Visit to the Mark Gallery

A client and I are looking for artwork for her living room. On a very dark and drizzly day we stepped into a moment of sunshine when we visited the Mark Gallery in Englewood NJ. Gallery owner Arielle Mark is both welcoming  and knowledgeable about the stable of artists she represents. Finding the right piece is a very personal and quiet process.   We picked some works, and Arielle delivered them to my client's home.

This large piece called Haza by America Martin won our hearts. Martin is a young artist out of LA.  But not for the living room. It will be the showstopper in the dining room. Funny how things turn out...

See yu...

Christina

Vintage Baby Photo Album

A customer and I were enjoying this photo album I found at the flea market. We both were admiring the sweet vintage pics this album had to offer. Made in Norwalk, CT in 1956. It's condition is perfect, no one ever used it. The customer needed to purchase a gift for someone who had registered at Babies R US. We looked at her registry to give us clues about her style. She decided to forgo the album. But she hoped it would be around if and when one day her  daughter in law has a baby girl. How sweet it is...

See you...

Christina

Baby Gifts at the New York International Gift Fair

I went shopping last weekend for new gifts for the shop. I came upon the O.R.E. booth and gave it a good pause. Always had their products in the back of my mind, today I decided to try some. I like small companies. I like to get to know owners. Tim Chauran and his wife Lisa Lowe are the team behind O.R.E. Tim told me that his wife is the designer. The inspiration for the products come from everywhere. Home, their son, their bull terrier. Strong graphic and product design make their products special. Their company started in their garage in Long Beach, CA. Tim was dressed very stylishly.

From their booth I meandered towards the section devoted to Japanese vendors. I found some little wash cloths with sayings that reminded me Haruki Murakami. I read the book, The wind-up Bird Chronicle last year. I love  the original humor. Not only are the washcloths made nicely, their sayings could spur much discussion at bath time...

I ended the day at the booth that sold art. A small company out of Georgia, they make the sweetest pieces that would fit perfectly in a baby's nursery. The frames are made out of reclaimed wood.

See you...

Christina

Visit to Bebe Chic

I got a chance to visit one of my vendors that make so much of our beautiful custom  children's bedding at Cici Crib. Located directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan, Bebe Chic is just one of my favorites. Each piece is made locally and with such care and quality. I am always excited to open up the box to see how our vision was translated. Our current look is made by Bebe Chic..

Her very efficient and organized workroom...

Some inspiring classic fabrics ...

Creating very classic bed skirts...

New looks being put together..

Some customers prefer quilts to duvets. An example of their quilting...

I picked a fabric for my new Spring bed...

Can't wait to see how it turns out.

See you... Christina

Go Giants! Celebrate Football!

Most everyone in my house are Giants fans. Oh well, better luck next year for my Steelers.  I'm still trying to get excited because....

Football art at Cici Crib...

Always love my vintage kids football items that we are getting ready to put online..

Football sheet sets are on sale until the end of the month. 280 thread count, pure Egyptian cotton. Really beautiful quality.  Twin: $120 Full$135 and Queen $175.

Go Giants! See you...

Christina

Vintage Planters

I have always collected vintage planters from the 1940-1960's. Way back when, they were given as baby gifts and I assume they had plants in them.   I used them to decorate my kids' nursery.  I use them for their toothbrushes. I use them to store pencils. I have one in my bathroom. Here is the elephant in my bathroom...

At the shop we have a planter on the counter that we use to hold pens. I used it when the kids were babies  to store A & D ointment and thermometers. It has such sentimental value. I won't sell it...

The planter that holds the business cards sold recently. A new holder is in place...

We have put together some great little gift planters using some of  the vintage planters. They come with a minky soft rattle and a handmade baby comb from Switzerland. They will be going on our ecommerce website that will soon be up and running.  Hurrah!

See you...

Christina

Happy Tangerine New Year

Tangerine Tango is the pantone color for 2012! It is bold. A no apologies, fantastic orange...

Ducduc has forever used this color inside all of their casegoods..

Tangerine Tango is sprinkled throughout the shop. Art  for a baby's nursery..

 Custom lamp in the great color...

Love these Euros..

Have a happy and healthy New Year!

See you...

Christina

Happy Holidays!

