Vintage Finds in Vermont

I always think I am missing out, when we pass signs  along the road that say Antiques.   I would never even think to stop as it would disrupt the family plan to reach our destination.  This year for the first time, the kids skiied and Miles and I actually checked out a town  that was not connected to the ski resort. We were in Bennington, VT for the afternoon. We checked out the college. We checked out the covered bridges. But the most fun of all was actually making an unplanned stop to an antique mall. What a nice surprise to find some fantastic little things for the shop. Love this lamp for a dresser in a little girl's room. How sweet is her face ...

These hand colored 19th century French fashion prints are really special. The frame is as lovely as the prints. Completely hand carved..

I couldn't resist these children's busts. I am trying to figure out what to do with these. They would look great  in a modern kids room. People generally purchase items that serve a purpose for children. I am thinking of making them into bookends..

Doesn't the little girl look a bit like Hailee Steinfield?

The last items I purchased were these teeny tiny pictures. About 3"x4".  Perfect for Cici Crib..

See you...

Christina

Last Blast of Winter

The kids are off this week from school.  After a winter of continuous snow storms in the northeast, we welcome Spring. But first let's get in our last blast of winter skiing. We are in Vermont for most of the week. The boys are just crazy about it. They only ski with me for a few runs. I am way too boring and slow.  I would like to mention that I did go over one jump in the terrain park last time we went skiing. Felt like a huge jump. James told me I barely caught air.. Let's just ponder the decorating side of  winter sports..

Love this bed by ducduc with it's snowboard headboard..

A very European little boy... I 'm sure his playmobile people have taken a ride in the gondola...

Time to get the last bit of skiing in..

See you..

Christina

Black for Babies?

So what's wrong with the color black when it comes to babies.  When grandmas come into the shop, they sometimes comment on some of my black merchandise. The cable knit black cashmere cardigan from Lotus Springs..

The supersoft little skull cap in black...

The Maryjanes from Trumpettes..

Children shouldn't wear black they tell me. But why? So completely chic..

See you...

Christina

Warhol and the Poodle

It is true that our tastes change over time. I am seeing more clients that would like to refresh their current, relatively newly decorated rooms. The rooms are currently traditional, but they would like to make them more transitional. Add more modern. Give the room lightness. Add something that is unexpected. Ok the last sentence is my theory.  My current client has a little girl that is growing out of her crib. The nursery was very traditional. We will have to keep some of the furniture from the nursery.  Her  crib bedding, named Greta,  was from Serena and Lily. All very lovely.

The pink in the Greta bedding is a bit dusty. It is a tough pink to work with, since it is hard to find complementary pink fabrics.  The old decorator made a valance out of the same damask pink fabric and the walls are also the same pink. Lots of pink!

Realizing how difficult the pink was to match, the mom bought the complimentary sheets for the big girl bed in the same Serena and Lily pattern.  Called Gracie, Serena and Lily has since discontinued it.

So now, my job is to change the nursery into a little girl's bedroom  and add a modern feel to the space. So lucky that this Gracie bedding  can easily harmonize  with some modern elements.   The mom also  bought this fun Andy Warhol print that we will use as inspiration.

For the bed, I would like to do a high headboard upholstered in white faux patent leather.

I found these pillows at the last gift show that will add a little sparkle to the bedding. They are so delicate and sweet. From one of my favorite companies, Sivaana.

At the end of the bed I would like to put this upholstered  brown and white linen storage bench .

We will keep the nightstand.

I found a crazy fun lamp to put on it.  We may change out the shade.  But how fun is it!

We will keep the simple white dresser

And add this mirror.

A nice bookshelf is needed...

A loveseat will sit underneath the Warhol with a very cool fixture

I wish I could blink and it would be done. How easy that would be....

See you...

Christina

Vintage Alphabet Blocks

A customer came into the shop looking for  a gift for her good friend's new baby girl.  She wanted to give her vintage blocks that spell her name.  The customer knew she had room on a shelf in the nursery for short name.  I needed to  sort through my collection to find the letters. I was excited to find the blocks that she needed. Looking through them, you can see a little bit of  cultural history. Most of  the  blocks date around WWII.

So sweet the images are...

Love these stylized animal blocks...

Silhuettes are just fantastic..

I heard the friend's gift was so very well received. The mom loved the blocks for her daughter  Cici!!

See you...

Christina

Around the World in Eighty Days

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

Ezra Stoller Exhibit

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

Children and Animals

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

Mod Girls Bedroom It's Hip Hermes

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

Whimsical baby blankets

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

Honeysuckle bedroom welcomes the new year!

