Little Elephant Company

Special Coupon!

2012-01-24T14:14:00.001-06:00

It's winter, and what else would an expectant mom rather do than prepare for baby to arrive?

So all the felted and regular safari quilt clips are a special of 35% off through the end of February! Use coupon code GOINGONASAFARI to receive the special. Let's go on a safari and forget about the ice and snow and all that cold.

Why safari? Well, besides the warm thoughts of sunshine, tall grasses, and rainforests, the safari theme is also popular for both boys and girls.

Please note that this does not include any handpainted designs. Be sure to use coupon code NEWLEC for your order to receive 25% off all items.

Visit us now at www.littleelephantcompany.com!

PBK Jackson Whale Quilt Clips

2012-01-16T22:11:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite bedding companies, Pottery Barn Kids has some of the cutest sets. But not only are they so very adorable, they are high quality sets that last through several children.

It is not uncommon for someone to purchase a retured PBK bedding set second hand and then ask me to make a set of quilt clips to go with it. And last week, I found out that my PBK Baby Boats quilt clips went along for the ride to the second owner (the new mom was looking for instructions on how to use the quilt clips).

I think the PBK Jackson bedding sets will be another one of the sets that will see many baby rooms for sure. A soothing light blue with navy and basil green accents, Jackson is a fun pattern for little boys.

So my Jackson whales are custom laser cut to match the whale shape from the bedding itself. I paint them a base navy coat, and then I add in the dots...lots and lost of dots. I use the tip of a screw to put on all those itsy bitsy dots, if that helps with the visualization!

Then the fin is a nice lipstick red, with a white eye and stitched mouth. Cute, cute!

If you would like your own set of Jackson whales, head over to my website, as I have them listed there and ready for you!

PBK Penelope Lightswitch Cover

2011-12-27T13:34:00.000-06:00

Another cute and adorable handpainted item from me! Painted to coordinate with the Pottery Barn Kids Penelope bedding, this lightswitch cover is a beauty for a little girl's room.

I started with white for the base color and then used iron oxide brown for the little squiggle branches. The tiny leaves are a light green.

Next, I painted the top bird in pale yellow, adding white stitches around his body and then iron oxide brown, legs, eye, and squiggly wing.

The light pink bird was next, also with white stitches and iron oxide eye, beak, and legs. The wing and tail feathers are Valentine pink.

This was all I had in mind and had sketched for the mom. However, after staring at the lightswitch cover for a few minutes, I decided it needed something a little more. I looked over the bedding a bit more and went to work.

I first painted the moss green stripe on the left. Next, I added the white stitching down the stripe. Lastly, I used the end of my paintbrush for the light green polka dots down the right side.

Would you like your own lightswitch cover? I would be happy to create one for you! Please contact me today. : )

For additional pics of the piece, scroll down the post. For close ups, just click on an image for the larger version!

If you would like other coordinating items like wall letters, hair barrette holder, curtain holders, name sign, quilt clips, growth chart, peg rack, and more, just let me know!

All Creatures 6 inch Wall Plaques

2011-09-29T22:55:00.003-05:00

Today we have watched Kung Fu Panda (twice), Alvin and the Chipmunks Halloween edition, Veggie Tales with Montana Duke, and Rio. You know what movie marathons mean, parents...yep, sick child. So, I figured I should probably type out a very long overdue blog post to get you caught up on the exciting things that have been happening lately with Little Elephant Company.

So on September 1st, I launched my new shopping cart and website redesign...yeah! I love the fresh look it has. And, I have been adding all the items I have done over the past 6 years. I am still not close to everything on there, but I am trying to keep the quilt clips section up to date with all the new designs I do each week.

And, I have an ad in the Pregnancy and Newborn Buyer's Guide magazine that just went out last week. Be sure to pick up a copy! I will get a pic of the mag and my page when I get a chance next week (hopefully).

But you are also probably wondering about the adorable set of wall plaques pictured above, huh? These are just beautiful! I painted the 6 inch circle wall plaques a avocado green, burnt umber, and chambray blue. Each is hung with 7/8 inch dark brown grosgrain ribbon and handpainted with an animal from the "All Creatures Great and Small" bedding by the Land of Nod.

This bedding design is so very versatile and can be used for boys and girls. When I was first introduced to it, I created my original polka dot quilt clips that are now one of my most popular designs.

So for these wall plaques, I painted a soft apple green frog with black eyes and lipstick red mouth. The stitches around him are white.

The lion has a beautiful burnt orange mane, a cream face, rose pink nose, and additional details in country twill, lipstick red, black, and pale orange.

The walrus is a smooth burnt umber with white whiskers and tusks, black eyes, and rose pink nose. His circle is outlined in medium gray.

And, yes, I would be happy to make you your very own set of wall plaques! You can choose any combination of animals from the "All Creatures..." bedding. See the listing on my website today to purchase your set. And watch for the matching peg rack soon to be listed as well. And, of course, I can do matching growth chart, nail covers / knobs, wall letters...

White Daisy Quilt Clips

2011-07-06T18:14:00.007-05:00

One of the most popular designs for my quilt clips is the daisy. I handpaint each daisy the color that each customer chooses. Of course, the most requested color is white. :

Whether the daisy is plain without a center (emulating the Pottery Barn Kids style), or the center is bright yellow, dark yellow, pale yellow, or even a shade of pink, green, purple, or blue, the daisy is one of the designs that coordinates well with nearly any bedding set.

Today, I even received a picture of my daisies holding up a beautiful quilt. I love getting customer pictures!

This mom had a great suggestion as well...she used the 3M doublesided tape in place of the nails to hang the quilt clips and her quilt. She didn't want to put holes in her wall and came up with a great solution! Thank you, Grace!

If you would like your own daisy quilt clips, go to my website now. If you would like some custom designed ones, don't hesitate to contact me today!

New Hardware Style for my Curtain Holdbacks

2011-06-20T16:04:00.012-05:00

I haven't always been thrilled with the metal brackets I have used for curtain holdbacks, always wanting something "prettier" but still functional. Although, the metal brackets are very durable and functional. After a customer brought to my attention that they also would like something "prettier" for the hardware, my hubby helped me brainstorm for a new style. Amazingly, it only took one evening to create a concept, and all of the supplies are local!

So here it is...a straight wooden dowel rod that you simply place your curtains behind. It is so very simple, isn't it? I handpaint the dowel rods and bases a coordinating color to go along with the shape that you choose. Then the base is screwed into the dowel rod, and the shape is glued to the front of the dowel rod. I include two drywall screws so you can then screw the base into your wall.

Here are a few pictures:

A pair of daisies in wisteria with dark purple accents and dark yellow centers...front view and side view:

Then a pair of basketballs, front view and side view:

And then here is the original metal bracket style, which is still available, as well as the wooden dowel both shown on the whale. Just let me know which style you would prefer for your curtain holdbacks!

You can order curtain holdbacks in nearly any shape and theme at my website http://www.littleelephantcompany.com/. If you don't see what you want, just let me know, and I would be happy to make it!

