07.31.2007
Bubble - BabyG favs come through
Along with some newcomers (which I will bring to you throughout the week) at the Bubble trade show, some of our favorites once again turned out in style with some fun new items. Brooklyn-based Winter Water Factory featured some bold new prints which now come as wall art, so you can deck out your nursery as well as your kids. Love the construction vehicles, but my fav is the barnyard scene.
Zid zid introduced these colorful capes and matching masks. The perfect accessory for any aspiring superhero, these reversible wonders also featuring a shiny metallic star on the inside. They also unveiled their new clutches, complete with glittery zipper that girls of any age would find hard to resist.
And finally, new from PePe shoes.... I mean, glitter saddles; polka dot, cow hide clogs; hemp boots; and Mary Janes in creamy grey, patent leather, each is more precious than the next. Why EVERY baby store in the world doesn't carry these, I'll never know. These are the Manolos of kid's shoes!
Posted by Justine
Category:
news/events
Tags: bags capes shoes wall art
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07.31.2007
Walnut baby rattle
There's something really refreshing about this baby rattle - it has an interesting shape that little hands can clutch and the smooth rounded surface crafted form a single block of walnut is really appealing. The rattle is made of local hardwoods from a company called Mossy Creek Woodworks, located on a farm in rural Madison County, Arkansas, and the toy is left unpainted and unstained.
Who says baby toys need to be painted bright colors when natural wood is so beautiful and soothing? It certainly makes this rattle a standout.
Available at Nico & Zoe
Posted by Jenna
Category:
toys
Tags: rattle toys
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07.31.2007
Drooz Studio - Boys' rug
Really, my role on Babygadget is to introduce you to European products, but while researching I happened to come across Drooz Studio Rugs, and found a couple of the designs so interesting I just had to share.
This one [pictured above] is named the 'Boys' Rug', though there's no reason why it wouldn't suit a girl just as well. I like the idea that the pattern echoes the sort of things you might find strewn across the bedroom floor anyway, with a few fanciful additions like a frog and a fish - which thankfully, most parents are unlikely to find when they're tidying up.
The girls' rug in the same range features ballet shoes, flowers and even pods of peas (yes, stereotypical). Take a look at the whole selection of wool rugs, however, because there are some interesting themes treated in ways you just won't see anywhere else.
Posted by Myf
Category:
decor
Tags: rugs
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07.30.2007
Crank up the bath-time fun with comedy shower caps
What with the splashing and the bubbles, and, let's face it, the general relief that the day is almost over, bathtime couldn't really get much more fun in our household. Unless - wait! Could we have our young 'un dress up as a pig perhaps? How about a comedy chicken?
These shower caps just make me chuckle every time I look at them, and at £3.99 each, that's a cheap laugh. Do be aware, though, that they are for age three and up.
Posted by Myf
Category:
bath/health
Tags: bath
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07.30.2007
Lalapanzi: a portable place to sleep
The Lalapanzi bed, founded by 2 South African mothers, was designed with closeness in mind - in this case, better sleeping solutions for a family who often travels. The soft, plush bed is only 5 pounds and comes in many durable and cozy fabrics. It's similar in concept to a moses basket, but can be folded into a travel sac for easier portability and your baby will have a familiar place to sleep when away from home. It seems that many people are placing it inside their cribs for a much more cozy fit, which makes sense - a crib is huge when you place a newborn inside! It's also a nice way to transition the baby to a crib if he's sleeping with you in your room. The bed comes in 2 sizes: small for babies up to 6 months, and large for babies up to a year. Unless you were placing the large bed in a crib, I can't see how an active, wiggly older infant would stay in the bed during the night, do you? Can anyone out there using this bed tell me differently?
Thanks to Babygadget reader Christine for the tip.
Posted by Jenna
Category:
gear
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07.30.2007
Unusual dimmer light switches
Admittedly, you have to have pretty much reached perfection elsewhere in the house before you start turning your attention to the look and style of your light switches. Having said that, it's the small details that make all the difference.
In this case, it's a difference that will probably loom large in the life of your toddler. I imagine kids would love to turn the car or the dinosaur and watch the light dim or brighten. Let's face it, cause and effect is a pretty exciting concept for the under-twos. Throw in a car or a dinosaur and you've probably made a friend for life.
Posted by Myf
Category:
decor
Tags: decor
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07.27.2007
Fog linen work
I don't read Japanese so the info that I can gather from this site is only through Google translator, but I really love the aesthetics of everything in this store called Fog. I'm really into clean neutrals and natural fibers, and linen, the fabric of choice for Fog's creations, give the neutrals richness and texture. Some people might think it's austere, but I find everything really appealing, maybe because I'm craving some visual quiet these days. There are a few baby items which I've posted photos of here, but it's worth taking a tour for a look of their housewares, clothes, sandals (which I love) and toys, including this very mysterious floating ball game.
Thanks for the tip Unha.
Posted by Jenna
Category:
accessories
Tags: accessories
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07.27.2007
Little Ninj
As far as plush toys go, and I'm thinking about my son here but this would work equally well for girls, it's hard to get one that captures their fancy. The Little Ninj is super cute and one could, should it suddenly "disappear", create an elaborate narrative around the whole notion of trying to find/capture it and vice versa. I personally love the minimalist coolness of the ninja's design. And I can anticipate the thousands of questions coming at me should we ever order one. Especially from my son.
Posted by Gabriela
Category:
toys
Tags: toys
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07.27.2007
Now your conscience can extend as far as your fairtrade dolls' clothes
These days, we're all a lot more aware of where our clothes, food and toys come from, and the conditions in which they are made. How many of us have ever, though, given the slightest thought to where dolls' clothes originate?
Maybe because they are made from such small scraps of material; maybe because even the most diligent of us doesn't have the time to worry about every tiny detail in our lives - whatever the reason, here is one area that never troubled my mind before now.
And yet, thanks to Bishopston Trading in the UK, my conscience can now rest easy. Plus, I can teach my daughter to make the same considered decisions about her dollies' clothes as I do about hers.
Posted by Myf
Category:
toys
Tags: dolls fairtrade
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07.26.2007
The mooj bookcase
Lobola is a South African tradition where a bride is paid for by cows given to her father. Not exactly PC, sure, but tradition is tradition, even in an age where most of us don't have room for a cow. The mooj bookcase takes care of this problem, however, by making a piece of furniture that is in the spirit of giving someone the gift of a cow, but in a way that's delightful and gives you a place to keep your books. Who wouldn't love this? Add in the wheels so you can move it wherever you need storage and you're in business.
There is no set price that I can see, which means this is either a concept piece or we can't afford it. Still, it's a great piece of design that touches on an interesting custom and updates it as a very nice gift.
I'm going to go take measurements of Jess' father's study, and ask how he feels about cows...
Posted by ben
Category:
furniture
Tags: bookcase cow
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