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kids gift ideas

8 year old boy showing his birthday gift of a Nintendo Switch with happy smile on his face

A special boy’s 8th birthday gift

by Rosie Hurwitz November 8, 2021

Children’s birthdays can become fraught with worries about gifts. What to buy? How much to spend? What if they already have it? What if they don’t like it? We chat to a family who solved all these problems by using Patchwork to set up a birthday fund so that a special 8 year old could buy the one thing he was dreaming of. A new Nintendo Switch of course! We chat to mum Caroline who explains why it worked so well for them.

Tell us a bit about the birthday boy.

Caroline: Jonty has just turned 8 and loves football and Minecraft and annoying his little sister Verity who is 5. We are a family of four living in North Hampshire. The family also includes an incredibly stupid Golden Retriever called Alan and a menace of a cat called Treacle.

Why did you want to set up a birthday Patchwork page for Jonty?

Jonty has been desperate for a Nintendo Switch for over a year and has been saving up his pocket money but was nowhere near! So we suggested he use Patchwork to help him get there. We were also conscious that he has so many things already – we literally can’t fit another piece of lego in this house. So we set up a Patchwork gift page for a Nintendo Switch and some games to get him started.

How easy was it to set up the Patchwork page?

So easy, we broke up the cost of all the bits and games he wanted into smaller chunks so it worked for friends and family on different budgets as well.

What did you like most about using Patchwork for a birthday gift?

We didn’t have to try and squeeze any more lego in the house! Plus it was really good for Jonty to start to understand how much things cost and the concept of working towards something and how the people who loved him wanted to contribute to it.

What was the response from friends and family to gifting online?

They were amazing. It was especially welcomed from family in the US and his godfather in Australia – who can’t wait to come over and play Mario Kart with him. The grandparents were a bit discombobulated at first and we had to talk my Mother in Law through it but she got there in the end.

When did Jonty first see his Patchwork gift and what was his reaction?

He spent the week before his birthday wondering whether he had been given enough money, and when we would be able to go and buy it. Not knowing that the total had already exceeded what he needed and we had already bought it plus 2 new games and a carry case for it. So when he opened his present on his birthday he nearly popped!

Thanks so much Jonty and Caroline for sharing your very happy birthday story with us. We’re so happy to see that Patchwork helped make your dream come true Jonty. We hope you have lots of fun being 8!

If you’d like to set up a Patchwork gift page for a birthday or Christmas gift that’s really wanted we’d love to help. Check out some of our brilliant birthday gift ideas and cool Christmas ideas and have a play around!

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Father holding young daughter above his head, both laughing

Patchwork Kids

Top 5 Kids’ Birthday Gifts 2021

by Rosie Hurwitz March 16, 2021

written by Rosie Hurwitz

We’ve been having a peek at what kids birthday gifts are being planned for this year on Patchwork and it looks like good things are coming your way kids! Every child has that one big gift they’d love to have. But, sometimes these more expensive children’s presents or experiences are a bit of a stretch for parents or carers alone.

With Patchwork however, dreams really CAN come true with a little help from wider family and friends! Set up a Patchwork page and invite people to chip in towards one really wanted kids birthday gift. So much better than ending up with lots of smaller presents that aren’t wanted and will end up in a cupboard gathering dust. So let’s take a look at the best kid’s birthday gift ideas in 2021.

Traditional style camera

1. A proper camera

Not a phone camera, but a proper camera. For lots of children and teens, living in lockdown for the best part of a year has meant they’ve had more time to look around them. Whether it’s the changing seasons in the park, or day to day family life, capturing experiences on camera and keeping a kind of ‘photo diary’ has become popular. It’s sparked a broader interest in photography. Hopefully as the year goes on and restrictions lift there will be more and more ‘material’ available to photograph. Parties, holidays and adventures await and so now is a great time to invest in a good camera as a kids birthday gift so they can record all the fun times ahead. Something waterproof and shockproof sounds perfect!

This is a great group gift to set up a Patchwork for and invite everyone to contribute towards. After receiving their gift, the birthday girl or birthday boy can show everyone how their hobby is coming along with regular photography updates. You can add patches to your Patchwork gift page from as little as £1 up to £500 so everyone can chip in what they can afford. Plus they can leave a gift message for the birthday boy or girl too.