Christmas is almost here. Even though the boys are teenagers, they are still counting down the days! I wanted to do a video holiday card for my blog, but it just got too complicated. I wanted to play this music box as the top whirls around. I purchased the music box from an Armonk estate sale many years ago. It is so worn and loved.

Every year I look forward to my sister's present. Although I love the contents (we get the same gift every year- very special homemade soaps. My favorite is lavender,bergamot and lemon), it is her special wrapping that is just so beautiful. I love the vintage card.

Happy Holidays everyone!

See you...

Christina

Kyle Bunting Beauties

There are certain design elements that will have a permanent  room in my design brain. One is the work of Kyle Bunting. His group of designers create pieces from cowhide that are just spectacular. I remember seeing a rug  in Amanda Nisbet's room at Kips Bay last Spring. See post.

At Highpoint I saw rugs that were Bunting-like. Mass produced, less expensive, but fulfill a niche.

But there is nothing like the real thing...

So beautiful.

See you...

Christina

Getting Ready for a Trunk Show at Cici Crib

We are getting all new merchandise in for the show this Friday and Saturday.We went looking for  unusual holiday gifts for kids.  Briati Jewelry will return with her very special fine jewelry for girls. She is bringing a nice collection of earrings both studs and drops for little ones.

Much more fun jewelry will be brought in. Feathers and little leather bracelets. Layer them like Chan Luu..

Bunches of these little bracelets make great inexpensive holiday gifts...

Slap watches that you can trade with your friends....

But some kids may want to get their hands dirty, Time for a dino dig..

Some little guys would prefer a softer dinosaur...

Hope to see you  this Friday and Saturday...

Christina

Cici Crib Trunk Show Dec. 9th and 10th

It's our second annual trunk show at Cici Crib!

We decided to mix things up alittle this year. We have been gathering together unusual holiday gifts for boys and girls. There will be cool excavating kits and dinosaurs for budding paleontologists. We are also bringing in the beautiful  fine jewelry from the talented European company Briati. From slap watches to leather bracelets to feathers , totally cool accessories will be displayed.

Enjoy the season with some holiday refreshments at Cici Crib.

Hope to see you!

Christina

Bedding for a Little Guy

A very lovely customer was looking for bedding for her son. She was completely taken by the Trina Turk fabrics from Schumacher. How exciting to do kids bedding in something so unexpected. There were so many fabrics to choose from Turk's fabrics are bright and punchy.  So very unique....

We chose this Ikat inspired pattern for the pillows. They will be trimmed in a narrow navy flange.

She needed a coverlet to go with them. We chose a complementary fabric that wouldn't compete with the pillow fabric. This fabric will also trimmed it in navy.

Her little guy loved his new bed. Notice how she mixes it with other traditional elements in the room. It really works..

See you...

Christina

A Change in Plans

I was supposed to go to Austin, TX last weekend with my son for a fencing tournament. I did research on antique areas, food trucks, shopping, etc.. Would have been great, but our flights were cancelled and we couldn't get there in time for the tournament. Bummer... All our plans down the drain.  At the last minute I decided to take a quick trip to Pittsburgh to visit with family. My brother in law and I like to check out real estate in Pittsburgh.  One morning we crossed the river to check out the Northside- a spirited community that is up and coming.  The birthplace of Mary Cassatt and the Andy Warhol Museum . What a combo. It is like walking back into Victorian times. Every house and every  building is completely intact.  Coming from New York, the real estate prices in this area are so unbelievably reasonable.. Must be  what the meatpacking district was years ago.. What a great loft this would be..

An old coffee company and battery and flashlight factory is also nearby...

Just down the street it turns residential. Sidewalks made from brick. Houses painted in vibrant colors.   Woodwork  that is nothing short of spectacular. It is like this street after street in this area.

The other side of Northside borders the oldest park in Pittsburgh.

I can't wait to go back to discover more of this area...

See you..

Christina

New Art Arrives at Cici Crib

We have received our first order of  a new kind of art that is already getting  rave reviews from our customers. The art has a glowing effect due to it's construction. It is printed on acrylic and is invisibly mounted on the wall. The piece below is 30" long. They also come in different sizes.  Kind of Andy Warhol like, it is a great decorating addition  for a tween's bedroom..

Also great modern artwork for a baby's nursery or child's bedroom..

See you...

Christina