For those of you who know us well, you will know that what makes GLTC ‘Great’ is that we understand what it is like to be a parent; we have experienced both the joys as well as the pandemonium. That’s why everything we do from our product design to our creative design is made with you in mind.

 So this week we asked our Creative Designer to provide us with a few thoughts on how he balances being a working father to his 8 year old son and how our new product range has inspired him to create a fresh new catalogue which encompasses everything you need as a busy parent.

 Introducing Dipash Creative Designer at GLTC…  

As a working dad I have to juggle the usual daily/weekly trials and tribulations of any ‘normal’ family household, which stretches even my brilliant multi-tasking skills (no sniggering please!). It has to be said that being father, chauffeur, private tutor, chef and personal shopper can take its toll on us male folk.

For instance, I thought it would be a nice idea for my seven year old to cook his own omelette for lunch…There we were, in the kitchen… Cracking eggs…I gave him access to butter, the spice cupboard… And a whisk…You can guess what the end result was!

Disaster. What was I thinking? Obviously a fantasy of domestic bliss aka a moment of madness shrouded my normally near perfect judgment that Sunday afternoon!

With all the chaos that goes on at home, my only escape from treading on toy cars in the middle of the night and colouring pens strewn all over the living room floor (without their caps on might I add) is getting on the Central Line to the other side of London.

This is ‘me’ time – no shrieking, no mess, I can just bury myself in the paper, interrupted only by the odd sniffle from fellow commuters, the tiny sounds whispering out of headphones, and the odd electro-trance, ‘Gangnam’ Style ring tone… Bliss.

I work here at GLTC as a Creative Designer, so the fact that I have a little cherub of a child (insert raised eyebrow) and a quite busy home means I can bring a few ideas, thought and solutions to the creative work I produce.  Being a father has unquestionably given me an advantage working with a unique brand like GLTC. I know instinctively what works, what doesn’t – and if there’s a problem, how to solve it.

I’m really excited about the Spring/Summer catalogues that I’ve been working on lately. There’s order, there’s structure, it’s clean, it’s clutter free – all the things I look for in a catalogue and customers want to create at home! We also have some fantastic new photography that has helped me design a really inspiring catalogue, I can’t wait for our customers to tell us what they think. We have a fab team here and the fantastic range in our Spring/Summer collection is a reflection of this, I hope they enjoy the catalogue as much as I’ve enjoyed putting it together!

Now, where’s that Post-it with the number for that nanny agency?

 

If you would like to take a look at the latest GLTC Catalogue designed by Dipash, then you can request a catalogue here .

Best Wishes 

GLTC

x

GLTC are firm believers in the benefits of outdoor play, it is important for children’s development and their physical and mental wellbeing. That’s why we have worked hard on sourcing a fantastic range of garden games which will encourage children to get off the sofa, moving around and playing outside in the garden and park.

Finally after what seems like a long wait – spring is finally here, the weather is warming up and we can say farewell to a long winter.  GLTC think it is high time for us families to come out of hibernation and encourage our children outside and into the fresh air.

We are so proud of our range of outdoor & garden games for Children; we have taken time to select the best toys to celebrate the great outdoors.  We have covered it all from tents, to pool toys, garden games and produced some fantastic outdoor play ideas.

Below is our list of Top 5 Garden Games for you to enjoy with the children.

1. Den Making

Children love to make dens and pretend they are having a stake out on a giant adventure. So we decided to design our own play house perfect to fit all the gang in and all their toys. The Carnival Gingham Play House is such a unique design, it looks a bit like a big top at the circus, and it can be used in the garden or easily transported to the beach as well.

2. Giant Snakes & Ladders 

Who says garden games can’t include board games!  You can bring the game to life with this Giant Snakes & Ladders for the garden. The players replace the counters & the huge inflatable dice is great fun to throw around.

3. Wooden Balance Bike

Garden games can also include a little bit of sport. Balance bikes are great for teaching children the techniques required for a pedal bike. You can have fun teaching your children the important skills needed to balance and steer.

4. Bee & Bug Sanctuary

Children need to engage with nature for their physical & mental development, so exploring the outdoors with Bird & Bug Feeders can be a healthy outdoor game for children.

5. Scooter Ride-On

Last but not least is a retro choice! Awarded a Junior Magazine Design Award 2012 for Best Toy design this Scooter Ride-On is adored by toddlers and adults. Wheeling around the garden has never been more fun.

