minor details

closed. be back in may

I'm off to Paris kids. I'm packing up the family and switching houses with complete strangers! Mid-trip, we will take a train to Amsterdam to meet up with Matt and his lovely family for the weekend. Once back in Paris, I've been instructed by my daughter that we must find the very best playground in town. I'm excited to introduce her to Chausson aux Pommes and fresh markets. We are looking forward to a playdate with Marie, checking out the Louvre's special section as recommended by Andy, and doing some shopping at Balouga.

So as you can imagine, I will not be in front of my computer for the next 14 days. While we are gone, we are missing some pretty special events and birthdays. So Natasha, Michele, and Ella Joy (turns 2) - may this next year bring you much joy, success and happiness. Tonight we will miss our are friends Lauren and Pascal perform at Joe's Pub as well as Olafur Eliasson's preview at PS1 and the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom. And I think the Pope is here so I'm glad to miss the cluster mess in the city!

If anyone has recommendations for family fun in Paris or Amsterdam, let me know. Otherwise, stroll through the sites I like on the right or in the archives to the left. I'll be back in May with a fresh smile and plenty to share.

Cheers!

(image : Saul Bass Henri's Walk to Paris via Grain Edit)

a minimal dollhouse

Daniel Franzén of Bunker Hill has made a very minimal dollhouse of lacquered steel. These are limited and signed editions with only 100 made. It comes with three magnetic papers with wallpaper patterns and a CD with more patterns included. You can purchase here.

rock it to the side

Shara Liou's Cradle Rocking chair rocks from side to side. Why? Actually it's pretty smart. It's to mimic the movement of swaying from hip to hip when cradling a baby.

soft flowers

OFFECCT's Flower Mini is made of foam with polyurethane surface. Available in red, orange, white or black. I think that designer Eero Koivisto has made a lovely little seat for your mini - indoors or out.

brown bear brown bear

I used to sing this to my little girl too! (thanks Jolayne) Below is sung by author Bill Martin.

simple and clean

Two perfect words to describe Teori's Root tray table - simple and clean. This would be perfect for a small space where a chunky big child's table and chair would not work. It could even be a coffee table for a kid's couch. (ok, I secretly want this for myself. How sweet would breakfast in bed be on this for mothers day??)

a three wheeled beauty

I really like this vintage tricycle from Bom Designs. (store found via Andy)

room to grow

I want entertain the idea of furniture that grows with with your child. My only hestitation is that as your child grows, so does their dwelling needs and desires. What seemed amazing and kick-ass to you when they were infants, my not feel the same once they are 5 or 6. I think that Esin ISIK is on to a really great idea with her PORTAKAL system. There are a lot of things that I like about her design but I just don't know if its enough. What do you think?

for the budding corporate advertising exec

Leave it up to Philip Wood over at Citizen-Citizen to carry the American Comfort Quilt by Bradley Price and Joel Yatscoff. So head on over, drop $4,900 and educate our children on corporate america!

riding in style

I admit it, I like Andrea Putaggio's Gimmie Lift bike seat for toddlers. I'm not a fan of the football looking side cushions but I am looking forward to seeing the prototype.

mix it...shove it...kick it...eat it

While in Austin, Texas this past weekend I learned about something new. Perhaps you have heard of it. It's a ball that once you add rock salt and ice to, you then play with it (shake, roll, toss) and BOOM, you have a pint of ice cream. You can buy the Play and Freeze here.

game on

Arm wrestling + Tetris = TRESLING. Genius! They said it couldn't be done. Mixing Tetris and arm wrestling... not possible. But just like Stallone in "Over the Top," the impossible happened, dreams came true, tears were shed. I give you Tresling: Not just a two-player version of best game on earth, not just a fist-pumping, back ally arm wrestling match to end all matches... but a mash-up so heroic Zeus himself could not imagine it.

(via engadget)

baby needs some smooth tunes

Say hello to the iStroll. Yes, the iStroll made for the iPod Nano. (Apple - are you really going there?)

for the budding christopher columbus

This Chinese Explorer Kit looks pretty sweet.

just missed it

Man, I missed the boat on buying this Bronz Zoo Flag Banner by 2 seconds.

hop on down the bunny trail

This bunny mobile and pacifier chain by Sternchen-Design makes me smile sweetly.

a crocheted tale

Rapunzel and Little Red Riding Hood are classic stories that will always find their way into a child's room. One way to achieve this would be scooping these up from Simple Arts Planet.

look up

Volabile is a french company that makes beautiful mobiles for children.

a designer eye exam

The talented duo over at Blue Ant Studio have come out with a new print. This one, called Chair Exam, is a playful nod to design classics and old school eye exams. I really like their work.

