smaller

Small inspiration 14

boys...
painting by Kit Keith
image from Leslie Miles blog

Small Photo - our photo editor at Bubble

We are looking forward to catching up with friends and seeing the new exhibitors at Bubble Kids trends trade Show August 2-4.  Small magazine's photo editor, Steve Visneau image of his daughter wearing wovenplay swimwear on the beach was picked to be the image of Bubble. He will be there exhibiting his photography, so if you are going you can drop by and take a look!

Small Finds - Kleine Fabriek

We have been wanting to tell you about Kleine Fabrik for two weeks now. Sophie Chalumeau -who is also Small's street syle photographer- spent a couple of days searching out the new designers showing there as well as some older ones that we love.

Denim and casual wear from Netherland brand Garcia We also love their clothing stools they put together for the booth.
Holly's (Denmark): I love the simplicity of the design label inspired by the four-leaf icon. It was their second edition at kf but the first time they had their own booth.

Toby & Bennett Preppy yet fun, stylish school and street wear.
Sawadi (Netherlands) stylish and simple, fair trade girls clothes
Shampoodle (Sweden) Comfortable designs, great for travel and play.
Aeronautica Militaire (Italy) Like the name sounds, top gun style for kids.

Babina (Germany) cute tees!
Zee en Zo (The Netherlands) Bright and young beach wear with strong boys collection too.
Fanlele Beautiful and fun, bright colored clothes and accessories for babies. 100% made in France

Masters of the Game (The Netherlands) Originally a sporty fashion line just for junior boys, it now has a girls line too.
Quick Kids (The Netherlands) Active clothing. Also the first picture below.

Lil People (Spain) Their slogan is 'We love trendy.' Intriguing...
Bob (Italy) Graphic and boyish cool.
Billabong The quintessential Australian surf and sand clothing is moving into European markets.

Kid Kraft (USA) 'Live. Learn. Play." Wooden toys for imaginative play.

Siblis (Germany) Beautiful wooden children's toys and furniture.

Zebra trends (Netherlands) fun play shoes and accessories
Kids Ink (USA) Easy to wear an co ordinate, stylish play wear.
Tokoyo kids (Belgium) Bright colors and fun graphics.
Katchat (France) Interesting textures and tailoring. 

Small Beats - Renee & Jeremy

We have loved Renee and Jeremy since we reviewed their cd 'Its A Big World' in issue 8 of Small. We found our selves listening to it all the time- even when the kids were in bed. Their music is peaceful and engaging- perfect for taking the chaos down a notch. We particularly love their title track, the lullaby 'It's a Big World Baby" and the first song 'Miracle'. You can see the charming animated video of 'Its a Big World' by clicking here or listen to all their songs on their website.
If you are in LA this Thursday (July 30th) you can check them out live at a free show at 12.15 pm

Pershing Square
532 South Olive Street
Los Angeles, California

Imagine Childhood - shadow painting project and give-away

 We love the philosophy behind Imagine Childhood. They believe that children should experience the world and that direct interaction with nature is the best way to learn. In their blog and store they offer stories, activities, and innovative products that encourage exploration, creativity, and open-ended, unstructured play.
Recently co-founder Sarah Olmstead offered a Smaller readers the chance to win a gift from her shop and also sent us this great idea for making art from shadows. 

Shadow art: Tracing the outlines of the shadows can be a good opportunity to compare the shapes of the different trees, and to talk about why they grow the way they do. While watching the shadows slowly drift away from the drawings can open up a space for great discussions about sunsets and sundials.

The inspiration for this project came early one morning when some particularly beautiful shadows of trees were splashed onto our walls.

Later that afternoon, we went outside with a few friends and traced them so we could make some simple, fun paintings.
If you keep the pallet basic (two colors per painting works wonderfully) the pictures will always turn out great no matter how experienced the little artist is!
For a less permanent but equally fun activity, grab some sidewalk chalk and trace interesting shadows on the pavement.

Handmade Hydrangea Flower Fairy and Fairy House Give away

Learning about seasonal flowers and plants has never been so fun! From snow drops to bluebells, mushrooms, and roses, nurture the budding horticulturist in your family with these wonderful handmade treasures!

This beautiful Hydrangea Fairy and Hydrangea Fairy (value $80) are handmade on Bryn Du Farm in Colorado using wool from their own Jacob sheep herd.  We can even tell you the name of the sheep the wool came from! Fairy is 3 to 3.5 inches in height.

Enter the giveaway by sending an email to info@imaginechildhood.com noting your favorite item from the Imagine Childhood shop.  The winner will be chosen by random number.

