Gaining A New Perspective

Perspective.

It’s not something you’re born with. It is, however, something gained the moment your child opens their eyes for the first time. And once again the first time they call you “mommy,” (or daddy), and again the second time and third time. When they get dribble (or worse) all over your shirt, and when they finally learn to use the toilet on their own. 

Parenthood is filled sappy (and sticky) moments just like those; and while they are all inherently different, they all share the ability to provide a parent with a new perspective: a fresh outlook on both your life and your child’s, which are now one in the same.

 

Last week, a filmmaker and father, Daniel Brace shared his newly gained perspective with the world. (Well, at least a half a million people as of Monday afternoon). Brace strapped a head-cam to his “darling 2 year old” daughter Olivia’s head to see the world through her eyes. The 3-minute video takes the viewer on a wild and exciting journey, capturing the triumphs and pitfalls of a game of “Hide and Seek” in their apartment. 

The video was the second of its kind. A few months ago a mother in Queens used an iPod touch to record afternoon adventures at Thomas P. Noonan Playground through the eyes of a 5 year old. The results are fun, adorable and a little shaky; reminding us all that the world looks a bit different when you are so very little! 

Do you use technology in a fun way with your child? (Besides letting them play Angry Birds on your iPhone…everyone does that)

2012 NY Baby Show!!!

Attention Parents of the Metropolitan Area! The New York Baby Show is upon us. This weekend, head over to Pier 92 to explore new products and services, while learning from parenting and pregnancy experts. New and expectant parents from the tri-state area and beyond will be there to hone their parenting skills and interact with each other, sharing stories and tips. The event is brought to you by New York Family Magazine, who provides parents with helpful information, insight and inspiration for raising their children and enjoying life in the city.

The following summary of events is from their website:

• Hear From the Experts! Listen to some of the country’s leading figures in the world of parenting and pregnancy. Get advice and have your questions answered in a number of seminars and demonstrations going on during both days of the show.
• Shopping Central! Explore the hottest brands and services: strollers, children’s furniture, early enrichment classes, cribs, bottles, car seats, diaper bags, layette sets, maternity wear, organic baby food, cord blood, sleeps sacs, infant carriers, nursing bras, toys, and much more, including child-proofing and other family services. There will also be plenty of experts on hand to help out.
• Ask Us Anything! Mom support? Work/Life Balance? Infant nutrition? Dad Roles? Child Care? The leading educational and support groups will be there to answer all of your questions (and make expert and resource recommendations) on everything from pregnancy to pre-k.

• The Stroller Test Drive Track! Parents can take today’s leading strollers for a spin on a special course designed to mimic both urban and suburban stroller challenges!

• Free Buggy Tune-Ups! If you have a stroller with you, the folks at Buggy Bubbles will provide free tune-ups, check handles, brakes and wheels, and even steam-clean it!
• A Relaxing Mother ‘s Lounge! An oasis in the middle of the show provides a place where mothers can relax, get pampered and feed their baby in peace.
• A Show For Dads Too! The incredible dads from the NYC Dads Group will be running the Dads Lounge, a space where dads can find information and support from experts on issues like work-life balance, the evolving role of fathers in child-rearing, and adjusting to being a new father.
• Kids Play Area! Stop by a dedicated play area where your little ones can get on the floor and explore blocks, toys or wiggle their jiggles out in expert-run music classes.

PLUS They're giving away a whole nursery!

Head to their website to learn more about the event and how to get tickets.

The Red Cardinals Visit to ducduc!

Some would say that our showroom is a pretty childish place. I mean the place is literally filled with cribs! However this Monday, the ducduc crew was treated to some visitors filled with a bit more energy than most of the “mommy-to-be” shoppers that usually frequent 524 Broadway.

 At 10 AM sharp, our doors swung open and in came the Village Preschool Center’s “Red Cardinals” class, a small army of 4 and 5 year olds eager to learn about our custom fabrics and finishes! Just kidding-they were far more interested in playing with our toys and exploring the showroom. 

I mean plenty of parents participate in “Take your kid to work day,” but our Creative Director Brady Wilcox opted for the more ambitious “Take your kid’s entire class to work day.”

Brady, whose daughter Gray is turning 5, gave a full presentation to our little guests, easily making them the most furniture-versed preschoolers in town.

It was kicked off with a quick economics lesson, courtesy of the business end of ducduc, CEO Philip Erdoes. “So why would someone start a company?” he asked the Cardinals. “To make money!” a few of them chirped back. "Perhaps they’re smarter than they," look he mumbled.

After telling the story behind the founding of ducduc, Philip passed it off Brady who took the Cardinals through a step by step design process. He explained how a play table grows from an idea in his head to something that they can store their toys in and draw on. He started with the brainstorming process, then discussed the various stages of design sketches, into a computer rendering and then gets sent to our factory to be made.

 

Afterwards, they collaboratively designed and sketched a bedroom for twins. Unfortunately Brady had to temper their request to make the walls “rainbow” color. 

We had such a great time entertaining and being entertained by the Red Cardinals! Who knows, perhaps Brady's passion for design will one day influence one of them to spread their wings and enter the interior design industry! We would definitely be open to hiring one of them. 

 

 Here is an adorable shot of Gray Wilcox, with our Director of Communications David Harris.

Housing Work's Design on a Dime!

