Search results (tags) for: "baby shower"

Etsy Finds: Hey Baby

2009-06-30T12:00:00-05:00

Growing up is easy when you've got the right materials close at hand. Take a look at this baby-friendly collection for chic methods to decorate and organize the nursery, must-have accessories for new parents, and adorable summer fashion for your trendy tot. Browse Etsy's Baby and Children's Guides for more creative and kid-friendly gift ideas that are sure to invigorate your nest.

Nursery Organization and New Parent Must-Haves

NEW 2009 Baby Mat - Tulip

By babymomo, $30.

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WeeEssentials All Natural Soap

By WeeEssentials, $5.

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Organic Bamboo Fleece Blanket

By OrganicByNature, $38.

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Diaper and Wipe Case

By KaoriColor, $21.50.

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FREE SHIPPING Nursing Cover

By parkplacebaby, $21.50.

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Hollywood Baby Burp Cloth Set

By noahbabyboutique, $18.

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Reversible Bib

By AmyRoseDesigns, $10.

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The Ultimate Man Hold Sling

By RaspberryBaby, $35.

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Nursery Decor and Play

Fabric Bird Bouquet

By HeyMiemie, $56.

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NEW Smile Hoot Pillow

By fongstudio, $20.

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Free-play Infant/Toddler Toy

By littlesaplingtoys, $30.

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Lemongrass Scented Play Clay

By MamaKs, $4.

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Hanging Owl Mobile

By blackbirdfashion, $39.

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Babushka Reusable Wall Stickers

By Stickytiki, $40.

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Summer Fashion for the Little Ones

Boys White Sailor Jumper

By beaneandco, $40.

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Navy Market/Diaper Bag

By fantella, $29.

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Denim Pinafore

By squirtbaby, $36.

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Baby Leather Llama Moks Sz 12-18M

By scandeez, $30.

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Floral Bonnet available in all sizes

By urbanbabybonnets, $32.

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Yellow Bird Onesie

By veryKIKI, $10.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Baby Gift Guide | Handmade Kids Series

Environmentally Friendly Gift Guide | Children's Gift Guide

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

How-Tuesday: Make a Stella Pixie Hat

2009-06-09T14:33:00-05:00

Are you a knitter with a baby in your life? Need a sweet little project to keep your hands busy during the summer months? Or if you're one of our Southern Hemisphere friends, you're in luck! Download the complete project instructions here, or follow along below, courtesy of Vintage Baby Knits by Kristen Rengren.

In the 1940s and 1950s pointy "pixie" hats were all the rage for babies. For this 1944 version, a knitted rectangle is folded in half and grafted together, then a strap is added along the bottom to secure the hat firmly on baby's head. I selected a soft, springy wool sock yarn for this project. I often choose sock yarn for baby clothes because it is durable, washable, and soft, and because it knits up in the finer gauges that are so common in vintage patterns.

Sizes
3-12 (12-24) months
Shown in size 3-12 months.

Finished Measurements
Approximately 13 (13 3/4)" [33 (35) cm] as base of neck, buttoned
8 3/4 (9 1/2)" [22 (24) cm] to highest point, at back of Hat
Note: Choose the appropriate size based on the height of the hat. You can adjust the fit of the neckband if necessary.

Yarn
Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock
Medium weight (100% superwash Merino wool; 380 yards [347 meters] / 155 grams): 1 hank Coral

Needles
One pair straight needles size US 3 (3.25 mm)
Spare needle size US 3 (3.25 mm) or smaller, for Kitchener Stitch
Change needle size if necessary to obtain correct gauge.

Notions
One 11/16" (15 mm) buttons

Gauge
36 sts and 36 rows= 4" (10 cm) in 2x2 Rib

Notes
This hat is very easy to size up or down from the sizes given. Simply add or subtract sts in a multiple of 4 and work the crosswise ridges as instructed until you have only 2 sts in ribbing at the center of the Hat. Then complete the Hat as instructed. When sizing, keep in mind that for every 4 sts you add or subtract, you will also add or subtract 1/3" (8 mm) to the height of the Hat, in order to complete the crosswise ridges.

