The Daily Stroll

Delicious little hippos and owls

Well I just can't get over the cuteness. Who knew that Ultrasuede could look so good? Now we know where the material went after the clothing trend of Ultrasuede went out years ago (thank goodness). It looks so much better cut up into small pieces and made into hippos and donuts and such!

b.delicious is a great collection of accessories and clothing for small people. With tiny scissors (I imagine) and a nimble artistic hand, Jennifer Talbot creates whimsical beings, and on clothing she applique's unique designs some of which help to bring out the personality in your little "King Pin" or "Chatter Box".

Talbot suggests using these owls as bookends in your child's room which is just genius, and she also has a feeling that hippos are going to be BIG this year. Applique can be seen in many designer's collections but this 3-D use of Ultrasuede is something that only a true artist can achieve.

designer:: b.delicious

dailystroll readers receive 10% off of their order. use code: URDelicious at checkout. expires 4.30.08.

Snuggle Bug Baby Company

A good blanket. It can mean the difference between sleeping baby and not so sleeping baby. It can bring comforts of home with you on a road trip, and add instant style to the nursery.

Snuggle Bug Baby Company designs blankets with the entire families needs in mind. Like they say on their homepage, their blankets are high quality with super soft fabrics, and they give you the choice of any of their simple designs to fit your lifestyle. They make less than 100 blankets in each design to insure that your baby has the most unique blankie on the block.

Measuring in at 35"x37", each blanket has 100% cotton designer fabric on one side and white ultra-soft marshmallow fabric on the other. Yes, Marshmallow. That being said- if you think you are in love with one of them you better scoop it up. They are selling out like hotcakes.

We like the blankets, the designs, the websites unique way of showing you all of your choices, and most of all we love Snuggle Bug for giving every 9th blankie made to charity.  They call this the Magical 9th Blankie and we couldn't agree more.

What is your favorite design? Match it with your baby's personality. I think I have a "Clara" (ruby) and a "Tula" (elkë) on my hands!

designer:: snuggle bug baby company

daily stroll readers:: Order any Snuggle Bug Baby Company blanket now through April 2008 and get a free newborn hat and free domestic shipping!

This Mobile Is Bananas B-A-N-A-N-A-S

Everyone loves a sock monkey. I love this mobile. Put them together and you have one great inspirational piece for the nursery. Boy? Girl? It doesn't matter. Whimsy is the main player here. Handmade with love of course and I can't even believe the price. Only $25. 6 strands of sock monkeys and bananas hang from a felted ring. LOVE it.

1 in stock although I bet she would make more if you asked her. See who gets this one first! Ready. Set. GO.

designer: petite panda

Quote The Walls

I have to admit I was skeptical. Not about the product but about my ability to master this diligent task. I have been known to be impatient and I detest following directions, recipes, and am a bit clumsy. When I didn't  screw it up I was elated and couldn't stop looking at it.

What is "it" you ask? See those words above Ruby's bed, under the photo of her playing drums? That my friends is a quote. A quote from one of our favorite songs by The Cure, a quote that I was able to design every aspect of. Size, content, color, font. No this is not a dream- it is a reality and if you have some wall space to fill I would listen up.

It all started at Quote The Walls, an ingenious website with a great piece of software embedded that allowed me to design such a quote. You could have one GIANT word such as baby's name above his/her crib, or wrap your favorite poem around your living room- like I said, it's up to you. If you rather choose from their quote suggestions you can do that as well.

Prices range on size of quote, length etc. Application is very easy you just have to follow the directions but I promise you it's only about 4 steps. My experience may be different than yours, I had to be very gentle when removing the paper since the letters didn't want to stick immediately to the latex semi-gloss paint. I think it would work even better on a matte paint finish but I was patient, had a cocktail and it all worked out great. The company doesn't guarantee that you will be able to remove the quote with ease as every wall finish is different ,but having experienced the process I think that 99% of the time you could peel off the letters without issue. Besides- why would you ever want to remove it?

designer:: quote the walls

daily stroll readers receive 15% off of their order. use code: stroll
expires 2.29.08

**when you order this and complete the project send in photos please!! {contact AT thedailystroll.com}

Just Playin'

The kid needs a surface. Your dining room table is off limits for play-doh and crayons, not to mention markers -and I don't blame you.  Try out an inexpensive table like this that is just their size from Ikea. Matching chairs are available and you won't even believe it but this table is only $34. No really.  The Mammut collection is quite whimsical and colorful and best of all affordable.

If you are lucky enough to have an Ikea near you I am envious. If it means renting a U-haul and driving to one to stock up though, I am all for it. You will find many modern treasures with Scandinavian influence at Ikea.

designer:: Ikea

Pretty Air

   

Picture this. Your husband or kids request their favorite Fried Chicken or Beef Stew or Taco Night for dinner. Then you roll your eyes. Or maybe it is the other way around- but in our casa, I am the chef and he is the dishwasher. Come on, you know how it goes because all that you can think of is how a layer of grease laden funk smell is going to coat your entire house despite the yummy meal.

Worry no more. Make every smelly greasy dish you want. Fry fish inside, live it up- then turn on the brethe (TM) air revitalizer by Homedics. Toss in the recommended amount of scent and sit back while your house odors are neutralized. The downside is that it can be a bit noisy. However, it is really just a "white noise" (Ruby actually keeps this in her room with no scent and the noise helps her sleep-also enjoying the soothing blue glow). The water is whirling around so noise is going to be part of it. The unit is small and attractive so even if you want to leave it out in the open all of the time it will just blend in.

The brethe (TM) removes up to 99% of odor causing bacteria. Smells such as smoke, pet odors, and stale house simply vanish.

