kangacoo designs at SAG Awards

The youngest actor to ever receive Screen Actors Guild recognition wears a kangacoo designs original. Congratulations!

When the cast of ABC’s Modern Family accepted the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series, little Lily Tucker-Pritchett was wearing a kangacoo designs original dress.

The character Lily, daughter of her two loving adoptive dads Mitchell and Cameron, is played by Aubrey Anderson Emmons who, along with her mom Amy Anderson and agent Carlyne from Dramatic Artists Agency, requested a simple, chic dress for the event. Designer Katie Nguyen delivered -adding a little sparkle as well. Aubrey completed her look with black tights, black patent leather shoes and an itty bitty purse. Katie’s longtime friend stylist Brooke Lee gave Aubrey a pretty side bun with feather clip and light makeup.

In 2008, Katie founded kangacoo designs, creating fun and functional clothes for kids using two basic principles: Creativity is King and Life is an Occasion, Dress for It!

My ruffle leggings are my signature piece and I have built a made-to-match collection around the leggings. My design is inspired by the fabric I find so you can always expect to see interesting fabrics and textures in my collections.

-Katie Nguyen

Where the runway meets the playground. “I believe that clothes should be fun and unique,” Katie says, “but also wearable and washable.” The line includes dresses, leggings, play clothes, swimwear and more and Katie tells me the business has grown with a lot of love and hard work. Fans can buy the handmade/custom collection as well as a wholesale line carried in almost 50 stores nationwide and abroad.

Cupcake Pajamas from The Baby Bunch

You’re probably familiar with The Baby Bunch, one of Martha Stewart’s favs.

I’ve been a fan of The Baby Bunch ever since I first saw the lovely gift bouquets full of soft baby essentials. The thoughtful packaging just seems to enhance the elegant contents within.

The Baby Bunch combines practicality with presentation. We wanted to create a gift that was attractive yet useful and offers everything a baby needs to get the best possible start in life.”

-founders Bryony Boxer and Simon Martin

If you haven’t seen these cute little morsels of baby happiness, here’s your chance. The company is now serving Cupcake Pajamas in pink for girls and blue for boys. Each box contains a 100% cotton top and matching striped bottom rolled to look like cupcakes, suitable for a child 12-18 months or up to 22 lbs. (remove the decorative elements before putting clothing on child). Each box is tied with a ribbon and bears a gift tag.

By the way, Baby Bunch gifts delight parents, too!

Fresh Find for Valentine Inventory

An imaginative artist captures the “cute” in a playful collection of jewelry and artwork inspired by his original pop art.

Looking for that one last Valentine’s Day find sure to capture the hearts of little girls- and their moms at the same time? Oakland CA, USA-based artist Mark Poulin combines his passion for metalworking and pop art to create a quirky, modern twist on the classic charm. From dogs and cats, groundhogs and squirrels, to stars and Martians, his playful sterling silver charms are hand-cast from wax models of his original drawings.

The Mark Poulin Jewelry collection is a real find- a modern, affordable assortment of handmade rings, earrings, necklaces and bracelets, coupled with unique plaques and prints featuring cartoons of endearing animals and bold graphics created from his original sketches, kiln-fired into enamels.

Mark’s work also features bright, bold colors in unique shapes and designs, perfect for any age. With four distinct looks:

Charms – affordable sterling silver treasures

Cartoons – sketches of favorite creatures

Botanical – a modern slant on nature

Modern – simple bold color for men and women

My designs express two distinct sides of my personality.

-Mark Poulin

Mark Poulin’s work is featured in jewelry, children’s and art stores, including SFMOMA and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Available wholesale.

Kai Bean Kids Makes Splash in Début Year

First impressions are a charm for Kai Bean Kids, a fashion forward line for boys that combines the latest trends in contemporary menswear with the laid back California lifestyle.

What we hear most from our customers is that it’s the clothing that dads want to wear.

-owner Laurie Snyder

Made entirely in Los Angeles CA, USA! Kai Bean Kids is the trendy new boy’s line from Original Flap Happy®, founded by designer Laurie Lipson Snyder. A Los Angeles, CA native and mother of four, Laurie started the business 20 years ago with an idea for a hat that would protect children’s faces and necks from the sun and elements.

