This past Thursday London and I headed up to the Natural History Museum with some friends to check out the Origami Christmas Tree on display. I was really unprepared for how amazing it turned out to be and have since vowed to make origami ornaments for our tree next year. (How's that for ambitious??) There were just about every animal you can think of, made out of a variety of papers and sizes and it was just fantastic. Definitely one of those things I want to revisit next year.
Paris-based Melanie Rodriguez is becoming quite an accomplished photographer in the world of kids design mags - her work has appeared in Papier Mache and Doolittle and I'm sure the list will only continue to grow. Her dreamy photos are so genuine and I'm especially loving her polaroids. I hope the first one inspires you to be a little silly this weekend.
I know today is an IMAGINE day, but since I didn't post yesterday I wanted to share this playroom with you first. I'm quite intrigued by the pulley system with the lamp and the general rustic yet modern feel to this room. What generous parents to let the kids have this room! I would have probably been selfish and put my own work table under there. :)
Image courtesy of Martha Stewart
Found via roomforkids
Some days I wish I had a little outdoor space so much that it hurts. The resident's roof deck at our building doesn't count, although it is pretty cool. I'm a little tempted to replace all of the tiles up there with these instead. So much cuter! Although some grass would be super nice too...ok, enough daydreaming. These tiles by Xiral Segard are aptly called "Playtime" and could be so fun to do a little arrangement in a garden or back patio. They remind me of those chalk drawings London did a while back.
via kidsroomzoom
This yellow bed is making me really happy and I love the way it pops on the black wall. Looks like the perfect place to curl up and lounge with a stack on books on a rainy day...
I've been feeling quite underwhelmed this holiday season as I see the many gift guides out there beckoning parents to buy this or that. It seems like every major website (and lots of modern kiddie/mommy sites) out there have come out with one this season and for the most part, they are full of plastic, electronic, cheaply made toys, not to mention ugly. I think toys should be BEAUTIFUL! I'm a little obsessed with this notion. :) I don't understand why people buy their children ugly, obnoxious things. There are so many good options out there these days and plenty of vendors to choose from. Just the other day I was walking down the hallway and saw a copy of the Wall Street Journal in front of someone's door - one of the headlines read something like "The toys that will drive parents nuts." I immediately thought, "Then why let them in your home??" If a toy drives YOU crazy, it probably isn't the best one for a child. We have one toy in our house that makes noise other than musical instruments - a jack-in-the-box, and even that gets me a little frazzled at times. ANYWAY....obviously I have strong opinions about this! I apologize for venting about it here! It just frustrates me to see so many toys at this time of year that I despise, when there are so many well-crafted and lovely toys available. Take this one for example. A gorgeous wooden rocking bird that is visually pleasing and will provide hours of fun and satisfies a toddler's need for movement. It won't be a toy that is easily thrown out because it is so beautiful, and will most likely last for a few generations. Love it!! Available from petitHOOD.
Another sleeping picture...I found this one last night and it was just so typical of London, I caught myself doing a double-take. I guess not much has changed between the children of 1945 and the children of today...they still love to sleep with their babies. Seeing pictures like this often make me wonder where those toys are today...how long did she love them like this? Where did they go after she had moved on to other things in life? Did they go with her? It just makes me wonder. I hope this photo inspires you to pull out an old toy this weekend and remember the good times you had playing with it.
These creative little alphabet prints from Berlin artist Vesa Sammalisto are so fun, either by themselves or spelled out into a word. I think I would love the letter "U" - how cute is that Santa popping out from the chimney?
found via Varpunen
I think one of the very best things to do during the Christmas season is to take a stroll down a busy street and peek at the store window displays. We will definitely be heading up to 5th Ave. at some point to ooo and ahhh at the luxury shop windows there, but right now I'm sort of wishing I was in Savannah Georgia so I could check out these. The Paris Market has some fantastic window designs by Kelsey Garrity Riley, a local illustrator. They are so beautifully done!
found via Kickcan & Conkers
I know I've been MIA these past few days and I am so sorry! It has been a whirlwind around here - like most Decembers are for most people. :) I'm hoping the end of this week will mark the start of a period of calm and relaxation for our family. I've been wanting to show you these dreamy mobiles by Madeleine Sargent from Made by Mosey. Each one is carefully handmade and strung from two painted white twigs. The colors are so soft and sweet, I think I may be feeling more relaxed already... (please note: Madeleine will be closing her shop temporarily starting this Friday through late January, so order quick or be sure to check back when she reopens!)
