Sunday 10 November 2013

My Little Table Designs Review and Christmas Giveaway


I'm so excited to write this review as the brains behind this gorgeous company is a really great and lovely friend of mine. Amanda stared My Little Table Designs about 12 months ago and we met one day at a market on Sydney's Northern Beaches where she was selling her beautiful little table cloths.  We got chatting, we hit it off and have been friends ever since - with lots of absolutely essential wine brainstorming evenings and play-dates with the kids (not at the same time of course).

A little Bit about My Little Table Designs

Amanda is a mum of two, a primary school teacher and business owner, so as you can image, she has her hands pretty full. She is also one of the smiliest, bubbliest and most passionate people you could ever meet.

She is most passionate about children and their learning experiences through play.  Since becoming a mum she realised how difficult it is to find activities for children that are FUN and EDUCATIONAL as well as providing a great platform for play between mums (and dads) and their children.

Amanda is also a sewer and she started out by making the cutest table cloths for little girls to play pretend 'high tea'.  She soon discovered that just by 'setting up' a table (or the floor) with a brightly coloured tablecloth, kids were drawn to it and wanted to 'play' almost anything.  This gave her the idea to branch out further into children's 'play' and so she stared to both import and create beautiful toys and crafts for kids to create themselves.  Every toy is 'unfinished' and within each pack is everything a child needs to 'finish' or 'create' that toy - which they can then play with or treasure.  They also create a platform for kids imaginations to go wild, which is one of the best forms of early learning.  You can find out more about Amanda and My little Table on her website and Facebook page.

This month (November) Amanda has set up a little POP UP SHOP on Sydney's Northern Beaches, where mums can both pop in and do some christmas shopping, as well as enjoy a cup of tea or glass of bubbles and a good chat.  Amanda is on hand to answer any questions you might have and she has also organised a whole bunch of fantastic workshops for christmas, including:
  • Cake Decorating where you will learn how to cover and decorate a cake using fondant and create your very own cute little angel to go on top.  This workshop is run by the lovely Sunny from So Sensational Cakes.
  • Mini Mind Spa's where mums can come and learn how to 'play' with their kids, delivered by expert coach for mums Dina Cooper at Hoogi.
  • A kids Photography workshop where parents can get tips on how to take better photos of their kids using their own cameras.  This workshop is run by the lovely Robyn from Please don't Say Cheese.
  • A range of mummy craft workshops including making christmas cards, advent calendars and teacher appreciation gifts.  These will be run by Amanda herself.
Be sure to book as there are only limited spaces available.  

My Little Table Pop Up Shop is located on 900 Pittwater Road, Dee Why and is open from the 11th to 27th November
I popped into the shop the other day and it was just fabulous!!  I had actually just intended to show my support and maybe purchase a thing or two and I ended up doing ALMOST ALL OF MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING for the kids!!!  How awesome is that???  I can't tell you how great it feels to have made a big dent in my shopping.  Christmas shopping can be quite a daunting task and getting organised ahead of time is just amazing - more time to enjoy the festivities.   I'm actually starting to feel really Christmassy already and super excited to see the kids faces on christmas morning.

My Little Table Designs stocks gifts from:
- Le Toy Van
- Seeding
- Eebo
- Purple Cow
- Mud Puppy
As well as craft packs, gifts and table cloths that Amanda has made.  Prices range from $2 up to $120, with the average price being around $30.  All items cater for boys and girls who love to play ranging from age 2 to 12.

I think one of my most favourite things was the pizza box craft packs.  Amanda has created a whole range of 'ready to go' craft packs for kids and parents to get creative.  Everything you need is packed away in a plain card pizza box and all you have to add is a little imagination.  Amanda says that as parents we usually and instinctually go for box sets that are all beautifully presented, but kids are the opposite.  They see those as 'finished products' where there is nothing left for them to do. By putting the kits into plain pizza boxes the kids can't wait to get stuck in and make something from their own imagination.  All three of my kids LOVED their boxes and made beautiful stain glass christmas window pieces out of a simple sheet of sticky contact and lots of sparkly bits and bobs.  Happy kids and happy me (especially as there was very little mess).

