Divine Designs: Handmade Products for Babies & Children too!
Monday, January 5th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Who hasn’t gone shopping for their baby or young child and couldn’t quite find that exact item you were looking for? I recently chatted with Sarah of Poutberry, an online shop found on Etsy. Sarah is one of those people I envy, who just have that knack for sewing and able to create an abundance of wonderful products. I wanted to share with my readers her amazing talent and find out how it all began! Here’s what Sarah had to say….
“I guess you could say that I have always been “crafty”. Ever since I was a child, I have always needed to have some sort of creative outlet that allowed me to make a product in the end that was all my own! My three children have been the greatest source of inspiration to me and have lead me to the current path of baby and childrens products. Whether it’s a fleece hat or this year’s Halloween costume, I have always loved the challenged of creating something fresh and exciting for them. We have 3 boys and with each one I find something new to make that I end up falling in love with! When I was pregnant with my first son, Jake, I was looking for a “budget friendly” way to decorate his room. I couldn’t find anything at the store that I had to have so I went home and started whipping up curtains, basket liners and a crib skirt for him! As he got bigger, I gradually started making more and more things for him. I do have a niece and she is my channel to all things “girlie”. I have done tutus, hats and blankets for her but my latest completion with her in mind is the child-sized aprons. They are an adorable gift for a little mommy. I am also working on a couple boy-friendly options as well because my 5 year old, Sean, loves to help me bake and he wants one too! He’s also the inspiration behind my necktie shirts. He loved playing “housekeeping” in pre-school last year dressing himself up in a tie everyday and not wanting to take it off to come home, so I decided to make him a shirt that the tie never has to come off of! He is definitely my most imaginative and still loves to dress up, he has commissioned me to make his very own super-hero cape! I love to see what new ideas he comes up with next! With my last son, Derek, I really wanted a comfortable, stylish sling. He was really cranky and not a very good sleeper and with 2 other boys in the house I needed a way to carry him around. I couldn’t find anyone who made a sling that I liked so I ordered up the sling rings and made my own. As Derek has gotten older I have started to make new and exciting things for him as well from the shopping cart cover that I use every day to the take-a-long mini blankets that he loves to cuddle! I have also found the mini-diaper totes to be very useful in my larger diaper bag. I take them out all the time to you as a little wristlet for me too.
My husband is in the Army so it’s great that I can work from home and be here for my boys. I can also pick it all up and move to the next place when Uncle Sam tells us to! (Let’s hope he doesn’t call anytime soon though, I’m comfortable where I am!) I have so much fun creating original and modern accessories and necessities for me and my boys to enjoy together. I’m so thankful to be able to share my products and ideas with other families that I don’t really even feel like it’s a “job”.
Here is just a small sampling of the wonderful products you can find in Sarah’s shop at www.poutberry.etsy.com.
Monster Gloves!!! Newest Rage in Kid Couture!
Friday, December 19th, 2008 | Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Christmas is just around the corner and I’ve been amazed at all the wonderful products I’ve seen on a wonderful site called Etsy. If you’re not familiar with Etsy, it’s a site full of artisans who craft everything by hand! I’ve been exposed to so many new things. And one of my new favorites is MONSTER GLOVES!!!
I had the pleasure of chatting with Tammy of Boysenberry Lane who makes the most creative, fun, yet functional gloves for kids and adults too! These fingerless gloves keep hands toasty while allowing your fingers free for all those must needed tasks.
Tammy has been sewing since she was a teenager, but got her start professionally five years ago when she began working for a pet company sewing collars, leashes and cat toys. She was also doing alterations and custom sewing from her home.
The gloves came to fruition about a year ago. They were such a hit with her girls that she started giving them as gifts to friends. Tammy loves the plain, warm kind as well as the fancy patterned ones, but she was also looking to create something totally unique. She imagined gloves with teeth coming off the ends, like they were eating your hand or going to eat someone else! That’s when her Monster Gloves were born. “People like the practical side of my plain gloves and there is also a following for the novelty of my crazy Monster Gloves.”
Tammy makes her gloves for kids from 2 to 100! And it’s been the most fun “job” she’s ever had!