PBK Hayley in a nursery

2011-05-21T21:31:00.002-05:00

A mom just sent me a picture of my owls in her PBK Hayley nursery, and I had to share. : )

Owl Quilt Clips

2011-05-05T10:06:00.004-05:00

I have had many requests for owls, and, finally, here they are! This pair of adorable owls are handpainted to coordinate with Pottery Barn Kids "Hayley" bedding, but I am happy to paint the owl shape in any color combination with different details to coordinate with your bedding.

Here is the scoop for the "Hayley" owls...

The boy owlette is a light blue with pool blue outline. I then added the pale yellow tummy and light pink wings, each with fuschia accents. The beak and feet are also fuschia, and the eyes are white with dark gray.

The girl owlette is light pink with a bubblegum pink outline. Her tummy is a basil green and white gingham, and the wings are white, each of those with fuschia accents. The feet are light blue, the beak is nutmeg brown, and the eyes are white with light blue and then nutmeg brown eyelashes.

To order your owls, don't hesitate to contact me!

EtsyKids Spotlight: Hi Mamma Designs

2011-04-15T21:06:00.004-05:00

I can't believe it's been a month since my last post! It's the usual craziness around here...looking forward to school field trips for my boys this month, though...the St. Louis Zoo and the Long Meadow Rescue Ranch.

So this time the spotlight is on fellow EtsyKids Central team member Hi Mamma Designs from Zionsville, Indiana. Hi Mamma says she has always loved to create things, and the shop "Hi Mamma" was created since her two little girls are her inspirations.

The products that are offered are all something that have been a part of their lives (as well as her own). Hi Mamma Designs offers handmade soft flannel changing pad covers for the cute little tushies, as well as car seat strap covers, finger/tip towels, coffee/tea sleeves, as well as a few other items. Be sure to follow Hi Mamma Designs on Facebook and her blog to keep up with all the exciting things in her shop! And, of course, don't forget to visit her Etsy shop...see a few items below:

The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children. Although we come from different backgrounds and all corners of the world , we are held together by the fact that our members all love to create things for children. In our members' shops, you will find a wide variety of items ranging from clothing to toys to furniture to art and everything in between, in every style imaginable.

EtsyKids Spotlight: ccooperdesigns

2011-03-13T16:21:00.004-05:00

Oh, her shop makes me wish I had a little girl...I just adore her girly ruffled aprons! Hmmm...I do have 3 nieces...those would make great Christmas gifts this coming year...
But take a look through ccooperdesigns shop today, as you just might find the perfect gift for your little girl for Easter. How about a lunchbox tin for a little girl's purse or makeup tote? Or maybe a fabric flower barrette or headband? Or even an entire outfit that even includes an adorable hat!

More about ccooperdesigns in Michigan:

I began sewing at a very young age, hand sewing(doll clothes and embroidery), using the sewing machine before I was allowed(sewed finger) and home economics in school. My Mom and I have had a sewing business specializing in bridal and formal wear for 25 years. Now for a change of pace I am designing and sewing a whimsical line of clothing for children as well as some other neat items.

Be sure to visit Cheryl at her Etsy shop and on Facebook!

The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children. Although we come from different backgrounds and all corners of the world , we are held together by the fact that our members all love to create things for children. In our members' shops, you will find a wide variety of items ranging from clothing to toys to furniture to art and everything in between, in every style imaginable.

EtsyKids Spotlight: Melon Dot

2011-03-03T22:40:00.005-06:00

This week's spotlight is on a shop in Wisconsin...Melon Dot. A stay-at-home-mom business owner, Sarah's items funky, fresh, classic, and a little bit punk all rolled together. I think my favorite is the etch-a-sketch tshirt. : )

Here is more about Sarah:

I am...

amazed by my 2 kids, in love with my husband, a waterbug, always in flip flops with my hair tyed back, silly, energetic, bad with names, love to eat strawberries and cookies,inspired by photos and my family.

My name is Sarah and I am an on-the-go mom of a little girl and a little boy. They really keep me running and enjoying life—who wouldn’t want the bliss that they bring into this world. It is definitely a full-time job with lots of benefits.

As my kids are growing and exploring, I am realizing that I want to learn more and more as well. It could be the teacher in me but, you never stop learning and there are so many cool things out there to discover.

Be sure to visit Sarah at her etsy shop as well as on Facebook!

The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children. Although we come from different backgrounds and all corners of the world , we are held together by the fact that our members all love to create things for children. In our members' shops, you will find a wide variety of items ranging from clothing to toys to furniture to art and everything in between, in every style imaginable.

Pretty as a Princess Quilt Clips

2011-02-28T21:22:00.005-06:00

Yes, I've been super busy the past 8 weeks. As soon as Christmas is over, families realize that baby will be here soon, so order those quilt clips and decor to finish up the nursery - quick! January/February is my busiest time of the year, tied with August/September, so it's been crazy around here (thus the very few blog posts!).

I have been doing quite a few custom quilt clips the past 2 months, so hopefully I will get some time to showcase them here on the blog more frequently. : )

To begin with, are these absolutely gorgeous princess crowns. I painted these specifically to match a little girl's beautiful princess bedding.

I began with a white crown and then added Valentine pink to the top half, creating little swoops. Then, I carefully detailed the little swirls and dots in Valentine pink as well. Lastly, I added a pale pink outline to the top portion of the crown as the finishing touch. These turned out just beautiful!

If you would like your own set, please be sure to contact me. Feel free to send a picture of your bedding so that I can coordinate the quilt clips as close as possible.

EtsyKids Spotlight: Northwoods Toys

2011-02-22T10:03:00.004-06:00

Brand new feaure on my blog! I will spotlighting an EtsyKids team member from the Central US region each week for a while. This week's spotlight is on Northwoods Toys from Wisconsin.

Here is their little bio from Facebook:

Northwoods Toys is a husband and wife crafting team located in the "Northwoods" of Wisconsin. We have been making hand-crafted toys ever since our 3-year-old twin daughters were infants. Stu makes wood toys and Jennifer makes felt play food and other sewn toys.

Mission: We strive to provide high-quality hand-made toys that your child will love. Our children are our product testers and quality assurance team.

Products: Hand-crafted toys for all ages including wood toys, felt play food, plushies, and more.

Visit their website www.northwoodstoys.com (or Etsy) for some really wonderful handmade toys like lacing cards, Squeez-a-Balls©, and some of the cutest felt play food I have seen!

The EtsyKids Team is a diverse group of talented and dedicated Etsy shop owners making items for babies, toddlers, and children. Although we come from different backgrounds and all corners of the world , we are held together by the fact that our members all love to create things for children. In our members' shops, you will find a wide variety of items ranging from clothing to toys to furniture to art and everything in between, in every style imaginable.

Sweet Lamb Quilt Clips

2011-02-04T21:08:00.003-06:00

Remember the PBK Cottontail Friends lamb I did? Here's a picture of a pair of the sweet lambs holding up an adorable quilt. Thank you to Brooke for the picture!

What do I do when I am not painting?

2011-01-09T18:28:00.008-06:00

Well, besides taking care of my boys, I do website design. The past couple of weeks I have updated several websites and even created a new website for a client. Visit the sites below to see the magic I have worked with html:

And the brand new website, with matching blog, for one of the 2010 Huggies Mom Inspired Award Winners - Lucky Ducky Baby!

