Millefiori Bracelets

My three-year-old has taken a liking to jewelry, and in my quest to find something that isn't total crap, I decided that these glass millefiori (thousand flowers) bracelets from the Smithsonian Store might be an option. They are pretty and not plastic, but I wonder how childproof they are.

Fabric Diamonds

What a stunning piece of art by Rachel Castle. It is just diamonds of felt and fabric stitched to linen, but so lovely. (via Desire to Inspire)

Strawberry Finger Puppets

So cute, it hurts: strawberry finger puppets from Magic Cabin. Or as Baby said, "Two cutes."

Wood Necklace

These painted wooden beads strung on floral Liberty fabric by Mathilde de Turckheim make a lovely necklace (and a lovely craft project).

Blue Winter Coat

I can't tell what it is made of and I don't know who sells it, but I love this big puffy winter dress coat by Mim-Pi. And I love the intense blue with roses.

Toy Storage

I had the hardest time trying to find toy storage that wasn't toxic and plastic and yucky. And now, years later, here comes this eco-friendly, formaldehyde-free wood storage cabinet made by ecotots. It is beautiful, modern, and made in the USA. It is pricey at $400, but think about the real cost of the cheap stuff you buy. Who is getting cheated to make it more affordable for you? There is a good entry on the blog for this store, KidBean, that explains the perils of buying stuff made in China. I was also interested to read the list of reasons the earth-friendly, labor-friendly, animal-friendly (vegan) store doesn't carry certain popular products. It is good to know that someone is doing all the heavy research for the rest of us who are trying to make good choices for our families and the planet.

Elephant Backpack

What is cuter than this organic cotton canvas elephant backpack? It is only $30 at babyearth. The company, Ecogear, also makes pig, puppy, and panda backpacks.

Wood Stable

Note to self: there is an adorable, adorable, adorable wooden stable over at Blueberry Forest (made by Elves and Angels).

Organic Toddler Pillow

Lifekind also has a toddler pillow stuffed with organic cotton. My baby just figured out what she's been missing not having a pillow for the first three years of her life, and yet her neck looks really craned when she steals my pillow. These natural pillows (we don't need no stinkin' fire retardant) measure 12 x 16 inches and come with your choice of embroidered, appliqued, or gingham pillow case.

Organic Ironing Board

I iron just about nothing--except my sweet girl's dresses. So it doesn't make sense that my ironing board is full of chemicals: stain retardants, fire retardants, water proofing, and foam gasses. I was happy to find an organic cotton and (naturally fire retardant) wool ironing board cover at Lifekind. At $89, it is pricey, but I think worth it. Toxic chemicals, be gone!

Tie-Dye Hoodie

I'm digging the kids' tie-dye hoodie at Land's End.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Felt Butterfly Ring

That's a cute idea. Children's felt butterfly rings are $11 at Romp.

Embroidery

Such pretty 1970s embroidery from The Golden Hands Book of Embroidery. I just bought the book on eBay, and now I'm going to be an expert! (via tiny happy)

Childhood Treasures

Every single page of this book, Childhood Treasures, is full of the cutest things you've ever seen. Caroline Zoob has tutorials for a perfectly charming handmade childhood.

Saddle Shoes

These saddle shoes by Shoe Be Doo are pretty cute and have rave reviews at Zappos.

Cable Knit Hat

Yeah, that's right, winter is coming! And as long as these cute cotton cable knit baby hat and booties are on sale for a mere $7.99 at Land's End, you might as well stock up on any future baby gifts. They also have matching cable knit pants and dresses and cardigans. They always have great deals in their clearance section, and if it doesn't fit, you can return items to any Sears.

Colorful Tunic

Is this the shirt you've been looking for to hide that persistent postnatal belly bump? The cotton Bali Market Tunic is on sale for 30 percent off until August 31st at Tracy Porter.

Felt Food Patterns

Ouch! This is so darling it hurts! I can't even remember the last time I used the word darling. Etsy seller julyhobby sells PDF patterns that come by email so you can make your own felt toy food. In addition to adorable fruit and vegetables, there is this strawberry cake set that would make any girl swoon, and at $4.99, it is practically free. (via Ohdeedoh)

Racetrack Rug

I love the racetrack rug from Balouga, but 950 euros is kind of steep. Plus, it is way over there in Paris and everything. I suppose it is possible to make this yourself with a razor blade and some Flor tiles. I mean, not totally impossible. (via Cookie)

Chalk Animation

Firekites - AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo. (via Design*Sponge)

Catalog Collage

Yet another good craft project idea! Just cut a bunch of somethings and anythings out of catalogs and stick them all together like this art entitled Untitled (Brown Drawers) 2005 by Leslie Mutchler. (via Design Crisis)

Crochet Jacket

The cuteness just goes on forever in this cotton crocheted jacket in pink, blue, or red, on sale for $40 at huset.

