Birds of a feather flock together...

We are ecstatic about some of the latest entries to the Small Kids, Big Color contest on Ohdeedoh... one of our very favorite places to scroll through each morning with our cup of coffee. This room for a baby on the way in California has a homespun feel but remains uncluttered & cheerful. Our favorite element is the natural branch mounted on the wall holding fabric birds.

This reminded us of an art installation we spotted at the Crow Collection of Asian Art in Dallas which had origami cranes hanging from every inch of a hallway ceiling with fishing line. We immediately envisioned something similar for a children's room or nursery and later thought it would be a nice jesture to have friends help fold the decorative paper birds during pre-baby festivites such as a shower. Pre-cut sqares of paper with fun motifs can be used to decorate place settings, then guests can scribble special wishes to the little one on one side before folding; making a cherished statement piece made entirely by your closest friends & family.

Creater's Comforts...

We are in complete & total envy of this big kids craft space seen on Cottage Living's website. A small area of an adult office is transformed into an inspiring area to cut, paste & create to heart's content. Inexpensive shelving with bins of paint, ribbon, fabrics and wrapping paper sit next to found objects like clothes tags, photos and magazine tears - all ready and waiting to become part of a masterpiece. A great idea to encourage artistic play!

Root for the HOME team...

Hive Modern is a great source for one of our biggest design obsessions - CHAIRS! Many varieties for children are amoung their well-edited mix including the Joe Lounge Chair. Made in the USA this is a re-issue by Heller, inspired by the 1970s original made completely of leather. Now made from roto-molded plastic this signature piece can be used indoors as well as outdoors; perfect for a bedroom, playroom or backyard space (imagine this as on-deck seating next to your very own baseball diamond!). Yes, a bit pricey at $1,000 but shipping is free which makes us even bigger fans!

ducduc, goose...

A few weeks ago we participated in the ASID sponsored Soho Design Walk in New York visiting some spectacular showrooms that opened their doors on a very dreary October day. We were immediately energized as we walked into the cheery ducduc showroom full of happy, bright colors - ranging from the classics to funky with an edge. There is a full range of custom finishes for each piece that are strikingly inventive and we could hardly contain our excitement over their sophisticated, homespun Mason Gray collection. The beauty is truly in the detailing and our admiration peaked as we caught a glimpse of designers busily creating in the next room, learned everything is created in a small town in nearby CT, and settled into a comfy rocker with a sweet treat from Balthazar bakery.

Thank you, ducduc for being a wonderful host!

Happy Birthday, Barbie...

Barbie sure looks good for 50 and so do the special edition accessories designed especially for the bombshell's birthday. Pottery Barn Kids and Jonathan Adler have designed collections to mark the 50th year of all things Barbie - the dream house, the hot pink corvette and who can forget the plastic high-heeled pump!

Check out these perky pieces...

Sheet set by Pottery Barn Kids

Ceramic jars by Jonathan Adler

And picture yourself lounging in Barbie's real life Malibu Dream House designed by Jonathan and his super creative team to promote the historic anniversary...

Golden Globes...

The nip in the air is reminding us that Halloween is only a few short weeks away! Preparing for this very festive occasion sometimes leads to hours of sticky, fuzzy, gooey and complicated projects (i.e. costumes and sticky treats). If this is the case, may we suggest an alternative to carving a pumpkin... paint it gold! We spotted this style at John Derian's flagship store in Manhattan and loved the sophisticated fall feeling it left with us. Your pumpkin will last longer when left uncarved and you can feel especially charitable by giving a bruised or dis-colored pumpkin a red-carpet makeover. Happy Fall!

The Cookie Crumbles...

We are devastated with the news that Cookie Magazine will be closing. We always looked to their ingenious editorials and stylings for inspiration and resources. Take some time to view their website before it's too late and enjoy one of the many articles we are clinging to as a keepsake.

Make your child's birthday a hit... throw a rock star party!

Have guests bring their "ticket invites" for admittance...

Make shoebox guitars with paint stir sticks & rubber bands...


Snap quick-print digital pics of each guest & slip into these backstage passes by OrientalTrading.com