'A' is for 'Art'... 'G' is for 'Give-away'...!

Hello my darlings. Hope your weekend was nice & relaxing and that the new week has kicked off well.  Today I'd like to talk art.. Nursery art. 
A few years ago when I was pregnant with Oscar there was hardly anything out there that suited my aesthetic, and I really struggled to find pieces for his nursery. In the end this is what brought me to start painting again for real, and this as you (may) know also set the start of my own children's art & design business.

 by Peters & James

Times have certainly changed since then and the market place of today is flooded by talented artists who target families and young ones. A wonderful & convenient hub for quality children's artwork is Sydney  based 'Kindergallery'.

 

Meredith Gaston *

Shinzi Katoh *

Ida Pearle *

This gallery-shop operates both online and by private appointment to help art savvy littlies (& their parents) choose the perfect visual adornment for their walls. They carry a number of wonderful artists such as Meredith Gaston, Aliette, Shinzi Katoh, and Swedish Sandra Isaksson. The latter of course is especially close to my heart..

by ISAK

Sandra (who also blogs - HERE) operates both as an independent artist, and as part of a Scandi-British collaboration under art & decor label 'ISAK'. I love the way she introduces herself on her website..

click to enlarge..

Sandra's work is playful & neat with tangible flair of Scandinavian mid-centrury retro. Her pieces are designed to work on their own or in clusters, and they are as fun for the nursery as they are for your older kids.
So imagine my delight when Kate Holcombe, the manager of Kindergallery contacted me to offer not one but two A2 'ABC Character' posters by ISAK as a give-away for my Australian/NZ friends.
That said, if you are an international blogger who want to enter this give-away on behalf of or for an Australian/NZ friend, you may. As long as the shipping address falls withing this region. Just read on to find out how..

Give Away: 2 x A2 ISAK posters via Kindergallery

To enter you must be a public follower of Space for Inspiration (no anonymous entries please). Leave one comment for each of the following entry points:

1. Confirm you are indeed a follower, and include your email address if you are reading my posts as a non-blogger.
If you enter for or behalf of an Aussi/Kiwi friend, please mention this in your comment. Thanks. x

2. Announce this give-away on your Facebook (with post link)

3. and/or your blog (with post link).

Entries are open until midnight on Sunday 26th July (AEST) and the two winners will be announced shortly after.

Johanna Ekmark via Mama magazine

Good luck to all!
And thank you once more to Kate & Kindergallery.

xx Charlotta

One terribly charming party..

Don't you just love a good party!?! I certainly do, and I make a conscious effort to find excuses & reasons to celebrate - be it an extra effort made at school, an anniversary, a promotion, a holiday, a special event, or a birthday. Anything really, because  in my book life is too short and too beautiful not to make the most of!

NYC Party - HERE

To me, some of the most fun parties to plan and execute are the ones for the kids. Don't get me wrong though, I love (!) preparing adult parties too, but there is something with the freedom of imagination & boundless playfulness of children's events that get me very excited! I am a children's artist & designer, don't forget..! :)

One of my favourite go-to-sources for bright, fun and original kids' party ideas is 'One Charming Party'. 
Founded & run by Brittany Egbert and Sara Westbrook, this site sells the most creative and comprehensive 'party plans' you will ever come across! The plans come complete with pre-designed printable invitations, style guides, game ideas, DIY tutorials, menu suggestions and general implementation tips. All for a mere US$25 per plan people!!

Super Hero Party - HERE

Wonder Woman Party - HERE

All parties are styled to perfection by Sara & Brittany, and then captured in the most delicious way by fabulous photographer Nicole Hill Gerulat (and sometimes also by Sara!). Then they are put together in 'Issuu powered look-books' so that you can browse each theme before you buy. Simply brilliant!

Country Fair Party - HERE

Though the core of their business is 'children's parties', they recently did this wonderful 'Dog Party' that made me go Woof! (ha!) 
I really must get myself a dog now because I can't see my cat Bella Busk sharing anything this yummy! :)

 Dog Party - HERE

I hope this has gotten you as excited as me, and that you will head on over to 'One Charming Party' to browse their gallery. 
Never again will you be stomped for ideas, and just imagine the wonderful memories these parties will create for you & your kids..! Oh, and your dogs of course..! :)

xx Charlotta 

P.S. I can see how you might think that this is a sponsored post, but it isn't. I asked Brittany if I could feature them because I really am genuinely this excited & impressed by her & Sara!