Crazy Shirt

This crazy shirt by Molo makes me happy.

Paper Fish

Here's another cute craft idea, British paper fish. (via Babyccino)

Peter Pan Party

What could be cuter than a Peter Pan birthday party? The guests' shadows. (via Cookie)

Homemade Fabric Book

Jill posted templates for her cute homemade fabric book on her blog Handmade by Jill. Isn't it adorable? (via Ohdeedoh)

Potato Printing

I'm on the look out for arts and crafts that are actually aesthetically pleasing in addition to just plain fun to make. These potato prints fit the bill. Click through to tiny happy to see more.

Doll Bunk Bed

I like the doll bunk bed featured in this house in Barcelona. (via Ohdeedoh)

Family Photos

Oh dear. Awkward family photos. (via A Cup of Jo)

Gnome Girl

I'm sure this girl garden gnome costume is constructed like a one-day-only outfit, but I think this girl has got style. Wouldn't it be cute to make a real outfit like this?

Custom Printed Fabric

Speaking of rainbows, how fantastic is this fabric color spectrum? At Spoonflower, you can upload your own designs and they'll print it on fabric for just $18 a yard. If you aren't that handy with graphics software, Rachel at Mamma Made has a great tutorial on how to prepare files for printing on Spoonflower. Here is her daughter playing with the color swatch Rachel uploaded and printed so that she could compare colors on her monitor with how they'll actually look on the fabric. Have a look at this Flickr pool to see the designs other people are creating. You can do it too!

Rainbow Umbrella

We don't do much walking in the rain (if ever) but maybe this $16 kids' color spectrum umbrella from MoMA will keep the sun away while we canoe the slough.

Corduroy Skirt

J. Crew girls' corduroy skirt is so pretty in person, a luxurious thick cord in kind of an orange-purple color, almost like the coat of a fox, I imagine. It comes in sizes for 2-12 years, but Crewcuts runs small, so buy big.

German School Cone

Make your little scholar's first day of school extra special with a traditional German school cone. Get it for only $7 from Magic Cabin and fill it with your own treats and school supplies.

Flowered Gifts

A fresh peony flower and double-sided tape turn a simply wrapped present into the prettiest gift at the party.

Baby Duffle Coat

Now here's a perfect coat for baby! The Jersey Duffle coat from Boden is all cotton inside and out, with a nice cuddly hood for conking out in the car seat, no scratchy zippers, and of course machine washable. It is $38. Should I get one in case I have a future baby? I might. Because it is so cute. Or my new plan in case of cute baby clothes emergencies is to get a tiny size and use it on teddy bears around here. I mean on my existing child's teddy bears. I'm not a crazy lady who pretends bears are her children. Kind of.

Peacock Water Bottle

That's a pretty water bottle.

Ticket Invitations

This is a pretty neat idea for an invitation to a rock-star birthday party I saw in Cookie magazine. For about a dollar each, you can print custom ticket invitations.

The Tortoise

Come crown my brow with leaves of myrtle,

I know the tortoise is a turtle,

Come carve my name in stone immortal,

I know the turtoise is a tortle.

I know to my profound despair,

I bet on one to beat a hare,

I also know I'm now a pauper,

Because of its tortley, turtley, torper.

--Ogden Nash

National Geographic Art

You can buy art prints from the photo archives of National Geographic online at printsngs.com.

Food Rocks

When my dad was a kid, he collected twigs in the shape of letters of the alphabet, and I have a collection of rocks with the alphabet and numbers on them. Maybe my baby will collect rocks that look like food one day. (via Poetic Home)

Felt Egg Cozies

These felt egg cozies make very cute breakfast friends. (via Junior Society)

Tree Mural

I like this crazy tree mural for a nursery, maybe in a softer color palette like lavender and white. (via elements of style)

Petal Backpack

J. Crew has a pretty new petal backpack for girls, only $29.50.

Cloud Shelf

And here is a little cloud shelf that would work nicely in the room below, $54 at Moderndose.

Green Floors

I love this room from the portfolio of photographer Wayne Vincent. I love the green floors. I love the clouds in the sky. Love it. (via Design is Mine)

Stairs Slide

Cool dad and architect Alex Michaelis built a stairway slide for his kids. Super fun! (via Cookie)

Handmade Blouse

I couldn't resist this sweet handmade Georgia blouse from The Outfit, $35 with free shipping. (via ModEco Kids)

How to Make a Baby

(via A Cup of Jo)

Wool Duffle Coat

This wool duffle coat from Papo d'Anjo is extra sweet in light blue.

Circle Shelves

I wished for these circle shelves years ago when I was planning the nursery, and now Garnet Hill has them. But now we have way more than three pounds per shelf of stuff.

Dandelion Light

Hmmm...is the new Maskros dandelion light available at IKEA yet? The description says it is made out of metal and paper. It is very pretty, but I think it would soon become a spider castle in my house.