roadside scholar

stuff i found on the highway of life

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Posts about 'for kids'

reminder to vote

Do we all have election fever yet? Just in case you think you might forget about November 4th of this year, here are some things to surround yourself with everyday to keep voting top of mind…

I am pretty sure between dressing your kid and taking a bath with all these cute things from Wishingfish you won’t forget to do your civic duty.

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renegade craft fair 2008: highlights, pt. 3

there will be one more post after this one to wrap up the fabulous handmade home and personal adornments i saw at the renegade craft fair this past weekend. you couldn’t possibly be tired of these highlights yet, could you?

awesome repurposed wood sculpture and accessories from kindling

cool coasters, art and screenprinted dartboards from artrecodesign

 

fun stuffy birds from coo koo ri koo

one of a kind papier mache from girl-hen

handmade felted necklaces from biggie

 embroidered canvases and pillows from k studio

jewelry and handpainted accessories from cursive design

fun stuffies and paintings from the squirrely girl

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renegade craft fair 2008: highlights, pt. 2

more wonderful things from the talented and clever artists at the renegade craft fair in chicago this weekend, which is open today, september 14th, 2008 from noon-10 pm:

vibrant tableware from circa ceramics

pretty jewelry made of vintage ephemera from the foundling

politically aware accessories and toys from rebexa and abbeychristine

colorful screenprints from the little friends of printmaking

letterpress cards and stationery from luckybeepress

photographic jewelry from le photique

beguiling prints from catia chien

 recycled sweater toys from caitlin wicker

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jen hopwood’s snappy pillows

i am liking these snappy animal pillows over at mahar dry goods right this very minute. the 12″ x 20″ pillows, designed by jen hopwood, have covers are made of durable cotton canvas, come with a polyester insert and include five sturdy felt animals to mix and match according to your ever changing moods. whee! i would have had a ball playing with these in my room when i was a kid.

bonus: they’re on sale right now – 50% off! and that isn’t the only thing over there that’s on sale either.

snatch these up and find other fun things on sale through september 8th, 2008, right here.

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tummy mountain’s art prints (charming)

psssst. ever wanted to feel like a kid again? then come with with me to a magical place where all you do is play outside all day, eat cake and make harmless mischief. the place is tummymountain, a charming place created by talented australian artist and imaginative raconteur lloyd. if the happy imagery doesn’t whisk you away to that far-off place you used to inhabit as a carefree child, the wonderful storytelling certainly will!

browsing his collection at first i thought these prints, made from original paintings, would be a marvelous addition to a child’s room. the more i look at them though, the more i think i just want to move up to the mountain and live in harmony with these wee little characters. i can totally relate to the girl on the slide. i think we’d be best friends.

visit the tummy mountain blog right here, and purchase these prints here (where you will read, among many other things, that the artist’s favorite material is chocolate).

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five fun things from fred and friends

do you need a laugh today? if any of these newly created products from the clever folks over at fred and friends don’t make you smile just a little, i don’t know what will!

the calf and half creamer

fingerfood hors d’ouevres plates

airfork one children’s utensil

salt and peeper dual shaker

feet first: finish line doormat

i know a few people who would get a kick out of that doormat.

see more fun and find out where to purchase these gems at fred’s website.

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pillowmonster softies: miniview

i love these supercute couch companions from nichol brinkman, aka etsy seller pillowmonsters. i can’t say whether i am more charmed by the fun detailing on these pieces or the very interesting tales of these characters. there’s clementine, who boycotts broccoli, theodore the robot who, despite having been told he has no heart, felt himself getting worked up while watching beaches, and the whipped cream eating daughter of a window washer, polly suzanna. don’t you need to know more about the brains of this operation after reading that? yeah, me too.

q: where do you live and where do you make these great pillows?
a: i live in bloomington, indiana in an apartment with my husband, joseph, and dog, albert. i have a teeny tiny room all to myself where i make all of my pillow monsters.

q: what is your inspiration?
a: i am really inspired by other etsy artists and bloggers and flickr post-ers. i love the healthy competition that comes from being part of a like-minded community. i never in a million years thought there would be this extensive sub-culture related to plush dolls, but it is fantastic.

q: where do you do your best pillow-making thinking?
a: i think all the time about my pillow monsters and new designs for them. i do like to look at books of old circus posters at the library and that triggers lots of ideas.

see all this and more at nichol’s etsy shop, and be sure to stop by her blog to say hello.

thank you nichol!

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organic cotton veggie toys (cute)

it’s farmer’s market season and what better way to teach your child about the benefits of organic farming than with this adorable set of 100% organic cotton vegetable toys, from janice masoud and the folks at the sekem farm in egypt. little ones can use them as teethers and bigger kids can engage them in creative play.

the set comes in a useful wooden crate and is available at janice’s online shop and also at uncommon goods.

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