Stitch Patterns
2x2 Rib (multiple of 4 sts + 2; 1-row repeat)
Row 1 (RS): K2, *p2, k2; repeat from * to end.
Row 2: Knit the knit sts and purl the purl sts as they face you.
Repeat Row 2 for 2x2 Rib.

1x1 Rib (multiple of 2 sts; 1-row repeat)
All rows: *K1, p1; repeat from * to end.

Hat
CO 98 (106) sts. Begin 2x2 Rib.
Work even for 4 rows.

Shape Hat
Row 1 (RS): K6, work in 2x2 Rib to last 6 sts, knit to end.
Row 2: Knit the knot sts and purl the purl sts as they face you.
Row 3: Repeat Row 1.
Row 4: K8, work to last 8 sts, knit to end.
Row 5: Repeat Row 2.
Row 6: Repeat Row 4.
Row 7: K10, work to last 10 sts, knit to end.
Row 8: Repeat Row 2.
Row 9: Repeat Row 7.
Row 10: K12, work to last 12 sts, knit to end.
Row 11: Repeat Row 2.
Row 12: Repeat Row 10.
Row 13: K14, work to last 14 sts, knit to end.
Row 14: Repeat Row 2.
Row 15: Repeat Row 13.
Row 16: K16, work to last 16 sts, knit to end.
Row 17: Repeat Row 2.
Row 18: Repeat Row 16.

Note: You are creating "crosswise ridges" of three rows of St st, alternating with 3 rows of Reverse St st, at the beginning and end of every row, with the 2x2 Rib continuing in the center.

Rows 19-64 (70): Continue until 2 sts remain in the 2x2 Rib in the center of the hat, increasing the number of knit sts worked at the beginning and end of every third row by 2, decreasing the number of 2x2 Rib sts worked in the center of the hat by 2 on each side, and working all intervening rows by knitting the knit sts and purling the purl sts. Break yarn.

Transfer first 49 (53) sts to spare needle, with point facing towards center of work. Using Kitchener Stitch (see Special Techniques, page 158), graft sts together, beginning at center of work.

Neckband
CO 10sts. Begin 1x1 Rib. Work even until piece measures 12 (12 3/4)" [30.5 (32.5) cm] from the beginning, or to 3 3/4" (9.5 cm) less than desired length.

Make Buttonhole
Row 1 (RS): Work 4 sts, k1-f/b, p1, pass second st on right-handed needle over last st, k1-f/b, pass third st on right-handed needle over last 2 sts, work to end.
Row 2: Work 3 sts, p2tog, k2, p1, k1, p2tog, work to end.
*Work even for 7 rows. Repeat buttonhole rows. Repeat from * once. Work even until piece measures 15 3/4 (16 1/2)" [40 (42) cm] from the beginning, ending with a WS row. BO all sts in pattern.

Finishing
Block pieces lightly. Sew side edge of neckband to CO edge of hat, beginning with CO edge of neckband flush with right edge of Hat. Sew button to neckband, so that when fastened, neckband fits comfortably around neck.

Thanks to Kristen Rengren and the folks at Stewart Tabori & Chang for sharing this project with us.

Read more knitting-related posts. More crafty project downloads can be found in our How-Tuesday series on the Etsy blog. And did you know that you can buy Supplies on Etsy?

Guest Curator: Jess Chamberlain of Sunset Magazine

2009-05-27T14:30:00-05:00

This week’s Guest Curator is Jess Chamberlain, who writes about decorating, projects, and eco-friendly living for Sunset Magazine. Jess is dedicated to improving readers' lives through healthy choices. She appreciates thoughtfully-made (smart) products, and she can’t get enough of creative ways to reuse old furniture. Jess also writes for the Home by Sunset blog, loves discovering new shops, and can sometimes be found experimenting (with her wanna-be green thumb or her fancy-looking camera) in the Sunset test garden. She lives for a good cup of coffee and thrives on converting brown-baggers into aspiring environmentalists.

