fawn&forest

Summertime is in full swing! Long days, endless popsicles. Big imaginations. A lot of everything + nothing to do.

My son Eliot asked to paint. One thing led to another, and soon he was driving his cars through the paint. And then, "Mama, can I paint my cars?" ...kids have such vibrant imaginations, that to him, painting his cars made perfect sense. "Sure!" 

Painting cars added a whole new dimension to Eliot's play. He was able to experience his world in a whole new way. Certainly more about the process than the product!

project :: painting toys

supplies:
washable, non-toxic paint
paint brushes
water + container -- i re-use containers (above, right) ... recycle when you're done! no clean-up.
toys -- just make sure your kid knows that the paint probably wont come off -- we don't want any tears!
paper -- the bigger, the the better. newsprint (recycled!) would also work well.
drop-cloth -- an old sheet works well.

process:
Have a happy attitude, big imagination + have fun! Paint the car's wheels and make them zoom across the paper. Paint dolly's feet and she will dance! Fun prints could be made with the marks of the toys -- but really.... painting and playing is enough on it's own. 

Orange is so yummy, summer-ish and fun.  Happy Top 10 Tuesday + Happy 1st Birthday to our Owen!

1. tick tock, cuckoo clock.
2. cozy blanket poncho.
3. snack time.
4. juba, the twisty friend.
5. summertime flowers.
6. orange crib!
7. square oranges.
8. kitty lamp.
9. hi-C highchair?
10. hiya to orange.

NOW through the end of July all 10 Grain goodies are 20% off! That ..... is a fun sale.

My fav? Log Rocker. Turn it upsidedown and lay your kid inside -- just like a taco shell.

Get in the groove and rock out -- new lullaby renditions of all your favorites.

Not quite sure how the Smashing Pumpkins would sound like in lullaby version? Click here to find out. 

Whoo! Everyone's favorite plastics (Boon!).... now come in a new color combo: ocean blue + lime green! How refreshing.

The new Boon goodies will arrive on the f&f virtual shelves mid to late July. Excitement!

I love it when people are inspired by things of old. The Mother Stork's Baby Book by Elizabeth Brantley is not only pays respect to the original, but is thoughtfully updated (no yellowing pages!). Your children will literally feel as though you have written a book about them -- so satisfying, so beautiful! Thanks Elizabeth! 

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When I was a kid I wanted to be a mom. Nothing else. Once I was in high school I decided I wanted to have a career (before being a mom) where I could go into work when needed, share my expertise, work very hard, make great money and then leave - oh and I had to be able to wear ripped jeans and cowboy books (it was the late 1980s after all). My career in the film industry fit that description pretty well: freelance, respect, hard work, good money and jeans (though not ripped and no cowboys boots).

What inspired you to create the Mother Stork's baby book?
Seeing my Grandmother’s baby book, the original 1904 edition of Mother Stork’s Baby Book, is solely what inspired me to recreate the 100th Anniversary Edition on the book.  I had never seen anything like it and after doing research found that there was nothing else like it available.  I had no experience in book creation and layout, publishing, retail, wholesale, packaging or marketing.  I did have the drive to make it happen and people cheering me on along the way, especially my husband Steve and my mom.

What's happening? What does the rest of 2009 look like for you?
2008 was such a busy year.  We recreated our website (my husband is the webmaster), created and launched three new product lines (Mother Stork’s Baby Art, Cashmere Chime Balls and Cashmere Baby Blankets) and all while being a full-time stay-at-home mom of a toddler.  So far In 2009 I have added one new product line (Cashmere Eye Pillows).  I have more new products in mind for the future.  I think for now my focus will continue to be nurturing Kistner Supply and making sure my customers are happy by continuing to provide high quality, beautiful products and excellent, personal customer service.

Selecting crib bedding for your baby's nursery really makes you feel like you've got that designer touch. All matchy (but not too matchy) and totally cute (but not too cute).... and just perfect.

