NEW! Blabla Kids Knit Dream Ring Mobiles

by Jennifer Chait, 03/20/10

dream ring, blabla kids, natural knits, handmade knit, handmade mobile, baby mobile, nursery decor, green baby, eco baby, green mobile

This spring Blabla Kids is introducing seven fresh new handmade Dream Ring mobiles, all of which are designed to bring an extra splash of wonder and whimsy to your child’s wall or window. Each Dream Ring is lovely and contemporary, made with hand-knit designs in natural fibers. All of the Blabla Kids collections are also ethically traded. Adorable new Dream Ring Mobile styles include Owl, Apple Tree, Horse, Mermaid, Lion, Ram, and Red Bird. The new collection of Dream Rings will be available on Blabla Kids’ website and through exclusive shops on April 1st. Currently Dream Rings are available for pre-order at ana k.

+ Dream Ring Mobiles (ana k pre-order) $52-$64

+ Blabla Kids

Postcarden Pop-Up Greeting Cards Blossom Into Mini Living Gardens!

by Beth Shea, 03/18/10

a studio for design, blossoming greeting cards, eco kids, green family, green kids, greeting card garden, greeting card mini garden, greeting cards that blossom, postcarden

Who says a greeting card can’t double as a gift? Especially when it pops-up and sprouts a mini living garden! Postcardens are designed and produced in Britain by A Studio for Design — a team of artists who created these evolutionary greetings to make the experience of receiving a card “more playful, curious and interactive,” encouraging the recipient to “bond, live and grow the greeting on day by day basis.” What a perfect message to deliver to green kids to help them develop a green thumb! Learn how easy it is to plant and produce your own mini garden from a Postcarden, and watch the time lapse video of how this sweet patch of green blossoms after the jump!

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NEW! Natural, Eco-Friendly ‘Pebble’ Infant Mattress from Nook Sleep Systems

by Desmond Williams, 03/16/10

eucalyptus matress, natural crib mattress, nook, organic cotton mattress, organic crib mattress, pebble, eco baby, green baby, baby sleep system, green mattress for baby, green mattress for kids

You’ve established the ideal, serene setting: eco-friendly crib, green nursery, purified airbut your baby remains AWAKE! Time to try something new? Nook Sleep Systems proposes their Pebble Mattress to lull your little one into green dreamland. The aesthetically appealing pebbled surface of the mattress promotes air circulation and maximum breathability. Designed with a “unique air layer that fosters oxygen flow inside the mattress,” it also boasts luxurious softness compliments of all-natural eucalyptus fibers. In addition to eucalyptus, other non-toxic materials which comprise the pebble mattress include: 100% natural latex, zinc (to reduce microbes, mite and other nasties), certified organic wool, certified organic cotton and PETE.

In addition, Nook Sleep Systems also offers an entire, chic eco-friendly baby bedding collection including crib sheets, nap sacks, blankets, and toddler pillows.

+ Nook Pebble Mattress $610

+ Nook Sleep Systems

via DailyCandy

Smart Kid: A Multifunctional Bedroom Set That Grows With Your Child

by Jasmin Malik Chua, 03/12/10

Smart Kid by Adensen Furniture, transformer furniture, multifunctional furniture, eco-friendly crib, eco-friendly kids furniture, eco kids, green kids, eco baby, green baby

Think of Andensen Furniture’s “Smart Kid” as a child’s bedroom-in-a-box, except that in this instance, the box also happens to be the crib. Made from solid birch and plywood, the multifunctional kit starts out as a crib/changing table/dresser combo, but it can easily be taken apart and reassembled as a playpen, a desk, a chalkboard and book rack, or a junior bed for tykes up to 10 years of age.

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win Animal Wall Art from Numsi, Worth $118!

WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win Animal Wall Art from Numsi, Worth $118!

Kids inherently love nature and wildlife, and we want to encourage their affinity for animals with Numsi’s vibrant and contemporary Animal Wall Art! We’ve teamed up with Numsi to give away a beautiful, unique framed piece of Animal Wall Art worth $118! This 12 inch by 12 inch artwork highlights a photograph of an animal set in an imaginary world. Dubbed “peculiar, wonderful and arresting,” Numsi decor is a sophisticated focal point and conversation piece with a modern aesthetic that will befit a child’s room from cradle to college, and beyond!