(via notcot)

buckle up

Does your child love to help you open the door with your keys.... and then run off and hide them? Does your kid also question and resist wearing a seatbelt? Well, Thabto is here to help. I would like to introduce the Buckle-Up key holder. Made from salvaged car seatbelts, this wall mounted key holder cleverly changes the context of the buckle, while retaining the arriving and leaving element of using a seatbelt. Over time, plugging in your keys becomes as much of a habit as putting on your seatbelt. I think this is great for parents and it allows kids to have fun with a "seat belt."

dumbo...uh...i mean picasso

Oh my. I'm speechless. It's gets really amazing around 1:50 in.

get diverse

Ikea's new JUTANÄS nesting dolls are interesting. (question to IKEA - where is the red head in the hawaiian shirt from?)

space saver

New to IKEA is this sweet space-saving Laptop Station. This could also make for a nice hide-away desk in a kids room.

im so square

I think these little Pop Steel cubes from Kid & Co are nice. They could make for a sweet little modern dollhouse or cubby holes for your little mini's toy or CD collection. They can also be fixed to the wall.

for the budding tiny tim

The Curiosity Shoppe has a sweet Ukulele kit. Thats right, make your own Uke and pluck away kids!

a high chair

It's simple and clean design lines that make me smile. For instance, the Mi-Ki highchair by Hannes Wettstein for Horgenglarus .

a bright idea

I can't tell if I love this Teddy Bear Lamp from SUCK UK or really dislike it. I'm torn. What do you think?

i love spring time

My love for the Magic Garden will never die.

get in

This wooden "Monospace" vehicle from Goki is very nice.

food made fun

Reina Takahashi's Chomp Campaign is a series of items that were produced to encourage young children to make healthier eating choices. One is the video below.

Chomp from rei on Vimeo.

Also making the cut is the Pixel Plate - with the pixel plate, various cards slide under the plate (in this case Mario) and mixed vegetables in the compartment above are put in the appropriately colored "pixel" to create a piece of art with veggies. Created with vacuum formed PETG plastic. Another is the chomp Lunch Tray that is separated into the food groups to remind kids to eat from each one. Illustrations are etched and colored to make the tray fun and kid-friendly.

sturdy play

Berg Toys has a sweet and sturdy scooter and wagon.

spring time

What better way to bring in spring with your child than giving them their own flower garden. Ophelie Esteve designed this exclusively for Madame la Marchande. Consisting of a wooden turquoise base, aluminum buckets and a yellow silk sunshade, this is little number is a sweet addition to any backyard or indoor playspace.

ill take a felt seat please

I was so excited when Bookhou made the Petit Chaise no.2 for children. I got even more excited when I found out about their new children's Felt Chair.

a fresh glass of milk

The fine people over at Milk Magazine just got a brand new website. Go check it out.

the world is a wheel

Should your bike be just one as well? Well, back in 1869, someone thought it would be a great idea. Then in 1928, someone came out with the Motor Wheel. That brings us to today. Meet the Motorized Monocycle. With a minimum weight of 110 lbs, I think this one is for the big kids (at heart).

fold ... hang ... zen

Mobile Envol by Helene Millot is composed of origami birds. Hey swissmiss, this could go well with your origami love from awhile back.

its all about balance

A balance bicycle that can be transformed into a Rocking Horse. The cycles are being folded into the wooden body of the bicycle and are used as breaks which prevent from the child to turn over while swaying.. This is the new concept by Amir Zobel, student of industrial design, Bezalel.

a slow week for posts

This week will be a little light on posting as I am moving my studio and working on projects. I will be back in full force on Monday. Cheers!

relax

Whether the family is heading to the beach, picnic in the park, camping or movie screening in the back yard, SMOOFF will hook you up. This laid back cushion is made from practical and easy to clean material with a special fire retardant coating in several colors to choose from.

i love vintage

Metro Retro has an amazing vintage collection. In this mix is a school desk from the 1950's, a 20 section pigeon hole storage unit and a 10 section pigeon hole with a sloped chalkboard top. I was lucky enough to see these in person while in London. I will be visiting them again soon!

playful art for kids

I really like these pieces of canvas from The Art Farmer.

got the 411?

I'm calling out to my readers. Can anyone help me find more information on designer Probst Walter. He designed this children's chair below. I'd love to know more. Thanks!