2011 February | Inhabitots

Harvest Textiles Hand Screen Prints Kids Clothing & Toys

by Jenny Tranter, 02/08/11

If gloomy winter weather has you dreaming of a spring day, take a look at the colorful and lively hand screen printed textiles from Australia-based Harvest Textiles. Their new children’s line features clothing and toys, and shows just how cool eco design can be. Hand screen printing their own organic cotton textile range in a little studio in Melbourne, the three creative women who launched Harvest Textiles just last year, also design a small housewares line that is equally unique.

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Make Toys With Danger Crafts Knitting Patterns and Kits

by Julie Seguss, 02/08/11

If you’re a knitter, set aside the scarves, sweaters, and socks for a minute and consider putting your needles to work for making plush toys. Danger Crafts offers a selection of awesome patterns and knitting kits so you can turn beautiful organic yarn into sweet, sustainable toys for your kiddos. The brainchild behind the Etsy outpost? Rebecca Danger, a Washington-based uber-creative crafter, who dreams up oodles of colorful and quirky characters. So how can you get started on these DIY plushies?

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Sleepin’ Smart Organic Crib Sheet Topper Saves Sheets

by Beth Shea, 02/07/11

Moms and dads, your life just got a little bit easier! The Sleepin’ Smart crib sheet topper from Innobaby is a simple, yet ingenious addition to every parent’s repertoire. The savvy design enables you to use this certified organic cotton sheet with a built-in waterproof mattress pad in a variety of ways. Lay it in your family bed to safeguard your sheets from diaper leaks and spit-up while co-sleeping with baby. Or, if your little one sleeps in a crib, it’s no longer necessary to struggle with changing the crib sheet by lifting out the entire mattress to secure the corners. This topper features four corner ties, so you simply fasten the ties to the crib and you’re done. Additionally, a mom-to-be may sleep atop the crib sheet topper during her final weeks of pregnancy to protect bedding in the event her water breaks — and the sturdy sheet also offers a barrier between potty-training tots and their sheets. *One side of the sheet is comprised of certified organic flannel for use during winter months.

+ Sleepin’ Smart Crib Sheet Topper $39.99

+ Innobaby

Watch Tristan & Tyler’s Green Adventures in NYC

by Julie Seguss, 02/07/11

A lot of kids dream of having their own TV show, but Tristan and Tyler, 7 year old twin brothers, actually do — and they’re using their screen time for good, teaching kids how to go green. While you can’t catch the boys on TV, you can watch the series Tristan and Tyler’s Tales from the City! on the web. Each episode follows the twins to a new spot in New York City where they interview people about going green, make crafts with recycled supplies and offer ideas for family-friendly activities that promote a healthy planet. Check out one of their adventures and find out more after the jump.

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“Fresh Produce” Sweet Pea Five-Piece Organic Layette Set

Image ©My Baby Clothes Boutique

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Baby Aspen has always offered sweet baby goods, but now they’ve gone green as well with an adorable Sweet Pea Five-Piece Organic Layette Set. More than cute, this five-piece layette set is all organic and packed sweetly in a darling natural woven-wood basket. The set …

Link Roundup: Printable Valentines and Cool Kids Art

Get inspired to embrace the snow with Ohdeedoh‘s round up of snowman alternatives.

It’s the year of the rabbit, so celebrate Chinese New Year with this cute rabbit printable from Alpha Mom. (via Cool Mom Picks) Gung Hay Fat Choy!

The Long Thread did the hard work for us by putting together a list of 30 printable Valentines that are cooler, cuter, and way more fabulous than the …

Handmade Organic Baby Bibs for Clean Green Tots

Once your baby starts solids, you can never have too many baby bibs. Right now we’re loving Down Home Amy‘s collection of handmade baby bibs featuring sweet sketches of elephants, owls and even a modern city scape print. The bibs are made from recycled hemp, organic cotton and cotton waffle terry by a Vancouver-based designer. The pretty bibs are 100 percent giftable, especially when paired with another goody from the shop such as organic burb …

HOW TO: Make Miniature Organic Conversation Heart Cakes

No need to binge on artificial color-filled candy conversation hearts this Valentine's Day -- make organic miniature conversation heart cakes instead with our easy recipe. Like perfectly sized heart-shaped cupcakes, these mini treats are simple enough to make with your children in one afternoon, and they're perfect as a party goodie or simply as a Valentine's Day after dinner dessert. Read on to learn how you can make miniature organic conversation heart cakes in a few easy steps.

Doudou Veilleuse Organic Plush Toy Glows in the Dark

Papili, a small French toy company, has launched the first organic, fair-trade soft toy that glows in the dark. Doudou Veilleuse, a glowing plush rabbit, is sure to alleviate any fears of what goes bump in the night or monsters under the bed! Simply leave Doudou Veilleuse under a natural or artificial light for a few minutes, and when the lights are off, a glowing friend comforts the child, then gradually dims as the child falls asleep. Doudou Veilleuse needs neither batteries nor electricity …

HOW TO: Plastic Bag Valentine’s Day Friendship Bracelets

Valentine's Day cards, stickers, temporary tattoos and other small plastic trinkets are usually loved for an afternoon and then simply tossed into the trash. And the amount of candy consumed rivals Halloween! This year, my son and I wanted to forgo purchasing any type of Valentine's Day cards or goodies. Instead we decided to make friendship bracelets for all of his classmates and friends. We made these friendship bracelets from plastic bags and then secured them to a card made from paper, both of which slated for the recycling bin. If you have already kicked the plastic bag habit, (good for you!) you can use bread and other food bags for your bracelets, like we did. The result, a Valentine's Day worthy friendship bracelet that didn't cost a penny, has zero impact on the environment and taught my son how to braid. Follow these five fast steps to making plastic bag Valentine's Day friendship bracelets with your children.

Cardboard Teddy Bag Backpack Converts to a Desk

The Teddy Bag, designed by François Verez and Ane Eguiguren, is one of seven finalists of the INDEX: Design Challenge, Designing for Education, the objective of which was to propose solutions to improve education in the developing countries' schools. Teddy Bag is a school bag that turns into a desk. It allows children to carry all the items they need for school and then study on the spot, anytime, anywhere. Because it's made from cardboard, it's lightweight and easy for kids to carry. Plus, the simple production process makes it possible to be produced easily in developing countries.

+ Teddy Bag

+ INDEX: Design Challenge

Tapikid Playmats Entertain During Tummy Time & Beyond

To tummy time and beyond! Tapikid Playmats will keep infants enthralled during tummy time, and they’ll last long past the baby phase to engage toddlers and even older kids in limitless imaginative fun! Available in four varieties — Green Horizons, Aqua Adventures, Racy Red and Fuschia Fun — each mat depicts artful scenery in vibrant hues which encourage interactive play. Little ones can arrange animal figurines atop the mats, or zoom toy cars across …

How to Overcome 5 Common Breastfeeding Challenges

Breast may be best, but it's not always easiest. Certainly, the benefits of breastfeeding to mother and baby, both physically and emotionally, outweigh any challenges that you will encounter along the way, and it can be a wonderful experience that strengthens the bond between mother and child. However, the challenges that you do bump into can be discerning and may leave you questioning whether you will ever be successful at breastfeeding or how much longer you can do it -- I should know since I faced many challenges when breastfeeding my son for 3.5 years. So I was happy to discover the new book The Better Way to Breastfeed by Robin Elise Weiss -- a guide dedicated to breastfeeding success, which discusses five of the most common breastfeeding challenges. Read on to find out what they are, and learn ways to overcome them.