Cam's room gets a big boy update

Above is a photo of my son Cameron's room a couple of years ago when we was a wee babe (cue wistful music.) Somehow, it seems he turned THREE this summer, and while he has grown in both height and personality, his room has not changed.  Well, that's not true, it got WAY messier than this (as did he).

I had great plans for a whole new look for his room, but as I started plotting and gathering, my elder son got wind of it and insisted that HE wanted the new look.  I debated a bit, since I don't want Cam to feel that he is always getting hand-me-downs and nothing new (even though that is the absolute truth) but at this point, he really doesn't care what's in his room, and Will does.  Plus, I haven't touched Will's room in as many years, so I decided why not.

As a result, this weekend I moved many of Will's items into Cam's room, and took out all the baby stuff. Note to new parents: don't go too crazy buying all those cute baby items, because it won't be long until you are putting them in the Goodwill/Give-to-friends bag and shedding a tear over a) the insane adorableness of it and how quickly time passes, and b) the insane amount you spent on it.

More rings to covet

I saw these rings on Love & Victory and mentally started jumping up and down like my two-year-old waving my hand in the air and saying, yeah! yeah! I want it! me! (Physically I was cool as a cucumber.) I also thought about having a third just because three stacking rings are so much prettier than two... yes, this is how I make decisions.  Can you blame me?  Don't you love that the fonts are all different...?

Seen on Say Yes to Hoboken

Our First Visit with Santa

I love this photo...

And this one too...

Quick Turtle Hat

I made this cute little turtle hat for my friend Felix this week - he just turns two on Wednesday.  The hat itself is a quick knit, but the turtles took a little practice (I am new to crochet-ing and these involved several YouTube videos).  The yarn was sooo soft and colourful, it was a super fun knit.

The pattern is from this book, which is just full of adorable hats!  My only caveat if you were to do one is that the size 1-2 years is actually quite big - with hindsight I would definitely make a smaller size.

This pattern was my first foray into knitting 4 years ago - I made it in green for Will (pictured 2 winters ago!) and it still fits him!

I am on a creative roll... what to make next?

Hanging on by their tails

It seems each new season brings a closet overhaul for the whole family, and for the kids that usually means seeing what still fits, and giving lots of things away.  I have gotten better at being able to part with their clothes (after 4 years of practice) but there are always a few special things that I have to hang on to.  Why?  No idea - I just can't bear to send them away.  These mouse slippers that my mother in law brought back from Nepal are definitely among the clothes I treasure.  The boys are nearing the end of the small window when they can both wear theirs at the same time (the white ones are getting a bit snug).  But the cooler weather means they have been getting lots of wear around the house, and I love seeing those little tails zoom by!

 What about you - any baby/kid clothes you just can't bear to part with?  Where do you keep them?

Mobile Options

It is no secret that I love mobiles - in fact most people I am sure realize that I had 2 kids just to start a mobile collection.  I actually have more mobiles than I have space to hang mobiles.  My favourite is the one I "made" in Cam's room above (I didn't really make it - my friend Karen did all the work of origami and I just clipped them to the pre-made mobile I got at Urban Outfitters).  Some day I will document my full collection - until then I will continue to expand it.  One of my favourite sources is The Paper Place on Queen West, and I see that they not only now stock the photo clip mobile I used above above (and all the paper that the cranes were made of) but also some beautiful mobile kits.

Ahhh, just look at this beautiful 'As The Crow Flies' kit from Canadian design duo Contexture Design. It is made from salvaged maps and recycled card stock.  Here are a few more images from the Contexture site, including some other mobiles they make:

The Paper Place also carries these ready-to-assemble kits from Petit Collage (who also have a great line of bamboo mobiles you should check out).

Birds in Flight kit from Junzo Terada is another bird option, with stylized birds flying around a sun/moon centre.

The book Mobile Art by Ayako Akazawa and Michelle Clair is full of modern shapes and animals that you can cut out and string together however you wish.

I definitely think I might be stopping by The Paper Place in the near future, although I could just head over to their beautiful and super-stocked online store to add to my collection!  Anyone else have a ridiculous collection?


(Photos from The Paper Place Blog, Contexture Design, and Wicked & Weird).

Hue Fielding Giveaway!!

