if you care about handmade toys, kids, and the ability for the economy to improve you must vote for this

Boxing Week Sale in my Store.

Check it out! All the reduced items are in a separate category.

The reduced pricing will be in effect until January 10, 2009.

Keeping Little Peanuts Busy

Keep your little goober busy in waiting rooms and restaurants with LittlePeanutShop's handy crayon wallets in fun coordinating fabrics. Each wallet comes fully stocked with eight Crayola crayons (may not be the same colors as those pictured) and doodle pad. Perfectly sized for diaper bags and purses, you'll find several in stock right now with that will appeal to boys and girls. 

NEW at Amberbabies!

New multi color chip style amber teething necklace at Amberbabies!

Baltic amber is a traditional European remedy for teething. Amber is a natural analgesic and when worn on the skin, it releases healing oils that helps babies and young children to stay calm and more relaxed throughout teething. Amber necklaces are a great natural remedy and can eliminate the need for over the counter drugs.

a treasury

I happened upon a treasury opening! How fun!
I've included some things from the three teams I'm happy to be a part of.
Here it is:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=23951

Steph ElementalHandcrafts.etsy.com

Holiday Helpers

During the holidays, many of our team members are involved with Holiday Helpers--an all-volunteer program to help families in need. Many of us donate items we have made, or contribute towards gift cards, utility bills, or grocery money for these families.
This year we want to invite you to get involved by participating in a raffle here! There are some great prizes (most of them made by members of this team!) and tickets are only $1. ALL proceeds go to help families in need.
Check your paypal, if you've got an odd dollar or two hanging out in there, why not put it toward a good cause? You might even win something awesome!!

Felty Fun Food is back at PBandJ!!

We have lots of sets to choose from . . .

So if you just want to pick a few treats from the produce section. . . .



Grab a quick meal. . . .


Or stock your entire kitchen . . .



we have your felty fun food needs covered.
makes great Christmas gift!!

Princesses, Cars and More

at Small Town Toys .
Our most recent toy was inspired by our niece, who insisted we make a princess with red hair for her birthday.

Some of our other toys.

We're Celebrating too, with Free Shipping!

It's International Babywearing Week!

And here at BabyPockets we're celebrating by offering FREE WORLD WIDE SHIPPING through Saturday, November 15th. Come and see our miraculously comfortable and truly beautiful silk ring slings and we'll rejoice in the closeness and convenience of babywearing together! Hurray!

International Babywearing Week

International Baby Week is coming up next week. In honor of the occasion, all Cashmere Cuddles baby carriers are 20% off from now until Nov. 18, 2008 -- all mei tais, x-slings, wraps, and Cuddles for Kids doll carriers too. Both in-stock and custom orders are included in the sale. Just put "MDC-IBW" in the comments section when you order and wait for an updated invoice before paying. Happy shopping!

(Thank you to Tamplum at TBW for the photo of Aaron in an X-sling)

dyetyke holiday promotion

Through November 30, 2008, dyetyke will donate 10% of gross sales to The Back Door Food Pantry in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Offer applies to regular and custom orders for which payment is received before November 30. Offer does not apply to trades (though I'm open to trading, as always).

Please visit http://dyetyke.etsy.com to see what's in stock and tell your friends!

Sweet Dreams for Dollies

Your little peanut will love tucking her "babies" into bed with an adorable doll-sized quilt. This miniature blanket features rail fence quilt blocks made from owls, pink swirls and green stripes flannel fabrics. The quilt backing and hand finished binding is a coordinating red swirls cotton fabric. 

This is the first of several doll quilts that will eventually be added to my shop, including some designed with boys in mind. I invite you to stop on by and check it out. 

Introducing Michael Grace Designs

I'm excited to create handmade baby and mama related products. I love to create baby carriers and bags, so most of my little shop is mei tais and diaper bags; with a ring sling and a few purses thrown in. I just created some toddler and preschool spa towel wraps. I'm working on designing and sewing a soft structured carrier, and I'm pretty sure that I will eventually be offering those for sale as well.

Here is a preview of a couple of items available right now. First, the Autumn Inspired Mei Tai. Constructed with heavyweight khaki twill and a flannel brown and pink floral print. Both the shoulder straps and the waist strap are padded on this comfortable mei tai.


