The Bump

I loved having a bump. It's the most amazing thing, thinking that theres a little human being inside growing and getting ready to come out into the world. And you are giving it everything it needs without really doing anything!

A few photos taken on a webcam! this is more for me I guess.... but thought you might enjoy the video at the bottom!

My little nephew is wondering what I'm doing and decided to take a photo of his tummy too!

Have a look at this youtube video....I love the way the couple move house and everything changes around them.  it's a shame child birth isn't that easy! enjoy.

Dutch Dolls- Esthex

When I was studying my BA in Scotland, I was lucky enough to do an exchange trip to Maastricht in the south of Holland. It was a great experience for me and I still have friends that I met there over 15 years ago!

One of my good friends Esther has her own toy company - they make kids toys, pram accessories, and some soft furnishings. She has a really unique style which keeps developing. I love her latest catalogue where she creates a story and wonderful sets... A hairdresser, a kitchen.

To go to the Esthex shop: www.esthex.com

Here are a few images from her story in the new catalogue, love all the details.

I love the mushroom range! 

The story of Christmas

This is so cute , I had to share it with you. I  L O V E the donkey!!and the sheep.

Happy Christmas everyone. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ&sns=em

Creative Creatures - Kids activity book by Donna Wilson

 Speaking of books... I have some very exciting news. This year I have been working on a kids activity book, with the publishers Kingfisher. It's not launching until Spring, but I wanted to show a sneak preview of some of 'the making of'  It's been one of my favorite projects, as I love doing these sort of shoots.

 Wilbur glove puppet- and paper finger puppets. These are a few things that you can make from the book- some are really easy and some are a but harder and involve sewing. 

 I really wanted all the spreads in the book to be shot in real life! rather than photoshopped together... so we had a lot of fun setting up little sets- the blank spaces in theses images are for the activity instructions to be placed onto.

 Behind the scenes at the theatre!
and one of my favourites:

 I had to put this in as one of the activities- make your own outfits for Charlie monkey- I remember having a lot of fun when I was young making lovely dresses for the girl you got with 'Twinkle'magazine ( showing my age now!)

Below is how the spread turned out!

It was a fantastic project to work on, and I can't wait until it comes out.  I will keep you posted. 

The reluctant father- Phillip Toledano

(Soon to be)Auntie Svava showed me this lovely book, it's by  a photographer (Phillip Toledano)'s who shares his experience of becoming a father. 

"It's funny. There's how you feel, and then there's how you think you should feel." he says. 

When his baby is born, he is still coming to terms with it, it takes a bit of getting used to.  He tells us a real story, and I love the very honest words and photography. I think it's difficult for a lot of men to get used to this tiny new human that has come into their lives! maybe a lot of people can't admit it.

as you go through the book he gradually falls in love with the baby,  made me cry! ( yes I do have a lot of pregnancy hormones in my body!!)

My favourite part is this bit:

Loulou's arrival has really made me consider my own mortality.

When she is twenty, I'll be sixty.

Will I seem like an old man to her?

Confused by how she talks?

Will she roll her eyes and say "oh dad..."

Or will we be friends? Drinking cups of tea in the kitchen talking about the latest boyfriend?

The images are a bit small to read but here is a link to the book online.

http://www.pqblackwell.com/work-in-progress-detail.php?id=159

and some info.

The Reluctant Father

Phillip Toledano

THE RELUCTANT FATHER is the frank and moving account of award-winning photographer Phillip Toledano's experience of fatherhood.

In an effort to understand the strange new person who had suddenly entered his world, Toledano observed and recorded his daughter's development, asking the question: "Does every baby picture have to be sweet and beautiful?"

The resulting series of images chronicles this self-described contrarian's slow and inevitable metamorphosis from detached observer, to willing participant, to "blithering idiot of love".

can't wait to meet you... and dress you up in wool!

 I have been collecting wooly hand knitted items for baby, I hope he/or she is not allergic! but I think it's so nice compared to the man made fibres fleece  etc.  Quite a few of these things were bought on our recent trip to Iceland (you can see other posts on handicrafts of Iceland  http://donnawilsonsblog.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/handicrafts-of-iceland.html)

 I think this is a knitted nappy cover!

The tiniest knitted booties!

Beautiful Book - The Fir Tree

Another beautiful book for you- this one was written by Hans Christian Andersen, so it must be good!- haven't read it yet.The Fir tree was first published in 1845.
This one is illustrated by one of my favourite illustrators Sanna Annukka. Sanna spent her childhood in Finland and is now based in Brighton.

 It has a lovely fabric bound cover- a few photos for you- great Christmas gift.

wise words from those rays of sunlight !

Alternative Kids Toys

At  Milan Furniture Fair this year, you see so much design, and only a small part of it sticks in your memory,  These kids toys did it for me.
Beautifully made, simplified and pared down to basic element- a wooden shape that rolls or stands, a bean bag in a faded chalky hue and a natural piece of leather.
The designer told me that it was to encourage play and kinds to use their imagination and with these lovely textures I think it would do that. I'm so sorry I don't even know who made them... if anyone does let me know and I'll post the name on the blog.

felt away the moths!

 I got this lovely hand knitted vest years ago from Jon's mum who brought it back from a trip to Iceland. it's so light weight and stretchy but when I found it in the cupboard it was covered in moth holes!

A great project for my woolfillerkit.

If you've ever done felting you'll take to this straight away- it's a little kit with two felting needles and some wool tops and you can create little spots over the holes making them a feature!

can't wait to have a babe to wear it now!!

Here's a funny video of all it's uses.

a product by Dutch Designer Heleen Klopper www.woolfiller.com/

I choose Bobo Choses

Have come across a lovely little baby brand, and wanted to share it with you. Haven't bought anything from there yet, but I think they would make beautiful presents. it's called Bobo Choses www.bobochoses.com The main reason I like then is that there's not a pastel blue or a pastel pink in sight! 

 This dog suit is my favourite!!... ok one pastel pink baby suit but look at the funny black drawing of a cat. it's not the normal cutesey stuff you get everywhere.

 and they have some limited edition items too, look at this hand woven Peruvian poncho!

Hope you like !