Little Ida

Great giveaways + new artists at Craftsbury Kids

I'm excited to share with you the work of four new Craftsbury Kids artists. Scroll down to read more, and find out how you can win some great prizes.

 

Tweet by Willow Baus

Pre-motherhood, Willow Baus designed accessories for a large children's clothing company. Now she makes little wooden sailboats with cotton sails, and toy wooden rowboats just begging to be filled with seashells, sticks, and other tiny treasures. All of the boats are designed to float on water, whether in the bathtub, or park puddles. It’s hard to choose just one of these toy boats. The good news is, if you purchase one or more of the boats this week (by Saturday June 14) at craftsburykids.com, and mention this post, you’ll be entered into a random drawing, for a chance to win an additional boat of your choice.

Cupcakes & Pastries

Inshi Khanna’s Cupcakes & Pastries’ dresses are inspired by old English, French, and Indian films among other things, including her two year old daughter. I love that she created them with tea parties in mind, where cookies, candies, and other delights are served. With features like gold and silver trims and embellishments, and hand printing on some of the dresses, this is a very special collection. Though the dresses are drop-dead gorgeous they’re 100% cotton (excluding embellishments) so they’re comfortable too. We’re giving one Cupcakes & Pastries dress of choice away this week. Take a look at all the dresses here. Order one or more, mention this blog post, and you’ll be entered in the drawing.

BeBe Babies

Casie Nipper is an Oregon-based dollmaker who creates these unbelievably cute  one of a kind plush animals, called BeBe Pets. I love their stitched on bellies, and the way their little faces peek out. If you order one at craftsburykids.com this week, and mention this blog post, you’ll be entered for a chance to win an additional BeBe Pet of your choice.

Urban Baby Bonnets

Colette Palamar is a painter as well as a seamstress. She sees her Urban Baby Bonnets project as kind of a worldwide collage of moving and changing color and pattern– kind of like a walking painting made up of the folks who wear her hats, all over the country, and the world. Her designs are a real work of art with awesome color and print combinations, and the stitching is top notch. Get one at craftsburykids.com this week, and mention this post (as well as your favorite bonnet design). You’ll be entered in a random drawing, for a chance to win an additional bonnet of your choice.

Clothing with kid and parent appeal

Liliputians-NYC children's clothing is created entirely in New York City by seamstress/designer Heather Flottmann. Heather's unpretentious designs offer up just the right amount of colorful whimsy to appeal to kids, while also being attractive to the adult eye.
 
With clean and simple lines, the pieces are not fussy or overdone. How refreshing, in a world where frilly poufy apparel for girls parallels with bland, neutral designs that can be way too serious, with not much in-between. Liliputians is a perfect match for that sometimes fickle time of childhood, where preconceived ideas of style can be an instant turn-off to developing personalities.

Save 15% on all Liliputians items at Craftsbury Kids, for a limited time. Visit craftsburykids.com and Enter code LIL2009 at check out to take advantage of the discount. Offer expires June 24, 2009. 

Shown above from left to right- Foxglove pant set, Jello Dots dress, Frida Decoupaged Folklorico pants. 

Whitney Phippen feature in Better Homes and Gardens

    

Craftsbury Kids artist Whitney Phippen’s vintage silhouette pendants are featured in the May issue of Better Homes and Gardens. Just gorgeous!

Craftsbury Kids interview with Lyn Pollard

I was recently interviewed by Lyn Pollard of Chalkydoodles regarding Craftsbury Kids, and the Save Handmade movement. It was interesting to reflect on both these projects and really got me thinking about details I hadn't pondered in a long time.

Read part one of the interview here, and part two here.

Holiday Gifts with Cool Mom Picks

 

The editors over at Cool Mom Picks have done it again...they've put together two fabulous gift guides filled to the brim with antidotes to the same old, same old holiday options, and they've included three Craftsbury Kids items in the guides! Just like the Cool Mom Picks blog which features great picks for children everyday, both the Cool Mom Picks Safer Toy, and Holiday guides are heavy on gifts from mom-owned, and other small, independent businesses, with many handmade items. Along with our Puffy Posy Pendant by Little Pink Posies, Heirloom Hobby Horses by Dan Hillman, and Dragonfly pull toy by Brian Driscoll, you'll find goodies from great shops like Quiet Hours Toys, North Star Toys, The Pajama Squid, and more!

Not only are the Cool Moms big time supporters of indie businesses, time and time again, these real moms manage to find products that parents will actually use, and feel good giving to their children. A lot of thought goes into every product recommended by Cool Mom Picks. Take a look at their guides and support small business this holiday season! 

Affordable Artwork with Sweetbeets

I love the idea of taking beautiful greeting cards and framing them as art. So when I saw these clever pieces from Lisa of Sweetbeets, I had to share. Lisa framed the cards in 8 x 10 Ikea Ribba frames. She had the mats made at a local framing shop. I recently learned that you can do this at Joann Fabrics for about $6. So, lots of options!

  
The gift tags pictured above are new from Sweetbeets. The combination of the delicate tag shapes and the boldness of the graphics is fabulous. I think they'd look equally stunning paired with gifts wrapped in natural paper or colorful tissue papers.

You can find the entire Sweetbeets line at Lisa's Etsy shop, and select cards at Craftsbury Kids. You can learn more about Sweetbeets by visiting the modeco Kids blog, also filled with fabulous finds from other cutting edge designers and crafters. Check back here soon for a giveaway including ten Sweetbeets cards!

