smaller

inspiration 78

Aliza Lelah

Juli Blackmon

Small Threads - little to big

I have noticed a trend with some our favorite designers now making adult clothing! Hooray! These designers are doing it so well they make me rethink the idea of mother/daughter dressing.

Shampoodle

Rikshaw Design

Makie

Kit + Lili

Pink Chicken

Mim-Pi

 

Small Shops - Sweet William takes Manhattan

We were thrilled to finally see a photo of the new Sweet William store in Manhattan. Bronagh Staley is the talented proprietor of this lovely addition to her Willamsburg, Brooklyn shop. Her husband, Peter who is an artist, designed and built the interior. Looks beautiful! We can't wait to see it in person!

Sweet William 
85 Kenmare Street
New York, NY 10012
212 343 7301

small type- for charity

Soft Gallery and supereditons - who we featured here in the last issue of Small- made this strange and beautiful book. It was auctioned on Little Fashion Gallery for charity raising 250 euros for children with cancer. You can check out their other work and designs but clicking the links.

Small Play - Bunnyears.tv

Another discovery I made while at Crafting Community (BTW this event was an amazing pool of artists, makers and cool things that could inspire a gazillion blog posts!) was Bunnyears.tv. It was the end of the day and the kiddos were still riling from all the festivities and we needed to mellow them out a bit. We ended up choosing Bunnyears.tv on the Ace Hotel television. The whole family fell instantly in love with these vintage cartoons from around the world.

Bunnyears.tv is a web tv station for ages 3 and up and was created by Judy Blumstock when she needed a little help teaching her child about bedtime. Judy spent some of her childhood in Hungary where children's cartoons were only broadcast at bedtime which every child would watch. So Judy searched and compiled all the cartoons she loved as a child into a web tv broadcast. These cartoons are classics from the Czech Republic, UK, Latvia, Hungary and France and a stark contrast from the cartoons our children watch today. I think my favorite one is Chapi Chapo from France. My daughter Amelie loves dancing to the intro song. The best part about Bunnyears.tv is that new episodes are posted every Wednesday morning.

Here is the current lineup:

Chapi Chapo (France)
Munk and Lemmy (Latvia)
Dorothy and Her Parrot (Czech Republic)
The Clangers (UK)
Bagpuss (UK)

Bunnyears.tv

Small Giveaway - NUI Organics and Kina

  We have a fantastic giveaway this week from NuiOrganics and Kina. First up is this adorable (totally want this in my size!) Bubble Dress crafted from soft organic wool. Available in sizes 3-6mth, 6-12mth, 12-18mth, 2T, 3T and 4T and you can choose between Natural, Silver, Blush and Sky.

Match the Bubble Dress up with these butter soft New Zealand lambskin Kina Booties! You can choose your color and come in size 0-3m, 3-6m,6-12m, 12-18m,18-24m, 2-3y, 3-4y.

Leave comment telling us what you love about NUI Organics and Kina and you will be entered to win. The giveaway is open until Friday the 29th and will be chosen by Random.org. We will notify the winner by email so please leave your email address in your comment.

Last weeks winner from Opus is comment no.19. Congratulations Littlepartstudio.blogspot.com!

inspiration 77

Youngna Park

Joshua Scott

small threads - Mudslinger

 

Here we have another fabulous independent clothing collection designed and manufactured in NYC called Mudslinger. The biggest challenge as a shop owner is finding great looking boys clothes that are current, well made and well priced. These are silhouettes I can see a boy (or Girl) any age wearing. The Navy Yard Striped tee paired with the Slim Denim Trouser is perfection!

 

small report - Milk + Bookies

 

While at Crafting Community  last weekend I was introduced to Milk + Bookies, a non-profit organization that teaches children to give back using books as currency.  I love the idea behind the M+B Birthday party. When the thought of more toys on your child's birthday is more than overwhelming,  giving your child and his friends an opportunity to select, purchase then inscribe books that are than donated to their peers who do not have access to books of their own is a great alternative. It's so easy because Milk + Bookies has done all the leg for you! You can purchase the Bookies Box that includes 25 “i donated” stickers, 50 book plates, and 25 “read”, “give” and “grow" book marks. Just ask your guests to bring new hardcover picture books in lieu of a gift for your child, find a recipient group for delivery of book donations and have the kids inscribe bookplates to adhere to their donation and then they can proudly wear the “I DONATED” sticker throughout the party!