2. A trampoline

With too much time cooped up at home in front of screens and after a very long winter, we are all feeling like the kids need to get outside more. Uncertainty remains over when sports and activities can return to normal. So it seems like a good plan to cover all eventualities and get the biggest trampoline for whatever outside space you have! A trampoline is a great kids birthday gift to get everyone to chip in to. And (according to our sources) is the most used piece of equipment they have ever bought! Apparently if you get one large enough, the big kids of the house REALLY enjoy themselves with this gift once the small people have gone to bed.

3. A bedroom makeover

This is a really great one and something we’ve seen more and more of in recent months for obvious reasons! Giving their bedroom a refresh is a great way for kids to express their style and personality in their own space. It’s also the perfect group gift. You can ask for cash contributions towards things like a desk, new bedlinen, or a roll of wallpaper. Even better, you can also invite people to contribute their time and skills too. Maybe you have a relative who might be able to build a shelf unit? Or ask a friend to sew a cushion cover, knit a blanket or design some artwork for the walls? Perhaps you’ve got someone who can help with the planning and design or come over for an hour or two to help decorate.

This group gift idea is Patchwork at its best. It brings everyone together. Using their resources and skills in the ways that suit them best and brings a dream bedroom project to life!

4. A set of wheels

Again, with the changes that childrens’ lives have undergone in the last year this one is no surprise. They may not be old enough to get behind the wheel yet. But giving them their own bike, scooter or even a set of roller skates or a push along toy gets them outside. It gives them independence and confidence and of course – most importantly – gets them off their screens!

Some sets of wheels can have pretty big price tags, so it makes sense to invite friends and family to chip in via a Patchwork gift page and let everyone contribute a little bit. In this way an expensive children’s gift becomes affordable. For example you can add patches to your page so that someone can purchase the bike bell for £5, someone else can buy the saddle for £40 and another a wheel for £20. Friends and family will be thrilled to know they are buying something really wanted. And, even better, buying the dream gift doesn’t involve a trip to the shops!

5. A big lego set

Lego is the classic child’s birthday gift and a toy that never wears out or goes out of fashion. There’s simple duplo for the little ones, to 7,000+ piece masterpieces for budding architects and creator experts. Lego has something for everyone of every age. Our very own Manu was one of the first Patchwork kids to ask for a big lego set. Manu put a Palpatine’s Arrest set on his Patchwork birthday wish list. Star Wars lego has been popular on Patchwork from the beginning. But with Lego covering every interest from Harry Potter to Bonsai trees there’s something for everyone.

You can use our readymade template to get started or set up your own Patchwork gift page from scratch. Then family and friends can choose to contribute towards the best kids gift that’s really wanted and appreciated, which is good for all involved and for the planet too!

Ready to set up your birthday Patchwork page?

It’s super quick and simple to set up your Patchwork child’s birthday gift page. You can start a page from scratch or use one of our easy to customise templates. Simply edit the images and text with your child’s gift or birthday experience ideas, add your personal details and link a payment method. That’s it – you’re done and it’s ready to share. When people arrive at your birthday Patchwork they can see the things your child is dreaming of. Then choose which elements of the present they’d like to contribute towards.

Payments are made directly to you into your Paypal or your bank account via Stripe. So you and your child can choose when, where and how to spend the birthday gift money you receive. You can also send thanks and a photo of your child enjoying their birthday present to everyone who chipped in via your Patchwork dashboard!

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Party Planning Patchwork Kids

Our Advice For a Feel-Good Eco-Christmas

by Ismay Ozga December 6, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

Here are our top tips on how to celebrate a feel-good eco-Christmas and enjoy the festive season whilst reducing your plastic and carbon footprint at the same time.

Relax, imperfect is perfect

Splodgy, glittery paper ones made by little ones, thoughtfully chosen gifts from friends, inherited antiques, some cheap and tacky and some quite special – the best bit about Christmas is getting the boxes of decorations out and re-using and re-discovering the random, familiar collection of pieces year after year. They might not be matchy-matchy but they all have a memory attached and give the tree a comforting, homely look. An eco-Christmas is about telling your own family story. So, enjoy growing your collection, but don’t feel you have to buy new ones each year or follow this year’s on-trend colour scheme. And don’t throw out the glittery pine cones yet.

