You've Gotta Have Heart

Norway's elineof has needle felted this charming wool teddy bear.  With the long winters of Norway it's no wonder this bear was crafted to warm hearts.  What a lovely way to say send good cheer.

Emily Ulmer Photography

We would love to say that we found Emily Ulmer, but we didn't. She found us and, boy, are we glad that she did! From the very first photo, we were taken. Her photography is gorgeous and timeless.

 We got a chance to chat with her via the email the other day and thought we would share our chat with you - along with many of her fabulous pictures!

You mentioned you have worked in both New York and LA. Is most of your work with families or do you mainly work for publications like small magazine?

At the moment I'm doing a mixture of the two. I lived in NYC for three years so it's great going back there to work. I love doing commissioned portraits for families as I get to form relationships that tend to last well after the shoots. The editorial work for magazines such as Small lets me come up with interesting story ideas and work with great children's clothing designers and shop owners.

How long have you been a photographer?

I've been taking pictures since my late teens but I didn't start to do it seriously until about 5 or 6 years ago. I was doing fine art portraiture--- mainly portraits of girls in their
early 20's. Photographing children happened organically and became my focus when I moved back to Los Angeles from NY at the end of 2009.

How long does a session usually take?

Of course with younger children, they can only last so long when you're photographing them. A session usually lasts from one to two hours, although I recently did a session
that lasted for over four hours. I shoot quickly so that helps a lot when some kids are over it in 20 minutes!

How do you get children to be comfortable being photographed?
I don't think I could do what I do without being able to make children comfortable in a very natural way. Some kids are at ease with me immediately--- some take a little longer.
It's really all about engaging the children and having them forget that there's a camera there. I start asking them about their weekend, favorite movies, and then take the shots
during the pauses in conversation.

What's been one of your favorite shoots?

My favorite shoot to date was the one I did for the fall issue of Small. I shot four friends in Bronson Canyon. Three of them were 5 years-old and that is an amazing age to capture.
I posed them for some shots but then I just let them roam free and followed them with my camera. After a while I don't think they even noticed that I was there, which can make for the best images. 

Do you have a favorite age to photograph? A favorite setting to have a session?

Five and six are great ages--- they're much calmer by that age and are generally excited about taking pictures. My favorite setting is in a child's home, as they are the most comfortable
there. A couch, a bed, their backyard--- those are my favorite places to shoot. The environment definitely plays a strong role in my pictures.

Do you help pick out wardrobe?

Like the setting, the wardrobe contributes a lot to my work. I like to have the kids where timeless pieces--- I steer clear of crazy prints and graphics. The styling is a lot of fun as most parents let me go into the child's closet and pick out whatever I want. And the kids always help, of course. A four year old girl I photographed pretty much styled our whole shoot once! 

Viola Studio

Sometimes sweet and simple is all it takes to melt a heart.  Made from upcycled wool sweaters Viola Studio has us smitten.  A perfect welcome gift for a new baby!

Better late than never...

Forever and a day ago, friends of ours told us about how their lovely young son had suddenly overnight turned in to a beaver and was gnawing away on his crib. We wish we would have known about Gail Clark. Filed under why didn't we think of that- she makes cloth teething guards! Grab one for when your little darling evolves into a woodchuck!

Just Hatched

We've fallen for Just Hatched's nature puzzles!

The perfect teether!

Clover New York

Clover New York makes us happy! We want a  Nick Farmsuit for ourselves! Dedicated to responsible manufacturing practices, Clover maintains a direct relationship with their manufacturing partners to ensure that workers are treated fairly and uses only organic cotton. Proof that sustainability and design can live very happily together!

Reverie Daydream

A little while ago lovely Melissa from the wonderful Reverie Daydream dropped a little note in our mailbox informing us of a wonderful addition to the already fantastic array of home goods. But starting November 7, this boutique will be start offering an exclusive, one of a kind, handmade by Fern & Feather. 

These exquisite pachyderms are selling out fast, so move quickly if you want one!

Superhero Sneakers

Superhero play emerges even in media free households.  Children work through concepts of "good" and "bad" via Superhero Play(for an enlightening read check out Rubin's, Using Superheroes in Counseling and Play Therapy ).  Etsy's smallfly has created an ingenious way to snazz up the already beloved Converse(or other sneaker fave).  Who couldn't use a lightening bolt or some wings on their shoes?  Even grown-ups can get in on the fun!

A room you can feel great about.

We know a few ladies out there who are busy designing fabulous nurseries for their wee ones on the way. That got us thinking about nurseries and the season of hope that is upon us. And then we found two companies that are amazing.  Filled with wonderful designs that make you want to start a new decorating project, Avalisa and Cavern Home are known for their style.  But underneath those gorgeous exteriors are gooey and heartwarming loveliness!

Cavern Home located in New York and Los Angeles is known for their fantastic wall paper. But their "Casa de Milagros" design was created from drawings by children and all proceeds go to support an orphanage that provides shelter, food, clothing, and education for those children. 

Another wonderful company is Avalisa.  Renowned for their design expertise, they have partnered with CURE International, a nonprofit that helps fund surgeries for young children in developing countries. Avalisa is working to brighten these young patients' environments. You can help by purchasing a piece of  stretched canvas artwork for a discounted price and choosing which hospital it should be sent to. Since the donated piece comes at a discount, you might want to get one for yourself!

The Selby

When we need Inspiration(with a capital i) The Selby always delivers.  If you've ever wanted to know how creative people live and what their spaces look like, "The Selby is in your place".  The Selby project, is Todd Selby's collection of photographs offering an "insider's view".  Take a peek . . .

(All photos by Todd Selby)