Heart Handmade Interview

  

I'm so excited to have been interviewed on the awesome Heart Handmade blog! The interview is up today and is part of the "Retail Therapy" section. If you haven't yet been to Heart Handmade, you're in for a real treat. It's chock full of great business advice, inspiring stories from crafters, and amazing handmade finds (like this lamp and mirror).
In blogger Marichelle's own words...
"I will focus solely on handmade goods, and try my hardest to include the heart and story behind the products as much as possible. It's important for me to share stories on Heart Handmade  because that is, after all, what makes handmade so special - the heart and the hand behind it."
Thank you Marichelle!

Monday Color & Fun

       

:: New and colorful at Craftsbury Kids ::

Blue Woven Scarf by Billy Sue Textiles, Gnome Ornaments by projectgrabbag, Yellow Kitty with Plaid Stripes by penguin & fish, Rainbow Nesting Dolls by Nicole Rosenberg, Flower Finger Puppets by Nifty Kid Stuff, Purple Bloom Bodysuit by The Urban Thimble, Trinket Holder by The Urban Thimble.  

poppytalk handmade

 

Craftsbury Kids is part of the Poppytalk Handmade pre-holiday marketplace! Check out our virtual table here (be sure to scroll down).

Craftsbury Kids Giveaway - Pretty Things

 

And the winner is... Jennifer who said:
I have a princess for that crown. We are into felt crafts now and were going to make a crown. This contest is very timely. The creativity of the designers is wonderful. I love the eco-friendly cape and that tea jacket...what can I say? 
Thanks everyone for all of your great comments. This was a lot of fun. And again, thanks so much to all of the generous artists who donated items for this amazing giveaway.

Today I'm introducing another great giveaway celebrating twelve of the wonderful artists at Craftsbury Kids. For giveaway guidelines, please scroll down to the bottom of the page. One lucky person will win all of the beyond drool-worthy loot pictured above, and valued at over $450. Just look at what we've got here!

 
Polkadot Papoose Sling of Choice
Polkadot Papoose reversible baby slings are sewn from a gorgeous array of designer cotton prints. The winner will choose from nine designs, and three sizes. See all of the slings here.

 
Javis Davis Crib Blanket and Pillow Set of Choice
The winner will choose from eight blankets and also receive a coordinating square pillow.
Javis Davis has been making gorgeous crib bedding right here in the US since 1976. They've created eight crib sets especially for Craftsbury Kids, and we are super excited. Not only are we giving away a Javis Davis blanket and pillow set, but for a limited time, we're offering 25% off of our Javis Davis bedding collections. See all of the Javis Davis Collections for Craftsbury Kids here (click on the crib thumbnails to view each line). 

   
Nest Pretty Things - Hanna Dreamcatcher 
By day this whimsical Dreamcatcher by Nest Pretty Things is a gorgeous room accent, and at bedtime you can reassure your little girl that the bad dreams will get caught by the bird before they reach her. You can learn more about the Hanna Dreamcatcher here. 

   
Afternoon Tea Jacket by Lisa Samartino Atelier
The Afternoon Tea Jacket in Nottingham Toile is size 4T and perfectly delightful whether dressing up or down. You can learn more about the Afternoon Tea Jackets here. Photograph by Melissa Macdonald.

 
Pink Bolt Cape by Baby Leo Designs
The satin Pink Bolt Cape by Baby Leo Designs is lined with supersoft velvet chamois (made from recycled plastic bottles) and adorned with a retro-cool handsewn wool felt applique. One size fits ages 2-4. Learn more about this great cape by Baby Leo Designs here.

 
Hedgehog with Red Berries by apple & eve
Inspired by the northern landscape of Estonia, artist Eva Vorsmann's homeland, this handmade cotton hedgehog by apple & eve is beautifully embroidered with red berries. Learn more about Hedgehog with Red Berries here.

 
Triple Berry Hair Clip by Lily Pottery
Hand-cut felt flower petals, and a one-of-a kind stamp are used to create this lovely hair clip by Lily Pottery. Learn more about the Triple Berry hair clip here. 

 
Amongst Magic Print by Lindsay Brackeen
This delicate digital print by artist Lindsay Brackeen brings to mind rare moments of quiet solitude. Learn more about the print here.

 
Partly Cloudy Tee by Damestar Baby
This tee was designed especially for Craftsbury Kids by Damestar Baby. A batik orange sun and white clouds are stitched onto a baby blue long sleeve tee from American Apparel. Learn more about the Partly Cloudy Tee here. 

 
Lollipop Workshop Cupcake Fairy or Birthday Girl of Choice
Whether a Cupcake Fairy, or personalized Birthday Girl, each Lollipop Workshop doll holds a tiny treat and smells like vanilla cupcake. The winner will choose from twelve doll options. View all of the Lollipop Workshop dolls here.

 
Sweet Rosy Crown by Cakies
This glorious wool felt crown by Cakies will make a lovely topper for the birthday girl. Learn more about the Sweet Rosy Crown here. 

 
Aqua Rose Splat Mat by Chalkydoodles
Contain arts and crafts and mealtime messes with this pretty oilcloth mat by Chalkydoodles. Clean up is a breeze, just wipe with a damp sponge or cloth. Learn more about the Aqua Rose Splat Mat here.

Giveaway Guidelines:
:: There are a couple of ways you can enter to win this amazing prize package:
1- Leave a comment on this post, any comment at all.
2- Blog about some of your favorite Craftsbury Kids items and/or this contest. Then send a link to your post to- contest AT craftsburykids DOT com.
:: You have until 6:00 PM EST on Monday, October 13, 2008 to enter. The winner will be randomly chosen and announced here on Tuesday October 14th.

Thank you to all of our prize contributors! Be sure to check out their Craftsbury Kids Marketplace links above. You can visit the main marketplace page here.