v 3 issue 40: All about Etsy

All About Etsy

We are so thrilled to share our favorite finds at Etsy. You will find the most unique items for your little ones and you too.
Cover by Brenda Acuncius





1 Here's the scoop on loopdiloop's! A passion for design, six years of creating formal gowns, and one inspiring daughter helped to bring this gorgeous little baby ballgown to life. Tired of the same old same, this talented Mom decided to design her own couture. The fact that this dress grows with your child makes it even better. Double sided satin ribbon and a corset style back help to cover a growing torso and the dress changes from a long buttercream dream to a short taffeta beauty...depending on the length of those legs.
2 Bellasofia truly is blessed with a gift for creating beautiful heirloom quality couture and accessories. Her creations of toile, satin and cotton...are reminiscent of a secret garden party. A favorite for us would be the adorable bunnies which come with aprons to match the lovely dress fabrics. These huggable stuffed bunnies come in small and large sizes and make a perfect guest of honor for a little girl's tea party. P.S.-We like her well behaved manner too!
3 A pretty bow and fabulous fabric choices make these booties just scrumptious. What in tarnations!...some of these booties even have matching appliqued onesies. Dog Gone Knitting is the company that makes these cutie pie shoes for only $15.- Made to fit the toes of 3-6 months, but a request can get you a pair in bigger sizes.
4 Sarah + Abraham creates note cards perfect for saying hello, congratulations or thank you. But it's not just note cards you will find here. Artwork of simple and timeless design comes in the form of prints for hanging, invitations and announcements for celebrating, or tags and stickers for adding a sweet touch. Needless to say, all designs subtly remind us of the beauty in the simplicity of life!
5 In 2006, Robyn's love of edgy fashion and Rob's passion for rock music came together to create lowleepop. For those of you who were lucky enough to have lived through the 80's the first time around, this baby gift set may give you a sudden urge to pull out the 8' x 8' of linoleum and do a backspin because the baby's bringin' the beats. Maybe not! But anyway, these kid clothes are really great, definitely fun, and unique. Keep up the good work...we love it!
6 With four kids, this stay-at-home Mom manages to find time to make some of the coolest and unique necklaces we've seen. Custom tile necklaces from My Little Chickadees can be personalized or chosen from tons of great pre-designed tiles. All necklaces come with a ribbon which easily adjusts to any size neckline and you get to pick the color. Great prices and beautiful packaging-free of charge!-are the icing on the cake for this hand-crafted goodness.
7 Keeping busy making beautiful art, stationary products and "all the things that make celebrating so much fun" really pays off...for us! BellaBlu designs has lots of fun stuff to pick from. Who wouldn't adore this tagless onesie appliqued with a lab dog? Great fabrics are stitched onto durable Carter's onesies with a zig zag stitch to prevent unnecessary fraying. Available in sizes 3-24 months or in tees for the bigger kiddos.
8 Add a dash of this to a dabble of that and you come up with the absolutely fabulous finds of Pish Posh Girls. Like us here at Tot Trends, they love "a little bit of this and a little bit of that" and they have a fantastic way of pulling it all together to make adorable dresses and accessories for the girls we love. Add Kate Clips to your order and choose the fabric you want for only $5.- for two or $7.50 for three. What a deal!
This week's Mom Tips

Cleaning Tip:
Clean those dirty and dander filled stuffed animals by placing them in a pillowcase, tie the top and wash them in the washing machine.
Financial Tip:
Save hundreds of dollars by cooking meals at home and packing lunches. Not only is this the most affordable way to feed your family but also the healthiest way to satisfy your hunger.
Green Tip:

Purchase reusable bags for grocery shopping. It takes 20 to 1,000 years for a plastic bag to break down in the environment and paper is bulkier than plastic, taking up more landfill space. Like plastic, it does not breakdown rapidly. Grocery Stores like Hannaford offers attractive reusable bags for only $2 and also credits you for each recyclable bag you use. They also recycle your used plastic bags. Check with your grocer to see what programs they offer. Check out Get hip get green for stylish reusable bags. http://www.gethipgetgreen.com/bag02.htm
Time Saving Tip:
Pay Your Bills Electronically. Save time (and stamp money) by not writing out and mailing checks.



Painting with pudding
Great for children 2 and under - Non Toxic

Supplies:
Construction Paper (any color)
Pudding (chocolate, vanilla or both)
Spoon
Shaped sponges (optional)
Place your baby in their highchair or booster seat at your table. Be sure to have them in play clothes because this can get rather messy.

Place the construction paper on the tray or table in front of them.

Place a half teaspoon of pudding – chocolate or vanilla - onto the construction paper and let your baby smear away. Once they have started smearing, you can add another half teaspoon of pudding.

If you choose to use the sponges, place a half teaspoon onto a paper plate and dip the sponges into the pudding. Place them on the construction paper and help them dab to make the shape of the sponge.

The pudding will dry just like regular store bought fingerpaints