Did you know that on February 1, it was St Brigid’s Day? And do you know its significance? Well, sit back and relax while we tell you… St Brigid, also known as St Brigid of Kildare, is the female patron saint of Ireland, and, significantly for this blog, her patron saint day on February 1…
A love letter to rain – why we’re mad about the wet stuff
Get your wellie boots on, ladies and gents, boys and girls, because we are enjoying an awful lot of rain at the moment. Even if it stops soon, we’ve got plenty of puddles to splash about it. Fantastic! Because while many people don’t like rain, you’ll not be surprised to learn that the glass-half-full team…
What Christmas traditions do you remember?
Christmas is on its way (on no it isn’t, oh yes it is – and, of course, panto season is upon us too!) So, at Happydesigner HQ, we’ve been turning our attention to Christmases past, and the traditions we remember from our childhoods. For many children, Christmas is that magical time when Santa pops down the chimney,…
Seasons of mist, mellow fruitfulness – and football? Why we love autumn
Unless you’ve really not been paying attention to the news, the World Cup kicks off this month. For football fans everywhere, this four-yearly event is the pinnacle of the soccer calendar, although this time, the choice of Qatar as the host nation is controversial. Don’t worry, this blog isn’t about the World Cup, but it…
Hats off for Roald Dahl Story Day!
There are lots of things happening in September – it’s the start of autumn, children go back to school, and there is an equinox. But, for the busy team here at Happydesigner, there’s something even more exciting taking place: Roald Dahl Story Day! Organised by Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity, the idea is that school pupils…
Words without images – like bangers without mash?
We all have children’s book illustrators who we particularly admire. Some may be childhood classics, or we may be drawn (pardon the pun) to illustrators of more modern children’s literature. Many are both author and illustrator, and there’s no finer example than Beatrix Potter, whose series of stories based on animals are so loved by…
Our really colourful blog – all about colour
Have you ever thought about how important colour is? Colour is everywhere, we use colour in everything, and colours have different means. If you were hanging out the bunting for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations or dressing up for the occasion, you’ll no doubt have opted for red, white and blue, to match the Union…
It’s beginning to look a lot like… there aren’t enough books!
There are many reports in the media these days about shortages: not enough loo rolls during the pandemic (due to hoarding), empty supermarket shelves because of a lack of delivery drivers, and too few workers to fill an abundance of job vacancies. But one report that caught our eye at Happydesigner was this: a shortage…
It’s spooky time! Get set for Hallowe’en
We love a good festival here at Happydesigner, and Hallowe’en is one GREAT festival. There is so much to enjoy about it – stuff for children to do, great food to eat, games to play, trick or treating (responsibly, of course). And, wow, there is so much orange around with all those pumpkins. If you…
