The Cottontails Grand Harvest Sale!

Launching today - The Cottontails Grand Harvest Sale, as I clear a bit of space ahead of festive arrivals next week. The perfect opportunity to gather in (harvest - get it!) a few bits and bobs of Maileg and Moulin Roty at lovely prices.... Happy Harvest Shopping!

New LOWER PRICES across the board at Cottontails!

Online retailing has changed enormously in the thirteen years I've been running Cottontails. There is now far, far more competition and many more shops selling way below RRP. In the past I've relied on a lovely brand, a comprehensive range and good old fashioned customer service to carry Cottontails, but it's been a bruising couple of years and it's time for me to get a little more business savvy if I'm to compete in this evermore more cut-throat market place.

 So, time for a few changes... LOWER prices, REDUCED delivery charges, but of course the same trustworthy, friendly, personal service!

Very competitive prices for Moulin Roty and Maileg

Although I've only ever sold things at the RRP, there are now so many competitors consistently undercutting the guide price that I simply have to join in the game. So I've combed through item by item and cut prices to a bare minimum.

Almost everything has dropped by at least 10%, and I think this makes me the most competitively priced major retailer for Moulin Roty and Maileg in the UK. I'm pretty chuffed with this and hope you will be too!

Delivery charge reduced!

A new LOWER delivery charge! I have reduced the delivery charge by nearly 25% - so standard UK delivery is now just £3.50. And don’t worry there are still options to upgrade to an express service if your order is urgent.

Simple, affordable, trustworthy

As ever, when you order from Cottontails you are dealing with just one person… me! I will process your order from start to finish, from the moment the email pings into my inbox, through to the drive to the post office to get your parcel on its way. This means if there is an issue with your order, I will pick up on it and personally let you know. And if something disappears in the post or gets damaged– because these things happen – I will always sort things out for you.

 When you order from Cottontails you can relax – because a real person takes ownership of your order and makes sure you are happy.

So, all in all, I hope that with the keen new pricing and the lovely old customer service, Cottontails will be hopping into a brighter future... Please hop and shop with us!

Tis the season for Christmas catalogues...

 It's that time of year when the catalogues come out with the toy ranges for Autumn, Winter and Christmas. It's always a bit strange to be browsing pixies and polar bears in the middle of summer - but let's face it, it's not much of a summer so far is it so it doesn't feel all that peculiar this year!

The two big ones for Cottontails are Moulin Roty's Memoire d'Enfant catalogue, and Maileg's Autumn Winter collection.

 

Moulin Roty Memoire d'Enfant 2016-2017

The Memoire d'Enfant collection are my favourite Moulin Roty toys, and this is the catalogue I look forward to more than any other. Quirky cloth toys, wooden classics and lots of fun French stocking fillers. View the full catalogue here, and below is a little taster

 

Coquettes rag dolls - and just look at the new dogs!

 

 

Loads of new additions to the Once Upon a Time range

 

New Parisienne dolls!

And of course the new Maileg catalogue is always a joy! They produce two books a year - spring / summer comes out in January and contains the Easter collection, then in mid summer - now - they publish the autumn / winter book. View the complete catalogue here, and again there are a few tasters
below.

 

Maileg Autum Winter 2016

 

 

A new range - meet 'The Gingers'! 

 

Polar Friends - look at the penguins!

 

New angels - love the 

I will be working up my orders during July, and I would LOVE to hear about anything you particularly like. It's always hard to know what will be popular, so I love to know your thoughts.

Now, enough of Christmas. Back to our blazing summer!

Happy Easter!

 

Rudolph and I wish you a very happy Easter... May your weekend be filled with relaxation, happy times and many chocolate eggs!

Easter Treats - jewels and treasure

To finish off my little series of Easter Treats, a handful of rabbity treasure. Necklaces, brooches and a pretty pair of hair clips...

For where to buy see the details below the image. 

a. Hand painted porcelain necklace from Lucy Loves Neko on Not on the High Street.

b. How delicate and beautiful is this, a bunny carousel necklace in hand painted porcelain. I discovered this designer - Hop Skip Flutter - at Top Drawer in January and really wish I could somehow shoehorn jewellery into a toy shop as I would love to stock them

c. Another delight from Hop Skip Flutter - a brooch this time, featuring the rather grandly named Princess Buttercrotch. Love her!

d. Wooden rabbit brooch from Ginger Pickle - who have a whole collection of lovely wooden jewellery

e. And one for the little ones - a pair of bunny hair clips from Lottie Nottie - home of a huge array of pretty hair accessories. Well, I say 'for the little ones' but there's no law against grown-ups wearing bunny hair clips. And if there is, I've broken it.

Easter Treats - gifts and homewears

Definitely not just for children, today's selection for my Easter Treats series is made up of gifts and accessories for the home. Quite by accident it has ended up being a pale powder pink collection, with a monochrome 'pop' - as the designers would say - in the form of a rabbit cushion.

