Ava Phin, 5 years old - London, UK

Today Pirouette welcomes Ava, 5 years old and mum Jennifer Robertson, co-owner of family businessScamp, an e-store where to find great handmade baby gifts. www.scampbabygifts.co.uk

Ava

What do you want to be when you grow up An artist

What is your favourite famous person”I don’t know a famous person“(Mummy explains) …. “Oh, Cinderella!”

What makes you happy or laugh My mummy and Jonah (brother) or Gigglebiz on CBeebies

What makes you sad or angry When people shout in my ear!

Your favourite book Sleeping Beauty

Your favourite films Jungle Book

Your favourite animal Polar Bear Cubs

The best holidays you ever had “Going to a big villa in France with all my family.”  In 2009 we hired a villa for me, my sisters, parents and aunt and uncle and all the grandchildren (15 people in total) near Avignon.  Nosiy, chaotic but brilliant!

A place that you would dream to visit India

Your favorite outfit My party dress with cherries on it

What is the piece your like the most from your wardrobe A strawberry t-shirt my auntie made me

The next item you would be happy to get A rainbow to remind me of rainbows

If you had a magic wand, what would you do with it right now? “I would magic our family into a new house” (we are trying to move at the moment!)

Jennifer

Your favourite children’s brands Plan Toys, Camper Kids shoes, PO.P, Gap and Bob & Blossom for their stripy numbered tops (bought for each of my kid’s birthdays every year!)

Your favourite children’s stores Du Pareil au Meme (DPAM) which is mainly in France but there are a few shops elsewhere in Europe – I first discovered it on a trip to Avignon 4 years ago – beautifully French yet affordable!, TK Maxx (home to many of my best children’s buys from brands I know to some I don’t but often quirky and not what you see on many other children.  Also full of hidden gems of presents – wooden toys, puzzles and books), Polarn O. Pyret for brights and stripes and unisexness.

A website that inspires you I am most drawn to websites and blogs where I have similar tastes to the author and have shared interests so one I am often drawn back to for that reason is www.whatkatiedoes.net

The criteria you consider when you buy something for your children Will it last?, it’s size? (living in a smallish London house means everything needs to be as compact as possible), is it suitable for boys and girls? (always good to think about this with having one of each) and is it a little bit different? (I am always on the look out for something that is a little quirky or unusual)

Last item you added to your child’s wardrobe It was a belated Easter gift of a t-shirt with appliquéd strawberry on it made by my sister.

Most precious item you bought for your child Once she had grown out of her first pair of soft leather slippers I framed them to make an ‘Ava’s first shoe picture’ for her.  Happy memories for her of her baby days.

Best gift you gave for a child’s B-day The best gift I bought Ava for a birthday was for her 5th birthday when she got a beautiful handmade AK Doll (www.aktraditions.com).  I was told about these dolls by an Australian friend – they are designed in Australia but made in Central Asia.  The beauty of the dolls are that as well as being able to play with them as they are you can add to their wardrobe by making (either yourself or with your children) additional outfits and accessories for her.  Absolutely gorgeous and the antithesis of a pink and sparkly Barbie doll!

Items that are hard to find Reasonably priced but nice/not run of the mill children’s shoes.

Favourite pieces in your child’s wardrobe Up until the recent warm weather Ava was often seen wearing a dark pink cord skirts that I had made for her with a little pocket of bright Kokka fabric stitched on.  Add in some stripy tights a long sleeved top and her lovely grey wool DPAM winter jacket and this was definitely up there as one of my favourite of her outfits.

The book on your bedside table Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

An unforgettable place you’ve travelled to A sailing trip around the Whitsunday islands in Australia with my now husband and a group of friends was one of the most stunning and fun holidays I’ve ever been on.

The ideal place for a family summer holiday Last year we had an amazing three week family holiday to Canada.  With a base in Vancouver at a friend’s house we explored the city, the beaches, mountains and beautiful surrounds before embarking on a week long campervan extravaganza through the wilds of British Columbia.  Driving on empty roads, camping in national parks, swimming in lakes, seeing the wildlife and being outdoors all the time was the antithesis of city living and an unforgettable experience for all of us.