modeco kids

I was surprised when a couple of people who read my blog told me that they didn’t realize that Sweetbeets is my stationery company! I guess this is a sign I should make it more obvious, and I’ve added links to the top right sidebar listing other places where you can find me online.

How would you like to win a selection of 20 Sweetbeets cards?

You’ll be all stocked up with eco-friendly, letterpress stationery for thank you notes and gift enclosure cards for future baby showers and birthdays. This prize has a retail value of over $75!

I’d love to expand the wholesale side of my business and thought I’d combine this Sweetbeets giveaway with a request for your help.

To be eligible for the giveaway, please leave a comment suggesting a retail shop you know that might be interested in carrying Sweetbeets. I’m looking for brick-n-mortar shops (with a physical location) in Canada, USA or International. Consider baby boutiques, gift shops, eco-chic boutiques and stationery stores, and if they have a focus on indie designed goods all the better! You can click here to see the current list of Sweetbeets retailers.

I’m going to take a bit of a break from blogging while I work on some new Sweetbeets designs that I plan to have available in September. When I return I’ll announce the winner!

:: leave ONE comment on this post with your name
:: suggest a shop you think is a good fit for Sweetbeets
:: the contest closes noon EST on Friday September 5th
:: the winner will be picked via random draw
:: the winner will be announced September 5th
:: the winner must claim prize by September 10th

Thank you in advance for participating. I’m looking forward to your suggestions!

Technorati Tags: letterpress stationery, Sweetbeets, eco-friendly stationery, letterpress cards, giveaway, made in Canada

August 14th, 2008 Lisa posted in giveaways 13 Comments »

Last night I stumbled upon this promotion that’s being organized by Apples’n'Oranges, an online children’s boutique that sells exclusively Canadian brands of clothing, shoes and accessories for kids aged 0-5 years. To participate and have a chance to win some goodies, you need to be a Canadian resident and share your reasons for buying Canadian on your blog or by emailing info[at]apples-n-oranges[dot]com. The contest closes June 28th and the winners will be announced on July 1st - Canada Day! I thought this would make a good post for today.

For me “buying Canadian” means buying products that are actually made in Canada. When I’m shopping I almost always look to see where things are made. I started doing this a few years ago when I became more aware of stuff being made in sweatshops. So, I’d have to say that my primary reason for buying Canadian is to support fair-trade manufacturing and avoid stuff likely produced in a sweatshop. Of course this doesn’t always happen! Even still, I feel it’s important to consider how products are made (is production sustainable? are the people whose labour goes into making the product paid a living wage?) rather than supporting a brand just because it’s a Canadian brand or a retail shop just because it’s local since it doesn’t necessarily mean the products are made in Canada.

I struggle with this dilemma when purchasing shoes, for example. Do I go to the neighbourhood mom-and-pop shoe store and buy my sons shoes that are made in China, or is it better to buy fair-trade shoes from an online store that’s perhaps not even in Canada? For summer shoes this year I bought Canadian-made Crocs but was disappointed to learn that the company is closing its Quebec factory.

While we’re on this topic, I thought take the opportunity to link to a couple of Canadian shops I discovered recently whose focus is on goods that are handmade in Canada by independent artists. Recently launched goodEGG is an online shop that offers a “curated mix of accessories, home wear, and art objects made by the best of emerging and outstanding Canadian craft talent.” For anyone near Halifax there’s also Love, Me Boutique that offers “Canadian handmade, small-run, independent products for wearing, living and giving.”

Technorati Tags: made in Canada, buying Canadian

June 24th, 2008 Lisa posted in giveaways 3 Comments »

I’m delighted to announce that the winner of one pair of IsaBooties™ in the style and size of her choice is Kathleen who said:

I like the Adirondack Trekkers. They’d be cute on my son and they look comfortable. I wish they made adult sizes!

Kathleen, please email me at lisa [at] modecokids.com to claim your prize by Wednesday June 25!

Thank you to everyone who participated!

June 23rd, 2008 Lisa posted in giveaways 1 Comment »

Today you have the chance to win a pair of IsaBooties™! These eco-friendly soft-soled baby shoes are perfect for giving to someone special or keeping for your own little one.

You’ve probably seen IsaBooties™ before. These stylish baby booties have been featured in magazines such as Parenting, Pregnancy & Newborn, American Baby, Pregnancy, Parents and Babytalk as well as on many design blogs.

Laura Mesko and Libby Gorsuch are the mompreneurs who founded IsaBooties™ in 2004. While browsing their website, I was impressed with how well they’ve thought out their venture. I can only imagine how competitive it is in the marketplace for soft-soled baby shoes and IsaBooties™ really seems to fill a niche.

So, how are they different than other soft-soled baby shoes on the market? IsaBooties™ are made in the USA with fair labor and manufactured with a unique combination of Ultrasuede® and Toughtek®. This means that they are 100% animal-product free and formaldehyde-free not to mention breathable, durable, skid-proof and fade-resistant. I was surprised to learn that Toughtek® is the same grip fabric used in the booties worn by search and rescue dogs!

Because of the fabric IsaBooties™ are made of, they won’t scuff, they’re color safe and stain-resistant and they hold their shape after machine-washing and drying. A friend gave my son a pair of leather soft-soled shoes a few years ago and I distinctively recall how scuffed they became with wear and how they never looked the same after the first time through the washing machine and dryer. So I can definitely see the appeal of IsaBooties™!

Want to win a pair of IsaBooties™?
Simply leave a comment on this blog post. We’d love you to tell us your favorite design. Click here to see all the styles. Good luck!

:: leave ONE comment on this post with your name
:: the contest closes 8pm EST on Sunday June 22, 2008
:: the winner will be picked via random draw
:: check back here Monday June 23 to see if you’ve won
:: winner must claim prize by Wednesday June 25

Psst! Want two chances to win? While you’re browsing the IsaBooties™ website, be sure to also enter their contest to win six pairs of booties!

Retailers, click here for wholesale information. You’ll be happy to know that you can choose whatever size and style combination is the best fit for your shop to meet the opening minimum of 24 pairs. IsaBooties™ are available in four sizes to fit babies and toddlers up to 24 months and they retail for $29 each. They come in display-ready packaging that is 100% recycled/100% recyclable and printed with soy ink.

A big thank you to Laura and Libby of IsaBooties™ for generously supporting this giveaway!

(images via isabooties.com)

Technorati Tags: soft-soled baby shoes, crib shoes, eco-friendly, toddler shoes, baby booties, baby slippers, made in USA, mompreneur

June 18th, 2008 Lisa posted in KIDS, giveaways, shoes 12 Comments »

Check back Wednesday for an exciting giveaway on modecokids.com!

June 17th, 2008 Lisa posted in giveaways No Comments »