Fantastic playgrounds

On a cold, rainy day like today, I'm thinking of all the fun my daughter and I will have at the playground this summer. Came across these fantastic playgrounds designed by the Danish firm Monstrum. Lots of fantastic stuff, these are some of my favorites, and Brookline pirates, be sure to visit Emerson Park for some big pirate ship fun.

Tufts grads sure do like cute stuff with elephants!

Jumbo statue on the Tufts campus

It seems every weekend, someone will come in asking what we have with elephants on it. After packing up lots of elephant bibs, elephant shirts, elephant blankets, elephant necklace charms, even elephant Crawlings kneepads, I finally realized
Tufts grads sure do love their Jumbo.


And, thanks to the internet, I now know P.T. Barnum was a Tufts grad, and Jumbo was a very real, very big, and very special elephant. Take a read of this fascinating story behind the Jumbo. 

My favorite elephant something at the Tiny Hanger is Nugget, the little Jellycat. Got him sitting on the counter with me right now.

I may just have mascot envy. As a UMass–Amherst grad, I must admit, a Minutemen just isn't cuddly, and tiny tri-corner hats for toddlers are not practical.

Guess it could be worse, my school mascot could have been this guy.

We found the best baby and toddler sunglasses!

Before opening our store, we didn't realize how difficult it would be to find the right sunglasses. We did extensive field testing with our five-year old, and found most were just too easy to break. There was one brand with the cutest packaging we planned on carrying until the lens kept popping out in playgrounds all around town. Don't get me going about the sunglasses sold on the bargain racks at supermarkets and gas station that don't offer the real UV protection. I want my daughter's sunglasses to offer at least the same protection as the glasses I wear.


That's why we're so happy to have Real Kids Shades at the Tiny Hanger. They stand up to the toughest sunglasses wearers with impact-resistant lenses and strong-sides that really flex. Our newborn to 24 month styles come with a comfortable adjustable neoprene band that keeps the glasses on kids' heads where they belong. Based out of Concord, all RKS glasses are certified BPA free, and provide 100% UV Protection to meet the most stringent light transmittance tests on the planet. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing the parents that started up the company are scientists. They take product testing seriously, and have taken the extra step of posting all the results of the safety testing their website. 

Our family has lost toddler sunglasses many places between the Miami Zoo and Brookline, so we're glad we're able to sell the glasses at the it's-not-the-worst-thing-if-you-lose-'em price of $15-$16. Let us know what you think, and if you go to Miami, be sure to visit the zoo. So much fun, and splurge for the 'Safari-Cycle', it's totally worth it. And, if you take a camel ride, please give our regards to Fluffy and Grande. 

Happy Daylight Savings - Spring's almost here

Here at the Tiny Hanger, we've got springtime on our mind. Bright sun streaming in, sprung forward our clocks and front door is open bringing in a spring breeze and the sounds of Coolidge Corner. Of course, the temperature hasn't hit 55 today, I'm wearing a jacket and have cold fingers typing this, but we are just going to will ourselves to spring.

Towards that springtime state of mind, just laid out a display of our new Maisey Mae sun hats. They're a great line from Cape Elizabeth, Maine. Like so much of our store, they came out of a creative mom realizing she could make a better quality (and cuter) baby product. The creator/owner Michelle Whitney started up making handmade baby products in 2001, and still going strong almost a dozen years later.



Her super cute hats come in six different styles, with a stitched brim for extra sun protection. Five different sizes of Maisey Mae hats up to 4T are available at the Tiny Hanger. And Michelle, as a mom raising a family on the blustery Maine coast, knew to include ties for the smaller size hats to keep them snuggly in place on windy Brookline stroller rides and playground swing sessions.

Bianca Baader Trunk Show March 17

Join us for a Trunk Show with designer Bianca Baader March 17th 11-4pm. She will be bring lots of her amazing creations for kids and adults. Activities too!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I grew up in Germany and came to the states with my then boyfriend/now husband. Quite a long time ago! I studied a few different things, fashion being one of them but never got a degree in any of the subjects. I worked in the fashion industry in NYC for several years and in Berlin, Germany before coming to Cambridge.

Tell us about what you are selling at Tiny Hanger.

Appliqued onesies and t-shirts as well as some wall hangings. For the trunk show I will also bring some tees, tanks and sweat shirts for adults. For my appliques I use new, vintage and re-purposed fabrics and trimmings and the shirts are 100% cotton and come from American Apparel.