Are you looking for fresh new design for your website or blog? See more examples of my work and contact me at Marcink Designs.

Crazy Christmas Season is Over...Now on to Crazy January!

2011-01-01T23:44:00.005-06:00

Yes, January is actually crazier than November and December, believe it or not! Why? My theory is that moms and dads are focused on preparing for Christmas, and then when Christmas is over...they realize baby will be here shortly and the nursery needs a few more final touches.

So, I have the honor of making all of the big and little finishing touches for nurseries around the world - I love it!

Back to Christmas, though...where was I for several weekends before Christmas? At a few St. Louis area craft shows! Here is a picture from the last one at Oakville High School:

I know, it's not the best picture, as I took it with my cell phone, but you can see the booth! (The hair bows, beanies, and headbands are my SIL Gussie's - see them at her Etsy shop http://www.sweetmadelynne.etsy.com/.)

Next fall, we'll be at Union Middle School, Lindbergh High School (Sunset Hills Rotary), and Lafayette High School for sure. I am also looking into two shows in Illinois.

Like me on Facebook so you'll know when and where to see me this coming year.

Happy New Year!

Growth Chart to coordinate with Arctic Babies bedding

2010-11-09T15:47:00.004-06:00

Yep! Yet another super cute and adorable handpainted growth chart! This one is made to coordinate with the Arctic Babies bedding by Cotton Tale Designs.

I started off with the background being chambray blue, a pale grayish blue. I then added the black night sky on the top two-thirds of the top board and then a teal for the dark ocean on the bottom two-thirds of the bottom board.

Next, using the back end of my paintbrush, I tediuosly dotted every white polka dot, carefully lining them up in the black and scattering them randomly throughout the chambray blue. What's the Arctic without snow? The polka dot snow is what really added detail and finished off this piece.

Each of the animal shapes is laser cut specially for the Little Elephant Company. The polar bear is a pure white with black and gray details. The penguin is black andwhite with a pale orange beak and rust orange feet. The whale is black with a white eye. (See below for close ups of each animal.)

Lastly, I added black stitching for the whale's water spout and behind the penguin. The measure marks and the nail cover are in the rust orange to tiw it all together.

Would you like your own Arctic Babies coordinating growth chart? Please email me today! I am running a good 4 weeks on handpainted items, so don't wait too long to place your order. Remember that I can also do the polar bear, penguin, and whale in other coordinating room decor...wall letters, quilt clips, and more!

Army Themed Wall Letters

2010-10-24T09:07:00.003-05:00

I create many items for our brave and wonderful families in the service. I don't mind one bit any extra work involved for shipping to the APO and FPO addresses (thankfully the post office has made this simpler over the past couple of years).

This letter set was for a little boy whose daddy is in the US Army. I created a letter set for his baby sister while they were stationed overseas, and now that the family was back in the United States, it was his turn to have a set.

Every little boy idolizes his dad, so it was pretty obvious what he wanted his letter set to showcase. I had the tank, helicopter, jet, and Army star all specially laser cut for this project. Each shape is a navy blue, just a silhouette so they stand out strong against the red of the letters. I then carefully drew a star shape that I was happy with and cutit out to easily trace and then paint the white stars on the letters.

Lastly, I added navy blue ribbon. The ribbon I ended up special ordering since I couldn't find any locally, and I think the navy blue really draws the entire set together.

Would you like your own Army themed set of wall letters, or maybe quilt clips, growth chart, or other decor item? I would be happy to create it for you! Please contact me today!

PBK Cottontail Friends

2010-10-08T13:02:00.007-05:00

I first painted a duck and a rabbit to coordinate with PotteryBarn Kids' "Cottontail Friends" bedding several years ago, and they were so very cute.

But last month, a mom wanted a little lamb to go with the set as well, so I steered the creative juices into lamb painting...and ended up with such an adorable set for her.

Here is what I did:

The duck is my usual duck shape, but I painted it a pale yellow with a cream wing. Then, I mixed the honey brown with pale orange to get the orangey/brown beak. The little stitches are in nutmeg brown to accent the little guy.

For the rabbit, again a regular shape (but it's almost gone, so then I will have to get it custom cut!), I painted it toffee brown. It's ears and nose are light pink, and the tail is white. To see his feet and ears better, I added black stitches.

The lamb is a custom laser cut shape that works well with many different lamb bedding themes. His overall color is a cream, and then I added his toffee brown legs and face. I outlined his head in white to differentiate it from his body and added white stitches around his body. The insides of his ears are light pink.

Thank you to Lenore for sending me the picture of the quilt hanging! I love to see my creations all set up in their new home.

Are you looking for a special set for your child's quilt, don't hesitate to contact me today!

And don't forget that nearly any shape or theme can be done in wall letters, growth charts, curtain holdbacks, name signs, and more!

NEW!!! Handpainted wooden growth charts with personalization

2010-10-01T15:30:00.004-05:00

My newest addition to the Little Elephant Company line of room decor! I have upgraded the growth charts to a gorgeous handpainted solid wood style.

Each growth chart is 42" x 5.75" without the ribbon, and measurements top at 6 feet for your child. The wood is 1/8" thick and is in 3 sections for easy folding and storage.

Of course, I can customize to your theme and add personalization for FREE! And, my new nail cover is also included for FREE with each growth chart!

For the growth chart pictured in this post, I started with a light pink background and painted white hash marks every 1/2 inch. Then I meticulously added twisting iron oxide branches and tiny leaves for the birds to rest on.

The birds are in my PBK Brooke design with a light colored body outlined in a darker tone, then the wings in meadow green white stitches and tiny dots.

Lastly, I hung the growth chart by dark brown ribbon. For the picture, the nail cover is orange to match the beaks on the birds, but you can choose any color you wish!

The new growth charts arenow on my website, and a few are in my Etsy shop. Please do not hesitate to contact me for a custom one for your child today!

5 years - WOW! - Thank you!!!

2010-09-07T21:17:00.006-05:00

It's difficult to believe, but, yes, it has been 5 years since I first began selling my quilt clips on Ebay and my own website. I later added an Etsy shop and an Amazon store to my venues, and last year I began bringing my creations to a few craft fairs in the St. Louis, Missouri area.

And in the past 5 years, my quilt clips have expanded into an entire line of children's room decor. Not only do I now create nearly any room decor item, but I have hundreds of different shapes that I custom paint to coordinate with a child's bedroom theme.

Thank you to my wonderful and very supportive husband, my 3 sons whom I do this for so I can stay home with them, my helpers so I am not up until 3 a.m. every morning painting and packing boxes, my family and friends for their love and encouragement, and to the many, many moms, grandmas, aunts, dear friends, and even dads who have purchased my quilt clips and creations. And, especially, thank you to God, who has blessed my little business tremendously over the years.

Autumn 2010 issue of Modern Handmade Child

2010-08-04T12:32:00.000-05:00

Open publication - Free publishing - More home decor

Peek-a-Boo Bear and Busy Bees

2010-07-28T20:28:00.006-05:00

I am really enjoying my vacation currently, but I just had to post...I just received a picture from a mom of hernursery with her custom quilt clips that I made for her with the baby's quilt, and I wanted to share it. I thought the clips turned out so very cute, but when hung up with the quilt, the whole set is just so precious!

