smaller

Small shop- Little Bean

As well as being the co-editor with me at Small, Christine has a clothes line, Baby Bean and shop- Little Bean - in Texas.  For Baby Bean, Christine finds vintage fabrics from all over the country and re-uses them to make the most beautiful and unique handmade clothes for kids. Little Bean, her shop, collects many of the designers and artists we feature in Small as well as her own line cf clothes. You can see some photos from the shop above. Right now she is having a wonderful winter sale through etsy of Winter samples and extra stock. Most of her clothes are light enough to be worn all year, with sandals in summer or layered up with tights and woollies for the Winter. 

Etsy sale shop a selection of showroom samples, photo samples and designs

Little Bean a unique kids shop in Dallas (and online)

Baby Bean one of a kind, cool, girly clothes from 100% vintage fabrics

Small Magazine- issue 13 Spring!

Hooray! Issue 13 for Spring is out now.

The big news is we have moved onto our own super fast server so re-save your link to Small Magazine as the old link will no longer work. Best of all now Small wil be speedy to download anytime, anywhere.

We hope you enjoy it!

Small threads - Polarn O. Pyret want your opinion

Spring is just around the corner, and Polarn O. Pyret USA is busy preparing for the arrival of the Spring Collection, which is full of fun limited edition landscape prints.

Pattern designs have always been very important for Polarn O. Pyret. From the classic stripe that first saw the light of day as early as 1976, Polarn O. Pyret has created lots of its own original patterns and prints.

This year PO.P is asking its very loyal customer base, especially in our new US market, to help us choose the pattern that will return from the archives in 2010. They have selected seven patterns from seven Swedish designers from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and 2000’s. The pattern receiving the most votes will make a return to PO.P this year.

Let us know by the end of the 26th which pattern is your favorite here.

Small photo- daughters

Margaret M de Lange From her book Daughters.

I love this book.

Small projects- how to make a floor rug!

We have a new Craft editor here at Small. Lisa Murray is one of the craftiest people I have ever met and we are so excited to have her on board.

Ever since we first became friends when my sister was sharing a house with her in the late 90's I have admired her clean yet hand made aesthetic. Her house on stilts overlooking the river is full of her amazing projects. Now she has her own adorable little one she is turning her hand to kids crafts. This rug was the perfect mat when little Griffin was learning to sit. Easy to clean and super padded for any tumbles. I think this would be perfect of any room and could be made with any sturdy fabric, canvas or even an old quilt that you have on hand.

How to make a felt rug …

 

You will need –

One piece of fairly thick felt (1cm thick)

One blanket, or covering

One chalk pencil

One ribbon

One pin

 

* Felt can be purchased from Australian Felt specialists or just do a search for a supplier in your town. 

* Army blankets can be purchased inexpensively from Army disposal stores. Or, failing    

   that ask a yoga studio or moving company or just look around a thrift store or even your grandmothers cupboard.

 

Step 1

Decide how big you want your rug and cut a length of ribbon to roughly fit from the center to the outside edge

 

Step 2

Pin one end of the ribbon to the center of the felt and attach the chalk pencil to the other

Use this to draw the circle onto your piece of felt & cut it out

 

 

 

Step 3

Using your felt circle as a pattern piece, lay it on your blanket and cut out another circle 10, or 15cm bigger than the last. This overlap will be used to wrap around the edge of your felt circle

 

Step 4

Folding the edges round as you go sew the blanket to the felt circle by hand.

 

If I had my time on this project again I’d sew elastic round the edges of my blanket so it sat like a fitted sheet to my felt, this way it could be interchangeable and washable – very tricky!

Small finds: old school

School seems like a nicer place these days but I think the stuff used to be nicer back then!

lunchbox

satchel

ruler pencil box

black globe

wall map

stapler

Small bites - vegetarian sausage rolls

One of our favorite friends, Monica Willis from Corduroy Kid, recently sent us her new favorite lunchbox recipe.  Although you will find her shops in Brooklyn (and online), Monica is Australian and so grew up making the more traditional sausage roll for parties and picnics. This great vegetarian version is more healthy, delicious hot or cold, and really fun to prepare with some little helpers.