Sealed with love..

If this isn't the most perfect gift for a new parent then I

don't know what is!?! How divine to have a hand or foot

print stamp of one's baby - something to pass onto the child

as they are older and have their own babies. I love this 

idea and wish it had been around when I popped my kids.

via Otete & Anyo

This and many more fantastic things found by lovely

Rachel over at 'Handmade Charlotte' - you'll love this site!

xx Charlotta

Such a great idea!

I love it when aesthetics, practicality and happy kids

come together! A sandbox on wheels - it's genious!

Instructions via

The Nonchalant Dad

xCharlotta

P.S. This clever dad is not only nonchalant, but

also has a nice dose of self-irony. You may have read

THIS before but I still let a sarcastic and all-knowing

chuckle pass my motherly lips when I read it. :)

How gorgeous..

Though Isabella is still in a 'pink phase' I am so

not the 'pink type'.. Sure, pink is lovely and I have

no reservation using it in small doses but the thought

of a whole pink room makes me a little unsettled.

Though it may not suit a soft & fluffy little 4-year old, 

I think this is a cute alternative for a girl's room..

Perhaps in a couple of years..

xCharlotta

Nice ceiling..

I had a slanted ceiling just like this when I was little.

In fact it was in my very first 'big girl room'.

Image via Emmas Designblogg

The walls were pale green, my curtains made of

a typically 70s Scandinavian fabric with large red

strawberries and dark green leaves. The floors 

were wooden and my bed white with a lovely

mid-pink throw that my grandmother had made.

I also had a hand-me-down desk from my sister,

that my dad painted in high gloss deep (!) green.

I loved that desk - in fact I loved anything my sister

had touched. It was the ultimate treat to inherit from her!

What did your first room look like?

xCharlotta

Children's art

I recently read HERE that an article in the  NY Times back in 2006 stated a trend to invest in high-end art for their nurseries and toddler rooms. This in belief that the presence of expensive art will in fact make their children more creative and intelligent.. I must say that I am not convinced, because in my book art must not be expensive or be created by anyone famous. The main thing is that it speaks to the viewer and that it adds something to the environment it is meant to hang in. Apart from that, your little darling won't care if it is by Picasso or daycare..!

I am all for art (OMG, what would life be without it..!?!) , regardless of the price tag, but for me the most precious pieces are those brought to me by my kids. In our home we have stacks and stacks of gorgeous little creations that mean so much to me, and I love hearing my children share their vision of what they want to convey with their pictures. Often there is so much thought behind each wonky little line and blob of colour!

I love their excitement and pride when having created a new masterpiece and I carefully pile these in a big box for later in life. Some however are too brilliant to stash away and end up on the wall or fridge for everyone/anyone to see. The look in their eyes when I do this is priceless..!

(sorry don't mean to sound like a 'Master Card' ad..)

Here are some cute ways to display art in a way that is also pleasing to the design savvy parental eye.. :

 I think this is such a great idea! The drawings/paintings are scanned into electronic format and then re-sized and laid out into desired shape. Once done the new  layout is saved in a high-resolution file and printed in a large size at a local printing shop. I am so going to do this for my angels!

Or have their artwork transferred onto canvas..

xx Charlotta

P.s. Oscar would love this room..

via Ohdeedoh

My kids would love this!!

via

Handmade Charlotte
(Who incidentally just gave birth to her 6th child!
Do visit her blog and leave a congratulatory note.
I am in awe!)




xCharlotta

Baby Animal Photography

These would look great blown up large, framed

and hung in a nursery or a child's room.

via

Sharon Montrose's Etsy shop

xCharlotta

Little touches of fun for the littlies

I love children's rooms and the quirky little details

that come with them - be that intentional or not.

 

In my opinion it is the latter that usually work the

best in any given environment for children - where

spontaneity and playful contrasts are evident.

 

Mix matching designs, items and colours are not

only allowed, it is a must in order to create a space

that feels safe and welcoming to a child, so abandon

all rules and have fun when you decorate for your kids!

xCharlotta