So this is our Top 5 list of outdoor garden games and toys for Spring 2013, now all we need is the sun to stay out then everybody will be happy!

Best Wishes

GLTC

We are always talking about how much we love our exclusively designed Northcote Storage as it is both practical and stunning. However it is always good to hear first hand from a customer what they think to our storage solutions and how they have used it to make the most of the space in their home. That’s why we were delighted when Heather from Growing Spaces offered to review our Northcote Storage units and drawers.

Here is Heather’s experience of our interlocking storage solution along with some beautiful pictures of how Northcote Storage is perfect for living room storage….

Heather Young – www.growingspaces.net

Back before I had kids I considered myself a storage pro. Nicknamed Monica (from Friends) by friends and family, I was confident that my organisational skills couldn’t get much better. I thought I’d utilised every nook and cranny of our house, and we couldn’t possibly need any more storage.

Pride comes before a fall and when our twins joined our household three and a half years ago, we found ourselves buried under an explosion of kid-related paraphernalia. How could two tiny people need SO MUCH STUFF? Toys, puzzles, books, clothes, craft stuff – all of it needed a home, and we just didn’t have a clue where to put it.

At the end of each day, when the rampaging duo are in bed snoring upstairs I want to relax in a space that doesn’t look like my twins ram-raided a toy shop. I want tidying up to require as little effort as possible because most some days the magnetic pull to be horizontal on the sofa for the duration of the evening is so strong that resistance is futile.

When I saw the Northcote Storage units and drawers, my heart raced just a little bit faster. Modular units that offer plenty of storage, but are compact enough not to feel like they’re taking over a room. The flatpack boxes the Northcote Blackboard Cupboard and Northcote Toy Box arrived in felt reassuringly heavy. I put my OH on assembling duty and he commented on how solid the components felt, and how well they fitted together. I believe “good quality” and “well-constructed” were some of the words used.

The Northcote Blackboard Cupboard and Toy Box in my Kitchen – it fits perfectly in the corner and looks stunning.

This unit sits at one end of our kitchen and it stores all the kids’ craft stuff. The cupboard is the right height for the kids to go and get what they need themselves, and the toy box, with its easy pull-out drawer holds all the bits and bobs we’ve kept for junk modelling. As huge blackboard fans (we already have a huge blackboard wall in the kitchen), we all love the blackboard doors on the cupboard, although most of the time they look considerably messier than in my picture.

We use our Northcote Cupboard to store the kids’ arts and crafts. The blackboard also makes a great memo board for the family.

The beauty of the Northcote Storage interlocking system is that you can keep adding to and adapting the combination of units as the needs of your children change. I’m already planning what we might need next…

Heather,

Growing Spaces

www.growingspaces.net

The end of Spring Term is approaching and it’s that time of year when the letter comes home about parent’s evening – for some it can be a nerve racking situation! We asked Phoebe Doyle our Guest Blogger to tell us about her experience of parent’s evening, having been a teacher herself, we wanted to know - what is it like as a parent-teacher?

When I was a teacher, back in BK (Before Kids) I knew what kind of a parent I’d be. I’d be rational, fair, balanced and wise. ‘ Course I would.

Then out popped my offspring, and needless to say, it was all change. Along with gaining a small infant following labour, I also seemed to lose a great deal of sense; where once I was calm and had the ability to assess situations, I now was suddenly overwhelmingly emotional, protective and fierce.

 Now as a parent of a school-aged child (Rosie is Year 2 and Charles will start Reception come September) I take all of this emotion with me on such occasion’s as parents’ evenings, like the one I went to last night. The ‘Teacher-Me’ doesn’t care about ‘Practise-Me’ as ‘Teacher-Me’ knows it’s all about data, stuff the school should care about but not really me. Kids develop differently, at different paces…. It’s all good. The ‘Parent-Me’ knows no such thing, “how’s she doing compared to others?” I ask anxiously, “is she keeping up, I know she sometimes struggles” says I nervously (non-sensically!)

 ‘Course as she’s at such a lovely school, with fantastic teachers and basically skips to school each day nothing  else really matters. She’s learning ‘cos she’s happy. She’s flourishing because she’s safe; safe from harm of course but safe to ‘have a go’ too. So when Charles starts school will I be able to keep my head on Sensible Teacher Mode? Will I be rational? Calm? Collected?

