New to fawn&forest, Polkadot Papoose baby slings! A classic take on the pouch style sling with fresh new fabric and a very thoughtful design. They're reversible!! Double style = double value! Polkadot Papoose "fuses classy cute with sensible chic, for a shamelessly adorable modern take on mankind's oldest accessory".
My favorite Polkadot Papoose sling s "Adele" (pictured above, right), love the grey + gold with a touch of pink. And that pocket? Officially a binky pocket but unofficially could hold a myriad of other small items (credit cards, cash or toy car).
The other fun bit? Tara of Polkadot Papoose names each sling after a character -- Marianne from Sense and Sensibility (above left) and Adele from Jane Eyre (above right). Totally fun!
Even if your kids are past the baby crib stage or you no longer have need for a rocker, you just HAVE to click and check out the new Nurseryworks American Collection. It has a bit of an attitude + I am totally lovin' it.
The Nurseryworks American Collection, designed by Lawson-Fenning for Nurseryworks, includes 5 new pieces: a Spindle Crib, Canterbury Changing Table-Dresser, Empire Rocker and 2 headboards, the Harvard and the Vale. Nurseryworks' new collection combines:
The principles and craft of mid-century California and Early American furniture.... The result is a comfortable modernism with subtle connections to the past; pursuing values like, warmth, character, even sweetness...Tufting, turned wood spindles and the wing-back all are a nod to our past, but updated in a playful modern way.
Plus, Nurseryworks has introduced a new velvet fabric for the rocker + headboards that comes in 3 lovely new colors: delft, lilac and rosette.
I am thrilled to announce the very talented Jennifer Carden (author of The Toddler Cafe) will be contributing recipes to the Notes! Excitement! Her first contribution brings us a recipe for Homemade Corn Tortillas. Enjoy + thanks Jen!
I know you are thinking, homemade tortillas for breakfast why bother? Well my job is to get kids interested in food and this is faster and more fun than you may think! Make the tortillas, fry some eggs add cheese and black beans and you have a meal.
You do need a tortilla press but, a few sheets of parchment and a rolling pin or two baking dishes will double as a press just fine. If you have a Mexican market near you you will likely find an inexpensive press there. You can pick up a bag of Maseca too. You can find this in the ethnic isle of your grocery store too. I use Maseca, code name, masa harina..... just add water, it is that easy. Now get the kids working it is just like playdough.
Follow the recipe on the bag, I add a bit of salt and a squeeze of lime juice :
Combine masa harina with water.
Mix with hands until dough is moist but holds its shape. Add more water if needed.
Let dough rest for 15 minutes. Divide dough into 12 balls. Dampen your hands slightly with water.
Using a tortilla press or two flat baking dishes, press dough between two pieces of waxed paper to a 6 inch round. Carefully peel off the top sheet of paper.
Place tortilla, paper side up, on a hot ungreased griddle or skillet. Gently peel off remaining paper.
Cook for 30 seconds or until edges begin to dry. Turn and cook until surface appears puffy. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
Keep warm in tin foil in a low oven.
Kit+Lili: it's in and it' up. The spunkiest modern baby rompers + onesies you've ever seen. My favorite is the navy blue dot romper with orange trim (shown above, left). Total style.
I will note the sizing on the rompers runs a bit small -- the listed size is 3-6m or 6-12m. And while Owen is not a huge baby, the 3-6m size fits him well at almost a month old. The onesies on the other hand seem to run a bit big.....?
We were blessed with a 'dinner train' after the birth of Owen. 8 spectacular dinners in total. If you know someone who just had a baby, skip the flowers and take them dinner (and dessert). Now that the dinner train is over, I am left with a pile of casserole dishes + otherwise. I have this idea of giving the dishes back to their rightful recipients with a thank you note and homemade cookies. We'll see how ambitious I get, but doesn't that sound nice?
So when cruising around the food blogs last night, I found these peanut butter cookies at my favorite food blog, 101cookbooks.com. They are a twist on a classic peanut butter cookie with only 7 ingredients. And they look delicious!
