Bee and I haven’t yet entered the craft stage (we’re still working on getting the spoon in the mouth rather than on the dog), but I’m so looking forward to a bright future of glue sticks and construction paper. Crafting was one of my favorite hobbies as a kid, and although I’m not much of a DIY gal now, I love the idea of reserving a quiet afternoon for creativity and play. Especially if it looks like this…

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Museum gift shops are kind of my best-kept secret for discovering new and unique (unewque?) kids’ gifts. From books to games to educational toys, the variety can’t be beat when shopping for all ages. (Also of note? Membership discounts!) And although I don’t have a museum we frequent here in the Midwest, I often take advantage of the following online museum gift shops to satiate my discovery-loving appetite!:

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I recently shared the creative journey of Bryony Shearmur – a musician-turned-photographer-turned-author-turned-designer (are you as exhausted by that title as I?), and she mentioned something that has reverberated in my ears ever since – the idea of a creative ecosystem.  The realization that our creative lives and passions and dream jobs are the sum of little more than our past experiences or failures or experiments. That our creative life isn’t necessarily linear, but spiraling closer and closer to our core – the point where each interest overlaps and meshes together, creating the ultimate nucleus of passion. And although I haven’t yet reached my core center (although I like to think I’m rounding a close corner!), I was thrilled to read that England-based artisan Becky Kemp is happily crafting in her own passion-fueled nucleus of a kid’s shop, Sketch Inc:

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One of the most valuable lessons my parents taught me was the ability to budget wisely and save, save, save. So before Bee was born, Ken and I knew we’d strive to pass along that same wisdom our parents had given us. Although I always relied heavily on the envelope system as a kid, there’s something so very nostalgic about a good, old-fashioned piggy bank. (Of course, I’d hardly call the above picks old-fashioned, but they’re certainly full of charm, yes?) Today, enjoy a few of my favorite modernized, quirky piggy banks from around the web!:

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When I lived in Los Angeles, visiting the farmer’s market was a huge highlight of my weekend. The sights and sounds and smells and flavors were the perfect way to kick-start two days of rest, relaxation and quality time with Ken and the pups. And now that we’re in the Midwest, the changing seasons make me all the more appreciative of our town’s small farmer’s market every Wednesday morning. Sure, we can’t visit year-round, but we can certainly enjoy the experience for a few giddy months. The good news, of course, is that our sweet minis can soak up their own farmer’s market fun at home (all year long!) with these delightfully delicious goodies from a few of my favorite shops (Hint: you’re not going to believe how inexpensive that market stand is!):

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Whenever I chat with designers who happen to have children, a recurring theme continually surfaces: the idea that, as parents, we’re all just really trying to create products that solve problems for our families. Take Italian father Matteo Ragni, for example: a designer who not only created his own version of an everyday beloved toy, but also enlisted the help of 100 fellow designers – creating a global movement encouraging parents to unearth the creative forces within their own families. MORE >

Although the earliest known paper dolls originated in Europe in the 1700s (and were created to entertain adults, no less), it wasn’t until the 1930s that “The Golden Age of Paper Dolls” gained steam. Yet with the introduction of Barbie‘s 3D (or should I write 3DD?) dolls in 1959, the pastime slowly faded from the limelight. Now, more than eight decades later, the paper doll era has returned to glory – thanks to a surprising backlash in technology use among kids.

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“Everything starts as somebody’s daydream,” Larry Niven once wrote. And in the case of Ayelet from Israel, a mother and famed handmade shop owner, Larry wasn’t lying. “The work on my finger puppets consists of two of my favorite activities – knitting and needle felting – that allow me to do a lot of day dreaming, which is definitely my number one past time!” Ayelet writes…

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Wooden toys are some of my favorite gifts to give – they’re long-lasting, classic and add such a natural element to any playroom. Here are a few favorites to consider for the littles in your life!:

1. Croc pile ($35) at Areaware
2. Birthday cake set ($60) at Acorn Toy Shop
3. Wooden marble run ($150) at Honeybee
4. Selecta balance game ($16) at Amazon
5. Plan Toys wooden drum ($20) at Diapers.com
6. Selecta wooden pull toy ($89) at Amazon
7. Ferm Living plywood animals ($40) at Huset
8. Build-a-Robot ($30) at The Wooden Wagon
9. Breakfast menu set ($26) at All Modern
10. Wooden magic wand ($14) at Smiling Tree Toys
11. Deluxe art center ($450) at GuideCraft
12. Wooden geometric puzzle ($30) at Little Sapling Toys
13. Wooden tool box ($50) at Acorn Toy Shop
14. Castle towers ($135) at Manzanita Kids

p.s. Loved reading the profile of a real-life elf, a.k.a. wooden toy maker!