Our new retail website is now open! Woo hoo!!
Our launch print collection is available to buy on this site just in time for your Christmas list. Check it out via this link: www.boywonderland.com I will now be blogging from this new site but there will be link from this old site to send you over there in case you forget. There are a few design and layout changes to be made over the next week but it is ready to shop at. Look forward to seeing you there! Ismay x When I started doing my design research I began by looking toys that today’s kids play with, but ended up finding vintage toys that took me on a trip down memory lane. I knew I wanted to avoid stereotyped or gender specific imagery, which seemed to prevail far less then. So, enjoying this nostalgic journey I decided to delve into my own childhood for further inspiration. My childhood memories are lit by the bright coloured tones of the eighties and tinged here and there with the orange and brown hues of the seventies. Without the digital overload and mass consumption that we live in today, it felt like a calmer, safer time to disappear into. These are the colours and moods I wanted to capture in my prints. Through this introspection I knew that as a British-made brand I also wanted to capture something of what it is to be British. For me this is not flag waving or singing ‘Rule Britannia’, nor the clichés of red telephone boxes and the Queen. But rather the eccentricity and quirkiness that is evident in traditions such as cheese-rolling, sack races and even queuing! The simple pleasures that are still very part of British life today and for some reason most them ended up being food! Milk and Biscuits I wanted to do a nod to the classic British cuppa, but milk and biscuits seemed a more appropriate design for kids clothes! I am old enough to remember when milk came in real glass bottles and remember hearing the clinking sound early in the morning as they were delivered by the (now very rare) milk man. It also comes from a memory of my brother and I having our own biscuit tin, which we had a packet of biscuits in and “when they were gone, they were gone”! Fish & Chips This quintessential British dish conjures up many happy memories for me, but the one pictured here is from one of my annual holidays as a child with my friend and her family to Wales. We would get our fish & chips from the local chippy (and mushy peas as I am from north of the Watford gap!) and eat them down on the beach. After which we would walk along the sand to the headland to spot seals. On the way back we would stop off at the pub and sip Appletiser and jump off the wall into the dunes (not at the same time!) Jelly & Ice-cream Birthday parties back in my day were simple affairs of some party games, probably pass-the-parcel and a birthday tea with sandwiches (that no one ate), cheese and pineapple on sticks and of course the grand finale of jelly and ice-cream! A thick block of Neapolitan would have been a real treat and sprinkles would have been positively posh! Camping & Caravanning Harking back again to summers holidaying in Wales, we would stay in a caravan on a farm by the sea. It was so exciting to be in a tiny house on wheels even when the storms raged and rain and wind buffeted the walls. It had a mock wood-paneled interior and we read Famous Five by the light of it's little gas lamps. I sometimes stayed on a following week with my family, which I resented at first, as it had been my own little world that I wanted to keep to myself. Can you spot which ones are me in the photos? There are other prints in the rest of the collection that have not been included in the launch. Maybe I will tell you the stories behind them one day too. Ismay x Related Content My Scandi Pattern Design Influences The Creative Process Branding the Boy #printandpattern #printinspiration #printstories Sign up to the newsletter to get the best of the blog delivered to your inbox every month
My son said to me the other day that his favourite time of year is Halloween, even over Christmas! So, he is upset to miss out this year on our usual trip of trick or treating around the neighbourhood. I have reassured him that he can still have a sweetie overload and get dressed up but it is not the same. So, I have been trying to think of different things we can do safely at home to make up for it. I do want to add here to not put too much pressure on yourself to create an extravaganza (unless you want to). This could be a good time to reset and move away from the rampant consumerism of Halloween that we have inherited from the US. But in any case some ideas below may appeal to your kids too. Party During the first national lockdown we had a weekly zoom disco with my cousins and their kids, sometimes with themes and dressing up. We all chose a tune each and had a good old dance. It was a great way to connect with my family regularly and escape from covid worries. You could have a dressing up, face painting or dancing competition and give a grand prize. Here are some music suggestions: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g27955468/best-halloween-songs-for-kids/ https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2qPNGgprU8yCg8JJOTqkOs https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/best-halloween-songs-for-kids Decorate your house with pumpkins and hand crafted decorations made with the kids. Check out my Pinterest board here for ideas. Get the kids making some spooky snacks, here are some ideas on my Pinterest board. You could also play some games like apple bobbing or hiding sweets around the house with clues along the way or set up a pumpkin carving competition with your neighbours. Here are some more suggestions: https://www.thespruce.com/halloween-party-games-kids-1357658 https://www.onecrazyhouse.com/halloween-party-games/ https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/g3476/halloween-party-games Online Halloween quizzes https://www.instagram.com/boywonder_brand/ https://icebreakerideas.com/halloween-trivia/ Halloween Kids Films Why not set up a Halloween movie night with friends using Netflix Party? Then you can all watch the same film at the same time and chat about it in a messaging app or just just do it manually and text each other? Here are some suggestions of films for different ages and where to stream them: https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g2661/halloween-movies/ https://www.purewow.com/family/halloween-movies-for-kids https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/guide/essential-scary-movies-for-kids/ Halloween Kids Books https://theladybirdsadventures.co.uk/halloween-books-for-young-children/ https://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/family/best-halloween-books-kids-514182 https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/2020/10/the-best-new-kids-books-for-halloween-2020 I hope you all manage to have a fun and safe Halloween Ismay x Related Posts 7 Scandi Tips for a Covid Winter How to survive Lockdown with Kids Window Games for Lockdown How to have a Green Halloween Sign up to the newsletter to get the best of the blog delivered to your inbox every month Resources and references
