This was a really fun giveaway and I thoroughly enjoyed reading everyone’s comments. Thank you! I’m happy to report that we have 2 winners!

Random Drawing Winner: Congratulations to Jenn! She’s the winner of our Kitten with Mittens crib shoes!

Crib Shoe Theme Winner: You guys had some terrific ideas. It was a really tough decision, but after speaking with Laurie, we have two new designs that we’ll soon be introducing in the shop: 1) mouse with cheese and 2) gnome with toadstool. (We’ll also be introducing a variation of the kitten with mittens.) So congrats also go to Kathy for suggesting the toadstools. It may take several weeks, but once these are ready for the shop, we’ll be sending Kathy a pair of her own.

Thanks everybody! We’ll be having another giveaway soon! And thanks again to Laurie for her amazing talent!

[ Teaser for next post: When pink was blue... ]

You asked and we answered. We’re happy to announce that The Baby Gardner has partnered with MyRegistry.com to bring you a hot new approach to gift registries. Check out our BRAND NEW Baby Gift Registry and find out how easy it is to create ONE ultimate wishlist. You’ll wonder why no one ever thought of it sooner!

$15 GIFT CERTIFICATE JUST FOR SIGNING UP! We’re extending an exclusive offer to our Baby Gardner bloggie readers! Create a gift registry at The Baby Gardner by June 30, 2010, and we’ll send you a $15 gift certificate to spend in the shop — OR — recruit a new mom to sign up for our baby registry and we’ll give you BOTH a $15 gift certificate! (If you’re registering OR recruiting, you’ll need to leave a comment on this post telling us the name used to create the registry so we can make sure you receive your gift certificate(s).)

Kind of makes some of us wish we were pregnant all over again.

It’s been a while since we’ve had a FREE Vintage Friday! Well we’re bringing it back with an awesome giveaway! Many thanks to Laurie at Old School Acres for hosting this giveaway. Everybody is smitten with Laurie’s felt crib shoes. She’s working on a new design and she has graciously given us this pair to give away to one lucky winner! Take a peek at her brand new and adorable Kitten & Mittens crib shoes:

To enter, just leave a comment on this post telling us a NEW shoe theme idea you would like to see Laurie make. (If you haven’t seen her collection, check it out here.) We’ll draw one winner at random to win this pair.

But wait! There’s more! If Laurie and I choose YOUR shoe theme idea to include in the shop, we’ll also send that person a FREE pair of the new shoes once they are completed! We can’t promise we’ll choose any of the ideas submitted, but we’re hoping you knock our mittens off! So put your thinking caps on and give us some great ideas!

Entries will be accepted until Sunday 4/18 at 11pm EST. Winner(s) will be announced on the blog the following week. Good luck and Happy Easter!

Here’s my latest fetish — vintage baby shower wrapping paper. Love, love, love it. I use it for decoupaging books, albums, shelves, and whatever else I can cover. I also love the idea of using it in the obvious way: wrap a vintage-inspired gift in vintage paper for a special momma-to-be?  Is that not the coolest thing ever?!

Well here’s all my favorite papers that I’ve found available online lately. You guys better grab them up fast while I resist the urge! (Clicking on each image will take you to the link where it’s for sale.)

And here’s one of the albums available exclusively at The Baby Gardner. It’s created using authentic vintage wrapping paper and course crystal glitter…

Would love to hear some of your ideas for re-purposing vintage wrapping paper! Better yet, send us a photo!

I’m excited to introduce you to our latest vintage party line: Get Along Little Doggie! We’ve got everything you need to throw a fabulous vintage birthday party for your little cowpoke. Invitations, party banner, favor bags and cupcake toppers are all available.

Sometimes I’m asked about ideas for plates and napkins that will coordinate with our vintage party supplies. My favorite choice is always a polka dot, micro dot, or gingham in a coordinating color. For our cowboy line I would recommend an orange dot or brown gingham. Here’s one online spot I found that has a variety of dot and gingham tableware. Giddy up!

Here’s a perfectly precious pachyderm. He’s a great vintage pattern for a beginner or a pro — courtesy of Laurie at Old School Acres. Thanks, Laurie! This little fellow would look great made out of wool felt or a vintage cotton print. Click image for larger size. Enjoy!

