Kids Etsy Special Part 3 – Toys!

Actual scenario:

A man with geek chic glasses and a fluffy orange hat carries around assorted colourful toys in his giant boombox. He sings a magic song and they come alive. Tots around the world think this is the most brilliant thing since uncrusted bread and pester their parents to spend exorbitant amounts on various useless memorabilia. Said memorabilia is mildly creepy and joins other fad-tastic bits of plastic and fluff in giant Dora the Explorer toy box, which was also purchased to prevent department store tanties despite reservations from design-conscious parent.

Preferred scenario: Child watches gloriously simple shows like Play School and pesters parent for old toothpaste boxes and toilet rolls for creative artful playtime. Toy box is full of unfussy, unbranded and eco-friendly soft toys which do not require batteries and inspire imaginative role play, with the added bonus of being pleasing to the eye and supporting independent artisans.

In an effort to introduce more of scenario 2 to our house, I have forced myself to spend less time vacuuming and more time browsing Etsy for gorgeous handmade toys. It started with a rude bunny from Atlanta (not for my daughter, though she does like him), purchased from the LOL-inducing store spidercamp. They also sell another kiddie favourite, stickers, perfect for a bit of self-branding; and more kid-friendly bunnies, from US$15 each.
If cutesy is more your thing, leahkl’s store (based in Aus) sells the most adorable elephants, birdies and scotty dogs, all handcrafted from vintage fabrics. Sure to please kids from 0-100, I couldn’t resist Elise the Elephant (US$15) to add to my collection.

Owl obsession? Visit pinchface for quirky little plushies with contrasting fabrics. Are they for kids or adults? Who cares, they are too cute! Check out the mushroom print fabric on little Gabe the Owl [US$26] here…gorgeous!)

I stumbled upon PinkGasoline and fell head over heels for their Crayon Rolls (US$10) – who said storage had to be boring?! They also customise pieces so you could create a truly special gift or keepsake. They also do handbags and purses and the cutest cup holders on the planet, so treating yourself to a little something is easy too…

Buying for twins? SewnNatural’s Gemini Monkeys are perfect. Their names are Mandalay and Maha and they have organic cotton faces and soft fleecy bodies. I love the fact they come with little personalities – Mandalay likes to read Rudyard Kipling, and Maha is a nightowl who loves to stare at the moon. Give them a good home for just US$54!

Zooguu focus on plush toys, and the little monster toys (Albert is my fave) are quirky and adorable without being creepy (US$25). They come in different sizes and you can customise them. Characters that kids will love without having to redecorate their whole room and wardrobe with the same theme – thumbs up!

MiChiMa’s educational plush alphabets (US$30) come in a gorgeous drawstring bag and make learning to spell a tactile and fun experience. They also sell magnetised versions to whack on the fridge, and you can choose from lower or upper case letters. You could go for a felt numbers set (US$13.50); or start ‘em young with an alphabet mobile ($US70)!

Finally, babies will get hours of entertainment from a certain big green dinosaur. This one, from thewillowtree (US$16.50), has ribbon ‘spikes’ and is made from soft, washed fleece. If you’ve ever given a bub a soft toy, you’ll know the first thing they go for is the tag, so this little number is perfect for being chewed on, dribbled over, and developing hand-eye coordination.

Don’t forget to check out Never Shopped Out’s comprehensive list of Australian Etsy sellers – buy local, feel warm and fuzzy!