Eco Christmas, green Christmas, Christmas decorations

Deck the halls … green

Collecting new and 100% natural decorations however is totally different. And really fun. Head out to find holly branches, long ivy tendrils and festive foliage from your local park to hang around window frames, drape over wall mirrors, wind around stair banisters or use as table decorations – even more lovely when wrapped with fairy lights. Then use scraps of ribbon or lace to tie rosemary and other herbs or twigs around old jars and put a candle inside for an easy decoration that doesn’t cost a penny. Pinterest has loads of homemade decoration inspo for your eco-Christmas.

Eco Christmas, Christmas disco, kids Christmas

Action packed Advent

The classic paper picture calendar is a lovely way to countdown the days till Christmas. As kids we used to use the same one for a few years in a row! But if you want a new one each year make sure it’s made from recycled paper. To avoid adding to plastic consumption invest in a re-useable calendar that you can bring out year after year. Choose from wooden houses or nativity sets, or fabric hanging calendars. Or make your own by using small bags tied or pegged up and fill them with sweets and treats. If you don’t want to encourage guzzling chocolate every morning, talk to your family about doing a month of advent activities like Christmas baking, a front room Christmas disco, or just a walk or drive around your local streets admiring the Christmas lights on the houses. The “reverse advent” is also lovely: each day instead of receiving a gift, make a box and place an item inside that will be needed and wanted by a local food bank or homeless shelter. An eco-Christmas allows kids to learn that to give to others as well as receive is a gift in itself.

Waste free wrapping

When wrapping presents try to avoid foil embossed paper that can’t be recycled and make sure you use plain or patterned paper. Even better use recycled craft wrap, or use old newspaper, magazines or last years calendars. Plain brown paper or newspaper can be dressed with foliage, lace or ribbon, (to keep and use again) or get creative with paints and stamps to add some colour.
If you keep old Christmas cards, cut them up and use them to make this years gift tags. It’s the sort of activity that will keep kids busy for an hour while you make dinner. Making up eco-Christmas hampers as gifts? Avoid covering in cellophane, and the same if you buy flowers from a florist, just ask them not to use plastic wrap – they usually have a paper option too.

Eat, drink and be merry

If you’re planning a big family Christmas it makes sense to ask people to pitch in to help with the festive food and drink and means people don’t feel compelled to buy grown up gifts. Someone can bring wine, another cheese and someone can peel the potatoes! Organise yours here for an easy, fun and stress free day.

Cut out the plastic

Zero waste, or even plastic-free food shopping is a real challenge, plastic IS everywhere, and some will find its way in to your trolley. We recently tried to go for just one week buying zero plastic. Even with amazing support from our four kids it was really difficult. Eye opening and educational. But tough! What it taught me was that it’s no good making zero plastic a start point for your eco-Christmas. Better you set your zero plastic ambition as a goal! Start small by swapping products in plastic for their cardboard or glass counterparts and aim to reduce as much as you can. Swap your plastic ketchup and mayo for glass bottles. Choose unwrapped fruit and veg if it’s an option. Take your own bags or containers and buy loose bakery items and meat from the counter. If you do buy plastic packaged items, buy in bulk if you can. And don’t forget the milkman! A proper old-fashioned bottle of milk delivered to your doorstep in re-useable glass bottles makes mornings happy. Find out more at milkandmore.

Eco shopping, shopping bag, no plastic, shop local

Celebrate your local shops

Where possible, buy locally produced goods in the run up to your eco-Christmas (seasonal veg, English wine and beer) and support your local independent shops and markets who will really value your custom. They are more likely to be open and adaptable to making changes to packaging if their customers ask too. Find your local market here.

Christmas gnomes, Christmas decorations, elves

Try something new

There’s been a huge rise in veganism in the last few years along with concerns about the impact on our environment. In 2018 every eco-Christmas table needs a non-meat alternative! Christmas isn’t a time to go without, so if you love your turkey or goose then go for it, but try some of the non-meat options if you get a chance – they’ve come a long way! See the latest on offer from your supermarket here or if you feel like trying some recipes yourself check out some delicious ideas from Viva and these from the Jamie Oliver.

