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!
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".
more info here. (thanks goodyblog)
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.
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)
The fine ladies at Small Magazine have come out with the summer 08 issue (#6). Go on and give it a read.
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.
Jenny Lacey, mastermind behind the on-line kids magazine LMNOP has come out with issue number three. The drive behind this issue is to celebrate animals. Packed with amazing photography by Ian Macpherson and styling by Lacey, number three does not disappoint. I am very happy to be a part of this (an introduction colulmn on page 12 and in the editor's welcome) and future issues with contributing stories. I am currently working on my story for the next issue and I'm thrilled to be on board! So head over to the site and get the latest issue of LMNOP. You download it here.
Last night, I was asked to participate in a brainstorm/salon to think of creative ways for a shoe company to enter the kids shoe market and increase awareness for the brand. Before I go any further, I am posting about them on my own accord. I believe and support their cause. I am posting to create awareness and introduce you to a brand that is doing something good for others. TOMS Shoes business plan is simple - for every shoe you purchase, they send a pair of shoes to a child in need. Since 2006, they have given 10,000 pairs to children in Argentina and 50,000 pairs in South Africa. This year alone, they plan on giving 200,000 pairs of shoes to children in need around the world. Here is a clip of an acutal shoe drop in Argentina back in 2006.
I was introduced to the Tiny TOMS line last night. I love the designs just as much as I love the cause.
Get involved!
Never fear, I'm heading to ICFF tomorrow so I'll be back in full swing!
Oh my. I'm speechless. It's gets really amazing around 1:50 in.
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.
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.
Thanks Imedagoze, it's stuck in our heads too....but in a great way!
Looking for a book for your mini but don't want to waste money on a book that they might not even like? Perhaps these podcasts can help.
Just One More Book is a thrice-weekly podcast which promotes and celebrates literacy and great children’s books. Each weekday morning, we take a few minutes out of our morning coffee ritual to discuss one of our many favourite children’s books. We also feature weekly interviews with authors, illustrators and experts and enthusiasts in the areas of children’s literature and literacy as well as listener-submiited audio reviews. Through this podcast and its website, we are building a lively, interactive community linking children’s book authors, illustrators, readers (children, parents, educators and librarians) and publishers.
Here is a review on one of my favorites - Iggy Peck, Architect.
(via urban preschool)
My daughter is in love with this video by Thao Nguyen. I think we have seen it 10 times this weekend....I don't think I can watch it anymore but the song is great.
I love it when I get an email telling me the latest issue of Small Magazine is now online. Here are some highlights.
(the past issue is posted about here.)
Head over to DK kids website and let your little nugget take an Interactive Drawing Lesson.
Doodle 4 Google is a competition for k-12 students to come up with a "What if..." logo (to find inspiration around the "What if...?" theme, try thinking about the future and how you would like it to differ from the present). Registration for schools close March 28th and entries are due by April 12th. Should your lucky designer get selected, the design will be on the Google homepage May 22, 2008. I can't say that I'm excited by the idea of having my child create a corporate logo but I like the idea behind the competition. To encourage children to create.... to enrich us with their creative vision.
One of my favorite shops has just launched a kids section and I could not be happier. Three Potato Four continues to do no wrong! Check out the stamp collection as well!
or so the website claims. Underten, only for kids from 2-10! This new streetwear label launched last March and has a very playful and creative vibe to all its offerings. The website also has fun games and print out figuires. Not to mention these really cute World Tour brief sets for a boy or girl.
Last night I went to an open house school tour for the mini, so she had an evening playdate with her best bud. When I came to pick her up, she was watching Free to Be... You and Me. My friend J is a HUGE fan of this soundtrack. In fact every time I get into her car, 9 times out of 10, it's playing. This record album and illustrated songbook came out in 1974 and has an amzing cast. Here is a little ditty about when you grow up....with Michael Jackson. Hummm. I wonder what happened?
The lovely ladies over at Spunky Sprout have teamed up with Minor Details for Design Consultation services for their online customers. I am so thrilled about this opportunity. They have such a wonderul collection of fresh and modern pieces for children. Go check them out...and spread the news!