Take a look:

The quilt is Neiman Marcus' Boogie Baby Peek-a-Boo Bear Blanket. I painted the bees in a bright yellow and white with black accents. The bear head is in nutmeg brown and country twill and layered with ears and adorable little black eyes...too cute!

Would you like your own custom quilt clips or other room decor? Please contact me today!

9 inch Wall Letter Initial Hair Barrette Holders

2010-07-08T23:22:00.008-05:00

Lately I have been creating several initials for little girls and adding ribbons to the bottoms of the letters for hair barrettes.

This purple toned and white flower initial turned out just beautiful! I used wisteria, light lavendar, and dark purple (violet pansy) for the tones, and then white and light green to show them off.

The mix of the simple daisy and bits of polka dots really make this 9 inch initial K stand out. The light purple sheer ribbon with white polka dots really compliments the entire piece.

At the bottom of each ribbon strand is a 1 1/2 inch wooden disc to help weigh down the ribbon. I painted them wisteria, light lavendar, dark purple, and white to accent the colors in the K.

What is the purpose of a hair barrette holder? To hold all of the adorable hair barrettes and clippies your little girl has such an abundance of! Simply clip the barrettes to the ribbon, and they stay snugly in place, easy to view to choose the perfect barrettes to compliment her outfits.

Remember, every hair barrette holder from Little Elephant Company includes a FREE hair barrette from Sweet Madelynne Designs! This is a $3.99 value, and even includes the basic $9.99 hair barrette holders. Please note that the hair barrette is chosen at random by me.

And don't forget to add a custom painted nail cover (aka drawer knobs) to hang the letter by! Add a simple one for $3.95 or a more detailed one for $6.95...see below picture.

Are you ready to order one for your little princess? These run between $32.95 and $59.95, depending on how detailed you would like it. All of the ones shown in this blog post are the $32.95 designs. Your letter will come with either 3 or 4 ribbons, depending on the letter. Just contact me with your color and design choices, and I will create one for you! Perfect for birthday, Christmas, and just because.

Below are more examples of 9 inch letter hair barrette holders...

PBK Emily Flower Quilt Clips

2010-06-15T13:42:00.006-05:00

These are just the most adorable flowers to match the Pottery Barn Kids "Emily" bedding! They definitely took some time, but they turned out perfect...

I started with pale pink 5 petal daisies. Then I layered bubblegum pink over a few of the petals and then pale pink over some of the bubblegum pink, topping the inner petals with white.

Then, I took dark pink and stitched inside each set of petals and topped off the flowers with dark yellow centers with tiny dark pink polka dots.

Would you like your own set of PBK Emily quilt clips? Or maybe something similar? I can even do these gorgeous flowers on wall letters, as curtain holdbacks, or even on a growth chart! Contact me today!

Burberry Inspired Wall Letter

2010-05-16T22:52:00.002-05:00

A mom special ordered this Burberry inspired wall letter for her very good friend who just adores anything Burberry, even adding it to her new daughter's room.

I started with a pale pink letter and outlined it in burnt umber. Then created the light pink daisy inspired with signature Burberry plaid in burnt umber, magenta, and white.

Lastly, I finished the wall letter with a sage green stem and leaf and a light pink ribbon.

Contact me today for your own Burberry inspired wall letters!

Summer 2010 issue of Modern Handmade Child is out now!

2010-05-02T13:09:00.002-05:00

Moo Cow by Sumersault Quilt Clips

2010-03-28T16:41:00.005-05:00

When I finished these brown and white cows, I told myself, "These are too stinking cute!" The pictures just don't do them justice.

The mom wanted to pull the turquoise color from the bedding, so we did a turquoise background circle. For the cows, I have iron oxide spots accented with white stitches, a honey brown face, and nutmeg brown accents.

Would you like your own set of Moo Cow quilt clips or another custom theme? Please contact me today!

Modern Handmade Child SPECIAL Mini Mother's Day Issue

2010-03-22T19:13:00.001-05:00

Butterflies for the "Butterfly Flowers" bedding

2010-02-22T18:51:00.004-06:00

These sweet butterflies are some of the most adorable butterflies I have yet painted. I created this set to coordinate with Carter's (Kidsline) "Butterfly Flowers" bedding set.

First, I started with a pale pink upper wing and added the Valentine pink lower wing. Next, the iron oxide (chocolate) body on each butterfly.

My favorite part is using a tiny detail brush to carefully paint the tiny flowers in magenta and pale pink. Lastly, I finish off the butterflies with iron oxide stitches around each wing.

I would be happy to handpaint a set for you as well! I could even create a matching growth chart, a pair of curtain holdbacks, a set of wall plaques, or even your daughter's name in wall letters using this pattern. Contact me today for your own "Butterfly Flowers" butterflies!

Featured in the Spring 2010 edition of MHC

2010-02-01T08:17:00.004-06:00

My Cherry Blossoms letters have been featured in the spring issue of the online magazine Modern Handmade Child! Take a peek and have fun with the other articles as well.

Read my articles about parents choosing a pediatrician and a tour of Purina Farms! Also see my son Noah's photography featured in the View section - just for kids.

PBK Penelope Bird Quilt Clips

2010-01-05T21:39:00.005-06:00

The past few months I have had many requests for quilt clips to coordinate with the Pottery Barn Kids' "Penelope" bedding. Well, I finally got around to creating a set, and here they are!

For these sweet little birdies, I used a light pink and dark pink for one, and then light yellow and cream for the second one.

Both birds have white stitches and iron oxide beaks and eyes.

The bird shape was specially laser cut for the Little Elephant Company, and the birds can face either direction.

I can also do birds in more detail to go with the bedding, or even other bird shapes if you don't care if this particular simple bird.

Contact me today for your own set of sweetly tweeting birds! Remember, my designs are available in nearly any type of room decor, not just in quilt clips. So let me know if you are interested in wall letters, curtain holdbacks, wall plaques, or a growth chart, just to name a few options.

Thank you for a wonderful year!

2009-12-26T22:08:00.004-06:00

Wow! It has been a long time since I've posted. There is a good reason, though...

Thank you to everyone for all of the Christmas orders and your patience as I worked many late nights meticulously painting your very special gifts.

My sister-in-law Julie has been a wonderful help to me, helping here in my little workshop, my year round elf, painting away the backgrounds so I can add the beautiful finishing details. Without her, I don't think I would have slept at all for the past month.

I also attended 2 craft shows during the Christmas season, and being able to talk face to face with many moms and grandmas and aunts has convinced me how much I miss the connection with people when everything is being done over the internet. So, watch for me at a couple spring shows in March and a few more next November and December.

And also, thank you to all of you that I have had the pleasure of creating a special item for. I sincerely hope that you and your precious children are enjoying the extra little touches to your bedrooms and nurseries.

May God bless you and your families this coming year!
Tyann

Winter 2009 Issue of Modern Handmade Child...

2009-11-03T16:48:00.003-06:00

...is HERE! Thank you to all of our contributors for their wonderful stories that they have shared with us for this issue. Shannon and Gretchen did the bulk of the editing this time around since the different sicknesses hit our household the past month, and I finally was able to jump in at the end. Here is the result, and, in my humble opinion, we just get better and better. ; )

Oh, and don't forget to read my articles, "Room Party 101: Tips for Classroom Parties," on page 92, and "10 Tips to Surviving the Holidays with Family" (featured on the cover), on page 96. Then my little teddy bear quilt clips are featured on the top row of items on page 2!