Secondly, the ultimate messenger bag. This bag was created using Wired Up Design's Hot Mama Messenger Bag Pattern. This messenger bag is perfect as a diaper bag, beach bag, gym bag, or just an all-around town bag. This bag boasts 6 interior elasticized pockets, a changing pad or water bottle holder and two external slip pockets.

48 Hour Sale @ Elegant Scraps

Enjoy 15% off of your total purchase for the next 48 hours at Elegant Scraps!!!

Here are some highlights:


custom sized tutu with reused elastic




custom zipped pouches made from remnants and thrifted zippers


Thinking of a custom order? Convo me and we can work out the details!

Sale ends at 1 p.m. on Saturday, October 18.

Take care,
El

Be the Envy of Your Mommy Group

Diaper changes may be messy, but there's no reason why they can't also be chic. I just finished making this beautiful Little Peanut Baby Care Set for my shop using some gorgeous Alexander Henry fabric I discovered recently. 

Pull out this diaper change pad or one of the matching burp cloths and I guarantee the other mammas in your play group will be green with envy!

Stand Up to your Letdown!

I'm a breastfeeding mother with a heavy letdown. I had to nurse my baby sitting up for the first 4 months because I had so much milk it choked him if I laid him down. I tried several nursing pads and everything soaked through the moment I started nursing on the other side. So I did what I always do in these situations: I figured out what I wanted and made it myself!

Voila, PUL-backed nursing pads that can actually stand up to my letdown!

They come with a variety of print and solid flannels on the side facing you, but have discreet white PUL on the outside.

Even for those mothers with average letdown, these make great nighttime pads.

I also have fleece-backed pads for lighter protection.

All my nursing pads come in sets of 4 (two pairs) and I can mix and match types if you prefer. Come visit LilBees to see my full selection!

Finally: Headbands at Binky-Bird!

I really like these headbands; they're simple, but really cute, and? They stay put even on baby-fine hair like mine. Keep your hair out of your eyes AND look good. Check them out at binky-bird!

Remembering Angels

October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness month.

As the mother of three angel babies, I feel strongly about this cause.

During the month of October, 10% off all sales from both of my shops (LilBees and BrightBlack) will be donated to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a non-profit organization that provides free remembrance photos for families of angels. (I've posted about them here.)
I hope you will join me in supporting this group and their awesome organization.

(By the way, all purchases from my shops are currently getting a coupon for 20% off any Christmas item from BrightBlack...so right now you can support a good cause and get a coupon at the same time!)

Harvest Time!

ElementalHandcrafts.Etsy.com

Fall is upon us and its a wonderful time of year for pumpkins and gourds and cascading leaves.
Here is my newest creation and a few others that remind me of fall.

Felted wool pumpkin

Autumn Colored Breastfeeding Mama with Children

Wooden Doll House Table and Chairs

Halloween Sticker Made from an Original Papercut
Thanks for looking!
Stephanie at Elemental Handcrafts

We've Got You Covered

or at last we've got your toes covered!!

Introducing SOCKS at PB&J.
Staying true to our mission these are simple socks made with natural fibers at an affordable price.

Place your custom order today or watch for us to stock.

Discounts available when you buy more than one pair!!!

See my store for more details!!
www.pbandj.etsy.com

Ready for the harvest?

We're heading to a Harvest Party today at my friend's organic farm and I thought I'd share in the festivities with this decorative felted pumpkin.
It' will last a lot longer than the pumpkin pie I'm sure to taste today!
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15585738

Happy Fall!

Steph www.ElementalHnadcrafts.etsy.com

The cutest longies ever!

I have finished two adorable pairs of longies.One in size large another one in size small. Check them out, I am so proud! I especially like the Halloween one.

I have also posted some other accessories: fingerless gloves in women and toddler size and a toddler hat that would go very well with the spider longies.

Last time I posted on this blog I was also hoping to get my cloth diapers out there by the end of the summer, but it just did not happen. I have to say that I still need time to tweak my product, hopefully, I'll manage to have time to get this project going in some near future.

Autumn has Inspired Me

The warm colors of autumn, red, yellow, brown and orange, have inspired some new cloth diapers at LilBees this month.

I've recently gotten in a supply of velour as well, and am beginning to offer that in my all-in-ones and fitteds, and of course also on my cloth menstrual and postpartum pads.

Coming soon: nursing pads designed with larger-busts and heavy leakers in mind.

Little Red Appleton SALE SALE SALE

I am clearing stock of all summer wristlets. They were priced at $12 now they are $10 with $2 shipping. What a bargain! Don't delay. Check 'em out! Go Here.