Christmas present, Christmas gift, Christmas experience, buy less,

Give Group Love

Get together with friends and family to buy one big gift that’s really wanted.. It doesn’t have to be a material object. A massage, dancing lessons, or a special dinner date can all be gifted easily. Or club together for that really wanted new bike or watch that will make them happy. An eco-Christmas can and should be fun and joyful and gift giving is about showing love and thought and giving something that will be treasured and loved.

Green Christmas, coloured pens, stationery

Good green stocking fillers for under £5

It’s easy to find reasonably priced stocking fillers for an eco-Christmas. How about a bamboo toothbrush, some packaging free beauty products like these gorgeous ones from Lush or the latest novel from around £5.00 (even better if it’s second hand!). Support your local charity shops and bookshops or try Waterstones.

Pop some slave free chocolate in from Tony’s Chocolonely – they use uncoated, recycled FSC-certified paper for their wrapping or try this from Seed & Bean – the wrapping is non-plastic and fully compostable.

Then raid the charity shops for pre-loved toys and games and don’t forget the socks and satsumas!

To set up your own eco Christmas wish list check out our beautiful and easy to customise template here.

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Gift Ideas

Create a Kids’ Christmas Wish List and Win £100

by Ismay Ozga November 27, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

This Christmas it’s predicted we’ll give each other 60 million unwanted gifts that will at best end up on eBay, at worst in landfill. So, this year, we’re celebrating the joy of experiences over ‘stuff’ with a readymade wish list of Eco Christmas Gift Ideas for Kids. Customise the template to include the things your kids would love to do, and we’ll reward one lucky family with £100.

How it works:

Sign up to Patchworkit.com and create a Christmas wish list patchwork – enter the code WIN100 when publishing in order to enter our prize draw
You need to allow us to contact you if you win and also to receive emails directly relating to our service if you publish a patchwork or start to receive gifts
And, finally, you need to read our privacy policy, please

Terms and Conditions:

To win the competition and receive £100
You can’t already be registered on our site
You will be notified by email no later than 14 days after the closing date of the promotion on 18th January 2018
You will need to supply us with your PayPal or bank details and we will send you the money
We’re not planning to, but we do reserve the right to cancel or amend the promotion and these terms and conditions without notice in the event of a catastrophe, war, civil or military disturbance, act of God or any actual or anticipated breach of any applicable law or regulation or any other event outside of our control. It all sounds very dramatic and you’d probably notice one of these events but we’ll let you know if/when anything changes.

If you have any questions, we can be found here: [email protected]

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Gift Ideas

Eco Christmas – Best Gift Ideas For All The Family

by Ismay Ozga November 21, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

A truly feel good Christmas

A stress-free Christmas that’s joyful and extra special – it’s what we all want, right? Often though, it can feel like an endless to-do list. We feel guilty that we aren’t doing enough, or ironically, with awareness of the effects of mass consumerism, guilt that we’ve done too much. So here’s a common sense approach to eco Christmas gifts that’s good for the planet and our pockets, plus it makes everyone feel good too.

Love not money

Of course, to most families Christmas is about love but it’s also about giving and receiving. We are all conditioned to think a gift is box shaped and wrapped up in paper and a bow. But, there are other ways to show our love. Give great gifts for an eco Christmas without excessive waste, expense or guilt.

Experiences over stuff

Cinema trips, an hour of trampolining, ice skating, your favourite lunch place, or a Christmas Panto? A woodland bike ride, a blustery beach walk or inviting all your kids’ friends over for a festive sleepover. Some of these ideas cost money, some are free but all are fun. In addition, they will make memories that last longer than the five minute thrill of tearing the wrapping paper from another novelty gift or toy.

Set up your own eco Christmas wish list of experiences with Patchwork. You can explain to family and friends what you are trying to achieve. Then show them exciting experiences and thoughtful gifts that are really wanted and will be appreciated and treasured. It takes the pressure off them too. There’s no more scouring the high street in a last minute panic worrying if you’ll like what they’ve bought. Just a few clicks and the Christmas shopping is done, with no waste and no stress.

