Little Packrats

Enjoy some sun, sand and shopping at these fun summer events. CBHstudio will be on hand with cool packs, totes and must-have accessories for summer and back-to-school. Great deals for savvy shoppers! For more information visit the event websites or email us at info@littlepackrats.com

Great Chowder Cookoff- Newport’s Kickoff to Summer 4 Commercial Wharf, Newport, R.I. Saturday, June 6, 11 am – 6 pm Visit Event Website

3rd Annual Sand & Sea Festival Salisbury Beach, MA Saturday, June 27th 10 am – 10:30 pm Sunday, June 28th 10 am – 5 pm Visit Event Website

Mashpee Open Market Mashpee Commons Mashpee, MA Friday July 10,  10am – 4pm Visit Event Website

15th Annual Arts Festival at the Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts 120 Long Beach Boulevard Loveladies, NJ Saturday, July 25 10 am – 6 pm Sunday, July 26 9 am – 5 pm

“Mummy, our packbacks” Those are the words my 3 year old twins said as I ran around the house packing for our first summer road trip. Each with their own little friend, they scrambled around the house picking and choosing their favorite toys of the moment. Sophia with her bunny backpack or packback as she calls it, chose three books, her lipstick, pictures, two loveys and a winter scarf. Marco and his doggy friend Milo decided on a book, a photo album, a matchbox car, a lizard and let’s not forget his favorite golf hat. All the STUFF they couldn’t leave home without.  

These fun backpacks are my kids’ little friends and it’s empowering for them to be able to fill them up with whatever they want without Mommy saying “We don’t have room for that.” Thank you CBHstudio for bringing smiles to my kids faces with these fun and loveable creatures.

Daily Pick

Fashion Accessories — ID, Please
By Staff — Gifts & Decorative Accessories, 5/8/2009 5:00:00 AM
Zippered pouch ID case from CBHstudio
This zippered pouch ID case features a modern fabric and will easily hold your keys, cell phone, a stash of cash and more. Call for prices. CBHstudio, Ayer, MA

Retailers only, call (978) 449-0222
Say you saw it on www.giftsanddec.com

You’ll find over 35 new items from Little Packrats, CBHstyle and Sty-Aisle brands in this spring’s look-book. Wherever you’re headed, our accessories will make your journey a colorful one.  Download your copy today!

From nursery to pre-adolescence, from strollers to lamps, from chairs to toys, there is an entire world of “high design” waiting to be discovered by parents with design sense and style—if they know where to look. Phyllis Richardson has done the research for parents everywhere, trawling the blogosphere, poring over countless catalogues culled from around the world, reviewing every design Web site, and applying her own practical judgment as a mother to present over 450 of the most wonderful objects available for children.

Here’s what Phyllis Richardson writes about Little Packrats…”Drawing on her art education and first-hand knowledge of what appeals to children, designer Cathy Berse-Hurley makes packs with bold graphic images of animals in vivid contrasting colours that feature well-crafted details such as coordinating patterns on the reverse side of the pack and protruding ears, tails, or a lion’s mane. The backpacks are made in extremely durable, colourful, washable vinyl.”

Great Online Boutiques for the Holidays

Sure you might plan to cut back this year, but I know you’ll still do some shopping.  And if you’re anything like me, you’ll be picking up as much for the people on your list as for yourself!  This is the one big time of the year when we get out into the stores or even better, cozy up to the online boutiques.

I’m easing your Internet shopping searches by presenting you with some of the best boutiques I’ve found on the Web.  As always, quality, originality, fun and even ambiance count a lot for me in my shopping experience and I can assure you that that’s just what you’ll find in the establishments below.

So put on the kettle and fix yourself a nice cup of tea.

Prime Rib Roast

from Allen Brothers

—yum!

