fawn&forest

We are kicking off our Green-Furniture Designer Series with perhaps the greenest furniture company of all,  Q Collection Junior. Q Collection Jr. is thoughtfully on the forefront of designing safe, non-toxic furniture and bedding for our children.

Hope your New Year is off to a roaring start! The start of the year is always so fresh & eager. To kick  off & celebrate a new decade, enter 2010 at checkout for 10% off your entire order. Some restrictions apply. Sale ends January 30th. For more info, visit here.

Happy New Year from all of us here at fawn&forest.

The weatherman did not predict this one! 16% off your entire order when SNOWFLAKE is entered at checkout. Click here for more snowy details.

Oh chilly!  notNeutral's BB2 collection is now 20% off.  This icy sale includes the BB2 twin bed and nightstand, rocker and table & chair set.

Playing Santa?  The BB2 table & chair set would look good (assembled) in front of the tree on Christmas morning. Available in 4 color combinations.

avalisa knows your style and has dozens of wall art designs available in a myriad of colors.  Wall art for everyone! Each avalisa is custom printed on stretched canvas. No framing needed & ready to hang.

And we have a special avalisa treat for you: a free avalisa memory game set with purchase of any piece of avalisa wall art.

The memory game includes 19 captivating images from the  “animals collection” The animal designs include their names spelled out.

Make your walls happy and have fun playing "memory" with the kids. 

You are in for a treat! Enter to win a $150 gift certificate to fawn&forest. Why? For fun & to kick off this joyous Holiday season.

Are you ready? Click here, which will take you to the entry form. A winner will be choosen at random on Friday December 4th.

fawn&forest is excited to be included in Instyle Magazine's "Best of the Web" --as one of their favorite websites for shopping. Excellent!

Here's what they said about fawn&forest:

Check out the November 2009 issue of Instyle to read all about it & get an exclusive 10% discount code.

Victory! You are now looking at the all new, totally remastered fawn&forest. We've been busy beavers the past few months making f&f snappin' hot.

We've freshened up the design, created nifty product pages & added essential elements such as a baby registry and live chat, so you'll have more fun here in the forest.

Click around. Explore!

We have an exciting giveaway going on at Poppytalk blog right now -- enter to win a Plywerk peice of wall art, which is a part of this month's Forest Finds. Two winners will be selected, that could be you!

Jump on over to Poppytalk right now! Have a great weekend!  

Back by popular demand: 20% off all Amenity organic nursery pieces!

For $56 you could get this charming piece of art ($20) and this blanket ($36). That's an organic super deal, right?

Thrills! Excitement! New Dwellstudio for baby and kids! Coming this September, Dwellstudio will be releasing a handful of new patterns (owls + paperdolls + birds) and new products as well -- sleepsacks, changing pads, aprons and bathrobes among other things.

Be sure to sign up the f&f newsletter (if you are not already!) to receive all the latest and greatest. To view all the Dwellstudio products that are on sale, click here. 

product images via ohdeedoh.

How did you do it?

To create a resting spot for our children, an area to engage in play and imagine is one of the pleasures we have as parents.  You may have gotten the decorating bug with your first born or been inspired to re-decorate when your toddler suddenly became a big boy. Whatever the case is, we want to know how you did it!

Join the Forest Family! We  would love to feature your nursery, kid's room or play room on the fawn&forest blog,  Notes! For more info, click here.

So, everyone must really love you! The Dwellstudio Fatboys are on sale. Super summertime sizzler! The Original (above left) is 1/2 off and the Point is marked down to $49.

Sizzle. 

Whoah! This is an Argington sale that can't be beat -- quality furniture at Ikea prices?!

This clearance sale includes select finishes/colors of the  Babylon Highchair, the Picchu Dresser and the Eiffle Bookcase. Shoot! 

Sale ends August 31st or while supplies last.

As a little thank you from fawn&forest, 4 exclusive coloring pages free for download. Simply print and get coloring!! Squirrels + acorns, salmon + stars... have fun!

For the inside scoop on sales, deals + other fun stuff (like this coloring book!) be sure to sign up for the f&f newsletter.

Click on the button below to download vol. 1 of the fawn&forest coloring book.

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.

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!

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.