Scouring the market for unique and handmade products is one of the best parts of my job (sampling pinots with our wine editor at lunch time is another). Eco-friendly living is my favorite beat here and a key foundation of life in the West, so I was thrilled to learn of Etsy’s new Team Eco Etsy as well as the Shop Local feature. Well done!

At Sunset we like to celebrate the uniqueness of the West by blurring the lines between indoors and out, so here are some great picks for nature-inspired décor — all by artists based out here by the Pacific.

I love Etsy for gift ideas and applaud the site’s ability to transform everyday artists into design superstars.

Large Tuck Pot (second) with Airplant arrangement

If you haven’t noticed, air plants are a hot design item these days — and they’re die-hard plants for those of us who are botanically-challenged. This beautiful tuck pot by PigeonToeCeramics turns the plants into instant art. By PigeonToeCeramics, $38.

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Alberta street balloons 8.5x11

I adore this image (that spurs childhood nostalgia) by Andrea of girlhula. We’re big fans of her blog, which playfully follows her photographic musings. By girlhula, $25.

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Custom Vintage Silverware Garden Marker

Utility recycling at its finest: these garden markers by monkeysalwayslook were upcycled from vintage silver plated forks, knives, and spoons. (Check out my obsession with upcycling here.) By monkeysalwayslook, $8.

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Mushroom shaped ceramic pottery bird house

mudpuppy’s ceramics are beautifully detailed works of art. This mushroom bird house comes complete with a ceramic bead and hemp hanger for quick hanging. By mudpuppy, $45.

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Blue Artichokes Shirt, 6-12m, long sleeve

alittlelark tees make the best kiddo gifts. The unique hand-printed designs are packaged in the cutest little muslin bag (pre-wrapped!). By alittlelark, $19.

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small cottage vase

No-fail hostess gift — solo or as a trio. Joanna Mendicino’s vases come in gorgeous colors and a variety of organic/modern botanical designs too. By prettyrandomobjects, $38.

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dogwood pretties-8x10 signed fine art photograph

On a recent trip to Portland I became enchanted by Dogwood trees. (Those petals fall like snow flakes.) The details in this photo by blissfulimages take me there. By blissfulimages, $25.

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The Open Road Letterpress Journal

I adore vintage drawings. OldSchoolStationers takes us back with their “Camping Circa 1960s” collection.
(Inspired to hit the road with a tent? Check out Sunset’s camping guide here.) By OldSchoolStationers, $20.

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SALE Five Nesting Lotus Bowls

Whitney Smith brings new meaning to the term "floral arrangement." These lotus nesting bowls are as wonderful assembled as table art as they are beautiful when used as entertaining pieces. By whitneysmith, $175.

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Songbird Grasping and Teething toy

These charming little grasping/teething animals, made from reclaimed and FSC-certified wood (and left unfinished), make such thoughtful baby shower gifts. By littlesaplingtoys, $12.

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Reindeer, 6x6 print

It’s hard not to adore the “The Little Zoo” series by Elizabeth Soule. The miniatures are mesmerizing. By esoule, $25.

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4 by vessel

This “anything” holder by Paige Russell is the perfect marriage of modern and kitsch. For a splurge, I love it. By paigerussell, $125.

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Patchie Plays the Fiddlehead Pillow / Cushion Cover

Beauty from scraps: UmberDove fashions her pillows from remnant fabric — each pieces carefully patch-worked together. The fiddlehead playfully brings a little foliage indoors. By UmberDove, $48.

