Thought For The Day

Original, handmade papercut available at MrYen's Etsy shop.

Sponsor Spotlight + GIVEAWAY: Cassandra Allen

Please meet the sweet and talented Cassandra Allen, children's book illustrator extraordinaire and a new sponsor of Marvelous Kiddo!

Cassandra is a prolific artist whose whimsical and enchanting work can be found between the pages of numerous picture books, as well as in her Etsy shop and on her lovely blog.

Some details...

I am excited to tell you that Cassandra has generously offered to extend two special offers for my readers:

1. A giveaway of one print to one lucky reader, incl. free shipping. Below is the giveaway print called Best Friends.
Info about the print:

Limited Edition of 50 archival quality Giclee prints

Print area approximately: 255 x 160mm (with a white border)
Printing medium: Giclee archival print
Paper: Somerset Enhanced 255gsm
Limited edition print (of very lovely quality) of Cassandra's original illustration created in gouache and pencil. Hand signed and numbered, eg, 2/50.

2. A 50% discount on all purchases for the month of August to all Marvelous Kiddo readers (doesn't apply to shipping).

Important Note from Cassandra: "With Etsy, there is unfortunately no way to offer a promo code during the checkout that automatically discounts the price, so people would need to do the following and then I'll invoice them with the updated discount price. When checking out, put the promo code "Marvelous Kiddo" in the "Message to Seller" section to receive the discount. Do no pay immediately or you won't receive the discount. I will send an invoice with the discounted price."

To enter the giveaway, please visit Cassandra Allen Illustration and leave a relevant comment on this post by Sunday, August 22.

Please be sure that your email or other contact info is contained in the comment to be eligible to win.

Thanks, and good luck!

Marvelous Giveaway! Flora Bond Gift Voucher

Today's giveaway is especially for all the glamour-loving mamas out there! The fabulous Nicole of Flora Bond jewelry is offering one lucky Marvelous Kiddo reader a $50 gift voucher for her shop.

You can truly make a statement with Flora Bond's orginal, big fabric jewelry, hair pieces, and accessories. Vintage glamour with a modern twist. Eco-friendly couture.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is in the Flora Bond shop. Don't forget to include your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Sunday, November 22 at 11:59. I will announce the (randomly selected) winner on Monday, November 23.

Marvelous Giveaway! The Handmade Project

I am soooooo excited about today's giveaway! The talented and amazing Traci, of The Handmade Project, has generously offered an array of gorgeous items from her shop for the winner.

I am in love with the products and mission of The Handmade Project. Traci started designing and making toys because her daughter is multi-ethnic and she wanted to create a world for her that celebrates diversity. How awesome is that? I encourage you to follow along with her life, inspirations, and creations on her wonderful blog. I'm a big fan.

To enter the giveaway, leave a relevant comment on this post along with your email or other contact info. The deadline for entries is Monday, November 23 at 11:59. I will announce the winner on Tuesday, November 24.

Traci will be sending that lucky someone the following: a salad play food set, a pancakes play food pattern, two clothespin dolls and the clothespin doll pattern! Wow, thank you Traci, and good luck to everyone!

And one last thing: if buyers write "Marvelous Kiddo" in the comment field when purchasing on The Handmade Project's Etsy site, they will receive 15% off their purchase!

That Shirt!

Awesome. Available here. Via My Happy Little Life.

Vintage Toy Love

1962 Fisher Price Toy Circus, @ Found Vintage Style, Via Whatsoever Things Are Beautiful.

Three DIY Things I'm Loving Today

Adorable apron patterns from Sew Liberated.

Make-your-own gorgeous felt play food with patterns from Julyhobby.

Via Museum of Happiness.

Book racks made from rain gutters! Via Ohdeedoh.

New Loveliness From Little Alouette

I'm loving these new alphabet rattles that were just added to Little Alouette's shop on Etsy. Check out the shop and fall head over heels for all of their beautiful, handmade, eco-friendly goodies...

I Pity The Drool

Love love loving this Mr. T onesie from Bambinamia.  Found here.

My Lucky Day

I'm so excited, I just have to post about my good luck!  I recently won a giveaway on the awesome blog, Naturally Nina (do check it out, it's chock full of wonderful links and terrific goodies!).  Well, yesterday I received this adorable confetti necklace made from vintage beads by Blue Moss.  Isn't it sweet?  I can't wait to wear it!  Thanks to Nina at Naturally Nina and Michelle at Blue Moss (who also has a lovely blog).

Marvelous Giveaway: Good Day Sunshine Earrings from Good Girls Studio!