Sweet babies love Argington. Curious little children love Argington. Eco-friendly, design savvy minded moms love Argington. Budget-conscience, quality seeking dads love Argington. I love Argington. You love Argington. We all love Argington.

fawn&forest super loves Argington and you so we've teamed up with them for the Month of May to offer 10% off all furniture and bedding. 

This super sale was also to celebrate BKLYN DESIGNS Show they were recently a part of. BRKLN attendees, make sure to use your special discount code!

Sale ends May 31st!

To kick off the Month of May + the BKLYN DESIGNS show we have teamed up with Argington to offer 10% off all Argington products for the month of May. 

How fun is that?

If you live in NYC, be sure to check out  7th annual BKLYN DESIGNS and meet Jenny Argie and Andrew Thornton of Argington! The show will be held May 8 - 10, 2009, at St. Ann's Warehouse, 38 Water Street in DUMBO, Brooklyn.

To read more about the creative force behind Argington, click here.

happy earth day, earthlings! be green!

Happy Birthday to fawn&forest! To celebrate our first birthday, we have teamed up with the Arbor Day Foundation to help you start a little forest of your own! 

With your order of $200 or more, Fawn&Forest will make a donation to the Arbor Day Foundation and a baby tree sapling indigenous to your region will be sent directly to you. A fun and special way for you and your child to give back to the environment.

The Arbor Day Foundation inspires people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees through environmental education and many programs which contribute to the replanting of our national forests. They envision a world where trees and forests are abundant, healthy, and sustainable, and highly valued by all people.

Happy Birthday! For more info, click here.

Gobble Gobble kids! For extra Thanksgiving goodness, enter TURKEY (all uppercase letters)  into the discounts field at checkout and receive $5 off your entire order. Woo!

Promotions ends midnight pst 11/27.

Happy Election Day! 10% off everything, just because we think you're cool. Simply enter your favorite presidential candidate into the discounts field at check-out to activate the discount. 

Enter obama if you are voting for Obama. Enter mccain if you are voting for McCain.  Sorry no write-ins! 10% off everything Election Day sale good until midnight November 5th PST.

Vote!

Yep, I now also have a  Tumblr blog! A fawn&forest photo album + other goodness. Check us out: fawnandforest.tumblr.com!

Yes. I am now that with it. I now Twitter. Everyday. And while I don't give play-by-play sms (dang, need to add the Tweetie app to my phone!) I do have fun. As in FUN THINGS to do with kids (in addition to the Notes updates).

You are asking 'what sort of FUN THINGS'? Fun or strange, I am not quite sure... but so far have included: 

:make toilet paper snowballs. to throw. at each other or into a basket. just don't let the dog eat them. 
:catch ants. not the kind that bite. if you squish one, there are hundreds more.....
:tickle each other. the pure joy of a laughing kid!
:would cutting marshmallows with scissors be fun? I'm thinking yes.
:toilet paper rolls are also strangely fun to cut with scissors.
:give them scissors. age + child safe style. hours of fun cutting leaves + wiggly twigs into tiny bits.
:pick up acorns. they have cute "hats". will inspire much play.

sorta strange micro-living (twitter that is, not my FUN ideas....) but why not?

FOLLOW ME: twitter.com/fawnandforest

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!

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.  

Everyone's beloved design blog, Design Sponge was ever so kind + did a sneak peek into the home of fawn&forest on Monday, thanks Anne + Grace!

It seems we all have a long list of "to-do's" to get done around the house. Small projects of this + thats. I had quite a list (see those curtains in Eliot's room on the left?!) and was dually inspired by the impending arrival of the baby and the deadline of the Design Sponge sneak peek to get it all done. And that we did.

Curtains hung. Artwork framed. Shelves were put up. Piles were dispersed + organized. 100 back issues of random magazines recycled.  Fingerprints + licks were washed off windows. A bit of summertime cleaning + tidying up the 'ol shack.

So check out the peek here + you can view all photos on Design Sponge's Flickr.  

To celebrate the launching month of Fawn&Forest's Forest Finds, we are doing a giveaway with PoppyTalk blog.... giving away an E.Soule print! Yes, you could own your very own "Little Zoo"! All you have to do is visit PoppyTalk + the giveaway post and enter into the comments section your favorite item on FawnandForest.com.

Contest ends Wednesday June 25th, so scoot yourself over there right this second!

