Katonah Museum of Art

We visited the Katonah Museum of Art this past weekend to see my son's work in a student exhibit.  This museum is a little jewel in Northern Westchester.  There was an interesting outdoor exhibit by Joseph Wheelwright. You will never look at trees in the same way after seeing his sculptures. They are so seamlessly put together they look like they have emerged from the earth.  It was late afternoon on an  overcast day  when we arrived. Only silhouettes could be seen until you got up close to them. Then you could see the detail. A little spooky cool...

Most of the tree people were living amongst the evergreens on the back terrace. It couldn't be a more perfect setting..

The exhibit goes on until May. Try to make it out there. The kids will find them so interesting.. See you...

Christina

Secret rooms and Playhouses

This morning the New York Times Home section has a story on playhouses. I remember going over to my friends house and playing in her playhouse all day. It was even decorated with little curtains. The Times showed little houses that are completely over the top, yet very traditional. Like these from Treasured Heirlooms.

But there are so many different secret spaces that can be created for kids that are both inviting and very dreamlike. I keep a file of inspiring little spaces. Here they are...

Love this little house My Shabby Streamside Studio...

See you...

Christina

Playtime in Soho

Yesterday was a busy day in NYC.  I had to meet a client at a showroom. Then  went off to  2 trade shows and ended the day talking with my embroidery guy  about a project. The highlight was a small international kids trade show in Soho.

Really, really small companies showing their products. It felt a little like an etsy exhibition. The exhibitors' products were mostly made by themselves. So gentle and soft.  Made from the heart.

Soft sculptures from h-luv.

Completely hand embroidered, Coral and  Tusk's pillows make for some interesting bed time stories...

Jess Brown dolls show some real attitude..

I don't recall who this next vendor was, but love the whimsy and what a great take on the tutu..

The last vendor was a Japanese transplant to Brooklyn, her company Atsuyo et Akiko is less than a year old and is thriving. Decoupage is her main medium. We had a nice little chat.

Have you seen a softer step stool?

A welcome relief to see these handmade products. The show was like a breath of fresh air..

See you..

Christina

It's time for the Nature House

Every holiday season we reserve  a weekend afternoon to go to the New York Botanical Gardens to see the Holiday Train Show. My teenage boys still enjoy the visit, but more for it's nostalgic content. It was a real moment of excitement when the boys were little.

This year's new addition is Sarrinen's TWA building..

The creations are made by a low key guy, Paul Busse.  I struck up a conversation with him one year at the show. His group of guys come up from Kentucky and stay at the Ardsley Motel.  Yes, that was their lodging budget.  I told him how inspired I was by his creations. When the kids were little, we made our own nature house. Not at all as impressive as Mr. Busse's creations, but just as fun for us.

Our nature house is part of our Christmas decoration that makes an appearance each season. It is one of many boxes that come down from the attic.

The structure of the house came from a cheap kit dollhouse. The aluminum basin was made by my HVAC guy.  We found all the natural materials in our neighbor's and our yard. The siding is from birch tree. The roof is from branch of an oak tree. We found shelf mushrooms and acorns and bittersweets. The fake  green moss came from Martha Stewart catalog. The window glass is "antique glass" from a mirror and glass shop.  And the fence was purchased at a flea market one hot summer day .  Three hours at a flea market  in 100 degrees and all I had to show for it,  was the fence. The perfect fence for the nature house. I was thrilled!

See you...

Christina

Welcome back

Everyone is returning from their various summer journeys. It's time the kids get back to school.  I am back from Pittsburgh for a bit.  So far, everything is going very well with my mom and sister. They are getting stronger every day. My mom has a new future. It is just amazing what the doctors can do.  I am so thankful! The huge weight that lies on my shoulders is beginning to lift.  Life is ok right now... Tina and Beth  have been  great  caretakers of  the little shop.  I am thankful for them too!

We put together a new window display celebrating the return of school. I picked up these cheap vinyl floor tiles from Home Depot to cover the base of the display.

I recently purchased this giant abacus from an auction that was selling items from a schoolhouse from the turn of the century. It is enormous. It would be fabulous in a great playroom or bedroom that needs to fill space because of high ceilings. It would look great on top of a bookshelf. A piece of sculpture.

Bookends came into the shop in late August. The vintage globe also makes a nice addition to the window.

Another set of new bookends...

So we put it all together  along with some other items and made a welcoming display.

See you...

Christina

New York International Gift Fair

How lucky to live right around the corner from the NYIGF. Store owners, designers and bloggers descend  from all over the world, to check out all the new looks. Most of the vendors I had already seen at the Atlanta show. But New York always brings out a different feeling. I go with a shopping list so not to forget customer requests. I got the new blablas for one customer. Leo Leoni books for another.  Organic doll is still outstanding.  Another asked for a moroccan pouf on steriods. Check, I  found  one. Wow, 36"x16h"!

Even though they had a whole new baby and children  gift and decor section, the vendors seemed to be the same ones I had seen before. Nothing really striking  sticks  in my mind.

But the home decor vendors showed some flair.

I just loved Pacific Connections lacquer ware.

Mondrian inspired tables...

The color of the inner section of this table can be changed out to any color requested....