Check out Tammy’s shop at www.BoysenberryLane.etsy.com.
Giving Thanks!!!
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Well it’s been a busy month for us here. We haven’t even had a moment to write a blog post in almost a month! But we couldn’t let the holiday pass by without expressing thanks to all our wonderful customers…both new and repeat customers. Without you, we couldn’t be where we are today! We appreciate all your kind thoughts and wishes and can’t wait to fulfill more needs with the new year approaching!
Here are a few wonderful photos sent from one of our best customers from the baby shower she threw. What an amazing job she did! We did Dr. Seuss themed diaper cakes for her.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Gifts for Toddlers!
Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Once you have children, you are opened up to the world of year round birthday parties! Even if you don’t have children, you have family members and friends that do. For a lot of us, we like to put a lot of thought into the gifts we give. Children can easily be overwhelmed by loads of toys bestowed upon them and sometimes you’re not sure the correct size for buying clothing. One gift that is sure to please and that will stand out from the crowd is a toddler spa cake! One size fits all with toddler spa cakes! They are great for so many reasons. Who doesn’t take a bath? These cakes make bath time fun for those who may fight the daily ritual. And they are loaded with essentials for the bath. L.A. BabyCakes makes wonderful toddler spa cakes that have received praised from lucky recipients! 
Each cake consists of 2 plush bath towels, full size Loreal kids bath wash, animal bath mitt, bath cupcake, and an assortment of fun bath soaps! Kids can’t help but have a blast with these bath time goodies. Not only do toddler spa cakes make great birthday gifts, but they’re perfect for any occasion. They have been given as Christmas, Easter, Hanukkah gifts and more! They are also great for children welcoming in a new baby brother or sister. Giving the big brother or sister a gift helps ease the jealousy that sometimes arises when a new baby takes the spotlight. Who can resist these cuddly critters?
So give the gift today that will put a big smile on that special child’s face! Who says practical had to be boring? 
Doggie Birthday Party
Sunday, October 26th, 2008 | How To, Uncategorized | No Comments
Not only man’s best friend, but our beloved baby too! For many of us, dogs are an enormous part of our lives. Before the birth of my daughter…my dog and cats were my life! They traveled across the U.S. with me and shared in all my life experiences, and I shared in theirs. My beloved dog Tori had her first birthday party when we moved out to California. Although low key, she still gave the party 2 paws up! She had a wonderful meal of pork chops and a yummy cake from Three Dog Bakery. Since we were new to California at the time, we hadn’t made any canine friends to invite to the party.
Dog parties have become increasingly popular over the years as people cater more and more to their pets and make them more involved members of the family. And why not? They bring so much love and joy to our lives. Their lives and birthdays should be celebrated like ours. There are now companies that even cater to the dogs and celebrating their milestones.
Planning the perfect pooch party should be fun! I’m sure your pal has met some friends at the local dog park or in your neighborhood. Invite them over or plan a party at your local dog park. Since dogs are less particular about decorations and more concerned with food and treats, you can choose to forgo the stress of coming up with a theme and dive right into creating the perfect birthday cake and treat bags for guests. But if you want to go all out…the ideas for themes are endless. You can check our previous entries for some ideas or create something new. A great centerpiece idea that also doubles as a fabulous birthday gift is a doggie spa cake! What? Yes…your pooch deserves to be pampered too. L.A. BabyCakes creates special doggie spa cakes that consist of plush bath and hand towels, Espree spa line of shampoo, conditioner and cologne in blue or pink, as well as a great toy for the cooperative canine! These festive cakes are a must have at any dog party!
For the refreshements, nothing beats refreshing bowls of water for each guest. Tables may also be decorated with color coordinating dog bowls filled with a variety of treats for guests to munch on througout the festivities. One delicous homemade recipe found online is as follows:
Boney Parts Dog Birthday Cake
Ingredients: 2/3 cup ripe mashed bananas 1/2 cup softened butter 3 large eggs 3/4 cup water 2 cups Unbleached Flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1/2 cup chopped pecans 1/2 cup raisins
Cake Method: In mixing bowl, beat together mashed banana and butter until creamy. Add eggs and water. Beat well. Stir in dry ingredients. Beat until smooth. Add nuts and raisins. Spoon batter evenly into oiled and floured bundt pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes, remove from pan, replace on rack and cool.
