Going to the local hardware store and picking out a hammer with my dad. Wool was weaved from nail to nail. Putting a girly spin on being a builders daughter perhaps?

My favourite toy was a soft toy koala named Charlie, who my great aunt gave to me when my sister started school so that I wouldn't be lonely. He had a whole imaginary personality and life, including a koala wife named Suzanna and an occasional imaginary flea infestation!!

Oh this is so girly it is embarrassing. But I had a little pink hairdryer. And my dad, no matter how late we got home after a party, after my shower, he would sit there and he would dry my hair. I would've halved the time if I let him use a real hair dryer (Mum's!) but no. My pink hair dryer that would blow cold air.. I always remember falling asleep halfway and waking up as he carried me into my bed.

Oh goodness this is going to sound terrible but I am sure every big sister did it. I have a brother who is 7 years younger than I and yes he was my favourite toy. I dressed him in my clothes and enjoyed the imaginative play we had together. It's always fun chatting to my girlfriends now about how we terrorized him!

My sister and I would ask my mum to draw a beautiful female figure for us. We would draw on some features and underwear, cut her out, and spend hours designing outfits for her to wear. Love homemade paperdolls! Just waiting for my daughters to be old enough to pass on the tradition :)

A tried and true teddy bear, he is the only childhood toy I still have and now lives on my daughters bed. I can't recall if I gave him a name other than Ted. He has a rather unfortunate fur trim I gave him as a small child with only his bottom having been spared, and the rest of him is mostly bald - in part due to love as well I am sure!

I had a doll that I liked a lot but my most vivid memory about my toys is a rug of lego down my room. It was a bit tricky to walk without hurting myself and my parents didn't like it and threaten to take a bag and throw it all away. So I cleaned my room and stared all over again a couple of days later :-)

My dearest and constant friend was a bear that belonged to my mama. He's been repaired innumerable times, he had a special wardrobe consisting of truly vintage baby gowns and knitted cardigans, and he had a special sleeping bag and blanket made by my nana. He was joined by a lamb I knitted when I started Steiner school - creatively named Lamb-Lamb. His name is Popcorn, and he and Lamb-Lamb now live on my dresser. He needs more stuffing in his head.

the whole wardrobe my mum sewed for my barbie doll - including a princess Di lookalike number. As an adult I realise these handmade gifts were born of financial necessity but as a child I just loved them for what they were a perfect gift for a little girl who loved to dress up. It inspires me when I wobble about the value of the handmade gifts I give myself. :o)

My favourite toy was a doll, bought for me by my mum when my older sisters went away to school camp and I was sad to be left behind. It had a tattoo of a butterfly, which fascinated me. It was similar to the one my mother had on her ankle; that my sisters and I all got soon after she died of breast cancer when I was 15. I loved that little plastic person and her inked skin.

I had a wooden doll house and tiny furniture and would spent hours arranging it.

Lego was my consistent friend for many childhood years that and the tree grove outside.

My pink bunny which I still have! So many photos of me with it! He (yes he was pink!) went everywhere with me!
Loving the look of this shop and a what a great way to start B2's nursery! I'm feeling a little stuck with a boys nursery and want unique! So this could be perfect!

My ballerina barbie! I still have her although she is looking a little worse for wear!

I had a mama who was kind, sweet and calm but not the most loving nor mindful of parents for reasons that were not her fault. One of my precious memories is her sitting down with me to cut out paper dolls and paper clothes. Those memories of her playing with me are so precious and I have kept those dolls to this day in the same metal biscuit tin. Although I know I am a different mother from my own, those dolls (and memories) remind me that my mother did love me and the importance of playing with your child.

so adorable! i actually don't remember what my favorite toy was, but I know that one of them was this train my dad made of pieces of an evergreen. the body of the train as well as the wheel and the chimney were all just different width pieces of a branch. this summer, we went to the mountains to our great aunts cabin and it was amazing watching my kids who are 2 and 5 play with it with such joy (they weren't any other toys around, but i like to think they would have picked it anyway:) this winter we couldn't get a christmas tree that was potted (which was our wish) and our 5 year old suggested we get a tree anyway and then use it for a coat rack and a toy train. and so we will, so circle of life and all that stuff:)))