All Numsi wall art panels are designed, created, assembled and packaged in Numsi founder and artist Helen Jerlach’s studio in Twin Cities, Minnesota. Each piece of art starts with a photograph, taken by Helen somewhere around the Twin Cities region, which she then draws digitally. Images are printed onto the highest quality canvas with archival quality pigment inks, which have been tested to last for over 75 years. The canvas is mounted to a museum quality art panel with a 2” deep birch plywood cradle. Numsi art arrives ready to hang on your wall or be displayed on a shelf. All pieces are created with mindfulness toward a responsible use of resources and an outlook of sustainability, and Numsi is a proud member of 1% for the Planet.

The winner of the Numsi animal wall art gets to choose the animal print and color scheme that will best suit their taste and decor! Choices include: giraffes, a Takin, Dall’s sheep, sea lion, piglets, penguins, ostrich, Kudu, Snow Monkey, flamingos, tufted deer and buffalo! Enter to win after the jump!

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Eco-Friendly “Fava” Bean-Shaped Rocker by Knoend

Eco-Friendly “Fava” Bean-Shaped Rocker by Knoend

Part of Knoend’s Bean Rocker Series, the Fava is more than a low, kid-friendly rocker lounging in. The multitasking recliner can also serve as a meditation zafu, a back-bracing support, or an exercise balance board for the rest of the family. Made in the United States from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified maple …

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‘Underfull’ Tablecloth Turns Mealtime Spills into Art

‘Underfull’ Tablecloth Turns Mealtime Spills into Art

Most parents of toddlers don’t bring out the white table linens to serve a meal of grape juice and spaghetti — but Norwegian designer Kristine Bjaadal’s prototype Underfull Tablecloth could change a parent’s table reservations by taking the gasps out of spills and turning them into artistic moments. What appears as a simple, white tablecloth with a floral damask pattern is really a magical backdrop that kids prone to making mealtime messes will love — because on Underfull, a liquid spill causes an eruption of butterflies, which spread across the woven floral pattern and create a layered image as seen in action here.

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Enchanted Tree Stand by Cocoon Couture

Enchanted Tree Stand by Cocoon Couture

“Enchanted” is right! This multifunctional hanging rack, shaped like a three-foot-tall tree, looks like it sprang straight out of a storybook. Made from Forestry Stewardship Council-certified plywood from managed forests and finished with non-toxic inks and varnishes, the Enchanted Tree Stand by Cocoon Couture includes silkscreened wooden leaves, screw-in acorn pegs, and two feathered friends nesting …

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NEW! Rabbit and Hedgehog Bamboo Clocks From Decoylab

NEW! Rabbit and Hedgehog Bamboo Clocks From Decoylab

If you can resist these new additions to the Decoylab family of nursery-friendly clocks, then you’re made of much sturdier stuff than we. The leaping rabbit and not-so-prickly hedgehog silhouettes are laser cut from quick-growing bamboo, then finished with natural oils to create the cutest timekeepers on the block.

+ Hedgehog or Rabbit clock $48 from Magpie …

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Organic Cotton Robot Pillows by Ferm Living

Organic Cotton Robot Pillows by Ferm Living

Domo arigato, Mr. Roboto! We’re getting a charge from Ferm Living’s upcoming line of robot pillows for kids. Invading bedrooms and playrooms come the end of this month, these mechanically inclined huggables are made from 100% organic cotton, so they only look scary. Go nuts (and bolts) with the coordinating bedding, too.

+ Mr. Small Robot € 21.95; Mr. Large …

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Cate & Levi Wall Art Made from Reclaimed Wool

Cate & Levi Wall Art Made from Reclaimed Wool

From Cate & Levi, the same eco-dad designer that creates sweet plush toys, zoo cubes and puppets from reclaimed wool, comes a collection of framed animal wall art that’s perfect for baby’s nursery. Like the fab finds we told …

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Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Week

Inhabitots Link Roundup of the Week

Kenziepoo loves the new Marionette collection of cushions from Darling Clementine seen above — and we love that these soft, sweet pillows are made with 100% organic cotton.

