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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
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
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
A favorite among bloggers is Audrey's incomparable style. So defined and refined. Sometimes I see a piece of furniture and think how Audrey Hepburn it is. Pieces by Christopher Guy...
Her face was everywhere at the New York International Gift Fair last week. All great decorating ideas for a tween and teen.
I ended my day in the book section of the show. A new childrens book about Audrey's life as a little girl will end up on the shelf at Cici Crib this Spring...
See you...
Christina
Every year our friends throw a party on the parade route of the Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown. Unfortunately, we will all miss the party. Miles and the boys will be in DC for a fencing tournament and I decided to fly to Pittsburgh for the weekend to see my family. This is such a festive time! Sorry not to be there. Last year was fun and so incredibly lively!
After the parade ends, the street is covered in colorful confetti.
Hopefully there will be a different color of confetti in Pittsburgh this weekend. Yellow and black for sure! I will quietly say Go Steelers, as the rest of the Dohertys are still lamenting over the loss of the Jets.
See you...
Christina
Tina, big helper at Cici Crib, sent me these photos this morning. Done by a computer specialist mom from Helsinki, Finland. She sets up shots while her daughter is sleeping. She has created a blog, Mila's Daydreams. Makes you smile...
See you...
Christina
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
As soon as Thanksgiving ends, it's time to prepare for the holidays. But I just want to take a moment and remember the wonderful Thanksgiving we had at my sister's house. We spent the entire Thanksgiving day cooking and getting the table in order. My sister is a collector. She is a serious silver collector. When she moved to Pittsburgh and renovated her home, she made sure she created a pantry just for her china and silver. Shelves for the various wares and a stainless steel tool caddy for her silver collection.
Each drawer of the caddy is labeled with the items so for easy access.
The antique linen table cloth was chosen for it's beautiful monogram.
My sister picked the season's last roses from her garden and filled a 19th century petite planter.
The table was ready for a late afternoon meal.
My mom and dad came over. My mom brought us gifts. When my mom gives a gift, you know it will be special. No mail order fruit or socks. It is always completely thoughtful. She wrapped it in an antique linen towel and tied it with bakery string.
Mine was the smaller one. It was just beautiful. A bracelet from the 1870's, made of rose gold.
So very special. See you... Christina
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