Issues → July/August 2011 → Home and Garden →
New England's Finest: Baby and Toddler Gear
by Christie Matheson
New England artisans craft beautiful (and durable) baby and toddler gear.
1. Designer Mary-Alice Dalton applies couture-quality details to her "Victoria Rose" dress ($145 and up) and coordinating "Shaped Brim" hat ($48).
For more on Mary-Alice Dalton, see "Artisan Spotlight," opposite.
Children's Couture, Belmont, NH. 603-524-8801; madcouture.com
2. "Natural ABC Blocks" ($98 for a set of 16) and "Push N Pull" animals ($18.20 each) are made from locally harvested maple and are free of dyes and finishes.
Maple Landmark, Middlebury, VT. 800-421-4223; maplelandmark.net
3. Cape Cod mom Sarah Good has received national attention for her bright hooded towels ($46) and other stylish must-haves for the 4-and-under set.
Tess & Tallulah, Cotuit, MA. 508-274-0155; tessandtallulah.com
4. A new mom can never get enough burp cloths--especially when they're adorned with a cheery lobster motif ($45 per bundle of 3; personalization available).
Maisey Mae Designs, Cape Elizabeth, ME. 207-799-6662; maiseymae.com
5. Keep little ones cozy with a hypoallergenic comforter ($112/$135) made from Maine wool (with organic unbleached cotton muslin shell), hand-tied in a renovated barn workshop.
North Country Comforters, Great Pond, ME. 207-584-2196; northcountrycomforters.com
6. Cuddly friends from the "Foundling Collection" ($9.95 to $29.95) feature organic cotton shells, unbleached cotton filling, and baby-safe embroidered eyes.
PeaceToys, Essex Junction, VT. 800-332-7840; peacetoys.com
7. The "Organic Moses Basket Ensemble" ($180) includes a basket woven from wildly grown palm leaves and an organic cotton futon that fits perfectly inside, plus organic sheets and receiving blankets, mattress pad, and cotton bumper and cover in any of four fabric choices.
Heart of Vermont, Barre, VT. 800-639-4123; heartofvermont.com
8. This hooded T-shirt ($22) and pants ($14) set and lace-trimmed dress ($28) and coordinating pants ($16) aren't just made from organic cotton--the fabric is recycled organic cotton plus acrylic fleece.
BAOBAB, Waldoboro, ME. 207-790-2025; baobaborganics.com
Editors' note: "Weekender Tote" (opposite, far left) is by CK Bradley (apresck.com) from a 2010 product line (no longer available).
Artisan Spotlight
Though one could easily describe Mary-Alice Dalton's handcrafted children's clothing as art (see #1 in photo), she'd prefer not to think of it that way. "My work is meant to be worn every day, by an active child, and I design and construct every piece with that in mind," says the founder of Belmont, New Hampshire-based Children's Couture.
Dalton finds inspiration in her locale's dramatic seasonal spectrum. After 25 years crafting women's clothing, she turned her attention to fashion for the younger set so that she could get more playful with colors and fabrics. She sews every garment herself, but says, "I don't sew because I love to sew. I sew because the machine I know how to use is a sewing machine, and I know how to use it very well." Dalton worries that true mastery of crafts such as sewing is falling by the wayside. "I feel that we Americans are losing our insight into quality work, and that's disturbing to me," she notes. "People don't try to master tools and techniques; they just want to make it fast." But that, Dalton says, "isn't my world."
Of course, her gush-worthy dresses and sweet, swirly tops are more expensive than those sold in mass retail markets. "I know I probably won't sell a parent or grandparent an entire wardrobe for the season," she says, acknowledging that there's room in every closet for items from her collection in addition to lower-priced basics, such as the turtlenecks she recommends to go with her jumpers. "I also know that in five years, or ten years, or more," Dalton adds, "that Children's Couture jumper will still be in great condition, either tucked in a closet for memory's sake or passed along to a relative or good friend. But that turtleneck will be long gone and forgotten."
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