Luís Leite and Ana Ferreira I

 Luís Leite and Ana Ferreira are Portuguese architects, who inspired by the birth of a nephew in 2006 wanted to design some toys. Since this time they have honed and perfected their design and this year opened their online shop Bleebla. The animals are made from Sycamore and their housing from cork. Louis and Ana spent a lot of time researching their materials, both in aesthetic terms as they wanted a good colour contrast between the housing and the creatures.

"Our architectural training strongly determines all design phases and the final result. The process of designing an animal starts by sketching a lot – and we mean a lot :) – in order to reach a stylized silhouette of each animal. After that we do several prototypes to fine-tune details like tails, paws, snouts, until we’re pleased (yes, we are a bit obsessed)." Ana and Luis

They also wanted to ensure the materials they choose had a low environmental impact. Cork is a wonderful choice of material for toys as it is a warm soft material and their has been a decline in its production since wine producers have moved to using screw caps.

Rock and Pebble

Birch ply interlocking play house forms for children manufactured in the UK by Rock and Pebble. Beautiful simple design that allows for imaginative play that are sustainable non-toxic and natural. (thank you)

Ko Verzuu

Ko Verzuu (1901-1971) was a Dutch toy designer inspired by De Stijl and Rietveld, he was also the father of eleven children. He and his team at ADO speelgood made fantastic colorful wooden toys and children's furniture in the 1930′s-1950′s. 

Ko Verzuu’s was very different to most toy companies as most of the workers were patients in the TB sanatorium, Berg and Bosch and Ko was the head of men's work therapy.

The workshop was opened as part of a program designed to help patients transition from the sanatorium back into society and these beautiful handmade toys and furnishings made from painted plywood were the result. The designs are so simple and colours so pleasing it is easy to imagine making full sized furniture in similar designs being a great success to.