Reporter's Notebook is a regular feature to keep retailers and buyers up to date with our sponsors' news. So if a designer is adding a collection, moved their offices, added a new sales rep or even a new baby, you'll know.

APPAREL:

Things are buzzing at San Francisco-based BUNNY AND BEE. Owners and designers Jen Bright-Fathi and Faez Fathi are revamping the entire collection for girls. They will be launching bib and beanie sets, introducing hoodies, onesies, tees, large pillows and a tote collection, all with new-for-2008 vibrant, playful prints. In addition to their regular line, the Fathis are adding a small organic group of onesies, beanies and tees for infants to toddlers that are hand printed using water-based pigments. Their character driven LITTLE THIEVES' collection of boys' separates will take on a "surf/skate vibe," says Bright-Fathi. (Both collections are sized 3 months to 4T; wholesale prices: $7.50-$45.) Also in the works: a line of custom printed bedding. Visit the Fathis when the collection debuts at the October ENK Children's Club Show. Line sheets will be available in July for spring/summer 2008 season orders. To contact Bright-Fathi call 415 312-2542 or visit bunnyandbee.com.

ELIZA GRAN was the darling of publications InStyle, Blueprint and Cookie, and the website Daily Candy Boston that included pieces of her children's and women's collections in their April issues and postings. Gran has just launched a redesigned website: elizagran.com. It looks great, but the best perk is its accessibility: retailers can now buy her pieces directly from the site. To contact Gran, call 212-226-2106 or visit elizagran.com.

As of May 2007, I'MSTILLME has become the exclusive U.S. distributor of Gucio toddler shoes. In addition, the company now owns the retail arm of the business, toddlertreads.com. Toddler Treads has been combined with imstillme.com for online customer convenience. For wholesale inquiries for Gucio shoes (wholesale price: $28-$30) visit imstillme.com. Both lines will be exhibited at this summer's Bubble and New York International Gift Fair. To contact a sales representative, call 203-426-8133.

THE LADYBUG COLLECTION of fine special occasion dresses, debuted its new "Stylish Sister" line at the New York Bridal Market held April 14-16 at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan. The tween size group features contemporary designs that coordinate with the little girl pieces in Ladybug's collection. "Even five-year-olds are very opinionated about dressing up like 'big girls' or their older sisters," says William Jupitz, the company's owner and designer. "With our two distinct yet complementary divisions, retailers can offer coordinating gowns in an array of sizes. This makes selling to a family or group of 'young ladies' fun and easy." For more information, contact Jupitz at call 717-761-2344 or visit ladybugcollection.com.

Eloisa Docton, the owner of NATITYS DESIGNS, a company that specializes in custom baby bedding, is now offering nursing covers. The designs are available in 30 different prints and include boning at the neck for viewing the baby while nursing. Each cover features adjustable straps, unique trims and removable decorative pins. Special sizes can be custom ordered. The covers retail for $37.50-$40. Call 843-697-6136 or visit natitysdesigns.

The PAPALOTES and MOHAO swimwear collections for girls and boys have been chosen for the Hollywood Breakfast Club, says Lori Riollano, designer and owner. The event places the products of children's companies with celebrity offspring. The "It's Spring! Baby Gift Boxes" will be awarded to A-list new moms like Heidi Klum, Angelina Jolie, Tori Spelling and Marcia Cross. Style editors at US Weekly and People Magazine will also receive boxes. To contact the Puerto Rico-based company, call 787 287-1073 or visit papalotes.com.

There is nothing more playful or warm than a PERI poncho. So welcome Peri Prestopino, who just launched a collection of polar fleece ponchos and cotton Terry "pool ponchos". The brightly colored pieces, edged with pom-poms, ribbons and tassels, are available in sizes XS to 12 years. The polar fleece collection wholesales for $19-$34; the pool ponchos are priced at $16-$24. To contact Prestopino, call 503-235-5313, or visit periponchos.com.

PLUIEPLUIE, the European inspired collection of rainwear, has added two new prints to their brightly colored nine-pattern collection. The designs - a floral in red, orange, aqua, yellow and green on chocolate brown and a multi-colored and brown stripe - are offered in matching raincoats, boots, umbrellas, hats, ponchos and backpacks. Samples of the new prints will be available by mid June. To contact the company, call 510 489-2681 or log on to pluiepluie.com.

Lisa Franklin, the owner and designer of PRETTY PLEASE DESIGNS, a Florida-based manufacturer of hair accessories and diaper covers, has made one little girl in South Carolina very happy. Franklin's headbands were presented to the daughter of a needy family in an "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" episode that aired in April. "I can't believe that out of all the headbands in the world, the design team for 'Extreme Makeover' chose mine to feature on the show," says Franklin. To see Franklin's lovely designs, log on to prettypleasedesigns.com or call 561-239-0646 for more information.

How often should you have tea? How about daily. The TEA COLLECTION has added two new Daily Tea groups for infants up to age 24 months and priced at $14, $18 and $22 at retail. Each selection features six pieces: three tops, two leggings and a pant for girls; three tees, two pants and a short for boys, each with Tea's recognizable global aesthetic and sophisticated color palette. The formula, according to the company, is: Six pieces = nine outfits = $100 retail. That's a lot of mileage for the buck. To talk to a Tea sales executive, call 415-621-9400, or log on to teacollection.com.