Small weekend 7 - photo project

Robert Mahar: The weather in Santa Monica this weekend was sunny and breezy and completely propelled us outdoors.  Walking through a neighborhood park we passed this particular fellow, caught in the headlights, as he stood over a denuded rosebush. (Santa Monica June 2009)

Erika Herberts:  My daughter in the new playhouse (a roulotte or gypsy caravan) we are building in the garden.  (Netherlands June 2009)

See a  photos of the finished caravan playhouse that Erika built her daughters here. I wish my house looked like this!

Mikodesign: blog and shop 

Small inspiration 13

Paris Paris Wanda Kujacz
Rosamund by Lewis Carroll

Just planning the shoots for the winter issue...Every issue of Small we both art direct and style at least one photo shoot. Behind each shoot is a back story around which we choose the clothes, the models, the location and plan the shots. We keep folders of images, photographers and art research so we have images to describe and develop our ideas in collaboration with the photographer. Each Friday we put up a diptych of images we have been thinking about or inspired by.

 

Alice, the Red Queen and the Mad Hatter.

Lewis Carrolls' book Alice in Wonderland is being filmed by Tim Burton (of course) and will come out next year. The costumes look great.

last night

 

The event on Wedensday night at Kicokids pop-up shop and gallery. It was a great night. Thank you to all our readers who have purchased the coloring book and to Grant Cornett, Shiny Squirrel, Kumquat Cupcakery and of course Kicokids for making the whole thing possible .

Kicokids are going to be missed in Chelsea but their whole range is still available on line.

Small Something- illuminated and animated

 

Nothing quite like glowing animals to keep the monsters under the bed.

toadstools, rabbit, and duck from Pomme
glowing bear from 2 modern
illuminated duck from Urban baby
felt butterfly lamp Mixko
bunting Paper Flowers

Small Threads - Silla Soup

We are officially open for business! We have been open for 4 days and have had an amazing response. Today I was lucky to have Silla from Silla Soup bring me a batch of her handmade hair clips and pins. Most of the felt she uses is eco spun, made from recycled post-consumer plastic. The quality of craftsmanship in each piece is fantastic- each little hand stitch is perfect. I love the detail of the small print fabrics layered and topped with hand sewn sequins.

If you are in the Dallas area please join us for our opening party July 25th from 10am - 7pm. Juice boxes, cookies and champagne (for the adults!) will be served all day. Free children's portraits by Steven Visneau from 2 - 4 pm. Pizza served from 5 - 6pm.

Little Bean
5308 Junius Street
Dallas, Texas 75214

www.littlebeanshop.com
email us: theshop@littlebeanshop.com

Join our email list on our website so you know when we launch our online shop!

Silla Soup Esty Shop

Behind the pages 6

We spent last week organizing the exhibition and setting up the great gallery space behind kicokids for their 'farewell to their pop-up shop' event. Small is launching the new 'Small Magazine Original Art Coloring Book'  and showing photography for Small by Grant Cornett.

If you are in New York and can make it down to Chelsea for the event there will also be drinks delicious treats from Kumquat Cupcakery, gift bags, an exhibit of art from the on-line gallery Shiny Squirrell and 75% off Kicokids'  beautiful items.

 

Small weekends - photo project 6

Maya Donenefield 'my daughter berry picking' - upstate New York July 16
Cedric Smith 'a photograph of my neighbor's daughter I took this weekend' - Savannah Georgia July 12

Small Draw Original Art Coloring Book out now!

Its finally arrived and it's beautiful! We want to say thank you to all the super talented artist who have contributed a drawing to the Small Draw project over the last ten issues.

Naomi Zouwer
Amy Ross
Kate Wilson
John W. Golden
Catherine Campbell
Jen Corace
Ryan Berkley
Kareena Zerefos (Kareena also contributed the lovely cover drawing.)
Julie Morstad
Mati Rose McDonough

Proceeds will be donated through Kiva - a mico-loan foundation empowering individuals to lift themselves out of poverty. www.kiva.org. Small draw original Art Coloring Book is available for purchase here - to collect or color!

Small Inspiration 12

summer nights

Painting by Ana Bagayan
Jun Takahashi's Undercover Graces - Photo by Katsuhide Morimoto

Small Finds - Etsy Guest Curator: Small Magazine

We are so excited to be the Guest Curator's this week over at Etsy! We have collected some of our favorite, affordable gift ideas for kids from the Etsy shops. Take a look...

Small Hands - The Little Experience

Now all we have to do is hang and display all of our beautiful inventory and open the doors. Another order I placed for the shop is from The Little Experience. I am thinking a lot about really good birthday gifts under $20 and these are perfect. Each DIY kit contains all the supplies needed to make a space explorer, rocket, rag doll, or floral headband. There are tons to choose from and the best part - each box the kit comes in can be recycled and made into a sun lounger for the rag doll, a swing for the knit-it monkey or a coloring page. Brilliant!

