Sugar and Cloth offers a tutorial on this really unique hostess gift: a coffee stained wood box (which she personalized by burning a monogram onto the lid) with hot chocolate supplies for two inside. Even if you don’t have time to make the box, putting the hot chocolate supplies into spice jars with a little baker’s twine for decoration is a particularly nice gift idea.
Many more DIY ideas on her blog here.
Images: Sugar and Cloth
Need some ideas for baby gifts? Me too. Here are a few things I’ve bookmarked lately:
1. 2-pack of supersize muslins (good for wiping messes, as a stroller blanket, a picnic blanket, etc.). $40 by Baby Boden. Available in other colors.
2. Chinese jacket and pant set. $48 by Tea Collection. Available in other colors.
3. Little Wonders porcelain set. $60 by Darling Clementine Studio.
4. 5-pack of onesies in a sweet cloth bag. $46 by Baby Boden. Available in other colors.
5. Henry the Fox. $98 by Walnut Animal Society. Other animals available.
6. Ukelele Bird rattle. $24 by Bla Bla. Other varieties available.
7. Dachshund pull toy. $14.99 by Brio. Available from multiple online stores.
I’m not really thinking about holiday shopping yet, but when I see something that strikes me as a really sweet gift, I make a note. I saw these Lille Huset doll house kits on Bloesem Kids recently, and added them to my list of possible gifts:
These doll houses are made mostly using recycled paper, but they have a baltic birch front. All of the paperboard pieces are sold as replacement packs so that the house can be passed down (or redecorated!) while saving the wood front.
They are flat packed, for easy storage, and are easy to assemble too:
Each house kit comes with house components, DIY design ideas book, DIY trading card, and portfolio package that is also an activity sheet to complement your house. In addition, there are great downloadable paper dolls ($5), paper pets (free), and other decorations and ideas for your house on the Lille Huset website.
They also have a Lille City set, which includes four small houses:
There are 5 different doll house styles (Doro, Chelsea, Lille Shop, Langley and Logan); each are $60. The Lille City is $45.
For more, see the Lille Huset website and shop here.
All images: Lille Huset
via Bloesem Kids
If you are already starting to think about the holidays (I didn’t just say that, did I?) or need some special gift ideas, these Utility Canvas quilted blankets and classic field bags at Purl SoHo may be just the thing.
Purl SoHo is only carrying two each of all the colors/designs of the bags and blankets, so if they sell out quickly (and I think they will), you can also find them directly from the Utility Canvas website (along with more many products).
Which is your favorite? The Red Swiss Dot blanket and the Pink Classic Field Bag are definitely going on my wish list.
Images: Purl SoHo
Rainbows + robots + fantastic packaging is a combination I simply cannot resist.
EBK Robots just launched this new line of robots, tag along bags, and messenger bags in a variety of bright colors, and I can’t wait to get my hands on them. With these as gifts, I will finally cement my reputation as the coolest/best aunt ever.
Shop the EBK Robots store here, read their silly blog here, and spread the word. Robots are cool.
Images: EBK Robots
I stumbled across these terrific Instant Iron-On books this weekend at both Paper Source and a local toy store. The illustrations are by Julia Rothman, Sukie and Mike Perry – all published by Chronicle Books.
They are loaded with fun iron-ons in a variety of sizes and styles that you can apply to shirts, tote bags, tea towels and whatever else you can dream up. Buy the books and use the iron-ons to make handmade gifts, or give the books themselves as a gift. Either way, at $14.95 you get a lot of bang for your buck.
The books are widely available online – and hopefully in a local shop near you. You can also buy them from the Chronicle website (here, here and here).
Images courtesy Lazy Oaf
Some pretty handmade finds to take you into the weekend!
1. Mini Treasure Pot, hand dipped in neon pink ($8) by Wind and Willow Home
2. Tangerine felt mouse in matchbox (€17 – about $22 USD) by Atelier Pompadour
3. Porcelain and leather hanging container ($50 for medium size) by farrahsit
4. Make your own Rabbit kit – red (€18 – about $23 USD) by Miko Design
5. “Lemonade” fat quarters ($15/fat quarter in color of your choice) by Sara Lee Parker
6. Mid-century modern suburban magnet set ($28) by Fidoodle
7. Morse code necklaces (prices vary) by Coatt
8. Knitted lambswool picture bag (€28 – about $45 USD) by Sally Nencini
9. His Hers and Its colorful wooden cutouts ($83) by Herman Marie
(Images by their respective owners)
I love these two Ktaadn (pronounced “kuh tah dn”) tea towels, which I bought at Renegade Brooklyn this year. The red pattern on the left is called “Knife’s Edge” and the red and blue pattern on the right is called “Net.” The linen fabric is soft and luxurious.
Ktaadn sells tea towels, pillows and notebooks in several different patterns and colors in their shop, all of which they screen print by hand in their studio near Portland, Maine. These towels aren’t in their shop yet, but I’d guess that they’re coming soon, and you can always contact Ktaadn to find out.
If you bookmark shops for gift ideas, this is a good one for your list.
Image: Charlotte’s Fancy
I’m sending my girls to sleepaway camp this summer for the first time, with the hope that they meet new friends, have loads of fun, and learn that they will be just fine without Mom and Dad at their side.
Do your kids go to camp? Did you go to camp?
1. Optic Wonder toy by Toysmith (available at Amazon and other online stores)
2. Elephant sketchbook by Ecojot
3. Popsicle temporary tattoos designed by Julia Rothman for Tattly
4. Fluorescent pencils by eeBoo
5. Single use camera (widely available)
6. Deck of playing cards by eeBoo
Also, don’t forget to pack stationery and stamps!
Did you ooh and aah over the Lalé children’s suitcases I featured last week? Did you say, “I want one of those for myself!”? Then here’s an offer you can’t refuse: the lovely folks at French Blossom are offering free shipping on any Lalé suitcase for Charlotte’s Fancy readers until June 30, 2012. If you live in the US, that’s a hefty savings ($31)!
You might want to use the small “Rose” suitcases (39 €, or about $49.50 USD) as a lunch box,or as a stylish makeup bag, or for cute storage. The larger “Marlène” suitcases (74 €, or about $94 USD) are great as a weekend travel bag or for storage. The dimensions of each are on the French Blossom website.
I think they’d make an awfully sweet gift for someone special.
Use the code LALE at checkout.
Heartfelt thanks to Meriem at French Blossom for this very generous offer.
Image: Lalé
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