Finally, a reasonably priced and attractive collection of children’s clothing for dress and play that are not emblazoned with a Disney character.

via {Olive Juice Kids}

It was slow getting to our house this year, you know, the magical power that transforms children into angels for 3 ½ weeks each December.  Thankfully, it managed to quietly slip in last night as the girls were making their advent chains.  Sibling peace and harmony until Christmas.  One can only hope!

Wooden Angels {Aarikka}

Posted in Children Tagged: aarikka, angels, christmas, family, finnish design ]]> http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/12/01/the-power-of-the-season-angels/feed/ 0 writeonandmore aarikka-angels http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/mini-movies-optical-art-book/ http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/mini-movies-optical-art-book/#comments Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:06:48 +0000 writeonandmore http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/?p=1693 ]]>

Artist and designer, Rufus Butler Seder has not only captured the imagination of children, but also the New York Times Best Sellers list, with his book “Gallop!“

Employing a patented new technology called Scanimation, each page is a marvel that brings animals to life with art that literally moves (click on the image above to see the horse in motion).

The book shows a horse in full gallop, a turtle swimming up the page, a dog running, a cat that springs, an eagle soaring and a butterfly who flutters.  The movements of the animals are so life-like, you and your children will find them quite mesmerizing.

A wonderful book for the young and young at heart.  Available here. enjoy hh

Posted in Children Tagged: books, children's gifts, gallop, optical art, picture books, rufus butler seder, scanimation ]]> http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/09/24/mini-movies-optical-art-book/feed/ 0 writeonandmore gallopbook1 http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/become-a-collector-introducing-art-to-the-young/ http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/07/15/become-a-collector-introducing-art-to-the-young/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:12:18 +0000 writeonandmore http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/?p=759 ]]>

My daughter received a wonderful puzzle for her recent birthday, The Dance Class by Edgar Degas. As soon as she saw the picture, she exclaimed, “Oh, I know who painted this, I have a book with the other dance pictures.”

As a mother, I did feel a slight surge of pride when my 6 year old recognized this “masterpiece” and the artist’s other body of work. I also remembered well the book my daughter was referencing, a fabulous board book with the most melodic text – Dancing with Degas by Chronicle Books. This book and another in the series, A Picnic With Monet, were read to my daughters so often, that I can still recite each from memory.

Authored by Julie Merberg (currently the president of Downtown Bookworks Inc.) and Suzanne Bober (an avid art collector), these imaginative and playful books are sure to become some of the most well read in your child or grandchild’s collection.

The Mini Masters Boxed Set would make an excellent shower or new baby gift. Featuring the work of Degas, Monet, Matisse and Van Gogh, this 4 book collection will provide a wonderful introduction to a world of beautiful art. This extensive series of books also includes the art of Seurat, Cassatt, Picasso, Gauguin, Rousseau and Renior. Start your adventure today. Enjoy HH

The final bell has rung and the familiar afternoon rumblings of Bus 6 will soon be a distant memory. The girls are finally home and full of excitement as they begin their summer vacation!

Aahh yes, a summer of swim team, reading, golf lessons, play time and a few school camps will fill their days. Quite the idyllic life for a 6 and 7 year old.

Adjustments must be made to my daily routine as I will now have my two young side-kicks at home, creating their own version of the perfect summer vacation. Their “creativity” never ceases to amaze me (or at times incense me). I look forward to what they have in store for me!

I must remember that patience, flexibility, central air, a nice chardonnay and of course, lots of love, will make this quite a lovely summer. Enjoy HH

Wonderful Plant Creations from Elsa Mora (her work is incredible – take a peek)

]]> http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/theyre-off/feed/ 0 writeonandmore http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/come-clean-charming-laundry-bags/ http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/2008/06/12/come-clean-charming-laundry-bags/#comments Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:14:13 +0000 writeonandmore http://writeonandmore.wordpress.com/?p=589 ]]>

These are almost too cute for dirty clothes!

These over-sized laundry bags from India Rose would function perfectly in a child’s room or nursery. I could picture them hung on the back of the door – adding some ruffly charm. Enjoy HH

Devil Bags via India Rose

This unique Travel Journal will allow your child to capture their vacation or summer travel memories in an interactive and fun book.

The Travel Journal has prompted pages for your child to complete, as well as blank pages for drawings and photos. A sticker sheet is also included to decorate these unique pages. A fantastic way for any child to actively record their personal vacation memories. Find it here. Enjoy HH

Vinyl wall graphics have become quite popular. They are a perfect way to decorate an apartment or nursery since they can be easily changed when the mood suits you. Now there are companies that will create unique and custom wall stickers with either your child’s portrait or drawings – how fun!

www.pop-line.com

www.wonderwall.com

a pocket full of pencils, drawing, drawing, we just can’t get enough!