Crochet Autumn Butterfly Doll

Stay tuned for Winter, Spring and Summer colors, as well as one made from natural organic cotton.

Soft Crochet Things

Debuting the Cashmere Cuddles Mei Tai

A while ago, I made myself a baby carrier that got a good bit of attention on a certain babywearing website, and my inbox is forever filled with requests for my distinctive twist on the standard mei tai.

I'm proud to announce that I'll be stocking them on a regular basis, in addition to my usual line of X-slings. In the shop now is a gorgeous kelly green mei tai made from 100% bamboo twill, which was hand dyed to match the Amy Butler Midwest Modern "Fresh Poppies" print used for the accent piece and hood. It has lightly padded shoulder straps and waistband and is completely lined with an ice blue woven jacquard comprised of 70% cashmere/30% silk, with an inner lining of cotton canvas for added strength. Come check it out at cashmerecuddles.etsy.com.

Imagination at Play

The Etsy community is filled with talented artists and crafters selling unique pretend play toys that help parents preserve the magic of childhood. Every Friday night, I'm going to feature one such Etsy seller on my blog in a writing series entitled "Imagination at Play". Tonight's posting highlights fabulous felt food sold at BeckyM.

I'd love to feature some of the talented mammas from the Mothering Street Team, so please leave a comment here or convo me through my shop if you know of a team member that sells exceptional pretend play items (puppets, dolls, dress-up clothes, etc.). And while some of the shops I'm going to highlight have been around for quite some time, I'm especially interested in promoting new shops and shops with less than 15 sales.

Baby Pockets Makes Press!

We're jumping for joy here because we've just been featured in this great babywearing article by Megan Davidson, PhD (a doula, babywearing educator, fellow MDC mama, and just plain great gal). Check it out! Check us out! Check her out! Go click through crazy then join us in our happy dance!

XO,
Dawn at BabyPockets

My daughter spotted a monster hanging his laundry up to dry on our clothesline yesterday. When he left, he forgot to grab his tail! Fortunately, it's the perfect size for pretend play. Drop on by LittlePeanutShop to check out this and other fun pretend play items. Feel free to convo me if you'd like something special - I love doing custom orders! :)

so i have a neat little collection of bar soap i made.

mocha. mmmmmmm... and it smells like a yummy strong wake you up mocha. chocolate and coffee. so good i want to eat it. next is goats milk soap with roses, lavender and chamomile. i cant wait.
i also have some other wonderful things in the works, body bars with cocoa butter, beeswax, coconut oil, jojoba oil, and a couple of other oils with skin nourishing essential oils, calendula owie ointment, arnica sticks, and no poo-ing bombs for hair.

things here are going well. it seems somehow that school starts in the next couple of days. where did summer go?

Tiny Table Linens at LittlePeanutShop!

I just added an adorable new section in my shop: Tiny Table Linens. Each set comes with two reversible pretend play placemats and napkins that are perfectly sized for little chefs or hostesses. Your little goober will love having a set of her own placemats and napkins for playtime, snacktime or for learning how to set the table.

Stop on by LittlePeanutShop for a closer look at these adorable Tiny Table Linens. I'm also selling some matching items in other sections: a reversible activity apron and a diaper change pad. Together, they make a wonderful "big sister/baby sister" gift set.

*NEW* Amber Babies teething necklaces!

Baltic amber is a traditional European remedy for teething. Amber is a natural analgesic and when worn on the skin, it releases healing oils that helps babies and young children to stay calm and more relaxed thoughout teething. Amber necklaces are a great natural remedy and can eliminate the need for over the counter drugs. I use a sterling silver plated MAGNETIC CLASP. This ensures that the necklace will open up if it is being pulled. I have not had any trouble with necklaces just falling off because of this.  Please Note: Amber necklaces are made for wearing, not for chewing! Please supervise your child while wearing the necklace.  all necklaces measure between 11.5 and 12.5 inches.

Lovely New Silks at BabyPockets

BabyPockets has new slings!

Lovely new silks shimmer from every corner of the shop and many more are now on the way. I love the deep chocolate color the Cacao Silk Sling, and the Antique Rose Silk Ring Sling above is my personal favorite.

All of my slings sport my own special comfort pleating for an unbelievable fit and of course the unique embroidery above the rings which has become BabyPockets signature feature. Come and check out our new slings while they last!

XO,
Dawn at
BabyPockets