The Serena and Lily Loft Crib and Changer/Dresser by Netto Collection were featured on a dramatic give-away Friday afternoon on a special Mother's Day episode on the Ellen Degeneres Show. A lucky mother of twins was given two cribs and one changer/dresser on the show. She gave birth to her twins on Monday.
Happy Mothers Day from NettoCollection!
Every now and then something happens that feels like a milestone on the road to better design for kids. One of my recent “Oh Yes!” breakthrough moments took place when I received pictures from our new dealer in Hong Kong, whose shop has recently opened.
Our friend Alexia named her clothing line after her one-eyed pug Webster but there is nothing funny looking about her clothes for this Spring/Summer. Pretty sundresses, the universally flattering Sari dress and some sweet light cotton blouses to throw over jean shorts or her Isabel skirt.
Alexia is a new mom whose handsome baby boy is, we are proud to say, sleeping in a Netto crib. Her designs look as great on the lithe Kirsty Hume as they do on curvy Liv Tyler – both of whom are fans.
It’s a cool glass of ice tea, toes wriggling in the grass type pretty.
Check it out.
By Liz
Before Baby Bjorn, there were cradle baskets.
The California Indians, the Pomo and the Western Mono peoples, historically have carried their babies and children on hand-woven cradle baskets. These amazing child carriers were the precursors of the modern day baby carriers. Precious Cargo: California Indian Cradle Baskets and Childbirth Traditions is an exhibit at the California Indian Museum and Cultural Center that is running through Spring 2008. It explores the use of the cradle baskets both historically and contemporarily among the California Indians and their beliefs and practices pertaining to childbirth and child-rearing. Among the many objects on exhibit are rare photographs and cradle baskets woven by contemporary California Indians. If you are not able to make it to the west coast you can also purchase the book that includes all the amazing rich photographs.
By Nancy
We happen to be partial to Rufus, our own Polar Bear Rocker. But here is a cool alternative. Much gratitude to our friend at If the Birds Knew for this spot.
By Claude
Everyone hates furniture assembly. With suppliers trying to maximize product counts in the 40 foot shipping containers that circle the globe, there’s little to be found in the way of fully assembled furniture these days. And so we roll up our sleeves and break out our screwdrivers. Hopefully the result is a complete piece of furniture and the satisfaction of assembling it oneself.
For those who find that satisfaction elusive no matter how hard they try, let me introduce you to Guillow’s Jetfire planes. Here is an object that one can master and enjoy in less than two minutes for less than $2. Tear open the bag, insert four parts into the fuselage, and fly. No instructions necessary, no diagrams, no tools, no hardware.
Ready to take things to the next level? Slide the wing forward for loops and circles, or slide the wing back for long flights. Fly it in your backyard with a child and aim to land it in a hula hoop on the far side of the lawn. Mission accomplished.
By Alex
It's a geography lesson for 3-year-olds, but it's also a cartoon. A movie starring Donald Duck, but no grown-up of any age can look away. A musical from the golden age of musicals, with numbers as elaborate as anything from MGM, but nobody's in it you've ever heard of (except of course Donald Duck), and the score is all hot and south-of-the-border style. A Latin musical.
Give up? I'm talking about Walt Disney's The Three Caballeros, one of the most remarkable movies for children ever made. Disney's seventh animated feature film, from 1944, is not as well known as the early biggies like Pinocchio and Snow White but it's just as great and in a genre all its own.
It's a tour of Latin American countries by three avian cartoon characters, with ravishing illustrative art and knockout musical numbers to get across something of the culture of Patagonia, Mexico, and most memorably, Brazil. I had never seen it as a child but discovered it when my daughter Kate fell in love with the movie and asked to watch it more than any of her prior obsessions. So I sat down and watched it with her and couldn't believe my eyes.
The MoMA store has many wonderful things for kids and this M.C. Escher Lizard Puzzle ($18) is one of my favorites. All kids love lizards — better still, a herd of 'em. This puzzle is playful, but it's actually also a great tool for teaching puzzle-solving skills with some flexibility. The graphic aspect kind of reminds me of Keith Haring. It looks cool enough that you won't mind seeing it on the floor, even in the living room. And when it's not put together, it's actually fifteen toys!
By David
I really was happy with the Baby Bjorn I carried my first child around in, but there was always a slight dork factor that nagged at me — that, and the fact that after walking around for an hour or so, back pain worthy of an octagenarian water carrier set in. Well, the second time around, we're using the awesome Deuter KangaKid Child Carrier Backpack and I have to tell you, I really love this thing. The discovery was made by my wife, Liz, who has excellent taste and a kind of rugged instinct for fun. After watching her carry Madelyn around in this sturdy — I might even say cool — child-carrying backpack, I now ask to wear it (and make Liz carry the lighter shopping bags). Our kid loves it, too. She's perched up high and looking in the same direction as me, so when we set off together, there's a sense of shared destination and adventure.
By David
Originally published by Babble
I love the retro look of WPA posters, and there are eight reading-themed ones to choose from here. I think the images would look great in an older kids room -- a few, like this October one, are probably too visually strong for babies -- but several of the posters are quite suitable for decorating smaller kids spaces. And you can't beat the price -- $10.00 a poster.
By David