I hope you like these things as much as I do. All the details of where to buy are listed below the image...

a. Crockery jug from the very talented Jane Hogben. You can order directly from her own website here or do visit the lovely Clarabelle Interiors for very beautiful product photography and inspiration.

b Hand crafted 'Jemima Duck' bookends from Charlotte Macey. I remember when Charlotte first started creating beautiful textiles and home wears, about five years ago maybe?, and she brought such a breath of fresh air with her light and lovely designs. I've picked the ducks here because I just love them, but she makes many a bunny too!

c. The Phoebe print Liberty bunny cushion from Little Cloud is available from me for £30 - click here to shop - and more from the lovely Little Cloud in the next item...

d. ...And new from Little Cloud this season (I think, I've only just discovered them anyway) are these beautiful monchrome bunny cushions, backed in a Liberty print of your choice. How fresh and lovely are they!

e. Finally I had to include this gorgeous toy bag from Peony and Sage. Well, it's called a toy bag, but I guess it could be used for storing anything really. I am wondering about putting one in my bathroom at home for towels and toiletries...?

Easter Treats - print and paper

A print-and-paper themed post for my Easter Treats series.

Wall stickers, cards and a lovely print make up today's selection - all by designers and artists I love.

Details of where to buy are beneath the image...

 

a. (On the left hand half of the image) Wall stickers from Love Mae - there are so many different ones available, and rabbits feature heavily. Which can only be a good thing. Here is the link to the main website in Australia, but there are lots of stockists in the UK. I keep pondering becoming one myself... 

b. and c. Two delightful cards from one of my all time favourite artists Kate Wyatt. Visit her website for original art work, prints and cards. I've picked the mice here as I think they are so lovely for spring, sitting as they do beneath their woodland flowers, but she paints hares too and they are stunning. Go and have a look! 

d. This delightful bunny print is called Peace. What a lovely name. Catherine at Bumpkin Hill creates charming illustrations she works up into prints, cards, and lots of paper ware accessories (think cake toppers, party bags, bunting...) She lives and works in Belgium but her heart is in England and she happily ships over here at very reasonable rates. Visit her lovely website here.

Easter Treats - bunny ears and things to wear

From bonnets to brooches to bags - a few lovely bunny-themed wearables to continue my series of 'Easter Treats'.

If only the cape and bonnet came in grown up sizes, but there's nothing stopping me from wearing the brooch and the bag, once it's in stock.

All the details of where to buy are listed beneath the image.

a. Due in from Maileg this May, the lovely bunny bag will be around £45. I'll be stocking it at Cottontails and placed my order nice and early so it should be with me as soon as it hits the UK distributor.

b. How sumptuous is this bonnet? Made in the US by Hide & Cotton

c. Fair trade bunny brooch ticks all the right boxes - handmade, fair trade, lovely and suitable for grouwn-ups too. I stock it at Cottontails, it's £9.50 and available here.

d. Beautiful bunny cape is part of an amazing collection by a designer I discovered on Instagram. Visit Lupine and Luna for more details.

Easter Treats - pretty little things for baby

Pretty little things for baby this Easter - rattles, slippers, comforters and toys, all in soft but cheerful colours from my favourite toy maker of all, Moulin Roty. Everything here is available to buy from Cottontails so just hop over the website to shop....

a. Rabbit ring rattle from the Mademoiselle et Ribambelle range, £13

b. Mr Lapin slippers (0-6m) from the Mademoiselle et Ribambelle range £16

c. Fluffy hen comforter from Les Tartempois range £21.50

d. Jeanne Goose comforter from The Grand Family range, £19 (due in stock end March)

e. Monsieur Lapin bunny toy from Mademoiselle et Ribambelle range £26

Easter Treats for your boiled eggs and soldiers

Today's collection of Easter Treats centers on Easter Eggs. Not the chocolate ones, but lovely little egg cups and cosies to use when you're having your boiled egg and soldiers...

a. Oak bunny egg cup £20 from Hop and Peck

b. Egg cosies in a little bag  £8 from Belle & Boo

c. Felted lambswool bunny cosy £13.50 from Catherine Tough

d. Linen egg cosy £12 from Charlotte Macey

e. Clever little toadstool egg cup from Maileg available to order from me as part of a set - email me for details  

Oh! A little update - I have just been browsing on the Catherine Tough website again (I am hankering after a pair of socks) and have just realised the bunny egg cosy (c, above) also comes in a little gift set with an egg cup. It's really lovely, and only £20. So I'm adding it to my selection!

 Catherine Tough handmade lambswool egg cosy gift set, £20

Click here to shop...

Easter Treats - things for baby

The first in a series of posts I will be sharing over the next few days, showcasing a range of gifts and treats on an Easter theme.

To kick off, here are some of the loveliest things around for a baby at Easter. A couple of them are available from me, others are things I have discovered from other shops and designer makers - all the details are beneath the image.

a. Wooden bunny teether from Bannor Toys ($13.50 in the US but ship worldwide) - click here to shop

b. Ride on rabbit by Moulin Roty £150- available from me by special order, email me for details 

c. Rabbit ring rattle £13 - available from me - click here to order online

d. Wooden play blocks £12 - available from Myla & Oscar -click here to shop 

e. Maileg bunny bib £9 - available from me by special order, again get in touch for details
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What's new for Maileg spring 2016?

