Bianca and Family

Bianca and Family is a French store selling new and vintage children's furniture. These inspiring photos are from their customers! Lucky are the children that sleep in these delightful chambres.

Margot et Victoire

Anne-Claire

Aime et Marcel

Camille

While perusing Baroque Babies the other day (and being very entertained by her post on the pitfalls of being a non- native speaker in Germany!) I clicked on an ad I hadn't noticed before and I am so, so thrilled I did. While these dolls are not available within the US (yet!), I can't resist tempting you all. These are just too much!
My Püppi Choose a variety of standard features such as eye color, skin color (they are steadily adding more diversity to their options) and hair color, more specific features such as length of hair and texture, and finally you can send a photo in for even more accuracy such as freckles and/ or eye glasses! These dolls are larger than a lot of dolls I've seen marketed without being oddly shaped. A feature I love and seems to be rare these days is woven hair into the head of the doll versus just a "wig" glued on to the head of the doll. These dolls are made by some of the finest toy makers in Germany. Only the best will do for the company and the dolls show it.
So if you or someone you know are traveling to Europe this summer, pick up one of these fabulous dolls!

Jayson Garden and Home

Jayson Garden and Home has the most magnificent found beauties. For all who delight in whimsy and design, this store is for you!

NINETONINE Desk House

An art table and house all in one!  The possibilities are endless for this smart creation from NINETONINE.

Du Bah Du Designs

All too often toys are fleeting, just an object which fills the time void for a few minutes. Far from the play landscape these days is anything resembling CHERISH. Where have the days gone of ultimate love for the singular specialness of a beloved toy. If you had but one doll. . . .
may we suggest you choose from these- Du Bah Du Designs makes the most endearing dolls. New designs are offered at their Etsy shop . While dolls are more for inspiring than for playing with per se, these dolls will delight the eyes. And really feed the soul. And certainly,above all else, be cherished.
When you are in need of inspiration, visit their site and be fed.

Oh, for more delectable delights:Swashbuckler's Soiree!

This book belongs to. . .

It's summer and with it comes reading. Ahh, summer reading! Isn't it divine. With so many readers and books out in the world, it's best to have yours labeled. Here are some of our favorite book plates.
From Etsy Shop Oiseaux
come delightful drawings that would look right at home inside the pages of the book as well.

(picture from Victoria Magazine)

Very so elegant and chic Bernard Maisner creates stationary which are Vogue approved! These graceful bookplates with accompanying bookmarks will keep your books well-dressed.

The always charming Jonathan Wright has these bookplates for sophisticated readers.






And for a touch of whimsy go to Mahar Dry Goods for these fun ones.

If you are going to San Francisco

Virtually or otherwise- here are a few of the many scrumptious offerings the city holds.

Image by mischiru via Flickr

Petit Collage

San Francisco based design store, Petit Collage is having a Promo Sale on 12 discounted designs of their beautiful collages. Their collages and mobiles have graced the pages of Cookie and have been featured on Apartment Therapy. All of their collages are made with FSC-certified maple wood, as well as being handmade!
(via their blog:http://petitcollage.typepad.com/)

Dagmar Daley

These are the clothes that make you long for childhood! Simple, beautiful, elegant, and filled with merriment. Dagmar Daley
a fine clothing manufacturer in San Francisco creates clothes for children which inspire a love of childhood by those who see them. Available at many fine retailers throughout the US. Available online at the ever wonderful Estella NYC

Velvet & Tweed

Based in San Fran, Velvet & Tweed, created by Tina Schreiber (of Janie and Jack fame), creates elegantly designed dressy clothes for young ones. "Childhood is a time for creating memories and cherishing the day. Why not dress the part?"

Castle in the Air

A truly magical shop in Berkley, Castle in the Air, not only boasts an enchanted website, where they have a host of fantastic stationary designs, they also have a online store selling their wondrous wares. Custom design is their specialty-if you are planning a special event peruse their portfolio. If you are in Berkley, stop by for one of their many classes on designs such as Felted Frog Prince and Watercolor Postcards!

Happy Father's Day!!

Father's Song
by Gregory Orr
Yesterday, against admonishment, my daughter balanced on the couch back, fell and cut her mouth. Because I saw it happen I knew she was not hurt, and yet a child's blood so red it stops a father's heart. My daughter cried her tears; I held some ice against her lip. That was the end of it. Round and round: bow and kiss. I try to teach her caution; she tried to teach me risk. from poems.org

FOUND on Etsy

Caution: these will make the threat "Go to your room" fruitless! With these super fun decals on their walls, children everywhere will send themselves to their rooms. What makes these decals even better is they are made of fabric and are removable, reusable, and washable!!!! How great is that?! Found at LoveMaeStore at Etsy.

