Zid Zid Kids

We love finding really special pieces for children and have found that the best designs appeal just as much to grown-ups as kids. Zid Zid is one of those really wonderful partnerships that is good all the way through. After moving to Morocco, Julie Klear and her husband were inspired by their new home and all its exotic scenery and possibilities. They embarked on a new business venture, creating handmade toys and products for kids with a distinctly modern twist. We love them because not only do they make beautiful toys, they believe in fair trade, are environmentally responsible, and very conscious of safety. All Zid Zid products are handmade in Morocco by artists who support their families with their wages.

Zipper Clutches

Green Bird Clutch, $22

A simple & stylish storage solution while on the go, these Clutch Bags hold up well, carry lots of stuff, look really great, and wash easily. Fits easily under the stroller, in your office tote, in the backseat car pocket.

Just a few ideas for uses:

• Diapers and diaper necessities
• Office paperwork
• Coloring books and markers for long plane or train rides
• Little toys and books for a play date
• PJ's, book and lovey for an overnight
• Also makes for great gift wrap for almost any small present.

Front design embroidered on high-quality phalate-free vinyl from Europe.

Dimensions: 15.70 x 11.40"

Purple Airplane Clutch, $22





Orange Lion Clutch, $22



White Flower Clutch, $22

 

Pink Hippo Clutch, $22



Meet Louise and Imma. These handmade dolls each come with a one of a kind dress, cape, underwear and leg warmers. Clothing pieces are designed to encourage basics such as buttoning and tying. Both girls have long wool hair is perfect for little hands to learn braiding, brushing, and styling.  

Fabric: Brushed cotton flannel, one of a kind fabric clothing, wool yarn for hair, embroidery

Filling: PolyfilCare

Wash in cold, delicate cycle and air dry

Dimensions: 17 x 15"

Louise Doll, $31

Imma Doll, $31

Airplane and Schoolbus Backpacks

Your preschooler will be ready to roll with these clever backpacks. A good size for snacks, sippy cup, a book and toy.

Color: Silver with white piping (plane); white with white piping (bus)
Fabric: High quality, phalate-free vinyl from Europe, embroidery
Care: Cold wash delicate in cold, air dry.
Dimensions: 12.50 x 14.50"(plane); 13 x 7.5" (bus)

 

Airplane Backpack, $30





Schoolbus Backpack, $30





New Treasures Arriving Weekly

This is an exciting time of the year for us! Every week from now until mid-November new shipments will arrive from far-flung places (Japan, Finland, Portugal, and Honduras to just name a few) as well as closer to home (Bainbridge Island, Seattle, and Mt. Vernon).


Many of these are pieces from wonderful new designers we found while in New York. Some are new creations from our current designers.

Last week saw the arrival of new objects from Neo Utility and Saikai. We love the iStand from IDEA International. This great little gadget suctions to the back of your iPhone and props it up so you can enjoy a video or browse the internet. 

iStand, $8.00



We also now have IDEA's fantastic Yuento Balloon Speaker in black and lime green.

Yuento Speaker, $45

Miller Goodman PlayShapes ($150) are also back in stock, so come and see this beautiful set of wooden blocks for yourself. 

MillerGoodman PlayShapes, $150



Over the past few weeks we've also received some lovely pieces in from Saikai. If you are a fan of Japanese design, this group represents some of the superstars, such as Mori Masahiro. We have all five colors of his iconic Soy Bottle back in stock, so consider adding this drip-free container for soy sauce to your table. At $22, it makes a really unique gift.

G Type Soy Bottle, $22

Also, Toyo Sasaki HS "Hard Strong" stacking glasses. First produced in 1967, the reinforced lip on these glasses makes them extra durable and they remain the leading brand in Japanese food service. At $4.50 apiece, it's a great way to introduce a bit of Japanese design to your kitchen.

 

HS "Hard Strong" Glasses, $4.50 apiece



Newly arrived and wonderful - these Pocket Vases in white, yellow, or green. They work beautifully for flowers, but serve as handy catch-alls as well for things like pencils and paintbrushes.

 

Pocket Vase, $24



Finally, these wooden tops. They are miniature sculptures - lovely!

 

Koma Wooden Tops, $6.50 apiece



We also just received a beautiful assortment of glass jewelry from Julie and Jess at verre newyork. It is challenging to find glass jewelry that is elegant and understated and these two glassblowers seem to hit the mark every time. If you see a design you like but would prefer a different color, we can always order you exactly what you want. They have over one hundred colors in their palette.