One of my favourite play things was a tiny, pink cotton box bag with a handle on the top. I carried treasures around in it for many years. I found it tucked away in a childhood trunk about 10 years ago. Seeing it brought back the most wonderful memories. It now belongs to my daughter who keeps her treasures in it.

i had a much loved and extremely well thumbed copy of the usborne book of castles. it had amazingly detailed illustrations with cut-away sections in the walls of the castles so you could see life going on inside. on the end papers i inscribed, in felt pen, my name and FULL address; my house, my road, chorlton, manchester, england, great britain, europe, earth, the solar system, the universe. in case it should ever be lost, in space.

I remember at my grandmother's house she had all these figurines of things like rabbits, brass deers, model T and a silver contraption that opened and closed with a wooden handle. I would pretend this silver contraption was a monster that would attack the figurines. I would spend hours taking those figurines on adventures through my grandmother's living room. with the monster appearing to cause a issue for my adventurers. Looking back I feel nothing but love for the simplicity of these objects. They were not toys per see but they became companions during those visits.

My favorite toy was a stuffed bear named Rosabelle. I saw her peeking out of my father's bag of groceries a few weeks before Christmas. He hid her in a cabinet, but I tiptoed downstairs every night to sneak and play with her. When I opened her on Christmas morning, I acted surprised. I still have Rosabelle, though her velvet dress is falling apart and her fur is stiff from all of our tea parties (I literally smeared honey on her face and had to bathe her all the time).

When I was little, I had a child-size folding chair that I would take everywhere. I would actually climb a tree, put the chair between the branches and read books while sitting in the chair. (If my children tried that today, I think I would be a nervous wreck!)

My grandparents owned a fish + chip shop + my favourite thing to do was draw with a big felt tip marker on the reams of fish + chip paper. I would draw fish + chips mostly! Because the marker was juicy I would go through layers + layers of paper but my grandparents would let me! The super size colouring page reminded me ... How good would it be to buy one for my boys ...

When I was little I was enamored with Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz. I had to have ruby slippers, so my mother made a pair for me out of old ballet slippers, tape, glue, and glitter. I loved them, and now think back to my sweet mom and the time she spent to make her little girl happy.

When I was 5 I gave my mum a Triceratops beanbag toy that I was totally in love for mother’s day. On the day I gave it to her I asked if I could sleep with it in my bed for one night after that night he remained in my bed for many many years and would even come with me on sleep overs I couldn't sleep without it. once I moved out of home I passed him on to my little sister to look after and he has slept in her bed for the last 5 years. With my first baby on the way Rhynie will surely be in his cot waiting for him to cherish just as me and my sister have for the last 17 years.

This is so strange now that I think about it, but my favourite item as a child was a 'cushion'! it was not anything fancy at all, my grandma sewed it for her couch and I took a liking to it. It was my security blanket/pillow and I could cuddle it, sniff it, scratch it and listen to the sounds it made! I think back and smile because it made me so happy!

My favorite toys were troll dolls that my mother played with when she was a little girl. When she first let me play with them I went in my room and sobbed. I remember feeling so sad that all she had to play with were these terribly ugly troll dolls:) I was a really sensitive little girl (still am actually,) and it really broke my heart. So out of a broken heart and pity for my mothers very few toys, I loved an ugly troll doll fiercely and protected it with upmost care. When friends and my sisters said anything bad about them I stood up for them, and then secretly cried some more in my room.

The best toy I ever had as a little girl was my big sister's back, she made an excellent and generous pony.

