Magical Ponyo

School Holidays at last! Which has been such a welcome relief to the daily routine of lunches and pickup and drop off deadlines. Thanks to Babyology; one of the activities on our to do list for these holidays was to go and see the movie Ponyo by the Academy Award tm Winning Director Hayao Miyazaki. Who also directed other memorable animated films such as My Neighbor Totoro which is a number one favorite in our household; Howl's Moving Castle and Spirited Away.

Ponyo did not disappoint; (with the boys were set with their popcorn and choc top ice creams) as soon as the movie started they were transfixed to the screen; as was I! Half way through the feature; Archer said to me 'Mum I Love this movie'; I then looked down the row to Flynn who was sitting there quietly his face was beaming from ear to ear!



There is something magical and uninhibited by the real yet innocent world that Hayao Miyazaki creates. His stories are to be cherished by the young and old (er); I highly recommend Ponyo for this holiday program, it will most definitely hold a special place in the childhood memories of my two boys; which makes me smile.
Enjoy!

Twitching and Twittering, an Obsession with Birds

I am an avid hoarder and when I was young (er) I was mad about birds and collected all things to do with them. Today I want to share with you a sneak peak from my 'Tuckfield's Australian Bird Studies' card collection. Ahhh aren't they just divine?

I thought you might like to read a little about the birds I have chosen to share with you, check out the back for useful twitcher information!



With all things birds in our beautiful bean bag collection, early bird, dreamy owl and sleepy owl; cocoon couture would not be here if it weren't for my love of birds and these delightful treasures. Even the social networking site twitter giving reference to the song birds sing to chat with each other I thought it was appropriate I share these precious bits from my archives.

Enjoy!

LMNOP issue 8 Out Now!

I am just thrilled as always to get the latest LMNOP magazine. It never disappoints and issue 8 is yet another wonder read full of inspiring and interesting pieces for us creative mums out there.

Photo: by Ian Macpherson
Books that make you want to read them for yourself; Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty is one of my favorite books in our shelf; oh and the boys love it too! LMNOP give it a great wrap.

Photo: by Ian Macpherson Styled by Jenny Lacey
How much would all kids love to play on this beautiful IVI, Traffic Rug by Danish by Design.

Find LOVE at 6th Ave and 51st St. Photo: Hallie Burton.
I have read the New York article about 3 times and am saving all the wonderful travel, shopping and play tips for when we head off there in a year with the boys.
If you don't already subscribe then make sure you do today as it is FREE and a must. Not to mention LMNOP has a new and fabulous web site and blog which is their magazine that keeps on giving in between each issue!

A Little House of Your Own

I just have to introduce you to one of my all time favorite books from my childhood. 'A Little House of Your Own' by Beatrice Schenk de Regniers and Irene Hass. Some times you have a book that you just need to pour over and over and try to soak up the wonderful sentiment and try to spirit yourself away into the magic of the illustrations.

A Little House of Your Own with its beautiful pen lined illustrations had the ability to transport me to another world...to my very own special place. It is a wonder what the sense of imagination can give to a child and by sharing this delightful book with my boys has reminded me of how even the simplest things can give a child a sense of their own space.

From under the table with a table cloth; to a big card board box with a few holes in it and a flap for a door. Any tree is a sanctuary for my boys...we travel away from the park to find the biggest and most wonderful trees for them to climb and discover their own special space. One favorite enchanted tree my boys love to discover over and over again is fondly called 'The Monster Tree', and a must to visit every week.

I just loved these pages when I was young (and now!)...in fact I would love to share the whole book with you but had to resist. The little tea party in the tree house is my all time favorite dream cubby. Maybe it is why I love camping so much; just like my little house of my own in many different magical National Parks around Australia.


Martha's house was always the lovely little house came complete with a chimney, curtains on the window and a table and chairs. I always thought she was a 'lucky duck' to have a mini grown up house! But the tent over the clothes line and the couches and chairs with blankets and bean bags never disappoints. In fact sometimes the less perfect and most improvised the space the better!

If you are keen to find this book have a look at amazon to see what you can buy; funnily enough I have not been able to find many on sale with my original cover circa 1959 (it was my dear Auntie Sue's book when she was young).

Why not mess the house up today and create a cubby for your kids...or send them outside to find a bit of space under that overgrown bush in the yard. Don't forget a few comforts; like blankets, a picnic rug, cushions, bean bags, table (if it is big enough) and a tea set would be nice too.

Enjoy! xx

The Monsters are Coming

Well I thought it was about time to unveil our new brand Monster Couture to you all. Introducing our awesome spooky, kooky monsters; Bat Star and Captain Shaggy!

