there's just something about that (big) bird

Growing up, I felt such a connection with the characters on Sesame Street. Maybe it's because I remember my own childhood trip to the store for "a loaf of bread, a container of milk and a stick of butter" (I'll save that story for another day) or because the front stoop at 123 looked a lot like my own in Ridgewood.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street and I've spent the past four hours some time on You Tube watching my favorites. What are yours?

Upcycling for Earth Day | Etsy roundup

Happy Earth Day! Some of my favorite upcycled items for children on Etsy:

Birthday Tunic Dress by Courtney Courtney

(Hey! I recognize that beautiful girl in that fabulous photo! Pascale rocks.)

The Original Recycled Shirt Skirt by Lillipops Designs

(using repurposed men's dress shirts)

Giant Personalized Wool Ball by Handmade Pretties

(using 100% recycled wool scraps)

Mighty Mouse T-Shirt by Little Overcoat

(using recycled tees)

Mjou Doll by acajou

(created from sewing workroom scraps)

Journal by Nico Papergoods

(handsewn journal covered with recycled children's clothes)

Easter dresses | Etsy roundup

Some dresses I'm loving for Easter (if I can only convince you-know-who to wear one):

Cotton candy polka bow by Rocker Baby

Alice in Wonderland dress by Bella Blue Boutique

Bailey dress by Pink Bunny

Sunshine and Steel dress by Whole Grain Baby

Ode and Sonnet knot dress by Pretty Me

What I'm Reading | Brain, Child

The latest issue of Brain, Child arrived today and I'm positively giddy. It is my favorite parenting magazine because it's smart, snarky, and refreshingly independent. Some highlights (so far)...

• Endgame: If your kids aren't the best, should they even bother? (by Hilary Meyerson)
• Talking Smack: What to say to the offspring about your lost years. (by Johanna Bailey) and
• Curse Like a Sailor: Potty mouth doesn't even begin to describe it. (by Joan Marcus)

It drives me crazy that Brain, Child is only published quarterly and I crave much more. Any other thinking mama-type magazines that you'd recommend? Or do I just need to wait until the summer issue to get my next fix?

custom party decorations

A few weeks ago I completed a fun project for an Etsy customer of mine. She asked me to create shower decorations to coordinate with the plaid pram stationery from my shop.

I designed a banner with the baby's name. The letters were printed on thick cardstock and held together with chocolate brown ribbon.

Then I created some cupcake toppers. I printed a custom message on the front and the plaid pattern on the back. I used 80 lb cardstock (not too thick, not too thin), and cut out the circles using a 2" hole punch.

I struggled with finding the best way to adhere the two pieces to each other and the toothpick. I ended up using my Xyron (sticker-making) machine. There was a good deal of glue left around the edges (the downside of using the Xyron) so it took a while with each piece and my adhesive eraser to get rid of the sticky edges.

I was really happy with the way they turned out but I'm not sure that I'll be listing them in my shop. Maybe I'm just slow (or too much of a perfectionist) but the toppers took way too long to assemble. Besides, glue and I don't really get along.

I would consider listing banners in my Etsy shop though... no adhesives required. I'll keep you posted ;)

shop local | pink kiss ceramics

I found Pink Kiss Ceramics via the Shop Local feature on Etsy. Shop owner/elementary school art teacher Shawna Pincus (get it? so clever) is a member of the Charm City Craft Mafia and a wickedly talented potter. Have I ever mentioned my potter-envy?

Some of my favorites...

Little Dippers in the Round

Damask Cookie Plate

Salt and Pepper Set for One

Birch Leaf Spoon Rest

confessions

Samson sleeps with his La La. Jane sleeps with Winnie-the-Pooh. I sleep with a tissue.

In my left hand.

All night long.

It's my sneeze-proof security blanket.

Am I not the only one?

Tissue pillow via Curbly

feeling good

Needing her own "feel good arsenal" to help her through postpartum depression, Julie, from Up, Up Creative, devised a Feelgood List. To help herself feel better, Julie created a checklist of things she knew she needed to accomplish daily and weekly during those early months of motherhood . Luckily (for new moms everywhere), Julie now sells these printable, customizable lists on her Etsy shop.

Oh how I wish I had a Feelgood List during those early months of motherhood-- when I felt I had lost control over every aspect of my life. I could have benefited greatly from the chance to feel like I had accomplished something other than nursing a newborn (even though that was an accomplishment).

Buy one for yourself and one for a new mom in your life. We all need the reminder to take care of ourselves (at least once in a while).

Cora's Etsy shop

Cora's mom and Granny have created an Etsy shop to support the Cora's Playground Project. It's filled with beautiful crafty things like handmade wooden blocks, blankets and onesies--all in honor of their little girl.

I purchased one of these and it made my heart smile.

cora's playground project

Thanks to a wonderful article in The Storque, the Cora Playground Project on Etsy has grown tremendously. As of this evening there were almost 500 items listed by over 100 sellers. The fundraiser has been extended until March 5th, which would have been that sweet little baby's first birthday.

I just received my first purchase from the project (see Jane showing off her Cora tee from I Love Plum) and I'm pretty sure you should get one too:

Valentine craftiness

We're totally getting our craft on today. On the agenda:

Bee Mine banner download from IndieFixx

Bonbon filled hearts by Martha Stewart
(I think we'll fill ours with candy hearts)

Icy cold heart pops from Kids Craft Weekly

(crafts can be edible, right?)