And perhaps it's old news, but TasteSpotting is an excellent spot for find new food blogs. Have you been?
Images above from 101cookbooks.com.
The bold + graphic throw pillows by Boodalee are just so happy. The concept behind Boodalee's bedding + pillow collection is visuals from around the world + beyond. These pillows capture just that in a nutshell -- images as the universal language!
Concepts aside, each Boodalee pillow is the ultimate flip-able pilow, featuring a design on each side. The pillows obviously coordinate well with the bedding set they were inspired by but are kickin' enough to look sweet in the family room too.
Complete Boodalee collection can be found here.
Ohh, Look!! 2 new pillows by KLT Works. Kristin has taken her classic owl and nest thread line drawings and silkscreened the design onto off white 100% cotton fabric, backed with coordinating striped fabric. Love!
Mr. Owl is quite sweet + very watchful, but it is the green nest that is my favorite. Is it okay to play favorites?! Such a genuine little nest, twiggy + leafy goodness at it's best.
Kristin has a handful of new items out + we are adding them as I type this. So keep your eye on this page.
If there was a best-seller popularity contest, the Organic White Mini crib bedding by Area would win a spot in the top 3 best sellers in the crib bedding category. Oh, congratulations Organic White Mini!!
And rightfully so. The White Mini is now available in organic cotton (bonus! bonus!) with beautifully embroidered off-shaped circles with a striped embroidery crib skirt. White Mini has got the style, is gender neutral and has a lovely simplistic graphic quality to it.
Crib set includes the usual suspects: bumper, skirt and fitted sheet. Matching Quilt set includes crib quilt and pillow sham. Additional fitted sheet is also available.
Go White Mini!!
The Log Rocker by 10 Grain really does epitomizes “play potential”, a ride-on toy like no other. And what is it? Not quite a sea-saw (but it could be) and not quite a rocking chair, motorcycle or balance beam, the Log Rocker is just a lot of fun.
I can also see the Log Rocker being turned upside down in my house, perhaps made into a launching tunnel for cars + monster trucks. And turned on it's side, I can see Eliot pretending he's in a taco shell. No?
The interior of the Log Rocker is available in the classic red and also the Small Paul pattern by Paul Frank, shown in images above.
I am a sucker for both simple, good packaging + folks who have a business idea and just go for it (hello Forest Finds!). So I was pleased to find We Love Jam, makers of jams + pickles, cookies + bbq sauce. And they have a nonchalant + exciting story:
"In 2002 we made our first batch of apricot jam from an old Blenheim tree in our backyard and had no idea that the unbelievably intense and tantalizing flavor we preserved was on the verge of extinction."
To read more about We Love Jam + Blenheim Apricots, visit their site + shop. I did find We Love Jam via another blog.... just forgot where!ah!
The LIKEaBIKE mini we ordered for Eliot was astonishingly simple to assemble. All that is needed is one super excited kid who loves to help and a mom or dad who doesn't like to read instructions! The LIKEaBIKE mini arrives almost completely assembled - all that is needed is the handle bar piece to be attached as well as the sweet hand grips.
To adjust the seat height, a few twists of an allen wrench + you're set!
Sweetbeets makes me smile. Lisa of Sweetbeets not only rocks the letterpress (and so amazingly!) but also creates eco-friendly cards, using 100% post-consumer recycled paper that's also processed chlorine free and uses vegetable-based ink.
I think her "1 2 3 4 5" collection (1 and 3 shown above) would of course make beautiful birthday cards (blank inside so you can write your own greeting!) but would also look awesome framed + hung in a kid's room. And, if you are not throwing a party for 50, they would also make lovely birthday party invitations that would set the tone for a very very fun party.
It was the Tiny Warbler Whale that sent me on a quick search for Kate Keeler's email address. I fell in love with the whale! It made her little family of creatures instant Forest Finds. Not only are her small stuffed animals incredibly genuine, but Kate also perfectly captures the sweetness + character of each animal. I will admit one thing: I ordered a whale for myself and under the guidelines that these small animals are not meant for small children, I have no plans of sharing!