https://familyedventures.com/fun-halloween-lockdown/ https://www.glamourmagazine.co.uk/article/how-to-celebrate-halloween-in-lockdown https://www.frukmagazine.com/lockdown-halloween-inspiration-2020/ #lockdownhalloween #covidhalloween #halloweenideas So, it looks like we are in for a long, hard winter with local or even national lockdowns looking quite likely. During the spring and summer months this didn't feel as daunting as now, facing dark months separated from family and friends with a virtual Christmas being little to celebrate. The Scandinavians have much to teach us on how to cope with a long winter, so I have put them together with some of my own thoughts on how I have coped as a widow during difficult times and developed some resilience. 1. Hygge & Koselig The Danish and Norwegian concepts of 'hygge' and 'koselig' can offer some much needed comfort. Getting snuggly and cosy with warm blankets, roaring fires, candles and low lighting sets the tone. These concepts also extend to hearty or comforting food too, so take it as an excuse to have a little of what you like - we all need a bit of extra insulation during the winter anyway! 2. Friluftsliv In Sweden the concept of outdoor living is expressed in the term 'friluftsliv' - literally translated as 'free air life'. This extends far past the idea of outdoor cafe culture to families with children happily playing in a playground covered in snow and ice during a snowstorm (I have witnessed this myself!) So, adopting some of their hardiness could help prevent us getting cabin fever and get the vitamin D and fresh air that will do us all good during this difficult time. We should embrace the Scandinavian saying that 'there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing' and invest in good thermals, cosy knitwear and waterproofs. If meeting other households is permitted, then setting up an inviting, outdoor place could provide a little haven to continue being social with others. Utilising a BBQ or fire-pit to provide warmth along with some cosy blankets and hot drinks. 3. Jolabokaflod On Christmas Eve Icelanders give books and chocolate to their loved ones and then all go to bed early to read and eat their treats. It's no wonder that Iceland is known to be the most literary country in the world. I loved this idea so much that we have adopted it the tradition with my son getting family members second-hand books and yummy choccies each year. Disappearing into a good book is a great way to while away the long winter nights and we will need a bit of escapism in the coming months. 4. Fredagsmys This is the Swedish version of 'Friday night in' which we all be having many of our own of this winter. So stock up on tasty snacks, some steaming mulled wine and snuggle up in front of a fire or with a blanket to enjoy that box-set that you been meaning to watch. It's even better if you fall asleep and miss the end! If you use Netflix Party you can watch things at the same time as your friends and chat to them about the film as well. Plan it ahead so you have something to look forward to and use it to mark the weekends. 5. Fika Between 10 and 11am every day Swedes stop whatever they are doing and have coffee often with a tasty pastry such as kanelbullar (Cinnamon buns). It's a great way to take a bit of time out of a busy day and would normally involve chatting with friends or work colleagues. So, why not use it as a chance to text, phone or video call a friend and see how they are getting on? 6. Scandi Mindset Scandinavians don't dread the winter, in fact they love it! Their positive mindset helps them to cope with the short hours of daylight and they look forward to the snow so they can do their favourite winter sports. They cherish the unique beauty and stillness that winter brings. I love the changing of the seasons too and try to capture it with a camera. What can you do during this season that you wouldn't in spring or summer? Why not take up a new past-time like knitting or cross-stitch that you wouldn't do otherwise? 7. Self Care One of the most important things I did when my husband died was to take care of myself, so that I could be strong enough to take care of my son. I instinctively knew that I needed to eat regularly and healthily, exercise often and sleep as much as I could. Realising it's ok too to not be ok, to not have to do everything and not be perfect was important too. Be kind to yourself and enjoy a treat and some special treatment now and then as well as taking this opportunity to slow down, recharge and relax. All these tips are great if you are lucky enough to be in a relationship, but I think they are even more important If you are on your own as I have been. I hope this helps you through this crazy time and come out of the other end. I would love to know if you take up some of these tips or if you have any of your own. Ismay x Related Posts How to Survive Lockdown with Kids Sign up to the newsletter to get the best of the blog delivered to your inbox every month References & Resources
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/sep/26/dreading-a-dark-winter-lockdown-think-like-a-norwegian https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/sep/04/hunting-for-hygge-a-new-ingredient-in-denmarks-recipe-for-happiness https://www.babbel.com/en/magazine/top-5-winter-survival-secrets-from-scandinavia https://www.scandikitchen.co.uk/6-tips-to-winter-like-a-scandi/ https://www.stylist.co.uk/long-reads/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad-winter-blues-dark-mornings-cold-weather-happiness-advice-scandinavia/316720 #scandiliving #covid19 #toptips The cold weather is drawing in now and so is the need for waterproof and warm coats. If you are needing a new coat for your little ones we have scoured the best of the design-led brands to save you the time and effort. Our designer's picks features brands that are premium quality and have good eco credentials too. Having just bought the Boy Wonder a Mini Rodini coat (second-hand) and having previously had a Polarn O Pyret one too, I can personally vouch for their high quality. Ismay x
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