The Biz: The Grapevine

Coral & Tusk Captures the Comfort and Art of India

By Sarah Duncan

Coral & Tusk: the name is mysterious, simple and elegant. In art, and often in life, less is said to be more, and Coral & Tusk has mastered this technique with the use of a minimalist design that gives just enough to leave children’s buyers curious, enthralled, but never impatient. Subtlety, thy name is Stephanie Housley…

…which happens to be the name of the creator of Coral & Tusk, started back in 2007 by Housley and her husband Chris Lacinak.

The Grapevine

Illumina Organics Cares for Baby’s Skin

By Lauren Rollheiser

A new infant’s delicate skin is often sensitive to the chemicals found in many skin products. Ilumina Organics’ baby products are carefully designed and manufactured with this sensitivity in mind. The creators of the Ilumina Organics line have made it their mission to educate customers on the chemicals used in many beauty products and to give them viable alternatives. They use only the most natural, sustainable ingredients possible, and take care to explain every ingredient in each product. Even the bottles and packaging are BPA-free.

The Grapevine

Myklo Designs’ Baby Mantras Capture a Parent’s Hope

By Lauren Rollheiser

Myklo Designs began in 2003, when artist Heather Handler incorporated her artwork and poetry into a small collection of greeting cards. Her unique style is now featured in an entire line of products, including 100% organic baby shirts. Myklo Designs’ Baby Mantra shirts are silky organic cotton with an original silkscreen design by Heather. Manufactured in California, each shirt is uniquely created not to conform to trends, but to be a piece of true artistic expression. Heather’s whimsical art is combined with her beautiful, soothing poetry that captures the hopes of new parents for their child.

The Grapevine

These Tweet Houses are for the Birds!

By Lauren Rollheiser

Kids enjoy making things and are also very curious about animals, so what better way is there to get them excited about nature than assembling a fun birdhouse kit? Tweet Tweet Home offers easy-to-assemble birdhouses that make a great family craft for kids of all ages. These colorful, attractive birdhouses are made from durable, 100% recyclable plastic and are perfect for the outdoors. Kids will love making the houses and then choosing the ideal outdoor spot to watch as birds settle in and make a home.

The Grapevine

Bequita Puts a Modern Twist on Traditional Chinese Designs

By Sara Clement

A feast for the eyes, the captivating Bequita line of children’s apparel is an artful collection inspired by both Eastern and Western cultures. Rebecca Bardes, a.k.a. Bequita, is the creative force behind the brand’s clean lines and beautiful fabrics. A graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC, Rebecca traveled to China in 2004, where she met her husband, contemporary artist Hu Renyi. Rebecca says of her collections, “I consider Bequita to be Traditional Culture Redefined. Each collection is made to honor and redefine the traditional by creating modern fashions for children of the East and the West.”

The Grapevine

The ABCs of Making Greeting Cards from Letter Learning

By Lauren Rollheiser

Along with a new school year come new challenges for children and sometimes, frustration. The best teachers use innovative tools to help kids learn more easily. As an experienced teacher and new mom on maternity leave with a pile of Thank You cards to write, Ellen Richard was inspired to create a business to help children, called Letter Learning. While thinking about learning exercises to help children learn how to read, write and spell correctly, she had the idea that by making their own greeting cards, kids can learn while having some creative fun. As a bonus, the cards make wonderful keepsakes for grandmas!

The Grapevine

Kids Get Adventurous with “i get around” Travel Books

By Anna Levina Uy

Exposing children to scenic and educational places provides memorable life experiences for them. Whether kids are visiting new locations in real life, or reading about exciting places in stories, i get around books and activities encourage little ones to be curious about the world around them. Deb Miner, the creator of award-winning concepts for top companies, is the creative muse behind the i get around books and products. Her enthusiasm in helping kids discover the wonders and beauty of the world led her to develop travel scrapbooks and board books made especially for young children.

The Grapevine

The Monroes Celebrate the Beauty of Nature

By Lauren Rollheiser

A talented duo, husband and wife team Michael Glenn and Colleen Monroe collaborate to publish children’s books that entertain, educate and celebrate the beauty and life lessons found in nature. The Monroes live in Michigan with their three children. Michael is a gifted artist, with a special knack for painting nature. He is recognized as an award-winning painter of wildlife, but has the most fun creating children’s books with Colleen. Each of their books is a gift of love, with a poetic and engaging style in both words and illustrations.

The Grapevine

A for Apple Spells Avant-Garde Style

By Lauren Rollheiser

A for Apple is an up and coming line which outfits kids in such cutting-edge style, that customers have been known to ask for adult sizes in this collection! The clean lines and understated colors give A for Apple a grown-up, yet relaxed feel. In addition to its great style, A for Apple focuses on creating pieces that are good for the environment and the kids that wear them. Tencel is a fabric used throughout the line that is sustainably made from Eucalyptus trees. This innovative fabric is chemical and allergy free, delicate on the skin and super soft.