Meet the Maker – Maja Säfström

Art as we all know is very subjective, what one person sees in a drawing, the next person may not. However, my experience in looking at art, whether it be drawings, paintings, sculptures or installations, is that the viewer will usually know straight away if they like the piece of art or not. It will stir in them a passion, a raw emotion, a reminder of the past or a feeling in the present, but a sensation nonetheless.

Swedish based Maja Säfström is one of those artists. Her approach to illustrating is full of wit and humour, it makes you smile even if you are having a long, frantic, horrible day.

Each drawing is quirky, usually of animals, mainly monochromatic but always so stunningly simple and funny. You can spend hours lost in her world of drawings and not to mention laugh deeply to the little quotes that sometimes go with it. I can imagine to have a coffee with Maja or even better a glass of wine, would entail a sore tummy from all the laughter she would provide you with.

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Toy of the month – March 2016

Oh my how are we already March with April looming! Life with kids especially school kids, makes your weeks zoom at a hundred kilometres an hour, don’t you think?!

For my “Toy of the month” for March, I am reviewing a wonderful new brand Golly Family, created by the loveliest Gaby Suhl, an Argentinian who has been based in New Zealand for the past 8 years.

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Christmas Gift Guides – Threenager

Some fabulous gift ideas for your threenager ahem, three year old! They seem to grow up so quickly these days and here are some fun gifts to educate and entertain.

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Fabulous reads of 2015

Ok, so I admit not all of these books have necessarily been published in 2015 and it isn’t the end of the year, yet! However they make my pick of kids books for this year and will make great, ahem, Christmas presents! Yes it is nearly 14 weeks away…. there I said it. Sorry!

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Toy of the month – October 2014

This month, (sorry I know I am a little late for October!), I am super excited to review a stunningly illustrated personalised book by lostmy.name. I was introduced to this company by an awesome friend of mine,  who had seen them on Dragon’s Den in the UK. I was kindly given a book by them to review for the blog.

In looking at the personalised kids book on their website,  what I adored most were the illustrations. They were so beautifully creative and I knew my youngest son would adore reading a book all about his name.  Plus what child doesn’t love a story that includes dragons, unicorns, and even a Narbalek?!

I clicked on the “Create your book” section on the website and added in Hudson’s name and that he was a boy and you can also add in a personal dedication for the first page of the book.

A few weeks later our book arrived in Australia.

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My Little Artist – Christmas gift guide

Inspired by own son who is the happiest when he is drawing or colouring on notepads, scrap paper, paper towel holders, boxes and more. This one is for you, my beautiful Jasper.

My little artist xmas gift guide 2014 KGT final

1. For colouring fun on a giant scale, try the  Omy Design and Play Giant Colouring poster

2. For finger painting fun and travel friendly, the Finger painting set by NPW

3.  To inspire and captivate your little artist to learn about the history of art this book is amazing,  If I were an Artist by Minus Editions

4.  Your little artist will love designing their own monster tee, Creatures and Features by Neve and Hawk

5. For every budding artist,  The Artist long sleeved tee by Organic Zoo

6. Stunning rudolph crayons bv Crayonbox2013

7. All artist’s need something to draw with and what better pencils than these,  Slogan pencil from Bonne Nuit

8. Ebery artist needs somewhere to sketch their creations and this one is a great gift idea, “Oh what fun” by ordinaryartists

9. For one of the best artists and illustrators in the business, Herve Tullet – Mix it up

10. A great little notebook to bring out the fun in drawing and help them create, How to dress a fox by Wee Gallery