Even if the names Irmi and Nursery Plastics don’t ring a bell, no doubt you’ll recognize their vintage iconic look. Many of us have admired the whimsy and detail of this company’s handpainted wooden lamps, wall hangings, switch plates, nursery mobiles and more.

I love learning a bit of history about vintage nursery pieces and the companies of long ago that created them. And the story of Nursery Plastics is by far the sweetest I’ve heard in a long time. It was hard to track down even this much info about the company and the founders. I hope you enjoy the history as much as I did. It will give you a new-found love for the products they created…

On his 15th birthday in 1936, Fred Bering got a note from his father:

“If you should ever find yourself in a position where you have more than you need for yourself, think of those who are less fortunate,” the note said in part.

The Bering family lived in Stuttgart, Germany. At the time of his birthday, Adolph Hitler had been in power in Germany for three years.The Berings were Jews, and they could clearly see what was ahead.

“It was very obvious they were going to do away with us,” Bering said. Just before his 17th birthday, Fred Bering got out of Germany alive, going from Germany to France, and then to live with an uncle in New York.

He never saw his father again. Years later, Bering found his father’s note in his files. The words reverberated with him. To live by the message of that brief handwritten note, Bering gave $2 million to a hospital in New York in 2008. The donation was also a way for Bering to honor his wife, Irmi, who died in 2005.

Irmi and Fred escaped Germany within weeks of each other but didn’t meet until 1948, on a tennis court. By then Fred Bering had become an American citizen and was serving in the U.S. Army.

Fred and Irmi married in 1951. They ran Nursery Plastics, a New York company they founded together and ran profitably until they sold it in 1971.

“I came to this country with $9 in my pocket,” he said. “Through hard work and opportunity, I made enough money to share it with people.”

In 2008, when asked about his late wife, Fred Bering said, “Sometimes you don’t have a full appreciation of what a wonderful wife you had until she’s no longer here. Everyone who ever met her would tell you what a wonderful, original person she was.”

Incredible story. If you don’t have your own Irmi or Nursery Plastic vintage collectible, it’s not too late to drink the kool-aid. These pieces can be found pretty easily around the internet, in antique shops and even in thrift stores if you’re lucky. Prices can range from very inexpensive to moderately ridiculous. Here’s a few adorable pieces currently for sale around the internet:

Irmi Humpty Dumpty Night Light

Irmi Angel Crib Mobile

Irmi Snow White Music Box

I’ve seen some gorgeous vintage nurseries and children’s bedrooms. Many of them have been shown right here on this blog. But if we’re talking about raw love-at-first-sight, this room really does it for me. Can we just share a quiet moment and explore the vintage wonder of this room? Take it all in….

Nothing matches. Everything is beat up and scuffed. It’s about as eclectic of a grouping as you can get. And yet it all just works. I love it.

I know there’s many more vintage-inspired nurseries and bedrooms out there that we all could go ga-ga for. Send in your photos so we can swoon!

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Have you heard of the Elf on the Shelf? Do you have one? It’s a replica of a vintage 1950s elf ornament (which I love). Elf on the Shelf comes with a story book for the kids that talks about how this magic elf has come from The North Pole to be Santa’s eyes and ears. He magically comes to life each night and travels back to the North Pole to report back to Santa (after the children have all gone to bed of course). He returns each morning and mischievously hides in a new spot in the house — ready for the children to find him.

My kids are absolutely fascinated with this elf. My oldest named him Mark when we brought him home last year. Sure enough, Mark “somehow” appeared in a new location in the house each morning and the kids had a ball hunting for him each day until he went back to live with Santa on Christmas Eve.

Well Mark showed back up the other day for the first time this holiday season and he’s been “returning” every morning in rather unusual places. This morning he showed up in the butter compartment in the refrigerator. Pretty “cool” hiding spot, but he’s got 9 more places to hide before Christmas Eve. Any hiding place suggestions for Mark? (Leave a comment. Mark and I could use the help.) A friend of mine suggested the dryer. Maybe Mark does need a good fluff and fold.

Happy Christmas!