Food items are a big hit with most people most of the time.  You want to make it good though—none of those Hickory Farms gift boxes for me, thank you.  How about steak, rib roast or Beef Wellington for your mother-in-law’s holiday table? (Or for yours?  Remember, one for me, one for you.)  You’ll find the finest meat in the land at Allen Brothers.  You might want to consider smoked salmon as a starter for that special holiday feast.  Call Bill Tomicki (805-969-5848), editor of ENTREE, to place an order of delicious gently smoked or smoke-roasted salmon from Santa Barbara Smokehouse for you and your best friends.

If you want to go all French on me, you’ll finish off this feast with a glorious cheese platter and a lightly-dressed salad.  Contact Vermont Butter and Cheese Company for your most refined creamery needs such as delectable goat cheeses, crème fraîche, mascarpone and a sea salted cultured butter that would make you swear you’d just procured it from the Sunday morning market in Normandy.  Call upon My Boulangerie for ready-to-bake artisanal breads to arrive at your door in time to pop them in the oven for your special meals.  You’ll also feel as though you’re in Paris when you nibble on My Boulangerie’s buttery croissants, brioches and a variety of other French bakery items and treats.

Specialty Goat Cheese

from Vermont Butter

and Cheese

O.K., now if you go the whole nine yards and really do it up in style, you’ll serve a lovely tray of coffee and chocolates at the end of your fine repast.  (Or provide the necessary ingredients so that your loved ones may do so.)  The Broadmoor Hotel boasts a robust blend of coffee, rich and elegant, worthy of the name of this world-renowned establishment.  Telluride Truffle rings in as the finest chocolates of the Rockies, and if you truly want to round out the selection of quality mountain-born sweets, you’ll order some famous almond toffee from Enstrom’s.

I love recommending top-of-the-line products from the West and France, all in the same breath.  High Desert Foods will fill your pantry (oh, that’s right—this is supposed to be about gifting) with the glorious flavors of organic fruits grown in the red rock country of the Colorado plateau.  Fruit confitures, tomato sauces and smoke dried tomatoes stand out among their specialties.  Look for more to come in the upcoming months.  Telluride Gift Baskets rounds up many other artisan- style food items in Colorado including jerky, jams, honeys, mustards and more.  All are arranged with great care in Colorado-made baskets, perfect for friends and family that enjoy delectable treats packaged with heaps of mountain charm.  More jams and specialty food items—this time with a French flair—may be procured at Trois Crepes, a Web-based business that also distributes some of France’s best baking ingredients such as chestnut cream.  Ever hear of wine confits?  They are flavorful little jellies that catapult even your finest cheese offerings into an extraordinary gastronomic adventure.  You may purchase these and other prized comestibles from France along with a plethora of handsome nonfood gift items at Quel Objet.

High Desert Blackberry

& Wild Blueberry Conserve

How about going a little green?  You can outfit most of the people on your list with a beautiful, handmade water bottle from Harmonik.  Made of eco-friendly materials whenever possible, Harmonik Bottles are like totable works of art that people are sure not to leave behind.  Plastic castoffs begone!  For the wee ones in your life, shop at Eco-Kids for all natural creative play-dough and fingerpaint.  You’ll find more fun ideas for children at CBHStudio, especially in the Little Packrats section.  I’m gaga over their colorful totes and backpacks that feature happy animal designs of horses, dogs, penguins and other lovable critters.  Oh, to be a kid again.  But big kids can have fun shopping here, too, especially on the messenger and laptop bag pages where you’ll find more style-y creations which are also crafted out of durable vinyl.  For more great green gift ideas, check out what I wrote about Daryl Hannah just a couple of months ago.

Doggie Knapsack

from Packrats:

How Cute is That?

For clothing for men, women and children, why not be fanciful with eye-catching togs from BaliDog?  These Telluride-designed, Brazilian made creations are just as well suited for the yoga studio as for a night out on the town.  But I can’t stray long from the Old World.  A tour around the Alpen Schatz Web site is almost as heartwarming as visiting Christkindlmarkt, the Christmas markets of Germany.  Here you’ll discover all kinds of alpine treasures for men, women, children and even your pets (definitely not to be forgotten this time of year).  High-style items for both you and your doggies include traditional leather belts and collars handcrafted in the alps.