After developing the multi-million dollar hat company, Laurie introduced a clothing line, expanding Flap Happy to swimwear, playwear, outerwear and headwear lines – all Made in the USA.

Now entering its second year, Kai Bean Kids is made from the softest cottons and rayon including French terry, thermal waffle knit and combed, ring spun jersey. The new line is available in a variety of styles including shorts, pants and hoodies as well as t-shirts with bold, fun graphics. Most styles include details like raw edges and mixed fabrications. Available in sizes six months to size 12.

Kai Bean Kids has a very clean, comfortable look -at a great wholesale price point!

For more information contact Kai Bean Kids at 310.453.3527 or email sales@kaibeankids.com.

CiCi & Ryann débuts with Spring 2012

A popular designer collaborates with an acclaimed children’s photographer on a new girls clothing company.

Karen Gamble, the designer of Two Monkeys Designs/Indie Clothing Company, and sought-after Dallas, TX-based children’s photographer Jael DeYoung have débuted CiCi & Ryann, a new brand of girls clothing “where sophistication plays with hip.” CiCi & Ryann launches with a Spring 2012 line of four collections for toddlers to tweens. The designers have used a fresh mix of vibrant colors, patterns and textures to create looks that are not only new in the marketplace, but also extremely wearable, fun and fashionable. The signature Lacey Leg is a modern take on the lace legging as a ruffle pant, made of a gorgeous white stretch floral lace and adorned with an adorable ruffled bottom. In addition, Karen and Jael have designed three raincoats made from the contemporary and ultramodern laminate cottons, offering bold, colorful prints with whimsical ruffles and sparkly rhinestone button detailing.

CiCi & Ryann is undoubtedly delivering a unique and distinct look for girls’ apparel consumers. The details and special touches throughout each collection, as well as the quality of each piece, is just superb.

The designers tell me that CiCi & Ryann created quite a buzz at the Dallas Market Center during the line’s launch in August 2011. “CiCi & Ryann is sure to create the same excitement for the merchants who will be débuting our fabulous collections in their stores in just a few short months.” Some collections are set to take orders starting February 1.

Handmade in Texas

Muddy Feet Boutique is a fresh new children’s clothing line handmade in Texas.

A mix of traditional and trendy, the line recently débuted with a Spring/Summer 2012 collection at the Dallas Market Center. Founder and lead designer Jessica Sherrill tells me it was welcomed with a tremendous response. Each garment is handmade to order, with a production time of approximately 7-10 days.

Jessica and her team use sewing machines to construct most garments and finishing/trim work is sewn by hand. All draping, patternmaking and samples are done in-house. “Muddy Feet Boutique started while I was pursuing my undergraduate degree with aspirations of law school,” she says. “I realized I loved creating clothes way more than arguing law cases.”

There are many positives to this slow design approach. If you would like to add a sleeve or lengthen a hemline, this is available for little to no charge. Many color options are also available, some at no extra charge, too.

-Jessica Sherrill

After attending Parsons The New School of Design, Jessica worked at a very high-end children’s wear company before returning to her Texas home and venture out on her own. Contact her for custom designs, or find Muddy Feet on Facebook

New Children’s Book Celebrates the Christmas Spirit

A magical sleigh ride helps bring a family together in time for the holidays.

Author/illustrator Alan Anderson loves everything about Christmas – the lights, the music, the decorations, family, snow, giving gifts, the celebration of the birth of baby Jesus. In The Christmas Sleigh, he weaves his fondest memories into a children’s story book that illustrates when we care about others, life becomes richer.

Published by WestBow Press, The Christmas Sleigh introduces readers to Anya, a young girl who is out on the town celebrating the season with her parents -who are separated – putting aside their differences on behalf of their daughter for this one evening. While on a horse-drawn sleigh ride, friendly driver Tommy tells them a wondrous holiday story about his own life, which transforms their lives forever.

When Anya comes to learn Tommy’s secret, it becomes a story that can have great affect upon anyone willing to listen; Happiness can only be found as one puts forth sincere effort to make others happy.

-Alan Anderson

Thinking of writing a children’s book for your store?

