March 15, 2013
Early Elementary, Toys
Writers, photographers, reporters, and documentarians travel the world to search for differences and similarities in all aspects of countries and cultures—food, politics, landscape, architecture, and the list goes on. The general consensus is there is very little that is universal except perhaps the basic need for necessities like food, shelter, and clothing.
Photographer Gabriele Galimberti travelled the world, examining a very unique relationship— the connection of children to their toys. After 18 months of shooting these gorgeous photographs of children with their toys, he discovered that “at their age, they are pretty much all much the same. They just want to play.” This piece by Ben Machell from The Times Magazine reveals some interesting insight into how the affluence of the kids affected how they allowed Galimberti to interact with their toys and how their homeland and parents influenced what they chose to play with.
Of course this all made me think about my kids, Oliver and Sommer, and their relationship to their most prized toys. At almost a year, Sommer, for the most part, wants whatever her 2 and a half year old brother has, but Oliver’s proclivities are a little more telling. He loves his toy New York City Subway trains, since he knows that Mommy and Daddy ride the train to work. He loves his paints, markers, and crayons; Mommy seemingly “plays” with those materials all day. And I guess for Sommer, I can say that she grabs her one babydoll (we named her Automn), enthusiastically hugging and kissing her; she is probably modeling my desperate attempts to hug and cuddle my baby girl, fearing that she is growing up too fast.
Do your kids’ toys reflect where you live, who you are, or what you, as parents, do for a living? Do their toys bring you back to your childhood?
There is so much emotion, symbolism, and narrative to decode in Galimberti’s exquisite photographs. I want to know so much more about each child, her family, and what his toys mean to him. Visit Galimberti’s site to see the rest of the series, each one more captivating than the last.
March 14, 2013
Everyday Crafts, Food, Grown-Up, Holidays, Parties, Toys
It’s March 14, hence 3/14, hence the reason to celebrate PIE! (If you are math-challenged, read about Pi here.) I’ll take any excuse to eat, talk about, read about, look at pie. In fact, I think I need more pie in my life. I love this image of a potluck pie party from Bon Appetit. I could seriously get behind that. Feast your eyes on some more fun PIE play…
This felt pie looks good enough to eat. Found via Thursday Night Smackdown.
The first time I saw this pumpkin pie Thanksgiving kids’ favor from One Charming Party, I nearly died. It was one of those “I wish I had thought of that” moments!
Cakes get stands, so why don’t pies? I love the rustic look of these galvanized pie stands from BHLDN. They’d be great for the pie potluck!
March 13, 2013
Decor, DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Food, Holidays, Parties, St. Patrick's Day
Ok, I must confess, this is one holiday that I fully ignore every year. I don’t wear green underwear and I don’t buy gold chocolate coins. But it’s 2013, the era of the elevated craft, so of course St. Patty’s Day has taken on a whole new modern, elegant aesthetic. Oleander & Palm has shown me the path of the sophisticated St. Patrick’s Day. I didn’t think it could be done, but she did it. Bravo!
Not just green and gold silhouettes, but green and gold silhouettes of kids holding 4-leaf clovers. So sweet.
Seriously, I could live with this shamrock wall decal on my wall all year round.
Everyone should enjoy a green beverage on St. Patty’s Day. And it doesn’t have to be held with a coozie or make you belch. A lime shebert fizzy drink? I’d drink you even without the cute gold-heart shamrock.
March 12, 2013
DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Food, Gifts, Holidays
I never had an egg cup growing up (I think that constitutes neglect), and now as an adult, I’m a little unnaturally obsessed with them. From vintage to the handmade to the hipster (yes, there are hipster egg cups), I want all 11 of these egg cups!
1. My Egg and Soldiers by Takae Mizutani, pictured above, found via Dot Coms for Moms.
2. Oak Bunny Ears Egg Cup, for sale on Hop & Peck.
3. Egg Nests, found via HGTV’s Design Happens.
4. Vintage egg cups from Three Potato Four.
5. These are made with cups cut from an egg carton. By Zakka Life.
6. Bad boy egg cups, via Fitzsu. Beyond.
7. Perfectly Scandinavian egg cups, via Finnish Design Shop.
8. Do you have a habit of serving under-cooked eggs? Never again. Via Trend Hunter.
9. Rocket egg cup, found via Fab.
10. Origami egg cup. Via Breakfast Lover.
11. (I couldn’t resist adding this one!) Hold On Egg Cup (it’s magnetic and will hold a spoon!). Via Moco Loco.
March 8, 2013
DIY Home, Everyday Crafts, Food, Gifts, Jewelry and Fashion, Toys
When I see buckets of perler beads at Michaels, I move past with no hesitation. I’m not totally against plastic, but I just don’t have a mind for what to do with them. I think my opinion changed after seeing these delicate pastel, perler-bead bangles from Maker Mama. Look at these other amazing crafts made with perler beads! They are not just for alligator keychains anymore!
I’m so in love with these perler bead people, I don’t know what to do with myself. I don’t speak German so I have no idea what/where they are, but I heart them! Via Skidt & Kanel.
Now this is true perler bead genius—3-dimensional perler bead food. I don’t even know where to begin to understand how they did this! From the top, the picnic food is from Fave Crafts, the sushi is from this Japanese site, and the cakes are from here.
More of the traditional perler-bead world, but I still love these heart valentines from Camille Styles.