 

The Little Experience

Behind the Pages - Illustrated Fashion Editorial

In every issue of Small we commission an artist to illustrate a fashion editorial. For the Autumn issue we asked one of our favorite artists, Lisa Golightly, to illustrate one for us. We are big fans of Lisa's work and we can't wait to see what she draws for us!
We style about eight outfits and send them to the artist to illustrate in their own story. Here is a quick collage of a few items that will be featured in Lisa's fashion illustration. Check out the next issue of Small, coming out August 22nd, see the whole story! 

Kiki & Polly Website, Blog and Etsy Shop.

Embroidered pinafore by Megan Park Girl

Silver Headband by Le Tour De Force

Copper Moccasin by Flora and Henri 

Blouse by Lucky Wang

Sixpence Hat by Appaman

Grey Corduroy Pant by Wonderboy

Purple Skirt by Misha Lulu

Small weekends: photo project 5

1: Sandy Middleton: My friends daughter Sasha showing me her friends. Ontario Canada. June 22 2008

2: Tara Holt: Weekend hike at Great Falls Park, Northern Virginia USA June 21 2008

Did you have any small moments this weekend? Send us a picture and it will pop up here on our Small Weekend.

Small Shops - Saurette  Trunk Show                                                                       

 

Saurette Trunk Show at Pumpkinheads to benefit the Jayneoni Moore Children's Fund

Meet designer Lisa Kanouse while shopping from the Spring 09 collection & previewing Fall 09! We love the line Saurette and featured a dress from her Spring/Summer Collection here. 

Spring & Fall Saurette collections offered at 30% off retail during this event!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

11:00a.m.-3:00 p.m.
Pumpkinheads

11640 San Vicente Blvd #109,
Brentwood, CA

(310) 207-6760

10% of Saurette sales from this event support the Jayneoni Moore Children's Fund

inspiration 11

off to the beach - back next week.

davina feinberg
vee speers

Small Draw - Amy Ross

We featured Amy Ross in the second issue of Small. Amy has an interest in science and a background in theology and her art explores the junction of her interests.  Amy loves to imagine  the possibility of hypothetical splicing of plant and animal DNA, 'subverting the traditional genre of botanical illustration by approaching the close study of the natural world through the lens of genetic engineering and mutation gone awry.'
Amy contributed the gorgeous drawing on the left which you can download from here by clicking on the Small Draw button. This drawing will be part of our new 'Small Draw Original Coloring Book.' We have been on a super tight deadline to get it all together for the launch on the 22nd but it looks like it is going to come together. 

Small Eats - changing plates

These are not exactly for kids, but all have enough whimsy to be appreciated by both kids and adults. Four designers messing with the table-ware! 
Studio Violet - recycled ceramics embellished with Studio Violet drawings.
Lightly - whimsical butterflies from found plates
Fox and Clover plates made from salvaged glass and decorated with hand drawings using glass enamel.
Passionately Curious ceramic plates made from a mixture of porcelain slurry and previously used paper plates.

Small Finds- Playtime Paris

This weekend Small was in Paris for the Playtime Children's trade Show. Some of our favorite European designers were there as well of as a lot of new people to meet.
Coq en Pate make ethical clothing and accessories for kids using organic cotton and recycled leather
Popcorn represents many of our favorite designers such as Droog,  Donna Wilson and Ineke Hans

It was great to see Marucho who we featured in our third issue when she was just starting out. She began the company when she was only 16!
Monamici is run by two sisters from Stockholm. Their designs are tailored to fit perfectly while still allowing kids mobility and freedom.
One of the most beautifully crafted lines out there is Makie. Their clothing is heirloom quality yet never fussy or over-cute.
Ketiketa is a new line based in both Paris and Kathmandu. The traditional Nepalese fabric manufacturing and printing methods inform all their designs. 
Africa Unique Designs uses gorgeous fabrics with soft floaty shapes.
Bakker - made with love is the product of a very mobile couple- inspired by their constant personal development and travel, Bakker is growing rapidly as a brand to watch out for.

Sometimes it seems everyone does decals but L'Atelier Des Pieds De Saille does them really well.

Small weekend - photo project 4

1: Ruth-Anne Adcock: 'My two children'. Fife Scotland June 22
2 Wiebke : 'My daughter´s Pauline and Molly on a children´s treat'. Flensberg Germany June 22

how was your weekend? ...send us a picture form a 'small moment' from your weekend...