Too cool. Eliot is thrilled with the LIKEaBIKE mini he received in the mail this week. It's just his size + he doesn't even mind falling over!  So far he's sped around in the grass. Must get a helmut for his noggin for when he braves the pavement. Eliot has foregone the LIKEaBIKE name and is calling it his "big brother bike" for the time being.So sweet.

Another cool thing? I found this cool Japanese site (via Minor Details blog) where you can very simply make your new pictures look old. I know there are other sites out there that do this, but this one is fun. 

Happy Friday!

I am totally intrigued by the concept of what these Joy by Mel Lim totes are made of: take 80% recycled cotton + 20% recycled plastic soda bottles and there you have it, a nice canvasy tote.   

I have been test driving the yellow Sweet Dream 3 tote bag for the past few weeks. it has given me the suggestion of total style while keeping me sufficently discorganized. Just the way I like it.  While I have been using the Joy by Mel Lim Tote as my everything purse turn toddler tote, it would also make a great library book bag or for quick errands when perhaps you don't need to bring diapers, O's and a toy Mini-Cooper Car. 

The Sweet Dream Collection is a bit odd, yes. Bunnies, unicorns and a flute playing girl. Totally dreamy.....! The Sweet Dreams are produced in limited edition, get em while they last.

I am thrilled to announce the launch of a new, very special category on fawnandforest.com called Forest Finds!

Each month we will bring you a fresh selection of independent artists and designers who create relevant, modern wares and crafted items for your children and home. This month we have found a lovely section of folks in the forest : Sian Keegan (shown above left + right), E. Soule, Little Lark, Alyson Beaton Design, Paige Russel, Dress Me Up, Decoylab and Sleeping Forest.

My idea for the Forest Finds unfolded quite randomly. I found a link one day to Sian Keegan's site and fell in love with her work -- stuffed fruit + veggies. Love!  I've never had a desire for fawn&forest to be stale and impersonal, limited to selling all the major brands and well known designers. Interestingly enough, however, these major brands, such as Oeuf, vision is quite similar to that of Paige Russel or E. Soule. Each has an intention of form + function, thoughtfulness of materials used and a desire to bring enjoyment + simplicity to your home and family.

I'm personally a big Etsy fan, avid blog reader + generally interested in all the creative + innovative ideas and wares made by all the you's + me's of today. I get excited about stuffed radishes and organic cotton teething bon bons. And wouldn't you just love to have this deer and cupcake hanging on your wall? Exactly.   

Forest Finds it is. 

...to me. I am 28 today.

Birthdays are fun. Your very own special day to celebrate life. My birthday always reminds me of how thankful + enormously blessed I am. No fun to be grouchy + dull, anyways. 

And while I'd really like to have a hefty glass of Prosecco (ahhh, sounds so refreshing...suppose i shouldn't while pregnant!) I'll settle for a sparkling water-something and a nice gooey extra chocolatety homemade birthday cake made with the sweet help of my 2.5 year old.

Though I totally would have liked to have been invited to the train birthday party (pictured above)! Check out that train cake! Banana cake trains, indivudual servings and not an excess amount of frosting for the kids. I perhaps would forgo the Thomas the Train theme, but what the heck. To read more about this fun party + for the reciple, check out this blog. 

The Bebe Nursery Collection, designed by Robert Gill for Offi is a simple wood + white set with a reasonable price tag. And it's even more of a deal now that the whole collection is on sale!

The Bebe Nursery Collection includes 4 pieces (crib with optional trundle, dresser, changing table and storage cabinet) each on sale for $100 off the list price, plus.... free shipping + no sales tax!

Offi is a company with an interesting start. When Offi was first created, instead of hiring staff designers, founder Kirk Hobbs relied on the connections he had made through previous design projects. Designers were hired on a contract basis to create product, a concept that made sense both creatively and financially for a startup. A bit later, Eric Pfeiffer came aboard and served as design director. But after five years, Pfeiffer got the itch to go independent, which was perfect timing for Offi, Nicholson said. "After five years, it was time to go back and develop individual designers," he said. "It keeps us fresh."

Offi has about 16 designers/teams on its roster, and a select group that routinely creates items for the youth line. Nicholson (VP Sales, Offi) said that sometimes designers will come to Offi with their own ideas. Other times, he and Hobbs will go to the designers with an idea and ask them to execute it. An example was when the duo decided to go into cribs and they asked Carpenter and Gil for designs. The team will also go to designers when they sense a piece is missing from a current collection, such as adding a high chair.