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Gold Leafed Carantion Flower Pin - Recycled Tshirt

Personally, I’m not one to wear a corsage, but my handbag isn’t against it. I love love love that these flower pins by Marang97’s are recycled from t-shirts. (Check out these pillows we made from out-dated clothing.) By Marang97, $7.50.

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10 CUSTOM eggs in a nest.

How cute are these?! Rae Dunn does all her trademark “type” by hand for the adorable little eggs — great for personalized party favors. Try them as place cards. By raedunn, $140.

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Brown Natalie Bag with Late Blooms Print

The hand screenprinted bags by Appetite do not help curb my handbag addiction. (Check out other Sunset-favorite botanical-inspired goods here.) By appetite, $44.

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Summer-Green Flowering Rush

I had the pleasure of observing Lynn of Satsuma Press in her printing studio last year. She’s as sweet as her bloom prints! By satsumalynn, $15.

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Further resources:
Sunset
Home by Sunset
Fresh Dirt, Sunset’s garden blog
Housemartin (my favorite home-meets-garden blog)

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Who Wins? Baby!

2009-05-11T14:00:00-05:00

You want to know what makes the best baby shower gift, according to popular vote?...Congrats to littlealouette, whose Maple Wood Safari 5 piece pretend and teething set won last week's poll! All of the items were squeal-worthy, and you can see runners up below. But we all know who the biggest winner is today — baby!

Ok, who wears flowers in their hair? Grows flowers? Wish your name were Iris or Lilly? You should get involved in next week's round of voting! Post links to your nominations in the comments below. We are look for all types of items with May flowers as our theme.

Voting Posts | Children's Category | Children's Showcase | Handpicked Gifts for Baby

Vote! Best Baby Shower Gifts

2009-05-05T10:04:00-05:00

We asked our readers to nominate their favorite baby items. Now it's your turn to vote!

Next Monday we'll announce the winner and we'll all have the opportunity to Ooo and Ahhh over the cuteness. The winner will be featured in the Gift Guides and here on the Etsy blog, so show your favorite sellers some love and get out the vote!

Voting Posts | Children's Category | Children's Showcase

Handmade Kids Posts | Handpicked Baby Items

Baby Showcase: On Sale Thursday, March 19, 2009 12 PM EDT

2009-03-16T16:35:00-05:00

Know someone with a baby on the way? Or maybe you're a new mama or mama-to-be? The Baby Showcase will be a great place to find ideas for a gift that will stand out from the rest and become a memorable part of the little one's new life. And likely, you're also on the hunt for fantastic pieces for the nursery or the wee wardrobe.

We encourage sellers to add items that every parent will love, like baby booties, pajamas, cute dresses, and items to decorate a nursery. Baby albums, onesies, baby blankets, and toys would work well, too. And don't forget those items that make a new mom's life easier like baby slings, diaper bags and beauty products to keep mom and baby well moisturized and feeling good.

In order to keep the Showcase on-point thematically, the tool will only pull items placed in the following categories: Bath and Beauty (e.g., top-level tag being "bath and beauty"), Bags and Purses, Books and Zines, Children, Clothing, Crochet, Knitting, Quilts, Toys and Vintage.

Baby Showcase goes on sale Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 12PM EDT.
Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, March 23, 2009 12am EDT through Sunday, March 29, 2009, 11:59pm EDT.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Spring Showcase: On sale date, March 26, 2009; the Showcase will be live from March 30, 2009 to April 12, 2009.
- Think of bunnies, lambs, Easter eggs and all things "spring-like".
Mothers Day Showcase: On sale date, April 9, 2009; the Showcase will be live from April 20, 2009 to May 3, 2009.
- Think of beautiful jewelry, artwork, fashion and all things that will make a mom feel special.
Graduation Showcase: On sale date, April 30, 2009; the Showcase will be live from May 4, 2009 to May 10, 2009.
- Think keepsakes and items to send them off in style to college or their first job.