And of course they are known for their boxes. So I asked if they could make a  chic little diaper caddy. Maybe, he said...

I noticed some really nice chairs for curling up and reading a book. Could work in a chic little girl's bedroom..

A bit campy...

A Bit Bohemian...

Oh soo cool...

And then there was Jonathan Adler kids .....

Just as I was about to leave for the day,  I came across Tedde.  Tedde is made in NYC. Cici Crib is a little too populated right now with other stuffed animals. Maybe they will find a home at the shop next year. But I really felt like they did. It was a long day at market.

See you...

Christina

The kids are home!

The boys came home from camp with piles of dirty, stinky laundry and stories. Oh boy  the stories. Justin, my oldest says camp was soul revealing.  There is always something so calm and zen about him. Fiery James, says no way.  He goes on to tell me he received a formal behavioral warning for climbing on the roof of the dorm and pouring a bucket of water on a counselor. It was an act of retaliation for a super soaker incident that happened 4 years ago when the counselor was a camper. My  2 boys are polar opposites. The house was tidy and neat when they were gone . Now it is back to normal. The kitchen counter is full with ipods and books and hats and sunglasses. Sneakers and jackets all over. Messy again. All of sudden I was reminded of the few vintage items I found at the flea market recently. A sweet little doll,  from the 1940's and a 1950's picture created by Johnson and Johnson "dedicated to mothers and fathers of America."

Ok so the poem is a bit corny, but how the house so changes when the children are around.

So there are no more diapers, but loads of t-shirts and shorts.  Baby cereal is replaced with Lucky Charms. Beautiful cribs are replaced with messy beds. The red faced cherub is now a teenager sleeping until noon. But the feeling of having them home is the same,  joy  and heartwarming. My oldest will begin his junior year of high school this fall.  Time at home is fleeting . Enjoy every moment...

See you...

Christina

Weekend on the south fork of Long Island

This past weekend Miles and I  decided to do a last minute getaway. It was the last weekend before the kids came home from camp.   In order to maximize the down time and minimize the hassle, we decided we wanted to stay close by, but we wanted to be on the Atlantic Ocean. Not many choices fitting  that criteria. We decided on the Panoramic View in Montauk. Although the place was "renovated" , it seemed so tired.  It didn't take long to really appreciate this hotel. Clearly it had been around since the 1960's. For the time being there are no spas or fancy restaurants. The main attraction is the ocean. It is the last sound you hear when you close your eyes at night and it is the first sound you hear when you wake up. A Canadian high settled over us for the weekend, creating the coolest of mornings, the driest of days and the most spectacular sunsets. The beach was quiet, private and beautiful.

Other  favorite moments were the bike rides around Amaghansett's Napeague Harbor.

The fish tacos and the fruity Rosé at the Fishbar in Montauk. Who knew the lovely chef was just on Food Network's Chopped.

The wine was so nice  that we picked up a case at the Wolffer Estate vineyard on the way home.

We stopped for lunch in Southampton. Checked out some of the shops. Loved Hatchlings for children's clothes.  I liked the embroidery at The Elegant Setting.

The Ralph Lauren Home shop with it's side entrance,  felt like it was in a tiny carriage house. A memorable little shop...

We're home now  and I still can't forget those sunsets...

See you...

Christina

Blabla Dolls Make Great Gifts

A new shipment from Blabla came into Cici Crib this week. The dolls are just adorable. They make great first birthday presents. Moms even put them on their baby registries. They are knitted from soft  cotton by Peruvian artisans. Blablas are more than just a stuffed animal. They have character. I think that's why kids really do love them.

The new comers this Spring  are Hercule and Josaphine the Elephant.

They will join their friends Bandit the raccoon and Rosalie the pig

The original sock monkey was the inspiration for the Bla bla dolls.  An old fellow  gets a special place at the shop.

See you.

Christina

Vintage Football helmets

Last week ended with a rainy sidewalk sale.  The rain kind of  described the week at Cici Crib. I wanted a relaxing Mother's Day. James wanted to head to the flea market. We haven't gone in a couple of weeks, so I agreed. It was a short sweet trip. It was not crowded.  There were some dealers coming from the south making a  quick stop on their way to Brimfiield. One day I will go to Brimfiield, an enormous antique fair in Massachusetts . It takes days to get through it.

One dealer was selling early 20th century football helmets. Fantastic collection. The helmets seemed so tiny. He told me most of them were college helmets, but some were for children.

Back then, protection had a different meaning. Everything today is so amped up. From the training to the equipment. I have yet to find any early photos of little kids teams. I think,back then, little kids perfected their crafts out in the field. No coaches. No photographers.  I love looking at old sports photos. Of course there are only guys in the pictures. No girls softball or basketball or soccer.  I purchased these collages of pictures. I believe these photos once hung in the halls  of Columbus School in Bridgeport, CT. The guys look so casual, like the picture was snapped after playing a hard won game.  As I was taking photos of this collage, Justin pointed out that it was put together during the Depression. Wow that adds a whole other element.  Once these collages are framed, they would be great in a play room or  or boy's bedroom.

Well I couldn't leave the market without another trophy. Makes you smile!

See you.

Christina