Frosting: 2 cup mashed banana 1 tablespoon butter 6 tablespoon carob flour 2 teaspoons vanilla 3 tablespoon unbleached flour 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Frosting Method:Blend thoroughly and spread on cool cake. Sprinkle with chopped pecans. The frosting contains carob, which is a safe (almost tastes like) chocolate substitute.
Decorate the cake with ginger and peanut mini-bones, tied with a doggie paw ribbon. Use “Pupperoni” sticks for candles.
How about some fun games for the pals to play? Catch the frisbee is a favorite among many…especially the retrievers. For the highly active and well finessed, an agility course might be the ticket. Tunnels can be set up throughout the yard in addition to hula hoops for those with an extra spring in their step. If you’re the handy man type, a balance beam can be created with steps and wide plank for dogs to run across.
Be sure to take plenty of photos. Guests can leave the party with their own paw print treat bag filled with an assortment of treats (homemade dog bone cookies) and a photo of themselves having a blast.
What better way to give your dog their special day filled with fun, food, and friends!
Nursery Rhymes or Book Baby Shower
Sunday, October 19th, 2008 | How To | No Comments
As an avid reader myself, I think books are a great gift for children of all ages. Throwing a book or nursery rhyme shower works great for first showers or second and so on. Mother Goose has so many nursery rhymes that you can work with as a theme and decoration for your shower. You can work in a single story or several into one shower. Aesop’s Fables and the many stories from Dr. Seuss also work fabulously!
For decorating, finding plush characters from the stories to place around the room works great. You can also have guests bring a book or story from a collection and use those to decorate as well. Some stories and books also use a collection of colors similar in each book so using color coordinating balloons, streamers, tablecloths, ribbons, etc. add a wonderful touch. Also great for decoration and as snacks too, are colored candies. You can use candy dishes or jazz things up by taking martini glasses and placing them all over each table. You can either fill each glass up with a multitude of colors or a separate color in each glass. M&Ms have a great color selection. You can also find candy coated sunflower seeds, almonds, wrapped candies and more! 
These also work great for other types of parties as well. Another option is to wrap the tops and tie with ribbon and give as party favors. Another decoration and favor idea are small flowerpots placed throughout the room that correspond with “Mary, Mary Quite Contrary.” And as always…my personal favorite…the diaper cake. I really love diaper cakes because they are so versatile as far as design goes…and you can fill them with so many great usable products. Here are a couple Dr. Seuss cakes perfect for a theme party! 
You can’t have a party without games. In addition to traditional baby shower games, why not play charades? Guests can draw slips of paper out of a bowl which contain different nursery rhymes or stories. Players may act out the stories for their teammates to guess. Nursery rhyme Pictionary is a hit too. How about guessing how much wool for Baa Baa Black Sheep? Guests can try to guess how many cotton balls are in filled jars.
And how about a cute “Pat a Cake” cake that’s marked with a “B” as part of the nursery rhyme theme? 
Deviled eggs are a great appetizer for guests, but not so much for Humpty Dumpty. Cottage Cheese fruit dip is a hit for Litttle Miss Muffet and her curds & whey or roast beef sandwhiches for “This Little Piggy.” For drinks…purchase a new baby bath tub and fill with your desired punch or beverage. Find a cup and place 3 men figurines in the cup to float in the tub for “Rub a dub dub, 3 men in a tub” themed refreshments.
Enjoy!
Baby Shower for Next Pregnancy?
Monday, October 6th, 2008 | How To | No Comments
Should I or shouldn’t I? That is a good question! Back in the day, it was bad form to have another baby shower after having your first child. These days anything goes! Throwing a second shower is great for the mom to be whether they’re having different sex or same sex child this time around. There are several ways to approach it with varying themes.
