Naoki Yoshimoto invented this puzzle in 1971 after trying to discover a way to divide a cube equally. The result is a peculiar polyhedral dyad consisting of eight interconnected cubes that can be divided in multiple ways. As for those flashy metallics? No one can resist a shiny object! That's a universal truth.
Inspired by his wife's pregnant belly (endearing?), these pot bellied piggy banks from designer George Lee are a fun twist on a classic style. Available in glossy white or matte black porcelain.
Vintage arithmetic blocks in snappy colors and a white embossed box?? YES PLEASE. I don't know what I'd do with them, other than love them with my whole heart, but I can't shake the feeling that I need them. Does this happen to anyone else?
Unison just launched a new collection of bedding for babies and kids and we couldn't be more in love! The Sailor and Regatta duvet/sheet combo is an instant favorite in that bright, cheery yellow. Check out the full line right here and let us know what you think!
More fabulous, handmade wooden toys! I can't seem to get enough of them. Seattle-based Etsy shop Manzanita Kids has a pretty great selection and variety, too, including these stacking animal puzzles (my fave)! Check out all their developmental toys right here.
I love, love, love this wooden mobile from Snug Studio, an Etsy shop based out of Hanover, Germany. These colorful birds are very Charley Harper-esque, don't you think?
As you know, we're big fans of wood toys here at GRM, so when I spotted these charming toys from Just Hatched I couldn't resist sharing them with you! With a focus on nature, each set is handmade from either Poplar or Birch, then painted with AP Nontoxic paints and polished with natural homemade beeswax. So far, you can have your pick between a wooden leaf puzzle (6 leaf shapes: Oak, Beech, Ivy, Dogwood, Maple and Cottonwood), bear set (2 bears, cave, rock, and tree), or a veggie set (Tomato, Cucumber, Onion, Potato and Carrot)!
A craft book for burgeoning modernists and pint-sized DIYers, Todd Oldham's book Kid Made Modern offers up loads of project and craft ideas inspired by mid-century designers and artists such as Charles and Ray Eames, Marimekko, and Alexander Girard. Get it for your kids, get it for your nieces and nephews, or get it for yourself!
The "Stacking Throne" was a one-off, privately commissioned piece designed by Laurens van Wieringen, but I really love the idea of a modular chair that can grow with your child or even be used as a toy of sorts. This version is made from foam with a sturdy wood and steel base. I'm still trying to figure out exactly how everything stays together (especially when used as a high chair), otherwise it seems like a pretty great idea. Thoughts?
This cardboard child's chair is made from recycled paper and claims to support up to 132 lbs! It arrives looking like a small box, but once you open it up all the components for building your own chair are inside. I love that you can decorate and paint it, too (or let your kids do that part)! Clever, clever, clever.
DIY Cardboard Child Chair by MUJI: $30
We posted about Little Sapling Toys' eco-conscious wood toys before, but they've finally added alphabet and number blocks to their offerings. Each set is made from walnut, maple, and cherry wood, then finished with local beeswax and organic jojoba oil. I'm half tempted to get one of their 7-piece sets for our coffee table!
Block Sets by Little Sapling Toys: $15 - $63
For all my love of mobiles, I never knew there was such a thing as a "stabile". This new knowledge might be dangerous, folks. If I start posting about stabiles constantly, please stop me. My obsessions tend to run away from me.
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"Alexander" is truly a small piece of art! This colorful tabletop mobile creates hanging structures inspired by the famous Alexander Calder mobiles. Measures 8" x 12". Made entirely out of light weight sheet metal in the USA.
The Alexander Stabile from Nova68: $75
I only have one question: Is it available in an adult size?
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Hut-Hut Kids is a playful reinterpretation of the rocking horse. Available in 5 FSC Certified sustainable materials (Bamboo, Black Locust, Black Walnut, Cork and Maple) or in 100% Recycled sustainable resin in 5 candy-bright colors: Red, Yellow, Green, Blue and Pink.
Hut-Hut Kids by Kalon Studios available from Bobby Berk Home: $125
Boodalee, the modern kids bedding and accessories company that we've posted about before, recently announced that they'll be closing up shop after 5 years in the business. We're sad to see such a unique brand go, but lucky for you this news means great deals on cool kids stuff. Everything in their shop is 50% off or more, so if you've had your eye on one of their designs, now's the time to get it! Shop online at boodalee.com or check other online retailers (like 2Modern, DesignPublic, Oompa, or Modern Nursery) for discounted goods.
Modern Kids Bedding from Boodalee: now $20 - $95
Brothers Don and Ryan Clark are Invisible Creature, a full service design, illustration, and art direction studio based out of Washington state. Their unique style has brought them a whole slew of accolades, including four Grammy nominations for music packaging. Other clients include Target, Nike, Esquire, and Sony to name a few. Fortunately for us little guys, their sweet illustrations are available as posters, prints, and t-shirts. My favorite is definitely the Time Will Tell t-shirt featuring a whole collection of George Nelson and other atomic-era clocks!
LINK: www.invisiblecreature.com
Prints, Posters, Apparel from Invisible Creature: $15 - $45
P.S. While you're at it, snag a peek at their super cool HQ right here!
The ol' wooden building block gets a modern face lift thanks to the clever folks at TEGU. Streamlined and made from sustainably-harvested hardwoods, each TEGU block contains a magnet that adds a whole new level of fun and interaction. A perfect toy for your little budding architect or as a gift for mod parents. Available as a mini set of 8 blocks in a felt pouch (yes!).
Magnetized Block Mini Set by TEGU available from Delight.com: $28.50
[You can also grab a 52-block set directly from TEGU for $100]
Oh, here I go with my mobile obsession! I can totally picture this one in a nursery or as part of a more playfully decorated home. Also, did I mention it's made from walnut? That's worth about 50 bonus points right there!
Handmade from American Black Walnut by husband and wife duo Teal & Gold.
Sunshine and Showers mobile by Teal & Gold: $45
Surprise, surprise. It's felt! As you know, we can't get enough of this material - we love it with our whole heart(s)! This child-sized chair from Bookhou makes good use of it, too. With a removeable industrial felt cover, this chair is all about good looks and comfort for your wee ones. Also sold without the felt cushion, but why would you want to do that?
Felt Chair by Bookhou: $300 with felt / $250 without
If they keep making cool toys like this, I'm going to have to do something drastic... like start having kids.
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Tours of the Eames House and Studio require a sizable donation to the Eames Foundation, but you can bring the Case Study No. 8 house to the convenience of your coffee table or kids playroom for less cash than dinner for two at the local upscale chain restaurant. It’s a bargain when you consider that each set of 36 replenishable Michigan-grown basswood blocks represents 29 separate hand-pulled screen passes. In true Eames spirit, your kids can create a ligneous yard sale on your living room rug while you're in deep conversation with your guests, then build this living landmark to demonstrate how you are properly introducing them to important bits of culture.
Eames Blocks from House Industries: $150
I'm a huge fan of toys that encourage creativity and imaginative play, so when I spotted these wooden toys from British design duo MillerGoodman, I got pretty excited! Choose between the ShapeMaker and PlayShapes sets, either way I don't think you'll be disappointed (and neither will your kid - I almost forgot these were for children)!
The ShapeMaker set is comprised of 25 colorful, geometric, hand-printed blocks that can be arranged in a seemingly infinite series of shapes and images. PlayShapes is a modular set of 74 geometric, wooden shapes that can be arranged and stacked to create 3D images. Each set is made of environmentally friendly rubberwood.
For a hint at all the possibilities, check out the clever video above!
Wooden Toys by MillerGoodman available from Unica Home: $75 - $150