a pretty chair for your thursday

Isn't that just the sweetest thing?

Vintage chair at Little Vintage, Paris, via the littlest.

Real

The Rabbit looked up at her, and it seemed to him that he had seen her face before, but he couldn't think where.

"I am the nursery magic Fairy," she said. "I take care of all the playthings that the children have loved. When they are old and worn out and the children don't need them any more, then I come and take them away with me and turn them into Real."

"Wasn't I Real before?" asked the little Rabbit.

"You were Real to the Boy," the Fairy said, "because he loved you. Now you shall be Real to every one."

--Page 42 of The Velveteen Rabbit, by Margery Williams, which totally destroyed me today.

Photo by bird_flew

Six Sweet Things

1. This dress

2. These pants

3. This onesie

4. This tipi

5. This scarf

6. This denim shirt

All available at Der Kleine Salon

Beautiful Beasties

These new animal shadow puppets from Banquet? I'm digging them hard. Get 'em here.

Legos Meet Letterpress

What a cool idea! Love the unusual process and the fun aesthetic of these prints by Physical Fiction. Via Unruly Things.

Babywearing Mama Figures

Custom-designed babywearing mama dolls, handmade from sustainably harvested hardwood poplar with woodburnt details and coated with beeswax and organic jojoba oils. Available at Woodmouse. Thanks to Marvelous Kiddo reader, Lauren, for the tip!

Guest Post: P. from What Possessed Me on Waiting for Baby

Any day now - any hour, any minute - the call will come and the wagons will circle. My brother and sister-in-law, in an act of abounding love and staggering impracticality, are about to have a third baby in their tiny New York City apartment. It's been four years since their twins were born, ten and eight years since my eldest nieces came into the world, and we're all waiting with baited breath to meet this new addition to our expanding family.

The twins, however, are not so sure what to think. The adults are trying to pull a fast one - trying to convince them how fun it will be once the baby arrives - but they are wise to our little con. At night they caucus in their bunk beds, scheming and plotting in their private language.
"You're going to be a big brother!" I say to my nephew. "What are you going to do when the baby comes home?"
"Flush it down the terlet," he answers, reasonably.
Right. What big brother wouldn't?

In an atmosphere of anticipation and uncertainty, the twins root around my parents' toy chest for familiar, well loved things. Uncharacteristically, they skip over the shiny plastic gew gaws, pulling out Lamby (my beloved eyeless, partially crippled stuffed sheep) and cradling Ronkey (my cherished eyeless, partially hairless stuffed donkey) instead. They unearth my brother's old train set, my father's tin soldiers, a set of old moldy blocks, a forgotten slide rule. Perhaps it's the comfort of continuity that draws them to these unglamorous, down-at-heel vestiges of our childhood. Three generations of sticky fingers have pawed and cuddled and played with these toys. Now they are tried and tested companions through good times and bad. I like to think that old toys like the ones pictured here (available at the wonderful Topsy Design) have magical powers to soothe, comfort and inspire.

With love, anticipation and thanks,

P. from What Possessed Me

P.S. (From Leigh): What Possessed Me is one of my desert-island blogs. Like if I didn't have food and water and other essentials of life, P.'s gloriously humane and heartbreakingly hilarious insights would keep me going. She's that good.

Little Red

Yesterday at the neighborhood thrift store we stumbled upon this amazing, two-seater (with seatbelts and cupholders!) little red wagon. She rides like a dream, and not only holds up to two kiddos, but also works as a great grocery-schlepper! And it was only 2o bucks! I still haven't come down from the shopper's high ;)

Photographer Love

I love this series of portraits of kids with their stuffed animals by photographer Davina Zagury. Aren't they almost unbearably adorable?!

Mini Modern

Photos by David Azia for The New York Times

There is the most incredible slideshow on the New York Times website today, accompanying this delightful article about the world of super-realistic modern dollhouses. So fun.

Shadow Blocks

Look at this amazing artwork created with children's blocks and shadows! Isn't it incredible? See more of artist Kumi Yamashita's work, here. Via Museum of Happiness.

December Photo Project, Day 10

Playing with trains.

Visit the DPP pool, here.

Marvelous Giveaway! The Handmade Project

I am soooooo excited about today's giveaway! The talented and amazing Traci, of The Handmade Project, has generously offered an array of gorgeous items from her shop for the winner.

I am in love with the products and mission of The Handmade Project. Traci started designing and making toys because her daughter is multi-ethnic and she wanted to create a world for her that celebrates diversity. How awesome is that? I encourage you to follow along with her life, inspirations, and creations on her wonderful blog. I'm a big fan.

To enter the giveaway, leave a relevant comment on this post along with your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 23 at 11:59. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 24.

Traci will be sending that lucky someone the following: a salad play food set, a pancakes play food pattern, two clothespin dolls and the clothespin doll pattern! Wow, thank you Traci, and good luck to everyone!

And one last thing: if buyers write "Marvelous Kiddo" in the comment field when purchasing on The Handmade Project's Etsy site, they will receive 15% off their purchase!

Playshapes

I love this inventive new twist on classic wooden building blocks! Imagine the playful possibilities...

By Miller Goodman, via Minor Details.

Vintage Toy Love

1962 Fisher Price Toy Circus, @ Found Vintage Style, Via Whatsoever Things Are Beautiful.

Three DIY Things I'm Loving Today

Adorable apron patterns from Sew Liberated.

Make-your-own gorgeous felt play food with patterns from Julyhobby.

Via Museum of Happiness.

Book racks made from rain gutters! Via Ohdeedoh.