All I can say is wow…

In love, love, love with this piece by Mary’s Granddaughter. All of her work is amazing and a Labor Day sale to boot!

I have to admit i’m a little down tonight. While I was surfing around the internet looking at baby products for my 8 month old nephew, i’ve come across some very disheartening things. There are products being offered out there, mainly on handmade crafts venues, that are downright unsafe for children. And i’m not just talking unsafe as in “oops, baby has a boo-boo” but unsafe as in potentially fatal. Now, I take great lengths to make sure my pacifier clips are as safe as possible. I not only do that for my own peace of mind and that of my customers, but because the company that provides me my 2 million dollar liability insurance requires it. My seams are reinforced, my products are tested for lead, and I make a conscious decision not to use pieces that are potentially hazardous regardless of how temptingly cute they are.

For instance, my pacifier clips will never be made of beaded strings with crystal doodads and charms. Babies are stronger and tougher than we give them credit for. What happens when that teething baby chews through that string and spills dozens of tiny metal beads and charms in their crib? If it’s not safe to allow a baby to play with a beaded necklace, then I don’t understand the logic with giving them other beaded items. As another example, I will never use the plastic suspender/gripper clips on my products. One reason is because they simply don’t hold up to the rigors of everyday use, but the main reason is because I worry what would happen if a pacifier clip ever got unknowingly stepped on and broken in a baby’s nursery. There would be dozens of little plastic shards for baby to pick up and put in their mouth.

But it’s not just pacifier clips. I’ve seen products that actually go into a baby’s mouth bedazzled with hundreds of swarovski crystals. Tiny little crystals which can be picked off with the slightest attempt. It just horrifies me to think of a baby spitting out a pacifier and then naturally going after the shiny little pieces and eating them one by one. These products are absolutely adorable, but unless the baby is being supervised literally every single second, they are in danger of being seriously injured.

I started Fawn and Finch, as a former nanny, because I genuinely cared about producing a quality baby product. Safety has always been my number one priority. They may not be 100% fool-proof, no product is, but i’ve done my part to make sure it is as good if not better than any mass-produced item in Target or Walmart. There’s a reason why you don’t see blinged-out baby items in the big chains; they would never carry something so risky. In no way do I want to offend the makers or buyers of products like these, but I feel it’s important to speak my mind on the issue. I simply don’t want any child harmed and I don’t want handmade artists having a lawsuit on their hands or an injury on their conscience. Hopefully this post might help in some way. So just be safe out there and I wish you all the best.

More new pacifier clips! The new designs are in a woven argyle pattern; extremely strong and a little longer and wider. This makes them great for older babies, but still appropriate for newborns as well.

Check out all the new pacifier clip designs at FawnAndFinch.com. Also, until August 1st, use the discount code “reader” to get 25% off your purchase. See you soon!

Business in the pacifier holder world has picked up in the past month and kept me very busy. I’m really excited my new line of pacifier clips has been even better received than expected. They are just so sturdy, and with the cute little designs on them, I think people really like them which couldn’t make me happier.

I’m also currently working on yet another line of binky clips, a set of really fun preppy argyle in a woven nylon. I’ll be sure to post photos as soon as I get the kinks worked out. And maybe a pacifier clip tutorial for all the moms who’d rather make pacifier clips themselves at homes? Who knows? Good things to come though!

After a couple months of trial and error, i’ve finally finished my new pacifier clip designs and have them for sale on my website:

I really worked hard to get these just right. These particular designs are each individually backed with a 100% cotton ribbon I had imported from Italy. This makes them not only soft for baby, but super strong and able to withstand absolutely any punishment thrown their way.

The material I use on the front is also imported, but from Germany. I love the bright, fun colors! They’re a touch more expensive than my linen line simply because of the extra labor and materials involved in the double layers, but they’re so worth it. I can’t wait to start mailing them out to all of my wonderful customers!

Seriously, have you seen anything cuter than this dress:

With the little birds embroidered on the shoulders; I could die!Sure, the sparrow thing might be becoming a little played out to some, but I still love them. If my craft show goes well next weekend in Oklahoma City, this little baby is mine. Available at PlasticLand.

I don’t think i’ve mentioned yet my absolute obsession with all things linen. I guess it’s somewhat obvious looking at my choice of material for my pacifier clips, but really, to say I love it is an understatement. It’s a sickness, one which was fueled even more by these little gems:

So lovely! You can pick them up at Sometime Crafters Etsy shop.

Ryan, of LittlePutBooks fame, has a wonderful article up on her blog about what to do if your items aren’t flying off the shelf: get in-person feedback.

Sometimes those of us who work almost solely online forget what it’s like to have a real customer right in front of us and how valuable it can be to get their honest opinion. Ryan’s inspired me to get off my butt and look around for some upcoming craft shows.

So earlier this month I ended up making a serious impulse buy, this little piece by Emily Martin of Black Apple fame:

I just happened to be around when she did her shop update of the Milkland originals and scooped it up before I could talk myself out of it. It’s so lovely in person as the photos just don’t truly capture how pretty the frame is or how the glitter sparkles.

It was a hit to the checkbook, but more than worth it. If you’ve ever considered purchasing an original of Emily Martin’s, I highly recommend it. Now I just have to find out where i’m going to display it. I think above the sewing machine in my studio so I can look up and have a sweet reverie whenever I need it. If you’re as in love with this piece as I am, the prints are now available. Happy shopping!

I’m coveting again:

Little tiny prints of oil paintings on canvas, how I adore thee! I want to attach magnets to the back and smother my refrigerator with the entire collection. They would be so much more sophisticated than regular old magnets. Tushtush’s originals are just as nice!