minor details

beautiful

There is something very peaceful, curious and beautiful about Efterklang's Mirador video animated by Jens Christian Høgni Larsen & Nan Na Hvass.

 

sleeping betty

Take the next 9:18 mins and check out this amazing short film by Claude Cloutier. It's got a bit of Monty Python meets classic fairy tale meets Charlie Chaplin meets absurd and silly old school style with subtle modernized pokes. Parents - I'd watch it first to determine if your child will enjoy it. 

 

getting ready

I love Halloween .... we are getting ready for the big night. Here is a lil something to get you in the spirit:

mom trends nyc

The lovely Nicole Feliciano, of Momtrends, just recently launched Momtrendsnyc. It's got everything for the urban NYC parent! 

She asked me some very in-depth questions not too long ago and just posted our interview! Check it out HERE.

willpower

I am impressed with the amount that some of these kids have.....

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo. (via swissmiss)

up up and away

I am huge fan of the band Grizzly Bear. I am also a huge fan of the Red Balloon. So it's no surprise that I would fall in love with the new Grizzly Bear video for the song Two Weeks, featuring the Red Balloon. Ahhhhhh, exactly what I needed today! Thanks Joanna.

i heart lmnop

Jenny over at LMNOP has really stepped up the game. She hand picked amazing moms from all over the world and is doing a daily piece on all of them. She is extending Mother's Day throughout the week. I am honored to be in such amazing company! Thank you so much Jenny! Check out all the kick ass mom interviews HERE.

 

sesame shorts

A childhood friend of mine, David Ahuja, is doing some pretty fun and amazing work. Like these little numbers for Season 39 of Sesame Street!

musical experiments

Dead Man's Bones is one part Ryan Gosling and one part Zach Shields. A two piece band with a dark, haunting Elvis Presley meets Johnny Cash kinda vibe. There is something very erie, vintage and really freakin catchy about their songs. The duo recruited the children's choir from the Silverlake Conservatory of Music,  suited in their halloween best, to aid in the song below. Pitchfork had a great interview wherein they discuss the importance of involving children into their music. I love the little guy at the end with his sword.....wait for it.....

 

little girl giant

On the morning of Sunday 7th May the little girl giant woke up at Horseguards Parade in London, took a shower from the time-traveling elephant and wandered off to play in the park........

configure how you will

Oh man, I am so into the new Binjte crates from IKEA. I could see these making a great place to store children toys and books while making their room super fun. If only I lived in France......

Les rangements IKEA PS 2009 BINTJE
by Hopscotch_NM

icons

The Chop Shop have taken some kid friendly icons and placed them on toddler and kid sized shirts.  They also have been working with Roberto de Vicq de Cumptich, the author of Bembo's Zoo. (which happens to be one of my daughter's favorites!) Their Peacock print will be available in mid-April.

  

 

meeting with the teach

The extremely helpful folks over at The K5 have a video on how to prepare for your parent teacher conferences. The timing could not be better as I'm meeting with my daughter's teacher tomorrow for ours! Read more about The K5 here.

The Most Important Ten Minutes of the Year: Tips on How to Prepare for a Parent/Teacher Conference from The K5 on Vimeo.

clean fun

I wish that I would have thought of this....

Baby Mop from Chris Milk on Vimeo.

lmnop 6

The latest issue of LMNOP has come out and again, I continue to be impressed with Jenny Lacey's curation and eye for design. In this issue, there is section of well-considered toys, coloring books, meal time goods, reading books, chalky tees, Hanne Larsen's amazing NYC loft with her four children, homegrown threads and a show and tell section by Janet and Stu from Three Potato Four. 

If you find your way over to page 20, you'll find my contribution. I wanted to challenge myself and take a highly designed and playfully sophisticated child's room and cheat my way to achieving this designer look for a lot less. I hope you enjoy it.

Also check out LMNOP blog.... for when you just can't wait for the next issue to come out! They dish a hearty dose of great design for children and babies.

You can download the current issue here. 

   

 

pistols and popcorn

A fellow parent and blogger has been nominated for a 2009 Bloggie under the The Best-Kept Secret Weblog category. Voting ends on Monday so go cast your vote!

Her blog Pistols and Popcorn is a funny and honest journal about life in brooklyn with a 5 year old. She tackles all the life questions, funny situations and observations that surround her family and those around her. Her posts are full of wit and charm which makes her nomination even more deserved. Good luck Jodi. 

elementary education for parents

With little time and mounting pressures, parents will find a short visit to The K-5 invaluable. Through the short videos, ask the specialist (Ask the K5) columns and on-going blogs (The K5 News) with tips from real-life teachers, specialists and parents, they will find sound advice and helpful tips on subjects as varied as reading, writing, math, discipline, homework, home-life, nutrition and more: information and  resources to make their children’s education a strong foundation for life.  

The amazingly spirited and passionate Otis Kriegel is the founder of The K5. He also happens to be be one of the best elementary teachers in Manhattan with 15 years experience in community education and the arts. I have been very hard pressed to find a resource like this that actually addresses important issues. Issues like homework, discipline, reading comprehension, tips on getting out of the house on time, food allergies....etc. Issues that every parent with an elementary aged child goes through, thinks, seeks or needs at little guidance with. The site is only but a pup but I expect great things ahead. It's off to a pretty impressive start!