Milk + Bookies

 

small spaces - Quick Brown Fox Handmade

 

Quick Brown Fox is a handmade bedding company from London that uses simple, classic designer fabrics for fitted sheets, duvet covers, pillows and even Pj's. I love the rik rack fittet sheets and bumper--perfect for a baby boy or girl--the colorful polka dot pattern and of course the London Toile organic bedding collection.

 

Small Giveaway - OPUS

 

We look at a lot of baby clothes over here at Small and Opus really stands out. I adore the armored tees and leggings as well as the delicate plaid and horse print patterned rompers and pants. Opus is manufactured in nyc using butter soft organic cotton, Japanese yard-dyed cotton plaids and vintage printed pima cotton.

For this weeks giveaway Opus is offering an Organic Hooded Onesie in Owl with Organic cotton Armored Leggings in Owl. Retail price $100 USD. 6-12m and 12-18m sizes available.

Leave comment telling us why you love this outfit by Opus and you will be entered to win. The giveaway is open until Friday the 22nd and will be chosen by Random.org. We will notify the winner by email.

Last weeks winner from ESP no.1 is comment no.14. Congratulations MrsAgathaMarple!

 

 

Inspiration 76

Lorene Taurerewa

Carolina Rodriguez

small finds- springtime for anytime

 

jewelry and accessories for biggies and littlies..

Hand dyed Fried Kahlo clips by Soil

rabbit necklace by atsuyo et akiko at Pink Olive

crochet rose clip by Wren Handmade

color wheel bracelt by Nest Pretty Things Tamar

lamb necklace by Little Lamb

pink flower brooch and blue flower hair comb by A Alicia Accessories

yellow crocheted flower clip by Two Seaside Babes

 

small photo- stomping ground studio days

The fabulously talented husband and wife, Kelsey and Dennis of Stomping Ground, are offering two more open studios this Fall. If you missed their spring one, here is your second chance to get high quality and very reasonably priced photos of you and your family. 

Kelsey and Dennis put together the magic shoot in the last issue of Small. The story was inspired by their experience of hiring Mario the Magician for their daughter’s 5th birthday party.  Mario is a master performer for children, and the photo shoot was as fun as the original party.

You can get more information about how to sign up here. The first session is this weekend so sign up quick!

small art- Consumed, a live animation

Some images from the 'live animation'- a seven day installation project by ten artists I organised last week. This project was inspired by Small which, for us, has always functioned as a space for testing new creative ideas and to provide support, infrastructure and exposure to a range of projects and artists within a framework.

Each artist had the space, half studio and half display space, for 24 hours to do what they wanted with.  I hoped it would provide the impetus for community engangement, collaboration and creative experimentation without too much emphasis on outcome. The entire project was filmed by four video cameras and a still camera and will become an animated film in the future. You can see more pics on the project blog here and some more photos here and also some more info here.

projects pictured above by the artists:

Lachlan Tetlow-Stuart

Miso and Ghostpatrol

left: Hannah Bertram

right: Emma Van Leest

other artists involved: Isobel Knowles, Van Sowerwine, Holly McNaught and Madeleine Griffith.

Small Giveaway - ESP No.1

I am loving this weeks giveaway from ESP No.1!  This New York city husband and wife design team discovered a lack of great, well made unisex clothing at good prices. So ESP No.1 was born. The debut collection is basic denim in a few styles and washes as well as tee shirts in Japanese cottons. This collection is manufactured locally in NYC.

Esp No.1 are giving away these awesome, I repeat awesome, pair of their No.1 Jean in Rinsed. The winner can choose from sizes 2T - 8Y. Retail USD $60.

All you have to do is visit ESP No.1 and tell us what you love about this new collection. Please rememebr to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win. (That will be the only time we use your emial address. If we can not contact you and the prize is unclaimed for a week we will do another pick and announce a new winner.)

One reader will be picked at random and notified by e-mail. The winners name will also be posted on the blog the following Monday. Our winner last week (picked by random.org) was comment  no. 12. Congrats to Tiffany Rossic. Please contact us to claim your prize.

