Monthly Archives: May 2010

Make Way for Little Ducklings Clothing

Big Kiddo, ,

I love it when designers riff on classic children’s style.  It’s all about taking those classics, but keeping ’em comfy.  But what really really makes it super amazing is that aha moment. You know, that little moment where your heart smiles with the cleverness of it all.  I like sweetness in my kid’s clothes, but not too cloying. And U.K. based clothing line, Little Duckling gets it all right.

For example, I love this take on overalls with the fun straps just up the ante on the charm in such a lovely way. And the wide legged pants are killing me!

Or the addition of the sweet heart shaped pockets just can’t help but make you smile, eh?  And you know how much I love gingham too.

Linen is such a great and forgiving fabric.  I adore this very clever addition of a draw string waist with a great punch of color with this limey green goodness.  As you know, I love love love a good small print onesie, don’t you? And this print with a little person flying a kite is just too cute for words.

Oh Little Duckling, I can’t wait to see what you produce next!

Vintage Kiddo Toys: Debbie’s Dream Dollhouse

Best of Alix, Vintage Toys + Fun Stuff

Most of the time when I’m posting vintage toys, there is a fair amount of nostalgia involved. Things I had. Things my girlfriends had and I desperately wanted but my never parents never got me and I’m still bitter about…helllo Dorothy Hamill ice skating doll. (As an aside I mentioned this story to Greg back when we were first dating and one birthday he got me THE DOROTHY HAMILL ICE SKATING DOLL. That was when I knew this was a man to marry….)

But I digress. So like I was sayin’, vintage toy collecting usually involves a fair amount of nostalgia, but I loooooooove when I unearth something that didn’t even know existed. And I’ve told you guys, I’m a vintage/thriftin’ pro/know-it-all by now and feel like I’ve seen it all. So my eyes popped out of my head when I stumbled upon Debbie’s Dream House. I don’t know who this Debbie is, but girlfriend had my kinda dreams.

You can already tell that this is gonna be a goodie, eh? OK friends. Let’s step inside….


All together now…..”Ooooooooh!” Debbie, I love what you’ve done with the place…



Incredibly, this pad came fully furnished. Please note that the light blue dining room table comes equipped with a LAZY SUSAN people. I’m dyin’….

Requires two big “D” batteries…what for??? Did something light up? Spin? A doorbell?? Debbie, I need to know!

UPDATE! I found out….Debbie’s house had a light up fireplace, working living room lamp and sweet mother mary, A WORKING DOOR BELL!!!!!! Amazing. Why does the doorbell seem like it takes this doll house up a notch to Cadillac of Dollhouses status?? Did anyone here have this beauty? Enquiring minds want to know!!!

Now don’t knock anyone down as you race over to eBay to see if you can nab one of these suckers for yourself. (By the way, I already looked. All I found was Debbie’s living room furniture….sigh.)

My next quest….to find out more about this baby:

Want more retro mod doll house love? Check out this past post: Welcome to the Doll Haus.

Pssst! You can get a home tour over at the lovely doe-c-doe blog.

Images: puppenhaus on Flickr, doe-c-doe, barbigirl

Vintage Kiddo Retro Roundup!

Kiddo Style: Vintage,

Happy Monday everyone! Did you have a fab weekend? I sure did, dancing with the Peach at the Devil-Ette’s PipSqueak A Go-Go event Saturday which was also a benefit for JM. The Peach danced her little self into a tizzy–oh, it was so much fun! But even with all of that shaking and a shimmying, I still found time to track down some of the sassiest sweetest vintage finds for you all! You know I can’t say no to a good hour spent e-thrifting!

So, on with the show!

Why stop at two tone shoes when you can have three lovely shades of suede to dapper up any ensemble, like these sixties kiddo shoes?

I’ll step into those sassy shoes eBay seller, ByDenise!

This dress screams U.S. of Yay!  It has that Betsy-Ross-bi-centenial-Yankee-Doodle-Dandy je ne sais quoi to it doesn’t it?!

