Cici Crib will be closed for vacation from August 23rd until August 31st.  Vacation plans changed quite abruptly  in the last weeks of the summer. We were supposed to go to Paris and meet with friends and then continue on to Provence for a self guided, gastronomic, bicycling tour.

As many of you know, my mom has been struggling with an auto immunne disease that attacks her liver. Primary Biliary Cirrhosis(PBC) is a slow progressing disease . Towards the end,  it comes on like a freight train.  Next week my mom will receive part of my sister’s liver, in what is called  a live donor transplant.  It is complicated, but at least she will have a chance of  having a normal life again. My sister is really just remarkable!   I don’t know how else to describe what she is willing to do.

Family, friends and customers have been so incredibly comforting. I would like everyone to know how appreciative I am. For the next few weeks I will be in and out of Cici Crib.  Posting will be sporatic.

For now I will post a photo of a place that my sister and my mom think of as a  little place of peace.  It is very near to where I grew up.  It is Winterthur Museum. We used to just go up to the museum after school and walk the grounds. My mom loves this spot. We used to sit on the bench and just look out  and chat.

See you…

Christina

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

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

Bright clear colors were everywhere in Atlanta. It was all about fun.  I love these ball chairs. Great for a playroom. Comfortable for even an adult to sit in. I saw the same chair on the 5th floor in  Barneys in the city the other day. Oh, except it was in black, of coarse…

Love this chartreuse wall with the white animal heads…

How nice for  a girl’s Bohemian bedroom…

Polka dot happy…

I couldn’t resist  purchasing these large metal flowers made by a surfer guy from California. They are cut from recycled metal and spray painted.

Pink and orange is a combo I am working on with a few clients..

Midcentury reproductions for the midcentury spirited child.

These cool boy and girl lamps have shades made of mylar..

This lamp is over 5 feet tall and is perfect for a glamor girl…

It was my first time in Atlanta. I brought home some great products for the design end of the shop.

See you…

Christina

Back from the Americasmart and happy to be home. I feel inspired and design rejuvenated. I can’t say there were many baby products that were new, but some of the showrooms were filled with solid  design ideas.
I arrived in Atlanta just in time to sit in  on a talk given by Suzanne Kasler. I love her interiors. It was nice to hear about what inspires her. Like most ” visual people”, she is not just inspired by an interesting spaces, but by unexpected color arrangements, fashion,and the fine arts.  Anything that may catch her eye, she ” files” for future references. Her own foyer is just beautiful.

After the lecture, I started to make my way around the showrooms. The interesting looks of industrial influences were apparent from the get go. It seemed like a celebration of the industrial revolution. Just great for  a boys bedroom or even nursery. Check out this funky dresser.

This little cube seat duals as a storage unit could  also be used as an ottoman.

I love these large wooden  letter plaques. The entire alphabet is available.

They can be made into side tables as well.

More interesting looks….

A kid who loves adventure could use some of these decorating ideas…

Love this ottoman..

What a nice lamp for a baby’s nursery…

This lamp will make it’s way into Cici Crib this Fall.

Next up it was all about color…

See you…

Christina

(more…)

It has been so busy this week at Cici Crib. Kids are away at camp. Mothers are coming  into  the shop redecorating the kids rooms before they come back. Cici Crib babies have been born this week. Their  gift registries need to be updated. Current projects are coming into fruition.   And I need to plan  for the Atlanta gift/home shows at Americasmart . I leave tomorrow feeling a bit unprepared.  It is the biggest show of the year for retailers. Four buildings full of stuff.  It is my first time in Atlanta so I am not sure what to expect. Every summer I go to one show outside of the New York area. Last year was Dallas. The year before was Los Angeles. So this year I decided to go where most retailers find their products, Atlanta.  This is one of the best parts of the job. We see trends in colors and styles. Check out all the new products. It will be a busy 4 days, but I look forward to it.

See you after the show.

Christina

I just got back from Pittsburgh again. It seems I go often now as my Mom is not well. I like to spend time with her. She loves to hear the  stories about the shop.

