I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: There are few things on this earth cuter than baby feet. It’s undeniable. Those pudgy little sausage toes, the delectable little soft roundness… I can’t get enough. I just want to eat. them. up.
Since I clearly can’t do that (unless I want a very interesting call from child services), I must content myself with dressing those little toes in tiny adorable shoes. Admittedly, due to their close relationship with baby feet, the shoes are also on the short list for cutest thing ever. Right now I am loving these ones from Soft Soul Baby Shoes in Montreal.
Eeeee! The patch! on the one eye!
You can even get them personalized with your little munchkin’s name or initial, just to make them a little more special.
Choose your colours, add baby's personal details, and voila!
Or perhaps these are a bit more baby’s style:
Just right for the edgy, misunderstood pre-pre-pre-teen.
If you, like me, have spent countless hours trying to find warm boots that are suitable (read: soft soled) for a kiddo who is just learning to take those first brave toddling steps, look no further!
For the fashionista on the move!
I know I may have a bit of an obsession, but these are seriously cute, right?
Head to the Soft Soul website for more details, or you can also see the multitude of options (seriously: endless combinations!), at the Etsy shop.
~Jennifer
There’s just one month until Valentine’s Day – that Hallmark-branded day that’s supposed to remind us all to treasure the ones we love a little more. How about, this year, we all spread a little handmade love instead of buying those sad grocery store floral department roses, mmmkay?!
The lovely graphic prints from Rosy Designs are a great place to start. The print below is actually called “Love is in the air”!
Rosy Hung, the artist behind the adorable characters and hearts, lives and works in Vancouver. Her designs and illustrations are reminiscent of vintage children’s picture books, and have a really lovely esthetic for Valentine’s Day – innocent, joyful and full of love and hearts. This postcard collection (below) would be great for children to pass out to their friends at school, or to send a little collection off to Grandma and Grandpa, and the “9 Ways to Say I Love You” card can be a nice alternative to the sappy sentiments at the mall card shop.
Do you have a favourite love song, maybe from the “first dance” or “first kiss” that reminds you of the early days with your loved one? Here’s my V-Day tip – the print below (appropriately called “Love Songs”) packaged up with a copy of the original album with “your” song on it. Valentine’s Day worthy, right? But don’t stop there! The prints on their own are gorgeous and creative, but when you add in the fact that Rosy will customize them for you, they jump up a few notches on the “perfect gift” scale. You can choose hair colour and style, skin tone as well as include a personalized message that she types on her typewriter and then digitally inserts them into the image. Brilliant!
While we’re talking about love, Rosy has a really lovely selection of wedding-themed prints that are, once again, fully customizable. I love the Bride and Bridesmaids, as well as the happy couple prints (same sex couple options available too! I love Canada.)
You can find more (many more) of Rosy Designs in her Cargoh and Etsy shops, as well as keep in touch via Facebook, Twitter and her own website. Visiting RosyDesigns.com where I discovered she and her partner haverecently launched a new joint venture, which you can check out in their new Etsy shop, NicRo Designs.
Share the love,
~Sarah
About 7 years ago, while planning my wedding to my wonderful husband, I wanted to get a little crafty (of course). Not quite as crafty as my mom however, who crocheted her entire wedding dress herself (wow!), but crafty none-the-less. So I decorated my white sandals to make them fabulous, spray painted candle holders, and we did our own invitations, etc… etc… My favorite handmade part of our wedding though, was the stones we made for our centerpieces. My dear little brother helped me paint several hundred smooth stones, and ended up with some lovely blue fingers to show for his hard work. Then I spent countless hours painstakingly writing our names and wedding date on one side, and a word that is meaningful to us on the other. Words like “family”, “laugh”, “celebrate”, “together”, and “love” were scattered across every table to remind us all to put the most important things first in our lives.
Why am I telling you all this? (besides being a little extra emotional today as baby is at daycare for the very first time… sniff!). Because I am wishing that I knew about Monkeys Jewels back in 2004, as it would have saved me sooo much time, and kept my brothers’ fingers their natural colour! Based in British Columbia, Monkeys Jewels does custom stone engraving, giving you a meaningful and beautiful keepsake.
It's a love nest!
Timeless inspiration, a perfect reminder for someone in need of a little boost.
Now these would have been a way easier option for those centerpieces! You pick the words, and Monkey Jewels will sandblast them into the stones for you!
I love the smooth weight of the stone, and the emotion and significance behind the word.
But I also really love this:
Seriously, why didn't I know about you in 2004?!?!?!
So many people are struggling every day with health issues, sometimes a little reminder to hold on and keep fighting can mean the world.
A reminder to hold on tight to Courage, Hope, and Strength...
