Our Family Featured in Far North Dallas Advocate Magazine

Our family was recently featured in Far North Dallas Advocate magazine. What an amazing honor! It was such a treat to share our story with this local publication. I had a chance to talk with them about how shopping locally helps to support and build your own community. If you are in the Dallas area, I hope you will come out to the Jingle Bash to show your support for over 60 outstanding artists. The majority are from the DFW metroplex, but there will also be some guest artists from Oklahoma, Denton, and Austin. And of course, we will be there too! I hope to see you there.

Me, sitting pretty, with a crowd of Russian Doll Rattles. image credit: Brandy Barham

image credit: Brandy Barham

Sometimes rowdy, but it is always fun around here. image credit: Brandy Barham

Hey, we're on YouTube!

The kids made a little commercial or maybe it's more like a music video. But it is definitely fun!


Song: Default by Django, Djando

Visit our channel to see lots more coming soon, I am sure, because it's been a long summer with some weeks to go...

Cute Pets Love our Toys too!

(see full image)

Yeah, just try to get it away from this little cutie! 

Love, love, love this little guy. 

Go ahead, Ollie, we'll make more.

Does your pet have a favorite Regal Cottage toy too? Let us know!

Free Shipping Sale on all Vintage and Organic Fabrics at Cloth & Craft

Having a free shipping sale at Cloth & Craft! 

Like our brand new Facebook page to get the code.

New in the Shop!

I am so excited to announce the new organic Russian Nesting Dolls are here! Each of these is a different size and has a different sound inside. They have the most adorable prints on the front and vintage chenille on the back. 

Large doll measures 7 inches (17 cm) tall and has a bell inside.
Medium doll measures 6 inches (15 cm) tall and has a rattle inside.
Small doll measures 4 inches (10 cm) tall and has crinkle paper inside.

Such a fun way to explore sound, texture, and size!

Craft Party 2013

The 4th Annual Etsy Craft Party is coming right up! This is a global event where crafty folks all over the world come together to learn, create, and have a good time. I am working behind the scenes with my Etsy Dallas team and CityCraft to make sure that our event totally rocks. 

I have been working on the Photo Booth. My favorite part of every party! This is a picture I shared on Instagram of the banner. I cut out letters from some old "How to Paint" books that my Mom gave me from the days when my parents had a frame shop and art studio. You'll have to come to our party to see what it spells, or I guess, you will have to wait for the after-party photos if you are just too far away to attend.

These pennant flags are photo props that I made from vintage fabric, eco-felt, and yarn. I hope they add a touch of retro fun to our photo booth.

I am filled with anticipation for our Craft Party especially the excitement of meeting new people, good times with old friends, and the crafts! How about you? Will you be attending a Craft Party in your neighborhood?

Out and About: Come See Us!

We've added a few more shows to our Spring schedule for the month of May and here they are:

May 25th: 

Farmers Branch Liberty Fest

Farmers Branch Historical Park 

2540 Farmers Branch Lane 

Farmers Branch, TX 75234

12-9pm

May 30th:

Design District Market

300 Cole St. Between Dragon and Slocum

Dallas, TX

Thursday, May 30th 

6-10pm

 Hope to see you out and about real soon!

Eeep! Did you see me on TV?

Look at me getting lots of press lately! Well, not really me per se, but I have certainly had some nice opportunities to show off my goods while talking about the 5th Annual Etsy Dallas Spring Bash. 

Red Flying Horse did a great job capturing the fun at the Spring Bash.

Emily Hargrove from Prime TV helped us spread the word on the shop+party+art+craft 

and just plain fun to be had at the Spring Bash. 

And boy can I talk about Etsy Dallas! I think it is quite evident just how much I adore my team. They are the best! Yay team!

Setting Sail for Adventure!

I am so excited to share with you something that has been in the works for a long, long time here at our little Regal Cottage. But first, I'd like to share with you the backstory...

Organic fabrics have come a long way. Organic fabrics today come in every color imaginable with tons of prints and patterns from adorable to sophisticated. When I first started sewing, the only organic fabrics were cream, otherwise know as "natural." We were so excited when we finally got white! "Ah, crisp white!" Haha!