Does it come with fireworks, ebay seller, Fashion Chic 7000?

You know we love our Health Tex here at Modern Kiddo. And who could blame us when the pickings are as adorably cute as this striped polo style onesie from eBay seller, Auctionnut45?

I think this might be my favorite item of the week–a sweet western inspired bright orange raincoat from Ebay seller,  Great Lake  Outfitters.

I really like this eBay seller! She also has this lovely violet gingham dress in a big girl size 12. Perfect for summer, doncha think?

What with Tiki-Oasis just a few months away, how could you not indulge in buying this great fifties  vintage Hawaiian shirt for your little man. And for ten clams, how could you not?

You are killing me with your awesomeness, Fast Eddie’s Retro Rags!

Now Tiki’s influence on fashion went beyond the fifties into the seventies. And this is a prime specimen of Tiki with this great matching swim trunks and cover-up combo. It’s like it was pillaged from Bobby Brady’s luggage during the gang’s infamous trip to Hawaii.

Let’s hope this one doesn’t come with a cursed Tiki idol, Etsy Seller Natural Pond Vintage!

Who doesn’t love a carousel? And gingham carousel horsies? Well this is a triple threat because it is also a Nanette dress!

Color me sold Etsy seller the FancyTail!

Awesome things come in three–so I had to feature one more item of gingham in this retro round-up and I think it’s a surefire cutie! Check out this jonjon romper in gingham. But let’s kick it up a notch and add an industrious piglet who is holding an apple.  Makes sense to me!

Pure Genius, Etsy seller Stellabluz?

I adore this blue sweater with its dandy nautical accents on the button placket from Etsy Seller, Our Retro Toybox!  Sweetly understated!

OK, I said no more gingham, right. Well, I’m a liar. Here’s one more gingham. But I saved the best for last.  Gingham plus embroidery, plus that good heavy polyester from the seventies.  It all equals one of the cutest little jumpers around! It just had to be included. And bonus points for use of ric-rac and embroidery. If this one isn’t bought up, I might just sneak back in and get it myself!

Again from Our Retro Toybox.

What a fun round up! Alix will be along shortly with a retro daydream that will surely make you smile, so please come back this afternoon for more vintage fun!

Oh, and if you haven’t had a chance to enter our most marvelous giveaway–a $50 gift certificate to Simply Silhouettes–don’t worry, there is still time. And you can get an extra chance if you join us on Facebook, Google Connect or Twitter. And if you mention the giveaway either on Facebook of Twitter, we’ll add you once again. Whoohoo!

Happy Monday!

Modern Kiddo Link Lovin’

Link Hootenanny

OH thank the lordy it’s FRIDAY people—we made it to another weekend. Before we sign off, I wanted to share with you guys some really cute stuff that caught my eye this week!

We talk a lot about thrifting vintage kid’s clothing, but don’t forget about vintage kid’s books and games. Just take a look at these adorable sewing cards that Elsie found over on A Beautiful Mess. I love them!

Oh man, Irene over at Bloesem Kids must have the Cool Kiddo Room Hot Line, because she never disappoints. Check out this amazing circus bedroom:

Joel, the uber awesome papa over at Made by Joel, is always rustlin’ up cool art projects for his kiddos. I was particularly charmed by the simplicity of these groovy tin can telephones.

I don’t have a baby anymore, but these adorable handmade swaddle clothes over at Prudent Baby had me going, “Awwww!”

Last weekend Dottie and I went to thee most fabulous retro-styled Tupperware party! Who knew they still had Tupperware parties, eh? But our hostesses made this a grand affair, complete with deviled eggs and pigs in a blanket! Check it out over at Strawberry Lemonade:

While my child is extremely finnicky , I still like to dream of the day when he munches eagerly on an asparagus and goat cheese tart. The adorable Phyllis at Dash & Bella cooks up some pretty amazing recipes with her two kiddos. Thanks to Heather of 3 Ring Circus who sent me that hot tip!