Giving your time and skills

People who use Patchwork demonstrate every day that gifts don’t have to have a price tag. Sometimes the best gift you can give is your time and your talent! Little children in particular often just want to spend time with the grown ups they love. Promise a trip to the park, give the treat of a hot chocolate and cake, offer to play a game or take time to read with them. For older kids, offer to help them make or bake something, teach them a skill, watch their favourite film with them or take them for an afternoon out doing their favourite thing.

Old is the new new

Lego sets, board games, dress-ups, dolls, Playmobil, train sets, scooters and bikes are durable and made to last. Why not try and find them second hand in great condition for a fraction of the price? It’s easy to explain that the gifts in their stocking don’t have packaging because Father Christmas is aiming for an eco Christmas too. “Well kids, this year I’ve heard Santa is on a plastic-reducing mission too and I have to say I’m with him.” If Father Christmas can’t do the right thing what hope is there for the rest of us?

Find vintage treasures

There are also so many things that can only be bought second hand and are valuable because they aren’t new. A football programme from your child’s team in the year they were born, a vintage dolls house or piece of furniture. Search on eBay or Gumtree and check out local charity shops too and help others whilst you shop.

Bake something

Gingerbread men, chocolate brownies, biscuits to hang on the tree. Whatever your kids’ favourites, you, or they, depending on their age, can make these as eco Christmas gifts for friends and family. Keep jars to gift them in or twist them up in some paper with a ribbon. If you want to give an edible gift but haven’t got time to make one, look for sweet treats in non-plastic wrappers. Mr Simms sweet shops sell old-fashioned loose sweets by weight in paper bags; stores are nationwide. Or give a Christmas Cookie mix in a jar so the recipient can get involved in the making bit.

Give one thing they really want

It makes sense to spend the money we have on the things we really want or need, to pool resources and invest in quality. To get together to chip in for gifts that are really wanted. An eco Christmas doesn’t have to mean they go without.

If your child desperately wants the latest gadget/trainers/toy then don’t feel bad about treating them to the one thing they’re desperate for. If it’s a big ticket item like a new bike, or a laptop, ask family and friends to chip in to one thing that’s really wanted rather than showering them with 10 smaller gifts that will end up at the back of the cupboard before the New Year’s in. Check out some great examples – see our Christmas collection for inspiration.

So, if you want to have a really eco Christmas this year:

Remember it’s about love, not money
Give experiences instead of stuff
Make your presents
Give second-hand gifts
Find vintage treasures
Chip in for one big present

Our Christmas present to you all is a free code, so you can get busy making Christmas patchworks (whether you our new eco Christmas gift idea patchwork or make your own from scratch) just enter the code GIVEJOY when you publish and we will waive our fee.

Author: Rosie is head of customer experience at Patchwork. She has 4 children and this year she’s planning an eco Christmas.

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Patchwork Perspective

Why Old is the New New.

by Ismay Ozga October 30, 2018

written by Ismay Ozga

Team Patchwork love nothing more than a Sunday morning wander around a boot fair, a Saturday afternoon rummage through a charity, vintage or antique shop and a bit of late night (drunk) shopping on ebay. Finding second hand treasures is just so good for so many reasons. Here are our top seven reasons why old is the new new:

Old things are more original

Want to avoid turning up to a party, wedding or Bar Mitzvah in the same dress as someone else? Swap the high street and go vintage. If you want your living room to look less, well, MADE, go vintage. If you want to buy a really unique football shirt, handbag or kid’s bike, go vintage.

Old things are made better

If you want to buy affordable furniture, clothes or toys that are handmade using quality materials and real craftsmanship, opt for second hand products made before 1960 – when mass produced consumer goods really took off. The fact that mid-century fashion and furniture continue to be so desirable is not just because the design stands the test of time but because the quality of the product and manufacture do too – even 60 years later.

Old things are cheaper

It’s not that beautifully designed, handmade, quality products made by non-sweatshop labour aren’t made today. There are tons of brilliant craft brands making great products in Britain and beyond. But they are rightly an investment to make and therefore cost a lot. While beautifully made secondhand and vintage items (excluding serious antiques) are generally much cheaper.