What is this Showcase thing? For a general introduction to Showcase, read Matt's Storque article 13.5 Questions about the Showcase, and for deeper thoughts on figuring out if Showcase is right for you, see Beth's Showcase Deconstructed article.

Spring Showers Showcase: On Sale Thursday, March 5, 2009 12 PM EST

2009-03-02T13:28:00-05:00

In spring I usually see an increase in wedding and baby shower invitations in my mailbox. These beautiful communications inspire thoughts of new beginnings and new paths...and all the stuff that goes along with. The Spring Showers Showcase will be a great place to find that one of a kind handmade gift that will be treasured for generations.

We encourage sellers to add items that would make great gifts for that new mom or dad-to-be or the bride or groom-to-be. For new parents, think onesies, nursery decorations and bedding, rattles, plush toys, quilts and blankets. For the soon-to-be wed, think household items, such as serving dishes and vases, artwork, furniture and items for bed and bath.

Spring Showers Showcase goes on sale Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 12PM EST.

Go to the Showcase Gateway to purchase a spot.
This Showcase will run from Monday, March 9, 2009 12am EST through Sunday, March 15, 2009, 11:59pm EST.
For $15 USD, Etsy sellers can purchase a 24-hour spot, which will be linked from a prominent banner on Etsy's homepage.
Sellers determine which item will be featured in your Showcase slot. Sellers must use the tool in Your Etsy > Promote > Showcase. Learn more about this process here.

Future Showcases

If you are thinking about planning for other Showcases that may be more appropriate for your items, here are some of the front page Showcases we will be highlighting:

Spring Fashion: On sale March 12, 2009; the Showcase will be live from March 16, 2009 through March 22, 2009.

Baby Showcase: On sale date, March 19, 2009; the Showcase will be live from March 23, 2009 through March 29, 2009.
- Think all items for little ones, such as onesies, toys, books, quilts, adorable booties, etc.
Spring Showcase: On sale date, March 26, 2009; the Showcase will be live from March 30, 2009 through April 12, 2009.
- Think of bunnies, lambs, Easter eggs and all things "spring-like".
Mothers Day Showcase: On sale date, April 9, 2009; the Showcase will be live from April 20, 2009 through May 3, 2009.
- Think of beautiful jewelry, artwork, fashion and all things that will make a mom feel special.

Guest Curator: Baby Shower Picks with Cookie Magazine's Crabmommy

2009-01-28T17:18:00-05:00

Crabmommy is an Etsy buyer and also writes a humorous motherhood blog for Cookie magazine with a monthly Etsy feature. She divides her time between motherhood and complaining about it.

I ruffled many mommy feathers when I dissed baby shower registries on my blog. I'm not against baby showers--just registries themselves. Registries — in my not-so-humble opinion — are tacky, dull, and presumptuous, and I pledge to never, ever purchase some Buy Buy Baby hideous automated mobile off a dang list, much less recommend such an act to my mom-readers! Thankfully, with such a splendid abundance of Etsylicious offerings available, one can ignore those pesky registries and easily find exquisite, lovingly crafted, original, and memorable gifts to be treasured, which is what giving is supposed to be about.

Mellon Slippers by bellaserababy

Etsy's baby bootie booty is an embarrassment of riches. I just love the creativity in Etsian handmade shoes. I have a bit of a thing for easy-to-put-on and certain-to-stay-on crossover-style baby shoes, like these from bellaserababy.

Magic Jewel Bears - Limited Edition Print by zukzuk

One-of-a-kind nursery artwork is the present that lasts forever. Frankly if someone had given me one of zukzuk's bear or soon-to-be-relisted logland prints for my babe, I would have made him or her a godmother even though I'm an atheist.

Algiers, 1932 by tollipop

Ditto with tollipop's delectable bunny print. Its strange, compelling title — Algiers, 1932 — makes me feel intellectual and well traveled.