The abounding selection of beautiful organic fabric options of big design houses were what encouraged me to go ahead and take the leap to create this little eco-friendly toy company. The options today are still limited in that they are not exactly the styles I want for the Regal Cottage toy line. So I have made a big leap here -----> and dove right into fabric design! A whole new exciting adventure unfolds!

I am now able to dream up my products completely from start to finish. Very exciting! Each is like a little piece of art that you can play with. Art loving babies and kids rejoice!

To kick off the new organic collections: Let's Set Sail for Adventure.

This collection starts off with a sweet little Sailor boy.

His friends the Narwhal and Octopus.

The really fun thing about this is coordinating! Here is a peak at the first ball in the series.

To get a better look at these, check out this vine video. Be sure to turn it up to hear the rattles. We've got the best rattles.  :)

Stay tuned for pillows, dolls, and more rattle balls...

Recipe: Cheater No Braid Challah

Think you can't make Challah? It's hard, it's messy, and it takes all day, right? Nope. Not if you know my secret.  I make perfect challah every time without the mess. It's better than store bought and is so very, very easy! You don't even need to know how to braid it. I call this Cheater Challah.

Cheater Challah

Ingredients: 

Frozen yeast dinner rolls 

Vegetable oil

1 egg

Toasted sesame seeds

Directions: 

Place 18 frozen dough balls in a lightly greased loaf pan. Cover with waxed paper and let it defrost and rise for  4-6 hours. (This is the hardest part. You do need to remember to set it out ahead of time, but you can do this). After it has risen, lightly coat the dough with egg wash. Sprinkle sesame seeds on the top. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 minutes. 

There you have it freshly baked challah that everyone will love! And it's so easy you can make it every single week. Shabbat Shalom!

Regal Loves: Science Birthday Edition

This weekend my big girl turns 10. Double digits. Oh my! She decided that she wanted to have a science party at our house. Oh my my!

I'm going completely mental with thoughts of scientific formulas, exploding experiments, and how not to stain the hardwood floors. So for this week's Regal Loves, let's take a look at all things scientific.

I love the retro feel of this Chemistry Print by John W. Golden. 

And as a minor in biology, this shirt by foultshirts would be perfect for me. And my girlie would totally dig it to.

I am completely blown away by the embroidery art by Cheese Before Bedtime. This one is called Party Girls, and it is a perfect depiction of what I hope our party looks like.

Retro Storytime: Tell Me a Riddle

I  am delighted to start a new series, the Retro Storytime, here on the blog. It's a virtual story time, and everyone is invited. I'll be sharing my favorite vintage picture books from our book collection.

To get things started, I'd like to share a riddle book that has some really outstanding illustrations. The riddles can be a bit off at times, but I've picked out my favorites to share with you. And it's all about the pictures today!

You know it's going to be pretty silly when monkeys are pulling a lion's tail, and playing jump rope!

 What do you take when it rains? Shelter. 

Who couldn't love this thief?

What wig covers the head but is never worn? A wigwam. 

Love that teepee!

 What's the worst weather for rats and mice? When it's raining cats and dogs.

When is an elephant heavier than an elephant? When it's led. 

Of course!

Where would you find an elephant? It's not easy to lose one, it's so big.

What country are children happiest in? Lapland. 

My fav-o-rite! Are you seeing his cowboy hat and cap gun? Too cute.

When is a thief lazy? When he takes it easy.

Hehehe. Even robbers need to take it easy sometimes.

What pies will you never find in a baker's oven? Magpies. 

Oh yes!

Why did the llama look over the fence? Because he couldn't look through it. 

Love a lovely llama with a baseball cap and pennant!

There are lots more knee slappers inside this book, so if you want to get your own copy, here are the details for today's book:

Tell Me a Riddle 

Edited by Dana Bruce 

Illustrated by Frank Elkin 

Copyright 1966

I hope you enjoyed the first installment of Retro Storytime! 

Regal Loves: Mini Embroidery Hoop

by The Creative Muster

The tiniest wooden embroidery hoops ever! Measuring just one wee inch, these would make the sweetest vintage fabric necklaces.