The old canoe was special. The first time we went out on it I groaned and glared while helping Dad get ready. My small frame nearly buckled under the weight of the boat. I pushed for all I was worth until at last that little yellow canoe was atop the van. I grumbled some cross words, attempting to show Dad my discontent with his ridiculous idea. When we got to the lake, the scene replayed. Only this time it was backwards, as we unloaded and parked the van. "What does prohibited mean, Dad?" I asked. "It says boat launching prohibited on this sign." Dad told me to close my mouth and get in the canoe already. I suddenly felt gleeful as I shared, for the first time, a sense of camaraderie with my Dad. We were partners in crime. The canoe gracefully skimmed through the clear water, away from the little sign on the shore. I paddled a little and took in all the sights around me. We glided past a small school of minnows. A pair of mallards and their ducklings swam away from us in a hurry. It was so easy to get lost in this peaceful new world. I set my paddle across my scrawny knees and glanced back at my paddling, sweating, red faced father. "You know Dad, this is way more fun than I thought! We should do this more often." I said. He just smirked and kept paddling our little yellow canoe across the smooth lake.

My favourite was a stuffed toy dog, "Tippy", which I was given on Christmas day when I was 4 years old. I could press his hand and speak for a few seconds and he would repeat back to me. Incredible! There were lots of good times. I remember feeling mortified when I found my brother and cousin making Tippy say cuss words. Later when my brother was into pulling things apart to find out how they worked, Tippy's voice box was dismantled and was not successfully put back together. I used the newly-empty, zippered space in his back to store secret notes. Our dog chewed his nose off. Very good times! :)

My roller skates were my favourite thing ever - I wasn't very good at it - I was like a newborn giraffe with wobbly legs but I always had so much fun and my friends and I would laugh on every roller skating adventure we went on.

I couldn't get enough of simple white paper and pencils...I snuck drawing in wherever possible, drawing everyday, even sneaky drawing at school while the teacher was reading or during a maths lesson...the joy of drawing and art supplies is what I remember cherishing about my childhood.

Lambie, he was given to me when I was about 4 or 5 months old by my Aunt and Uncle when the visited from England. He has a tag on him that says Made in Wales, I remember thinking that Wales sounded very magical. I loved the feel of the pink insides of his felt ears so much that I rubbed a hole in them. I still have Lambie and he gets cuddled daily by my youngest Sam.
Kate x

Well, I hope nobody finds this offensive but it's still one of my favourite stories. When I was a kid my mom was always very considered about the toys she would buy me. Hence, there where either self-made or pre-used and most definetely never made of any artificial materials. My favourite toy by far was my hand-sewn Waldorf doll which she had made herself (couldn't have been easy) and which was called Paul. Since Paul was a male doll my mom added a small penis which she (and me, too) thought was only logical. However, when I decided that Paul needed a bigger assortment of clothes we would bring him to my grandma and she would sew the most beautiful pants and shirts (even a small winter coat). However, because we didn't want to shock her with Paul's very apparent primary sexual organ my mom always took it off beforehand and would re-attach it after my grandma was finished. That's it and I still think it's hilarious. :) Paul and his wife Josephine still live in my bedroom today.

One of my favourite things as a child was a fishing rod I recieved for my birthday. My parents used to take my three sisters and I camping on the Murray River every Easter. My dad used to wake me up at first light most mornings and him and I would go out in his tinnie together and fish. I loved spending this special time with my dad. We would sit, often in silence, fish and just be. We were usually surrounded by a beautiful, white mist that hovered above the water. It wasn't very often that I caught anything on my little rod but I do remember one particular morning that I caught a four pound Murray cod. Dad was very proud. Eventually we would watch the sun come up and we'd make our way back to camp.
Both of my daughters went on their first camping trips at a few months old and so the tradition continues!

My favourite childhood binging was a woven basket, plain and yet I carried if everywhere. Being a bowerbird I'd collect treasures from the ground, tree and beach and imagine adventures and stories using them. I watch poppy with her woven basket and embrace the same symbolic play. It's a beautiful thing when there is such simple magic in play.