What made you decide to start sewing?

I've sewn for many years, not even sure when exactly I started. As a child growing up in East Germany, where fun fashion was not something you could find easily, I would make outfits with my mom's help. I remember big skirts with round patch pockets tie dyed with very hard to come by clothes dye.

Do you make other things?

I don't have the patience for making complicated things or following a pattern. I used to but lost interest. Everything I make I need to be able to finish that same day. In addition to my tees and wall hangings I mostly make simple skirts for my girls and me.

What inspires you to make your creations/collection?

My two daughters Mila and Edda! They are an endless well of fun and often silly ideas!

How would you describe your style?

The things I make are playful and colorful and often one-of-a-kind. Cute but not kitschy, at least I hope not.

Do you do this full time or in addition to other things?

I decided to be around for my kids a lot while they are still young, so my business is only part-time. Or maybe even "quarter-time".

Any words of advice or inspiration for aspiring designers?

Just go for it! Personally I'm not the super ambitious type. So a lot of the things I do started by someone saying, something like: "Wouldn't it be fun to make ...." Or: "Have you ever done a ...." I need to be pushed and that is something I find hard to do when you are on your own.

It's a wobbly world & babies need all the help they can get.

Up until now, when I think of knee-pads, I think of Patrick Ewing at Georgetown tearing through the Big East and winning the NCAA Championship in 1984.

Now I'm thinking more of these super-cute kneepads for babies that we carry at the Tiny Hanger called Crawlings. They're especially designed for little ones when they start crawling and teetering around to discover their worlds. They come in all of these great designs that we stock at the store, as much for the style as the function. 

They are made of premium cotton, rayon and spandex, the body of the kneepad is soft, stretchable and comfortable like a sock to move and groove. The cushion will help reduce impact to soft knees and protect their skin from bumps, bruises and scratches.

So if your little one is going toe-to-toe with a baby Hakeem or if she just insists on crawling absolutely everywhere and over everything, come on by! We'll hook you up. 

Artist interview with Jill Winitzer

Jill Winitzer is a local designer featured in our store. She makes the most amazing blankets. They are colorful and bright and I fall in love with each row of yarn.

We asked her a few questions about herself and her craft.

Read on!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I live in Brookline and have 2 college age kids, a dog and a husband. I studied Graphic Design at Simmons College and my first job was at the Boston Phoenix, a fabulous place to work! I have been involved in the PTO at Devotion School and Brookline High School. Many of my days have been spent watching baseball, football, soccer, field hockey, basketball, softball games and at track meets that my kids have participated in since pre school.

Tell us about what you are selling at Tiny Hanger.

Colorful hand knit baby blankets and snuggly neck warmers. The blankets are made from a variety of natural and man made yarns making a blend of gorgeous, deep colors. The neck warmers come in two sizes for a mommy and me look. They are warm on a cold day, and cannot be lost as they pull over the head.

What made you decide to start knitting?

I started knitting sweaters for myself after college. After my first kid was born I only wore machine washable clothes to keep up with all that spit up! I started knitting again when my son was in the 3rd grade and started football practices in the next town over. I needed something to do while sitting for a few hours, and found very cool novelty yarns and started making scarves. Scarves evolved into afghans, baby blankets, neck warmers and now into infinity scarves.

Who taught you to knit? How about the glass/paper?

I must have learned from watching my mother knit. (Her mother also knit incredible sweaters). I also remember a class I took at the MFA when I was in elementary school. I can picture a tile with various paper that I applied--that is what started me on the glassware.

Do you make other things?

I now do a line of house wares: glasswares decorated with paper. Vases, serving plates and bowls, coasters, switch plate covers. (WinitzerDesign on facebook, or www.WinitzerDesign.com)

What inspires you to make your creations/collection?

I love searching for yarn. Wherever I go, I look for yarn stores. I have found stores near each of my kid’s colleges in Maryland and Wisconsin! Finding new yarn is great. I branched out to the glassware to create other useful products that were fun to make while always thinking about color.

How would you describe your style?

Functional and creative, with color. One of a kind. Creating things people need!

Do you do this full time or in addition to other things?

I also design books (yes, books are still being published!) and I recently designed a cookbook.

Any words of advice or inspiration for aspiring designers?

Do what you love, and see where it evolves. I found that new products are always good to think about and create to increase your audience.