Bags & Totes

Culver Cutie Tutu Bags


Tote bags with so much personality, you’ll want to get one just for the fun of it!

031814_CRTPost_CulverCutie_03Macon, GA-based Culver Cutie Boutique makes what owner/founder/designer Shelila Culver calls “Unique & Sassy” tutu bags –tote bags decorated with a darling dance-inspired look and roomy enough to fit any little ballerina’s dance shoes, a change of clothes and all her recital necessities, hair bits and pieces, water and other accessories while providing dancing divas with a show-stopping style at the studio.

Our tutu tote bags are a go-to essential for any young dancer and a favorite of celebrity ‘ballerina’ Suri Cruise, who was recently spotted with our black and hot pink tutu bag.”

031814_CRTPost_CulverCutie_02Made in the USA. Unique & Sassy Tutu Bags and Backpacks come in four different styles, all made from a durable poly/cotton blend fabric, with sturdy handles, ribbon accents, roomy pockets and Tulle tutu/reinforced bottoms. They make perfect one-of-a-kind gifts for birthdays, sleepovers, pageants or ballet/dance class. They are so unique and cute, I’d give them just for fun!

“Our multiple styles let you pick out the perfect tote that expresses her individual style,” Shelila says.

Available at retail stores across the country or directly from the Culver Cutie website at www.culvercutie.com. Boutique volume pricing is available; contact  info@culvercutie.com for details.

BowlingBalls.com


Introduce your kids to bowling this holiday season.

120513_BowlingBalls_RacingWithTheMoon_PosterBowling and Hollywood. There have been numerous films made that include scenes or plot points about bowling. However, unlike the ubiquitous baseball movie, precious few interesting or noteworthy films have been made that feature bowling balls instead of baseball bats.

Let’s take a look at a movie that went against the grain and made an impact with a plot that actually revolves around the lanes –a bowling movie that really is about bowling.

Racing with the Moon
MBDRAWI EC012This family-friendly movie about young love and the romance of an era made bona fide stars out of its then-young leading male actors, Sean Penn and Nicolas Cage. The two play teenage pals who work together at a small town bowling alley. They also chase girls in 1942 California at Christmastime, in the early days of World War II, waiting to ship out for basic training in the Marine Corps.

The bowling alley was the local hangout for kids then, and the authentic, painstakingly period-correct bowling alley scenes give us a taste of what real old-school bowling was like, back in the day.

Bowling -a Fun Family Adventure! If you’re thinking of giving the gift of bowling this holiday season, the folks at BowlingBalls.com make affordable bowling balls and accessories for “future champions.”

Every little beginner represents the future of our sport, so novice level equipment has to be designed to prepare them for a glorious future on the lanes.

120513_BowlingBalls_04Find a great selection of bowling balls made especially for children and beginners, including cool-looking custom designs.

Pendleton Woolen Mills


100813_Pendleton_150YearsLogoHappy Birthday to the iconic brand of classic American style.

Recognized all over the world as a symbol of authentic American heritage and craftsmanship, Pendleton is celebrating 150 years of weaving fabric in the Pacific Northwest this year.

100813_Pendleton_BigDipperCribBlanketMade in the USA. With six generations of family ownership since 1863, the company owns and operates two of America’s remaining woolen mills, attending to them with the love and respect they deserve with state-of-the-art looms and eco‐friendly technology.

Inspired by its heritage, Pendleton designs and produces apparel for men, women and children, blankets, home décor and gifts.

100813_Pendleton_HoodedTowelFor Little Ones. Pendleton’s colorful, beautifully designed and naturally inspired line of children’s blankets, towels, layette, plush toys, dinner sets and room décor can brighten your child’s environment with pieces that can become family heirlooms.

100813_Pendleton_FranklinHorseEach of the “Tell-Me-A-Story” blankets are inspired by the true history of the native peoples of America, giving real-life shared experiences to parents and their kids. Full stories for each blanket can be found on the company website.

100813_Pendleton_Ah-DayMuchachoGirlsAh-Day. “Ah-Day” means “special” in Kiowa, and the Ah-Day blankets are produced exclusively by Pendleton for the American Indian College Fund, a Native American-operated organization dedicated to education. Designed by acclaimed contemporary Native American artist Virginia Stroud, the blanket is inspired by a Plains Indian tradition of new parents placing their child’s remaining navel cord inside an amulet shaped like a turtle. The amulets represent the turtle’s hard shell that will guard the spirit of the child and ensure a long, protected life. Also, a portion of the proceeds from the Ah-Day blankets benefit the Fund.

100813_Pendleton_GirlScoutsGirl Scouts’ Centennial Celebration. Last May, Pendleton wove a custom blanket design for the Girl Scouts’ 100 year celebration, each one issued with a commemorative label signed by Girl Scout alumna and former Governor of Oregon Barbara Roberts.

100813_Pendleton_LayetteAdorned with a few of the original Girl Scout proficiency badges and the Girl Scouts official 100th anniversary logo, the blanket design represents the history as well as the diversity of skills that girls have learned in the last century. Stripes along the top and bottom represent the three parts of the Girl Scout Promise and the Courage, Confidence and Character element of the Girl Scout mission.