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

Feeling Blue...

Feeling a bit blue... Maybe because Christmas is over.  Maybe because it is year end, and I have a mountain  of Cici Crib paperwork in front of me.  I am really looking forward to this weekend's  trip to Vermont.  Kids are excited to ski. We will be hanging out with Miles' family.  It was decided that a Raclette dinner was in order for New Years.  For dessert I will make a chocolate fondue. I will try to make it in my new  slow cooker,  otherwise known as a crock pot. Really easy! In the mean time, I was just looking through my inspiration file. Found some really  nice blue boy's rooms. Whether it is navy, light blue or gray blue, it's always crisp and classic.

Love the  window treatment.  A soft roman shade...

A very comfortable study area with modern touches...

 Another nice window treatment. Classic roman shade and valance...

 

Love this blue/gray and orange combination. The wide stripes really anchor the beds..

 

 Another fantastic combo. The lamp, we sell in the shop...

 

Ok back to the paperwork...

See you..

Christina

Christmas time

This time of year creates some of the nicest light. It's not just the  beauty of the artificial lights, I mean the  low sun light in the sky. The long shadows and red sky that are on display this time of year is magical. Our very good friend from Luxembourg told us once that the sky is red because the angels are baking. Love that! Last year We had some of Miles' family over for Christmas.   I wanted to eat around dusk in our sun room.  So we all piled in. I removed the chandelier over the table so we could fit a prancing reindeer as our centerpiece.

My flower arrangements are always quite simple. The tin containers are French gardening pots, the salt cellar is 19th century American and the pepper grinder is antique Christofle.

I lined the sideboard with old linen feed sacks and out came my collection of antique American sterling..

We put the Christmas tree in the sun room as well. The ornaments have such memories attached to them.

When the kids were really little, I went to a very special estate sale. I remember driving through windy roads and reservoirs to get to this small home under huge pine trees near a pond. The house was owned by set designers, who worked on Broadway in the 1930's. As  you entered the front door , the staircase greeted you in a happy turquoise. The couple created an enormous dollhouse out of one of the bedrooms. I purchased only a few items from that magical house...

My favorite items are these boxes made out of cigar boxes. I have no idea what they were used for. They really are a fine example of folk art. I put them in a sled and they sit near our tree...

It was the first time I visited the little town where the magical couple lived. It's name is Armonk, NY.  Now the home of Cici Crib!

Merry Christmas.

See you...

Christina

Monkeys everywhere

I sold my vintage sock monkey in the store last week. A bit sad about it. I will miss him.  Another customer picked up her bumper made with this great monkey fabric..

Monkeys are such a popular inspiration for decorating a baby's nursery or a child's room.

Vintage sock monkeys makes their appearance...

New Arrivals bedding and accessories....

Monkeys used in wall stickers...

More  mod monkeys...

Look how Tobi Fairley decorated for her daughter's playroom. Tis the season...

Happy Holidays! See you...

Christina

A Visit to Tinsel Trading Company

We had a moment this weekend while the kids were at fencing to do some errands in the city. After buying some fabric in the fashion district, we thought we would stroll about, maybe look at some holiday windows.  The city was packed. There was no such thing as strolling. It was just wall to wall people. Up in the distance, I saw  Tinsel Trading Company. A complete respite to the outside world.  An absolute treat to step in. A shop filled with notions and trims, both new and vintage, and other lovely objets d'art.

Ribbons from the early part of the 20th century made out of 14k gold.

I couldn't resist this ornament. It has a new home on our tree...

What a lovely shop.

See you..

Christina

It's time for the Nature House

Every holiday season we reserve  a weekend afternoon to go to the New York Botanical Gardens to see the Holiday Train Show. My teenage boys still enjoy the visit, but more for it's nostalgic content. It was a real moment of excitement when the boys were little.

This year's new addition is Sarrinen's TWA building..

The creations are made by a low key guy, Paul Busse.  I struck up a conversation with him one year at the show. His group of guys come up from Kentucky and stay at the Ardsley Motel.  Yes, that was their lodging budget.  I told him how inspired I was by his creations. When the kids were little, we made our own nature house. Not at all as impressive as Mr. Busse's creations, but just as fun for us.

Our nature house is part of our Christmas decoration that makes an appearance each season. It is one of many boxes that come down from the attic.