Visit The K5

 

What Film Should I Watch With My Kid: An Interview With Film Producer Anne Carey from The K5 on Vimeo.

pnau baby

I am uncertain who PNAU is. Perhaps a bit more research is in order. This video and song is pretty catchy though. And yes, it contains God talk. Do any of my readers have any more info? (via phlods ur boat)

harmony

Söderberg sisters Johanna and Klara make up the band First Aid Kit. They hail from Enskede, a suburb south of Stockholm. They claim that Klara was given her first guitar at age 13 although it would seem as though they were born to sing and play...together.

viva la 2008

What a wonderful year it's been....and I am so thankful for all my readers. Without you this little blog would be pointless. It started with the simple idea of creating my own little visual reference library.  Made up of thousands upon thousands of my forgotten bookmarks. At the close of the year, it's turned into something far greater than I could have ever hoped. So thanks again for stopping by and please, make yourself at home. 

One last thing, because of you, I was nominated for a Homie : Best Kid's Design Blog of 2008 over at Ohdeedoh. Go over and cast your vote. I am honored to be in the same seat as some of my favorite blogs as well!  (It's also kinda great that one of my rooms is front and center in the Best of October posts over at Ohdeedoh as well)

Enjoy the rest of your 2008 and best of wishes for your 2009.

Cheers - Jenn

 

lucky's last swim

This little girl has a very good handle on the life and death of a fish. (via bling on my sewing machine) 

the best 3 min 31 seconds ever

Meet Tavi...she's got things to say. She even has her own dope little blog.

(thanks stef)

 

happy thanksgiving

I am thankful for such a healthy and beautiful family. I'm also thankful for all of you! I'll be back soon .....

(photographer unknown)

In the mean time, check out some of my favorite sites:

The K5   

Swiss Miss

Kids love design

Bloesem Kids

A Cup of Jo

Pan Dan

Dfork

Nova Clutch

The Selby

Mon Cabanon

Design Boom

Fine Little Day

Mornings with NPR

Urban Preschool

LMNOP five gift guide

Issue five of LMNOP has just come out and it's just in time for the holidays. (I put together a little gift guide over on page 29.) This issue is also packed with an amazing gift guide and as well as great photography. Jenny and Ian have such a wonderful eye. It seems as though they have found their calling..... they even started a blog!

 

my past contributions to LMNOP can be found here and here

happy birthday lil D

To my amazing little nephew. Happy happy day my sweets. Click HERE to get a message from P. It's from her favorite band, the Ting Tings ...... from her favorite show Yo Gabba Gabba.

say click ..... take a pic

So this morning my daughter had her first ever school pictures done. Up until the last minute this morning, she wanted to be dressed in a princess gown with a crown. A request that I felt was just fine. I mean why not? Then I started thinking about the other kids and would they be upset that they did not get to play dress up for their pics? So we came to a compromise where for her individual picture, a princess she could be...but for the group shot (shown here) , she would have to dress in her normal clothes. Like I said, at the last minute, she changed her mind. However, I think she had a great idea! Why not dress up in a costume for your class pictures? It sure would make them more fun to look at in 20 years!

Thanks Tina for posting about this cool way to make your photos into an instant polaroid and for listening to my funny dilemma last night on the phone and encouraging class picture dress up as well!

discovering a bear

In the US today, we are celebrating a national holiday for the man who discovered America known as Christopher Columbus. However, another important person to celebrate today is Paddington Bear.... who turns 50 !

a huge thank you

I am so flattered that both Cookie Magazine and the lovely Joanna Goddard (aka A CUP OF JO) thought my daughter's room was nice enough to blog about. Awe shucks guys, I'm blushing!

subway

I love this vintage clip from Sesame Street about the subway. It's currently the only daily mode of transportation that my daughter knows.

cookie living + minor details

Head on over to Cookie Magazine's Cookie Living Show Home any fri-sun from October 10-October 26. There are going to be a ton of events and really great programs. I will be doing individual design consultations on Saturday , October 18th from 11:30am-1:30pm. Feel free to bring a picture of a room that you might need some advice or direction with....or if you have an inspiration pic for a space and don't know how to make it happen...I will be available to help your tackle those design woes. Make sure to RSVP to rsvp@cookiemag.com with the subject line "Oct 18, Ward". I will also be doing a baby/child proofing program on Sunday , October 19th from 1-2pm. Best of all....it's free.

Make sure to stop into the kid's room that i have been working on. Here is the concept behind it : One staple in Minor Details design philosophy is to spark a child's imagination. With Merle's room, inspiration came from the pages of a book*. Most of the furniture is handmade, re-invented or vintage. With this approach a greener message is achieved. The motivation behind the color palette was to provide a gender neutral path for any child who enters. By adding a ton of books, vintage marionette puppets, and milk-fueled highway wallpaper, it was our hope to create an environment where curiosity leads to creativity. Welcome, please make yourself at home.
*The Incredible Book Eating Boy by Oliver Jeffers

See you then!

new socks

While at a dinner party on Friday, I stumbled upon Bob Shea's New Socks. It is fantastic. There is even a video about it.

