Little Packrats

“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!

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.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT:
Cathy Berse-Hurley
CBHstudio
978-449-0222
info@littlepackrats.com
www.sty-aisle.com

What’s The Buzz From the Trade Show Floor?

New York, NY August 16, 2008 It’s the floor itself. The aisle carpets from prestigious conventions and trade shows are being recycled into a fashion-forward line of accessories for men, women and their four-legged companions. Talk about green – this Herculean effort is the epitome of eco-conscious design, literally saving thousands of pounds of carpet from being tossed away.

Thomas Bates, owner of Thomas Bates Design, a trade show exhibitor- realized that the material under his feet was being thrown out after each show.

“I was drawn to the natural durability, cool corduroy-like texture and consistent color palette. It seemed like the perfect material for our company to utilize,” Bates says.

Bates teamed up with Cathy Berse-Hurley of CBHstudio, and now the two manufacturers have launched STY-AISLE™; a line of eco-fashion accessories for people and their pets. The collection will feature messenger bags, tote bags, backpacks, purses, belts and sandals; as well as pet collars, leashes and beds all fashioned from professionally cleaned recycled carpet and unused leftover remnants.

“The vibrant palette comes directly from the aisles of the shows giving us a loads of seasonal options. We added bright, contrasting cotton lining and trim to make the bags and belts pop. It’s a really fun line,” says Berse-Hurley; best known for her Little Packrats line of packs and totes for kids. She will contribute her design, branding and marketing expertise to the venture.

The partnership with Bates, known for his traditional totes and sandals in madras and canvas, will capitalize on the company’s clout in sourcing, manufacturing and distribution. “It’s an awesome combination of our skills and we are thrilled to roll out the collection in time for 4th quarter of 2008,” Berse-Hurley says.

“At Sty-Aisle™ we are on a mission to rescue thousands of pounds of trade show carpet that otherwise would languish in landfills, thereby reducing waste and saving resources. It’s good green fun for you, Rover and the planet!” says Bates. It’s also a win-win situation – giving customers a chance to purchase innovative designs with a green focus while dramatically reducing wasteful material disposal.

For more information and to purchase this product line, visit
http://www.sty-aisle.com

What’s for lunch?
Whether its PB&J or turkey on rye, Little Packrats has cool and colorful carryalls made to match just about any mealtime mood.

Go buggy!
Just in time for back-to-school, kids can reach for their lunch in the new Ladybug tote bag. Suited for snacks, this 9″ x 9″ x 3″ tote can double as a stylish purse.

Whet your appetite…
…for something truly sophisticated. This striking Tallulah Tote will transport a midday meal and so much more.

Crave new accessories for fall?
Little Packrats and CBHstyle present cool carryalls for preschool to high school and playroom to boardroom. Delight your customers with our innovative designs and inventive fabric choices.

New Bags- New Booth!
CBHstudio has moved to DETAILS at THE NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL GIFT FAIR. See the American-made collections from Little Packrats and CBHstyle at booth 8539 starting Sunday, August 17, 2008.

Can’t make it to the show?
Check out the entire product line at our company website www.cbhstudio.com Place your order 24/7 using our secure webstore.

Contact Us:
p: 978.449.0222 f: 978.772.2277 e: info@littlepackrats.com w: www.cbhstudio.com

Thanks to Dierdre Uria and kaboose.com for the POLAR BEAR Backpack feature in their Back-to-school gear guide. See the complete product guide featuring some pretty cool notebooks, crayons and carryalls for kids and moms.

Little Packrats Polar Bear Backpack

This 10” x 14” Polar Bear neoprene pack, which is roomy enough for your child’s binders, books, and gear, features a top zipper and adjustable straps. Your kid will have the cutest pack on the bus, but will also feel proud knowing that Little Packrats made a donation from the sale of the pack to a global wildlife organization dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.

Details: The Kiwi Bird Endangered Species backpack is also available, and might be nice for your daughter to carry.

Price: $59.99

Available at: CBHStudio.com