Text above adapted from this article. To read more, click here.  

What are they?
VOCs are chemicals that become vapors at room temperature. They are typically used in furniture in wood glues, wood stains and paints.

Why you should care?
VOCs are considered air pollutants and cause harm when inhaled.

Not all VOCs are created equal: Many manufacturers claim to be using low-VOC materials. Sadly, the EPA exempts many harmful VOC's from consideration when labeling a product low-VOC. The exemption is not based on any scientific criteria and has been described by a prominent health official as poorly based science that makes a mockery of freshman chemistry at college. In other words,low VOC is a great idea but it doesn't mean you are getting materials that are free of concern.

Q Collection Junior's solution
Every material Q Collection Junior uses is independently reviewed by an expert on toxic chemicals. In addition, they are the first children's furniture independently testing all of their furniture in air chamber testing facilities. Q Collection Junior knows down to the parts per billion what materials are in their glues and stains and consider all of the federally exempt materials. 

Image + text from Q Collection Junior. The Astronomer Stools by Q Collection Junior, above is available in 4 colors and 2 sizes.

I received a sweet announcement from Offi yesterday: the Nest Nursery Collection, formerly branded under the Ooba Nest Collection, designed by Scott Wilson has made a new home + has gotten cozy with Offi! After a 1 year hiatus from the market, the Ooba Nest Nursery Collection is back for the lovin' and is available on fawn and forest, here. 

Currently the Nest Collection includes the bassinet (shown above left + right) which converts into a toy box (or a pint size yacht?) and play table, as well as the impressive Nest Crib. Both pieces are available in Walnut or Maple Veneer.  

Internationally respected designer, Scott Wilson (also the designer of this watch) joins the esteemed design partners at Offi to deliver unique and fresh ideas for the home.  I am so excited to see what else is on the horizon!

And I'm thinking of ordering a bassinet in walnut  for baby#2.

Born out of the love of linens and modern design, Tikoli tea towels are perfect for the modern kitchen and for that sweet Mom in your life!  Influenced by Japanese prints and mid-century modern design, Tikoli towels are printed on 100% cotton fabric, ready to brighten any  kitchen. Available in five lovely designs, including "mummy", pictured at right. 

Receive a free Tikoli tea towel with purchases over $75 when "tikoli" is entered in the comments field at checkout. Offer ends May 20th 2008. Yep, this sweet deal extends past Mother's day. Because, if you're anything like me, a bit behind schedule......a few extra days are much appreciated, right?

We've teamed up with one of our favorite kid blogs, Bloesem Kids for a little giveaway action to round out the month of April.

To be a part of the fun, take a trip over to Bloesem Kids before April 30th to find out how to enter to win a copy of Nikki McClure's The First 1,000 Days journal. Thanks Irene!

The blog Design*Sponge is having a DIY contest which fawnandforest.com is co-sponsoring. Now is your time to roll up your sleeves + get a little crafty with a chance to win a portion of the $1500 in prize money that is up for grabs. Wouldn't it be fun to get the kids involved or be inspired by your baby-bundle? A little DIY something something for the nursery? Contest ends March 2nd, so you still have a couple more weeks to be a part of the action. 

Welcome to fawn&forest + the family.  Our belief  is that good design should be enjoyed by the entire family. It's something we all touch + are engaged by. Good design for all things is thoughtful, innovative, multi-fucntional, enviromentally minded + transends time. It doesn't go out of style + probably won't be seeing the goodwill donation station anytime soon. It's the stuff you want to live with, want your children to grow up playing with + sitting on. And really, good design is nothing fancy + is built for the battery of daily life. Like excess glitter + glue and reckless amounts of rocking.

The scando coffee table perfectly illustrates how good design should be enjoyed by the entire family. "by observing how children relate to the floor in their daily activities, designer Eric Pfeiffer created a table that engages children + accommodates their diverse activities, while addressing the needs of adults who want furniture that is elegant, expertly crafted and multi-functional." exactly. thoughtful + simple, the way it should be. And conveniently won't send your child to the emergency room with a head cut. More on the scando coffee table later this week.

You are always welcome to email me, Summer, anytime at summer@fawnandforest.com .