 …….I doubt it!

Phoebe Doyle x

 So, what was your latest parent’s evening experience like? Were you pleasantly surprised or will next term require some fair and balanced parent teaching?

 Read more of Phoebe’s blogs here at Tremendously Two in particular we love her Ramblings and Reviews!

Sorry it’s been a while since we last posted!  January has been a busy month, mostly tidying up after  Christmas and preparing for 2013!

Like everyone, in the midst of the January blues, as lucky as we are to have our families around and to be inundated with presents, you do end up thinking to yourself “Where am I going to fit all of this!”

New toys, bits, bobs & gadgets end up making the home look more like Auntie Wainwright’s from ‘Last of the Summer Wine!’  The weather is too cold and wet to be outdoors, so we end up spending more time at home, which ultimately means even more chaos! Children are back to school now so it’s a battle of “where are my shoes” or “where did you put your homework”, then we discover they slipped down the back of the sofa or have been resting under a soggy PE Kit.  Sound familiar?

So enough is enough, we’re trying to get organized by having a clear up and getting our homes back on track.  To do this we need STORAGE! STORAGE! STORAGE ! Somewhere to put all of those excess items , somewhere we can hang up our belongings and TRY to keep them in an orderly manner. So, we have pulled together our top picks which we hope  you’ll like!

What’s more, until Friday 25^th Jan at 2pm we have 20% Off Lazzari Storage which is even better!

One of our favourite home saviors is our selection of home storage, from Shelf Units, Storage Cubes, Trunks & Chests to Underbed Storage Drawers, they have all been designed for a quick tidy up meaning you can have a place for everything. Equipped together with Canvas Storage Cubes of various designs and colours, you can easily encourage the children to get involved and put their belongings back in a special place.

Another idea, is to make sure the homework doesn’t get lost and also that the books go back where they belong.

It could be that you just need a storage place with a book shelf or book end or you could go all out and have some fun, with a Dolls House or Fire Engine Book Case. The selection goes on, but there is one thing we are sure of, it brings an element of fun to tidying and it will encourage the children to put their books or homework away afterwards, so you will always know where to find them.

Our final idea to prevent chaos when you step through the door is for some fun Coat Stands and Peg Rails. Children love having their very own coat peg at school as it is somewhere that is their own, you can have this at home as well. We have some quirky designs that will prevent damp coats and bags from being thrown on the floor creating unwanted mess, which means no more searching for your keys or your latest magazine underneath a pile of clothes!

Now we have that out the way, let’s start looking forward to Spring 2013. We are bursting with exciting ideas, so keep your ear to the ground as we will be posting about them very soon.

Everyone at GLTC x

Many thanks to all our customers & suppliers for another GREAT LITTLE  12 months!

We’ve had a brilliant year and couldn’t have done it without you all.

Thank you for your support. We hope you have a wonderful holiday and see you in the New Year.

Everyone at GLTC x

We were cuffed to spot our Rainbow Star Sling Bookcase in the background of this picture.

Really chuffed at GLTC HQ today to spot out Rainbow Star Sling Bookcase at Jamie & Jules Oliver’s house. Brilliant!

Our Kids Bookcase is perfect for toddlers as they can identify their favourite book and it can be reached easily. Designed to suit kids’ bedrooms or the playroom for a fun and stylish home – just like the Oliver’s.

The Rainbow Star Sling Kids Bookcase can be paired with a number of GLTC favourites such as our Rainbow Star Rug which is both cosy and hardwearing.

Hope they love it as much as we do!

We all know how hard it can be to control a toddler tantrum and how when they reach the terrible two’s, especially when you are in a public situation. Rest assured you are not on your own with those embarrassing moments when you are trying to control a situation and you feel eyes watching you. 

Read about Pheobe’s recent experience in Waitrose.

Phoebe Doyle from Tremendously Two writes regularly about education and family life  - She’s often GLTC’s Guest Blogger and we are big fans! Today she tells us about her recent experience with her son Charles and coping with the terrible two’s.

We’re just back from Waitrose Cafe. Our longed-for outing. Charles has been asking for a gingerbread man since 6am and I’d been dreaming of cake since my reluctant martyr-like trip to the gym last night.

“One iced cinnamon swirl and one gingerbread man please” I say to our beloved cake serving lady.