This time I was there long enough to check out some of my favorite shops.  I always love Toadflax on Walnut Street. It is a garden based shop with soaps and linens and antiques to enhance the beautiful flowers.  The smell and sounds are so sweet. Jeff Pierce, a co-owner, is inspiring and oh so talented. His dog, so comfortable in the shop, greets her favorite customers. Jeff has yet to set up his website which is such a pity. His work  spans from  museum galas to New York parties. He is understated and genuine. His touch is everywhere in the shop.

A nice little excursion.

See you,

Christina

(more…)

We wanted to go out with the boys  before they left for their summer journeys. So last night we went to see the broadway show, Fela. Wow the music and dancing were so original. So cool. So much fun. It was a true story of a legendary man named Fela Kuti.  The Shrine was the name of Fela’s nightclub in Nigeria during the 1970′s. It was a wild time. The costumes were great and the set was interesting. I wasn’t allowed to take pictures of it. Too bad. It was so colorful. One corner was decorated in African masks.

It’s clear that tribal  masks can make a great design statement. Check out this room from Elle Decor.

A real feeling of Africa come out of these tin animals I have in the shop. They are made by artisans in Zimbabwe. They would be a great inspiration piece in a baby’s nursery. All lined up on a shelf. How neat is that.

It was a fun night out!

See you.

Christina

I am in the city again to take the kids to fencing.  I  have about 2  hours to kill. Sometimes I pick up merchandise at vendors. Sometimes I have to shop for clients and sometimes, it is just time to blow off before pickup. Those days I get to check out the new shops. Limelight Marketplace opened recently.

A mini mall of pop up shops. Actually,  it is more like a tasting menu of shops. Each one is a small version of a main shop found elsewhere in the city.  One of the most interesting shops is Old Hollywood.  First you have to find it. It takes turns and steps and little passage ways to get to. It is a jewelry shop focusing on indie designer collections.  Their jewelry has such attitude and great vintage feel.

It looks like you walked into a 1930′s prop department.  Wow  I love it.  I know it  can border on creepy, but so inspiring.

Just another afternoon in the city.

See you.

Christina

The Doherty household was up early this Sunday. Justin and Miles were scrambling to get  out the door for a tournament on Long Island. James and  I were readying ourselves for our first flea market  outing of  the season.  James is my new flea market buddy. He started to go with me last year. He is the perfect partner. We work well together. He knows that for me, it is serious buying for the shop. I have interests and he has interests.  He  is thirteen and is very strong willed. “No way Mom is that ever going to sell.” “If you buy that I am not going to help you take it to the car.”  ”Oh, that is so cute.” “I want to help you build your dollhouse.”  That’s  my James.

I love everything vintage. It is the backbone of Cici Crib. It’s inspiration for the new stuff in the shop. It is about finding vintage accessories to go in the shop.

It was a dusty, gusty start at the flea market. We arrived after eight. I knew from the amount of cars in the lot that we were too late for uncovering any super treasures.

I found a few pieces of art. But as I laid them out at home, I realized that they will need a ton of clean up and repair before they are allowed into the shop. Sigh…

The Currier and Ives print is so lovely. The little girl has a cane in one hand and her doll in the other. Perfect for a little girl’s nursery or bedroom.  It’s title, “Grandfather’s Cane.” The dealer asked if I was a cane collector. No just a shop owner.

The 1960′s Circus litho is so stylish. Really nice in  a modern nursery. Needs a hefty cleaning.

I bought a group of children books from the 1920′s-1940′s. They are not in great condition. But the illustrations are crisp and vibrant. Time to talk to Judy at Framings, an absolutely top notch frame shop across the street from Cici Crib.

The dealer told me Rags was a precursor to Raggady Ann.

Mother Goose

Peter Rabbit

Wynken Blynken and Nod

I found a little metal train. Inside the train, it reads  Midge Toy, Rockford, ILL. USA.

One day I will make my own dollhouse. I had a great one growing up. For now I collect items for it. Maybe when I retire I will make one.  I found this metal  refrigerator . The dealer and I think it was an advertising piece from General Electric. It is the perfect size. It will fit into my imaginary dollhouse 1/12 scale.

James was happy with his purchases. He found some steel pennies from 1943. He is discovering political memorabilia. We came home with our little treasures. It’s back to reality.  Time to prepare for the week ahead. James tells me about his 5:00 A.M. departure for  Washington DC this Tuesday. Oops, I forgot about his field trip. Time to get packing.

See you.

Christina