As I wrote in my last post, I have recently returned from Top Drawer trade fair (read all about what a trade fair is here) where I had a good look at all the lovely new things Maileg are bringing out for spring and Easter 2016.

Here is a little summary of my favourites - this is all new, forthcoming stock which will be in stock at Cottontails Baby as soon as it is released in the UK - with everything due between February and May.


There are plenty of new Mini and Medium sized bunnies due out this season and I have the following on order:

 

New mini sized bunnies will join the current collection (view here) Spring 2016

 

New medium sized bunnies will join the current collection  (view here) this spring 

 

Here they are having a little sit down at Top Drawer

A lifestyle shot from the new catalogue - I love it! 

Okay so on to mice and there are rather a lot of them on their way! To join the existing range of matchbox mice there are a collection of Big Sister and Big Brother mice in matchboxes, new Little Sisters and Little Brothers, a pair of twins AND a rather lovely little naked mouse called Lomus. Have a look at them all below...

 

Here's Cousin Lomus - he is naked! Somebody must buy him and clothe him immediately!

 

Lots of new matchbox mice coming this spring - if you can't wait for these, see the current collection here 

 

Look! New Maileg baby twins! Due March / April I think...

Turning now to mice accessories, there are some really sweet little suitcase sets availavle - a medical suitcase, a little boy's suitcase (with two outfits and some tooth care things - a mouse's teeth are vital and must be well maintained) and a little girl's suitcase with a dressing up ballerina clothes set. There is also a new empty suitcase tin in a gorgeous new floral design (which matches some Easter napkins - more on that in a moment) 

 

Medical Suitcase for mice (just look at the size of that pill!!) - due in May but I do have some doctor bunnies in stock now (view here) for anyone needing urgent medical attention

 

Little Boy Mouse overnight suitcase - and here's naked Cousin Lomus again, he needs something to wear...

 

Ballerina suitcase tin - due in May 

 

I had a little play at Top Drawer and found Cousin Lomus eyeing up the ballet clothes... 

 

 

New to the Maileg range of pretty tins - this one will be coming in May but see the current range available now  

And now news of something completely new from Maileg for this spring... meet the Best Friends - three fabric animals (bunny, cat, dog) with Liberty fabric ears who come naked but in LOVELY gift boxes, and then - necessarily! - a range of outfits made specially for them. Please note these outfits will NOT fit other Maileg bunnies - they belong only to the new gang, the Best Friends. They are all arriving in May...

 

The brand new Best Friends range from Maileg - launching in the UK May 2016

 

Best Friend bunny with Liberty ears 

 

A whole new wardrobe designed especially for the Best Friends 

 

Lovely lifestyle shot from Maileg showing off the new Best Friends

Finally, a few new accessories - tins, bunting, napkins to add some Maileg style to a birthday party or Easter tea, and a couple of extra items I REALLY love - check out the bunny bag! 

 

Tins (come with or without flag bunting) and three lovely new napkin designs

 

Bunny bag - quite big, book bag size - and some accessories - I can't wait for these to arrive in May!

 

Lovely Maileg lifestyle shot showing the new 'school' inspired accessories

Oh! And just one last thing which made me smile... The Truffle Pigs  (view here) have had a baby! Truffle Piglet is due in May...

This is a pretty good introduction to all the new stuff I will be getting at Cottontails (to go along with the huge existing range of course) but to see everything else you can download and view the new Spring Summer catalogue on the Maileg website.

Top Drawer 2016 - and what is a trade fair?

"What exactly is a trade fair?" people often ask when I say I'm heading down to Top Drawer, or Pulse, or up to the NEC for the Spring Fair.

Simply put, it's like shopping for shops. Trade fairs are where retailers go to view products and place orders.

They're not open to the public (you have to register in advance and tell them about your business, so they know you are a legitimate buyer and not just somebody trying to do a bit of personal shopping) and in fact it's impossible to buy anything there and then - it's all about placing orders to be delivered in the future.

They're also incredibly inspiring and happy events. For retailers like me, who work alone, or even for those in small high street shops, it's just lovely to escape the shop / office and meet other people with a similar vision. It reminds me that I'm part of something bigger.

It's also a chance to see samples of all the new things coming on to the market - so it's pretty exciting.

Sunday just gone I traveled down to London for one of my favourites - Top Drawer. Held at Olympia it's a pretty beautiful, discerning fair - to my mind it's the best fair for seeing all the nicest, most inspiring manufacturers together, and there are lots of smaller companies too so it's a great place to find new suppliers.

Back in the office I'm sorting through the bits and bobs I picked up, and below are some of my highlights...

 

Some of the catalogues and samples I collected

 

Back in the office and working through the show guide  

 

Moulin Roty - always a *joy* to visit

(and I had a nice cup of tea with Tim, the UK head of Moulin Roty)

The Maileg stand - separate post coming up about their new collection

  

Some inspiring displays...

 

...and it's great to touch and feel the products 

Finally, one of my favourite new finds - these guys make the loveliest linen children's aprons