What you will need
3 eggs
1/2 cup walnuts
1 large onion chopped
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup low fat cottage cheese
1/2 cup dried breadcrumbs
1 cup rolled oats
3 sheets puff pastry
egg and sesame seeds for glazing

1. Process eggs, walnuts, onion, soy sauce, salt and cottage cheese in a blender.

2. Transfer into a bowl and mix in the breadcrumbs and oats.

3. Now cut a pastry sheet in half and spoon mixture down one edge.

4. Now roll to enclose the filling within the pastry and then repeat with the remaining pastry sheets

5. Cut each log into tasty morsels

6. Brush with egg and sprinkle with sesame seeds

7. Bake for 15-20 mins at 180C or 350F

Yummmo....a fabulous addition to everyones lunchbox. These are delicious with ketchup for kids or sweet chilli sauce for adults. Spinach and Ricotta is also a brilliant substitute.

contributed by Monica Willis of Corduroy Kid

Small inspiration 43

Cornell Capa The Player 1948  (from Shorpy - a collection of vintage photographs)

Lewis W. Hine Mill Worker. (From his collection exposing child labor in America 1908-1912)

Small Finds - Christine's Picks from Tada! Shop

Head over to Tada! Shop to see my picks for Spring!

Small Type - Children's Book Illustrators

1st row: pages from Vincent & Bruno in France & The Second Best Dog in the World Illustrated by Binny

2nd row: pages from The Discontented Bear by Stephen Daoud

3rd row: pages from Hansel y Gretel by Patricia Metola

If you follow us over here at Small you know we are a bit obsessed with illustration. One of our favorite features in the magazine is where we commission an artist to illustrate a fashion editorial that we style with children’s clothing. Fifi Lapin did our first spread back in Winter 2007. We are always on the look out for artists for this feature. These three illustrators would be perfect on the pages on Small.

Small Shops - Spartan

While on a recent trip to Austin I stumbled upon Spartan, a gift shop owned by Currie Person, who worked in film production before opening her shop. Spartan is stocked with a well edited selection of home decor, jewelry, gifts for kids, gifts for him, all focusing on handmade. A few things that caught my eye: Jesse Kamm Organic Cotton Onsies, Wool Felted Balls and Bird Mobiles from Nepal, Raw Wood Clock by Stanley Ruiz. From Japan Postalco Pocket Notebooks, Colorful Lockets from Trois Petits Points in Paris, Glass Vases from Spain and a great selection of Handmade Wood Utensils.

Spartan has a great website but if you are in Austin make it a point to visit.  But give yourself some time to browse the amazing selection and chat a bit with Currie about her new finds.

Spartan

215 S. Lamar

Suite D

Austin, TX 78704

Small photo- location scouting

I love location scouting, it is basically just 'looking around' which is always one of my favorite things to do. These are from a beautiful afternoon drive looking for somewhere to shoot the spring story for the magazine (coming out later this week!)

Lavender and wheat fields near the lovely Daylesford outside of Melbourne. Photos by Grant Cornett. 

small type- type!

Ed Fella (what a great name) from his Polaroid collection 'Letters on America'. All his type is done by hand.

From the opposite end of the type spectrum - Helvetica - the film.

I never thought I would be an obsessive 'type' person but it is creeping up on me.

Inspiration 42

from (the amazing online publication) humus

Carl Kliener

Small projects - Valentines day craft round up

Some simple craft projects for Valentines day...or just for the love!

Love shadow box, heart softie and Valentines day place-mat from Moomah

For a weekly dose of easy creative kids crafts, including valentines day ideas like this heart tree, sign up to Kids Craft Weekly and have it delivered to your inbox.

Jumpin' Juliet party favor from Mahar Dry Goods

Crayon shaving heart decals from Fuzzy Sheep Crafts

Matchbox treats from Jane and the Ducks

Behind the Scenes - Spring Fashion Editorial

A few snapshots of one of fashion stories shot by Steven Visneau in Brooklyn NY for our Spring Issue. Look out for it later this month...

Small Photo - Ellen's Picks

Ellen from the fabulous t-shirt line, Pluto, has a wealth of knowledge about photography, especially photography depicting children.  Here Ellen shares with us some of her favorite photographs.  
Thank you Ellen- these are truly inspiring.

WILLIAM GEDNEY 

MARVIN E. NEWMAN

MARIANNE COURVILLE

RALPH EUGENE MEATYARD

Small furniture - vintage chairs for kids

In our Winter issue we interviewed Molly Meg about her collection of vintage childrens chairs. As well as running her on line store she was also working with the curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum of Childhood to source items for their upcoming exhibition on seating for children. For this exhibition she located iconic designs from the 1950's and 1960's. The exhibition 'Sit Down' is now open for the next six months so if you are in London be sure to check it out.