Rosie Flo’s coloring books (aka “colouring book” in the UK), are the most FABULOUS coloring books that I have ever seen. Choices include: Rosie Flo’s coloring book, Rosie Flo’s Animals coloring book, and Johnny Joe’s coloring book for boys with new ones added often.

Developed for her children, the designer, Roz Streeten, sketched intricate designs that her children could color. She also developed them so that heads, faces, arms and legs could be added by those coloring the designs. So stand back and let the next Picasso happen!

They are perfect paired with the Plumier Pencil Set which is a cylinder of colored pencils with a sharpener at the top.

A month ago we started with a dozen of four kinds and within 1 week they were gone. Developed and produced in the UK, they are hard to come by and appreciated by those that find them to buy and send. A new shipment just arrived – find them here!. EW

+

= PURE FUN!!

Today is the start of the 2008 Major League Baseball season – let’s mark the day by featuring these amazing suede baseballs. A unique and thoughtful gift that would allow any new Dad to announce his arrival in style.

The baseballs are hand-made to professional standards and arrive in a box with a green turf base stand - perfect to display on a desk or shelf. Find them here. Enjoy HH

We love children’s art activities that are presented in wonderful self-contained packages.

Take a look at this very preppy mini canvas tote – it includes stencil sheets, paint and sponges, everything your budding design star needs to create personalized art. The retro-nautical theme and red/cream color combination make this a perfect gift for a boy or girl.

Easter always brings back some of my fondest childhood memories. A few days before Easter I always made a trip to our local Fannie Farmer Chocolate store. Immediately upon opening the tall glass doors, I was surrounded by the most intoxicating scents. I can still visualize the brightly lit display cases with mounds of chocolates, nonpareils and other treats. I always ordered a small white bag of solid chocolate foil eggs that I would then “hide” in the living room for my brothers and sisters to hunt on Easter Morning (there were 6 of us!). I even went so far as to draw a map to note the location of each foil egg. Pure fun!

I have not seen a Fannie Farmer’s in years, but the site of pastel colored foil eggs will always be sweet to me. HH

When it comes to calming and comforting a child who has just awoken from a nightmare, parents will try just about anything. Perhaps sleep deprivation increases your creativity – I have heard of parents dousing the room with “Good Dream Spray” (other wise known as Bath & Body Works room spray), flipping the pillow over “to help you forget” the bad dream and leaving piles of books, barbies, small plastic objects and shoes all over the floor to thwart any intruder (or Mom) from getting near the bed (oh, wait, that’s just my kids excuse as to why they never clean up!).

We have found a very unique product that will not only help keep nightmares at bay – it give your child “control” by enabling them to write down their fears or worries. “What the Heck is that?” might be your first response when you see the The Nightmare Snatcher Journal, but upon closer examination you will see just how brilliant this journal really is!

You have only to recite the spell, record your woes, then mark your page with it’s long tail and your faithful friend the Nightmare Snatcher will eat all of your fears away! Each hand-crafted journal contains 50 tea-stained pages that will help your child “close the book on nightmares.” HH

We just received a wonderful parcel from London containing the most stylish “colouring books.” We know you and your children will just love them!

The creator of the books, Roz Streeten – is a mother who enjoyed drawing and coloring with her young children. She took instructions from her daughters on what to draw, with dresses being the most popular item requested. Her daughters would then add the faces, arms and legs and color the dresses. Streeten was amazed by her daughter’s prolonged interest in adding the necessary head, legs and arms to create new characters and felt that there were other children who might enjoy the same activity – thus Rosie Flo was born.

All of the books are designed and published in-house at Streeten Kamlish Graphic Design. The paper quality is very nice and thick enough to avoid showing through or damaging the picture on the next page. The books are perfectly sized (8″x8″) and are very sturdy.

We believe this is a book that can be enjoyed by a very wide age range – young children on up. The Rosie Flo series is perfect for girls and the Johnny Joe series for boys. Take a look at some of the sample spreads. These would make fantastic Child birthday gifts or a nice gift for Easter.

Now available at www.writeonandmore.com Enjoy. HH

Skip the chocolates and sugary candy and opt for a gift that will be enjoyed well past February 15th!

Red Hot Racer from Automoblox. This puzzle car is great on its own or can be combined with other Automoblox Sets.

   

I Came across these amazing products from Brit designer Kirsty Anne Powell, founder and Design Director of Oromono (based in Amsterdam). The children’s slippers are so sweet! Each of her textile designs have a unique three dimensional look. Visit Oromono to discover beautiful pillows, bags, cushions. etc. Enjoy. HH

This collection of Wooden Spelling Blocks would make a fabulous “New Baby Gift.” We love the use of bright tropical colors instead of the traditional primary ones. Each block features an alpha letter with corresponding picture and word. You can use the blocks as nursery decorations when a child is young and later they will serve as a great learning tool for toddlers on up.