This is a great idea- more fun, less waste and clutter. Join Spark-box toys and they will send you a box of personalised and developmentally appropriate toys for your child play with and return once they have new interests. All the toys are beutifully crafted, always safe and clean and selected for its engaging and educational qualities. Lean all about it here. I think it would be a great new baby gift.
sample boxes for a 24 month and 12 month old.
I still have the doll that my great aunt made me when I was a child. She has long pink arms and legs and curly wool hair with big staring blue eyes made from felt.There is something about her that was always special and I love seeing how she lives on in my own daughters games.
Jess Brown rag doll
The owl and pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea green boat.....
Free papier mache boat pattern here from Ann Wood (or you can buy them ready made here)
Owl by Abigail Brown
We love Jess Brown and interviewed her about her collaboration with Katherine Edmonds (of Wovenplay) way bfor the fall issue in 2009. You can read the article here. You can find a large range of her unique handmade dolls at Sweet William
...and speaking avout wovenplay...have you checked out their new season (also available at Sweet William)? There also some of the dolls made by Jess and dressed by Katherine in the wovenplay shop.
If I was going to start another collection this is what I would choose. I love pretend play vintage toys.
toy telephone at Edmond (a great spot for all kinds of vintage treasures)
Puppet plays are so much fun. We have been making shadow theatres in our house recently. By backlighting a white curtain you have a super simple and very effective shadow stage.
Wanneke has new marionettes here. Two Sad Donkeys make huggable marionettes from felt- find them here and if you prefer the magic of shadows, we love the ones at Owly Shadow Puppet shop here
We were lucky enough to have Julia Staite do the illustrated fashion story in the Issue 17. We loved the circus themed images she mad and now they are availble for sale in her etsy shop. If you click over there you will find - alongside her prints and stationary - these very cute alphabet blocks
The new Super Glider from Balance Bikes converts frpom a glider (or balance bike) to a bike with pedals and is larger than average so can be used by adults (for exercise and to get around quickly) and also older kids who have having trouble transitioning to a bike or did not get the opportunity to learn and also special needs kids that just want to join the fun and get exercise. (oh and it also folds up!)
This detailed hand-painted woodgraining is done by Rob, a retired panel beater in New Zealand for his family business, unambiguously named 'Rob's Woodgrained Bike Frames.' His main work is adult bikes if you like the effect it owuld probably be more worth it for a fullsize set of wheels.
I think the reason I am attracted to this is I love people re-using skills they already have and applying them to new ideas and businesses. A lot of the small designers we support are using skills they developed in their first careers to start their own businesses. It is this kind of resourcefulness and open mindedness that starts new ideas. How do you use your first working life skills for your new work/business project?
Karamba toys are hand made by Magda Bielecka in Poland. Exceptionally quirky and full of character her little people are made to be brooches, puppets or free standing toys.
what inspires you to create your toys?
Ideas usually come unexpectedly pulling my sleeve and shouting at the same time: ‘ It’s my turn now, I’m to be sewn now! I sew KARAMBA! toys as a kind of continuation, advance and extension of my childhood.
I hope they bring fun and play to everyone who comes across them.
Inventing Kindergarten about Friedrich Froebel who is credited with the invention of modern kindergarten. There are some really amazing examples of how architects and designers such as Frank Lloyd Wright were inspired, or really molded, by the toys used in their kinder education.
....and here is where you can buy the complete set of 'Froebel's gifts'.
It's wonderful to come across an alternative the the traditional country cottage or plastic playhouses for kids. SmartPlayhouse designs ones that are definitely a little more pricey but the great architecture and best-quality materials are worth it. Plus after the kids are grown your left with a pretty cool garden shed.
Dragon in a cave from the Play Store
Wooden sword with leather pouch and natural wood Sheild from Birch Leaf Designs
Castle wall blocks from Romp
Knight dress ups from Wovenplay at Acorn
(all four of these stores are great resources for imaginative and well made toys and gifts)
Great little stuffed animals by Mirasa Design made using fair trade practises and by using Azo free dyes so they are eco friendly! Oh, and a portion of the proceeds from all purchases go to Room to Read, a non-profit that partners with local communities to establish libraries, construct schools, and provide education to girls.
p.s. the winner of the Nellystella Giveaway is comment no. 21 Congrats! Bethany!
This week's giveaway is a beautiful, carefully handmade, one of a kind, 15" Waldorf style doll from Moonchild Studio. This particular doll (pictured on the left) was specially made for our readers at Smaller* and that's not all.... Berrie was kind enough to offer the readers a 20% discount on a Custom Order Doll for a January, February or March delivery. Just go to her Etsy site or blog and use SMALLMAG as the code when you order.
