

Some of the more fun and unique products I spied on the day included colourful and fun necklaces, brooches and rings, framed by a one of a kind miniature embroidery hoop from the adorable Dandelyne. Sonia, the designer embroidered/appliqued retro glam-avans, bicycles, teapots, knitting yarn and needles, bunting, dandelion parachutes, mountains, clouds, embroidery stitches...She can even custom design a hoop for you to wear of someone you love or embroidered your whole family on a bigger hoop.  I have a mountain design necklace on order. I love this wearable craft.

Other unique products included the very well established Betty Jo designs which includes recycled vintage linoleum, pre-loved buttons and antique embroidered doilies which are then turned into keepsake brooches, pendants and clocks (which Ben Sherman decked his shop out with in the past). I also loved the quirkiness of Cat Rabbit,  which are felt versions of the designers illustrated characters. Nerdy rabbits, frightened raccoons, well-dressed badgers and thoughtful foxes feature highly in her range of super friendly and collectable plush toys, embroidered and wooden jewelry and printed fabric products. Some cute pics are below.

DIY was also trending  at the market. There was embroidery and craft kits on sale from the beautifully laid out Morgan Wills stall, DIY hot air balloon mobiles by Craft Shmaft . BLANK had a range of packaging and project supplies, such as gift boxes, bags, wrapping and craft, party and play supplies to inspire you to create and decorate just the way you like. Finally there was the fun and popular terrerium DIY kits which were just delightful by Love and clutter.

I took home a chic white ceramic sushi/tapas patter with a black streak by Andrei Davidoff. Perfect for Japanese themed dinners.

The market showcased pattern, originality, quality and colour! Products were fresh, bright, unique and cheery.   

If you would like to have a closer look at some of these designers and their work, their profiles can be found here http://www.thefinderskeepers.com/autumn-winter-2013-melbourne-market  
You can also view more pics on instagram @finderskeepers or #melbournefinderskeepers or #thefinderskeepers @twineysworkshop also has some fun pics of the day.

Here are all my fun photos from the day...


The grand exhibition building where the market was held....

beautiful natural light...

The gorgeous Morgan Wills stall...

Emily Green & her beaded necklaces...

Sunday Morning designs fun mexican themed stall

Betty Jo brooches made of recycled vintage linoleum


 Some market goodies... including crochet hot water bottle by Morgan Wills, Fury creature by Cat rabbit, Notebook holder by Frankie, terrerium DIY kits by love and clutter

I loved these handcrafted artwork by One Sunday Morning

Sonia and the colourful Dandelyne store with her mini hoop necklaces, brooches and rings...

more mini wearable hoop necklaces. I love the custom made people..

Chic pillows by Dan300

Polymer necklaces in different shapes and candy colours..

Fun plant holders...

DIY boom...mobile kits, embellishing craft products and terreriums

Cute as a Button..pillows by Morgan Wills

The show piece by Jude

My purchase...sushi platter by Andrei Davidoff...

the Frankie caravan