I'm not sure if this is open internationally, but my favourite toy as a child was a knitted doll I named Jemima. She was so loved that she often was sent up to my Grandma, who had a talent for knitting and craft, for 'operations' (ie repairs). Thank you for this opportunity! x

I have a soft toy bee, his name is Buzzy. He was given to me by my two older sisters the day I was born. He now is played with occasionally by my two year old. Isn't it funny how the simplest toys are often the ones with the most longevity? (And also amazing how toys made years ago can last so well!)

One of my early memories was visiting my Great Aunt Ingrid who lived next door to my grandparents. She had moved from Sweden to the US in her old age and spoke with a heavy accent. Her house was FILLED with all things Swedish and she had a cat with six toes. One day when I was there she gifted me a small white wooden Dala horse painted with red, yellow and green details. To this day, this little horse is one of my most treasured things. It sits in my windowsill and I look at it each day as I wash my dishes, bridging the years of my earliest memories as a girl, to the woman I am today.

My favourite toy as a child was my snugglebum nightlight, I had the aqua coloured papa one, I adored it and I had to wait 2 years for my mum to save up enough money to buy it. You press down on the bottom and the most gorgeous aqua light would shine through its whole face and body, I would hide under my bedcovers and sneakily read another chapter of my book. It made me feel content, safe and snuggly, I still have it to this day, I have now loaned it to my 7yr old daughter so she can do the same. Such a great memory for me.

I loved my 'ice-cream doll' Bobby. My family didn't have a lot of money when I was growing up and I got him instead of a Cabbage Patch Doll (I assume he was a much cheaper option!). I remember always thinking of my three wishes- that my family would always be safe and healthy, that I would have long blonde hair (??!) and that Bobby would come to life.

Blocks, either wooden or duplo. My sister and I would design elaborate houses (floor plan style) or create a zoo and place animals inside. I am collecting small wooden animals for my girls and need to find some blocks.

'Ted' was made by my mother and given to me when I was 3…we had just returned back to Ireland from a 6 month sabbatical when I broke my leg - laid up in hospital with 2 legs strapped up, I cried to go back to my snow house in America. Ted was meant to be my comforter. A fluffy, hinged bear…he slept, lodged in the crook of my arm until, when newly married, my hubby evicted him from my bed!! Now he sleeps at the end of my little girl's bed…I still look at him sometimes and feel he's a bit lost without me!! :(

My favourite childhood toy memory is actually someone elses.

My older brother had a giant black and white bear that he named Jellon. It was about the same size as my now 4yo. He was given it on his first Christmas, and when our eldest brother went to school, Jellon became my brother's closest playmate (I'm 7 years younger). When he moved out of home, he was a super cool (snort) young man, and he left Jellon behind.

When our parents divorced, a huge bag of random childhood detritus was placed in my attic, and not thought about again. The year my brother and his partner announced their first pregnancy, I was up in the attic looking for Christmas decorations, and out fell a dusty forgotten Jellon from his plastic bag prison.

I spent hours researching how to wash this giant fellow without destroying him, and restored him back to black and white (actually, in truth, back to that delicate shade of grey that loved childrens toys always seem to turn).

That Christmas, I wrapped Jellon up in brown paper and candy striped twine (being careful not to suffocate him!), and placed him inside a massive box with a big red ribbon on top. On Christmas Day that year, my brother opened his gift, and this big burly tough man couldn't contain his tears at being reunited with Jellon. I think this is my all time favourite Christmas memory too.

Jellon sat proudly on a handmade chair in my niece's room for 3 years, watching over her, until the Dunalley Fires last January stole him away from our family forever. My brother and his family lost their entire house and all their belongings, and I know that the loss of Jellon was one item that was truly irreplaceable.

I don't really remember owning a toy as a child. I may have owned a set of jackstone. I'd like to think I did because I was pretty good at it playing by myself or with the other kids. What I do remember the most about my childhood is the countless hours spent playing outside with friends in our neighbourhood. What a time we had!