Summer's show stoppers

Youth takes stage at gift shows across U.S.

Staff -- Kids Today, 7/1/2007 12:00:00 AM

Light of Mine Designs' Little Prince framed art is one in a series of six pieces for the Bunny Tales collection. The 16″ × 16″ piece is made of wood and signed, $95.

Alli Taylor Bedding's 100% wool Sage rug features a quartet of playful jungle animals. The rug is available in four sizes and retails between $59 and $360.

Loom's Zoom kit is a unique shaped diaper bag for on-the-go parents. The interior of the bag contains a detachable porthole vinyl pouch, a mesh pocket for diapers and elastic straps to hold a wipes case. One pocket on the exterior holds the matching changing pad and another can be used for bottles and sippy cups, $48.

Traditions by Pamela Kline is reintroducing its popular line of cotton fleece baby blankets with bunny, frog, sailboat, duck and butterfly designs, $42.

New Arrivals debuts its twin, full and queen bedding sizes this summer in several patterns, including Tutti Frutti, a mix of paisley and dots in shades of pink, green and white, $66–322.

Meghann O'Hara's stretched canvas piece features a design and palette that caters to modern parents who want the nursery to reflect their tastes. From Oopsy Daisy, Fine Art for Kids, a 32″ × 24″ piece retails for $189.

Aurora World's expanded Baby Talk line now includes My Race Car, a plush play set that includes a flag, steering wheel, tire and a tiny driver that all fit inside the blue coupe with a carrying handle, $19.99.

Coton Colors is launching several pieces for its lower-priced Express collection including a festive plate, $19.95, and mug, $9.95, in vivid colors with a message for Santa. The imported pottery is food safe and can go in the dishwasher and microwave.

The 10″ plush characters in Fiesta's Moongleam collection have the moon and stars in their eyes for a dreamy gaze, $10. Coordinating key chains retail for $6.

Hold Your Horses takes a whimsical look at the acrobatic animals on this stretched canvas print by artist Lisa Williams for A is for Art. Available in 19″ × 19″ and 24″ × 24,″ $135–199.

The Blooming Baby accessories collection from Trend Lab mixes yellow, the hot color of the summer, with green and brown for a funky, contemporary gender-neutral choice. Items include five-pack of wash clothes, four-pack of burp cloths and hooded towels, $10–20.

New Song, a 20″ × 24″ giclee print from MaryJack Studios, features hand-sewn sequin and bead embellishments with a dusting of iridescent powder, $130.

Kalencom's two-piece playwear set, $20, mixes a whimsical chameleon with green, brown and blue stripes, a look that is replicated on the coordinating laminated buckle bag, $70.

This double white frame from The Grandparent Gift Co. has space for a photo and a personalized handprint for Grandpa — a version also is available for grandmothers — and the stamp is included, $25.

The old world Nicole floor and table lamps from Green Frog Art feature soft pink dots on the shade and antique white bases with slight distressing.

OYikes introduces laptop totes designed to fit inside its Slingback and Messenger diaper bags; they also can be carried solo. The smaller tote, $35, fits into the Slingback and holds a laptop up to 13″; the larger tote, $40, is designed for the Messenger and fits up to a 15″ laptop.

Ribbit-Ribbit's wooden Happy Holiday collection includes traditional themes such as candy canes and stockings plus on-trend polka dots for an edgier look, $32–45.

Jamie's Painting & Designs' Christmas ornament collection for 2007 includes this oval tile featuring Rudolph and his famous red nose with a coordinating ribbon for hanging. The original artwork is heat-sealed into the tile and personalized with the child's name, $32.

Victorian Heart's baby shoulder bag with changing pad has a padded and adjustable strap and comes in 11 colors including black brocade (shown), $80.

Designer's Secret's new canvas pieces feature silhouettes of children against pastel backgrounds for a sweet vintage look, $100.

These ceramic planters from Burton & Burton can double as storage containers,.$9.99–14.99.

Gustav Maxwell & Co.'s four-piece twin bedding set, $279, is composed of a reversible duvet, a pillowcase and two fitted sheets. Color options are sky blue and sap green squares/stripes (shown) and tea rose flowers/stripes. Coordinating sham, $29, and curtain panels are also available.

Cute as Buttons is introducing a line of sibling tees for big, little and middle sister and brothers. The shirts are offered in sizes 0–3 months through 5T and the thread colors can be customized, $22.

The 8″ Tender Beginnings Waggie musical giraffe from Gund is offered in yellow plush with either blue or pink accents on the back, feet and ears. Wind the toy to watch the baby giraffe rock its head to "Brahms Lullaby," $25.