That is the case with this hilarious (if I do say so) bodysuit. See below

Can’t you just imagine a girlfriend opening this bodysuit for their baby? Imagine the laughs! What if it were actually true and your new baby DID have way more facebook friends?

We like these soft dolls because they are easy to hold and children naturally gravitate to the cute, childlike characters. While most of the dolls and rattles are unisex, some are more stereotypical in gender roles like a princess. But even with that, there are so many choices that a parent can find more than enough Zubels toys that would work for them and their children.

Take a look at Zubels. They are cute, eco-friendly, and affordable toys that are knit to last.

A lot has been happening behind the scenes at Polkadot Patch Boutique. Good things. Exciting things.

Stay tuned… we will be updating our website with more unique baby gifts and funky items for children. We continue to support small batch manufacturers and made in the USA baby clothes. As always, if you know of items that would be a great fit for our store, please contact us and send along images of items (if you are a manufacturer) or share the brand name (if you just love it!)

Unfortunately over the past year, some of our favorite vendors have closed shop, unable to make their businesses work from everything from CPSIA to the economy.  Despite the downturn, Polkadot Patch Boutique strives to bring the most fun, fresh, and funky baby clothes that go beyond pink and blue.

In 2011 you can expect some major changes at PPB. We can’t wait to share them all with you!

Happy New Year!

On that note, I want to take a moment to celebrate items of beauty that I treasure, appreciate for their craftsmanship, and celebrate the beauty artisans bring to my world. In my home and in my business, I love to surround myself with products that are lovingly made by artisans, crafters, hobbyists, and independent small businesses. It is these people and busineses, in my opinion, who make our world a more beautiful place.

In our disposable world where mass produced items are the norm and the mindset “cheaper is better” is often heralded as the way to go, I am making a two pledges for this upcoming holiday season:

1. Buy local as much as possible.

2. Buy handmade  gifts as much as possible.

And ideally, buy all local, handmade gifts!

Now I already do both on a regular basis but I am upping the ante for myself this year. Not only do I want to continue to support artisans who make children’s products at Polkadot Patch Boutique, my small business  selling unique baby clothes, but I also am choosing to shop local as much as I can for handmade products. I do admit that I love to shop on Etsy and other stores that feature handmade products, but this year I want to promote the 3-50 project in Central Vermont. Although Polkadot Patch is not a brick and mortar store, it is my hope that by paying it forward with local, VT businesses, we too, will be rewarded with local business for baby products, baby gifts, and childrens clothing. *We ALWAYS ship free within Vermont*

In Vermont, we are known for our selection of AMAZING products from maple syrup, to wool sweaters, fine pewter, and great beer.  Our state happens to be great are marketing the shop local mentality and I love to visit the nearby farmers markets, holiday bazaars and craft shows, as well as smaller, independent stores for my shopping needs. I am fortunate that the big box stores can’t lure me with powerful marketing because most of them are over 45 minutes away (with Walmart and TJ Maxx as exceptions).

I love being able to talk to the farmers who grow my food, the Moms who make my children clothing, dine at restaurants that serve only locally raised chicken, and ask tons of questions to the artists whose items I give as gifts. It is very gratifying to me to support other small businesses — not only by selling products of many independent crafters through Polkadot Patch, but also showing my children what true quality, craftsmanship, and creativity really is.

Buying locally produced food, goods, and services supports our local economy and keeps people employed.  It keeps the mass marketed, poorly made knockoffs and crap out of the stores  and keeps bringing more beauty back into our lives.

Do you agree? If so, please pledge to shop local and handmade this year too. One of our favorite organizations is asking for pledges from consumers to buy handmade this year. The Handmade Toy Alliance works to not only keep children playing  toys made by artisans….but supports all products and retailers who share this belief. Even at Polkadot Patch Boutique, we celebrate our Made In the USA brands and hope this holiday season that if you shop online, please shop with your small, independent retailers who offer excellent customer service, unique products, and very often support other small manufacturers.

Can you make the pledge to  buy local and buy handmade? I will be. I hope you will join me.

For those of you heading back now, make sure to check out our back to school section featuring toddler backpacks, school sized backpacks, and a varied assortment of lunch bags and lunch boxes

Without a doubt, the neoprene lunchboxes and backpacks are our favorites! These generous soft lunchboxes not only can fit a hefty sized lunch, but they are completely WASHABLE. Yes, you read that right. Turn them inside out, throw them in the wash, and all that lunchbox crud that usually gets stuck inside is GONE!

Our favorite lunchboxes (and backpacks) come in a great variety of designs from a ladybug, rocket, monkey, and an apple. Check them out. WELL worth the investment as they will last a very long time.

Today I want to celebrate a fellow retail business that has been instrumental in bringing so many wonderful handmade toys, gifts, apparel, and everything in between to the online marketplace. Not only is Craftsbury Kids a destination for all things handmade for children, but the owner Cecilia is also the president of the Handmade Toy Alliance. Her passion and commitment to support handmade products goes far beyond selling them…she is instrumental to the organization’s continued success.

Craftsbury Kids is simply a lovely store for finding the highest quality and amazing handpicked selection of handmade children’s products…dare I say…anywhere online. Cecelia has an eye for selecting products to stimulate children’s love of play, parents love of craftsmanship, and gift givers goal of finding just the perfect…and unique present. I cannot think of another store that can rival Craftsbury Kids for its selection of handmade children’s products.

Here are a few of my personal favorites from the store:

Little Hoot Felted Mobile. I love the colors, the felted owls, and how happy I can imagine a baby would be dreaming watching these owls fly by. ADORABLE.

Just look at this face! How could anyone resist this plush little monster doll? I am quite partial to all things monster and this green, horned Glenny doll is just about the cutest one I’ve seen.