Felt Balls - Custom Letters by kneek

What could be more thoughtful than a customized baby present? I am so digging these brilliant custom-letter felt balls for the babe room — way cooler than those ho-hum store-bought blocks spelling out baby's name. At only $7 a ball you score even more if baby's name is Cy or Pax!

Natural Wooden Doll Bodies by goosegrease

If you're artsy, start with goosegrease's wooden dolls and paint your mom friend's new family (convo with the seller to customize).

Wooden Grabbing and Nursing Necklace by stonesofhealing

For a practical pick that is also eco-fabulous, this nursing necklace from stonesofhealing is genius. A gorgeous tactile birch ring, it distracts baby from pulling hair or biting Mama.

Eco modern baby cushion circle by boopalinabebe

Continuing the eco theme, you can't go wrong with boopalinabebe's chic mod multi-purpose baby cushion/mat/changing pad, made from organic bamboo fleece and cotton. Swanky!

Sweet bird bib, burp cloth & changing pad by jenniferladd

I'm totally in love with this scrumptious bib, burp cloth, and changing pad set by jenniferladd in heavenly mod bird-patterned fabric. Seriously ad.or.able.

Play Mat Vintage Apples by mimoo

Etsy really is the place for baby play mats. mimoo's awesome selection includes this vintage apple-themed number. Yummy!

Little Jasper by rosieok

My hands-down fave baby presents are those that could easily be for mom too. For me, that's amigurumi crocheted dolls and animals. My babe was given a tiny crocheted duck as a newborn. I promptly stole it away for myself. I would have done the same had my newborn been given one of rosieok's custom-crafted boy or girl dolls — and her pandas and teddies are equally charming.

Crochet Pattern - Ruby in a Strawberry Costume by Owlishly

Note: Owlishly (and many other Etsyfabulous sellers) lists her own amazing amigurumi patterns for purchase. Me, I'm far too lazy and intimidated, but maybe you're not. If you're up to it, why not tackle this dear strawberry creature (pattern is geared towards beginners), or else convo to price out a custom order.

Beige on Beige Cranberry Piped Smocked Dress by darlasclothing

If your mom-friend is expecting a little girl and traditional retro-fabulous baby clothing floats your boat, then what could be sweeter than a smocked frock? This romper is so screamingly adorable it *almost* makes me want to reproduce again.

Soiree Dress by rockerbaby

rockerbaby's darling bow and spotted dresses (from newborn up) are equally striking, updating vintage looks for the mod tot.

I hope you enjoyed my new baby findings and that you'll stop by my blog at Cookie magazine for more chitchat. In amongst talking smack about motherhood in general and poking fun at others and myself, I like to showcase quality affordable design for kids and moms. Sellers, feel free to convo with me if you have something cool in the $20 and under range for my monthly feature!

Looking for past Guest Curators? Check out our archive.

Special event at 4pm today — Baby Shower in the Virtual Labs!

Baby Gift Guides | Children's Category | Handmade Kids Series | Gift Ideas

Support Toy-makers and Makers of Children's Items! Amend the CPSIA!

Etsy Finds: Baby Love

2009-01-28T08:00:00-05:00

Hello, baby shower! If you're a new mom, a crafter specializing in baby items or a shopper on the hunt for baby shower items, make sure to check out the Virtual Baby Shower and Trunk Show with Ficklefaerie happening today, January 28th, 2009 at 4PM EST in the Auditorium of the Virtual Labs. We'll be announcing the most recent additions to the Etsy community and surprising new moms with a lottery of donated baby shower gifts. Here's a collection of some of the cuteness on Etsy...

Butter - Natural Cotton Plush Bunny Toy - Baby safe - Waldorf inspired - Valentine's Day, Easter Basket

By PalominoMorgan, $26.

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Cashmere Security Blankie

By scandeez, $38.

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Felt Mobile- Four Food Groups

By petitflaneur, $64.

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Inquisitive Monkey Silly Hat, Custom made ANY SIZE

By tiptopapplesauce, $45.