1. straight up creamy organic goodness.
2. coral elephants.
3. oh silly owl!
4. ducks in the pond.
5. ice ice peaberry.
6. transportation style.
7. geometry for girls.
8. organic. white. mini.
9. bright + daisy.
10. geox orange, geox green.

View all crib sets!

We all love our kids, we really do. We just don't want our living rooms to look like we live with our kids. You know what I mean. Plastic fantastic, etc. 

Jennifer Delonge understands. She's a mom with a load of style, and evidently... some wit! Jennifer DeLonge's pint size Ava Chair instantly became a mommy-must have. 

And now, it's all grown up. DeLonge has designed 3 beautiful gilders and ottomans for Mom. My favorite? Luxe. Such graceful lines. 

I think it takes dedication to be a rug designer. Katherine of Oliver & Yaphe has an amazing vision for her work and that steadfast, solid mother bear quality to her. Her artwork, which is part of this month's Forest Finds is just a sweet tiny taste of her kids rug collection. Arn't you just crazy fond of her Alphabet prints?! Rugs, by the way, are coming soon..... thanks Katherine!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up? 
Tall!  I was the shortest kid in my class for a long time.  Then all of the sudden, I grew.  After that, I really wanted to be a photographer.  

How has your background inspired your current work? 
My designs are entirely inspired by my personal experiences.  While visiting Barcelona, I was inspired by the liveliness of the culture and freshness of design that I witnessed.  It was there that I started sketching my kids rug collection.  Once my daughter was born, I had her rug all figured out and then realized that her walls were bare.  It wasn’t long before my artwork collection took shape.  My collection has evolved very organically. 

What’s in store for the rest of 2009? 
Rugs rugs rugs.  I am working to round out my kids rug collection.    

We got a call from a lady one day asking if we carried Barley & Birch. Shoot! We did not. So not cool of us. And, perhaps while there are many organic tees and onesie options in the marketplace, I am uniquely refreshed by the bold graphics of Barley & Birch. A gigantic wave tee? C'mon! That's cool. Barley & Birch is Kyle (pictured left) and Jodie (right). Thanks ladies!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Kyle- I wanted to work at Sea World. After I saw Free Willy I wrote Sea World letters monthly asking if I could come pick up trash. I am still not sure if my parents ever mailed them.
Jodie- A cartoon. Apparently I wasn't concerned with... reality.

Whats the inspiration for the imagery in your clothing?
Kyle- The cool beauty of nature and the goofiness of all animals.
Jodie- I like looking at things and find something unique and interesting about them. In my designs, I'm trying to give children something unique and interesting that they can look at, and maybe even see things I didn't.

What's happening? What does the rest of 2009 look for you?
Kyle & Jodie- It looks great! We are releasing our awesome second collection at Bubble in August, we are growing, and so we are changing the world more and more. What more can you ask for? We are also working on our line of bedding for release at the end of 2010!

Sometimes I instantly fall in love and the Clouds Mobile did it, I was instantly taken. It's cute and cozy and looks as if it has always been. Madeleine Sargent is the Australian mother behind Made by Mosey. Thanks Madeleine!

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
All sorts of things, photographer, ballerina, shopkeeper, lawyer, cake decorator, my mum....in no particular order!

Your work is  so cozy! What inspired your current collection?
Yay! Cozy is absolutely the best way to describe it! I wanted the range to create a sense of nostalgia. Of childhood and simple times. I was inspired by my lovely granny and sewing with her as a child and now with my own children, I wanted them to have sweet and simple things around the house that didn’t overwhelm them like many baby things do. Nature is of course a big inspiration and will always be, I mean look outside, how can it not?!

What does the rest of 2009 hold for you?
Definitely new mobiles, including a small hanging forest that’s not just for baby’s room. Time spent on one off creations, collaborations with my very artistic husband (if he’ll have me!) and of course school concerts, homework, playgroup, first steps.......

Kristin of KLT:works requested a top 10 of playtables. Fantastic idea! Summertime is here, kids are out of school. Long days, lots of projects and imaginative play.

