Monthly Archives: March 2010

Hot Dog! It's Fresh Link Friday.

Things We Like

Hello fabulous readers….it’s FRIDAY!! So we have a leetle snag in this week’s Weekly Kiddo. Thanks to a klutzy cat and a pesky glass of water I am now the proud owner of a super soggy laptop that won’t start. Argh! It’s currenly drying out and I’m crossing my fingers and toes that the thing restarts eventually and I haven’t lost everything (all my writing, my inspiration files, the 1000s of photos of Wolfie. Ahhhhh! I don’t even want to think about it….). While I can’t access my Weekly Kiddo pictures, it’s the perfect time to launch a new series we’re starting here—our favorite links of the week. This is a little selection of things we’ve stumbled upon over the week that we’re digging. And we hope you dig ’em too!

1. Amazing children’s photographer Ashely Ann takes gorgeous pictures, but she is also just an all around brilliant creative gal. I was DYING over this vintage glasses onesie she crafted up for her little girlie:

It’s soooo hipster librarian! Find the DIY tutorial on Ashley Ann’s site.

2. You’ll fah-lip when you see these little Hand Knit baby costumes….I can’t even imagine how tricky it would be to make one of these things! The crazy geniuses at The Miniature Knit Shop have a whole slew of ’em. “Fitted for tiny varmints up to 9 month.” Hee.

(via inhabitots)

3. I love bad TV. It’s true. And if it’s on Bravo, so much the better. So it should come as no surprise that I’m totally into the new show 9 by Design. Stylish couple Bob and Cortney Novogratz of Sixx Design (who have SEVEN kids, people, including TWO sets of twins. Oy!) are getting their own show. Infinitely more awesome than the Duggarts.

(via Black Eiffel)

4. I’ve always loved the whimsical Eames Hang It All coat rack. You know the one, with the big colorful round knobs. So cool—but kind of pricey. Leave it to my genius pal Danielle, of Kitschy Digital‘s fame, to come up with a DIY version. You can find the tutorial on her sweet blog, Thompson Family. (And oooh it looks like someone scored the Liberty of London wellies and that sweet chair!)

5. And with the Easter bunny hip hopping its way towards us at an alarming rate, we turn our heads toward the grand dame of craftiness, St. Martha for adorable kid friendly Easter crafts such as making your own bunny ears.

(via Ohdeedoh.com)

6. We are also totally smitten with these little bunny finger puppets from The Purl Bee. One clever commenter suggested using them as lollipop covers, which sounds totally sweet too!

7. So you say you ran out of thin mints and can’t find a girl scout anywhere?? CHOW to the rescue with a great feature called Make Your Own Girl Scout Cookies!  But beware, these little suckers  are even more addictive than the ones in the purple, green and red boxes…

(image: michele cat)

8. I’m kind of into how graphic and bad ass this poster is. Unlike the usual sweet imagery you usually find in children’s rooms, this graphic poster is inspired by the 60’s revolution era—and is still totally appropriate. From Swedish groovies, Our Children’s Gorilla.

9. OK, now this is something super duper rad. Imagine if you could make a stuffed animal out of one of your child’s drawings?? Well guess what. Now you can. There are two cool companies making these custom softies: Stuff Your Doodle (hee) and Shidonni. Talk about charming! You just have to promise to send us a picture if you get it done yourself.

10. Finally, I just have to share this iPhone app. I don’t know about you, but I’m always handing my iPhone over to Wolfie when he needs a little distraction. I can’t wait to show him this one. It’s called Smack Talk and while the concept is super simple, it’s pretty darn amusing. You speak into the microphone and a cute lil animal repeats back what you just said. It should be obnoxious, but somehow it’s just awesome. Have a look at the video below to see it in action! It’s a mere $1.19.

(via Babyology)

That’s it for this week people. We’ll be back on Monday with the Retro Roundup (our Vintage Kiddo shopping feature) and I promise next Friday we’ll have Weekly Kiddo AND Fresh Links. Don’t forget to enter our awesome Black Apple Alphabet Print Giveaway!!

Rock on and have a happy weekend!

Llum: Bright Young Things

Kiddo Style: Modern

Every now and then, you see a kid’s clothing line that you really wish came in your size.  And I found a real winner in Llum.

“Llum” (pronounced “loom”) is the Catalan word for light: the pure, creative energy in every child—the glow of personality and individual style.   According to Amanda Reichert, the designer:

“Llum clothing is made for play, but still very much dressed.  It moves effortlessly from the sandbox, to the ice cream truck, to the main event with plenty of style and no fuss.  Reversible, adjustable, and interchangeable pieces extend wear and enjoyment. Our palette is inspired by the interplay of earth and sun, in colors, subdued or flamboyant.  We strive to create harmony through comfort and simplicity.  We believe in the creative and sustaining light within every child, and in clothes that allow children simply to be, beautifully. ”

Beautifully put Amanda–now would you please make the following items in my size? Like the wonderful Colorshift dress?

And it never hurts to add a skirt!  Particularly if they were as cute as this one!

I love a well placed ruffle. Amanda, you are killing with all the ruffly goodness of your Bertoia dress.

But my heart belongs to the Miro dress.  How can I not love it with that pop of color with the button? I mean, RILLY?

So fresh and wearable and really, Amanda, can’t you make one in lady size? C’mon!

You can purchase Llum at UrbanBabyRunway.com. They are currently having a sale on many of these dressies too!

