Items tagged “Toys & Recreation”

Tiffany Dekel and Laura Burch both have impressive resumes. Tiffany has a background in clothing design and launched three successful online agencies; Laura is an illustrator and art educator at a major university. While they’re both proud of their accomplishments, Dekel and Burch hold a special place in their hearts for handmade crafts, and they want to make the art fun and accessible for more people. In 2012 they launched lullubee, a company that takes a unique approach to crafts and crafting supplies.

American toymakers and clothing designers may appreciate tradition, but they also love innovation. They can integrate the best of old and new to produce products that are unique and functional. 3 Marthas, Two Bros Bows, Papersalt, and The Beaufort Bonnet Company are all very different enterprises. A clothing company reaching its silver anniversary, a business that makes a rugged outdoor sport safe and fun, a publisher that helps to inspire family values, and a designer who recreates novelties from the past. Each one embodies the American spirit in its own way and makes us proud.

The rise in allergies has had a dramatic impact on the landscape of families and fun time. Gone are the days when classroom cupcakes were the norm and children painted with whatever was handy. Glob founder Ashley Phelps understands sensitivities. As an artist, she suffered through skin irritation from paints, but just bore the trouble as part of her trade. However, life was about to get better: a friend who was developing a house paint from plants inspired her to investigate new, safe ways to color her world. She started Glob, and has been helping families with her non-toxic, environmentally-positive products ever since.

Kids have their own way of looking at their environment, in large part due to their imaginations. For example, in the child’s mind, the terror of the monster in the closet might have been a cute character from a comic book when the lights were on — but now it has changed into a grim ghoul. Families have been challenged by children’s fears, and more than one parent has spent the night sitting up next to an anxious child’s bed. But now parents have a new champion: Vicki Sewell, author and creator of The Magnificent Sprinkles. Sewell just experienced a strong showing at the AmericasMart in Atlanta, where her plush critters and storybook garnered serious attention.