My friend Sarah just became a mama to a baby boy. I'm so excited to meet baby Jack! She's going to be one amazing mom, as Sarah is truly sunshine.
My favorite baby line right now is Zebi. Stacy pairs vintage designs with sustainable materials for a modern baby line that is outrageously adorable. Look at those bum covers! The applique giraffe bib and yellow canary bib are super cute. And I love all the patterns.
Congrats to Sarah + Dave! I'm sure you're over the moon with happiness.
Dan helped me come up with the title to this post and then proceeded to blare the Beastie Boys while I made scrambled eggs for us last night. Sometimes I think he deserves a co-author credit. I see a must-have outfit for Brooklyn babies everywhere — one of these Maptote organic cotton onesies. So super adorable! I'll be sharing more favorite finds from the NY Gift Show once I get organized. It was a great show — lots of positive energy. 2010 is looking up.
Last week I had a sweet visit with the oh-so-lovely Melissa and Angela of Ruby Press. One of their new clients, Rikshaw Design, absolutely bowled me over with these hand block-printed designs. It was one of those moments when you're sad to be size grownup as this line is for the kiddos: diaper pouches, bib sets, crib bedding, twin bedding (new), and adorable stuffed elephants. Wow. I may not be familiar with the diaper pouch market, but I'm willing to put a wager on these diaper pouches from Rikshaw being the cutest. I just love the bohemian style of the entire line. The kids market has sure come a long way.
Also, I thought the story behind Rikshaw was interesting. The creator and designer, Catherine Fitzsimmons, used to work as a visual merchandiser for Ralph Lauren and then a textile buyer for Pottery Barn. She traveled to India where she fell in love with the tradition of Indian block-printing. And so, Rikshaw Design was born.
Another kid thing I've had my eyes on: I'm super excited to see Where the Wild Things Are. Did any of you see it over the weekend? I'm hoping to catch it this week!
{photographs from rikshaw design}
I don't know if any of you share this fear, but there's one thing (besides the pain of childbirth) that scares me about having kids: an apartment full of obnoxious plastic toys. Perhaps my fear is heightened by the fact that New York apartments are inevitably small, so stashing toys in some separate playroom is not an option. I see myself tripping over some Fisher-Price deluxe whatnot while trying to pass a glass of wine to a friend who's stopped by for a visit in our living room turned gymboree playhouse.
That's why I love Kid O. Their toys are classic matching games, blocks, books, and puzzles designed with a modern twist. And their line uses sustainable wood. Plus, they've pulled in the amazing Julia Rothman, who designed all the illustrations on their products. Love! The entire Kid O line is fantastic — here's a peek at my favorites.
+ (above) Animal Homes and Things that Go wooden books — adorable!
+ memory match games: wooden boards and double-sided cards with cute illustrations
+ kids use their imagination in this game which combines theater, storytelling, and depth perception.
+ and colorful wooden cubes for any creative block building
Hooray for a toy company that got it right. It's nice to know not all toys are flashing, buzzing plastic bobs that sound moo every minute. You can check out these toys and more on the Kid O site.
I feel like I've been slacking on scouting super finds for the kiddos. So today's posts will be devoted to a few favorites that are perfect for those of you who are mamas, papas, aunties, or anyone with an upcoming baby shower. You may remember my Green Swap q+a with Carrie of Raksha Bella Organic. She just paired up with Jess Brown, who created handmade rag dolls with dresses using Raksha Bella Organic fabric. My photo above is from the Raksha Bella booth at the Gift Show, where these Jess Brown dolls are being introduced. Aren't the dolls beautiful? I just love them all. And it's sweet to know her rag dolls are made using sustainable materials — primarily recycled and antique fabrics and trims. I poked around and spotted different lines of Jess Brown's one-of-a-kind rag dolls.
+ the shop twig
+ Jess Brown rag dolls in liberty prints!
+ and check out this post on the Constant Gatherer about Jess Brown's dolls — along with a peek inside Jess's studio and doll-making process.
Here's a super cute alternative to brown bagging lunch. Rebecca Paragine designs these handmade lunch sacs using fair-trade cotton (with drawstring + Velcro closures) and her appliqué designs. So fun! Perfect for kids + anyone carrying lunch to the office. (I personally love the bird pattern!) Now your lunch bag can be reusable, green, and stylish. {available at print*pattern*paper}
I distinctly remember the day that I found out Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny are not real. I was playing at my friend Gina's house, and during a card game requiring fast flipping skills, her older sister Jessica informed us that the jolly Saint Nick and loveable bunny are just a story, a hoax — not real. And just like that, she unintentionally crushed my spirit. To me, Santa was the beloved man in the red suit who delivered the best dollhouse ever, and the Easter Bunny magically knew that I preferred a basket of jellybeans to giant chocolate rabbits. Now most children connect the dots to the Tooth Fairy being yet another childhood falsehood, after finding out the truth about Santa and the Easter Bunny. Not me. I held onto my faith in the Tooth Fairy, who gave me $2 for every lost tooth, for about a year after the crushing reveal at Gina's house. Maybe I just couldn't let go of believing in a mystery gifter. Then, I guess I became old enough to know better. Or maybe I ran out of teeth to leave the Tooth Fairy.
For the believer in your life, keep the magic going. This tooth fairy kit is the definition of cute. And it has quite an official look for any kid skeptics: one letterpress certificate of record and a silkscreened deposit bag.
