Just a Little Sneak Peek

Just thought I'd post what we're working on right now... soon to be listed in our Etsy shop.

April Giveaway!

Yay! We're so excited to announce our first giveaway here at Leila & Ben! We're giving away a Mama and Baby Birdie Plushie set to one lucky winner. Here's how it works:

* Check out our shop at babyleila.etsy.com

* Leave a comment in this post about your favourite item in our shop or what you'd really like to see in our shop!

* Please only post once and leave a way for us to get a hold of you if you win (blog, email, etsy shop).

* Winner will be announced on April 30th!

This is an INTERNATIONAL contest and we'll pay the shipping to anywhere! What have you got to lose? Tell your friends (or maybe you want to keep this contest all to yourself!)

New Designs are Coming!

Yay! We'll be posting some new designs in our shop this week - look for our new puddles pants, some new mobiles, new dresses, and more! Spring is definitely here! I found some delicious japanese fabric that I hope to incorporate into some designs - I've already used some of the dinosaur fabric on the new Puddle Jumping Pants. What little kid doesn't love dinosaurs?

Lotta Jansdotter

I've always been a big fan of Lotta Jansdotter. Her simple style mixed with traditional and modern Scandinavian form is simply fabulous. I thought I'd do a little posts on one of her great books: Simple Sewing. Filled with all sorts of sewing projects, from totes to to things for the home, this book is great for not only expert sewer, but also aspiring sewers. Available at Jansdotter.com

For the Doggies

Many families with kids also include dogs, so when I stumbled upon Vurv Designs the other day, I knew I had to share the love. Based in Coquitlam, Canada, they have a modern pet line that would make any dog smile (or at least wag their tails). I especially love this raised feeder - who knew dog bowls could fit so seamlessly in the modern home? And their ellipse dog bed would be right at home beside my (future) Eames Lounge Chair.

Beautiful Bird Prints

I found these gorgeous bird prints from Kareem Rizk of Austrailia via Design Sponge. Wouldn't they look amazing in a nursery or kids bedroom??? So modern and full of interesting detail, they're also affordable at under $25 a print, and 10% of every purchase goes to Starlight Children's Foundation Australia. Available at BlueFlip Art.

DwellStudio Wall Art

Dwell has some fantastic crib sets and other linens and now has come out with this new playful Wall Art. The colours are bold without being overwhelming and it's easy to mix and match and pair a few (or all) pieces together.

Tot Trends Weekly

Thanks to Angie over at Dolce Baci Boutique on Etsy for letting us know that we've been featured in the latest issue of Tot Trends Weekly Magazine. One of our little ties made the cut! Check it out and the other picks of the week here.

What a Lovely Way to Eat Your Lunch

I just stumbled on these fun designs by Isak. Based in the UK, they have a wonderful line of dishes. They also have cards, wallpaper, and textiles, but I'm especially drawn to their dishes. Maybe my toddler would sit still long enough to actually eat her lunch with these entertaining dishes...

Kids Bedding

Modern Bedding for your kid's room by Anki Spets for Area at Design Public. I love the clean prints and fresh colours. They have an organic look to them and their "fabric feels like a breath of fresh air against your skin." Lovely!

New Beanie Caps

We've listed a few new beanies in our shop.  They're meant to sit above the ears, making them perfect for spring.  We'll be listing more in our shop over the coming weeks, so check back for more colours and styles. 

Perch

I just love this bird pendant from Perch. Wouldn't it look fabulous in a baby bedroom (or mommy's room???!?)? The simple and smooth shape is so modern, yet playful.

I'm also loving these Triangle Bird Lights:

and this beautiful birdfeeder:

Sneak Peek!

We're working on cropped pants for boys and girls at Leila and Ben. Made from a lightweight cotton/lycra blend, these pants are super comfortable and perfect for spring. Leila's been testing out a pair I made recently so I thought I'd show you some pictures of them in action! They're really sweet on their own or look fabulous under a sweet little dress as modern bloomers. Look for them in our store soon!