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Rocker Pink -ruffle diaper covers

By RaeGun, $12.50.

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little knit hat with the big heart. sizes newborn-adult available. valentine

By SarahLamont, $26.

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Newborn N O O N I E (TM) - Circles

By lalaspequenos, $45.

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Sebastian / 0-24 months baby boy shoes/ 0-24 months

By AureliaandAnnalise, $23.99.

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Farmers Market Vegetable Basket with Carrot Eggplant Zucchini Tomato Corn and Potato

By bugbitesplayfood, $35.

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Looking for more Etsy Finds? Try these links:

Baby Gift Guides | Handmade Kids Series | Guest Curators | Gift Ideas

Support Toy-makers and Makers of Children's Items! Amend the CPSIA!

Need a daily fix of Etsy Finds? Sign up for the Etsy Finds e-mail! Conveniently delivered to your inbox!

Baby Surprise!

2009-01-11T14:30:00-05:00

UPDATE: We have scheduled the live event for January 28 at 4pm Eastern time.

[the following was originally posted on January 7, 2009]

With the excitement of a brand new, tiny person's arrival, come...adorable tiny clothes, huggable toys, and all those things new moms need. Whether you're a new mom, a craftsperson specializing in baby items, or someone browsing for baby shower gifts, this event is for you: Virtual Baby Shower and Trunk Show!

Etsy will be hosting this online event in the Virtual Labs with ficklefaerie, exact time and date TBD. Gather round as we announce the most recent additions to the Etsy community, and as we surprise new moms with a lottery of donated baby shower items. This is also an opportunity for shoppers to get a peek at sellers' picks from their shops in a fun environment. Cuteness all around!

The Etsy Baby Shower is a community project ficklefaerie started in the Etsy forums. Now in its second year, the project deserves a special event, so we decided to do something live! Read about how the project got started in this post.

We'll be inviting our contacts and blogger friends to spread the word about the event; we hope to get lots of people to attend. Please post in this forum thread if you'd like to participate either as a mom or as a generous seller who'd like to donate a gift. The details are in the thread, and we're closing comments here to consolidate questions and such in one place.

We especially can't wait to meet the first 2009 babies!

Featured Buyer: UrbanBaby's Brooke Showell

2007-12-12T07:29:00-05:00

We invited Brooke Showell of UrbanBaby to be our Featured Buyer this week. UrbanBaby is an online resource guide dedicated to all things hip for metropolitan mamas and families. They also feature a gift guide for the holidays, filled with cozy blankets and stroller warmers for babies to chic maternity dresses for mom. Below you'll find some of Brooke's favorite items on Etsy.

Presents Perfect: Baby Gifts That Make the Grade

With all the scary toy recalls out there, parents want to know about the items they buy for their baby: where they come from, what they’re made of and how. That’s why handcrafted items are so big in this market: they’re made at a kitchen table instead of an unknown factory, and on Etsy, you can convo a seller to ask what materials were used. Even better, handmade toys make great holiday gifts.

Yes, today’s parents crave modern design. They want to keep their home sleek even with the addition of a stroller parked in the hall, and that stroller should be able to slide up to the table at brunch. Fortunately, there’s a lot of well-designed gear that’s both great to look at and functional. Right now it’s all about the mix of old and new. You can be both contemporary and kitschy, or streamlined and sugary sweet. When shopping for the favorite little one in your life, choose items that speak to you, and cultivate a collection of eclectic baby goodies.

This wooden cradle is locally made with Northern Vermont cherry by scottbergman.

It has has the simplicity (think early Biedermeier) that modern parents seek. Thank goodness for environmentally friendly materials. It reminds us of the new sustainable, toxin-free nursery furniture from Q Collection Junior and Fabrica 718.

Plush teddy bears still have a place in our hearts, and these hand-knit versions by simplijessi are so cute and cozy.