Do you have an idea or would like to write an article? Or maybe you have used a craft idea or tutorial featured in the magazine? Did your child take the greatest picture ever? Please submit to editor@modernhandmadechild.com, and you may be in the next issue!

www.modernhandmadechild.com

12 inch Wall Letters, Quilt Clips, and Wall Plaques - MiGi's Blossom bedding

2009-09-13T12:44:00.007-05:00

Done in my new birch wood letters in the Victorian font, ZOEY turned out absolutely gorgeous, in my humble opinion. Each letter set that I finish becomes my new favorite set. It's been difficult choosing a few themes to create for samples to take to an upcoming craft show!

ZOEY is actually in 12 inches, as my new letters can be done any size up to 24 inches tall, and in many different fonts. First, I started with a pale pink background. Then I added the burnt umber tree branches and vines twisting through the letters.

I also had the sweet little birdies custom cut to coordinate better with the Blossom bedding. Each bird is painted white and layered with a wing and eye. The wings are bubblegum pink with pale pink and burnt umber polka dots. The eyes are burnt umber.

The blossoms are also in the white, bubblegum pink, pale pink, and burnt umber. Adding the polka dots on the large blossoms almost made me cross-eyed!

Lastly, I used a sheer pale pink ribbon, securely stapled to the back of each letter, for the letters to hang by.

You can see more detail in the quilt clips that I created to go with the letters.

Then on the wall plaques, I started with 5x5 squares in pale pink and added the burnt umber branches to match the letter set.

Would you like your own set of nursery decor in the Blossom theme by MiGi? Please contact me today!

Construction Trucks - Cement Truck, Backhoe, Dump Truck

2009-08-20T21:53:00.006-05:00

Inspired by the Eddie Bauer bedding "Little Builder," this cement truck is simply every little builder's dream. My 3 year old wanted to to keep it for his own collection of shapes, as he loves Tonkas in general.

The cement truck's cab and body are a denim blue with a light blue and sage green cement mixer. The window is white and layered onto the truck. The wheels I handpainted onto the body in black and then layered the sage green center of the wheels on top.

A perfect addition to the backhoe and dump truck in my
regular line (or have the regular shapes custom painted, too, like this set), the custom handpainted cement mixer will complete any Little Builder's nursery decor.

Contact me today to custom order your own cement mixer. Remember, nearly all designs are available in nearly all my products - wall letters, growth charts, curtain holdbacks, and more!

modern handmade child is officially here!

2009-08-05T22:21:00.001-05:00

Custom Clouds for Pottery Barn Kids "Stork" bedding

2009-07-28T18:50:00.006-05:00

Even though Pottery Barn has discontinued their "Stork" bedding, I had a chance to create a couple beautifully detailed clouds to hang the precious quilt in the bedding set.

These particular clouds are a special laser cut shape that coordinates with the "Stork" bedding very well. I then painted them a light blue and added chambray blue polka dots and navy blue lateral stitches.

Each cloud measures 3" x 5" and can be used to create any of my other nursery decor items - wall letters, curtain holdbacks, a growth chart, wall plaques, and more.

Contact me today to special order a set for your baby's nursery!

Edited: September 26, 2009

This summer I created another version of the clouds for the PBK Stork bedding. This version is also light blue, but it has tiny white swirls going in two different directions and meadow green lateral stitches. This version has become the more popular one, traveling across country and into Canada even.

Original Canvases and Prints

2009-07-24T22:24:00.009-05:00

New to the Little Elephant Company are handpainted original canvases (and their prints) by artist (and dear friend of mine) Mary Hoven.

Mary has an eye for such beautifully detailed creations. I just love the brush strokes in her skies and landscapes. A few of her pieces are available now to add to your shopping cart! See them here.

A little bit from Mary -

"I'm so grateful to be alive every day. And I love the Lord for all that he has done in our life. Bob and I love our farm, and can't wait to get animals. We now have two kittens (Jack and Jill), cattle, chickens, and horses maybe next year." read more...

As always, if you don't see what you want, just ask! I know Mary would be delighted to create a special piece of artwork for you.

Modern Handmade Child - Handmade Living in a New Way

2009-07-19T14:12:00.004-05:00

"A fun and valuable resource helping families to embrace the handmade way of life."

Look for the first issue early August 2009! This exciting publication is truly an international publication, as the editors and contributers hail from all over the world - Europe, Australia, Canada, and many parts of the Unted States - including myself.

As one of the managing editors and the Explore editor, I know first hand the array of information that will be coming your way. I'll let you know as soon as the first issue is here in August!

Polka Dots - a Modern Touch

2009-05-19T20:27:00.003-05:00

Geometric shapes, specifically circles, have been the "mod" design for a bit. And, it will probably stick around, since circles are clean, simple, and fresh.

So, I have painted the cutest polka dots for quilt clips! They can be any combination of color that you desire. Have a set all the same, or mix it up.

My first set was for the Land of Nod's "All Creatures Great and Small" bedding (love that set!). The colors I used are light blue, denim blue, and white. Other colors that I have done the polks dots in for this set are light green, aqua, burnt umber, orange, pale orange, and cream.

Kidsline's "Mod Turtle" bedding is another adorable set that the polka dots look fabulous with. For this bedding, I did pale blue, with burnt umber and white.

See my website for more color combination samples, and then order your own mod polka dots today!

Beavers for Enchanted Forest by Lambs and Ivy

2009-05-08T20:53:00.007-05:00

This bedding set is so refreshing! The Enchanted Forest is unlike other baby bedding in that it has a forest theme to it, perfect for nature lovers. The modern touch of geometric shapes of teardrops and circles in most of the squares and the neutral colors with splashes of light blue sets off the animals in the quilt.

A customer wanted the little beavers to hold up the baby's quilt, so I had the shape custom cut to match. I then handpainted the beavers to coordinate with the bedding. I used a bambi brown and country twill on the beavers' bodies, and then nutmeg brown and black on their tails. Of course, I couldn't forget the white buck teeth!

Other options for this quilt would be owls, birds, mushrooms, polka dots, or leaves. Or even custom cut squirrels or leaves.

Nearly all of my designs can be done in almost any of my nursery decor items!

Contact me today to handpaint a set for you!

PBK Spring Butterfly in Pink - Custom 9 inch Letters

2009-04-07T20:01:00.006-05:00

As I promised, here are the letters in the Pottery Barn Kids "Spring Butterfly" in pink theme!

CATHY is done in the bubblegum pink to really "pop" off her bedroom wall. Accenting the T and the Y are pale pink stitches around the edges.

Other colors I used in the set are dark pink, dark yellow, light yellow, meadow green, and white. The ribbon is vertical stripes of green, pink, white, and a bit of brown.

Are you looking for a fabulous piece of art for your child's room? Contact me today to create a set of letters that are a true piece of art, just for you!