The first theme has been around for quite some time - Diaper shower. No matter what sex the mother is having, she will always need diapers! The guest of honor will feel blessed to be stocked up on a much needed item after delivery. Each guest of course brings a bag or box of diapers to the shower, but they can get much more creative if they wish. Guests can create gift baskets of diapers or a wonderful diaper cake either loaded only with diapers or one that has a few extra treats inside. Even if the bundle of joy is still a surprise, a neutral themed diaper cake can work for you. Here are a couple of simple ideas courtesy of L.A. BabyCakes.
A second theme idea is a recipe or food shower. Guests will share their favorite family, or kid approved dinner ideas with the guest of honor. Guests may even bring the dish already made up along with the recipe card to the shower for the guest of honor to freeze and later use when she has her hands full with a newborn. Once each guest brings their recipe, they may all be compiled in a nicely chosen or decorated recipe box or folder for mom to take home!
And finally a “pamper mom” shower will always be a hit! This shower may be held at someone’s home, day spa, or salon. Guests as well as the mom to be can all be pampered at this shower! Depending on time, space & budget, you may choose to chip in and present the guest of honor with a gift certificate to be used before or after delivery. Or guests may bring items that may be enjoyed by the guest of honor such as beauty treatments, specialty foods, drinks, etc.
As always, plan well & have fun!!!
Want to see L.A. BabyCakes LIVE?
Sunday, October 5th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Come see us in person on Saturday, October 11th in Bellaire, TX for the Bellaire Artisan Festival & Fall Market. The show is from 9am to 5pm between the 4800-5000 blocks of Bellaire Blvd on the esplanade of Paseo Park.
We will be showcasing an assortment of pre-made diaper cakes and spa cakes as well as a larger selection of our pacifier clips. Come check out our products, ask questions and get information.
We look forward to seeing you!
Puppy Theme Baby Shower
Sunday, September 28th, 2008 | How To | No Comments
What’s cuter than a puppy? How about a puppy themed baby shower?! This fun theme not only works great for welcoming a bouncing baby boy or sweet little girl, but it’s also a great idea for a child’s birthday party as well. This was also the theme for my daughter’s second birthday.
For the decorations, let’s start with the basics - balloons! Paw print balloons are easy to find and a cute way to liven up a party. Decorative tablecloths may be covered with puppy prints or contain an array of colors to complement your room. Tables covered in ceramic or plastic dog bowls (new of course) and filled with an array of treats is also a great start. Depending on what direction you want to go, for a more elegant look, bouquets of flowers and or beautiful candles may be mixed in among the ceramic dog bowls. For a laid back party, an assortment of dog themed decor such as puppy faces, dog bones, & fire hydrants may be found at most party supply stores. Plush dogs & puppies are great to place around tables or in a cute wicker basket so that the guest of honor may take them home after the shower to decorate or use as toys for the new bundle of joy. And the decorations would not be complete without an adorable puppy themed diaper cake on display. Check out www.la-babycakes for pre made or custom puppy diaper cakes! 
Mmmm…now onto the treats! What good puppy doesn’t love a good snack? “Puppy Chow” is a wonderful snack for guests to munch on throughout the baby shower. The “puppy chow” can be put in the dog bowls or placed in a decorated coffee or formula can such as I did for my daughter’s party. Also, bone shaped cookies or chocolates are a festive touch to the dog bowls and wrapped in individual baggies for guests to take home as favors! And now for the cake (the edible kind)! There are many recipes out there for cakes if you search the internet. Or for an even easier way, call your local bakery and have them create one for you. One of my favorite recipes I found on the Woman’s Day Magazine website. Unfortunately the recipe is no longer there, but they do have a VERY similar one for cats. So if you follow the basic format and just modify your decorating, you can create the cake I made below.
Here’s to a Pawfect Party!
Updates: Hurricane Can’t Keep Us Down!
Saturday, September 20th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Although the hurricane has been a devastating one for Galveston, Houston, and surrounding cities, we won’t let him keep us down. L.A. BabyCakes has a few more cakes added to the site. We strive to meet everyone’s price point and to give them the most for their dollar. We can even create your favorite storybook theme! Check out our latest designs and let us create something special for you!