Old things have history

We love buying a vintage dress and imagining the designer at Dior, the seamstress in Dagenham or the teenager who choose the pattern and the fabric and whipped it up for the weekend. We love feeling the grain on an antique sideboard, admiring the joinery on vintage dressing table or finding a forgotten note in an old chest of drawers. Old things have a real (or imagined) history. Handed down, swapped or sold, each new owner gives things new life and meaning. We become part of the story and that’s just nice somehow.

Old things are environmentally friendly

We’ve reached peak stuff. And when it’s the president of IKEA saying this we know it’s really serious. If you love shopping and want nice things that are new to you, the best way to consume with a conscience is to buy old things. That way you’re not contributing to consumer demand and you’re not using our precious planet’s finite resources to create new things, or the plastic packaging they invariably come in. You’re just getting joy from something that’s already in existence.

Old things contribute to the local economy

Whilst most new consumer goods are increasingly provided by a smaller number of dominant (and often dodgy) global corporations, when you buy something second hand, vintage or antique, you’re generally giving your money directly to a real person or small business. Whether via a virtual peer-to-peer marketplace like eBay or Gumtree, or a real world market, shop or auction house it’s a transaction that generally goes directly into a real person’s pocket. So buying second hand is often a nice way to shop local too.

Old things make you stop and chat

Although not always the case, the final thing we love about buying old things is that you so often get not just a sense of history but you get to meet new people and hear their stories too. Maybe we’re just nosy but we love that whether you’re picking up an old sink from ebay, buying a piece of art from a posh antique shop or a second hand toy from Deptford market, you get a chance to stop and chat to a stranger who will generally have something more interesting to say than the self-service machine in Sainsbury’s.

Have you got a special occasion coming up, but would rather friends choose second hand gifts, or even experiences instead of “stuff”? With Patchwork you invite friends and family to contribute towards gifts or experiences that are really wanted and are good for the planet too. Create your own zero waste gift list here.

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Parent & Baby Party Planning Patchwork Kids

The Mamahood plans your kid’s party

by Ismay Ozga July 8, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

Fabulous woman and fellow SE Londoner, Diana Bardega, set up The Mamahood a year ago, with the aim of bringing mamas together in their local neighbourhoods. The Mamahood provides mother’s with a chance to get creative, collaborative and inspired with crafting workshops across the UK. She’s written us this great blog about planning kid’s parties to help take the stress out of those little birthdays.

Urgh. If you are anything like me, when the time comes to organise my children’s birthday parties I feel dread. It can be such an expensive, mass produced, stressful affair. From naff decorations, to expensive entertainers, crap food, to heaps of plastic tat that will only end up in a landfill.
But fear not, there is another way. You see, all around us are some incredible, creative, independent businesses who are there to help when we hit party planning season. And better than that, some of them are run by fellow multi-tasking mothers who understand better than anyone the stress of organising a party.

The Mamahood is all about enabling mothers to connect and support each other. I believe passionately that we should be buying and supporting and working together more because when you become a mother you join a community. Regardless of class, religion, creed, choices and status we all understand the pressures of being a mum. So when you shop, shop independent and where you can, support your fellow mamas. Because we all know how hard it can be to manage the juggle.
Plus I’ve done the hard work for you. Here is a round up of my top 5 mama-run businesses to check out if you are planning a kids party.

Invites

I have always found it tricky to find stylish invites on the high street. If you’re a stationery addict (I am) you will love the gorgeous Marby and Elm. Set up by a very talented mama Eleanor, she designs and letter presses in beautiful neons and brights. They are so beautiful you will almost not want to send them.
And if you’re after something extra special I can’t recommend more highly the wonderful illustrator and mama Lakshmi. She can sketch a gorgeous illustration of your child that you can use for invites and then keep for posterity. Double win.

Tableware

Look no further than The Jelly Rabbit. Run by lovely mama Sarah, she will take all the stress out of party planning for you. She sells gorgeous tableware, decorations, Pass the Parcel kits, balloons, dress up – you name it. I love her party kits. Literally everything you need by theme and all delivered – no stress!

Party Bags

Sick of plastic rubbish that goes straight in the bin? Then definitely check out Cotton Twist, set up by two mamas Anne-Clare and Alexis. They create the most wonderful craft kits that make the perfect take home alternative to a goody bag. Choose from a huge range of themes that suit both boys and girls. And if you need any party extras like themed food boxes then they’ve got you covered there too.