Cherry Blossom by Kidsline

2009-03-21T13:40:00.004-05:00

The Cherry Blossom bedding is one of my absolute favorite patterns. As a kid, I used to think it was a faux paus to put pink and red together, and now I love to do it all the time!

For this set, I handpainted the backgrounds of the lightswitch plate and the 9 inch letters in a very pale pink. The blossoms are done in red, dark pink, and white, with accents of pale pink and light pink. Other colors include burnt umber, sage green, and light green.

Are you absolutely in love the Cherry Blossom design, too? I would be happy to handpaint beautiful artwork for your little girl's room. Please email me at info@littleelephantcompany.com with your desired items, and I will send over an estimate.

Do you have another theme in the room? Let me know! Tyann

NEW ITEM - Diaper Stacker Hanger

2009-02-20T21:02:00.006-06:00

I am so excited about this brand new item that I am now making. It began as a request from a friend, and I have made the first one to go into a gift basket for my neighbor:

Diaper Stacker Hanger

Why do you need one of these to complete your nursery decor? Not only are they absolutely adorable, but a very functional piece of wall decor.

With a thick and sturdy knob, you simply place your diaper stacker's top over the knob and let it hang. The knob is very subtle and does not protrude like a long peg.

The plaque is hung by either a ribbon (stapled for security) or a sawtooth hanger (your choice).

I handpaint the plaque in your choice of colors. This one is done in pale orange, iron oxide brown, and regular orange. I added the little polka dots in the corners to draw in the color and design from the cute giraffe.

You can choose any design for the Diaper Stacker Hanger that will coordinate with your nursery's theme. I can also do a custom design for you!

It may be a while before I get these added to my shopping cart, but in the meantime, contact me to order yours today. Depending upon the details, number of colors, and the center design, they will be between $14.99 and $39.99 (the above giraffe one in 3 colors would be $22.99).

Here is the completed gift basket with 3 quilt clips, diaper stacker hanger, nite lite, and Tag Blankie:

Pottery Barn Kids "Spring Butterfly" in Pink

2009-02-11T12:23:00.005-06:00

Another Pottery Barn Kids set! The butterflies and daisy turned out just so cute and look perfect with the quilt.

The daisy is a dark pink with pale pink and dark yellow accents. The leaf is in meadow green with leaf green accents.

The first butterfly is dark yellow, pale yellow, white, dark pink, and meadow green. The second butterfly is dark pink, bubblegum pink, pale pink, pale yellow, and meadow green.

This set would be $29.99 if you would like one for yourself. I would be happy to change up the color combinations as well - just contact me!

I am now working on a set of wall letters in this theme, so look for them at the end of March or the beginning of April!

"Teddy Trucks" by Sumersault

2009-02-04T21:10:00.000-06:00

This little teddy bear is so adorable! I just want to poke his little tummy. : )

Little teddy here is created to go with the Teddy Trucks bedding by Sumersault. He is an antique white with a vintage white (cream) belly. His details are done in nutmeg brown.

It's difficult to judge colors just from pictures on a computer screen, and I usually do a pretty good job. I am thrilled that teddy's colors are "right on." This teddy bear quilt clips is $7.99 per clip and is available by special order only at this time.

It's amazing what a little quilt clip adds to a nursery's decor. You can custom order quilt clips and almost any other nursery decor item in my custom designs to coordinate with your theme. Contact me today!

Quilt Clips for Pottery Barn Kids "Abby"

2009-01-25T21:04:00.001-06:00

I think Pottery Barn Kids must be one of my top 3 favorites in baby bedding lines. Their designs are rich and colorful and always have some whimsy sewn in.

This set of daisies I created to coordinate with the PBK "Abby" bedding. I used bright red, sage green, pale yellow, light pink, and white colors. Notice the "stitching" details on each of the flowers - a zig zag, a horizontal, and a vertical. I then contrasted the details on the leaves to compliment the petals. What also makes my quilt clips stand out, is that they are handpainted in custom colors and layered to make them "pop" when you hang your quilt.

Would you like a set of your own daisy quilt clips in the PBK "Abby" design? Just email me, and I would be happy to send you a custom invoice for your order. Don't forget that all of my designs come in practically all of my products - 9 inch wall letters, curtain holdbacks, growth charts, name signs, hair barrette holders...

Quilt clips are the perfect final touch to your child's bedroom. They add artwork to the room and keep the quilt safely out of the baby's bed.

Little Elephant Company

2009-01-10T20:08:00.001-06:00

Survey of Economic Impact of the CPSIA

2009-01-10T20:01:00.000-06:00

Please be sure to take this survey created by National Bankruptcy Day that will measure the economic impact that the CPSIA will have.

SAVE HANDMADE

2009-01-08T21:56:00.001-06:00

From the HandmadeToyAlliance website:

"The issue:

In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008.

Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number. All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers and manufacturers of children's products, however, the costs of mandatory testing will likely drive them out of business.
A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $300 - $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.

A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes cloth diapers to sell online must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.

A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.

And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of children's goods that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys, clothes, and accessories made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade children's products will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

How You can Help:
Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys and children's products. Use our sample letter or write your own. You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here."

Featured in Tot Trends Weekly!!!

2008-12-15T08:27:00.000-06:00

Yes, my 9 inch letters have been featured in an online magazine...Tot Trends Weekly, December 14th's issue called "Make it Personal."

This is so exciting!!! By 8 a.m. this morning, I already had a retailer's request for information on carrying my line.

How was I chosen to be featured? I had actually sent information about my quilt clips, but after looking at my website, Tot Trends Weekly wanted the 9 inch letters for the particular issue they were putting together. So they requested a sample of my work, and I created a set of letters particularly for them.

KIKI is created in pale pink with a mod ladybug motif. Colors also used are bubblegum pink, light green, sage green, cream, and burnt umber (dark brown). This design is 10% off in celebration of it being featured this week!

Initial Quilt Clips

2008-12-08T21:22:00.000-06:00

What did not seem like a popular design at first, has suddenly become very popular...custom initial quilt clips.

Available in almost any font, in upper or lower case, your child's initials on a simple background make a bold statement displaying a special quilt or comforter on the wall.

The most popular font is whimsical, but really just about any font is available. The initials may all be one color, or each initial could be a different color. Usually the background is the same for each quilt clip, to give continuity to the set.

Visit my website http://www.littleelephantcompany.com/ today to order your custom set of initial quilt clips!

EtsyKids 12 Days of Christmas Contest

2008-11-26T14:32:00.001-06:00

On the first day of Christmas, the ETSYKIDS team members gave to me….a Christmas event you really must see!

November 28th – December 10th, join EtsyKids for 12 days of fabulous, festive fun and dreamy holiday prizes.

Here’s how to play:

Each day the EtsyKids blog will contain a post showing an image that’s hidden in an item listing on a few different EtsyKids team members’ shops, along with a clue on how to find it. When a contestant finds just one of the hidden images, they send an Etsy conversation to the day’s entry collector with a link to the listing where they found it. Once their conversation is received, they’ll be entered into a drawing for an amazing EtsyKids prize.

Those who find images for all 12 days are entered into the grand prize drawing!

Participants may use one of two methods to find the images:

1. Begin by looking at each of the 7,000+ EtsyKids listings, or
2. Decipher the clue to the keyword to narrow down the listings to under 100.