Growing up Green gives us a leg up on Tightology organic kids …

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‘Hand Made’ Eco-Friendly Wallpaper for Kids from Paperboy

‘Hand Made’ Eco-Friendly Wallpaper for Kids from Paperboy

The ancient art of shadow puppetry gets a modern day spin with Paperboy’s ‘Hand Made’ wallpaper. An enchanting herd of cleverly crafted hand animals come to life on this FSC accredited sustainable forest paper, available in berry purple ink with hand screen printed animal shapes in shiny silver, or in shadowy …

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Kids Dream Up ‘Animal Table,’ Designer Quentin de Coster Brings it to Life

Kids Dream Up ‘Animal Table,’ Designer Quentin de Coster Brings it to Life

When Belgian designer Quentin de Coster set out to create a table for children, he cleverly collaborated with a team of 5 year olds to determine the aesthetic that would be most appealing and relatable. He asked each of the children to draw tables and dogs, and he used their interpretations as the basis for …

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Sasaki Kogei Wooden Puzzle Picture Frames

Sasaki Kogei Wooden Puzzle Picture Frames

Sasaki Kogei, the creative woodworkers that brought us the delightful toy breakfast set, have debuted their latest green design — interlocking wooden picture frames. We’re impressed with the playful aesthetic of these puzzle frames, and with their endless possibilities for displaying your favorite photos. The horizontal and vertical frames, crafted from all-natural oak and walnut, interlock to create photomontage wall …

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WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a Framed ‘Love’ Print on Wood from Petit Collage!

WIN IT WEDNESDAY! Win a Framed ‘Love’ Print on Wood from Petit Collage!

Valentine’s Day is this Sunday, and what better way to celebrate than with a love themed print on wood from Petit Collage? We’re giving away one framed 11 x 14 ‘Owl Love‘ or ‘Bird LovePetit Collage print to one lucky Inhabitots reader (winner chooses between the prints). Made in San Francisco by designer, illustrator and founder of Petit Collage, Lorena Siminovich, each print on wood is printed on sustainably harvested maple veener, and matted and framed in a no VOC-finish, handcrafted, precision sanded maple hardwood frame. Petit Collage’s eco-friendly, modern children’s decor has been widely featured on Inhabitots, with highlights including bamboo mobiles, screenprint posters and wooden collages. We’re certain that these charming prints will bring cheery, delightful affection to baby’s nursery, a child’s space — or any room in the house!

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Color-Your-Own Bamboo Plywood Panels by Fawn & Forest

Color-Your-Own Bamboo Plywood Panels by Fawn & Forest

Design-conscious parents can stop banishing their mini-Michelangelo’s torn coloring pages to the refrigerator (while pretending to hunt for a suitable frame). Fawn & Forest and Plywerk have designed three color panels, featuring a fawn, squirrel, or salmon, that will keep your walls blessedly Dora- and Yo …

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Forest of Woods from Pen Pencil Stencil

Forest of Woods from Pen Pencil Stencil

In addition to his vibrant Kokeshi Dolls, artist Mark Giglio of Pen Pencil Stencil creates gorgeous wooden masterpieces in his Forest of Woods collection. Crafted from different types of scrap wood expertly transformed into a miniature forest, these trees are enchanting in their simplicity and inspiring in their sustainable design. We can see them taking …

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Belkiz Feedaway: A Portable Flatpak Cardboard High Chair

Belkiz Feedaway: A Portable Flatpak Cardboard High Chair

Your wee one’s high chair gets the flatpak treatment with the Belkiz Feedaway, a portable seating system that makes feeding time a cinch for space-starved families or babies on the move. Although it’s made from recycled cardboard, the Feedaway can bench-press more than 40 pounds of toddler. (A built-in three-point safety harness keeps your precious cargo secure.) The best part: You can …

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Turned Wood Works of Art: Kokeshi Dolls from Pen Pencil Stencil