 

Naomi Zouwer was the first artist to contribute a drawing to our Small Draw Original Art Coloring Book. 
Small Draw has been an ongoing project in Small Magazine since we first came started. Each issue we have commissioned an artist to produce a printable drawing with the aim to collect our favorite artists into one book- the Small Draw Original Coloring Book. The book will be launched with an exhibition in conjunction with Kico Kids in Chelsea New York later this month.
We are also excited because proceeds of the Small Draw Original Coloring Book will be donated to Kiva, an organization we love that is dedicated to empowering individuals through micro-loans.

inspiration 11

A weekly diptych from our inspiration folders. 

thinking about Paris...

Pierre Auradon
Robert Doisneau

We are proud to be partners with Playtime Paris--the international trade show dedicated to the children's universe. Check in next week to see what caught our eyes there this weekend.

Small Shops - Mathilda's Market

Mathilda's Market is a fabulous niche market that offers unique, stylish and affordable baby and kids wares that are lovingly handmade and only available in limited production. They hand pick their artists, designers and retailers to ensure a unique and beautiful product range.

Most of the participants do not have a shop front, so you know you'll find something special and not available anywhere else.

If you are lucky enough to live in Australia you can visit their upcoming markets. If you live elsewhere you  soon will be able to shop the market online and find out more about their inspiring stallholders!

Sydney: 5 July

Brisbane and Perth: 19 July

Mathilda's Market

Small Draw - Shinzi Katoh

photo by steven visneau

Shop update: We spent the day yesterday shopping for lighting, racks, display tables and hangers. Looks like we will be open for business at the end of next week. One order I am really excited to get for the new shop is from Shinzi Katoh.  Shinzi Katoh is one of the most famous Japanese artists and designers and has his amazing work on everything from pencil cases to tableware. We featured one of his bento boxes here and my girls used them for their school lunches this past year. I had a hard time making my choices for the shop. I just love everything!

Small Shops - Ferd

Ferd is having the last two days of their sale Thursday and Friday. Enter the code Happy 4th to receive 20% off the entire site.
Ferd

Small Bites - Peach Cobbler

Joselyn dreamed of having kids with adventurous palates but, like most of us, ended up making two dinners every night, one of them regulary featuring mac 'n' cheese or chicken nuggets. Recently Joslyn started a wonderful blog titled 'Raising Foodies' as journal of her efforts to get her kids eating and cooking adventurously. Check it out if you when ever you are in need of meal time inspiration. Today she has put together a great peach cobbler that you can make with your kids and is loved by even the pickiest eater.

 

Joselyn: I have this theory that growing up in the South creates in you an unexplainable, almost mystical love of peaches.  My two young daughters fall into a trance of pure joy when they’re eating one… happily munching away, juice dripping slowly down their little chins.

Despite our collective fondness for peaches (due to my five-year old Audrey’s vehement aversion to warm fruit -- we’ve had some particularly ugly incidents of late involving a seemingly innocuous mixed berry crumble), we’ve never actually made peach cobbler.  But excellent peaches are abundant right now, and I’ve been itching to try my hand at a batch using a recipe from a vintage women’s club cookbook on my shelf -- warm fruit be damned.

So I was pleasantly surprised when Audrey came home from school last week begging for, yep you guessed it, peach cobbler.  Apparently her school cook, Ms. Ludelle, makes it weekly, and according to Audrey it’s DELICIOUS. (She thinks Ms. Ludelle is the “best cook in the world” - her exact words. I try not to be offended by this… but, it’s slightly crushing).  Audrey, not trusting my culinary prowess, urged me to phone Ms. Ludelle to obtain her exact peach cobbler recipe, but I told her I thought I could handle this one on my own, and we set to work making a pretty fine batch.
Watch your back Ms. Ludelle!

Peach Cobbler (adapted from The Democratic Women’s Club of Kentucky cookbook)

For Filling
·         6 medium peaches (ideally local and organic) cut into thin wedges
·         I tablespoon cornstarch
·         1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
·         ¼ cup turbinado sugar

For Topping

·         1 cup organic all-purpose flour
·         ¼ cup turbinado sugar
·         ¼ cup brown sugar
·         1 teaspoon baking soda
·         ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
·         1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
·         ½ teaspoon salt
·         ¾ stick cold unsalted European butter (diced)
·         ¼ + 1 tablespoon boiling water

To Prepare

-Preheat oven to 425
-Toss peaches with sugar, cornstarch and lemon juice in a 2-quart glass casserole dish and bake on middle rack for about 10 minutes.
-Remove peaches and gently toss again with spatula so the ones on the top don’t get overly browned.
-While the peaches are baking, mix together flour, sugars, baking soda, spices and salt.  Blend in the diced butter with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly.  Add the boiling water, and stir until combined.
-Drop uneven spoons of topping over the peaches.
-Bake on center rack for about 20-25 minutes or until the top is golden

Enjoy, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream

Peach Cobbler from Raising Foodies