2-4-6-8, Donna Wilson's really great!

Art + Design, Crafts + DIY, Kiddo Rooms, ,

Hello pals! So today I have something a little bit different. It’s not really a children’s brand, per se, but I think after you take one look at British designer Donna Wilson‘s fantastical creations you’ll agree they will appeal to kiddos of all ages. I know I fell head over heels! Donna began her career creating an amazing wonderland of stitched and knitted monsters that celebrated fun and quirky characteristics: some have extra long legs or extra big heads, some have two heads, some are grumpy or shy and all are not what they seem. She has also branched out to produce groovy pillows, cozy blankets, felted doilies, pom pom rugs and crazily charming kitchenware. Trust me. You’re gonna love these!





How cute is that little orange slice “barrette” on the little plate?? I love how all of these items would be equally at home in a cool couple’s flat or a sweet kid’s room. And wait til you see Donna herself. She is as cute as her designs are whimsical! Take a gander at this little sunshine gal:

When asked to talk a little bit about her work, Donna had this to say!

“When people ask me what I do I always say I make weird knitted creatures with two heads and angry faces, I love the reaction I get!! Most people look a bit confused and some just think I’m mad. My work is playful, tactile and bright, inspired by the everyday oddities and deformities of life. I like to think of each of my creations as a character in my very own wonderland…where everything is made of soft wool, trees are knitted and instead of growing leaves, pom poms sprout out, strange knitted creatures eat cup cakes and doughnuts sprinkled with stitching.”


So what do you think? Pretty fun stuff huh.
Get yer mitts on Donna’s goodies (ermm, that doesn’t sound quite right…) at these stores in the US:
the future perfect (new york)
Eden&Eden (san francisco)
Eli-phant (portland)
For international stores, check out Donna Wilson’s site here.

images from Donna Wilson.com

Modern Kiddo Giveaway: Black Apple Alphabet Print

Art + Design, Giveaways

We have a most delicious giveaway to offer our wonderful readers today–a limited edition alphabet print from Etsy seller extraordinaire, Emily Martin!

This is one of 50 prints Ms. Martin made, a giclee on textured Watercolor stock in red inks.  She sold them at the SF Renegade fair, where I picked one up saving it for a special person and that person is you, dear reader.  It is numbered 48 out of 50 and has a beautiful texture with rounded edges.  She sells a reproduction of this in other colors on her Etsy site, but this one is the special collectors edition.

What I adore about it is Emily’s very clever choice of words–all very cozy cozy and perfect for your little one’s room.  Q is for quilt. T is for toast. Y is for yawn.  Does it get more snuggly than that? I think not!

I hope you are familiar with Emily’s highly addictive blog, Inside a Black Apple. And her fabulously fashionable blog, Some Girls Wander where she combines vintage goodies with other pieces to create a wonderful look that is all her own.  If not, well, go grab a cup of tea and check them out.  You’ll be bookmarking them within ten seconds.

How To Enter :

1. Become a follower of Modern Kiddo via our blog (on the lefthand side just click “follow”) and leave a comment.

2. Follow us on Twitter or Facebook and tells us your favorite letter and a clever word for it (ex: @Modernkiddo V is for Vespa!)

Contest will close next Friday, April 2nd at noon.

From Russia with Love! Matryoshka Russian Nesting Dolls

Etsy Love

I don’t know about you, but I’m crazy about this matryoshka or Russian nesting doll resurgence that we are seeing pop up all over the Web and in stores.  And with good reason thanks to some of the most charming fabrics and dolls out there right now.

The same fabric can be used in such different ways, like in these two dresses.

I love this  jumper that highlights just one matryoshka from the popular fabric–simple but beautiful dress choice for a little girl. From Etsy seller, All the Numbers.

Or you could go Vegas style–go big or go home–with your matryoshka love in this amazing peasant dress from Lolah Pop Vintage Baby.

And what’s a dress without a purse?  Like these charming Matryoshka purses available at Warm Biscuit. Maybe they’ll turn into the LeSportsac bags of this decade!  Can’t you see it full of puffy stickers and lip smackers?

And who could resist the matryoshka marvelousness in these little baby shoes?

From Etsy seller, Burkheart Baby.

You’d never know what’s under that babushka of a little Russian doll, but I’m sure if they could whip the kerchief off, they would be working these little pony tails elastics from something fierce!

From Little Itty Bitty.

Sadly the classic Russian nesting dolls aren’t very huggable, but you can make your own Matryoshka softies with this great Wild Child doll kit. Very simple and beautiful.

From Pulp Designs.

But let’s take a moment to look at some of the best actual matryoshka dolls out there.

I’m really crushing on this La Familia set in its one of a kind charm and simplicity.  I like the idea of a wonderful artist just taking a black felt tip pen and letting his imagination go wild.

I adore this animal set starting with this very friendly lion and ending with bird. What a treat!

I’m alway game for Matryoshka dolls that aren’t little babushkas–like this Monster Mash set from Cyanide Sweetheart.  Bonus points for the Simpson’s reference…

And that of course is the top of of a very slippery slope of “unique”  nesting dolls where people have taken some.. ahem… clever liberties with our little Babushka beauties. Replacing her sweetly kerchiefed head with The Beatles, Star Wars storm troopers, Disney princesses , South Park characters, NBA team the Lakers, or Evita Peron. But I give you the best of them–the penultimate of nesting dolls: The ABBA nesting doll set.

Take a chance on THAT bit of Swedish awesomeness!