KidsHaus

Haba Sulky Rickshaw

I took a teeny break from posting last week because I was a bit exhausted from a teething child and was also directing my focus into illustrating some things that have been on my mind. I will be happy to share what I've come up with in a few weeks.

Anyhow, a toy rickshaw for kids wouldn't exactly be something I would expect; however, much to my surprise, one actually exists and it's rather brilliant. Haba's Rickshaw Sulky has already won two design awards -- so there must be something to it.

Chalk fun...

I didn't even know that chalkboard fabric existed (did you?) but Jessica Levin has taken this unique material and crafted some of the cutest dolls and mats to scribble with chalk. A fantastic idea for travel! Jessica's 6 year old daughter, Ayva Sunshine, even illustrated the rocket and fire-breathing dragon -- a little artist in the making.

Minimink

Minimink was designed by a Melbourne mum, Ally, for her baby Emery in 2003. She wanted to make products with the highest quality faux fur and with that...she's created cozy booties, hats and blankets. Now Minimink has introduced their Pram Papoose that has me wishing they made it in adult sizes so i could envelope myself for a...zzzzz.

Spring Giveaway Winners!

We had such wonderful responses for both packages that Quiet Hours Toys graciously assembled for KidsHaus' spring giveaway. Thanks to everyone who submitted comments and thanks to Carey for making this happen. Now, without further ado, we've got our two winners...

Aimee: What a sweet idea.  I have a sneaking suspicion that my little one would love Spring 1!
Tara: I came here via Quiet Hour Toys.  What a great website!  My four year old would LOVE the boy package.  Thank you!

David Fusseneger Blanket

Austrian textile company, David Fussenegger, has such a gorgeous array of products -- including their new flannel blanket with pockets. Three little pockets to stash pajamas, stuffies or miscellany is a fantastic idea. I haven't found a source selling it in the U.S. yet but I'll keep my eyes peeled.

Art: Trish Grantham

You'll find a lot of Trish Grantham posts on my blog because...well...I love her work. She's got a new batch of paintings on her Etsy site that are very affordable and endearing...

Making Easter Eggs

Well, we just made Easter eggs and I thought I'd write a mini-post about them because they turned out better than I had imagined and we had so much fun making them. We started with hard-boiled eggs (of course) and opened the package of traditional egg coloring tablets that you can buy. We added a tablespoon of olive oil (though I'm sure any oil will do) to the colored water bath. The oil makes a beautiful marbled pattern on the eggs. Ms. Bean dipped the eggs into several colors to see what would happen. That was the best part -- the element of surprise! I think they're almost too beautiful to hide in the yard now...*wink*

PogiPods

My little Mini never used a pacifier but I definitely recall the days when Ms. Bean would demand a pacifier and we'd have this brief moment of panic -- hoping that one was nearby. We'd stash them all over the house, in bags and purses like little Easter eggs. I love these PogiPods by Pogibabies because they create a  dedicated home for stowing a pacifier. They're even lined in plastic. Great design and such fashionable prints -- I kind of wish I had a pacifier as an excuse to buy one.

Sok-O 100% Handmade

My friend, Heather, scouted these fun Sock-O toys from our local toy store, Clover. They're too cute not to mention. 100% Handmade Sock-O toys were born from the imagination and inspiration of 4 designers who had a deep-seeded passion for toys. Each Sock-O is carefully handmade with a pair of socks (occasionally an individual sock) and come with a unique birth certificate -- no two are identical.

   
 

Project: Toothpick Sculpture

Ms. Bean brought this fantastic toothpick and marshmallow sculpture home from school a couple of weeks ago and I just loved it's organic shape. It's a fun and easy project that can be done at home with a bag of marshmallows and a box of toothpicks. Any shape, size or structure is aloud -- creativity at it's best! Unfortunately, because of it's edible nature, the one pictured to the right was nibbled on until it's structural integrity broke down (we had to bid farewell to it). So, the one on the left was a replacement model that we made at home. Obviously, there should be an age requirement due to the sharp toothpicks  -- so I will defer to you to make the call as to whether it's age appropriate for your child. Instructions are simple: connect the toothpicks to the marshmallows to build the structure of your child's imagination.

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E

We've been in Disneyland for the last couple of nights celebrating Bean's 6th birthday (belated). I've seen a whole new dimension to a 6 year old's persona on this trip -- catching small glimpses of those future teenage years (oh my!). Anyhow, we'll be back tomorrow so I'll be taking a mini-break and will return on Thursday with a couple of fun posts.

