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January 2008

January 31, 2008

a new easel and bassinet

ODA has teamed up with Argington and made a bassinet, easel, and seat to be debuted tomorrow at the NY Int'l Gift Fair. "The collection utilizes natural earth friendly building materials in a simple clean and elegant form. Solid wood veneer and stainless steel harmoniously blend to create these functional and eye pleasing additions to any home. ". Please check back tomorrow as I will have actual pics from the show!

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Odaeasel


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(via designspotter)

store it

These storage bins by Thorsten Franck could make putting toys away pretty fun.

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(via pan-dan)

a monstrous pillow

Pêpin le Malin has got some Monstrous Pillows on the loose.

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peasant chic

Le Vestiare de Jeanne has wonderful eye for creating beautiful clothing.

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put a lid on it

TonKipu has some of the best lids for kids that I have seen in a long while.

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January 30, 2008

designer flashback

Luigi Colani designed the Zocker child's chair in 1972 and the Plycor chair in 1977 and I'm having a hard time tracking any down for purchase. Anyone know where I can score one of these?

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gold means number one

These little gold shoes from Polder's April Shower collection are stunning.

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willi make you pretty

Check out Anne Willi's latest collection.

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friendly forest animals

The Shiny Squirrel has an intersting yet sweet collection of plush forest animals.

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January 29, 2008

construct and build

If you are in the LA area with your mini, go check out LACMA's Boone Children's Gallery Not only is it free, but it's filled with tons of activities all geared towards exploration, building, design, collaboration and imagination. Your mini can draft floor plans, drawing, and a building model all in one sitting. There are tons of building materials and blocks as well as drafting tables and paints. A perfect activity on a rainy afternoon!

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richard hutten

Richard Hutten is one of those designers that just get better and better as time goes on. Some of his works for children seem a perfect fit for a design specific crowd. Regardless, he manages to create some beautiful and playful pieces. Here are just a few.

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January 28, 2008

spring is here....kinda

Here are just a few pieces from Wovenplay's Spring 2008 line. Is your mini looking to get alittle Bohemian Chic?

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murakami does los angeles

While in Los Angeles this weekend, we checked out the Murakami show at the MOCA. It was a perfect rainy afternoon and my daughter really had a blast. Full of visual stimulation and playful banter, this show is not to be missed if you are in the area. There are just a handful of questionable art for the youngsters but nothing serious enough to make you stay home. We did have a funny moment though. You know the movie Christmas Story where the dad gets the leg lamp and the little boy tries to feel it up? Well, my daughter saw this figure below and walked right up to it and tried to feel up this ladies leg in amazement. I don't know which gave me more of a chuckle, her face when she was thinking she was getting away with touching art or the security guards face when he came running over to her. (Mind you, I did not encourage her to touch your art Mr. Murakami.... we were across the room)

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January 25, 2008

kids.modern

See you there!!! "Don’t miss the first international show for exciting new design for kids and adults. Forget fairy wings, Bratz bed tents and Thomas the Tank Engine toy trunks, Kids.Modern is about fun, thought-provoking design adults will love and kids remember for life. Appreciating that children not only deserve modern design, they understand it and can remember it as a positive childhood experience, Showhome has spent the last year sourcing the UK, Europe and Scandinavia to bring together some of the most exciting products from over 50 clever designers and producers at Kids.Modern. Brilliant ideas for a design-hungry, Ikea-weary public."

UPDATE : see my recap here.
Kidsmod_poster








SUNDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2008
Christison Hall Dulwich College London SE21
Sunday 24th February 2008
10am–4pm
£5 entry for public and trade on door.
kidsmodern

childs play

Okay, this thing happened a while back but check out all the entries for the Design 21 Child's Play Competition. Some stand-outs are the Graffiti 4yrs+ by Adam Coward. This is a book with perforated edges, allowing a punch to punch them out and use the negative shapes as stencils to decorate their immediate environment. Another is Simple Things by Alexandra Campbell. Consisting of a wooden stool, plank, and box that playfully intertwines to create surfaces at different heights. One entry, The MIN. CHAIR by Chui Min Kang, looks just like a chair i swear I saw on Ebay awhile ago.

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January 24, 2008

might as well jump

I think these jumping animals are pretty dope.

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a lil apron never hurt anybody

I certanly don't want to promote the idea that the kitchen is where a girl belongs but c'mon, this lil apron is really freakin cute. However, to balance out the notion of not just ladies in the kitchen, here's an apron for your lil man as well.

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its for indoor and out

I'm excited to see more of the INSIDEOUT furniture line that's in production over at Mobilet. It's a range of rotomoulded indoor/outdoor children's furniture (rocking chair, stool, table and chair).

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a caged bird

Mykonos is a Hong Kong based artist who sells these really rustic and minimal mobiles. I'm not loving some of the ribbon patterns and material up top but I love the simple sweetness that they all possess.

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January 23, 2008

creative play

Djeco is a french creative toy maker. I really enjoy the look, purpose and feel of the line. Here are just a few of my favorites. The Children of the World stencils as well as farm and animal stencils, robot stamps, the colorless illustration boards that come with paint, the Tubolo blocks and many puzzles. There website is currently under construction but you can view and purchase here.

