Any hipster with a scarf can tell you: The fiber arts are enjoying a renaissance. I can knit (poorly) and spin (horribly), and I sometimes consider trying needlepoint. But no kittens and flowers for me. No, I'd start with the wacky but l…
I'm a big believer in traveling with kids . It's never too early to expose them to other cities, other cultures, other foods, and hopefully, the ability to behave on an airplane. (Oh please oh please!) I'm always looking for travel goodi…
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, th…
I love making quilts. Well... quilt. I made one quilt. The job, the kids, life in general, and time in particular have since conspired against me. So Quilt Creator is a dream realized. It's the chance to be a quilter extraordinaire--with…
Having both a boychild and a girlchild, I can assure you that--despite both being wonderful and having their respective proclivities and attributes--dressing girls is just more fun. I'm sorry, but it is. Especially when there are these g…
It's very possible that some of you may score some new technology for the holidays. And of course we know that it's the gift that keeps on taking--that dandy new iPhone 4 will require a spare power cord, decent ear buds, some fun apps, a…
I'm pretty sure my Christmas list one year included a puppy, a kitten, a bunny, and The Black Stallion. I was deeply disappointed not to find any boxes with air holes under the tree, but you can get at least 3 out of 4 with these adorabl…
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'v…
I'm still poking around etsy these days for some last-minute stocking stuffers, although in my world, 9 days til Christmas is far from last-minute. CMP fave Dana Marie Hosler of GreenStarStudio always has something nifty and new, and tod…
Since my kids are rarely get super dressed up, save a few special events over the holidays, I'm always looking for a more versatile option for my girls than a formal coat. And with the new riding hoods at House of Lux, I think I may have…
I love crafty people. I wish I were one of them, but, alas, I'm not even that great at wrapping gifts. They end up looking like my three-year-old took the reins. But, this year, my friends and family will think I've developed some seriou…
Yes, I pretty much love everything from Shokay. Their gorgeous, hand-knit, fair trade items have made it into our baby shower gift guide , our 2010 holiday gift guide --and now, even our Cool Mom Tech gift guide . No, they're not making …
As much as I'd love to make my own holiday gifts, I've come to the realization that with four kids I just don't have the time. And quite frankly, even with all the time in the world, I'd never be able to make anything quite as amazing as…
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 enterta…
I've always had a thing for headbands. It probably dates back to the first grade when I fell in love with a ribbon and bead headband a cool older girl made for me. Now CMP (and mom) fave Giddy Giddy is taking me back to my grade school d…
'Tis the season for lots of neighborhood parties and gatherings, and you know what that means--lots of hostess gifts . I have a closet dedicated to "cutesy gifts gone bad," like dozens of fancy soaps. (I'm a pump dispenser girl.) Persona…
A gift card can sometimes feel kind of impersonal, no matter how many zeroes are on it. (Not necessarily unwelcome, by the way--dear friends and family: bring on those zeroes!) That's one reason we're always looking for special cards and…
This post and the first ever Small Business Saturday , November 27, is sponsored by American Express. You can "like" the Small Business Saturday Facebook Page to help generate a $1 donation to Girls Inc., and help spread the word about s…
Do you ever fall in love with an picture on Etsy before you even know what the item is? Beautiful styling and luscious photo-editing once lured me to click on a $75 photograph of a bagel. That's right-- a picture of a bagel. This time, w…
My daughter has signed on to the idea of Christmas early. Not "early" like prodigy-early; I mean early like she discovered a teensy faux Christmas tree in our garage this summer and has been diligently decorating it for the past three mo…
The temperature is dropping, and that means I must face my daily terror: Five Minutes of Goosebumps. You know-- when you get out of a hot shower and spend five minutes freezing and fumbling as you slather your skin with lotion? The good …
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 decid…
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 compan…
I'm generally a good gifter. However, I've been a little stumped about what to buy a good friend's little girl for her first birthday. They live in a tight NYC apartment, so their toy situation is extremely edited. Her stylish wardrobe, …