Nothing beats handmade! The search for the perfect Halloween costume for baby and tot can sometimes end up in disappointment — but that's only if you're sticking to big-box stores. Step out of your comfort zone and get ready to be dazzled by these unique handmade costumes from creative folks who sell their wares on Etsy. They just might cast a spell on mama and make her opt for handmade this Halloween!
A nice and soft Fall sweater is the best way to keep the chill away. Instead of heading to the megastore to pick one up for your tot, take a look at this collection of handmade snuggly warm sweaters that have tons of charm. Your lil one will be seriously in style with a vintage-style cardigan, or select a classic pullover that's perfect for wearing while jumping in the Autumn leaves. From budget-friendly to total splurges, click through to find the right cozy sweater for your tyke.
There are onesies, and then there are onesies! Get ready for cuteness overload when you see this collection of handmade onesies for the girlie girl in your life. From sweet ruffles to pastel colors, these baby shirts are great for any occasion — or even just lounging about the house. Along with being great additions to your lil one's closet, they also make showstopping baby shower gifts! Click on through for our favorite finds.
It's turkey time! School-aged lil ones are busy tracing their hands and turning them into lil gobblers this time of year, but they're not the only ones making Thanksgiving-themed crafts these days. The wonderfully crafty artisans on Etsy are selling fun harvest-themed goodies that tots will love seeing on and around the table come dinner time. Here are eight finds to help lil ones usher in the holiday!
>> Our new favorite bracelets don't just look chic — they also give something back. Pura Vida was founded by two friends who, while on a postgraduation surf trip in Costa Rica, became enamored with the local artistans' brightly colored bracelets and decided to sell them back home in San Diego. Now, the company is just over a year old and a runaway success; the bracelets (priced $5 to $12 each) sell at over 700 stores across the US — including Nordstrom and American Eagle Outfitters — as well as on the Pura Vida website, and the company currently employs 25 artisans in Costa Rica full-time to create 15,000 bracelets a week. "Now the bracelets are everywhere and we see strangers wearing them — at bars, restaurants. The connection we feel when that happens is so sweet," Pura Vida cofounder Griffin Thall says. In addition to providing work for artisans in Costa Rica, Pura Vida also donates 1 percent of its profits to The Surfrider Foundation. Here, we've rounded up some of our favorite pieces from the collection — click through to shop them all.
At left: Pura Vida bracelets layered with watches and other pieces, as spotted at a recent market appointment in New York City.
Choosing a name for baby is one of the first major parenting responsibilities bestowed upon expectant parents. A lot of thought goes into selecting "the perfect" baby name — why not display that choice where you can? Here are 10 ways to display your tot's name, from the nursery to back-to-school supplies!
Move over Ariel, these Under the Sea nurseries have no sign of the Disney princess. Taking baby's room and turning it into an Under the Sea nursery is a creative, and fun, gender neutral design idea, and they're just as much fun to design when you know the gender of your baby too! The centerpiece of any nursery baring this theme is a mobile that reflects the calm and serenity of the sea life.
Shopping handmade is the ultimate personalized shopping experience. Since you're buying directly from the artisan, you can customize your purchase to coordinate with your decor. Get ready to make a splash and check out these five "Under the Sea" handmade baby mobiles.
You already know that tech clutches are totally "in" right now, but why not think outside the box when it comes to tech fashion? This geometric BlackBerry Clutch ($85) may have a certifiable geeky namesake, but isn't limited to your BlackBerry-branded phones. The weathered gray leather clutch has an inside pocket to cradle cell phones of any manufacturer, but could also hold your ereader and other gadgets like your MP3 player and headphones if you prefer to carry a stylish, oversized clutch over a messenger or tote bag.
Plus, the plum, eggplant, and dark brown color scheme is hard to pass up, and is perfect for the late Summer/early Fall shopping season. Might as well be prepared, right?
ICYMI — Futurama returns tomorrow! If you're pumped to see the return of your favorite space- and time-traveling characters, then check out these handmade goods from Etsy that will get you in a celebratory mood. Are you a super fan? Share your favorite Futurama moments with us on Twitter!
I'll admit it — I was surprised at how nice the seven-inch Samsung Galaxy Tab was to hold in my hands. I didn't think I'd like a smaller screen, but truth is, it's just the right size to pack along in your bag. If you were one of the millions who were wooed by the sleek body, crisp white backplate, and ultra compact form factor, then you're going to want to appropriately accessorize. Taking a cue from Pantone's Fall color report, I've found a bag and sleeve to fit your Tab to a T.
If you're a bag lady like me, you'll love the roomy Rini Bag ($270) that's made with Italian hand-stained leather and comes with wooden handles, metal feet (to keep it clean), and pockets on the inside for your keys and phone. Keep your Galaxy Tab protected while you tote with this Etsy Brown Wool Gabardine Case ($21) that's got a soft layer of Japanese quilted cotton on the inside lining, while the outside stays nice and fashionable with brown wool. You can go from Winter to Fall in one fell swoop! Check out more images of the products in the slideshow.
