25 days of christmas : pocket shower curtain

How fun is this pocket shower curtain? I know our resident artist (the baby space preschooler) would love to fill these pockets up with his illustrations of fire fighters, Santa and his other drawing fave -- cats. What would you fill your curtain pockets with? Cute postcards? Black and white photos? I'd love to hear!

In other news it's our 25th (and final) day of Christmas shopping tomorrow and on Friday we'll be starting our 2011 International Gift Giveaway full of sweet holiday goodies. Hoorah!

Pocket Shower Curtain, approx $20.50 AUD plus shipping from Urban Outfitters as seen on the Meet Me At Mikes Good Stuff Holiday Guide -- a lovely holiday guide by the delightful Pip Lincolne.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : emma magenta

One of the many projects I've been completing in the lead up to the big birth day is getting the preschooler's baby book up to date.

At the same time I'm on the hunt for a new one for the baby space baby. I'm really fancying this plain album with a sweet embroidered cover designed by Aussie artist and author, Emma Magenta. Have you come across Emma's delightful work before? She also has lovely fairy tale style picture books for grownups about love, loss and discovery. Pure whimsy.

Emma Magenta album from approx $44.55 AUD plus shipping from Coral Coast. You can also find more Emma Magenta goodies online here.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : tea for two

With only two left (eep!) you'll want to buzz the Heide Museum of Modern Art immediately to nab your own pretty Kat McLeod tea set. Available for approx $149.95 AUD.

As seen on oscarlucinda. You can contact the Heide Museum of Modern Art on +61 3 9850 1500.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : jane foster vintage

Are you in love with Scandinavian prints too? Then you may want to pop one of Jane Foster's Retro Scandi style daisy flower cats in a lucky little one's stocking this Christmas. Approx $25 AUD plus shipping from Jane Foster Designs on Etsy.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : custom diddi art

Don't you just love custom pieces in the nursery? baby space sponsor diddi specialises in custom art for wee spaces and are now offering gift vouchers so the lucky recipient can choose their own own designs from the lovely diddi range.

Perfect for baby's first Christmas present and baby showers especially when the yet-to-be-born wee one's sex and name are unknown (just like the baby space baby!) For more info on vouchers and diddi art you can read up here.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : organic hearts and whales

How fabulous are these organic cushions that Nature Baby sent us? We're all appreciating the linen covers and bold motifs. And it turns out they're just the right size for wee cuddles.

The baby space preschooler particularly loves them but is generously sharing them with the grownups. He says the heart one is for me because he loves me, and the whale one is for his dad because... he likes whales.

Available for approx $39.95 AUD plus shipping from Nature Baby.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : story time

Do you get excited about getting books for Christmas? I personally love them and can't get enough :) Here are a few of the baby space faves.

Where The Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. Approx $9 AUD plus shipping from the baby space Amazon store.

John Brown, Rose and Midnight Cat by Jenny Wagner and illustrated by Ron Brooks. Approx $6 AUD plus shipping from the baby space Amazon store.

Mole and the Baby Bird by Marjorie Newman and illustrated by Patrick Benson. Approx $9 AUD from the baby space Amazon store.

Happy reading!

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

top image via pinterest from the style files

the bump : soon maternity challenge

the baby space bump at 33 weeks and five days.

This past week the baby space bump and I were invited to take part in the Soon Maternity blogger style challenge and I accepted on behalf of both of us ;)

What was the challenge?
Soon Maternity sent over four cute pieces from their range, (the Sienna Tank Dress, the Jess Gathered Top, the Boyfriend Jean and the Basic 3-4 Scoop Tee) and challenged myself and three other bloggers to style 'em up.

What is the prize?
The blogger with the most combined comments and likes across all their pics wins a $500 AUD voucher from Soon Maternity (open internationally) and as I'm not going to be needing any more maternity clothes in about, oh, five weeks (eep!) if I win I'm plotting to give away this voucher to one of you. Hoorah!