You Can't Do That On Television started in Ontario Canada in 1979. It did not hit the Nickelodeon circut until 1984, making it the highest-rated television program of that time. The name says it all, there were alot of things that they should not have done on television.....but that's what made me watch it back then. Kinda makes SpongeBob SquarePants feel like Little Bear.
The V&A Museum of Childhood has two really great interactive web games on their website. One is Design Your Own Space Age Bedroom and the other is a Build a Toy site. Here you can build a toy and then head into a maze with it! So, if you have an interior designer or a toy designer on your hands, I'd say these two site are perfect for your mini!
In 1992, Severn Cullis-Suzuki gave a brave and heart felt speech at the Earth Summit in Rio De Janeiro. She, and her two colleagues at the Environmental Children's Organization which she founded at age 9, raised all the money to have their voices heard on this day. What's truly unfortunate about this speech is that, in 15 years, nothing has changed. She speaks of realities that everyone is aware of. She admits fear and loathing of current standings. Standings that are even more an issue today. She personalizes her audience and had convictions behind that of any 12 year old I have ever known. I was not aware of this woman until today. Thank you David for sharing those 7 minutes.
The fine people at Apple are having a grand opening tonight at their third manhattan retail store. I hear it's huge. So huge in fact that I snagged the title of the largest one in the city. So, what better way to celebrate then to outfit your mini with "non-Microsoft" tees. Black Arrow a the new label for Apple addict children clothes. They claim that "Your children will never go unnoticed on the nearby playground park
again in front of your Windows Victims neighbors." (should that be important to you) The line has three different designs, that is for Vintage Apple lovers, iPhone future owners, and a “keyboard shortcut” to show the world your “New Document”.
Wow. okay, I'm not much for a logo pimping baby but the designs are actually kinda nice if you're a die hard Apple fan but the shirts just look like regular 'ol fruit of the looms to me.
small magazine is on it's online issue no.4 and I must say, I become more of a fan with every issue. Offering independant design for kids while taking a raw and bold approach. Good design... good content ... goodness.
"ANORAK is a new unisex magazine made for kids designed to appeal to both boys and girls. Anorak has a unique format consisting of brand new stories written and illustrated by modern authors, fun fashion and style pages and a ‘good stuff’ guide which covers new products for kids. It covers all aspects of a child’s world from fashion to stories, culture to science and sport to food. Encouraging children’s contributions and input, Anorak bridges the gap between a children’s book and character magazine to create a unique new publication. At times, it’s their imaginary friend, at others it’s their mentor. Anorak’s main philosophy is to encourage children to make their own decisions and is here to amplify their voices. It has at the core of its offering a passion for words and images that challenge and stimulate."
The interactive website just launched a few months ago and its packed with games, stories, information and videos. It's nice to finally see a creative force for kids that has nothing to do with plastic toys and television. You can buy a copy here .
Chapi Chapo (chapeaux, in french means "hats") was a stop-motion French short series created in 1974. The music and them song is so catchy. I have found myself singing it several times in my life. The main characters, Chapi and Chapo, move around as if locked in a Atari game. It hit the American scene in the 1980's on the Nickelodeon show Pinwheel. Yes, yet another childhood theme song that I just can't shake......and I dont know if I ever want to.
One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) is an amazing cause. their mission is to empower the children of developing countries to learn by providing one connected laptop to every school-age child. here is a bonus - from november 12-26, if you purchase a laptop for a child, they will send you one as well. the interesting thing about these laptops is that when they first launched, they were known as the $100 laptop. however, things have changed a bit. they actually are $399 bucks for both. ($200 is tax deductible). and its really a fun and beautiful design as well. i mean, they did have Yves Behar on the design team.
so here's what i think would be a great idea. instead of all the grandparents sending us gifts for the holidays, why dont they do this instead? its a win win.
(via daddytypes)
check out these two great interactive websites for children poisson rouge and bembos zoo.
genius at only 5 and 8 years old. i'm going out and getting two turntables and microphone right now.
(via theapt)
Yo Gabba Gabba is my daughters (ok, my) newest obsession. if you have not checked it out yet, you are wasting precious time. i know, some people think that television is the root of all evil. i will agree to disagree with you. it's like the modern day electric company.
if having Biz Markie's beat of the day is wrong then i dont want to be right.