Spotty by Peter Murdoch 1964-5, Marko red Dutch school chair 1970, Cosco adjustable Booster 1970

Continuing with furniture...If you are interested in vintage children's furniture, Molly Meg told us about her favorite book on the subject- Mobilier Design Pour Enfants. 

'Someone equally fascinated by children’s chairs is Carol Daprey who has just published a book on design for children called Mobilier Design Pour Enfants focusing on children’s furniture design, a bible for any collector. Bringing together some of the best and most iconic designs by likes of Alvar Aalto, Arne Jacobsen, Charles and Ray Eames, and Jean Prouvé.  Her book places each piece in an historical context. It is only published in French, but is available in English early next year. Daprey also has a very inspirational blog which you can read here'.  

Mobilier Design Pour Enfants By Carole Daprey
Publisher: Editions l’as de Pique (please note- the text is in French)

Blogger's Favorites - Christine on Simple Lovely

Head over to Simple Lovely so you can check out some of my favorite things!

P.S. Joslyn also has an amazing blog called Raising Foodies. You may remember her awesome Blueberry Dessert from our Autumn 2009 Issue.

Thanks Joslyn!

Small inspiration - 41

Polixeni Papapetrou

Julie Blackmon

thank you petit bonheurs for your inspiration list- they inspire me too.

Smal projects - papier mâché money box

The wonderfully talented Bess Harding recently sent us this great craft. She makes beautiful prints and soft toys under the name Beeb, available from her Etsy shop and also keeps up a great blog of art, recipes and other things.

papier mâché money box

Here’s a creative way to encourage saving (which let’s face it everyone should try and do a bit more of these days) with a new take on the old piggy bank, using papier mâché.

What you will need:

1. Balloons
2. Newspaper ripped into strips roughly 2cm wide
3. Wallpaper paste (or flour and water mixed to a paste)
4. Craft knife
5. Masking tape
6. Acrylic paints & paintbrushes
7. A bit of patience

 

1. Blow up your balloon, until it has a diameter of around 10cm - go larger or smaller depending on how much money you’re planning to save! Use a small piece of masking tape to flatten down the end of the balloon.

2. Being liberal with the wallpaper paste, apply the newspaper strips to the balloon, smoothing as you go and making sure you cover every little bit. Repeat until you’ve built up a few layers all over. It’s better to have the walls as thick as possible so you get a nice sturdy globe. Then – and this is where the patience comes in – you need to leave it in an airy place for a couple of days, until the newspaper is bone dry.

3. When it is dry, and it should feel quite solid, take your craft knife and carefully cut a slot/mouth for the money to go in. If it hasn’t already, the balloon will pop and you can jiggle it towards the hole you’ve made to pull it out. Then, if the edges of the hole you’ve made look a bit raw, use some masking tape to smooth them off.

4. Now it’s time to create your monster! I’ve painted a layer of white all over to begin with, and then using the money slot/mouth as a starting point, painted a face around it. You could make a friendly monster with flowers on it, or a scary monster, or a spotty one, or a stripy one. I’ve finished mine off with a layer of varnish to give it a bit of a shine. Once it’s dry it’s time to start saving!

 

p.s. You might have noticed that there’s no way to open the monster, this is on purpose so that you can’t dip in to your savings until you really need to. When the time is right, you’ll have to sacrifice your monster, using a craft knife or scissors to carefully enlarge the money slot until you can get your money out, then you can start on a new one!

Contributed by Bess Harding

Small play- retro wheels

 

Ride on Push Pedal Car

Classic Radio Flyer trike

Vintage Kids Scooter

We first saw this vintage trike on Minor Details but you can buy it here at Bom Design the fabulous on line furniture store specializing in pieces form the last century.

New British Mod scooter design from Kiddimotto

Small bites- chandeleur

Today is pancake day in France! It is a little bit like the American Groundhog day which is also held on February 2nd. According to french tradition- If February the 2nd is clear, the winter will end soon. If it is overcast there are forty more days of winter to come. Virginie of Ce Que Je Voeu have prepared a very special recipe of “Chandeleur” pancakes just for you!!!

1. Cook a crêpe on one side.

2. Loosen the crêpe from the pan with your spatula/pancake turner.

3. Hold the franc/coin in your weakest hand (for example, the left if you are right-handed), when the crêpe is ready to be turned.

4. Attempt single-handedly to flip the crêpe.

5. Enjoy good luck for the rest of the year if the crêpe lands perfectly in the pan. Suffer bad luck if the crêpe does not land well - or try again!