If I Were A Baby, Here's How I'd Like To Roll. The Aston Martin X Silver Cross Surf Carriage.

Launching in April is one special, and pricey (£2000), baby carriage. The Surf Aston Martin Edition Pram, a collaboration between luxury sports car brand Aston Martin and high-end baby brand Silver Cross, will be issued in a strictly limited edition of 800 and sold exclusively through Harrod's.



For generations, Aston Martin and Silver Cross have represented the finest in British design, engineering, craftsmanship and luxury. Each combines a peerless heritage at the very forefront of their field with a commitment to innovation; a determination to uphold the greatest traditions of British engineering excellence in the contemporary age.






Now the legendary sports car marque and the company that invented the modern baby carriage have come together in a unique and unprecedented collaboration. Issued in a strictly limited edition of just 800 pieces, the Silver Cross Surf – Aston Martin Edition is a modern masterpiece. It marries prowess with luxury to create a truly exceptional environment for baby, perfect for parents who insist on giving them the very best from day one.







Each pram will come with its own certificate of authenticity and an engraved brushed chrome plaque to confirm that it is one of a limited edition.

Details:
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition chassis finished in anodised aluminium and magnesium alloy
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition seat unit finished in luxurious Alcantara® and leather
• Surf – Aston Martin Edition carrycot finished in Alcantara®, performance fabric and leather
• Alcantara® harness and buckle protector pads
• Performance fabric hood and apron
• Winter footmuff with windproof performance fabrics
• Sun shade and rain shield
• Folding detachable shopping basket
• Suitable from birth
• L98cm x W58cm x H92-100cm
• Chassis 7.5kg, Body 3.8kg

Price: £2000

The Surf Aston Martin Edition is exclusively available at Harrods (Regrettably, this product is non-exportable.)

The Hypo-Allergenic Baby Bubble Bed Is So Cute, It May Induce Pregnancy.

Snug as a bug in a .... bubble. A crib design ought not to be the impetus for getting pregnant, but this one comes awfully close.

This wonderfully cute modern rocking crib by Lana Agiyan is made of lightweight acrylic plastic coated with a special eco-friendly polymer that repels dirt and scratches, making it easy to clean with a soft cloth and safe for baby. The mattress cover is made of pure wool and is filled with buckwheat hulls providing additional support that is naturally antibacterial, hypo-allergenic, anti-fungal, breathable, insulating, odor resisting, and also stimulates healthy blood flow.



Children's furniture designer Lana Agiyan describes her inspiration behind the Baby Bubble Bed:
"The image of a baby, nestled in a cloud of soap bubbles, inspired me to go beyound the traditional interpretation of a crib. The bed I've created is not only a futuristic toy, it is also a functional and emotion-evoking child care appliance. You can rock your baby to sleep and watch him or her cuddle on the cloud-like pillow through transparent bassinet. The cradle's construction resembles a traditional russian tumbler-toy "Nevalyashka" (shown below).



Like The Tradition Russian Toy, the Bubble Bed slightly rocks at all sides, but returns to the upright position with a plexiglas weight center. To prevent the bed from declining when baby is already asleep, there is a soft stopper. For easier handling, the weight center consists of several layers, that are not heavy separately, but weight 15 kg when assembled. The cradle is designed for children from birth to 5 months, after that age it can be used as a toy storage or a swing."






Material
Acrylic plastic is widely used in medical appliances for children. It's lightweight, hygienic, easy to wash and strong. To prevent plastic from scratches, that could damage the crib's appearance and moreover would make it more difficult to wash and disinfect, there is a special innovative coating.

Coating
Together with an Estonian factory Nanoformula we've made a special nano tech coating for the cradle. Treated surface of the crib obtain improved optical transparency, repel dirt and can be cleaned with just a dry cloth, without use of chemical detergents. Due to photocatalytic effect of nano particles of titanium dioxide, contained in the liquid polymer base, the coating degrades dirt and air pollution on sunshine. This happens when exposed to sun surfaces start ionizing the air around, purifying it from pollution and smells. Moreover, the liquid polymer fills scratches, making them invisible and protects the surface against future damage. This coating is absolutely safe for children, eco -friendly and certified for EU.