NotNeutral Wall Decals - Seasons

The NotNeutral Reusable Wall Decals: Seasons is a cheery way to brighten up a room (I'm definitely drawn to anything cheery these days). Because the decals are reusable, you can change the leaves and flowers depending on the season. A fun way for kids to dabble in a little creativity of their own.

Spring Giveaway! Quiet Hours Toys

Spring is on the heels of winter and I'm already feeling a little bounce in my step. In honor of spring and the impending sunshine, Carey from Quiet Hours Toys has graciously opened her doors to a special KidsHaus spring giveaway. If you've never peeked into Quiet Hours Toys, it's definitely worth a visit. It is a mother-owned and operated business that offers a continuously changing array of hand-crafted toys and wares from artisans around the world (remember the crocheted crowns by Jess Nicole?). Quiet Hours Toys consists of a community of creative people from around the world and each of them does the work he or she loves in home studios or shops. I'm a huge fan and am always peeking in to see what Carey has added to her collection of unique goods. Quiet Hours Toys has put together two wonderful packages geared towards spring...

Spring 1 includes:
1 cotton girl bunny by Maileg (designed in Denmark)
2 felt hair clips by One Girlie Girl (USA)
1 set of bunny paper dolls
1 sparrow bag kit by Sparrowkids (London)

Spring 2 includes:
1 cotton boy bunny by Maileg (designed by Denmark)
1 set of bath fizzies by Daisycakes Soap (USA)
1 wooden red sports car by Spiel & Holz (Germany)
1 container of rainbow soft dough by Mary's Soft Dough (USA)

How this works: We'll select 1 winner for each package. Please mention if you would prefer a specific package. All you need to do is leave a comment, no anonymous comments please, from now until midnight PST on Monday, March 24th. I will announce the winners on Tuesday morning, March 25th. One entry per person please! Thanks to Quiet Hours Toys!

 

April Scott

Bold, beautiful patterns and simple silhouettes by April Scott. The technicolor dress is fantastic!

Palette Plate

The Palette Plate by Skip Hop caught my eye because of it's brightly colored bowls on what looks like a painter's palette. After analyzing and trying to figure out if this is something I would use, I decided it was a pretty cool idea. The individual bowls are great for tiny little fingers to pick nibbles from and when there are leftovers, each bowl comes equipped with a plastic lid for sealing and stashing in the fridge. The base is skid-resistant so that the bowls won't be flying off the table with the greatest of ease.

The Gnome Shop

I'm completely enthralled with these felted wool eggs from The Gnome Shop. The most creative alternative to plastic Easter eggs, you can stuff them with sweet treasures and will be fun to use all year round. Heather is a stay-at-home mom of two children and has been crafting these eggs for her kids for the last few years. She also makes darling forest fairies, mushroom houses and furniture. Really...have you seen anything cuter?

Onegirl: Fleur

How precious is Onegirl's Fleur? Calla and Indigo are handmade from a collection of bright and beautiful vintage, designer, hand printed and hand dyed fabrics. Anyone with a baby knows that this is perfect for baby to chew on or cuddle up with. Each fleur is stuffed with wool. So sweet...

My Right 2 Write

My Right 2 Write emerged from a typical Friday staff meeting at The Design Farm when the topic of creating Uncommon Solutions for the Common Good became the inspiration. The idea is simple and the repercussions are great. My Right 2 Write makes handmade blank journals crafted from old-fashioned marble-covered composition books. You choose a design that strikes your fancy and for every journal sold, My Right 2 Write will donate an unadorned journal to a needy school. I could feel Jodi Bloom's excitement jumping off the page which is inevitable when you're making a difference in a child's life.

Lighting: Tord Boontje

Daylight savings has thrown me for a loop today. I'm staying up way too late this evening and I'm sure to pay for it ten-fold tomorrow. The upside will be the addition to more daylight which will be good for the soul.

Anyhow...Tord Boontje, the infamous Dutch designer, Morning Garden and Spring Garden lights are simply beautiful and will cast a shadowy fantasy garden in your room...what a lovely idea for a child's space.

Art: Amber Alexander

I'm absolutely in love with Amber Alexander's watercolor paintings of animals that are reminiscent of fairy tales. They're both romantic and whimsical. I love the golden retriever wearing her bonnet and ruffled collar.