Recycled CD Case Light Cubes

Here's a great idea for using up some of your old CD cases.
I found this idea on the Design Mom blog. Images are printed on vellum-type paper so that they are translucent and they light will shine through.

Great idea.

Details on how-to here.

Kindergarten Bags: Design by Gina

Design by Gina is a German shop with lots of great clothing and accessories for children but what caught my eye were these cute Kindergarten Bags. The bags are nylon and machine washable. Each bag is handmade and comes in 5 color choices. I love the Baby Bambi one and the Concrete Mixer for little boys (or for little girls who like construction equipment).

Design by Gina Shop
Kindergarten Bag Baby Bambi: $35 Euros
Kindergarten Bag Concrete Mixer: $35 Euros

Gina also has a blog.

Cute Custom Made Fabric Books

Mazette makes these darling, one-of-a-kind fabric books from your photos and suggestions.
They come in 6 or 10 pages (3 double/5 double pages) and they are just as cute as can be.
What a unique gift idea and one that will sure to be a favorite to keep forever!

Mazette's Blog: Peas in the Workshop
Fabric books: $20-$30 Euros at La Boutique de Mazette

Zakka Sewing

Zakka Sewing is a beautifully photographed and illustrated book. The best part: it's in English!
The book features projects submitted by 25 Japanese zakka makers.
I've loved looking through many Japanese craft books like Cotton Time and Cotton Friend and lots of others online.
I have never been fortunate enough to own one, though I would love to. I have done a few projects that I've found online, like this little felt book and this little yoyo puppy.
It was fairly easy to figure out the Japanese instructions because they are so well drawn and photographed.
But now no interpretation is necessary!
Etsy has published an entire tutorial, including patterns, for this sweet linen wrist pincushion, which is one of the projects from the book.
You can also visit the Zakka Sewing website to see more about the book andthe authors and find instructions on several other projects, including this too-cute-for-words squirrel teapot cozy shown on the cover.

Zakka Sewing, by Therese Laskey (of Softies Central) and Chika Mori.
Photos by Yoko Inoue
Book available at Amazon where it's listed for $16.47

Minifin

Minifin is a Norwegian shop featuring cute and colorful baby and children's clothing and accessories
The store represents sophisticated Scandinavian brands that "are not over represented in other stores."

Clothing ranges from infant to about six years. They also have some nice room decor, toys and accessories.


Minifin
(via Den Gode Feen)

Wire Art

I came across this most interesting site, De Beaux Souvenirs. This woman makes the most amazing things with wire! Gorgeous lamps with wire and linen, wire baskets and crowns. They are some of the most unique decorative items I have ever seen and each is a piece of art.
Isn't this wire Bingo basket cool?
The little lamp with the airplane is one she made for her baby son. Be still my heart.
The Sphere Lamp is for sale here. $375
Wire Bingo Basket for sale here. $116

Illustrator Nicoletta Ceccoli

Love, love, love the work of Nicoletta Ceccoli. She is an award-winning Italian artist and illustrator. I especially love her children's book illustrations.

If you visit her website you can look through the pages of some of the fabulous books she has illustrated.

I would so much like to have a copy of any one of her books to show my grandchildren.
I grew up on fairy tales, Brothers Grimm, Aesop's Fables and Mother Goose. I read them to my kids. Are they really better than the children's books today, or is just because I loved them so much as a child?
What did you read growing up?
Illustrations: Nicoletta Ceccoli
via Daisy in lala Land

How To: Baby Sac

Sweet baby sac found on Sylvie Dusoulier's blog, Coupe Couture. The blog is French with some of it is translated into English by her husband. Sylvie also gives some excellent sewing tips and techniques, the kinds of things nobody tells you about but make perfect sense once you see it done.
Complete tutorial and pattern here.