my neighbourhood(more on flickr)

Okay technically I guess that should be ‘books for new parents’ (^_^). I thought I’d do a little round-up of books that I love to give as gifts to new parents or parents-to-be, plus a couple that I have on my list for the future. (I’ll do another post soon about the ‘classics’ that make great gifts in the toddler years.)

- When You Were Small by Sara O’Leary with illustrations by Julie Morstad

- Little 1 and Sparkle and Spin by Ann Rand

- Mon Paris colouring book

- Love You Forever by Robert Munsch - extra great if you/the parents are familiar with the tune of the song in the book - like most of Munsch’s books they’re best if you can deliver their readings the way he does!

- The First 1000 Days - Nikki McClure - I gave my mom one of Nikki’s calendars a few years ago and it was a big hit. The illustrations in this book are so lovely, and the idea of recording those important ‘first’ stories so great, I may grab a few of these to hang onto, and just give them out as babies are born!

If you spend time on Etsy, you’re probably familiar with a sweet little shop called Tiny Fig (lots of cute characters on cell phone charms, jewellery, and stickers, like the little clouds below). Tiny Fig owner Connie’s latest enterprise - Sweet Figments - will showcase a different handmade maker five times a week, and I can’t wait to see who she features! As many great things as I’ve found on Etsy, I often wonder what great things I might be missing, just because the selection is so vast … so Sweet Figments is something I’ll be following with great interest (^_^).

Cloud sticker set at Tiny Fig - photo courtesy of Tiny Fig

I have added some baby shower invitations to the shop … they come in a pack of six, with butter yellow envelopes. Will be adding several more things between now and Tuesday as well (yay, Family Day)!

Limited edition Chris Uphues hearts that I got last year from fred flare.

All of this gorgeousness (from Bowie Style of print & pattern’s guest spot at design*sponge, and this (via ohdeedoh) have reminded me to post some photos in my flickr neighbourhood set of a dollhouse I found (and left) on the sidewalk in my neighbourhood. I could literally hear the garbage truck making its way down the street towards me, and I took the pictures with my phone, so I apologize for the quality. There’s something charming about it in its battered-ness, but something creepy as well … I think that’s one of the things that makes dollhouses so fascinating, the way the scale messes with your sense of reality a little, especially in photographs.

Some more camera practice from me, in the first shot - I wish I knew the name of these flowers, I’ve had them for almost two weeks now and they are still very much alive!