Once again it is trade show time.  I completely look forward to checking out all the new stuff!  Yesterday I spent the day at the New York International Gift Fair.  It was a day of exploration.  A trip Jules Verne would be proud of.   Whether one is decorating a baby’s nursery or child’s bedroom or even a playroom, using world travel as inspiration is endless.

Could see these hot air balloon prints in a nursery…

So love these  riveted aluminum pieces made in the same way as an airplane’s body. The bookshelf and desk…

The round desk is really cool..

A trunk used as a side table..

Framed reproduction racing car steering wheels…

A very worn leather chair..

Pillows are just fun..

These pillows will be in the shop soon…

As will these animal heads that are made of paper mache in Haiti. I liked them because they seem so friendly. Not at all scary.  Slightly rounded in nature and handmade…

Like these elephant prints…

It was quite a trip to the show…
See you..

Christina

A couple weekends ago, I went house hunting with my brother and sister  in law  in Vermont. They are looking for a weekend house that is a  traditional post and beam. The realtor mentioned, in passing,  that there is a modern house for sale. It was built in the 60′s  by the Stride Rite family.  I asked if we could see it. We couldn’t go in, but we parked in front of the house.  My in laws were not impressed. I am still daydreaming about that house.  I can barely keep up with my own home.  Maybe one day…. Boy was it interesting. So reminds me of these photos of Ezra Stoller.  Stoller’s photographs are currently on display at the Yossi Milo Gallery in Chelsea.    His photos are nothing but sublime…

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See you…

Christina

Just browsing through some of my vintage children’s books, I came across a lovely book, Children and Animals.  From the School of Emmy Zweybruck, copy written 1935. It seems this book was originally printed in Austria. These pictures are so stencil like and stylized. You can really decorate a kids bedroom or baby’s nursery  nicely with these pictures. How great they would be  as art.

I just love them.

See you…

Christina

Last week a customer picked up her Fall/Winter  bedding for her ten year old daughter’s bedroom. This bedding was supposed to be ready at  the end of Sept. 2010. Delayed is not the word. Ridiculously late, is a better description. The factory that made the fabric moved and the production times kept getting pushed out. Back order notices were constant.  I think I get as stressed about back orders as my customers do. I call. I hassle . It is, what it is…  Luckily for me, this customer is so kind. No angry words.  She said she will leave her daughter’s Spring /Summer bedding on at this point and will save this set for next September.

As she picked up the bedding, I joked that this is a hip Hermes set. Yes, she completely got it!

Last year Hermes created a new site that celebrate it’s scarves, Jaime mon carre. It’s fun, it’s hip, but still so Hermes..

So back to the customer’s bedding… The custom bedding set comprised of a duvet cover, 2 euro shams and a boudoir pillow.

I wish I had a picture of the finished bed. Oh well.. Let’s dream about the room… Maybe the bed will  have  a white patent leather, tall modern headboard like this..

I saw a dresser in Atlanta last July that can be made in different leathers or faux leathers. I think that would fit in the room..

Also a cool pod chair I saw in NYC..

We need something soft.. A flokati rug for sure.

I wonder how the room turned out..

See you..

Christina

This week a customer purchased one of my favorite baby blankets and we personalized it. She chose a Twigs and Twirls blanket. The creator, Shawna Dalton, is a fashion designer out of LA. I liked her the first time I met her.   She is very enthusiastic and as colorful as her blankets. Not only are they super soft, but they are also  eco friendly.   She uses recycled cotton and scraps to make them.

So the blanket the customer purchased had to be embroidered with the baby’s name. .  I decided the usual classic script font just wouldn’t do for this little girl. She needed her own special font for her name.

Together with a cute snail,  the gift is ready to be shipped out…

The little girl’s name?   Willow Star…

See you…

Christina

At the intersection of Main Street and Maple Ave, in Armonk,  is an incredible frame shop,Framings. Every work day, I stop at the intersection before turning into the parking lot for Cici Crib. Yesterday, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of a large piece that was in her shop window. Cars behind me honked. So I quickly turned and parked and marched right over to Judy and Carter’s jewel of a shop.  Not only are they some of the nicest people I have met, but also some of the most talented.

Judy told me she completed this project  for a designer. The designer had saved all her daughter’s shoes and Judy created this long shadowbox. I think it is about 12 feet long. I can imagine it will be hung in a bedroom,playroom, really anywhere..

It is so sweet. It really tells a story from the parent’s excitement of having a baby girl to her first walking shoe, a ballet slipper, a trip to Disney World  to a the last shoe, that perhaps the little girl picked out. A black rugged hiking shoe.

I hope the Mom keeps the shadowbox. Fast forward 25 years.. Wouldn’t it be nice to see in her granddaughter’s nursery…..

See you..

Christina

A gutsy pink called Honeysuckle was named 2011 color of the year by Pantone. Ok I am kind of puzzled by the name, honeysuckle, but I will go with it.  It is a color that is very familiar at Cici Crib.

A room that I worked on is almost complete. It is for a little girl who loves pink.  I believe in creating rooms that grow with the child. The little girl is lucky to have enough storage space in her double closet. I just added a little bit of style to the room. Even the inside of the lamp shades are swathed in pink to create a little glow.

We  reupholstered the tufted bench in a faux pink croc..

The window treatments are sheers with touch of sparkle, to keep the room light and airy. The vanity is anchored by the custom bulliten board.

The bulliten board is covered in rasberry linen.  An inexpensive starburst mirror serves 2 functions…

The wall opposite is long and framed with fashion prints.

Yes it is a pink room, but not too overwhelming. Just sweet as honeysuckle…

See you..

Christina