Easter is a Hop Away!

March is literally around the corner and it's time to start thinking about Easter!  We can help you out.  If you're looking for a plush bunny toy to help fill up that easter basket, here are a few sweet options for you to choose from.  From the infant to the toddler, we have a great selection for every age range.  Have a look!

Bright Bunny Stick Rattle in Blue Spots & Stripes

Linen Bunny - Madeline Le Lapin by Alimrose

 

Betty Bunny Hopper in Hot Pink

 

 Have a hopping good day! 

Monkey Around

I am noticing in my blog that I am obviously drawn to red! I was looking at our range today and picking out my blog inspiration and then noticed that once again I have all red items! Hmmm I wonder what that means... Thoughts anyone??

I adore this little red monkey from Alimrose Designs. The perfect combination of toy and baby rattle but big enough to still love when your a child.

A little sailor to take you on your way!

InspiRED

" A room without any red is like a woman with no lipstick"

I read a quote this morning in a home design magazine and it inspired this morning's theme! Interesting enough - on feeling inspired - I noticed the very last three letters in the word. Enjoy a little inspiRED from Cute-ture.


Alimrose flags (bunting), Alimrose bumblebee stroller ties, Dippy Dop's The Little Reindeer


Oobi Baby Apparel and Dippy Dop's Little Reindeer


Australian designed red charm bracelet from Riley Burnett


The most gorgeous Alimrose Designs doll in red polka with Empress Arts burberry inspired Red Mocassins


Adorable Alimrose Designs dolls, red and pink knitted baby overalls and the best rattles in the world - Alimrose Monkey Rattles in Red and Navy Stripes.

Minimink For Dogs

Today’s blog is inspired by two things – one is Drover our adorable 5 month old Shih Tzu who is the star of his agility class and the other is his Minimink rug – something we once only looked at as a child’s blanket but now realize it’s the perfect high class doggie bed.

Drover claimed his own Minimink rug at our office (where he works on a daily basis) as well as a duckie handsqueaker and a FLATOUTbear. All items were acquired when our backs were turned and he had gone into the product area only to return with a collection of his favorite things slobbered on just enough that they are forever his.

The Minimink rug comes home with Drover each day and at bedtime, he cuddles up into it and sleeps immediately on lights out. We took his blanket to obedience class on the night he was learning ‘go to bed’ and it only took him one try before he had it down. I said, go to bed and he happily trotted to his Minimink blankie and lay down. The ooh’s and ahh’s from the other dog obsessed owners made us realize that not only does his blanket work for him, but other furry friends were happy to join the luxurious bedding club.

Cowabunga!

For some reason I love cows. I know that sort of sounds strange but I spent my early years on a farm and I have fond memories of a calf suckling on my fingers waiting desperately for its milk bottle which was given by hand. I remember attaching the milking contraption to the cows teats in a gorgeous old barn while they munched away on the grains they were fed. I had no idea then that the farm I was on, was something that would now be described as eco-friendly! The cows spent all day in the fields and came in every morning and afternoon to be milked before heading back out into the rolling green acres they roamed on. There wasn't any chemicals used, the feed was natural and vegetarian and the animals were often named and treated with respect.

So with all that in my past and the memories stored away in the happy part of my brain, I just had to share this gorgeous cuddle toy with you from Alimrose Designs. It's part vintage, super cuddly and all cow! And his name is Angus (which technically I guess makes him a bull but cow's are much less scary).

The minute I saw Angus, it was love at first sight and given that in this day and age, many kids don't know where milk comes from (yes not a bull...), I think a little farm life in the nursery and play room is essential. So snuggle on up and love a cow!

New York, New York

Cute-ture took New York by storm this week, showing our lovely little people's luxuries at the New York Gift Show. The show is known as 17 miles of aisles...Quite overwhelming to the senses! That being said, it is a wonderful place to be inspired, find unique items and shop for one's store!! And happily for us, it seems we inspired and were unique enough to have a very successful show.

Cute-ture was in the Metropolitan Pavilion which we love (so much more than the enormous Javits Center) mostly because there is a great French coffee shop - called Telegraphe Cafe next door which actually makes an extremely good latte. They also have soup and sandwiches and are not at show prices (as in not so overpriced that our entire profit from a $20000 sale is spent on a sandwich for lunch). New York is somewhat known for its coffee but as a coffee snob - I have to tell you, its awfully difficult to find something that an Aussie or Italian would consider drinkable...sorry New York - but your coffee sucks. So finding a 'cuppa' next door at a reasonable price was quite a find indeed.

The other bonus of the Metropolitan Pavilion is that the Container Store is around the corner. For those of you not familiar with doing tradeshows, the biggest winners in the tradeshow business are Ikea and The Container Store where it is cheaper to buy your stand (display cases, bookcases etc) than to rent it from the show organizers. This is an international standard mind you - buy a clothing rack at The Container Store for $30 or rent one at a show for $110....What would you do???

The funny thing about each show we do, is that the little finds we have - such as the cute cupcake containers (found at $1.99 at... The Container Store), to put our handsqueakers in, become as hot an item as the squeakers themselves. I guess that makes us somewhat successful merchandisers and the store must wonder why they have a sudden rush of buyers wanting those funny looking cupcake containers. Last show it was miniature plastic chandeliers that run on batteries which I used to dress up bookshelves turned into little clothing cupboards that were the hot display show item. Inspired indeed.

So New York rocked - and now we are back in LA contemplating shipping all those orders or moving house.... Oh the joys of being snowed under - even if it only snowed once in New York.