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Truthfully, when I was about 6 years old, my answer was always 'an artist'. I always loved to paint and draw and make collages. I guess not too much has changed but now fabric has been thrown in the mix.
Does your "day job" (as a photographer's assistant) interact/overlap/inspire your "evening job" as creator of little friends?
Absolutely! I find being surrounded by talented and creative people really inspiring. On a shoot, I usually find out what someone's favorite animal is and then I start to see it as a pattern. It also pushes me to hone my technical skills and always try to do my best.
What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
There will be a lot of fabric, cutting, stitching and sewing ahead. I'm working out some new patterns now and hopefully will have some new products to offer in time for the holidays. There may be my first craft fair down the road as well. And hopefully a little travel and rest with my husband.
Thanks Kate! I look forward to who else you create!
Samantha of Nix Socks is a can-do kind of gal. And she makes it seem so simple! She wanted her son to wear stylin' socks that stayed on his little feet. So she designed some old-school style socks + had them manufactured. Nix Socks was born! Samantha is a spunky lady -- it shows not only in the awesome color combinations of her socks, but also in her loving attitude toward her family. And where did the name Nix come from? From the source of her inspiration, her older son, Phoenix.
When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
An actress, of course.
What is the most challenging part of being an inventive designer-business women + full time Mom?
Eating a meal in a char... well, first, eating a meal. The chair is just a luxury at this point. This is true. But also, making a point to not short shift my husband on the love he deserves. There is not a lot left at the end of the day to go around but I think it is so important not to let that slide.
What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
Hopefully a 2nd line of socks (new colors/styles) and lots of fun with my 2 boys and my husband. I'd love to make it to the snow this Winter.
Thank you Samantha! Perhaps I am thinking what every other Mom is thinking right now: I wish the Nix came in my size too!
Before Owen was born I decided to throw myself my own little baby shower and gifted myself with a handful of fun items. Why not?!
The Camber Mobile by Adrift is one of the things I bought. I love the simplicity of the wood and have the perfect space for it above the Case Study Arm Shell Rocker in the boys' room.
I was intrigued by how the Camber Mobile was packaged -- just like a fine loaf of crusty bread! Hung up, it moves gracefully with the air from the vent blowing, making peaceful shadows on the ceiling.
And because it's maple veneer, the whole mobile is light as a feather. Good in-room photo of the mobile.... to come. Above images show mobile upon arrival.
He has made his debut!
Our sweet Owen Quin was born June 30th at 8:25am after a very very speedy + happy delivery. Stats: 7lbs. 13 oz. and 20" long.
We are all in love with him and big brother Eliot is quite pleased with his "best prize ever". Praise God.
We are now in a new month of Forest Finds with a whole new selection.... but did not want to neglect the final June Forest Find Q+A with Paige Russell. I gave birth last Monday before I got the chance to post Paige's interview. I enjoy the wit Paige has with the work she creates. Objects that are both useful, thoughtful and fun. Plus, she was voted most sportsmanlike for 7th grade volleyball. Umm, come on! I tried to play volleyball in the 7th grade and was surely not as cool as Paige.....!
When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
The first thing I can remember wanting to be is a marine biologist, but I'm ultra afraid of seaweed & sharks, so... Then I moved on to cake decorator. My family ate a LOT of cakes for a couple of months one summer. But for most of my teens and up, I always knew I wanted to make things.
What is the most compelling aspect of working dimensionally?
I'm a pretty sensorial person (is that a word? hmmm...) so working in 3D really compliments that part of me. I also love function and the challenge of pairing that with beauty. Creating useful household objects that people enjoy looking at & using is the big dream.
What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
The rest of '08 is going to be bring me a lot of marketing for the holiday season & new product development for next year. Both of which I really enjoy, so I'm looking forward to it!
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