Pick Your Own Cherries!

Looking for a way to celebrate the beginning of summer?
In Southern California, there are an amazing amount of pick your own fruit farms. Here are a selection of a few orchards who are really doing it right!
If you are picking Cherries in Southern California, you are most likely picking them in the Leona Valley- here are some of the top farms in the area…

Cherry Pit Ranch
40164 90th Street West
Leona Valley, CA 93551
www.ambersfarm.com
They have a picnic area (which is enclosed-big smiles☺!) and a play area. Shaded seating with porch swings and misters for reprieve from the heat! A few tips: hats and sunscreen obviously, try to wear clothes that can be stained, cherry juice (is hard to get out!), and bring your own paper bags to store your harvest.

Ambers U Pick Cherry Farm
www.ambersfarm.com
email: ambersfarm@roadrunner.com
9300 Leona Ave
Leona Valley, CA 93551
(661) 270-1919
Open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends. For groups of two or more during the week, please call or email to reserve time.
Just remember Ambers U pick is---CASH ONLY

Villa del Sol
www.upickcherries.com
email: info@upickcherries.com
6989 Elizabeth Lake Road
Leona Valley, CA 93551 (661) 270-1356
Is the largest U- Pick Cherry Farm in the region, with almost 4,000 trees on more than 25 acres.

Big John’s Cherry Ranch
www.gatherharvestfruit.com
email: upickfarm@dslextreme.com
9258 Leona Valley,
Leona Valley,CA 93551
(661) 270-9565
They are open every day from 8-5 but CALL ahead to reserve a time because they sometimes close to allow fruit to ripen.
After cherry season is lavender which runs until the end of July!

Pick Your Own Strawberries!

Victoria’s Garden
www..com
email:
13120 Willow Road
Lakeside, CA 92040
(619) 390-9571

Victoria's Garden has it all! A petting zoo, barnyard animals, straw play area, straw horses, an obstacle course, bounce jumpers, a giant slide, and hay rides! There is also a picnic area. They have thought of everything- go and hang out for the day; you will be glad that you did. They have a watermelon season, too!

Tanaka Farms
www.tanakafarms.com
5380 University Drive
Irvine, CA 92612
(714)968-6588
Tractor pulled farm tours are offered for you to see the different fruits and vegetables growning. Reservations are necessary and the tour takes about 1 hour.

UV Clothing for children

UK store Spotty Otter has made our summer! Finally attractive and pragmatic clothes -these outfits are fully UV protective to SPF 50! Now you can spend all summer on safari!

Summertime

Summertime is here! With it comes hours and hours of sunshine, outdoor fun, sand, and bugs (at least in most of the country). Here are a few items that may come in handy. . .
UK retailer Tree House Blue has a great line of beach chairs and wind breaks by Lisa Stickly.
Really helpful for keeping wind out or corralling wee ones in. If nothing else you'll be able to find your spot in the sun after a walk on the beach.They also carry this great insect repellent by Isabella Smith. Made from essential oils- this natural and good smelling oil should keep the bugs at bay.


Maddison Avenue Candles (who have a HUGE variety of soy and organic soy candles)
has a Bug off! fragrance for those outdoor dinners.





One perennial favorite - The Macbeth Collection has a expansive variety of designs to choose from. Go there when you have time to kill and a desire to design. A very small sampling below.

Snack Packing Attack

Over the years, options for reusable snack containers have gotten much better.
The Wrap-N- Mat has been very helpful on the sandwich front. SnackTaxi are great for pretzels, trail mix and such.
Plum Creek Mercantile has sweet drawstring bags for misc. treats.
But these delights from the Etsy shop Abeego are so great looking, one may just make up reasons to use them.

Wu Wu!

Needing to procure the perfect birthday gift for a very specific four year old- she was in need of a rolling pin. I stumbled upon this great kit from Dumpling Dynasty. The design and case are just icing on the all ready heavenly cake! Rolling pin, recipe, cupcake liners, and more!
The lucky four year old in question also received the Explorer Kit as well. Apparently great gift givers think alike!

Saturday Morning Fun at the Ford Ampitheater!

BIG! WORLD! FUN!

The Ford Theatre hosts a series for Children called Big! World! Fun! beginning July 4th with the Grandeza Mexicana Folk Ballet Company. Live performances are abridged to an hour long which makes sitting still and keeping a nap schedule that much easier! The best part, aside from the the beauty of the shows, is that tickets are only $5 /$1 parking and include discount coupons to the Museum of Natural History. If that isn't enough to entice you, there is a picnic area that opens an hour before showtime, so you can pack a snack and make a morning of it. We're thrilled LA is extending culture to its children. For details and to learn more about the artists please visit:

http://www.fordtheatres.org/en/events/Family.asp