COMPETITION TIME 
These stocking filler packs are fantastic and they come so beautifully packed too.
Now for the exciting part!!!!!!!!!!!  Amanda has offered to giveaway a stocking filler gift pack to one lucky Mrs D plus 3 reader for Christmas.  The stocking filler gift packs can be catered for a boy or a girl (or gender neutral) and they contain EVERYTHING you need to fill your child's stocking!!
So if you live on the Northern Beaches do pop in and visit My Little Table's Shop, and don't worry if you're too far away, she has everything available to purchase online.

So how is everyone doing with their Christmas shopping??  Have you started yet or are you one to leave everything to the last minute??















*Disclaimer:  I have not been paid to write this review, I did it because I wanted to and I would hate for anyone to miss out on all these cool things because they didn't know about it.  All photos and opinions are my own unless otherwise stated.  The Giveaway is only available to Australian residents (sorry).

31 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing a new online store! Love finding and supporting small businesses who really do care about what they are selling to us.

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    1. Me too, it's so much nicer than buying from the big impersonal chain stores xxx

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  2. Wow what a fabulous idea! And yep, another online store for me to add to my collection too lol

    Awesome review Mrs D!

    MC xo
    #teamIBOT

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    1. Thanks lovely! I'm off to make lovely christmas cards tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it as I'm not very crafty on my own :)

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  3. I'd love to win the boys pack for two very busy boys who pilfer my office supplies . I will check out their online shop.

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    1. It's great Trish and so many cute things for boys - I always find shopping for boys harder than girls x

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  4. Wow this looks like a place I could get ALL the kid's shopping done! So lovely to support a local business, I've entered and fingers crossed the universe picks me!!!!! BTW, I haven't started Xmas shopping :(

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    1. I am always running around on Christmas Eve trying to get last minute gifts - I've actually outdone myself this year (although I shouldn't get to ahead of myself because I haven't finished yet!!) x

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  5. That would help so much for a family this Christmas. Great giveaway and what a great business.

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    1. It would - 1 entire stocking totally sorted!! Fingers crossed xx

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    1. It really is - and how can you resist shopping when you're offered a glass of bubbles?? xx

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  7. That shop looks just adorable!!
    I love browsing places like that. Not great for my credit card though :)

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    1. I know the feeling Jess - sometime it's just a case of "Oh it was in the sales!!" LOL xxx

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  8. Love the look of it! Its a bit of a hike, but I may just try to get out to that popup shop and let her know you sent me :)

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    1. Txt if you managed to get there and I'll come and meet you for a cuppa xx

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  9. The shop looks great! I've done most of the kids shopping already but I still have all of the adults to do and I am completely stuck!

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  10. The shop looks great! I have done most of the kids Christmas shopping but I haven't even started on the adults. I have no idea what to buy!

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    1. Wow you're super organised Tegan - I like it!! Adults are hard - have you asked everyone to put a wish list together?? That what we all do in our family xxx

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  11. It's a really cool shop isn't it? I've just posted on it as well today... I love your big photo of all the shots of the toys - so colourful!

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    1. hehe thanks - All from camera plus and FrameMagic - I love those apps xx

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  12. Such a cool shop and GREAT giveaway! Hope you get heaps of entries x

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    1. I'll tell you tomorrow after I've done my mummy craft session on christmas card making xx

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  14. Great giveaway Mrs D Thank to My Little Table Designs.
    Carolyn

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  15. I've started but as usual, I'm stuck on my husbands gifts and stocking fillers! These products from My Little Table look gorgeous.

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Thanks so much for your comment. I LOVE hearing from you all and will do my best to reply xxx