Oh, and finally……don’t forget to enter our cutie cute Simply Silhouettes Giveaway!

Have an awesome weekend friends. We’ll catch ya on MONDAY!

Meet California Girls: Audrey & Audrey!

Weekly Kiddos


One of our most popular features over here at Camp Kiddo is the Weekly Kiddo—when we take a look at what some sassy and stylish real kids are wearing. I was sorting through my submissions and realized I had two adorable little girls who were due their turn—and they had some fun similarities. Both live in California, both are named Audrey and both are extremely adorable! One lives in LA and one in SF, so I thought it might be fun to do a little SoCal/NoCal tribute to these two sweet girls. California girls, take it away!!

MEET Audrey!
This vivacious little four year old cutie is from Los Angeles and just exudes happy energy. She was named after the glamorous Audrey Hepburn (her sweet mama Christy saw Breakfast at Tiffany‘s in highschool and, like so many of us, was hooked!). Her lovely daughter lives up to her name sake. Check out these fun photos!


+ Hot pink tutu
+ Zebra leggings
+ Silver ballerina slippers
+ Sassy upcycled necklace from Etsy shop Itty Bitty Love (yep, that’s Audrey’s mama’s shop! I think I need one for myself!!)


+ White prairie dress
+ Ugg boots
+  Adorable scarflette made from upcycled goodies, from Itty Bitty Love


+ Scarflette made from upcycled goodies, from Itty Bitty Love


+ Pink shirt
+ Ruffle skirt
+ Pink jelly sandals


+ Handmade black and white polka dot sundress


+ Upcycled Chanel-inspired necklace with chains and rosettes. SO cute! from Itty Bitty Love.

Look at that smile on that girl! Miss Audrey is a big fan of all things princess. She also loves drawing, crafting (just like her talented mommy!) and dancing in her ballet class. She has a big personality and is just loads of fun! The other little cutie pictured is her little brother Aaron. He loves to follow everything that his big sister does—and his mama tells us it’s not uncommon for us to find him wearing a tiara or running around with cheer leading pom poms in his hands! (I am willing to bet those pictures will be brought out when someone is a teenager! heehee!)

So that would be PLENTY of cuteness for one day, but we’re not done yet! You’re not seeing things, we have ANOTHER adorable Audrey, only this one is from San Francisco!

MEET another Audrey!
This adorable miss is nearly four years old and is such a little sweetie pie! She too is named after the glamorous Audrey Hepburn and has always loved dressing up. With her big grin and infectious giggles, she brings a smile to everyone around her. Let’s take a look at what this wee charmer has in her closet!


+ Red, White, and Blue gingham dress, Gymboree
+ Silver gladiator shoes, Lauren’s Closets (Um, hellllo. LOVE those shoes!)


+ Sassy Hello Kitty Sunglasses
+ Flower Power Print Dress, Target
+ Dora the Explorer backback, Target


+ Pucci Style Tunic, Lauren’s Consignment
+ Black leggings, Target
+ Headband, swiped from daycare!



+ Sweater tunic, Kohls
+ Jeans, Osh Kosh B’Gosh via Kohls
+ Shoes, Luca and Livie

What a cutie! Little Miss Audrey unapologetically loves anything princess and anything pink. She enjoys walks and hikes and loves learning the names of flowers. When she’s not playing princess or running around with her brother Miles, you’ll find her dancing and singing. Audrey has roots in New Orleans and she loooves discovering new foods with her awesome mama Lynn! Miss Audrey is an adventurous eater and she and her mama often have lunch at food carts and restaurants around the East Bay—even spicy goodies. Her latest discovery is a love of jambalaya! Amazing! Just don’t ask her to try vegetables. Hey, she’s still a kid.

Thank you Christy and Lynn for sharing these two most lovely little girls with us! What an awesome way to end our week! Now, where can I find a pair of silver gladiator sandals in a size 7 1/2? Hmmm.