Cocoon Couture offers gorgeous bean bags, wall tiles, height charts and other beautiful accessories; and having captivated children and parents alike for a few years now, we thought it was time to offer something a little different to those little boys and girls that love the spooky world of monsters.

Recently we gave Babyology readers an exclusive sneak peak at our very exciting new range, Monster Couture.

Inspired by my twin boys (Flynn and Archer) drawings and their persistent requests 'can we have a monster on a bean bag mummy?' I thought it was about time to expand our brand profile to include a Monster Couture bean bag range!

Flynn and Archer love the new range and cant wait to get the Black Bat Star (for Flynn) and the Black Captain Shaggy (for Archer...he loves yellow) in their room. Black seems to be their colour of choice...because it's spooky mum; they tell me!

Monster Couture bean bags are made from 100% cotton soft, stylish chunky cord. They also come with a separate calico liner to fill your beans; leaving the cover free to be machine washed after your cheeky little monsters have left their mark!

We have just finished our launch to a select number of beautiful stores at Kids in Style and will make our first delivery to these lucky retailers in September 2009. Just in time for Halloween!!

While I work away on the new web site for Monster Couture please feel free to send through your request to join our newsletter so we can let you know when the new range is available.

The first 5 emails through to us at info@monstercouture.com.au will receive a fabulous Monster Couture library bag; the perfect accessorie for trick or treating come October.

Looking forward to getting back into a bit more 'blogging'; I have so much to share with you all. xx

Sweet Little Foxy

One of my first little critters I designed was Little Foxy. When I was a wee thing my Nana had a fur shrug called Foxy; how politically incorrect these days to have a real fox head, tail, legs and all around your neck! But never the less when I was a little girl it was my favorite dress up along with this beautiful white ball dress.
I have always loved the imagery of foxes; and growing up in the 70's there sure were a lot of illustrations of them around.
They conjure up a magical and adventurous world; the little fox scampering across the yard in the moonlight to get to his burrow or who knows where! They are of course a little bit naughty and cheeky but some how they are still so cute;
and from my childhood memory soft and fury.
Our Little Foxy is featured through the cocoon couture collection; first shown on our bean bags in a beautiful 1950's inspired blue and white stripe fabric with sweet red toadstools. I chose this fabric as it was reminiscent of the woodland forest the little fox would live in. Now also available in a beautiful cheeky red and white spot on a delicious Chocolate pin wale cord bean bag; you can also find Little foxy in our woodland height chart. For a limited edition Little Foxy kinder bag visit mummy's favorite site now. Stay tuned for more Little Foxy pieces in 2010.

There are some wonderful books about foxes; some of my favorites are Hello, Red Fox by Eric Carle
and who can not mention the classic Dr Seuss Fox in Socks I have also found this link to an animated video of the book...for a bit of fun.
As well as some images from my book collection to make you smile.
Enjoy!
To WIN a Little Foxy bean bag cover subscribe to our blog and also email your thoughts to info@cocooncouture.com on what new colour you would like to see next in our bean bag collection and don't forget to mention this blog post. Winner announced 20th July 2009.
Congratulations Monica you are the proud winner of the Little Foxy Bean Bag!

Besotted with the Moomins

Moomintroll and Snufkin, Moominmamma and Mymble… These delightful characters are such a part of my childhood, it’s hard to admit that they’re not real. I pored over Tove Jansson whimsical fantasy books as a child, and they have inspired me ever since. Jansson had a magical talent, bringing to life her sweet characters and the woods in which they lived, using the simplest of illustrations.

She created a memorable setting – the warm Moomin valley would be alive with birdsong and bubbling brooks in summer, or blanketed in a soft carpet of snow in winter. The Moomins, who loved adventures as much as they loved life and nature itself, would return from their adventures to the gentle valley, and be safe and sound once again. Moomin valley was the inspiration behind cocoon
couture’s Enchanted Forest Tree. I wanted to create a special place where our critters could hang out together… early bird, little foxy, cheeky squirrel and sleepy owl; and now our new dreamy owl. I like to think that these critters share the Moomins’ taste for adventure – but also love to just be. Jannson’s stories and illustrations continue to inspire and delight, and I will often pull out my tattered copy of Finn Family Moomintroll and step back into childhood.


I also love scouring the web for Moomin-related sites, and want to share these ones with you:
- Tove Jannson Mommins; a very simple and sweet biography of the Moomins
- The Moomins the animated series produced in the UK; so cute you will have to watch them...one for all the family!
- Who will Comfort Toffle was given to my boys for their 2nd birthday by my dear friend Tania. We all love to hear of Toffle's journey thru this amazing land to find his Miffle. A must for the book shelf.