Wooden wonderland: Colourful children’s toys made in New Zealand

04 Apr 2023

When Elizabeth Dittmer’s long-time love of interior design, beautiful fabrics, and vibrant Resene paint colours came together with Barry Dittmer’s love of woodworking and their combined passion for creating and making, Jemima + Jeremy was born!  

The couple specialise in whimsical home décor and toys for children and their spaces. Handcrafted in their home studio and workshop nestled in the thriving Manawatu-Rangitikei town of Marton, Elizabeth and Barry use a range of colourful Resene paints that are non-toxic and safe for children.

This gorgeous little VW Beetle is painted in Resene Glamour Puss, capturing the fun and quirky shape of the vehicle with a colour that is enticing to play with.

Elizabeth and Barry take pride in using environmentally friendly materials to create products that are safe for children’s play, handcrafted with love to be cherished forever. Being passionate about New Zealand made products, they are licensed to use the New Zealand Made brand on their products. 

The creativity and effort that has gone into Jemima + Jeremy’s ‘Rainbow Arches’ is outstanding, sure to attract any child. This piece is painted in Resene Poppy, Resene Glamour Puss, Resene Grenadier, Resene Broom, Resene Permanent Green, Resene Kermit, Resene Reef, Resene Milk Chocolate, Resene Half Moonbeam, Resene Chill Out, Resene Submerge, Resene Curious Blue and Resene Violent Violet.  

All of the toys and puzzles that the Dittmers make are painted using non-toxic, water-based and Environmental-Choice approved paints from Resene, so you can be sure that they are safe for your little ones, as we all know toys end up in the mouth at some point! 

“We chose Resene paints as they are New Zealand made, and Resene is a New Zealand company, like us,” Elizabeth says.

“As a couple who work together, one of our favourite things to do is to walk our dog, Bolt, talk about our business, and get inspired to create and make new magical products.”

This creative piece, known as the ‘Rainbow Boat’, is painted in Resene Poppy, Resene Grenadier, Resene Broom, Resene Permanent Green, Resene Curious Blue, Resene Submerge and Resene Violent Violet. 

Since 2020, they have sold online through New Zealand marketplace, Felt. This carefully curated collection of timeless, unique, quality, whimsical, toys and puzzles are so magical and will last a lifetime. Wooden toys are a great sustainable choice, compared to the many plastic ones out there, and they can be passed down to the next generation with love and care.

“I love working with Felt,” Elizabeth says. “I found the process to set up our online store to be easy and user-friendly, and when we had our first sale from our Felt shop it was a very exciting moment.”  

Check out this amazing array of colourful toys, a great gift for loved ones and children’s birthdays: jemimaandjeremy.felt.co.nz

For more information on Felt visit: felt.co.nz/sell-on-felt

Barry and Elizabeth, the creators behind Jemima + Jeremy.

Published: 04 Apr 2023