Check the website for a full product description and everything that is included. I am having the in-laws over tonight so I better go plug in! I will sit back and relax while the scent of vanilla wafts through the house and sucks out the beef stink from the stew I made two days ago.

daily stroll readers receive 10% off. use code STROLLTEN at checkout. expires 1.31.08.

designer:: homedics

Nursing A Designer Craving

You crave it, desire it and fill your house with it. Savvy design.

When baby comes or when it's time to upgrade baby to his/her own room the juices start flowing and you must have the latest and greatest designer bedding and decor. According to our readers who flood the inbox with "where do I get cool baby bedding/beds/cribs/mobiles?", this is what is going on. I know it, I live it. I have 2 nurseries in my home that I have revamped in my own way with modern baby/toddler bedding and decor. Taking it up a notch with gallery like art hangings (of their own art), and handmade bedding, fabric stretched canvas, and tailored window dressings. I can't sew (well more like, I have been taught 400 times and I don't get it) so I have to employ the help of others, and if you are like me maybe you need to go the same route. One of the spots we have uncovered for hip bedding and decor is Quilt Baby.

The parent team that owns Quilt Baby is a partnership of design and market genius. As parents they know what is important and what works, as designers, well the same. They know what works with current trends and construct goods with quality and care. Since your baby is too small to know what is good for them you must be their stylist. Just think of it like the celebrities who you know can't find their way out of a paper sack dress and seek the help of stylists, and thank goodness they do!

From crib sets, to bibs, tees, blankies, and mobiles you could put an entire room together for your baby. Or a complete "look". Be your baby's stylist. He/She will thank you. One less therapy appointment anyway.

designer:: quilt baby

daily stroll readers receive One free bib of your choice for purchases of $20 or more. Designate bib print in the "notes" section at checkout. expires 1.31.08.

Big Box Taking Cue from Indie Designers?

We heart indie here at the daily stroll. Most of my personal decor/children's clothing purchases for the family and house are from independent designers via the web.

When I can I shop indie, and encourage others to do so. The vibe of indie baby + children's design is pretty unique and has a certain modern mid-century feel to it. It appeals to me and apparently has trickled up to main stream big box retailers. First in 2007 it was the year of going green and retailers like Babies R' US and Pottery Barn Kids embraced organic cotton and went with it. They offered organic sections in nursery and baby wear to appeal to the masses. Now in the first few days of 2008 I was not surprised when I opened my Pottery Barn Kids catalog the other day to reveal some very modern designs. They are moving past lambs and bunnies and if they are doing lambs and bunnies they are doing them with a familiar indie vibe. The stitching is more present, applique is a main feature, and color palettes reflect the modern trends. The thing is, they can do them in huge quantities and it's a double edge sword.

With retailers like PB Kids able to produce hundreds of thousands of sheet sets it means that buyers may stop going indie/made in the USA, which can come across as a little bit expensive, and start going 'big box' for that modern trendy kid's bedding they want for their home.  Or in the favor of indie artists in the juvenile market it could work to bring the design vibe to the surface and into more Middle America homes where buyers will become more aware of cute and modern birds and get off of the lambs and bunnies. Even Wal-Mart offers modern crib designs now.

Time will tell but for now the Penelope bird sheet set from PBKids is rather appealing. They are also introducing this vibe to their overstuffed nursery seating. With dozens of fabrics to now choose from I get a distinct feeling of modern vintage design. Fabric choices resemble Amy Butler and other textile designers that independent juvenile decor/clothing designers often use.

I have ordered a set to see just how cute they are and determine quality however they are already on back order so either they are super popular, or they projected the in-stock date incorrectly. I would love to purchase more twin bedding from indie designers however as of right now there isn't a lot out there. Sheet sets are expensive to make and when mass produced the pricing can be kept at a semi-affordable range (Twin Set: $49). An indie designer who hand cuts and sews each sheet themselves would have to charge double, maybe triple and while I would pay it and not give it a second thought, my guess is that Middle America would not.

designer:: pottery barn kids

Post It

Let's just face it. Kids don't listen. We didn't listen to our parents, they didn't listen to theirs and now our kids seem to have cotton stuck in their ears (selectively). Some how the words "chocolate", "play time", "Disney Channel" ring loud and clear but words like "share", "vegetables", and "SHHHH!" don't even phase them.

The way to get the basics to register with kids I figure is to plaster instructions all over the house. Not so subtle reminders and visuals may just do the trick. If not, at least you tried and for all intents and purposes, and more importantly, you appear to have tried in the eyes of anyone who comes to visit. I mean don't your parents just love to remind you that your child is lacking manners?

This is accomplished with witty, classic style digital art prints by artist John W. Golden. Instead of calling the line "By Order of the Management" perhaps he should call the line "The Golden Rule" since his other similar works include prints that remind kids to "play nice" or "always say please and thank you".

Either way we dig it and if I am ever in the presence of Mr. Golden I will be sure to keep my elbows off the table.

designer:: John W. Golden

Three Lovelies

ThreeLovelies is a cute new online boutique that carries some really unique goodies not to mention highly irresistible ones. Among the unique items I found this galvanized bucket.

I really like it and could think of a million and one things to do with it. Fill it up with diapers, toys, wash the baby in it- whatever. Just kidding, I probably wouldn't wash the baby in it. But I would do as the website suggests and use it as a centerpiece/gift presentation at a baby shower! What a great idea.

I have little galvanized buckets all around the nursery. I believe that they are the new wicker basket. Uber-modern.

from MacBeth Collection at Three Lovelies

daily stroll readers receive 10% off at the website. code: DAILYSTROLL. expires 12.31.07