The clues are word association to the keyword. After you think you have the keyword, enter that word and "etsykids team" into Etsy's search, and start looking!

Example: Mary, Joseph, and Baby Jesus...........nativity
Thus, you would enter "nativity etsykids team" to narrow down the listings to hunt through. The clues start out easy, and they get harder!

Please do not post the answers anywhere - all answers will be revealed at the end of the game.

If you don't jump into the game until after it's started, no problem! You can still enter that day's drawing, as well as the remaining days, then go back and find the previous days to enter the grand prize drawing.

The Etsykids blog will also let contestants know who to contact to enter, as well as the prize(s) that will be awarded that day. The number of prizes will increase each day and the winners will be selected at random.

*Contestants can enter once each day.*

Within 24 hours of winning, the lucky winners will be contacted via Etsy Conversation, and MUST contact (via Etsy Conversation) the prize donor with their mailing address within 2 days of being contacted. If they fail to contact the prize donor within the given time, a new winner will be selected.

~~~
This will be great fun, so don't miss out! All the clues have been written by yours truly and Dad, and no answers will be posted here!

Hair Barrettes by Sweet Madelynne Designs

2008-11-21T20:32:00.000-06:00

The newest addition to the Little Elephant Company! I wanted to add the most adorable hair barrettes to go along with my hair barrette holders, so I looked to my sister-in-law Gussie to create these.

Gussie and my brother Jon have the sweetest little girl, my niece, Madelynne, the inspiration for the new line of hair barrettes.

Each hair barrette is meticulously created by hand. Gussie coordinates colors carefully and adds beautiful accents to make each piece gorgeous. Currently, she designs french clips, dior bows, snap clips, korkers, and bobbies.

Sweet Madelynne Designs are currently exclusive to the Little Elephant Company. We are continually adding new designs and collections, so visit often! If you have a particular outfit or dress you would like Gussie to make a beautiful hair accessory for, please contact us!

EtsyKids - Stylish Designs with Kids in Mind

2008-11-13T21:45:00.001-06:00

The new EtsyKids website is up! What is EtsyKids? Well, it really is amazing!!!

EtsyKids is a group of worldwide sellers who sell children's items on Etsy, the place to buy and sell all things handmade. There are well over 400 members currently, and our group continues to grow...WOW!

So don't hesitate to visit www.etsykids.com and shop 'til you drop. We've done the sorting and catergorizing for you, so in just a few simple clicks, you will see fabulous gift ideas before you. And while you are here, be sure to pick up something for yourself, too. :)

Rainbow Fish

2008-11-11T13:34:00.000-06:00

Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister is a classic and endearing story of a fish who learns to share. This set was quite a challenge! I meticulously painted each and every scale, shadow, and squiggle. Each fish has layers upon layers of color and shiny silver.

Fire Hydrant, Fire Truck, and Dalmation

2008-11-01T09:39:00.000-05:00

Last week I finished up some simple fire hydrants. First was painted my favorite color of bright red (lipstick red), and then I added all of the black lines. The slight waviness through the longest lines is the telltale sign that this piece is handpainted.

I've had the fire hydrant shape for quite a long time, but I never got around to painting it. Someone then contacted me about one to go with their fire truck bedding, and I was more than happy to comply to the request!

Several months ago I also completed a fire truck. This fire truck coordinates with the Fire Truck Crib bedding at http://www.ababy.com/.

And about a year ago, I customized this cute little dalmation to coordinate with the Engine #9 bedding by Kimberly Grant. This dalmation has been very popular this past year, and I hope the fire hydrant and fire truck join him.

I have found no other designs for the fire truck bedding sets available, so I am excited to be able to offer these three designs. Of course, I can always modify them to coordinate with your particular bedding! Just email me at info@littleelephantcompany.com, and I will send you my ideas.

COLE in Playful Puppies

2008-10-22T21:26:00.000-05:00

When the customer told me the bedding set was called Playful Puppies, I knew the letter set would end up being one of my favorites. My son Noah absolutely loves dogs, so I was thinking of him while painting the designs for Cole.

Both puppies were custom cut to match the exact puppies in the bedding. Although an additional $15 for the pattern, it was well worth it. The puppies are adorable in their red and navy sweaters, and the stitching accents give them a little pop.

The entire set is handpainted, by me. I take great care in handpainting every little detail, many times mulling over the placement of the next detail for several minutes before proceeding.

Every set of letters begins with a sketch and an estiamte. You give me as much or as little detail that you desire, and I take it from there! Be sure to visit my website for more examples of my artwork.

Love Bug by Kidsline

2008-10-15T20:12:00.000-05:00

Finally! New posts! Yes, It has been over a year and a half, but in that time, I have created a myriad of new designs and several new products.

So to start off, I am presenting my latest custom design - a 6 petal daisy and a ladybug to coordinate with the "Love Bug" bedding by Kidsline. The main colors are a pale pink and a dark brown, with just a touch of bubblegum pink in the flower centers. Every ladybug dot and flower center is a seperate piece to give my designs a layered look that really stands out.

Watch for new postings to showcase my unique handpainted designs! Is there something you would like? Please email me at info@littleelephantcompany.com for an estimate. Remember, almost any design can be made into any product!

Safari Room Decor

2007-03-30T21:51:00.000-05:00

One of the most popular bedding themes for 2006 and 2007, safari and jungle animals are a perfect choice for room decor that is gender nuetral and so very cute for a nursery. Our safari themed accessories are a beautiful accent to a little one's domain. Each of our products are available in 9 different designs that coordinate extremely well with the popular bedding sets available at major stores.

Accessorize the nursery with our adorable wall plaques, available in sets of 3 or 5 plaques. Each plaque is hung by a grosgrain ribbon striped with tones of greens and browns. The plaques are also available with sawtooth hangers in lieu of the ribbons.

Chart your little one's growth with our simple and functional keepsake growth chart. Each chart is made with durable vinyl measuring tape that is framed by either a coordinating color of grosgrain ribbon or a standard yellow grosgrain ribbon. At the top of each chart is your choice of a wooden animal design, and at the bottom, is a coordinating oval with the baby's information.

Easy to use, the growth chart is hung by a sawtooth hanger. Simply mark the date directly on the chart at the heigth of your child. When your child is grown, the chart easily rolls up and can be sotred away with all of the other precious childhood memories.

Beautiful, unique, and functional, our safari quilt clips transform the adorable baby comforter that you can't put in the bed into a hanging piece of artwork. Babies love to look around, and seeing the comforter hanging on the wall entertain and stimulate at the same time.

