We are big fans of the LEGO Architectural series. We were excited when they released kits for the Guggenheim and Fallingwater, but we are absolutely elated about their most recent edition.
Farnsworth House™ was completed in 1951 and the 1,585-square-foot (140 m²) house designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is now widely recognized as an iconic masterpiece of the International Style of architecture.
Just a quick heads up for those looking for a modern doll house. The fabulous Brinca Dada doll house that we featured on GRM a while ago is for sale on GILT for $310. Normal price is $548. On your mark, get set, GO!
Gilt is free for members. Sign up here if you haven't already.
Big game studio has recently designed a new series of toy boats called "Bote" for Portuguese based Materia. I have a deep love for simple children's toys, and this cork boat with white plastic mast absolutely nails it. The mast is removable, and there are other boat designs that are interchangeable. Beautifully simple and brilliant. More pictures after the jump.
Photography by Julien Chavaillaz
via
I keep on forgetting to post about this one. Little Nest, makers of fabulous MCM "inspired" furniture for kids is having a sample sale. Prices were already pretty reasonable, but now they are very good. For example you can get a walnut woody chair (LCW) for a mere $75 plus shipping. Apparently the sale is only good for 14 days, so I'd act quick if you are interested.
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.
About:
"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 love simple kids toys, especially wood ones. Despite the fact that Richard Upchurch's Voice Recorders happen to have their fair share of electronics, they are still simple and straight forward.
The Voice Recorder with Pitch Control Knob has a red record button that you hold down while recording. When finished recording release the red button and press the black playback button. Upon playback turn the knob to adjust the speed/ pitch for endless fun and laughs! The record time is just over 30 seconds.
I only have one question: Is it available in an adult size?
About:
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!
I wish Barbie hadn't lost her modern sensibility. The Barbie Glam Vacation house is a HUGE step down.
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]
I bought my son a wooden balance bike this summer, and while I absolutely love it, and I have been amazed to see how quick he has picked it up, the $200+ price tag was hard to swallow. I came across this plastic version online the other day called the YBike and it looks like it has some good potential. It's plastic and reviews say it is very sturdy, and it's only $80 at your local Toys R Us. Anyone have any experience with the YBike?
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
You all know about my obsession for all things modern, what you may not know about is my other love. Cars. Any time the two get together I get excited. Throw in a touch of playful kid inspired art and you have a home run. MODERNPOP has a variety of great kids room art posters, including planes, robots or adorable birds if thats more your thing.
MODERNPOP prints $30 from Etsy.
No that's not a new rendering of a home about to be featured in Dwell magazine. That could be your kids new doll house. The description for the Emerson dollhouse from Brinca Dada reads just like a full sized luxury home;
...six rooms including a living room, kitchen, library/office, master bedroom, bathroom and child's bedroom. With its large, open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, the Emerson House enjoys year-round sunlight. The modern house features many extras including mitered-glass corners, two fireplaces, sliding glass doors, solar panels, and recessed LED lights.
If you need a bunch of miniature modern furniture to fill up your modern doll house, they've got you covered there as well. They even have some wonderful wooden dolls to play the rolls of father, mother, sister and brother. Pricing seems very reasonable considering the quality of the product.
Emerson Doll house $299 from Brinca Dada.
I love these simple ceramic lights from Perch!, but what makes them even more fun is the fact that you can order them in just about any letter you want. They are normally $129, but are on sale at Gilt for just $80.
Join Gilt if you haven't already (it's free).
This past weekend Salt Lake City had it's second annual Craft Lake City event. Sponsored by SLUG, Craft Lake City is a celebration of alternative craft, and all things handmade. I was lucky to volunteer and I got to help cary in some of the great items. There was an amazing turn out from artists, and there was even music from great bands like Hello Amsterdam playing all day. After the jump you will see examples of work from my top 15 artists (in no particular order)
If you missed Craft Lake City, make sure you catch Craft Sabbath on the first monday of every month, and the upcoming Salty Streets flea market at Kilby Court.
(1) I really love quilts, and Jess from Urban Patchwork has some amazing handmade modern quilts and pencil holders.
(2) These beautiful belt buckles and jewelry from Bykali were amazing. The use of leaves and other random objects blew my mind.
(3) The Rookery had amazing art work on wood panels, as well as some equally beautiful bound books.
(4) Card Sharks had a wonderful assortment of printed cards and posters from various artists.
(5) There were some of the coolest little stuffed Ninja's to keep you kids safe. Rad Seams had all sorts of great sewn goodies.
(6) Speaking of stuffed toys. The polaroid friend and hipster friends from Lets Be Friends were great too.
(7) There was so much great screen printing there that it's hard to pick favorites, but there from Calamity Industries absolutely blew my mind. I think I need one of these in my house.
(8) It's hard to speak of printmaking in SLC without Leia Bell coming up. I first featured her on GRM a long time ago, and she continues to blow my mind with her fantastic concert posters and art work. Several artists are represented online and at her brick and mortar Signed and Numbered.
(9) Smart and Wiley was putting the letters in letterpress with these fantastic typography inspired prints.
(10) The world of Isabells Umbrella is an adorable place full of the cutest owls and Matryoshka Dolls you have ever seen.
(11) More amazing posters and prints from Potter Press.
(12) Ben Kafton also had some drool worthy hand printed posters, many of which had a strong architectural influence. I'm dying to get a couple of these on my walls too.
(13) There is something about Candace Jean's Giclee prints that I love. I can't quit put my finger on it, but her I just love her style. Prints are available online or in SLC at Blonde Grizzly.
(14) Sycamore Street Press had some great clever and cute letterpress goodies as well.
(15) I wished I could have bought one of everything I saw, but my one purchase I did make was this fantastic longboard by Earth Live Long Skates (ELLS). Not only is the art work great, but I'm inspired by anyone that knows how to make bent wood creations. In fact, in the spirit of bent plywood, I added my own little crafty embellishment in the grip tape. Everything is better with a little LCW.
Whew! There were so many more great things I wish I could have featured. Huge thanks to everyone who showed up and made it a great event!
I'm not even going to try and defend this one as affordable, but I will say that it has to be one of the best looking cribs I have ever seen. In fact pretty much everything from Australian based Ubabub makes me swoon.
Pod Cot crib $1700 Bed conversion $180
The Nifty Timber crib shown above is equally attractive and slightly more affordable at $1075. Of course there is still the problem that there are no US distributers so shipping stateside is going to be a huge pain down under.