I have been stalking the website of Rikshaw Designs for weeks waiting until the shop was open so I could share with you this gorgeous line of bohemian baby bedding. I’ve been on an Indian textile kick lately so it’s no surprise that I love founder Catherine Fitzsimmons delicate Indian block-prints and pretty designs. Each design is hand printed in India and is offered in four distinct collections that feature quilted crib sets, burp and bib sets and a handy diaper set. My favorite item is her stuffed elephant pillow. When I was little and had had a scary dream, one of the tricks my Dad used to use to calm me down was to tell me to imagine that my bed was surrounded by pink elephants. Someday when I have a little girl I’d want her to have one of these elephants to make her feel safe too. Click here to buy directly from Rikshaw Designs.

I have been a fan of Alexander Henry fabric ever since I first saw them on ReproDepot a few years ago and bought the Mocca pattern, which I have yet to use for a crafty project. So I was happy to see a bunch of Etsy sellers are using these whimsical and bright fabrics for their crafty projects. Here is a little selection for you to enjoy!

Clockwise from top left: Giraffe (Starbright Baby $14), Leo Pillow (Nora Jane $18) , Lemon Bib (So Bright Designs $10), Wallet (Bliss By Heather $34), Bird Apron (Dapper Duds $28), Bird Bag (Chick Bags $35)

Check out these fun Zoo Timers, designed by one of the founders of the American modernism movement, George Nelson. They would be perfect in a modern kids room. Available at the funky kids shop Genius Jones for $125 each.

I want to say Thanks to blogger Leah Hennen from More Ways to Waste Time for turning me on to the West Berkeley shop Relish At Home. I need to get there ASAP. Check out her blog post about Relish filled with great photo’s. Here are a couple fabulous items she covers:

Foxy & Winston limited edition prints titled “Mammalia”

Plush “Autumn birds” from Jill Blissen

This baby sling from Serena & Lily is on my someday-baby wish list. I love the simple snap design and the pretty embroidery. It will be available in June but you can pre-order one of the three sizes now for $129.00.

Orfeo an online boutique based in London has an assortment of adorable items for kids from around the world. Here are some yummy hand crochet bits and baubles from designer Anne-Claire Petit.

Love Friday’s. I am drinking the most amazing coffee from the little Italian coffee window that just opened up two doors down from my office, browsing Etsy and listening to Bon Iver’s album “For Emma, Forever Ago”. I can’t get enough of his song “Skinny Love. It’s the perfect morning album to ease into the day. Here are some pretty Etsy items to brighten your day.

Sketchbook springtime handbags, hand crafted from wool, linen, cotton and leather:

From her cottage in England Alice Apple crafts sweet treats like these stuffed dogs and pigs made with vintage fabrics:

Loveage these shrinky dink rings from Broken Fingers Art, outta Vermont:

I was recently hired as a freelance blogger for a new eco-blog called EcoSalon.com. At EcoSalon I will be covering artisan, decor and fashion items, similar to the things you find here at Little Willow but with an eco-edge. The thing that sets EcoSalon apart is its authenticity. It’s real people sharing how to live an eco-friendly lifestyle without being preachy or crunchy. For example you can find out how to properly wash a pillow (which I am doing as I write this), where to buy stunning recycled glass carafes made from broken windshields or how to get a healthy high from herbal espresso. I am really excited for this opportunity to contribute to the rainbow of “green” knowledge available to women! Feel free to send me suggestions and if my Editor approves, (yes people I have an Editor now, it’s the big time), we’ll write about it!

Ok all of you baby mama’s, this has got to be one, if not the, coolest decorating idea for your child’s room. Artist Inke Heiland first made her vintage wallpaper cut-outs for her son’s room. She liked the result so much that she submitted it to a design expo in Amsterdam where the idea took off. All of the cut-outs are made from vintage wallpaper and are sent to you in a do-it-yourself-kit. Because the wallpapers are vintage each design in available in limited quantities, which I agree adds to the appeal. Available for purchase in the US through Romp.

(via jessica gonacha: via an indian summer)

My friend and new Mom, Mallory Parkington sent me this link to Cocoon Couture and their adorable and durable bean bags. Each bean bag is made of 100% cotton pinwale corduroy with cute vintage fabric applique’s, available in a variety of colors and critters. They are $129.95. I’ve always wanted a bean bag, do you think I’m too big for these?

A pink pig flying through the air on a whale, does it get any cuter? These amazing animobiles from Blabla are just a sample of the adorable designs by Florence Wetterwald all handmade by Peruvian women. Flo and her BFF Susan traveled to Peru in 2001 where they found entire villages of expert knitters making colorful finger puppets from old wool sweaters. Inspired by these women Flo has designed an incredibly bright and fun line of knitted items made from natural fibers all grown in Peru. I’ll never look at a finger puppet the same again. Prices start at $42 for the animobiles

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My next stop at the BB was graphic designer Willo O’Brien and her carefree illustrations. Willotoons is her line of adorable T’s for ladies, babies and dudes. I think I would buy anything she puts on this child he’s so yummy, he looks like he would be a character in the Willotoons cartoon show, if there was one.

Tia and I both flipped out over John Robshaw’s textiles for baby crib sets. You may recognize his patterns from Anthropologie, they carry some of his items. But now you can buy directly from the man on his new shopping website, including clothes, bedding, pillows and curtains. Inspired by his travels around the world his patterns are so rich and exotic all hand stitched, hand embroidered and printed on the finest cottons and linens, sigh…

It feels so great to give a great gift! I got the sweetest call from my friend Mallory yesterday. She said she was in tears when she unwrapped the personalized plate I sent for Kerris, her new baby girl. She said it was the most beautiful gift she had received for Kerris. I wish I could take the credit for making it too, but that goes to the uber-talented Mary Mar Keenan and her Purple Bird Designs. Her baby plates and bowls are the perfect size for little ones to use, or to hang as a decoration.

How lovable are these stuffed elephants and giraffes!? Wren Handmade is Laura Normandin, a craft editor for Martha Stewart, this is her side business. I would imagine that one of these pets would be a perfect baby gift that could eventually become a beloved family heirloom. Made of linen, $60 dollars each.

Aren’t these dream catchers so enchanting? I am probably too old to be purchasing one and they might be better suited for a child’s room, but I can’t resist. Plus I love dreaming, except when it’s the recurring nightmare I have of being chased by June bugs on Cape Cod. Anyhoo you can pick one up from Etsy seller Nest Pretty Things at $20 a pop.

(courtesy of Yvestown)

My friend, the talented Mary Mar Keenan, just launched her latest and greatest ceramic venture, Purple Bird Designs! Personalized baby plates and bowls with adorable designs handmade by Mary Mar are customized with your choice of design and color. Each one is unique and such a great baby gift idea.

It seems every month there is a new group of pregnancy’s and births to celebrate so I thought I’d share a couple cool sites for cool babies.

The first is Rattle-n-Roll whose birth announcements and baby rock posters would be perfect for more than one musically inclined friend that I know will be having a rockin babe.  And for you more radical parents there is BabyWit with their pop culture onsies and political t’s for kids.

Look at these precious dolls by the oh so talented Tamar Mogendorff! I love people who can turn a crafty idea into a work of art like this using vintage materials. The deerhead and the unicorn heads are my favorite and would be so great for a magical baby room. You can contact Tamar through her website to purchase.