Here are my top 10 picks for playables:
1. parker table with chalkboard top.
2. project table, super eco-green style.
3. activity table - the chairs have mini drawers!
4. scando coffee table -- perfect for sitting + playing on the floor.
5. bb2, super summertime style.
6. woody chalkboard table with chalk-bowl in the center!
7. popsicle kids! tasty flavors.
8. island for kids, a cozy table.
9. mini for the minis... best for a teaparty?
10. super fundy!

Have fun!

Portland based The Woodlands, a wife and husband indie folk-pop duo, craft songs of lyrical poetry, lush melody and intelligent simplicity.  They conjure faraway lands and the longing of lovers with timeless imagery that unearths the shadow of tragedy and the glisten of magical realism.  Hannah’s hushed voice conveys both mirth and melancholy, tempered and surrounded by Samuel’s melodic instrumentation.  They till the soil of their souls to reap songs and sounds wrapped in a hauntingly sweet hush of wonder.

Their 2009 self-released debut album was recorded and produced by Samuel & Hannah in their Portland apartment, true to their intent of capturing intimate songs of simple complexity that sound professionally homemade.  Amidst an aged and worn wooden desk, elusive quiet night hours, and a homemade studio fort of blankets and pillows, The Woodlands traveled the byways of one another’s souls--seeking, listening and searching for words and sounds with which to share what they found.  The album has been received with both national and international anticipation, and with its release The Woodlands are set to embark as husband, wife and songlings on the voyage forthcoming.

Check out their new album at Cd Baby and Itunes as well as here on facebook.

Being the super freindly people that they are Hannah and Samuel wanted to offer up a free download of one of their wonderful songs, Summerland! Click the link below to download the mp3!

Fresh from the land of Switzerland, a bundle of fantastic new toys from Naef!

Naef is not messin' around + quite possibly may be older than your Granny! Naef was founded in 1954 by Kurt Naef and uses only high-quality woods from environmentally-friendly plantations in Europe.

And:  "Naef play objects are fascinating because they function with clockwork precision. If the edges of a wooden brick are not manufactured to a fraction of a millimetre, the piece will not pass our quality control. As a result, the pieces all fit precisely together, whether on, into or next to each other. " (to quote Naef's manufacturing).

Spendy little buggers, but sooooo worth it.  My favorite? Oh, it's a Dolio!

Father's Day is right around the corner,  Sunday June 21st. Love to the Dad with a thankful heart! Dads are great!

Check out our gifts+ideas, just for Dad. 

My pick? a day on the lake.

Binth has a handful of fantastic new (framed!) prints in primary colors. The blue framed set is the city collection and the red? Let's Play! I think these prints would coordinate well with Boodalee's Circus bed set, in all it's red, blue and white goodness.

My favorite print? Los Angeles, shown above, middle. 

Love to the Dad! Give him a Scout bag by PPB for Father's Day  -- functional, edgy and nobody will know little Timmy's diaper + paci is in there.....? 

Available in felt and leather + in 2 sizes.

I think now that Pam from the Office is pregnant, Jim will have to have a Scout... don't you think?

Happy Tuesday! Blue is cool for boys + girls. Vibrant + happy.

1. BB02 playtable
2. City Collection twin bedding
3. Cella wood goodness
4. Fish in blue onesie
5. Blue House child's bag
6. Blue flowers bib
7. Helicoptor Icon blanket
8. Taj Chair
9. Mobile Home
10. Turquoise Family Tree
 

New from Decoylab :: yellow teapot and fancy horse clocks! 

I am on a major yellow kick lately, so you all can just imagine how crazy I am about that yellow teapot. Oh, don't you just love Decoylab?!

fawn&forest has teamed up with Cookie Magazine to offer you a super yummy "cookie dough" deal!

The Naef Animal Puzzle is part of Cookie Magazine's june/july '09 "cookie dough" deals. Visit Cookie Magazine's website and sign in or sign up to view the special discount code to receive 25% off at f&f! 

yum.