Did I just say handcrafted?  Absolutely.  Why not buy something truly extraordinary that will be cherished for years or at least for the duration of two to three good ski seasons?  I’m talking 100 percent, American made, supremely-crafted goods here.  Museum quality.  Birdhouseking showcases handmade birdhouses of heirloom stature, fashioned by a master woodworker that is eighty-five years young.  Exceptional carpentry skills (and lots of high tech know-how) are applied to entirely different objets d’art at Wagner Custom Skis.  Located just outside of Telluride, Wagner crafts sybaritic boards in a progressive, super eco-friendly manner.

I think the only ones I’ve forgotten about so far are Leo and Clara.  That would be my two kitties.  Of course I fit the model of a single woman with two cats who sits on her couch, sips tea and reads while her pussycats are curled up beside her.  (Oh, if life was only always so good!)  I’m quite confident in any event that my little babies will be receiving some lovingly crafted, earth-friendly pet toys from Purrfectplay this year.  That sweet little site also sells pet bedding, good to know if ever I decide to kick them off of my bed.

Be sure to visit my Shopping page on this site where I’ve written more extensively about my favorite online boutiques.  There you’ll also find an offer for a special discount from Telluride Truffle when you order from them on my behalf.  Next to tea, cats and books, chocolates are also a girl’s best friend.

Bon Shopping!

Thanks Maribeth Clemente!

The only thing more fun than finding the perfect gift is giving it! At CBHstudio.com you’ll find something special for everyone on your list and best of all, you can shop without leaving the house.

Gift giving is all about showing the people in your lives that you are paying attention. It’s not about giving presents with huge price tags. When you give someone a gift, you want to show them that they are special and that they matter.

So don your fuzzy slippers, grab a cup of coffee and peruse our pages. You’ll find great packs that are tops for toddlers, perfect totes that are cool for school, the hottest little bags for tweens and teens, teacher gifts that make the grade and loads of stuff for the eco-fashionista on your list.

It’s been a rough ride lately and minding your budget seems prudent. Since nice folks deserve something sweet in their stockings, we’ve compiled a list of great gifts under $20.00.  You’ll find lots of ways to keep within your budget and still show you care.

Give yourself a gift! Enter coupon code SAVE5 at checkout to receive $5.00 off your purchase at our secure web store. Or spend $100.00 or more and UPS Ground shipping is on us.

Our Sty-Aisle™ ZOOM Messenger Bag is fashioned from 100% recycled polypropylene carpet and trimmed out with cool contrasting cotton canvas. Grommets and removable clips make switching from over-the-shoulder to across-the-body quick and simple and give you a place to dangle your keys or cell phone holder if you please. Recycled carpet exterior is durable and naturally shock absorbing to protect contents. Got laptop? We’ve added a layer of foam padding for transporting your computer to work or around campus. Bag features an exterior zippered pocket and interior slit pockets. Make your color choice from six cool combos and join our mission to reduce waste- it’s good green fun for you and the planet!

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Recycled materials have a history and personality that can’t be duplicated with new fabrics. Our billboard bags are as individual as their wearers. The Bill Laptop bag features the coolest parts of advertising banners combined with new vinyl material and a tough nylon interior. A top zipper offers security yet quick access to case’s interior, which is fully padded and lined with multiple pockets to protect your laptop or other precious cargo.

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The Marlies laptop bag is retro design for your modern electronics. Beyond basic black…our funky, chic and durable, graphic exterior pocket allows you to express yourself while a tough nylon interior boasts pockets and padding to cradle your computer. Grommet and snap rings allow you to easily change from purse handles to shoulder strap plus accommodate keys or hanging cell phone cases. Bag includes 2- 20” purse style straps and 1- 60” adjustable strap that can be comfortably worn across your body.

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