The structure of the house came from a cheap kit dollhouse. The aluminum basin was made by my HVAC guy.  We found all the natural materials in our neighbor's and our yard. The siding is from birch tree. The roof is from branch of an oak tree. We found shelf mushrooms and acorns and bittersweets. The fake  green moss came from Martha Stewart catalog. The window glass is "antique glass" from a mirror and glass shop.  And the fence was purchased at a flea market one hot summer day .  Three hours at a flea market  in 100 degrees and all I had to show for it,  was the fence. The perfect fence for the nature house. I was thrilled!

See you...

Christina

Boy's nursery of calm colors

Sometimes you know when a client is perfect for you. You hit it off right from the start. I've been working on this nursery in NYC and it will be coming together just in time for the arrival of a sweet  boy. I was so pleasantly surprised when this client wanted to use the light woods of the Duc duc line.

The crib  bumpers   are custom from Henry & Henrietta, one of  most beautiful  bedding companies out there. No need for a crib skirt.

A clean white changer/dresser..

An organic changing pad will be used with a very soft cover..

She will need a little diaper caddy to go next to the changing pad. There are really no modern diaper caddies out in the market.  Maybe we can use this box without the lid..

A classic glider similar to this one in slate blue

Instead of an ottoman, we would like to use this fantastic  leather Hippo.

Next to the glider will be a laquered grass cloth side table

We will use this table lamp, but the shade will be a burlap and the base is an ice blue.

The artwork will be this cute hippo.

I would like to flank the picture with some of my vintage animals from a 1920's Milton Bradley game...

 

The day will soon be here!

See you..

Christina

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing everyone a warm and peaceful Thanksgiving.  So much  to be thankful this year!  We will be celebrating with family in Pittsburgh. My mom continues to improve. It is a very happy Thanksgiving!

See you...

Christina

Final day at the flea market

It was the end of a very busy weekend due to our jewelry show. Overall, pretty disappointing.  Lots to learn on doing trunk shows... I came home from work last night to find my son James and his friend  pleading to go to the Sunday market. Teenage boys willing to get up at the crack of dawn to go shopping ??  How could I say no.

This morning we started out in the freezing cold, on a day I didn't expect to find much. Season has ended and dealers are just getting rid of stuff. Who could believe it would be such a fantastic day. Once at home, we got to rake over our treasures. The boys purchased binoculars, a very special coin and an army mask from desert storm.  Not exactly Cici Crib merchandise, but it made them happy.

I so love the vintage table I purchased. Thanks Miles for schlepping it to the car.  I will eventually have the base painted.  James' friend asked me what color will the table be. Maybe hot pink, I said. He burst out laughing.  James added, my mom is a girly girl. Ok, maybe I am...

But how nice is this table in a little girls room with one of Cici Crib's mid century inspired modern lamps on it.

Everyone loved this sled, definitely made in the 1960's, when space exploration was all the rage. Space Rocket XS-17 Orbit Control.

Loved the graphics on the wooden base.  A great piece of wall art. So I did, what you are not supposed to do to a collectible. I took it apart.  All the extra parts will be saved. How fantastic would this look in a play room or boys bedroom wall...

A vanity tray and container for a very fancy little girl..

And this lamp, I just couldn't let go. An architectural melange of styles. Never the less, it is a great castle. It is ceramic with a wooden base and top. Took forever to clean up, but now looks perfect.  I could see Jonathan Adler getting inspired over it. It could go either in a boy or girls room..

I want to line this peach crate with burlap and use it for display purposes.

Loved these kitschy girl pictures. Their hair is made out of yarn.  They made me smile. Something so charming about them..

A weekend that started out a touch disappointing, ended on a very light note.

See you..

Christina

The little holiday window at Cici Crib

Cici Crib has  small storefront window. Most of the time, I wish it was larger.  This holiday season, it took a lot of doing to get this little window into form.  Because we are having our holiday children's jewelry trunk show,  the inspiration for this window is ofcourse  jewelry. During the 1990s, my sister amassed  this huge vintage  costume jewelry collection.  Our tremendous collection's focus was 1950's plastic jewelry. The price point was completely right. Very cheap, but high in style.  For this season we used mostly earrings to decorate the window.

I purchased a white tree from Target. I was so not happy, when it came in the mail. It looks like a branch. Oh well, no time to waste.. We needed to make the Charlie Brown Christmas tree beautiful with pink lights and sparkly necklaces and earrings...

The menorah came from Home Depot. Who knew?? Well, it was perfect. I decorated it with pink glitter foam and sparkly jewelry. It is a Barbie Menorah for sure. So very pretty..

A glittery moon was made out of packing material from a light fixture...

We clipped earrings onto garlands of snow flakes and hung some huge icicles...

The window is just a sparkle at night..

Now we are ready for the show...

See you...

Christina