How do I vote for baby space?
Click 'like' on each of the baby space bump pics in the album. That's it! You can also win one of 2 x $100 AUD vouchers up for grabs each week from Soon Maternity by leaving a comment on each pic. The votes will be tallied on December 4th, 2011.

Is there a special discount for baby space readers?
Yes! You can also use this exclusive code: BABYSPACE10 to recieve a 10% discount off all non-sale products in their online store from now until December 4th, 2011.

So, I'm curious: what are your personal fave looks for a baby belly? Are you a comfort-first or an I'll-be-wearing-heels-thanks kind of girl? I'd love to hear!

25 days of christmas : wolf spirit

Do you you have a playful soul in your life that walks on the wolf side? Then this may be for them.

Spirithoods Kids Grey Wolf cap + scarf, approx $99 AUD plus shipping from Minibots. As seen on Babyology.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

christmas giveaway : lovely toy tub

Hoorah! It's the first of our fabulous Christmas gift giveaways.

If your house is anything like the baby space place there can never be enough toy boxes, baskets or tubs to store ever-growing collections of toys. We tend to keep a basket or box in each room to make tidying up that teeny bit easier.

This week I'm excited because we have a lovely Cooper Canvas storage tub in Babushka print from Mor-stor valued at $49.95 AUD up for grabs -- just in time for the holiday haul that will be descending next month. I also think the Babushka tub would make a lovely 'first toy' tub for a new nursery, don't you?

To enter all you have to do is visit the Mor-stor website, peruse their goodies, then leave a comment on this post or send an email to baby space here, telling us who will use the tub when it comes home to your place, or if you'd like to give it as a gift, who will you gift it to?

Giveaway closes at midnight on the 6th of December 2011. The winner will be drawn by True Random Number Generator and announced on this post on the 7th of December 2011. Be sure to leave your email address or check back on the 7th to see if you are the winner. This giveaway is OPEN AUSTRALIA WIDE. Good luck!

25 days of christmas : amy borrell art

Sweet sweets! And other pretty prints perfect for resting tired eyes upon during late night feeds in the nursery.

Art by Amy Borrell from approx $30 AUD from Amy's shop, Cake With Giants.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : hug a cloud

Hug a cloud? You know you want to. (I know I do :)

Hug A Cloud in navy and red from Goodbye Blue Monday on Etsy. Also available in pink and grey or brown and blue for approx $28 AUD plus shipping.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : les zigouis mushi

Are you lucky enough to be having a white Christmas? Or sending a gift to a wee one in the North? Then you may like to treat them to a classic Bigmushi in mustard. Approx $82 AUD from les zigouis by Barbara Berrada.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : personalised paper dolls

Traditional paper dolls but personalised? Hoorah! Bringing back some old school holiday cheer this season are the Mini Me Paper Dolls from Lily and Thistle.

From their gender through to their hairstyle the dolls can be personalised to suit the wee lady or gentleman in your life and you (or they) can choose outfits from the lines that get updated seasonally by artist Hannah Stevenson. (Check out the literature line: Anne from 'Anne of Green Gables'? Jo from 'Little Women'? I die.)

You can even download and print your doll package to save on time and postage. Package prices start from approx $15 AUD from Lily and Thistle.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : belle and boo greetings

The sweetest Belle & Boo designs for Christmas from approx $9.95 AUD from Lark.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

the bump : 33 weeks

oh hello wee baby. you have been doing some mighty fine growing in there. seems we're measuring on average for everything: fundal height, your estimated weight -- the lot. we had a 4D scan and got to see your super-cute face. right now you are looking a lot like your brother with chubby cheeks and lots of hair.

recently your dad and I went to our calmbirth weekend and left feeling excited about your arrival and empowered to birth you which is pretty awesome. your dad is being so supportive and encouraging and our obstetrician is right on board with our plans so I'm feeling really great about our birth team.

your brother just had his fourth birthday and now he's counting down to your arrival. he's been counting down with events -- first his birthday, then christmas, THEN the baby is coming (you!).

it's getting pretty warm out here, the forecast is for a steamy, rainy summer (can you tell I'm sweating like a piglet in this photo?) but I bet the temperature is just fine where you are.

stay snug little one, we'll see you soon!