ACCESSORIES:

JP LIZZY has designed two new collections: The Cate Tote and the Chamelia Clutch. In addition, they've created a special collection of "Project Growth" bags for the March of Dimes. The Cate Tote Set ($61) includes two new styles available in four neutral colors. The bags, made in PVC leather or quilted wipeable microfiber, are equipped with a coordinating changing pad, interior pockets for bottles, a large front pocket with magnetic closure and metal feet. The Chamelia Clutch ($21) is designed to be a diaper source or a wallet, purse and make-up bag in one. The wipeable PVC leather bag, available in four fresh citrus shades, sports built-in credit card slots and an oversized wristlet, for a handsfree carry-all. For the March of Dimes, the company has created two attractive quilted tote bags with matching changing pads. The bags are being sold for $98 each, and the company is donating $10 from the purchase of each sale to the Colorado chapter of the organization. For more information, log on to the jplizzy.com website.

ART AND ROOM DÉCOR:

Karen Capp who owns OOPSY DAISY, FINE ART FOR KIDS is thrilled that artwork from her collection was featured in Us Weekly (4/16) and People Magazine (4/23). Us Weekly included two canvases from artist Meghann O'Hara seen in actor Tori Spelling's baby's nursery. Marcia Cross's infant's nursery, featured in People Magazine, included artist Gale Kaseguma's "Jellybean Tree." In April, Capp began shipping her newest catalog with over 200 pages of wonderful art for retailers' walls. Since early April, Capp has added 50 new pieces to the collection, which includes stretched canvas wall art, canvas growth charts, mural banners, placemats and nightlights. To contact Capp, call her at 619-640-6649 ext. 102. The collection can be seen in full on oopsydaisy.com or during Atlanta market weeks at the permanent showroom in the Atlanta Merchandise Mart, building one, 10-E-20.

If it were up to Sherri Blum, there would never be a bare wall. The artist wants kids to have plenty of colorful pieces for their rooms and sells her items at prices parents can afford. SHERRI BLUM DESIGNS has just released a new line of children's reproductions. Each piece is manufactured using the "giclee" method in which the canvases are produced one at a time using a high quality laser printer. The result is multiples that look like original artwork. The pieces (12" square, 16" square and 16" X 20") wholesale for $35 to $95 respectively. To see the collection, log on to sherriblumdesigns.com, or call Blum at 410-857-0220.

BEDDING:

In April, MY VINTAGE BABY, the collection of sportswear that mixes vintage fabrics with new, introduced their first line of crib bedding at the Dallas World Trade Mart and the Atlanta Women's and Children's Apparel Markets. "Our stores have been asking us for My Vintage Baby crib bedding for at least three years, but we never felt the time was right," says owner Jessica Wiswall. "We're thrilled with the feedback we've received." The collection, which features a bumper pad, dust ruffle and fitted crib sheet, incorporates Doupioni silks, rich velvets and Swarovski crystals as well as antique cloth and contemporary textiles. Quilts and pillows are available as accessories. The company has recently moved its office. The new address is 403 Power House Street, Suite 301, McKinney, TX 75071. Tel: 972 548-9850, Fax: 972 548-9847. To view the collection, visit myvintagebaby.com

PIXEL MODERN PIECES is going green. Chris and Shannon Svensrud, CEOs of the company, announce three new all organic bedding sets. Each of their colorful, contemporary print packages for crib through twin bed sizes uses "certified Organic fabrications, minimal packaging with 100 percent recycled content, low impact dye/print processes (approved by the Organic Trade Association and ultimately less harmful to the planet than using vegetable dyes which require heavy metal to apply), or by helping to reduce already existing waste and converting used plastic bottles into bedding fill - each step is a choice in a 'greener direction.' " To contact Pixel, call 213-291-3541 or view the new collections at pixelpieces.com.

BLANKETS AND BUNTINGS:

GOBABY, a "mommy-driven company that designs hip and functional products focused on getting mommy out the door, looking good and having fun," is introducing the new "Teddy Toes Couture" bunting. The soft fleece item is the "only bunting that stays on the baby, not the gear." The light weight wrap, available in black or brown edged in bright satin trim, leopard print or a variety of pastel and bright solid colors, wraps the baby snugly and fits into strollers, carriers, car seats, backpacks and more. When it's time to leave the carrier, you simply lift out the carefully swaddled baby and go. For pricing information or other questions, call 800 518-3339 or visit gobaby.cc.

GIFTS:

Designer Hilary Rubin of the new Baby Cakes of Scottsdale has hit a home run with celebrity moms Katie Holmes, Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani. The stars received the multi-garment, flower-bedecked "cakes" from celebrity trend expert Rachel Florio. Fashion editors at People Magazine and American Baby were wowed too, when samples of the fantastic creations came their way. "This is the ultimate baby gift!" says Florio. "Cakes" retail for $190 for a single tier to $399 for three tiers. To see the custom creations, log on to babycakesscottsdale.com, or call 888-302-BABY.

Congratulations to Amy Selling of SHOOTS AND LADDERS who welcomes a new baby boy to her family. Another introduction: a line of personalized hooded towels and bibs. "The hooded towels are great because they are toddler size so they last forever!" says Selling who shopped the market until she found the softest, heaviest toweling available. The items come in white and are trimmed with vintage fabrics and gingham. The towels wholesale for $22 and can be monogrammed for an additional $8. To meet Selling and peruse her line, stop at her booth at the September ABC Kids Expo show in Las Vegas where she will exhibit for the first time. Contact her at 973-403-1098 or visit shootsandladdersco.com.

News to share? E-mail tina@jamesgirone.com.

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