100813_Pendleton_PillowPendleton is available through select retailers in the USA, Canada, Europe and Asia, at Pendleton stores, through company catalogs the Pendleton website.

TWELVElittle


Fashionable, functional carryalls for Moms and Dads who “need it all.” 

092413_TWELVElittle_01Launched in June, TWELVElittle is (might I say lovely-named) a New York-based company that makes baby bags, diaper clutches, accessories, designed with style and engineered with practicality.

Made of high quality, water resistant fabrics and supple leather, TWELVElittle bags not only make it super easy to call any baby essential, they transform into the most fashionable accessory for any Mom or Dad, after baby grows up.

Our TWELVElittle baby bags are precisely made to assist every parent at the right moment, and capture every experience with ease and grace.

092413_TWELVElittle_IllustrationCarry Your Inner Animal. According to the Asian zodiac, I was born in the year of the Rooster. “Roosters are good at listening and keeping promises. By being natural observers, they are knowledgeable and resourceful,” it tells me on the company’s 12 LITTLE WONDERS web page, where each wonder -an animal that represents the year each child is born- is explained and illustrated by Catherine Min. Catherine’s illustrations evolved into the 12 LITTLE WONDERS dangles, “perfect little reminders of how special every child is.” The leather dangles can be used as keychains or personal identity jewels. I love these!

092413_TWELVElittle_03Bonding Over Baby Bags. Julia Min and her friend Jenny first met at Rhode Island School of Design while both studied for their BFA in Industrial Design. Each chose a fashion career designing handbags –and it was the search for the perfect baby bag that brought them together again to launch TWELVElittle. Juila is inspired by her son Noah and daughter Noelle, and Jenny is a world traveler and animal lover –one reason why TWELVElittle bags are so handy while on a trip to anywhere-land! Great job, ladies!

IMPWEAR


091713_IMPWEAR_03Made by a Mom in Seattle, IMPWEAR introduces an oil cloth collection that’s just right for kids of any age!

Back in 1992, creative Mom Tracy Krauter stared making a line of reversible wear for her three active boys. She called it IMPWEAR and sold what she calls the “quality hand-me-downs” at local street fairs.

Made in the USA. Now, Tracy and her IMPWEAR crew are making aprons, tablecloths, reversible bags and more, made from a versatile oil cloth.

It’s the fabric that excites.

091713_IMPWEAR_01The lightweight fabric has a polyurethane coating that’s BPA-free, PVC-free, phthalate-free and toxin-free, which means it’s not only safe for food, but safe for kids, too. “This ‘oil cloth’ comes in the same zesty prints with irresistible draping and washability,” Tracy says.

091713_IMPWEAR_04Perfect for any kitchen, garden shed or kids playtime, IMWEAR’s oil cloth collection is available online at www.impwear.com, at local shops and market events and wholesale –great for gift shops, catalogs or garden nurseries (I especially like Tracy’s yoga mat bag!).

Giving Back. Tracy was a park ranger in a former life, and believes in the value of untouched wilderness for our kids. In support of her cause, IMPWEAR donates 10% of each sale to non-profit organization Forterra, the largest conservation and community building organization in Washington State, dedicated to protect, enhance and steward the region’s communities and landscapes.

XOLO


Who says shoes have to match?

080613_Xolo_01XOLO Shoes is changing footwear fashion one mismatched shoe at a time. The company celebrates a child’s unique personality with unusual shoe designs where the left and right shoes in a pair are not exactly the same.

The mismatched fabrics feature fun, colorful patterns –and the shoes look adorable because each shoe complements the other perfectly with coordinating designs and colors.

080613_Xolo_02Pam Val is the creative mind behind Humble, TX-based XOLO. Owner of Pam Grace Creations, she is already successful in the baby and children’s bedding industry, and has a passion for children’s design. Her motto: Why not let kids express themselves not just in their room decor, but also in their clothing and accessories?

Kids are often told ‘no’ when they attempt to express themselves creatively. I want to give parents a chance to tell their children ‘yes!’

Back to School Deal. XOLO Shoes makes going back to school fun and stylish. Both girls and boys can really express themselves creatively with two different shoe styles -lace-up and slip on- backpacks and rain boots. The company also has NCAA college-licensed shoes for Mom and older kids, including team colors from LSU, Georgia, Florida and Auburn, with more to come.

Check out XOLO’s back to school deal good until October 31, 2013.

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Hello Beach


Enjoy beachcombing for the rest of the summer -and beyond- with these versatile, Made in the USA bags.

080113_HelloBeach_04Self-proclaimed “gift engineer” Francene Dudziec is owner of Monogram Muse, a personalized gift boutique and “celebration studio” (who wouldn’t love that?). Voted Gifted Retailer 2010 by Gifts and Decorative Accessories magazine, Francene also created Locate The Lights, an online guide to find Christmas lights, holiday light shows, decorated homes and inflatable displays that are free to the public all over America. And she’s a contributing writer/craft editor for The Valley’s Child, published by the Scranton-Times Tribune, and a guest contributor at WNEP-TV Scranton.