25 days of christmas : hunter gatherer

Looking for the sharpest bow tie? (I know the baby space preschooler is.) How 'bout the cutest deer onesie you ever saw? Then Hunter Gatherer is your store. From top: you are my little deer onesie, i am the bunch of flowers from a summer crush hair clip and crystal bullet of love pendant. Below: distinguished gentleman's bow tie.

Hunter Gatherer's handmade goodies are from New Zealand and start from approx $16.20 AUD.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

inspired by : up, up and away!

Amanda asked on the baby space Facebook page for some suggested accessories for a hot air balloon theme in the nursery.What do you think? Have you decorated a wee space in a similar theme? Any tips? We'd love to hear!

1. The Travels of Babar illustrated print from 1961, approx $10.10 AUD on Etsy. 2. Handmade Baby Crib Mobile, approx $76 AUD by lovelyfriend on Etsy. 3. Leka Cirkus Mobile approx $12.99 AUD from Ikea. 4. Hot Air Balloons Fabric Wall Stickers from approx $64 AUD from Belle & Boo. 5. Up, Up And Away fabric wall decals, approx $100 AUD by (love)mae. 6. Ballooning cushion on white linen, approx $46 AUD by roddy & ginger on Etsy. 7. Dream Your Sky Mobile approx, $91 AUD by A Contiual Feast on Etsy. 8. Up, Up & Away reusable wall stickers, approx $73 AUD by tinch design studio on Etsy.

25 days of christmas : hug a world

Snugly and educational? Win,win! Have the whole world in your hands this Christmas with the Hugg-A-Planet Earth for approx $59.95 AUD plus shipping from baby's got style.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : amelie and atticus bloomers

Sweet. Frilly. Floral. Adorable. Perfect 'baby's first Christmas' attire, no?
From approx $25 AUD from Shorties.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

room for kids : lemonade serenade

It's a lovely new space by Nicole from Little Liberty!

I love the drama of having bold black pieces in the room against a sweet backdrop of yellow and white; it really works well together and gives the room a strong vibe.

The bunks were originally in the room and they were fun to dress! I think keeping the bed linen the same for both beds gives the area a neat and cohesive feel.

vibe
Bold and tailored with an on trend colour palatte.

who lives here?
A gorgeous 9 year-old girl named Lily.

decor
Finding yellow pieces for the room was so easy because yellow 'is so hot right now' and black is always in vogue. It was really fun to dress a bunk bed and I think keeping the bed linen the same for both beds gives the area a neat and cohesive feel since it's such a large part of the room.

furniture
I basically changed everything in the room except for the bunks -- they got to stay! Most of the pieces are from those fabulous replica sites; they are so wonderful because you can deck out a whole kids room on a relatively tight budget. I also purchased the baroque style mirror from Ikea which really brings a plain wall to life.

best buy
The sheepskin rug from Ikea for $69.00 AUD. It adds a little softness to the room.

nicole's fave
The wallpaper and the yellow chandelier -- perfect to give the room some drama! I'm also big into anything that's monogrammed at the moment so the L pillow comes in a strong third.

top tip
Getting some statement pieces from the replica furniture websites mixed with some love from Ikea can really transform a room into anything you want it to be. The possibilities are endless!

By Nicole from Little Liberty.

25 days of christmas : iphone pretty

At the top of my list this Christmas is the Hare for iPhone 4 capsule featuring art by Marco Cibola. Have you stumbled across Uncommon before? If you fancy a pretty iPhone cover you may want to peruse the designs by their community of talented artists. Or if you are an artist yourself you may want to submit one of your own designs (there are royalties), or you may want to personalise your iPhone cover with a snapshot of your own. Oh the options!