You can also find engraved stone pendants, and medical alert bracelets that are enduring and gorgeous! All the stones are naturally polished by the ocean before being engraved. Visit the Monkeys Jewels Etsy shop to see the endless possibilities.
Counting my blessings and feeling a little bit sentimental,
~Jennifer
In less than two weeks my baby girl will be celebrating her first birthday. In the midst of all those “how did my baby grow up so fast?” moments, I am planning a small but joyful little celebration fit for an energetic, cuddly, and all around amazing little girl. Yes, I am admittedly biased, but I think that is my prerogative as her mother! I have a plan for a couple of gifts (handmade, of course!), and intend to bake a delicious cake that I will hopefully manage to transform into a monkey. But, as this is my first attempt at planning a birthday party for my very. own. child (eek!) there are many details that I haven’t ironed out quite yet. One of those would be a topper for my hopefully magnificent monkey cake. So off to the internet I went, and boy, did I hit the jackpot! Lesley Wellington Cake Toppers (aka: The Cat’s Pajamas), are unique, fun, and super-cute. Just right for any happy celebration you can possibly imagine.
When you find that perfect person, it's like a puzzle piece just fits!
How perfect to top off a delectable valentines day dessert!
Monkeys. Need I say more?
Lesley also has fabulous ornaments that will capture your heart and personality. I know it’s a little early for holiday shopping (ok, a LOT early – our 2010 tree is still in our living room), but why not do it now while the holidays are fresh on your mind, and the storage boxes are still easy to reach!
This penguin is so cute, and you can customize it however you like!
Lesley sculpts her little creations from polymer clay at her home in Hamilton, Ontario. She also welcomes custom work, just let her know what you are looking for, and she can make it happen!
You can learn more about Lesley on her website (it includes fun pictures and a blog), on facebook, or visit the Cat’s Pajamas Etsy shop to see the whole selection of toppers and ornaments.
Here’s to celebrations all year round!
~Jennifer
Winter has definitely arrived, with cold temperatures, and some snow (ok, in some places a LOT of snow). That means it’s time to snuggle up with cozy blankets in front of a fire, or stay just a few extra minutes tucked into your warm bed before facing the day. I love the feeling of a nice soft, comfortable blanket tucked around me just right. So when the weather dips into those dreaded negative numbers, out comes my stockpile of fleecy or knitted delights. If you want to wrap your little one in something a little more personal than a generic pink or blue blankey, you won’t want to miss Baby Magoo. I have seen them at shows over the years, and always end up coo-ing over their lovely designs!
I was obsessed with all things purple for several years as a kid... I would have LOVED this!
Choose a custom theme to suit your child's dreams!
If you have a baby shower coming up, or your kids are a bit older, you can choose one of the other styles without the custom work. They are just as soft and beautiful, and you can easily find one to go with any room decor too!
These colourful dots are perfect for a modern mama and her stylish baby!
They also have the most adorable hooded towels in fun animal prints:
This is one giraffe that I could just Eat. Right. Up. too cute!
You can find the full Baby Magoo line (including some sweet “lovies”) on their site, and follow them on Twitter. Stay tuned for the upcoming Eco Magoo products!
The weather outside may be frightful, but staying cuddled up and warm is delightful!
~Jennifer
Pretty much every kid loves animals. I know my daughter squeals with delight if she even *hears* our cat, and gleefully points out any dog, bird, or squirrel that she sees on our walks. Kids also love to see their own names. It helps build their sense of identity, and is usually the first word that they learn to read and spell. So it makes perfect sense to fit the two together, and why not make it a puzzle for good measure? Enter: Zoodonyms. Wooden name puzzles featuring bright colours and animal shapes!
Available for any name, it's a perfect gift to welcome a new baby.
Keep them on a wall or shelf for display until baby is old enough for safe play, then bring on the puzzle fun!
Help little one learn to count with the numbers train!
What kid wouldn't want to hang their towel or jacket on this cute elephant peg?
Last but not least, as a confirmed word nerd and book lover, this one really stole my heart:
Who? Who? wants a bedtime story?
Check out the Zoodonyms online store to see the rest of the products, or to place a custom name order. If you are in the Toronto area and haven’t yet been to the One Of A Kind Show (what are you waiting for? run, don’t walk!) you can find Zoodonyms there alongside a *ton* of other talented and friendly crafters until Sunday afternoon.
Cheers!
~Jennifer
In a parallel universe, this is the kind of fab and fashion forward chick I’d like to be:
Style with attitude!