She’s also a pretty busy creative business owner.

080113_HelloBeach_01Francene recently launched Hello Beach, trendy shell-collecting bags for anyone who loves beachcombing.

“Our product fosters creativity and exploration for kids!” Francene says. “Our darling beachcomber bags are perfect for exploring coastal shores, collecting treasures or rocks along seaside or lake. It’s unique mesh bottom allows for the sand to sift out and shells and treasures can be rinsed directly in the ocean.”

These new patent-pending beachcomber bags for both kids and adults are available in two sizes and four colors. Personalize with destinations, such as Treasures from the Lake, My First Shells from the Myrtle Beach, Future Beachcomber and more. The bags also come blank for monogramming.

080113_HelloBeach_03Handmade in the USA … by Mom. Mom to two daughters, Francene is also a Pennsylvania-based CPSC-Small Batch Manufacturer who makes Hello Beach bags in a 100% cotton top and a durable woven mesh bottom. “They work great as a market tote, too. You can rinse your produce directly within the bag,” she says.

Madpax


052313_MadPax_01‘Funk’tional backpacks that are the talk of the town.

Mike Cordovana and Tina Huber make ultra cool backpacks for creative kids … and their parents! The team experiments with ways to construct backpacks that make them stand out in a crowd.

MadPax backpacks are like no other –the cutting edge, origami-inspired designs scream individuality in a unique and wildly fun way!

Each creation conceived enters the ‘fabratory’ as a double dare of design and possibility. We add the punk, passion and purpose, dab out the drab and add the rad.

052313_MadPax_02Is it creature, myth or magic? A huge celebrity favorite –count Britney Spears, Hugh Jackman, Naomi Watts, LeAnn Rimes and Eddie Cibrian as customers- MadPax packs are available in a range of sizes, including Full Size, Half Size, Nibbler (a name I really love), a fully-insulated lunch pack and the Mighty Bite, to stash the small stuff.

052313_MadPax_03Once the creator behind custom homes, Mike Cordovana is the company’s math and manufacturing wizard; Tina Huber adds the funk as “sorceress of sales and marketing.” This duo has plans for additional Madpax -including halfpax, packs for littles under five, lunchboxes and accessories.

Pax on, I say!

Cool-it Caddy


Freeze and go portability for outdoor-enthusiast-moms and people of all ages!

The idea came to founder Deborah Vinci one steamy summer afternoon while golfing in the Arizona desert. She’s a true lover of the warm weather and sunshine … but melted lip balm, lipstick, make-up and sunscreen ruined in the heat, not so much. So Deborah created Cool-it Caddy™ cosmetics coolers through her new venture, Vinci Designs, LLC.

052213_Cool-ItCaddy_01No More Meltdown. Now, spending time on the fairway, tennis court, beach, lake or playground no longer spells *meltdown* for your take-along stuff.

The patent-pending design of Cool-It Caddy uses an integrated coolant with lightweight insulation layers to keep contents cool. That means your lip balm, sunscreen, lipstick –even heat-sensitive medicines and snacks maintain their integrity under even the hottest conditions.

The sleek, haute design makes them convenient enough to slip inside purses, briefcases, fanny packs, golf bags, backpacks and diaper bags – so you stay fresh, no matter what the score – or the temperature.

052213_Cool-ItCaddy_IcePopsJust Pop and Play. Just pop the Cool-it Caddy into a freezer until frozen. Put you stuff inside and go do your thing. On the course. On the boat. On the go. Courtside. Beachside. Poolside. Car Rides. Playtime!

Currently, Cool-it Caddy products, including Cool-it Caddy Classic, Cool-it Caddy for Men, Cool-it Caddy Contempo and Icepops-  are sold online and at retail locations across the country, as well as private golf clubs and resorts.

SoYoung


Lifestyle bags and products with a celebrity following.

052113_SoYoung_backpacks_02Canadian mom Catherine Choi is the founder of SoYoung, a line of diaper bags, lunch boxes, cooler bags and accessories designed for the modern family. The line is characterized by clean lines, elegant functionality, tough-yet-tender fabrics and lovely silkscreen graphics, which come together with great urban appeal.

In the instant we meet our child for the first time, we are transformed by the sudden expansion of our hearts in a way we never thought possible. SoYoung is about acting on this inspiration. It’s about the pursuit of possibility and watching an idea blossom into reality.

Catherine’s Aha Moment. With no previous background, Catherine simply decided to design a better diaper bag! The process took four years to bring to market, but for her, it was a profound conviction, a sign you could say.

052113_SoYoung_lunchbagscoolersThe name of Catherine’s company –SoYoung- is actually her Korean name, one she tried hard to leave behind, yet became the nature choice for a business name of her own.

“Our products strive to add beauty to the everyday moments of life with children,” she says. “We treasure the unexpected moments of joy and laughter set against the backdrop of raising a family.”

052113_SoYoung_logoThe Toronto-based company with a celebrity following –like Halle Berry and Heidi Klum- is launching a new collection of waxed canvas bags and a new diaper clutch, available this August.

Sold across Canada, the United States and internationally in Australia, New Zealand, Kuwait, Hong Kong and Singapore.