by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
A couple of weeks ago, we invited you to nominate yourselves or your favorite handmade artisans for the Handmade Olympics, a fun, entirely unathletic competition featuring amazing handmade creations. Cool Mom Picks was invited to be the official judges of Event 2,...
by Melissa | Baby, Kid Style
Of the many talents I wished I possessed, crocheting is at the top of the list, right along with singing in key and being able to sketch something other than stick figures. Since I don’t expect to inherit any of those talents any time soon, I look to outside...
by Elizabeth | Toys + Playthings
I have a soft spot for good quality wooden toys. I like them so much I find myself decorating my daughter’s room with them, and these handmade, wood puzzles from Just Hatched are no exception. They’re much too pretty to keep in a drawer with a variety of...
by Delilah S. Dawson | Doing Good
As you probably know by now, there’s a bill in Congress to ensure that toys and clothing are free of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Which is good. Unfortunately, while the Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act is well-meaning, the way it’s been...
by Cool Mom Team | Uncategorized
Still looking for a few last minute gifts for the family? Clearly we’re crazy, mad, marry-us-in-Vegas in love with Etsy and all the wonderful artists and crafters we’ve discovered there. That’s why today, on Etsy’s The Storque blog, we’ve...
by Cool Mom Team | Toys + Playthings
I’m such a huge fan of finger puppets for kids, which inspire all kinds of creativity and good thinking. I’m thinking about tracking down a finger puppet theater this holiday, so we can have a more formal stage for all that tiny entertainment. If you...
by Melissa | Toys + Playthings
Ok so maybe teething doesn’t really rock. In fact, it can be pretty painful for all parties involved. I recall more than my share of sleepless nights when my son’s teeth were coming in. Not fun.But maybe the teethers can be? I only wish I had known about...
by Barbara | Toys + Playthings
Whenever I go shopping for baby toys, I am dismayed at how many toy developers design their blocks in sherbet-y pastels even though babies prefer the colors high contrast and vivid for the first few months. (I am also wondering who decided babies love...
by Delilah S. Dawson | DIY
It’s like Miss America for crafters, and you’re a judge. But there’s no Miss Congeniality. This one’s all about looks, and you only get one vote. Actually, it’s the competition for Martha Stewart’s annual Holiday Craft Fair at her...
by Betsy | Toys + Playthings
Once upon a time these little critters were cozy woolen sweaters, but thanks to the imagination and ingenuity of Laura Ray, they have been reincarnated as Pogos. Made with upcycled wool and stuffed with sustainable bamboo fiber they are as eco-friendly as they are...