Mio is made of Italian wool, silk and cashmere, which makes the perfect lovey for a little one. Hand-knit toys made of natural materials and colors are increasingly popular. Call it an old-world appeal.

But if you’re going for color, these hand-crocheted bears by penguinandfish are for you!

They come in yummy shades of pink, blue, lime or tangerine and feature alphabet letters. Their crooked eyes and arms askew remind me of the Ugly Dolls everyone’s so crazy about.

We live in a multicultural world, yet until recently it was hard to find a doll that mirrored that. These Sock Kids by dmollison are just too cute.

They come in every color of the rainbow, from their chubby little faces to their tie-dyed togs. (She will even match eye colors upon request.)

I have to admit, I’m a little tired of all the rocker tees and onesies with snarky little sayings. You’ve seen it once, you’ve seen them all. But Vintage Lucy’s suspender shirt puts a new spin on hipster tots.

The front is adorned suspenders, safety pins and buttons, and is just the thing a pint-sized pink rocker needs for the next slammin’ Laurie Berkner concert.

Or go totally girly. Little girls still love playing dress up (the Disney Princesses have taken over), and anything with a fairy wand is sure to please. Babies too: These faerie onesies by WhimsyByJess are so pretty, with sewn-on flowers and ribbon adorning the hand-painted flower.

When it comes to decorating a young child’s room, there’s an onslaught of cool artwork to hang on their walls. This mixed media collage by graphitegirl adds just the right touch of whimsy with painting, vintage illustrations and decorative papers that will inspire imaginations.

Correspondence is a must when you have a baby. You’ll want to write thank-yous for all those great gifts, and keeping in touch with friends and family becomes increasingly important. These lovely Tweet cards by seasidecardcompany are a treat for the recipient, with a hand-painted watercolor design.

You may even want to order a few extra to frame.

With pre-school admissions getting more competitive by the minute, the race to raise the next Einstein is on. Even in you’re not quite that intense, this is a hilarious take on all the educational toys that claim to teach kids five languages or help turn them into an NBA all-star. The Nerdy Baby ABC flash cards by electricboogaloo are “an awesomely pretentious gift for nerdy parents with nerdy babies.”

Get little environmentalists on the right track with “G is for Glaciation.”

But don’t just take our word for it. Browse Etsy and find a designer who strikes your fancy. There’s so much variety that it’s all about choice. Happy shopping.

Further Resources:
GlamNest: Baby Gear

Remember to check out Etsy's Baby Gift Guide for more ideas!

Etsy Wuvs Babies

2007-08-30T20:00:00-05:00

Within a month of joining Etsy and spending a lot of time in the forums, it became evident that Etsy was not just an online selling venue: it is a wonderful community made up of people from all over the world sharing their lives as well as their products.

While using the forums, I soon began to connect with fellow Etsians through posts sharing our everyday lives. Many Etsy members were posting about babies they were expecting. Some were sad because they did not have family that could throw them a shower, and I thought it would be a great idea if we could throw a shower for these moms. Since everyone is from all over the globe it would be nearly impossible to get everyone together in person, so the "virtual shower" idea was born.

I started posting about the shower in December of 2006, asking if any shops would be interested in donating a gift to expectant mothers. I received a great response. For the first shower we had five moms and twenty-five shops donate gifts to the expectant mothers. We now hold a shower every three months for the newly arriving babies.

The baby shower concept works as such: sellers donate a free gift, including the shipping, of their choice from their shop. We do our best to help promote these wonderful, generous shops by posting information in the forums and linking everyone on Etsy to a huge flickr pool of the gifts that SoCaliGirl compiles as they are received.

The shower has now become so huge that we have started to include any mom who has had a baby, but was missed on the previous shower. We have also included babies that are being adopted by our Etsy members.

The shower we held for June had eighteen moms and over ninety gifts, and I am sure we missed a shop or two. As Etsy grows so will our baby shower!

- June from ficklefaerie.etsy.com