Design on a Dime and its sponsors

Last Thursday we went and checked out Housing Works' Annual "Design On A Dime" Event, held at the Metropolitan Pavilion in Chelsea. The event features over 50 of the world's top interior designers, who create gorgeous vignettes with new donated merchandize, which is then sold at discount! We donated our cabana canopy bed to the lovely ladies of Tilton Fenwick for their booth, while our adult line The New Traditionalists donated their Cabinet no. Two Seventy to Foley & Cox, and Side Table no. Thirty One to Aurelien Gallet.

The Tilton Fenwick room, featuring our canopy bed! (Photo by Michael Rodenbush)

Anne Maxwell Foster and Suysel dePedro Cunningham of Tilton Fenwick created an unforgettably adorable vignette. Our canopy bed was well-dressed for the jungle in a Clarence House print and sat atop an amazing Merida rug. The walls were hand painted in an incredible green graphic pattern by Michael Louglin of Talking Walls, and the booth featured a custom painted chest by Hickory Chair and super cool giraffe and elephant chairs by Paloma's Nest.

Photo by Michael Rodenbush

The entire space was absolutely fantastic, however the miniature arm chair in a Clarence House jungle themed print stole the show! We also loved the creative touch of Suysel and Anne in putting that awesome Abbey Road print under canopy. So unexpected yet so chic!

Co-Chair of the 8th Annual DOAD and Co-Anchor of Good Morning America, Lara Spencer stopped by the booth and answered questions from Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat on our bed!

Lara Spencer of Good Morning America speaks with Marisa Marcantonio of Stylebeat

It was an all around great event for an even better cause and we were glad to donate to it! Big thanks to everyone who participated in it and helped make it such a great success!

Please check out Housing Work's website for more ways that you can get involved.

NYC's Green Festival

New York's first annual Green Festival has come and gone, and in case you missed it-we've got ya covered. It was a fantastic opportunity for New Yorkers and out of towners alike to learn more about being green from speakers, bloggers, exhibitors and all-around harbingers of the lifestyle. The Festival quite simply, took the idea of sustainability to an impressive extreme. Of the exhibitors present, Sprout Watches touted a line of totally biodegradable time pieces consisting of organic cotton, bamboo and corn resin. First World Trash presented their totes, pouches, bags, wallets and purses made from the left over materials from old billboards. Ellie Pooh makes notepads, journals, and greeting cards out of over 40% elephant dung! PeeeeYoo! While we cannot recommend stinky picture frames, the festival brings all of the solutions and possibilities for living a green life to one place.

Also, Ford named Green City Force the winner of the $5,000 Green Grant! Many project ideas were submitted, each detailing unique, actionable plans to better NYC and its surrounding communities.

Earth Day may be over, but we encourage you to continue to lead a green life during Earth Week and all year round. For a full list of NYC's Green Festival exhibitors, head over to their website.

Happy Earth Week!

Earth Day 2012: Its Easy Bein Green!

“It aint east bein green.”

-Kermit the Frog, 1970

A lot has changed since Kermit spilled his soul in that glum Muppets song, and tomorrow, April 21^st, the Green Festival is going to show you and your kids just how easy it is to be green. In celebration of Earth Day, the largest sustainability event in the world is coming to the Javits Center, hosting speakers, activists and leaders of the environmental community and holding a Green Economy Expo featuring a marketplace of over 300 eco-friendly businesses!

Not only can you learn more about sustainability and responsible living, but your kids can enjoy tons of green activities and arts and crafts. The Festival features a Green Kid’s Zone, The Fun Art Bus (a traveling art studio brought to you by “You Gotta Have Art”), and craft tables by Artterro.

Come and join the fun this Earth Day, the green way.

For more information about the Kid’s Zone:

http://www.greenfestivals.org/la/green-kids-zone

April 21-22, 2012

Javits Center North

34^th St/12^th Ave

New York, NY

A Plea for Pads

Listen: Kids love iPads. They love them as much as you do, probably more. There’s something about the crisp display, bright colors, interactive touch screen and quirky noises that kids are infectiously drawn to. There have been well-documented critiques of the idea of children being exposed to technology at too young an age (many of which are unfounded), but educational programming diminishing on the tube these days, perhaps a tablet isn’t all that bad. That is, as long as you are doing it with your child, or at least moderating their use. (Disclaimer: We are not endorsing the iPad as a substitute for a babysitter!)

But educational apps that work with your child allow him/her to interact with the program as it guides, helps and corrects them, exercising and developing their cognitive function and improving response time. (The speed of the iPad forces your brain to think pretty quickly) Secondly, the iPad allows interactive storytelling, which keeps your child more engaged than he/she would be with say, a traditional book. Take for example this Parenting.com endorsed Pat the Bunny interactive book app. They took a classic children's book and made it more interactive and fun for you and your kid to explore and enjoy together!

Technology changes as often as the weather, and the past few years have proven that tablets are the future. If this is potentially the way in which your child will be communicating later in their life, why fight their early adoption of it. Your child will love you for it and you will be impressed with how quickly they are able to grasp it. There's something about the interface that is just so intuitive.

Take the video below for example, of a very cute 2 -year-old Bridger who is not only learning on and loving his iPad, but also interacting with his father. He is using educational programs that are developing his memory, creativity and responsiveness. A relationship with technology like this is not only going to aid Bridger’s cognitive development but also his relationship with whomever he bonds with while he's using the iPad. After all, since when is spending time with your kid a bad thing. 

So why not let your child embrace technology-as long as you’re there to moderate their engagement (set up some guidelines first) and more importantly bond with them, by being along with them the whole way. Enjoy!