After I came back from a short trip to Pittsburgh, I told Miles that we needed a birdhouse. My sister’s small city garden in Pittsburgh is a bird’s paradise. There is gourmet birdie food and fresh water daily. You hear chirping all day long. When I came home, I realized how silent our yard  was. So we went to the Wild Bird Center and picked up all the bird necessities. We set it up and waited. It took 3 days for the birdies to discover the new restaurant. Oh my goodness, it is out of control now. So many different kinds of birds. Cardinals, woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees, gold finches…..

The yard is full of chirping and it is so peaceful. I see how we are inspired to decorate with birds.  We see birds in lots of nursery decor. So cute for  baby. At the same time as our birdhouse was set up, these charming clocks came into the shop. Handmade in the USA.

There will be more birdie decorating stories in the future.

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