Cake

For ridiculously beautiful cakes look no further than Blossom and Crumb. Run by mega-talented mama Megan, her cakes speak for themselves.

Venue

Obviously this is hugely dependent on where you are based, but if you do find yourself in SE London, I can not recommend more highly The Punk Me Up Ceramics cafe. Run by the loveliest mama Toni – her kids party packages (held in the back of her beautiful shop) are wonderful. From the make your own goody bags, polaroids of the kids with their faces painted, painting your own themed ceramics and the mini milk bottles and bento boxes for the kids, every detail is covered stylishly and with minimum stress for you. A huge thumbs up.
To stay on top of workshop news and exclusive offers to shop at mama-run businesses, follow us over at @the_mamahood. Whether you want to meet other local like minded mothers, or just have some time for yourself and learn a new skill, you can find out what’s going on in your local area by signing up over at The Mamahood.

Planning your kid’s party? Take some of the stress out of it with our party planning Patchworks. Ask your friends and family to fund, make and do to organise a stress-free and fabulous party. They can contribute their time, skill or money to make the party happen. Your best friend can buy the bubbles, your mum can bake the cake and your brother can blow up all the balloons. Simple.

Customise one of our party planning patchworks here or create your own from scratch.

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girl riding birthday bike funded by friends

Patchwork Kids Patchwork Story

Vera’s Birthday Bike

by Ismay Ozga May 6, 2016

written by Ismay Ozga

Vera knew exactly what she wanted for her 12th birthday – a shiny new bike. And she knew exactly how to ask for it. She made a patchwork and sent it out to her family, who all chipped in towards the new wheels she was dreaming of. We asked her all about it.

Hi Vera, what did you decide to make a patchwork for and why?

I wanted to make a patchwork for a bike. I always had different bikes when I was little but I kept getting too big for them so always had to hand them down to my cousins and friends. Now that I’m 12 I want a proper bike that I won’t grow out of too quickly. One that I can ride to school and everywhere!

children's bike patchwork birthday gift idea

Who chipped in towards your birthday present?

Now I’m 12 I’ve got my own phone and my own email. So once I’d made my patchwork on my phone I sent out an email to all my family asking them to help buy me a bit of my bike. It was exciting in the two weeks before my birthday because when they bought bits of my patchwork I could see all their messages popping up and check how much money they had given me on my phone.

How was your birthday?

Great. I was so happy and excited. On the day of my party I went to Waterloo with my Mum, Dad and little brother to pick up the bike. First of all I thought I wanted a red one but when I saw the shiny blue one in the shop I loved it more. We had to wait for the man in the shop to build it and so we went to the cafe. Then I rode it all the way along the river and took it on the train and then rode it home.

How did you feel when you got your present from everyone?

When everyone arrived at the party my bike was there waiting in the garden. It wasn’t a surprise for me because I knew I wanted it so much. But it was definitely a nice surprise for all my family to see me riding my bike. Luckily it was a sunny day so we had cake in the garden and I rode around and around. My aunt and cousins live abroad at the moment so they couldn’t come to the party but they can see photos of me on my bike, which we are turning into postcards to say thank you to everyone. I haven’t ridden my bike to school yet as I need a lock but I like riding it around Brockley and showing all my friends.

Thank you Vera! We’re so glad we could help you get your special bike.

If you’re inspired to chip in for a bike, you can customise our birthday bike patchwork here. You can also browse our readymade patchworks for more gift inspiration, or create a patchwork from scratch.

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Patchwork Kids

Kids Draw Their Dream Birthday Gifts

by Rosie Hurwitz September 2, 2013

written by Rosie Hurwitz

We had some special guests in our shophouse the other day. We all know that when you ask a child the one thing they want, they can tell you the answer in a heartbeat, be it ‘a Star Wars Lego kit!’ or ‘a playhouse with rainbow colours and flowers!!’. So we thought we’d invite our little friends over to do some drawing and show us what the one thing they want would be. We cracked open the felt tips and let them illustrate their heart’s desires.

If your child knows exactly what they want (maybe swimming lessons or a bike?) then send them our way to do a spot of drawing, and we can put their patchworks up on the site.

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