Follow us this weekend at Crafting Community...

I will be reporting on the event over here.

Have a good weekend!

inspiration 75

Eugenio Recuenco for Vogue

Steve Visneau for Small

small threads- periwinkle bloom

We are sad to tell you that Periwinkle Bloom is going on an indefinite hiatus. It is your last time to pick up their timeless deisgns made from organic and vintage fabric and they are offering 20% off by using code FAREWELL in their shop (many items already on sale!). A percentage of all sales will still support Nest, a nonprofit providing microfinance loans to women in developing countries. We have loved Periwinkle bloom for ages and have often featured their designs in our shoots.

Small Projects - Simple Gusseted Drawstring Backpack by Prudent Baby

The talented ladies over at Prudent Baby once again share an amazing tutorial on a simple Drawstring Backpack. Perfect for your toddler's library trips!

Materials:

1 piece of heavy weight fabric 13" X 26" (this is Heather Ross Far Far Away 2 from Fabricworm)

2 yards trim/ribbon (3/4" width or smaller)

Instructions:

Fold fabric in half right sides facing, 13" edges aligned

Sew up the edges, stopping two inches from the top

Cut the edges with pinking shears

Fold each side edge in 1/4" and iron, then the top edge in 1/4" and iron.

Fold the top down another 3/4" and iron

Repeat on the opposite side.

Sew in place along the edge to create a casing.

Using a safety pin feed the first piece of trim through one casing and out the other side, then back through the other side of the casing.  

Repeat with the other piece of trim going the other direction.

Now we will create the gusset and attach the backpack straps.  Bring the seam to the front center and iron the bag into a point.

It will look like this unfolded. Make sure it is straight!

Measure two inches down from the tip of the triangle. 

Draw a straight line across the tip at the 2" mark you made.

Cut the tip of the bag off 1/4" above the line.

Grab the ends of one side of the trim.

Pull them inside the bag and through the hole in the tip.

Pin in place.

Repeat on the opposite side, so now you have each strap pinned into a triangle point.

Sew in place along the line you drew.  

Finish the edges with pinking shears and turn inside out.

Pull the straps to close the bag.

You're done!

Also on a related note: Jaime Curtis from Prudent Baby has written a book (yes, a book! Where does she find the time!!!) called Prudent Advice I have read it and let me tell you it is a must read and a must for your family's library. Jaime emphasizes the importance of being ethical, practicing kindness, thinking for oneself, and seeing the beauty in everything and everyone, especially on the inside. We will be hosting Jaime at Little Bean Shop on November 5th. We will have the signed books for sale and you can meet Jaime! Check her website to see when she will be coming to your city! In the meantime find the book here!

Small Art - Crafting Community

This Friday we will be heading to Palm Springs for Crafting Community, the ultimate family getaway headed by crafter extraordinaire Karen Kimmel of Kimmel Kids. Set against the gorgeous backdrop of the Palm Springs desert at the iconic at Ace Hotel & Swim Club, the weekend offers an easy oasis of crafting, creativity, community and imagination for kids and parents alike.

Our very own photo editor, Steven Visneau, will be documenting the event as well as heading up a few photo classes for kids. Small will be there documenting the artwork of all the children. You can follow the event and see the amazing artwork produced on line at the Small Magazine Crafting Community Gallery.

Check out the current issue of Small where two of the artists heading up workshops this weekend share their projects here.

 

Small Giveaway - Anais & I

This week’s giveaway is from Anais & I, a new clothing collection designed by Jane D’Haene.  Jane designs simple clothes that are beautiful and still look great after a long day on the playground. I love the mix of colorful liberty prints, knits and faux fur that flawlessly come together in a range of a-line dresses, skirt’s, blouses and coats.

Anais & I are offering a gorgeous faux fur hat for your little one! It's reversible and has faux fur pom poms!  Retail price USD$64.

 

All you have to do is visit the lovely Anais & I and tell us what you love about this new collection.

One reader will be picked at random and notified by e-mail. The winners name will also be posted on the blog the following Monday. Our winner last week (picked by random.org) was comment  no.1. Congrats to Kristin!

 

small inspiration 74

Anne Moller

Julia Fullerton-Batten