Sturdy and cute, our matching curtain holdbacks will frame your child's window to the world. Easy to assemble, with all hardware included, each holdback only protrudes approximately 2 inches from the wall. The average depth for most other holdbacks is 4 to 5 inches! No metal hardware is seen - only the cute wooden design.

Would you rather have a custom handpainted item? Just contact me to create a specific handpainted accent for your child's room.

And lastly, for your baby's snuggle and play time, our handmade Tag Blankies are an excellent sensory stimulant with bright colors, different textures, and a pediatrician approved extra large button for teething. There are 3 different safari prints - 2 in 100% cotton prints, and 1 in 100% cotton snuggle flannel. The reverse side is a coordinating solid color of your choice.

Customized Quilt Clips for Pottery Barn Kids

2007-03-15T21:12:00.000-05:00

Pottery Barn Kids is a unique line of quality children's items that are beautiful and fun. Their popular bedding is art-worthy and make a wonderful wall hanging for a child's bedroom. lately, I've created several different sets of quilt clips to specifically coordinate with PBK's bedding. These designs have included a retro police car, a blue baron airplane, and many, many different daisies.

This blue baron airplane is at home "flying" on the wall in Florida,

accenting PBK's Blue Baron quilt. The little boy can stare at the airplanes in his room and dream of soaring through the sky at any time on a blue baron airplane.

To create this set, his mother and I first discussed coordinating color options for the airplanes. Then, I sent her a rough preview of what the airplane would look like. Finally, using pale yellow, dark red, denim blue, and navy, I handpainted the airplanes. This set took approximately 2 weeks to perfect.

Do you have a special quilt you would like to display? Browse throught the Little Elephant Company for over 40 different designs or contact me to create a unique set to beautifully coordinate with and show off your treasure.

Custom Letters

2007-01-18T09:48:00.000-06:00

I just finished this order for a set of custom letters. This set is to match the Pottery Barn Kids Green Daisy pattern. The colors are a dark pink, light pink, dark yellow, pale yellow, blue, baby blue, and white. Each daisy is a different pattern with hearts, swirls, dots, and dashes to incorporate several colors on each flower. The ribbon each letter hangs by is striped with pinks, greens, blues, and yellows. The bright colors with the feminie touch are perfect for a little girl's room!

This set was for Claire's cousin. The daisies and butterflies are made to match the "Sweet as a Daisy" pattern by Lamb's & Ivy. The colors are light pink, dark pink, bright purple, wisteria, pale yellow, dark yellow, and pale green. Hung with light pink ribbon, these letters are gorgeous! I especially love the flitting paths of the butterflies.

Don't hesitate to contact me for a set of letters for your child's room! Each letter is 9" tall, and a set of 6 letters covers 4 to 5 feet in length, depending how far apart you space them on your wall. I can customize to almost any theme. Please email me at info@LittleElephantCompany.com for an estimate.

Tyann

Daisy Quilt Clips

2007-01-14T21:26:00.000-06:00

Quilt clips are simple and decorative holders to hang baby quilts and comforters on the wall - transforming the piece into hanging artwork. Baby quilts and comforters should not be in a baby's bed, so most parents look for a way to display the blanket. My quilt clips are inexpensive, adorable, and durable, making them a wonderful solution to the question, "What should we do with it?"

My most popular quilt clip is the daisy quilt clip. The daisies can be done in any color combination, along with special details. Many people choose a plain white daisy without a center to give a Pottery Barn Kids look without the expensive price tag, and many more moms choose a colored daisy to coordinate with her daughter's quilt. The most popular color is a baby pink, next to the white. Any color imaginable is available.

Colors shown above, clockwise from top left, are dark pink with pale yellow, pale yellow with dark yellow, bright purple with white, and white with pale green. The daisy to the left was designed to match the Sweet as a Daisy collection by Lambs & Ivy. It is white with a pale green outline and a pale yellow center outlined in dark yellow.

Thank you,

Tyann

info@LittleElephantCompany.com

Welcome!

2007-01-13T21:32:00.000-06:00

Hi! Welcome to the Little Elephant Company blogspot.

The Little Elephant Company is a handcrafted and mommy-designed line of children's room decor. I have quilt clips, growth charts, curtain holdbacks, wall plaques, hair barrette holders, name signs, as well as Tag Blankies and more. All items coordinate well with popular bedding themes available at major retailers.

You can find my items in several places: my website www.LittleElephantCompany.com, my Etsy shop LittleElephantCo, my eBay store Decorative Quilt Clips and More, and on Amazon. I ship all over the world, and recent destinations for my items include England, Canada, Norway, Australia, and Puerto Rico.

Many of my designs started as custom orders and then became a permanent part of the line. If you have a question, please don't hesitate to contact me at info@LittleElephantCompany.com.

Be sure to check back often for product features from my shop, as well as features of other products from great sites developed by mothers.

Tyann

Little Elephant Company

Special Coupon!

PBK Jackson Whale Quilt Clips

PBK Penelope Lightswitch Cover

All Creatures 6 inch Wall Plaques

White Daisy Quilt Clips

New Hardware Style for my Curtain Holdbacks

PBK Hayley in a nursery

Owl Quilt Clips

EtsyKids Spotlight: Hi Mamma Designs

EtsyKids Spotlight: ccooperdesigns

EtsyKids Spotlight: Melon Dot

Pretty as a Princess Quilt Clips

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Sweet Lamb Quilt Clips

What do I do when I am not painting?

Crazy Christmas Season is Over...Now on to Crazy January!

Growth Chart to coordinate with Arctic Babies bedding

Army Themed Wall Letters

PBK Cottontail Friends

NEW!!! Handpainted wooden growth charts with personalization

5 years - WOW! - Thank you!!!

Autumn 2010 issue of Modern Handmade Child

Peek-a-Boo Bear and Busy Bees

9 inch Wall Letter Initial Hair Barrette Holders

PBK Emily Flower Quilt Clips

Burberry Inspired Wall Letter

Summer 2010 issue of Modern Handmade Child is out now!

Moo Cow by Sumersault Quilt Clips

Modern Handmade Child *SPECIAL* Mini Mother's Day Issue

Butterflies for the "Butterfly Flowers" bedding

Featured in the Spring 2010 edition of MHC

PBK Penelope Bird Quilt Clips

Thank you for a wonderful year!

Winter 2009 Issue of Modern Handmade Child...

12 inch Wall Letters, Quilt Clips, and Wall Plaques - MiGi's Blossom bedding

Construction Trucks - Cement Truck, Backhoe, Dump Truck

modern handmade child is officially here!

Custom Clouds for Pottery Barn Kids "Stork" bedding

Original Canvases and Prints

Modern Handmade Child - Handmade Living in a New Way

Polka Dots - a Modern Touch

Beavers for Enchanted Forest by Lambs and Ivy

PBK Spring Butterfly in Pink - Custom 9 inch Letters

Cherry Blossom by Kidsline

***NEW ITEM*** - Diaper Stacker Hanger

Pottery Barn Kids "Spring Butterfly" in Pink

"Teddy Trucks" by Sumersault

Quilt Clips for Pottery Barn Kids "Abby"

Little Elephant Company

Survey of Economic Impact of the CPSIA

SAVE HANDMADE

Featured in Tot Trends Weekly!!!

Initial Quilt Clips

EtsyKids 12 Days of Christmas Contest

Hair Barrettes by Sweet Madelynne Designs

EtsyKids - Stylish Designs with Kids in Mind

Rainbow Fish

Fire Hydrant, Fire Truck, and Dalmation

COLE in Playful Puppies

Love Bug by Kidsline

Safari Room Decor

Customized Quilt Clips for Pottery Barn Kids

Custom Letters

Daisy Quilt Clips

Welcome!

Modern Handmade Child SPECIAL Mini Mother's Day Issue

NEW ITEM - Diaper Stacker Hanger