Mattress
The mat cover is made of pure wool, soft and warm, for the comfort of little-ones. Inside there is a layer of buckwheat hulls. This feature gives additional support to the mattress, that should be firm enough for the safety on newborns laying facedown. Buckwheat hulls filling is ideal surface for babies. It's naturally antibacterial, hypoallergenic, anti fungal, breathable, insulating and odor resisting. It also simulates healthy blood flow.

Manufacturing
All the parts of the cradle were designed for industrial low - cost manufacturing (blow moulding, vacuum thermoforming and cpu milling).

The Baby Bubble Bed is soon to be manufactured under the brand Bounce but will only be available in the Russian Federation.



Lana Agiyan has two other whimsical and sweet designs for children, you can check them out at her site here.

Forging Some Fun Sterling Silver Baby Gifts. Welcome! by RICHARD and 5.5 Designers

Bienvenue! A collection of whimsical and modern Silverware for Baby by Parisian silversmiths, RICHARD in collaboration with 5.5 Designers.



To celebrate its centenary, the RICHARD Goldsmith Workshop invited the collective 5.5 Designers to shake up its codes and tradition and reinterpret its expertise in a collection of unusual baby and birth gifts. With curiosity, passion and humor, RICHARD goldsmiths has imagined "Welcome!", a collection that is the antithesis of mass-manufactured products and yet has the undeniable stamp of fine Arts and Crafts.


above: silversmith at Richard forging the collection

Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, or rather a service spoons in their hands. This collection of "birth spoons" was born of the encounter between real expertise and a desire to bring up to date that forgotten tradition of family ties at the time of arrival of the a child.



Spoons were originally made of wood, they were then mostly made of tin. But in wealthy families, it was tradition that the sponsor offers his godson or goddaughter a sterling silver spoon at the time of his or her baptism. This object was thus a symbol ensuring prosperity for the child. The sponsor also offered a cup, a metaphor for money, with the first name and date of birth. These beliefs were widespread and many of us still have our baby cup, rattle and cutlery in a drawer.


above: the egg cup under construction

Today, the act of giving birth or baby gifts is still practiced, but the spoon, the object of life par excellence seems to have gone by the wayside. It is by diverting the archetype of the spoon, using it as raw material, that RICHARD and 5.5 have designed a collection that revisits the classic gifts of birth.

Below are all the pieces in the collection followed by images of the crafting of these items.

The curved spoon functions as both a napkin holder, a place to store the bib or as a teething ring:



By cutting and welding the spoon surfaces to a cup, they become a generous handle and the ears of happy little character.



Planted in a dish, the elegant egg cup has a place for blotters:




The addition of multiple sterling silver rings and handle detailing turns this spoon into a lovely rattle:




This beautiful spoon is equipped with a guard and detailing on the handle:




Welding two spoon surfaces together makes this double as a feeding tool and a place to hold snacks:



All these variations on the iconic baby gifts are versions that make you want to be senile or make older children wish they were still young.

RICHARD:


Since its founding in 1910, the Richard Goldsmith workshop covered forged sterling silver using traditional methods of French goldsmiths. A recognized expert in restoration of antique pieces, Richard Goldsmith Workshop also produces custom-made parts, prototypes and limited series.
www.orfevrerie-richard.com



above: 5.5 designers, Paris 2011

Cynthia Rowley Collaborates With Pampers For Designer Diapers

After the launch of their competitor's Denim Huggies, Pampers has jumped on the designer diaper bandwagon and collaborated with fashion designer Cynthia Rowley to create 11 new designs for beautiful baby bums.





The new chic styles of Pampers, shown above, include pastels, stripes, madras, pockets and prints and should be available in Target stores beginning in mid-July.







"As a mom, I wanted other moms and dads to have more options in every part of their lives -- even diapers," said Rowley. "It's the first piece of clothing your baby will ever wear, and it should be special."


above: Rowley also as a line of apparel, bibs, blankets and diaper bags for infants and toddlers called Hooray designed for Babies R Us.

Jodi Allen, a P&G baby care vice president, says in a statement Wednesday that diaper performance comes first, but parents consider the look important, too.

"Of course parents want the very best for their little ones," said Jodi Allen, Procter & Gamble's vice president of North America Baby Care. "We also know that sometimes it's the little things – like how a baby is clothed – that can bring added joy to Mom and Dad. While performance always comes first, we know that design is also important to parents. We're pleased to introduce the first diaper line that brings together the best of these two worlds."



images and info courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Procter & Gamble