This week's giveaway features a pair of beautiful, one-of-a-kind, handmade earrings from Good Girls Studio.  I am totally head-over-heels for this recent Etsy discovery!  You must check out the entire line of salvaged, deconstructed vintage goodies reworked into heirloom pieces by the amazingly talented Johanna.  Here are a few more items that caught my eye...

I mean, how fabulous!  I encourage you to check out all of the amazing eye candy for yourself. 

To enter to win the earring giveaway, please hop over to Good Girls Studio and then leave a comment on this post with your impressions.  Entries will be accepted until 11:59 PST on Monday, June 29th, and I will announce the winner the following day.  

BONUS:  Earn up to three extra entries by spreading the word via link backs on Twitter, Facebook, or your own blog post (one entry per type of link back).  Don't forget to include your email address in the body of your comment, along with the URL(s) of your link-backs.

Good luck!

Beautiful Blocks

They're called Zen Blocks, and they are all natural, featuring a super safe mineral oil finish, and the wood is from urban tree harvesting or other sustainable sources.  They can be stacked, shuffled or contemplated.  Aren't they unusually beautiful?  Order here.

Print Love

I just discovered these knockout prints by Freya Art & Design and I had to share them.  Visit the Etsy shop to see many more lovely designs.  Via Creature Comforts.

Marvelous Giveaway: Vintage Flower Tray from Hello Victory!

Time for another giveaway, folks!  This week I am pleased to announce that Kate of the fabulous Etsy shop Hello Victory is offering my readers this adorable vintage flower tray.

To enter this giveaway, please visit Hello Victory and leave a comment on this post by Sunday, April 26th at 11:59 pm PST.  Please include your email address so that I can easily contact the winner.

BONUS:  I will give you a total of two additional entries if you do any/all of the following:

1)  Post about this giveaway and link back from your blog

2)  Tweet about this giveaway

3)  Update your Facebook status to alert your friends to this giveaway

4)  Become a follower of Marvelous Kiddo

Just make sure to let me know that you've done one or more of those four things to be eligible for the additional entries (include URL, if possible).  

Here's one more fun twist to this giveaway:  Kate is generously offering my readers 15% off their purchases (to be refunded to their paypal account after they buy an item) by typing in "Hello Kiddo" in message to sender.  The discount will be good until 10 pm CST tomorrow.

Thank you Kate, and good luck to everyone!!!  Happy commenting :)

Play Dough of the Month

A year-long subscription from Etsy seller DoughSiDough is $39.20.  Made from all natural ingredients.  Non-toxic.  A rainbow of colors.  Genius.

Marvelous Giveaway: A Yumalum Bundle of Goodies!

I am so excited to announce the latest Marvelous Giveaway!  I'm sure you remember these super rad prints that I posted about earlier in the week.  Well, they are now available at the Yumalum shop on Etsy and the artist, Mark, has been kind enough to offer my readers their choice of any print from his shop!  Not only will the winner be lucky enough to receive their favorite Yumalum print, but Mark is also going to throw in two greeting cards as well (two "Biglove" or two "Blooming Gorgeous" or one of each).  How fabulous is that!?!  

All you have to do to enter is visit the Yumalum shop and leave a comment on this post specifying your favorite print.  The deadline for entries is midnight PST March 26.  I will choose a winner at random and contact the winner one week from today.  Good luck, and happy commenting!

For Your Weekend...

Hello Victory Etsy shop.  Featuring this gorgeous antique toy truck.

Brilliance and hilarity ensue over at Tiny Art Director.  

Via What Possessed Me.

Baby Hank Vintage.  Beautiful finds, at amazingly affordable prices.  Via DesignMom.

Stunning photos from the Life Photo Archive detailing the work that heroic midwife Maude Callen did in rural South Carolina in the 1950s.  Via Gravel and Gold.

Delightful portraits of children, rounded up over at Design is Mine.

Enjoy!

Playhouse Fantastic

I am in awe of this glorious, handmade Willow Playhouse that Ohdeedoh posted about recently.  Custom versions are available in the UK only (wah!) via the Wove shop on Etsy.

Marvelous Giveaway! Pair of Handmade Wool Felt Baby Shoes

Today's giveaway is courtesy of the amazing Etsy seller Barretzz. Barretzz sells these unbelievably cute handmade wool felt baby shoes in an array of designs that make me *swoon* with delight.  To enter, visit the store and leave a comment on this post with your favorite Barretzz item.  The winner will be randomly selected and will receive a pair of baby shoes of their choosing!  (Note:  Boots are excluded from this offer).  

Please leave your comment here by Monday, Janary 12, at midnight, PST.  I will announce the winner the following day.  Good luck, and happy itty-bitty shoe shopping!

I want to send a huge "thank you" to the talented and generous Maria at Barretzz for making this giveaway possible.