Ciaran Blumenfeld, Author at Try Handmade

Toy Boats by Willowbaus

April 14, 2021 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 3 Comments

Have you ever seen a more lovely toy boat than these boats by Willowbaus? Items in this shop are all earth friendly and childsafe. Boats are finished with beeswax and orange oil.

These toy vessels seem to invite imaginary journeys to far off lands. They are just begging for an afternoon of fall sunshine and puddles to sail away to. Load them up with acorns and fairies and set them free.

I love the selection of prints and patterns available. These would make an incredibly thoughtful birthday present. They make for beautiful room decor as well.

Pirates vs Ninjas by Goosegrease

March 6, 2021 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 3 Comments

I feel pretty confident saying that I believe you may never find a checkers set more fabulous than this hand painted wooden “Pirates vs Ninjas” set by Goosegrease. This set even has oversized “king me” figures. That’s above and beyond if you ask me!

I’ve been watching this seller for some time now, and covet their little wooden peg families. Last winter I even had a bit of a brief fantasy about ordering a “portrait” set of dolls made to represent our family. My plan was to take pictures of the little wooden dolly family at the typical holiday card locations (ie beach, park, in front of the hearth…) and then use it as our holiday card. This would kill two birds with one stone in that it would make a great gift for my kids and also spare me the agony of trying to get four kids to smile semi-convincingly all at once.

Goosegrease has a sister shop, Goosegreaseundone where they sell their checkers set as DIY blanks. I wish I had the patience to paint them myself. I might be tempted to do a set of pink ninjas vs classic pirates so we could play girls vs boys. But having seen the perfection that is this original design, I don’t think I could ever come close to matching it. This is on my holiday wishlist. For me!

Lunch Box Love Notes from Cards Between Friends

February 16, 2021 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 1 Comment

Just a few weeks ago you could not wait to send those kids off to school and on their way. New shoes, a special lunch, a brand new schoolbag. But now that the newness has worn off and school days have settled into a routine, it’s easy to get in a rut. The lunches have lapsed into lackluster leftovers, the new shoes are scuffed. We need a pick me up! That’s why October is the perfect time to break out some Lunch Box Love Notes like the adorable ones made by Cards Between Friends.

I like that these notes are simple and graphic and can be personalized with your own handwritten message. Tuck them into a lunchbox or backpack. They are sure to brighten any test day and make your kids feel super special and cared for.

These cards strike the perfect balance between sweet and cool. They are not overly precious, which is a plus when you have little boys who like monsters. Cards can be customized to your favorite of the themes offered by Cards Between Friends. Can you think of a more simple and inexpensive ($3.50 for a dozen!) way to put a smile on your child’s face on a daily basis?

Monster Fleece Fingerless Gloves by Boysenberry Lane

January 24, 2021 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 3 Comments

Kids a little unimpressed with their mittens and gloves? Try these monsters from Boysenberry Lane. Part sock puppet and part armwarmer, they make staying warm seem a lot more fun. They also give new meaning to the phrase, “Talk to the hand!”

Purchase multiple pairs and you can mix and match your monsters for way more fun and furious debates between ‘ol righty and lefty.

Taka the Big Ninja Keychain by Leatherprince

January 6, 2021 by Ciaran Blumenfeld 1 Comment

[hCiaran]

Looking for a way to distinguish your kid’s backpack from that of the masses? Need a really big keychain so that you can quickly find your own keys when a certain kid is having a potty emergency? You need a Taka.

taka1

Taka the Ninja is just one of many many adorable characters in the leatherprince Etsy shop. This husband and wife duo create the most adorable leather keychains, coin purses and pouches for storing anything from lunch money to lip gloss. They are handcut from high quality leathers and stitched with care. You cannot help but smile at these colorful little characters.

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