A Moonchild doll is an all-natural doll that is made with natural fibers. This doll is made with European cotton interlock fabric that complies with Oeko-tex standard 100, wool stuffing, and mohair hair. Her clothes are hand made with European corduroy and knit fabrics and her hat and shoes are made with 100% wool felt. She comes with a care sheet and a re-blushing cloth. Waldorf style dolls typically have a neutral expression so the child can add the feelings that the doll is needing to fulfill. As a child holds and plays with a Moonchild doll, the wool stuffing holds the child's body heat. Besides being great for educational and creative play, these toys are safe for your child and good for the environment. This gorgeous doll will be a wonderful addition to your child's life that can be passed down through the generations.One lucky reader will be picked at random and notified by email. (Please leave your email address when you post a comment!). The winner will also be posted in the blog the following Monday. Our winners from last week (picked by random.org) were comments no.1, 3, 5, 6, and 12- congratulations!! Please contact us with your email address.
We love puppets and here are a few our favorites.
man and woman finger puppets- Pintassilgo Prints
Morskoi Tsar laser cut puppet -Isabellas Art
Zebra drinking a Martini - Crank Bunny
Owl - Pin Pals
Bear- Shak-Shula
Dinosaur shadow puppet- Monkeytail and Wellington (Buy
3 or more single shadow puppets and a Shadow Puppet Theater Screen, and
get the screen for just $10.00. Pick up the discount code on their site and enter at purchase.)
Owl hand puppet- Romp
Severina Kids is a beautifully detailed line of toys and objects hand made in limited batches in Madrid. They ship all over the world. Each series is photographed in its own enchanting hand drawn environment.
Check out their other items and the lovely layouts at Severina Kids
I noticed recently when I was putting together the Small Play page for the summer issue of Small that a lot of my favorite artists make birds. Happy spring!
Cart before the Horse (who now have an etsy shop- hooray!) You can read Jo's interview with Small here.
Abigail Brown You can read Abigail's interview with Small here.
We have always loved the work of Nicole Licht of Astulabee. Her work is always enchanting and we have just learned she is going to teach some of her skills in a five day workshop coming up in New York. Contemporary Soft Sculpture is a hands-on studio workshop exploring materials and techniques for creating 3-dimensional soft sculptural forms, functional and non-functional alike. There is a discount if you register before the end of April.
If you don't have the time for the long workshop she is also conducting a 2 hour workshop on May 8
1-3 pm, leading participants in making embroidery and fabric collages
with a 'Lost at Sea' theme. There are limited spaces so email info@galleryhanahou to reserve your spot (cost
45$). The group exhibition of the same name is on at Gallery Hanahou at 611 Broadway Suite 730 NYC. Opening reception Thursday May 6 from 7-9.
Bunny Mobile by Flensted Mobiles
Bunny Pillow by Fauna
Bunny Broach by Chikagraphy
Lewis Poster by Le Train Fantome and Elisabeth Dunker
Fun hand tattoos from Mini Fashionista. (These would make excellent entertainment on a long car trip.)
Cute felt finger puppets by Cheryl A Smith
3 dimensional finger puppets from the amazing Pelpa
Ride on Push Pedal Car
Classic Radio Flyer trike
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
Dollhouses always inspire the little girl in me to wander and
dream again with no other purpose than just delighting in the goodness
of the moment.
A few pieces of cardboard, and I am 7 again!
Collected for Smaller by contributing editor Irene Nam
Sleepy Owl Mobile by Alimrose Designs
Paper Banner by Famille SummerbelleOwl Clock by Decoylab
The Hoots by Tsk Tsk
Owl Tee by Shirin NYC
Stuffed Owl by Tamar MogendorffOwl Bag Craft Kit by Sparrow Kids
We love buttons!
Bit Of Whimsey - Pig pdf pattern
Button doll - to make you smile!
Abigail Brown - monkey
Sweet Nellie - kitten
Little Black Crow - rabbit
Life with Tigers - robot
Beautiful blocks great for balancing, counting, sorting, spatial and problem solving skills and imaginative play.
clockwise from top left:
Petit Flaneur: Multi-function hand crafted blocks with images, the alphabet and tic, tac toe.
Cubikus: The challenge is to arrange the blocks so only one color shows on each side- much harder than it looks!
Twig Building Blocks: Modular bricks that fit into each other for architectural stacking.
Fidoodle: Make up stories and cities through building and stacking.