One of my many creative and talented friends has recently opened a shop on etsy - HueFielding - with the cutest one-of-a-kind numbers for the fashion-conscious boys and girls in your life.  Yes, I said boys!  Having a son and a daughter, Frances was amazed by the lack of cute clothing for boys, (I completely agree) and has made a point of always having lots of cute options in her store.  She makes the patterns and clothing by hand, trying out combinations on her two little sweeties.  She is also branching out to include some home products, and I am loving her rainbow of salt cellars, done in collaboration with ceramicist Carol Hahn.

Frances has very generously agreed to give away an item to one lucky Wicked & Weird reader (can I enter on my own blog?...).  Should you have the winning entry, you can chose from:
1) one of the adorable vests - they can be for a girl or a boy and will be sure to spice up any ensemble for fall;
2) or a sweet gingham skirt with a polkadot pinafore - rock it with a t-shirt and converse for a funky twist!

To enter the draw, complete any or all of the following steps:

1) Leave a comment below with your choice of prize - skirt or vest?

2) Visit HueFielding and come back here to let me know what you think of the shop;

3) Tweet this contest and leave me a comment to let me know you did so;
4) "LIKE" Hue Fielding / Hugh Fielding on Facebook and come back to let me know you did so.

Leave a separate comment for each one of the above so you have more chances to win!

Winner will be drawn next Wednesday, August 17th.
Help support a new local start-up hand-made shop and head on over to HueFielding!

More Alphabet Art

I have posted about my own alphabet art here - along with a round-up of some of my favourite alphabets out there.  William loves having this one in his room - he often wakes up singing "ABCD" in the morning, I think because it is next to his bed.  Ohdeedoh just posted another round-up of great children's art, including the print below, which can be downloaded for free at My Poppet blog.

I love the texture of this one, with the felted letters.  I may try to put it on a T-shirt for Will...

By the way, if you would like a copy of the one I did (I have had a few requests!) just leave a comment and I would be happy to send it to you.

Do you recognize this lady?

Thankfully I have never displayed such behaviour.  My KIDS on the other hand... yeesh.  This short film was made by the (I'm assuming amazing and hilarious) Swedish director Johannes Nyholm about a woman who trashes a bar in Las Palmas, starring his baby as the woman.  I laughed 'til I cried - no lie.  Watch it.  (And then watch it again - it just gets funnier.)  Thanks Joanna.

Lynn Jackson

One of the booths that stood for me was that one Toronto artist Lynn Jackson, who showed her knitted metal sculptures.  They were so whimsical and unique.  I read on BlogTO that she knits them using copper wire and regular knitting needles. She bases them on childhood memories, creating items of clothing and these wonderful stuffed animals.  They would such a great piece in a modern kid's room, the perfect mix of industrial, wistful, and playful.

Make Your Spirits Bright

I am stuck at work tonight and most nights this week in a busy, busy week and missing my dudes.  (For those of you in Toronto - when you get the TSO brochure in the mail, think of my long nights of writing, proofing, editing, and researching - and don't throw it out right away!) These photos the wonderful, fabulous Nanny Jen took have been making me smile all day.  Love.  This is what Christmas means to me - red cheeks and snowpants, and great big grins!

Zurich Chamber Orchestra

The zurich chamber orchestra has some amazing advertising - thanks for Michael and David for passing it along!  Although, I am not sure what an orchestra would play for babies...Mozart?...or what musicians would really want to play for a hall of squealing, squirming, and not-very-attentive babies and parents...  But the poster sure is cute and clever.

Having already posted about their advertising here, I had to do a search for what other interesting concepts they had come up with.  Looks like they excel at non-traditional orchestra advertising - or their agency Euro RSCG World does.

White, Bright Nursery

When I first started thinking about designing a nursery, I poured through books, magazines, and especially the internet looking for inspiration.  Even though my nursery-planning days are behind me, I am still kind of addicted to looking at them.  It's funny how they start to kind of resemble each other after a while.  Not so with this lovely nursery by Toronto bloggers Aubrey and Lindsay!  The room seems so light and fresh without being precious, and I love pretty much everything in it.  The print, the little owl in the crib, the CRIB, the little bird, the white walls, the Sharon Montrose photos... ok, you get it.  Even better, go see their blog for the before and after of the room and prepare to be blown away!