We have a birthday party organised next month for a bunch of 5 year olds and have yet to decide on a theme, so in the mean time I have set about tracking down some food related items to make the sandwiches and cupcakes a little more appealing.

I found a terrific store www.spoonsisters.com who have loads of unusual items for sale including these which I am just about to purchase. Sandwiches always seem to be bypassed in favour of the sweet treats and therefore could do with a helping hand. I think that these cutters might just do the trick.

Let Them Eat Cake has joined forces with 2 talented British artists, Annie Kevans and Stella Vine in order to create T-Shirts for ‘The Environmental Justice Foundation Charity’ (EJF campaigns internationally on the issues their grassroots partners attempt to work locally to solve including, cotton production, pirate fishing, shrimp farming, pesticides,wildlife and climate refugees.)

The T-Shirt designs feature iconic images, including John Lennon and Yoko Ono and a young Britney Spears and complement the vintage style of Let Them Eat Cake. The designs are printed on the best quality and ethical T-Shirts by American Apparel and are all hand printed in Bath.

Is it just me or are the the winter nights starting to get lighter? Well, it’s about time, all that snow, ice and dark nights – I mean it’s enough to make even the hardest of us feel depressed. However, there is a way to prevent the onslaught of depression, – ‘retail therapy’ – even the mention of this, is enough to brighten up and put a smile on most peoples faces.

Spring is on it’s way and what better way to increase your mood than to have a look at the NEW Spring clothing range for 2010.

Also, worth a look is the new Munster Kids range, with their bright coloured tees and cool hip shorts, you’ll soon find yourself dismissing the winter blues and thumbing through those holiday brochures.

Katvig is a brand familiar to many for it’s unparalleled use of the stripe. Their signature apple print is instantly recognisable and their use of unusual colour combinations, inspirational.

Looking beyond the funky seasonal collections, the ethos of the label is even more important. Katvig have long used a high proportion of organic cotton and bamboo fibres in their garments which is apparent to the touch and are tirelessly campaigning for a ban on the use of all non organic cotton. 25% of the worlds total use of pesticides comes from cotton production. One kilo of pesticides is currently used for every eight cotton t-shirts produced, which is both ruinous to
nature and detrimental to the health of the cotton workers and their families.

In an attempt to do something positive in the mean time Katvig are proud to include recycled cotton in this seasons collection. Up to 40% of cotton is wasted in the production process in between the cutting and sewing. Katvig receive their own cotton leftovers and then process them, without the use of any toxic chemicals, the resulting fabric is then tested once again to ensure that it is free from any harmful substances. The subsequent material is one which is softer and lighter and when the recycled fibres are exposed gives a vintage look.

Vibrant colours, perfect fit and conscientiously produced. We love Katvig!

The new collection from Munster has just arrived and it is sure to satisfy the needs of every little skater dude. Staying true to their roots Munster have produced yet another fantastic array of humorous graphics on top quality fabrics. The ultra cool and beautifully styled shorts offer even the most discerning mini a tough decision when deciding which pair would be the hippest addition to his summer wardrobe.

There is also a very special T-Shirt in the collection at Mash n Gravy this season from the T4T range. Munster T4T is an initiative that helps supply clothes to orphanages throughout Vietnam and Cambodia. Each season, Munster Kids commission an artist to design a series of prints for tees and fleeces. On this occasion it is the turn of Richard ‘french’ Sayer – find out more at www.tapedcopies.com. For every item sold from this range Munster donate another to a child in need.

Some time ago I subscribed to Etsy in order to receive their daily newsletter as inspiration for decorating and craft projects as well as unusual gifts.

Usually, just as I am setting the table for dinner, the Etsy newsletter lands in my inbox. Disappointingly, there are too many crocheted shawls and items which I would consider just a little too handmade to be worthy of purchasing but very often there is a gem which I find hard to resist.

My first such purchase was a delicate ring from St Joshua, fashioned from the innards of an old watch. A thorough look through the store and I was impressed by the wonderful and delicate jewellery which is produced from things which no one wants. I then found an excuse to make a second purchase for a friend who needed some assurance that something beautiful can be made from something which is broken.

Pink House produce this fantastic modern toddler chair made from beautiful, sustainable wood.

Chic felt toy boxes from Babies Breath’s store cool enough to keep in the lounge.

There are many more treasures to be found if you can bare to trawl through the macramé pot holders and knitted balaclavas but I urge you to do so.

Delightful Danish brand Mini A Ture have produced a stunning collection for Spring/Summer 2010 themed around an old fashioned fair. As usual, the collection is a mixture of traditional styling and cool contemporary pieces making it hard to resist however you like to dress your own little mini.

The colour palette for the season contains sunny yellows and cloudy greys for the boys and candyfloss pinks and sky blues for the girls. Set to music, and it’s ‘all aboard the carousel’.