WestBow Press is a strategic self-publishing alliance of Thomas Nelson, Inc., the world’s largest Christian publisher, and Author Solutions, Inc. (ASI), a leader in the popular self-publishing industry segment, distributing products in more than 100 countries worldwide. Through this partnership, authors benefit from the rich publishing heritage of Thomas Nelson and the speed-to-market advantages of the ASI self-publishing model. Titles published through WestBow Press are evaluated for sales potential and considered for publication under the Thomas Nelson imprint. For more information, or to start publishing today, visit www.westbowpress.com or call (866)-928-1240.

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

Klever Kids very -well- Clever

Klever Kids designs, produces and sells apparel that represents the joyful “parent and kid” lifestyle. The company recently launched the Spring/Summer 2012 collection of this clever, soft clothing line that is fun to wear. Unique designs with surprises hidden behind snap open pockets -prominent images of lions, tigers, rhinos and others- can be matched with a uniquely designed vest/zip-up sweater, for instance, allowing the child to zip it down and show off that cool tiger on their tee.

We are very proud at Klever Kids as we put the fun and comfort into wearing and putting on clothes again for kids and parents.”

-founder Emine Sandi, who’s also a mom

The Klever Kids line is designed for boys and girls ages three months to eight years – graphic tees, ruffled dresses, trendy cargos, polished cardigans and more.

Kids will feel cool, carefree and stylish wherever they go with Klever Kids.”

A Feel-Good Story for Year’s End

Nineteen-year-old Lauren Feather has taken on a challenge that many find inconceivable in this economy: opening a successful fashion business.

Not only did Lauren open the flagship store of her (Best Kept Secret) Boutique™ this summer, she chose the Las Vegas area -Nevada’s current capital of foreclosure- as the new home for what she calls “adorable, affordable, cute and quality™.”

“As a Summerlin resident, it is the ideal location for my brand,” Lauren says. “It’s exciting to see my dream come to life while being able to bring (Best Kept Secret) Boutique™ to this community. Women can find cute, affordable clothing they’re proud to wear.”

The boutique merchandise of eye-catching apparel, stylish shoes and trendy accessories is a reflection of Lauren’s own youthful energy and action-filled lifestyle. She designed the shopping experience to have a one-on-one feel while catering to young women’s desire to shop for trendy, edgy fashion at affordable prices.

I realized department and specialty stores were committing a major fashion faux pas -charging ridiculous prices for mediocre fashion. The victims? Young women looking for cute, affordable and quality clothes.”

Lauren is inspired by her own passion for fashion, constantly in search of unique, fine quality clothing that isn’t super expensive. She dreamed of a store filled with the most adorable and reasonably priced little gems she could really buy and be happy with. After investing time researching, drawing up plans and putting her keen eye for fashion to work, Lauren actually opened that store, and she’s living her dream.

Now, if this success story doesn’t inspire you to revisit your own dreams for a business you’re jazzed about, I don’t know what will.

Happy Holidays, everybody! Live your dream in 2012.

Hair Accessory Line Gives Back

The Woobie Wear couture hair accessory brand is on a mission to provide ill children with beauty, those with disabilities with rewarding jobs and worthy charities with extra support.

Founder and designer Lisa Blackman was inspired by the birth of her baby girl -affectionately nicknamed “Woobie,” and by 2006 had launched the company. The product line includes headbands, hats and vibrantly colored flower clips for babies, toddlers and tweens; there’s even a mother-daughter line. Signature Woobie Wear hats are crocheted by hand from an exclusive, one-of-a-kind pattern.

Recently, Woobie Wear added a full line of versatile Magnetic Strands that can be worn as a necklace, bracelet, anklet or headband, feather clip-in hair extensions, fedoras for boys and girls, winter head wraps and over-the-knee socks.

Woobie Wear strives to bring a little fun and beauty to kids that are struggling to overcome huge obstacles and terrible diseases. While products are becoming a staple in local hospitals, the company recently donated hats to Shizuoka Children’s Hospital in Tokyo, Japan. Part of the product line is produced and packaged in partnership with St. Coletta’s of Illinois Foundation, which provides support and funding for special needs individuals so they can take an active part in their communities. Lisa and Woobie Wear donate proceeds to several charities that help families fighting pediatric cancer and raise money for their bi-annual charity event at Hope Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn, IL.

-Janet Muniz