Handmade dolls

I love this handmade doll! I have a soft spot for multicultural baby dolls and this one is made by Magic Rainbow Handmade Dolls, a talented lady in Queensland. She makes all kinds of dolls and will do them by request - style, colour and size - as well.

I found her on Facebook and you can purchase the dolls from her Etsy shop. This one is a Waldorf doll and cost about $167 (yes it's sold - it was a custom doll) - so the pricetag is not for the fainthearted - but Rainbow Magic makes simpler dolls for considerably less. It features organic cotton knit skin, weighted with sand for a natural feel and is a lifesize newborn, plump and cuddly. She even creates Vegan dolls featuring all organic plant fibres! Now that's specialist!

Hand crocheted baby rattle

This little character caught my eye immediately! I love the soft look of these sweet crocheted rattles and, of course, they look super safe to me, with no buttons or hard pieces that might detach. The colours used are soft and warm.

The maker is Kia Hing Fay who lives in Queensland. She is part Scandinavian, part Chinese and part Scottish! She produces her toys according the the Danish idea of 'hygge' - homely, warm and loving things. Kia also produces and sells original child-friendly applique kits and unique hand-carved stamps. A very clever lady!

The rattles are made from Australian merino wool and felt, and use hand embroidery for the features. The rabbit rattle above can be purchased online or globally through Kia's Etsy shop for AU$39.