To me this Retro Anchors Wooden Sailboat is THE epitome of summer and childhood. It would be a favorite for any boy or girl and is just lovely. You can tell the artisan making these sailboats loves their work!

I want to applaud Cecilia for her vision for Craftsbury Kids, supporting handmade products, and creating an amazing destination for all items handmade. I want to thank her for her commitment to the Handmade Toy Alliance and crusading for all her artists and fellow business owners.

And on a personal note, I am grateful to have Cecelia as a fellow Vermont based business!

The HTA has been working for tirelessly appealing to congress, petitioning for hearings, and continuing to spread the word and educate consumers, manufacturers, importers, and retailers about the impact of this law.  Most recently representatives of the HTA testified at a congressional hearing to address the Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act (CPSEA), as the bill that would offer *some* help to the small batch manufacturers who are still affected by this law and are on the brink of going out of business. Yes, there has been *some* progress but there are many, many businesses still affected by this law and it’s requirements. If you aren’t sure where you stand right now in regards to 3rd party testing for  CPSIA ( it IS confusing even still for us and we’re still in the thick of it) see this wonderful Flow Chart for CPSIA testing that the HTA created.

To celebrate and recognize the hard work of the HTA, we are blogging during the HTA’s blog week highlighting handmade toys, products, manufacturers, importers, and retailers who businesses that are still in jeopardy of closing. The complete member list can be seen here and if you click through to look at these businesses you will see such a wonderful variety. The HTA would LOVE if bloggers would choose a member and spotlight them  or discuss why you love handmade products for children. If you don’t’ have a blog, or the time… please consider making a donation to HTA to support all the work being done by the HTA to protect SO many businesses and the wonderful products they make and sell.

So instead of spotlighting just a single business today, I want to shine the light of acknowledgment and gratitude on the organization that IS saving handmade toys and gifts. (And retailers like ourselves). Without the HTA, I’m not sure how many small businesses would already be closed… I know many of the people behind the scenes of HTA are working very, very hard in what probably feels like a thankless job.

So I am shouting from the mountains in Vermont a shout out to  recognize, celebrate, appreciate, and give all the props and credit to the organization itself that is the grassroots organization behind saving small handcrafters making children’s products.

I know Polkadot Patch Boutique is eternally grateful for what these hard working people are doing. From all the small voices that haven’t said it yet but DO feel the sentiment:  Thank you HTA!

P.S. I promise to highlight other members tomorrow

Fortunately we were enjoying the cool air at a local Vermont company hosting an exclusive employee sale. It was great fun and seeing the administrative offices for this iconic Vermont company was simply FUN! The employees had a great time checking out the amazing savings on unique baby gifts and children’s clothes and we are donating a % of all the sales to our favorite charity, Prevent Child Abuse Vermont. We loved the combination of a socially responsible sale and supporting another local business by offering an exclusive sale to its employees. We hope this is the first of many!

Image from http://commons.wikimedia.org

We are working to expand our “buy local” program within our home state and let our fellow Vermonters know we are here! Because we are solely online, many people do not know we are a Vermont based company. Even though we have been in business for 4 years…we are still being found on a daily basis by our neighbors and fellow Vermonters. We are trying to spread the word and let our neighbors know that buying local CAN mean shopping online….or hosting an exclusive event.

So if you are based in Vermont and would like to have an exclusive sale or event, let us know! We’ll even come to you!

Not only are they made responsibly in the USA, but they are affordable! It seems like it is getting harder and harder to find high quality, eco-friendly USA made  baby products .

I’m personally in love with the sock monkey blanket. Actually I am in love with anything sock monkey themed gifts and this blanket takes the prize!

The CPSEA bill while not perfect…does move in a direction to protect small batch producers. This bill is currently a draft to modify the original CPSIA. The Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act (CPSEA) needs to be brought to Congress so it can be discussed and voted upon. Right now it seems it has stalled and the committees need to be reminded just how much the CPSIA has hurt small businesses and how it STILL needs to be modified.

Please take the time to make a call or send an email. We need to get this draft to a bill. SO many manufacturers, retailers, and consumers are depending on this!

HTA’S Call to Action!

(copied here from CPSIA Blog)

Republicans and Democrats disagree on CPSIA amendment that would offer relief to thousands of small batch children’s product makers Will small batch makers and specialty retailers of children’s products survive the CPSIA? This has always been the question, as from the beginning, this law has left us suddenly on the verge of extinction. Eighteen months of hard work has resulted at least in recognition of the fact that our preservation was not considered when this law was passed. However, we are still very much endangered, and action is needed now more than ever.

Thanks to the collective voices of American small businesses and citizens, we were heard by the media and our representatives, and could not be ignored. Once again, we must raise our voices, to prevent handmade children’s products from becoming a casualty of Washington’s inner partisan disagreements.

Recently a bill was introduced by the Department of Energy and Commerce, to amend the CPSIA, offering important relief to thousands of small batch business owners. This relief would prevent many from closing their doors. Democrats and Republicans in Washington cannot see eye to eye on the need for the proposed agreement.

We need to tell our representatives today that it is time to take a stand, and show their commitment to keeping our businesses alive. We at the Handmade Toy Alliance urge you to call your representative in the House Commerce Committee and ask for the CPSIA draft bill to go to mark up and become open for discussion. We have been told time and time again, that we must call, call, and call if we are to be heard. The combined power of our voices is what it will take to keep small batch children’s products from becoming a distant memory in America. Please help! Contact the Minority side at 202-225-3641, and Majority side at 202-225-2927. You are likely to get an answering machine. Leave your name, city, state, House Representatives name and share that they must work together openly in committee to bring about an amendment to the CPSIA now.