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fix up look sharp

Heather and Annette over at Leila & Ben have created some adorable neck ties for your little man. They make some really nice hats, dresses and pants as well!

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urban goes gabba?

Urban Outtfitters is selling Yo Gabba Gabba figures??? Really??

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January 22, 2008

customize your nest

This would make for a good rainy afternoon project with the mini. I really love these Paint-Them-Yourself Russian Nesting Dolls over at Spoon Sisters.

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an indoor playpit

I agree with Andy, this does indeed make for a great indoor playroom. I like the concept behind making a pit in the middle of a space for kids to barrel around in. This looks like a really comfy space.

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an eco garden playhouse

When I was a kid, I would play for hours in our backyard and the creek lined woods. It was here that my friends and I would make forts and attempt the tree house effect. However, my daughter has no woods nor a creek nearby so I think this Ecocube by Eco Space Studios is a perfect house for outdoor imagination. What's truly wonderful about this cube is that it could also serve as an educational space in teaching your juniors about gardening. Made from sustainable cedar wood outfitted with screens and planter boxes, this cube is simply beautiful and serene. Hold your US dollars though, this comes from the UK with heavy price-tag. It's great in theory

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oh-la-la bodebo

My inbox just got alittle treat. Here are some new pics from the french line BOdeBO. They are saucy and fresh with such wonderful consideration. How could a little girl not feel fierce in these threads?

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January 21, 2008

thank you mr king for trying to make this world a better place

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(photo by Moneta Sleet Jr)


I'll be back tomorrow!

January 18, 2008

a recycled mobile

Frazier and Wing is a Portland , OR based studio that was established by Heather Frazier in 2006. Her Recycled Magazine Mobile Collection is quirky and whimsical. Best of all, it's constructed with hand selected imagery from recycled magazine pages that takes about 8 hours to construct. Bravo Ms. Frazier! You can purchase a multi-colored one at the fresh and new growmodern.com.

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corktastic

Corkels are the latest product from Decor Craft Inc. (DCi) They are made from wood chip cork and are super cute. They also make a boat and car!

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its good to be a tad sensitive sometimes

Shiyuan designed this heat sensitive wallpaper. It literally brings life to design. When the radiator reaches 25°C (77°F), you will notice pink flowers begin to bloom on the green vines. I think this is a great way to teach kids the visual of hot and cool and when NOT to go near the radiator. Bravo!

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(via Torc)

January 17, 2008

felt, foam, and squares ... oh my

oLoOP is a Slovenija Design house that consists of three designers : Tjaša Bavcon, Katja Burger, and Jasmina Ferček. Just recently, they took home the Red Dot Award : Design Concept : Best of the Best : Education 2007. The design , Squareplay, is a playground for parents and children made of mounted industrial felt, foam, and PES. (I have no idea what PES is but I'm sure it's child friendly).

"Concept: shape of the Squareplay is simple, abstract, open and free of any association. It gives all freedom to child's fantasy to expand. It can become a changeable hiding place or driving surface for toy-cars. It can be used inside or outside. It can be used by one person or many. It can be part of kindergarden or playground equipment." Here is a list of the other Red Dot Education winners. oLoOP also designed these pretty fun and cool Flying Slippers!

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(via yankodesign)

you spin me round

MOMA just added this great YoYo Toy to their list of goodies. Designed by Alex Hochstrasser, this is a perfect mix of yoyo and spin top.

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hey look, i made a brownstone

Our Children's Gorilla have a new website as well as these little D.I.Y. brownstone and firehouse kits!

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lock it up

I live in Brooklyn and we ride our bikes....alot. I think this Snake Bike Lock is just perfect for the mini's new bike.

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January 16, 2008

the best outdoor ball pit .... ever

If you were lucky enough to be at the Spanish Steps in Rome today, then you would have seen activist Graziano Cecchini dump approximately 500,000 colored balls down this historical landmark. In this NYT's article, it states that several area shopkeepers were unimpressed. Did they happen to ask any of the children nearby? Man, if I were there with my little lady and those balls came streaming down, that would have probably gone down in our family history as one of our greatest moments. We would have totally jumped in the Barcaccia Fountain too.

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a funky fresh forest indeed

Every year, the Cinekid Film, Television, and New Media Festival takes place in Amsterdam. At the 2007 festival, Theodore Watson and Emily Gobeille introducted the Funky Forest in the interactive installations section.

"Funky Forest is a wild and crazy ecosystem where you manage the resources to influence the environment around you. Streams of water flowing on the floor can be diverted to make the different parts of the forest grow. If a tree does not
receive enough water it withers away but by pressing your body into the forest you create new trees based on your shape and character. As you explore and play you discover that your environment is inhabited by sonic life forms who depend on a thriving ecosystem to survive."

Here is a list of the other entries.

make some sweet music

I really like this Mini Band set from Baileys Home and Garden. (read our past post about Baileys here)

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pure as snow

Adrienne Catrina children's line Neige is simply wonderful. "The French word for “snow”, neige was chosen to designate the collection for its connotations of purity, innocence and sophisticated playfulness." With only a one fall and one spring line under their belt,