Three Drop Necklace, $102



Piet Burst Necklace, $106





Piet Stud, $33





Ulala Hoop, $50





Finally, the latest addition to our selection from Museum of Modern Art - the Chalkboard Vase.



MoMA Chalkboard Vase, $4

Draw your own vase, contraption, or creature to hold the flowers. Also works for love notes and to-do lists. The vase includes hardware for wall mounting, as well as a chalk-holder.

That's just a taste of what's new in the shop. We will update you again next week on the latest arrivals! You can also check our Facebook Page for more frequent updates. Until then, enjoy this drawing of the Yuento Balloon Speaker in use. Who wouldn't want to be this happy walking down the street?  







ShapeMaker and PlayShapes Blocks from Miller Goodman

We are always on the lookout for well-designed, creative playthings for kids. The very best designs are always just as fun for grownups as they are for kids. So when we learned about Miller Goodman's ShapeMaker blocks and PlayShapes, we signed up and have been eagerly awaiting their arrival. They are here!

Miller Goodman is a design agency based in the UK, directed by David Goodman and Zoe Miller. They produce children's books and games for the Tate Museum shop in London, but also under their own brand. Colorful, fun, and educational, the objects they design will spark your child's imagination.

ShapeMaker is a set of 25 colorful, hand printed blocks made from eco-friendly rubber wood. The blocks can be arranged in countless patterns to create animals, abstract shapes, landscapes, or whatever inspires you. A booklet with design suggestions is included to get you started. $75 per set.

The animation below gives you just a hint of the possibilities:

PlayShapes is a set of 74 wooden shapes which can be used to build 3-D sculptures of all sorts. Create a menagerie of animals, an array of funny faces, or the buildings of your dreams. Comes with a cotton drawstring bag for storage, as well as a set of illustrations. $150 per set.

Stop by the shop and take a look!

kltworks - Mount Vernon, WA

Holding an MFA in Fine Art from The School of Visual Arts in New York City, Kristin Loffer Theiss's artistic background allows her to approach her products with a painter’s eye - being concerned with color, texture, and form. Her children’s collection comes from her love of humor, curiosity, and an appreciation of a child’s creative spirit. All toys are handmade at her studio in Mt. Vernon, WA.

Featured Objects

Plush Animals - Cats, owls, snails, and several birds available

Materials: Wool felt and cotton, stuffed with fine polyfil. Lined with cotton.

Dimensions: Sizes vary. Most animals approx. 13" tall

Price: $40

Northwest Slug Loveys

Materials: Polar tec, organic fleece and cotton
Dimensions:10" x 4" x 3"

Price:$22

While not everyone thinks of a slug to be cozy, these little guys are an exception. They fit just right in the arms of your little one, and offer up comfort & companionship. Easily washable.

Available in gray (Sid), olive green (Avery), turquoise (Klaas) or lime green (Dafne).

The Playful World - Bellingham, WA

The Playful World’s mission is to provide today’s children with unique, custom designed toys that are handcrafted by artisans in less developed areas of the world and purchased under fair trade agreements. They offer unique toys that not only engage and delight children, but also make a small contribution to a better world.

Featured Objects

Wool Felt Blocks

Materials:100% wool outer shell, synthetic foam fill. Bell inside each block
Dimensions: Large block - 5" per side; small block 2.5" per side
Price: Single large block, $16.00; set of 6 small blocks - $30.00

Wool felt blocks are handmade by an artisan workshop based in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. The workshop’s mission is to reunite homeless families by providing vocational skills training and income opportunities that help parents earn needed income in order to care for their children. Suitable for 6 months and up.

Bowling Buddies

Materials:100% wool felted outer shell, synthetic foam fill

Dimensions:Pins are 8" tall; ball is 3" in diameter

Price: Set of 3 Buddies + ball - $65.00.

Choose from dog or people design

Bowling Buddies are handmade in Kyrgyzstan in a workshop that is dedicated to preserving the traditional craft of felt making. Providing vocational training to unemployed women, the toys are made from locally sourced 100% natural mountain sheep wool.Suitable for 18 months and up.

Animal Pals

Materials: 100% alpaca fiber outer, synthetic fill

Dimensions: approximately 17" tall

Price: $40.00 each; Lion, cow, elephant, monkey, or giraffe

Animal Pals are handmade in Peru of pure alpaca wool. Traditionally, many impoverished families living in the Andes of Peru have used wool from local alpaca herds to knit garments and goods. Women from these communities are now forming artist cooperatives to export hand-knit products, earning much needed income for their families. Suitable for ages 1 and up.