Turned Wood Works of Art: Kokeshi Dolls from Pen Pencil Stencil

Artist Mark Giglio gives vibrant new life to scrap wood with these turned wood Kokeshi Dolls made in his Pen Pencil Stencil studio in Oakland, California. A delightful intersection between works of art and toys, Kokeshi Dolls would be right at home on the shelf or in the playroom of a green family who appreciates sustainable design. …

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‘Puddles’ Eco-Friendly Children’s Wall Decor by Studio Tord Boontje

‘Puddles’ Eco-Friendly Children’s Wall Decor by Studio Tord Boontje

Thoughtful wall decor displayed in your little one’s room engages his senses and helps create a special space that’s all his own. Puddles, designed by the multi-talented Tord Boontje of Studio Tord Boontje, are a compelling, unique, eco- and kid-friendly wall decor option. Puddles are self-adhesive decorative surface tiles cut from mirror-polished stainless steel. They are available in  many nature inspired designs including …

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Caboodle: A Cardboard Cat Condo Your Kid Can Decorate

Caboodle: A Cardboard Cat Condo Your Kid Can Decorate

If children and cats have anything in common, it’s their shared love of cardboard boxes. Keep the peace between the two species with the Caboodle, a corrugated cardboard kitty condo that acts as a blank canvas for pint-size Picassos of the less-furry kind. Made in the United States from 40% post-consumer recycled cardboard, the Caboodle features peek-a-boo holes and contoured “grooming edges” for rubbing …

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NEW! Bo Buro Cardboard Writing Desk Set by Kidsonroof

NEW! Bo Buro Cardboard Writing Desk Set by Kidsonroof

The Bo Buro by Kidsonroof, built for two, isn’t your typical todder-sized desk-and-stool combo. For starters, it’s made of recycled cardboard, which the Dutch design company has printed with a litany of contrasting animal silhouettes. It also comes riddled with holes of different sizes, perfect for hiding tiny treasures and engaging growing imaginations. And don’t make the mistake of equating “cardboard” with “flimsy” …

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Eco-Friendly Bamboo Potty Seat from Growing Up Green

Eco-Friendly Bamboo Potty Seat from Growing Up Green

Growing Up Green’s bamboo potty seat for pint-size tushies takes care of business (so to speak) without a lick of plastic. Made to fit most standard toilets, the sustainably crafted seat is composed of 100% pesticide-free bamboo and can be washed with mild soap. Pair it with the matching step stool ($24.99) for a complete, eco-friendly toilet-training set.

+ Bamboo Potty Seat $15.99

+ …

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Daily Shelter: A Kitchen Table That Transforms Into a Playhouse!

Daily Shelter: A Kitchen Table That Transforms Into a Playhouse!

As far as transforming furniture goes, this table-turned-playhouse by Ingrid Brandth is nothing short of spectacular. (Watch the video below the fold if you don’t believe us.) An ordinary-looking kitchen table at first glance, the Daily Shelter can be converted into a tiny house in seconds by pulling down hidden panels to form walls and then raising the roof (literally!) by pushing up the table surface. Camped inside, a child can “hide from scary sounds, ghosts, or family members,” says Brandth, who adds that the playhouse imparts the same sense of security that a snail feels in its own shell. Cozy!

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Baby-Measuring Crib Sheet Doubles as a Growth Chart

Baby-Measuring Crib Sheet Doubles as a Growth Chart

If you’re tired of tangling with measuring tape every time you want to check your bambino’s growth spurts, consider your problem solved. Clare Chen, a designer from Taiwan, has created a fitted crib sheet pre-marked with height measurements, so you can gauge baby’s length right in her crib. The multifunctional Hi-Height, which comes in several colors, …

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Recycled Custom Alphabet Pillows

Recycled Custom Alphabet Pillows

Looking for a fun and eco-friendly way to add some thoughtful decor to your child’s bedroom? We love these handmade alphabet pillows from Hilary Cosgrove. Each letter is crafted from old suit jackets in cool retro fabrics like tweed and herringbone. Cosgrove boasts a wide range of suit coats in an array of fabrics and colors to match …

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‘Dusty’ the Recycled Wood Chalkboard