We sit down. Charles grabs my cinnamon swirl, the smell of which is now tantalising my nostrils, virtually prompting a sweat of desire, when Charles yells the M word; “MINE”.

I do the right thing, I know what to do, I’m in control, I’m the parent…

“No Charles, that’s Mummy’s,that’s (show rather rejected looking gingerbread dude) yours”

“MINE” (holding delicious, scrumptious, cinnamon swirl which is getting squashed against Charles’ chest)

“Well Mummy will share my cake with you, that’d be lovely, but give it to me (NOW!!!!) so I can cut it”

“MINE” followed by a shrill scream that must have had dogs within the vicinity wincing and certainly had a few ladies in their autumn years in Waitrose turn to see, some to smile, others to turn back to their friends with a look and a tut about that dreadful mother who can’t control her child.

So what did I do? Well, it’s not like I hate gingerbread men, it’s nothing personal or anything, but suffice to say I was a little disappointed with my treat in Waitrose this morning. My cinnamon-less pathetic treat with rejection in his eyes. OK, it had smarties, but c’mon.

Well, I’ve had enough. I’m the boss. Well, clearly I’m not at the moment but I will be, very much so. Oh yes, no more good cop, meet Bad Mummy Cop, don’t mess with me kids. I’ll have my cake and eat it next time.

Well. We’ll see. Wish me luck!!

There are so many various tactics and techniques to use to try to control a bubbling tantrum and prevent it from erupting but sometimes but there is one thing to be sure of – we just have to laugh off those terrible two’s moments. After all, we’ve all been there!  

Charles looks all innocent and sweet now!

If you are struggling for half term ideas to prevent boredom then the GLTC Play Shop & Theatre get help you keep the children occupied during the holidays. We know it is, Children can get so bored of their toys so quickly, one minute they can be playing happily the next minute they have lost interested in their latest toy. This becomes more prevalent during the school holidays and you can find yourself quickly thinking of half term ideas to keep the kid’s entertained.

Well rather than switching on the TV to keep them quiet how about investing in a toy that is versatile and can be used for a number of playtime games. At GLTC we design our toys thinking ahead, we design them to last so children can enjoy hours of entertainment. That’s why one of our top half term ideas includes 20 ways to use our Play Shop & Theatre

Dragons move over, Mary Portas would be proud of these 20  ideas for your Shop & Theatre based business to beat half term boredom!

May the trading commence:

1. The next best thing to Waitrose
2. Post Office – ‘Stamps are very dear these days, my dear…’
3. Pizza Parlour – ‘Pepporoni & Mozzerella, We’re the Pizza Kings and Queens!’
4. A Hog Roast Stand with Apple Sauce and Cracking (Maybe not)
5. Circus Entrance  - ‘Get your tickets & Candy Floss here!’
6. Ice Cream Parlour (Risk of cold hands)
7. A Perfect Patisserie (YUMMY with home made cakes)
8. A Brilliant Bakery – Hard to find
9. Lemonade Stall – Out in the Garden on a hot summers day
10. A Traditional Punch & Judy Puppet show
11. A Tea Rooms  (Minus the hot water)
12. A Crazy Cafe for Teddy Bears & Dolls
13. A build your own Sandwich Shop
14. Charity Raffle
15. Hairdressers (oops)
16. An Art Gallery – Selling their latest masterpieces
17. Fish & Chip Shop
18. Bank (of Mum & Dad)
19. Entrance to the Tower, positioned at the base of the stairs. Sure to generate revenue.
20. And Finally….it has been know….A Tattoo Parlour.  Don’t ask.  Not endorsed by GLTC!
21. Etc

Last night we were really chuffed to be shortlisted for ‘Best Lighting Range’ by  House Beautiful Magazine Team & Readers, for our Kids Lamps! Our Twenty-Twenty Child Safe Lamps (£37)  means there’s no need to sacrifice design for safety; these great looking kid’s lamps feature a fully enclosed bulb to make it safer for use in a child’s bedroom.

The encased bulb means children’s fingers won’t get burnt, plus if it gets knocked over the carpets can’t catch on fire. We are confident our lamp for children are the best so this award has really made up proud!

GLTC are proud to have won a House Beautiful Award for Best Lighting Range

We will keep you up to date with more GLTC Awards on our blog, for now we will continue celebrating.

Best Wishes GLTC