KinderCotton

Whether or not your weather reflects it, it really is almost spring time!  Holly LeBlanc (www.hollyleblancphotography.com) shared another great photo that gets me looking forward to spring and more outdoor time with my little one.  Stock up on hats now so that you are ready to go once your weather cooperates!  Hats are available in newborn/ 0-3M, 3-6M, and 6-12M sizes in a variety of prints and embroidered versions.  If you don't see just what you are looking for, please contact me for a custom hat. (shop at www.kindercotton.etsy.com)

I had moment last week that was not unlike one that a toddler might experience.  I really wanted to buy a pair of Robeez for my friends' new little boy.  As far as I knew, they were made in Canada.  They're cute, durable, and stay on baby feet like nothing else.  For these reasons, I have always been willing to pay the approximately $30 price for them.  However, in September of 2006, Stride Rite bought Robeez for $27.5 million dollars.  Guess what happened last fall?  Yep.  Robeez are now made in China.  You may still be able to find one of the remaining Canadian pairs in stores, but they'll be restocked with a Chinese pair.  Are you surprised to hear that the price has not gone down even though production costs have plummeted?

I managed to find a really cool gift that was made in San Francisco, but left the store feeling a little bit of loss.  People like Robeez and buy a lot of them.  Imagine how many jobs Stride Rite could have provided by expanding their Canadian operation.  The toddler feeling was that I still wanted the shoes...badly, maybe even so more now that they're off the list.   Then I remembered that I'm an adult, money talks (in this case, not giving it to Stride Rite), and that I always have options. 

I went home and did an Etsy search for Leather Baby Shoes .  As of right now, there are 798 options.  Some are priced under $15 and are nearly indistinguishable from Robeez.  Be careful in selecting those, as many bad apples resell imported knock-offs, even on Etsy.   Some handmade shoes can be personalized, some are made from repurposed leather, some are made from domestic, salt-tanned leather.  A few of my favorites are shown here.  Photos link to the listing.

I just ordered a new batch of fabrics!  I am excited to see that there are so many new prints to choose from!  It's a big difference from my first attempt to buy kiddie prints last spring.  See something you like?  Claim it as yours for a custom order before I cut into it!

Maybe "right around the corner" is stretching the truth, but if you would like a custom order for your tiny sweetheart, you may want to let me know soon.  I've just updated the shop with adorable heart-embellished hats and a super cute blanket.  I can make most items to your size needs.  Ordering fabric may take a week or longer, so think about those custom orders now, even though the Christmas tree may still be in the driveway.

I love it when people make special requests!  This blanket was a custom order for a new Auntie.  She wanted a blanket to coordinate with her nephew's crib set, but also wanted to add lambs, since her brother, the new Daddy, had a beloved lamb toy when he was a baby.  I hope the new lambs are as well loved as the original!

I know that many people like to make charitable donations at this time of year.  As a teacher on maternity leave, I would like to tell you about a fantastic website that helps you make donations directly to teachers in need.  Over the past year, teachers have had their student numbers increased significantly and their classroom budgets decreased sharply.  Teachers are doing more with less now more than ever. 

Http://www.donorschoose.org is a fantastic site that connects donors with teachers in need.  When a teacher has an idea, but no funding, they write a request and post it to the site.  The request remains open until it is fully funded, and then Donors Choose sends the supplies directly to the teacher.  Things like books, computers, and art supplies are essential to giving kids the best learning experience possible, yet they are harder and harder to get into classrooms.

You can make a donation in any amount and search for projects based on location or type of project.  A friend of mine has gone above and beyond in securing extra supplies for his students at a high-poverty school.  I've enjoyed seeing pictures of his students gleefully unpacking a new classroom computer and I would love to see photos of them digging into a box of new books for their literature circles!  The link below will take you to the page that lists Mr. Fox's active projects:

http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=25608&1257480827567

Thanks for reading about this cause that is close to my heart.

For a while now, I've been testing out techniques to embellish my basic organic cotton fabrics.  I finally found one that maintains the organic integrity of my items and is as cute as can be.  The first of my hand appliqued items, this sweet bunny blanket, is now available in the shop!

You can purchase this one of a kind blanket by following this link:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=35217147

Follow KinderCotton on Facebook and earn free shipping:

1) Become a fan of KinderCotton on Facebook by following the link below.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/KinderCotton/93138750839

2) Share photos of a baby using one of my products on the KinderCotton Fan Page
3) Receive free shipping on your next order.
4) Repeat steps 2 & 3 to never pay for shipping again!

I received a simple request from a customer last week: can you make a hat with a bow on the front instead of a knot on top?  I sure can.  Can you make it in newborn and larger sizes?  My pleasure!  I made two new designs this weekend, both available in the shop now: one hat with a bow on the brim and one with a rosette.  Top knot hats are now also available in 3-6M and 6-12M sizes. 

 

A huge thank you to Holly LeBlanc, a KinderCotton customer and photographer specializing in baby, child, and family portraits, for sharing this gorgeous photo with me!  If you are in New Jersey and in need of portraits, you're lucky to have Holly nearby.  If you are not in New Jersey, or not in need of portraits, you should still check out her amazing work on her website: www.hollyleblancphotography.com/blog