‘Dusty’ the Recycled Wood Chalkboard

Kids have lots of ideas. So many ideas that sometimes a few slip their memory and are lost forever. With the newly designed Dusty chalkboard, they can jot all those important thoughts down to remember them later. From the witty mind of Josh Jakus, the boy or girl shaped boards are made from a non-formaldehyde, …

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BOOK REVIEW: Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham

BOOK REVIEW: Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham

Designer Todd Oldham’s new book, Kid Made Modern is a kaleidoscopic collection of kid’s crafts and a budding designer’s introduction to the masters of modernism. Kid Made Modern features 192 full-color, eye-popping pages of 52 craft projects that range from simple (Amazing Laces inspired by Jack Lenor Larsen: lacing high top sneakers with unprecedented flair) to more challenging undertakings (Kaleidoscope Movie inspired by Charles and Ray Eames: kids become psychedelic directors of their own animated film). The majority of the inexpensive crafts featured in the book may be brought to life using recycled or readily available household materials — and they are truly engaging, easy to follow, and accompanied by captivating, descriptive, step by step photographs.

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Xylophone Coffee Table by Jellio Design

Xylophone Coffee Table by Jellio Design

Remember those adorable, yummy Jellio LED Gummi Bear Lamps we previously highlighted? The designers behind Manhattan based Jellio have dreamed up yet another uber-cool, kid-friendly home decor piece: a coffee table that doubles as a rainbow colored, working xylophone that is just begging to played by tots and adults alike! Jellio’s Music Table is a much larger version of the …

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Kid-Sized, Tabletop Cardboard Christmas Tree from Cloud Gate Designs

Kid-Sized, Tabletop Cardboard Christmas Tree from Cloud Gate Designs

Whether real or faux, kids love decorating Christmas trees, and we’re sure this recycled cardboard version will be no exception. Cloud Gate Designs introduced their 3 foot tall recycled Cardboard Christmas tree last year, and this year they’re selling smaller 1 foot trees too. The mini version with pop-out …

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Recycled Cardboard Christmas Tree by Kidsonroof

Recycled Cardboard Christmas Tree by Kidsonroof

Skip the live versus plastic Christmas tree debate this year with Kidsonroof’s Totem X-Mas Tree, a flatpak, ready-to-assemble faux fir made from sturdy recycled cardboard. A festive take on the original Totem Tree, the child-friendly holiday edition comprises 150 individual pieces (including candles, doves, and ornaments) that fit into precut notches. And when …

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possibiliTrees: Modern, Eco-Friendly Alternative Christmas Trees

possibiliTrees: Modern, Eco-Friendly Alternative Christmas Trees

Green families facing the real tree vs. artificial tree conundrum may expand their holiday decor possibilities with an eco-friendly possibiliTree. Architect Richard Babcock designed this natural, mess and waste free alternative to real Christmas trees when he “tired of finding, hauling, displaying, watering and disposing of the bulky, needle-dropping, space-guzzling evergreen every Christmas…” We think the modern possibiliTree is the perfect solution for green families who want a tree, but may not be home to care for it throughout the entire season — or for families with young kids who need to childproof their holiday decor scheme.

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Upcycled Nautical Sail Stockings

Upcycled Nautical Sail Stockings

Etsy artisan Katherine Rasmussen upcycles sailboat sails into totes, purses, messenger bags, pillows and accessories, all available via her Reiter8 Etsy shop. She’s adding sail stockings to her inventory for the holidays. Available in white canvas with red stars or stripes, we’re delighted we caught wind of these stockings to …

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Eco-Friendly Shadow Portraits Make Unique, Green Holiday Gifts

Eco-Friendly Shadow Portraits Make Unique, Green Holiday Gifts

A sweet gift for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and anything in between, these one-of-a-kind custom silhouettes are the perfect way to pay homage to a cherished tot for someone you love. (You’ll have doting grandparents eating out of the palm of your hand, trust us.) Each print is hand-drawn, then digitally created on archival paper made from 80% post-consumer recycled stock. You can purchase your portrait as is or ready …

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LOTS MORE GREAT GREEN DESIGN STORIES HERE... KEEP READING!