Growing up, Katherine Hodges favorite thing was to play “store” using her toy cash register. Her first job was working for a family owned specialty toy store when she was 15 years old. Katherine liked the store and the work so much she continued to work there through college and beyond. And in 2001, Katherine and her husband, John, bought the toy store and renamed it Tookie’s Toys after a nickname given to Katherine from her nephews. Clever Parents caught up with Katherine to learn more about how she selects the toys she sells, customer service and tips for non-parents who want to buy a toy for a child. Read the rest »

Penney Lettie has always loved to sew. The first beneficiaries of her talents were her Barbie dolls who enjoyed everything from custom wedding dresses to life jackets (you shouldn’t have to sacrifice fashion for safety’s sake). The birth of her daughter Emma turned Penney’s talent and interest towards creating children’s clothing. And that’s a lucky thing for you and your children. Read the rest »

From a very young age, Mary Michele Little knew that she wanted to pursue a career in fashion. Inspired by her mother, Michele started sewing when she was seven years old. “Since I was old enough to play with dolls, I used to dress them up, fix their hair, make-up, etc. I would make outfits for my Barbies more than I would actually play with them,” says Michele.

Barbie was not the only thing from her childhood that influenced Michele’s professional designing. The need for high-quality, yet everyday wearable items stuck with her. “When I was a kid, there was always a clear distinction between the luxurious “nice things” that were brought out only for special occasions and the everyday stuff we could actually touch! Sometimes it was the special dress that was hidden away until the holidays or your birthday, other times it was when we would sneak into mommy’s closet and try on something fanciful,” says Michele. “Most of my designs for the body or the home can be machine-washed, yet never lose their appeal. I scour the fabric shops from the Garment District in NYC to exotic locales to find the perfect mix of style and affordability. Because what good are nice things if you can’t have fun with them?” Read the rest »

Looking for the perfect baby gift? Want to create a special treasure for your child? These days, baby gifts and children’s clothes are all about the extras. Choose your own monogram, ribbon, thread color and type style for anything from bibs, clothing, towels and blankets to stationery and invitations, and Mandy Vick, owner of Mini Monograms, will do the rest.”I provide products that are original and unique that cannot be found in dozens of stores,” says Mandy. “We carry a variety of specialty items with one criteria… each gift is personalized.” Read the rest »

Wooden frame with dragonfly applique - $34.

Wooden frame with plane applique - $34.
Gator night light with initial. Inspired by Lands End Towel Set. $15.
Ladybug wall art. Ashley’s artwork is generally inspired by another source. For your own designs, show her your favorite wallpaper, sheets, child’s artwork, stuffed animal, children’s book, and she’ll create custom-paintings for your child’s special space.

Clever Parents loves Hugh’s Room for one-of-a-kind, hand-painted pieces and custom room design. Owner, artist and art teacher, Ashley Peay-Bettini delivers on her promise, ‘If you can dream it, we can create it!’While driving home from work one day from an unsatisfying job, Ashley asked herself, “What are you passionate about?” The answer was immediately clear — children and art — and the next day she was on the phone with the Meredith College art department enrolling in classes. “Two and a half years and 72 credit hours later, I received my degree in Art Education and have been teaching ever since.” Read the rest »

Children are creative little things and before they reach the sixth grade they’ll have a Louvre sized collection of art for you - attics and closets overflowing with priceless portraits of Fido, finger painted abstracts, cut-out picture collages, Thanksgiving turkey drawings, self-portraits and other memorable pieces. So, how can you save your little Picasso’s works for decades to come and de-clutter the house in the process? The answer: Save My Kid’s Art. Read the rest »