Romp Menagerie

I love this idea! Made from vintage and reprinted wallpaper, these animals are the perfect way to add a little fun to your child's room without being overpowering. Made by Inke Heiland from the Netherlands, a whole menagerie is available at Romp.

Rollin'

When I first saw the U Roll Scooter from Small Paul by 10 Grain ($175 USD) it made me wish I was small enough to go for a spin. I'm a sucker for molded plywood and the smooth design of this toy makes it style worthy to hang out even in the livingroom. 

10 Grain also has more fabulous children's furniture by Small Paul, my favourite being this plywood chair. Available at Design Public for $220 USD for a set of two.

P'kolino Clothes Tree

I've been meaning to post about great finds for modern kids,  so I'd like to share this super fun clothes tree. Modern and functional, it would be a great addition to any modern kids' living space.  

The P'kolino Clothes tree stand 4 feet tall and is very sturdy and durable. Available for $94 USD, I found it on Design Public, but they also have their own website here. 

We're Having a Party!

We're having a birthday party for little Leila and I made some Thank-you cards for her to hand out to her little guests after the party with a goodie bag. Leila is so excited to have a party and it's fun to see that this year she actually "gets" it.

We've come out with a few new argyle dresses (Leila is wearing the blue one on her card) which are perfect for Spring and Easter. The soft flannelette is so comfortable and cuddly and has such a spring look about it. We have 3 colours: blue, cream, and sage green. We'll be coming out with more sizes in the coming weeks. Check out our Etsy shop to see what's available!

A Spot of Tea

An afternoon tea party - the stuff childhood memories are made of. 

Some New Hats

We've added some new modern caps to our shop. More to come!

At a recent photo shoot we managed to catch Leila and Ben together in a few photos. This one's my favourite.

Tangled and True

Yesterday Erica from Tangled and True wrote a great little bit about our ties on her blog. Tangled and True is "a slice of modern parenting" placing a focus on things that are modern, simple, pretty, and organic. They love to support mother/women-run products and services that prove non-mainstream. If you haven't visited them before, they are definately worth the read - and they might become one of your favourite blogs!

Behind the Scenes

I always love reading about what goes on "behind the scenes" on other blogs, so I though I'd share a little bit about what goes on at Leila & Ben's. When it comes to taking product photos, it can be a bit tricky! Usually our own kiddos are models for our products and they sometimes get a little sick of mom always wanting them to change into a bunch of different clothing or wear another hat, etc. Little L was our model for our first Birdie Mobile and we wanted to get a picture of L looking at the mobile. Annette managed to get him to look by holding the mobile up and peeking over the screen. L was a gem and was giggling away at his Mommy and reaching for the mobile - it was really cute!

New Ties in Our Shop

Some new ties in our Etsy shop. In our shop our style is to normally crop off part of the heads of our models (usually our own kiddos :) but I just had to share with you one of the full pictures I took of little J today. I think it's quite possible the cutest picture I have ever taken of him. Ever. Actually, he never sits still enough for me to get any pictures of him! ... but I figured out a way today! I sat him on a little stand and he couldn't figure out how to get off - he was at my mercy for a full 5 minutes for all the recent tie pictures. Yay! I just love his little chubby hands. But I guess as his mom, I'm a little biased!

Modeco kids

Lisa over at Modeco kids was kind enough to feature Leila & Ben on her blog today. Modeco kids has a great philosophy, offering fresh finds from indie designers and mompreneurs. Her blog is ideal for buyers for baby boutiques and gift shops, media people including PR and magazine editors, and modern parents who seek authenticity and sustainability in purchases for their family. Thanks Lisa!

I'm a Polka Dot Mom!

Thanks to Sally for a feature over at Polkadotmom.com! Polka Dot Mom "features fun and friendly moms who create uniquely handmade polka dot products." If you haven't ever been to her blog, check it out - it's really a good read featuring other creative moms and offering tips, crafts ideas, recipes, and more!