Classic ABC blocks from Romp: available in English, Spanish and French.
Little Sapling Toys: Organic building blocks made from cherry, walnut and maple wood. A tree is planted for each toy sold.
AK was
originally designed as a gallery to showcase the rich, and diverse
textile heritage of central Asia, in particular that of the mounted
nomads of the Kyrgyz Republic.
All AK products are designed in Melbourne and made by skilled artisans
in the Kyrgyz Republic using with natural fibres such as yarn-dyed
cotton and handmade and dyed wool felt. AK artisan quality products are intended to be stylish and witty with a
cross–generational appeal that is unaffected by the whims of the mass market – modern classics with a strong sense of tradition.
AK traditions : Handmade wool felt in unique colors and a diverse range of items that includes artisan quality felt toys, dolls, quilts,
home-wares, accessories, handwork kits and hand knitting and much more.
Small went on a field trip last week to visit Moomah in the heart of Tribeca. Moomah is a creative play-scape, nature school and cafe for kids. As soon as you enter this beautiful place you immediately notice the artwork hanging on the walls, the detailed shadow boxes and the beautiful color palette and most of all the feeling of calm and creativity. It is very unlike the usual play spaces filled with too many primary colors, scary characters and loud music blaring at top volume. Moomah has a serene, calming atmosphere, perfect for both children and adults.
We ordered some pastries for the kiddos and coffee for us and browsed the amazing selection of eco-friendly and handmade clothing, play dough and wooden toys in the shop section.
Then it was time to choose out DIT (do it together) Kits. There about 10 to choose from. It was a tough choice but Estela (pictured above) chose the Butterfly Collage. The best part about the craft projects at Moomah is they provide all the supplies needed. So all you have to do is sit down with your little one and create with the help of one of the art makers working there!
All of the artwork displayed on the walls at Moomah are inspired by nature and the animal kingdom and are made to coincide with the classes offered and change each season. We fell in love with the shadow boxes by Moomah Creative Director, Jacqueline Schmidt, and thought they would fit right in on the pages of Small!
Moomah
161 Hudson Street
New York NY 10013
212 226 0345
The Museum of Childhood is part of the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK. It is a wonderful collection of artifacts and modern works on childhood (and also has some fun projects and ideas for kids to do at home.) Currently they are exhibiting work by Bettina von Zwehl. One year-old babies are captured on profile in
an instant of alertness and total concentration. Depicted three times larger than life size, they appear almost monumental.
Check out their collections of antique toys and clothes too- we love the dolls houses.
We love Forty Two Roads 'make it your self' cardboard kitchen. Download
the pattern from her Etsy shop for only seven dollars!
This sleek Hase Weiss kitchen is designed to blend with the rest of
their modular furniture designs from the same line.
Another cardboard kitchen ready for some home decorating from Pomme.
The Lilli Play kitchen from Momoll is easy to assemble (and disassemble when you need the space) and can transform into a puppet theatre or grocery store for more flexible play.
This sturdy stove is made by the Swedish company Micki.
Small Shops- 1 girl 1 boy
1 girl 1 boy has been a favorite of ours since we featured them in our third issue. Each shirt is a little piece of art but sturdy enough for every day play. Sadly they are discontinuing their amazing line of block printed, appliqued t shirts but you still pick up their remaining stock for big discounts.
Walking through Brooklyn this rainy weekend we came across a
wonderful shop. Coszbi is filled with handmade dolls, and beautifully
designed clothing for children and adults as well as quilts and home wares. Coszbi
is owned and created by Cozbi A. Cabrera,
who left full time art-directing to realize her dream of making handmade
cloth dolls and illustrating. The dolls, called munecas in honor of her
Honduran heritage, are jointed and made with new
and individually sourced vintage
textiles. They are all individually constructed to order in brown, black
or raw linen with meticulous attention to detail using techniques such
as beading, hand rolled hems, hand-dyeing, embroidery, and hand
painting.
530 Court St. Brooklyn, NY 11231
1 box
1 head
2 bodies
2 shoes
2 arms
4 legs
1 umbrella
10 Jummis (connectors)
That is what you get when you buy a Kellner Steckfiguren plug-in figure from 2 Foot 9, a home based company in New Zealand. The original designs date back to the late 1920's. Kellner plug-in figures are handmade in Germany from locally grown solid wood and hand painted using harmless, water based paints. The patented connectors, the “Jummis”, are made from food grade rubber. Instructions have deliberately been left out - these toys are designed to encourage creativity and put the child in charge.