New Socks from bob shea on Vimeo.

do you believe in miracles?

thanks stef ... this made me laugh out loud

LMNOP four

I know I said that I would not be back until tomorrow but the latest issue of LMNOP has come out and I could not help myself. This issue is fantastic. It's filled with amazing finds, great features and dope photography. There is a great piece on Chicago with kids as well. Make sure to hit page 17...... it's my contributing piece on Paris!

 

do your part

Amautalab has teamed up with National Geographic to spread the word about taking care of our earth...in a way that appeals to the younger set.

(via)

dance dance dance

The other night at dinner, we put our forks down and literally started dancing around the table to this song. Thanks Lykke Li

help a dad out

While searching through Craigslist yesterday, I typed in the keywords "vintage child" and this was one of the first things to pop up. It's a dad from Brooklyn that needs to pay child support for his five kids. I did my thing strutting around the neighborhood for all these years. Getting busy and breaking hearts now it’s time for me to pay. I got child support for 5 kids from 3 different women. Need to sell some things to support my support.

Hey, at least he's trying.

Some of his interesting items include :

15. 100’s of Flea Market Items (brika-a-brak) - $250
17. Full Size Stove / Oven Costume - $200
20. Bontempi Electronic Cord Organ - $40
43. Record Collection - $1.00 Each
45. Casio Digital Camera Spy Watch - $115
50. Indoor Brass Alloy Weather Cock / Weather Vane - $18
55. Personal Workout Journal - $15 (is this his or is it blank?)
62. Oil Paintings - $50
65. Laser Light Show Machine - $65
71. Spring Time Bridge Over Water Framed Puzzle Portrait - $14
75. Autographed Strive Promotional Picture of Bill Kazmair Worlds Strongest Man - $25

fertility today

Why rely on your old school clock or internal calendar to tell you when you might conceive. Turn to the USB Preganancy Test to tell you. That is, if you like urine near your computer.

The process starts off like most pregnancy tests. You pee on a stick, specifically the absorbent test strip at one end. But everything's different after that first step. Remove the cap from the other end of the stick (cleverly provided to keep you from accidentally contaminating the wrong end) to reveal the USB connector. Pop it in your computer. The power from your USB port starts the electrospray ionization process, creating a spectrograph of the various masses for your analysis. Get it? Your analysis? Urinalysis? *rimshot* Moving on ... the LCD display on the device itself will light up and show you the symbol of a baby, no baby, or multiples and your Estimated Delivery Date based on the concentration of hCG, hCG-H, and LH in your urine. So you can clear your calendar in advance

(UPDATE : I guess I showed up late to the game. Apparently this was an April Fools Day Joke! Thanks Becky)

we're not in kansas anymore

But this little girl is certainly in the zone. (via storkbitesman)

happy anniversary boo

A SHORT LOVE STORY IN STOP MOTION from Carlos Lascano on Vimeo.(via notcot)

have a great weekend

Photo Funia is a fun little place to put your pictures into. (via little big pants)

we wanna dance

Picture turning up your volume and dancing around the dining room (several times) ..... thats just what my daughter and I did.

etsy + minor details

I LOVE searching through Etsy...so when they asked me to be a Featured Buyer and take part in the Handmade Kids series, I was honored. I gave some of my picks for the family friendly home. If you have never tried an Etsy stroll, I highly recommend it! Check out my piece here. Also, be sure to check the new Handmade Kids features regularly!

hey jude

have a great weekend!

taking it to tha streets

Feist goes Sesame

(via daddytypes)

have a great weekend

I will be back on Tuesday! I leave you with this great little short called An Eye for Annai.

This film was done by John Klassen and Dan Rodrigues in their third year at Sheridan College's Classical Animation Program. Everything is hand drawn and animated. They coloured the animation digitally, and the backgrounds are a mix of traditional and digital. The jazz music near the middle is from Louis Armstrong's "Jeepers Creepers".

the girl effect

more info here. (thanks goodyblog)

rule 8A - have your destination in mind

Perhaps some of you know of the Phantom Tollbooth. It was a classic book written by Norton Juster and illustrated by Jules Feiffer in 1961.

In 1969, animation director Chuck Jones adapted The Phantom Tollbooth into a full-length feature animated film. So take a 10 minute break from whatever you are doing and take a ride.

i know...i know

Posts have been slow lately. I guess with the baby boom .... everybody suddenly wants to focus on the Minor Details. Never fear..... I'll be back shortly. In the mean time...go and play with this website that makes your pictures look really old. (yes, that's me .... via the apartment)

a summer issue

The fine ladies at Small Magazine have come out with the summer 08 issue (#6). Go on and give it a read.

this aint no brooklyn kindergarden concert

Okay, so I'm not a fan of the music per se but i felt the need to share this is a performance at a kindergarden concert back in 2006 for the Yamaha Music School. (location unknown...but the kid is named Jay and he's in the zone,) I'm with Cult Gear, this totally puts my rendition of Chopstix to shame.