She is badASS and I kind of want to be her. Or, at least have her wardrobe ;)
Alter-Eco Clothing is a line of planet-friendly clothing created by Bianca Strom, a young designer based out of Nelson BC, with a strong focus on loving the Earth! I like how Bianca explains her shop’s philosophy:
Alter-Eco is a fashion-forward Clothing line for those of us out there who want to do our part for the Planet…but look amazing while doing so
So now you too can be a tree hugger in good misfit fashion.
These clothes are strong, spunky and unique – using parts of upcycled clothing, organic fabrics and handpainted designs use non-toxic paints. The shirt below is made out of an old The Distillers t-shirt, some black t-shirt fabric and scraps of leopard print. She is committed to the earth in many ways, and her RelovePlanet website has tons of information about what she’s doing and how she’s working to reuse and reduce and love our Earth.
Bianca does custom work as well – like the dress below, which comes in a variety of colours and will be made-to-order for you! I love the lacing details on this piece!
So bold and fun!
To see more of Alter-Eco Clothing, check them out on Etsy or visit Relove Planet (check out her blog, Facebook or Twitter, too… she’s all over the internets!)
Cheers,
~Sarah
This shop is one that Jenn is probably going to be annoyed that I found instead of her! She loves pretty glass, and these wine glasses from Toronto’s Decouverre are definitely gorgeous! Each glass is hand-painted using non-toxic enamel paints, and each is truly one of a kind with designs created by the artist.
These caught my eye immediately – the bold red and black design is so lovely, with dragonfly silhouettes and the jaunty little bird!
Set of 2, retro flowers
Since they are handpainted, they can be customized and personalized in any way you’d like – add a saying to the base of the glass, or the bride and groom’s name for a bridal party, for example. If you don’t like red, but would love some purple flowers, that can be done. This is why handmade is so appealing to me… I love the limitless possibilities when you’re dealing directly with the creator.
Different styles of glasses and platters, decanters etc are all possible
These martini glasses are another favourite…
As if martini's weren't classy enough, right?!
You can find Decouverre Glassware on Etsy, as well as on Facebook. Pop over to the shop to see some of the holiday designs as well – maybe start a new holiday tradition with your new glasses :)
Cheers!
~Sarah
It’s an almost magical moment for a kid. Getting everything ready for the jolly old elf’s arrival. Hanging (or placing) your stocking, putting out the milk and cookies, and trying (really trying!) to feel sleepy so that morning can come THAT much faster. The stocking is so special, and it is so much fun to dig through it the next morning and see all the little goodies inside. I know that as a new parent, one of the things I am most excited about is watching my little girl experience the holiday magic for the very first time.
So what to do if your stocking is looking a little worse for wear? Or you have a new little person who needs a stocking of their own? Try a handmade felt stocking from Rikrak! They are stylish and fun, and even eco-friendly. Custom work is also available for those truly unique folks (or critters) gathered around your tree.
So pretty! I love the cool white and bright turquoise together.
You can even personalize it with the name of your precious pooch.
A holiday classic.
Don’t miss these stylish retro themed ornaments to dress up your tree!
These colourful ornaments are so fun and pretty!
You can find the whole selection at the Rikrak Etsy shop. You can also visit the Rikrak Studio Art and Design blog to see all kinds of beautiful, inspiring, and creative things. Or, if you like to Twitter (and you know we do!) follow the Rikrak twitter stream.
Wishing you all a beautiful day,
~Jennifer
UPDATE: The RikRak Studio is running a fabulous Mega Happy Holidays contest on their blog – gorgeous handmade goodies to be won! Head on over there and get your entries in (tons of ways to enter!) Click here for all the details.
Kids are cute. Kids dressed up in adorable outfits are extra cute. Kids dressed up in adorable outfits that are unique and special?? Ridiculously cute. So, if you are like me, and enjoy making sure that the little people in your life look ridiculously cute… you may want to check out the hot real estate on Lilikoi Lane. Lilikoi is the hawaiian word for passion fruit, and just like the fruit, their shirts are bright, fresh, and full of life. There are all kinds of designs to choose from, and each one is made to order! Pick the design that you love, then select the colours and sizes to make it just right for your precious little person.
This style is called the Giving Tree. So sweet, and perfect for fall!
This giraffe is so adorable!
Put your little one's initial right on their shirt!
Oh, and just so nobody feels left out, Lilikoi Lane has adult sizes too! From six months, right up to Mom and Dad, everyone can have their very own unique piece. Or, if you prefer, the whole family can match, or have variations on one theme. There are so many possibilities and combinations with these fun and colourful shirts. If you don’t see a template design that suits you, just ask, custom work is always available.
See more at the Lilikoi Lane Etsy shop,or in the online store. You can also follow Crystal (that’s the brains and busy fingers behind the clothes) on Twitter and Facebook!
Have a great day!
~Jennifer