The Hare for iPhone 4 capsule is approx $39.00 AUD plus shipping from the USA. As seen on with two cats.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : fabrik for sleeping

Planning on glamping these holidays? Then you may want to take along one of fabrik's wee quilts or perhaps a single sleeping bag which also doubles as a baby play mat. Dual purpose and pretty? Love that. They're available from approx $88-$110 AUD from fabrik.

From top right: cot-sized patchwork quilt in Liberty fabrics and single sleeping bags in Liberty and batik fabrics from fabrik.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : art buds

Wall whimsy! The lovely new Aussie store ArtBuds is carrying three delightful prints by Lilly Blue. Available for approx $150 AUD each plus shipping. You can also read more about Lilly on her blog, little boat tree.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : (love) mae at tea time

The perfect blend of loveliness, notsalgia and practicality. Melamine dinnerware pieces from (love)mae from approx $11.95 AUD.

Or snaffle up a complete set for approx $54.95 AUD. Available in Well Fed Kitty, Eat Like A Bird or Dinosaur Diner. Yum.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;)

p.s We're excited to let you know that some simply fantastic (love)mae goodies will be included in our upcoming annual Christmas Gift Giveaway. Yay!

25 days of christmas : heidi walks

Somewhere at the top of the shoe whimsy list are the Heidi walks shoes by all about HEIDI. Handmade, seamless soft leather crafted especially for small squishy feet and available with Velcro or lace fastenings. Available from $39 AUD. Check their site or send them an email for stockist info.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : diy june craft softies

Hoorah! June Craft diy softie kits perfect for the newbie sewing enthusiast's Christmas stocking. From approx $9.95 AUD plus shipping.

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

25 days of christmas : thief and bandit

'80s aerobics meets '60s hippy-chic? Oh yeah.

Headbands (top) that are just the right size for Santa stockings and funky kids leggings and trippy patchwork quilt for under the tree. All from thief and bandit kids. Prices start from approx $20. 10 AUD plus shipping (or free shipping if within the USA).

25 days of Christmas shopping inspiration for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

room for kids : the sweetest thing

When Catherine set about decorating her daughter's room she focused on collecting unique pieces she loved . "I don’t really like typical retail shop items that you see everywhere," Catherine admitted. "I like to find one-off unique things and bring them back to life."

Layers of pink, cream and white bring an air of old school sweetness to the space.

vibe

Shabby chic.

25 days of christmas : personalised holiday cards

Yay! It's Christmas shopping time and every day for the next 25 days we'll be suggesting fabulous presents perfect for a wee self, a grown self or maybe even your self ;) Enjoy!

Fancy posting some quirky personalised greeting cards? Choose your fave from the Rifle Paper Co. Prices start from approx $3.85 AUD plus shipping.

the bump : 31 weeks

the baby space bump at 31 weeks and three days.

What age do you think is the right age to have a baby?

I've been pregnant in my teens, 20s and now my 30s and though I'm yet to have my dream birth I've been so lucky to have been healthy each time. I've heard some mamas mention that they have less energy as they get older however I've found that for the most part I've felt better (although, maybe ask me again after I've had the baby!).

But it's a very personal decision isn't it? So when do you think would be the best age for you to have a wee one? Or if you've already had your kiddos, at what age did you feel the timing was right? I'd love to hear!

inspired by : canopies

A simple swathe of netting that turns a corner for sleeping into a haven for dreaming.

I'd love to hang a canopy over the new baby space baby's bassinet but I haven't picked out just the right one yet (maybe I'll make one?). Have you used a canopy in your space? Or transformed a corner of your room for your wee bub by adding an elegant net? Any tips? I'd love to hear!

Lovely images: 1. jojo's room 2 & 3. mail-mo 4. ikea