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"As adults we choose our own reading material. Depending on our moods and needs we might read the newspaper, a blockbuster novel, an academic article, a women's magazine, a comic, a children's book, or the latest book that just about everyone is reading. No one chastises us for our choice. No one says, 'That's too short for you to read.' No one says, 'That's too easy for you, put it back.' No one says 'You couldn't read that if you tried -- it's much too difficult.'

Yet if we take a peek into classrooms, libraries, and bookshops we will notice that children's choices are often mocked, censured, and denied as valid by idiotic, interfering teachers, librarians, and parents. Choice is a personal matter that changes with experience, changes with mood, and changes with need. We should let it be. "

-Mem Fox
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Preserving Children's Art

I can't wait till we have enough artistic "favorites" from each child to create one of these art collages for each of them. It is the most genius solution to the never-ending struggle over what to do with all of the kid's masterpieces.

via tutus & turtles

Teepee Playroom

This teepee is perfect.

via Cookie's nesting blog

Cardboard Toys

This treehouse might be put on the kid's Christmas list.

Tapestries + more

This month's Cookie Magazine had a great before and after bedroom article. I really like what they did to this little girl's room, especially turning the graphic Missoni rug into a tapestry. It adds so much in one simple and potentially affordable move.

The room makes me want to replace my kid's room's carpet with cork. Carpet is probably my least favorite flooring.

I like lots of shelf space, but this is a great way to jazz things up a bit if the space is not needed.

I still need to get started on my picture wall, and like this idea of combining art along with personal photographs. I think I'll stick with just photos for the main living area, but combining art would be really cute in a different room or bedroom.

images scanned via Aug. Cookie Magazine