Lilly Bean Market

Cooking with Kids: Spend time, Save money!

2011-04-28T12:54:00.004-04:00

The prices of just about everything is going up. What's a mom to do? This mom started baking....from scratch! Lately this has become an addictive hobby! I wanted to share some of my tips and give you some reasons why I think cooking with kids can be such a rewarding experience:

Letting kids help with the cooking allows them to feel a sense of accomplishment and contribute to the family in a very concrete and visual way. It's kind of like doing an art project that everyone will enjoy! You get to eat the creations.

Kitchen tasks improve small motor skills, listening skills and patience. Cutting skills, measuring skills, stirring, kneading, and (of course) clean up are all part of the cooking routine. Cooking is very adaptable as different tasks can be given depending on the age and skill level of the child. An older child can measure while a young child can stir!

Cooking is a practical way to spend time and save money. Many people believe that they don't have the time and energy to prepare meals and snacks from scratch, but if you view it more as entertainment (with a practical outcome :) than you may find that extra time. I've started really enjoying cooking and so I have been incorporating it in my day and including the kids so they have something to do. Maybe try to set up a day once a week to cook something from scratch with your child. I've been doing a bit of calculating and have found that I am actually saving our family money. Plus I know what is going into my kiddo's food.

Here are a few tips to keep the frustration down! :

This is a no brainer, but have kids wash their hands and pull up long hair into pony tails. Establish this as a habit and soon the kids will do this automatically when it's "time to cook"!

Be prepared for a bit of a mess. Parchment or wax paper is your friend. Clear off the kitchen table as it is usually easier for kids to cook at the table since it is lower.

Establish kitchen rules and words that kids will understand. For example I always announce when the oven is getting turned on "THE OVEN IS ON" and I announce when I am opening the oven "I'M OPENING THE OVEN, STAY BACK". Our oven door actually blocks the walkway through the kitchen when it is open so this let's people know not to come through because they could get burned! I generally handle anything hot except I have recently been teaching my 10 year old how to handle things on the stove (with supervision and instruction).

If your child insists on cracking eggs, have them crack it in separate small bowl. That way it will be easy to pull out any potential shells ;)

If you have a child that is new to measuring, you can have them measure items and put them in bowls before mixing them together....or (if your child is too young to measure) you could measure the ingredients into separate bowls and then let the child add them to the mixing bowl.

Have fun and view this as a learning opportunity, not just a chore. Reading, math, creativity all come into play with cooking. Take advantage of it and have fun too!

There are lots of great kids cook books out there that help you to involve your children with cooking. Right now I am reading "Little Kitchen" by Sabrina Parrini which I have on loan from our public library. It is great because it has quite a few more sophisticated dishes that kids can make rather than just cookies and ants on a log...not that there is anything wrong with cookies and ants on a log!!! :) Also, check out www.AllRecipes.com for and an almost unlimited supply of free recipes on just about anything you can think of! Have fun!

2 Classy Chics Review and Giveaway!

2011-04-19T21:36:00.002-04:00

A big thank you to 2 Classy Chics for reviewing our Fuzzy Foods! Our Fuzzy Foods are made of a combination of minky fabric and polyester felt....that make for a machine washable play food!!!

We hope you will take a moment to head over to the 2 Classy Chics website, check out the review, and enter for a chance to win your own set of Fuzzy Foods! We would also like to welcome you to the Lilly Bean family with a coupon code. Simply type WELCOME10 into the coupon code box during checkout and receive 10% off of your order :)

Make your own Martin the Bunny! FREE Tutorial

2011-03-04T15:22:00.002-05:00

Now you can make your very own Martin the Bunny! This is an easy and fun tutorial and is appropriate for all skill levels. Click this link to get the PDF tutorial and pattern for FREE :) Think about how cute this would be in your child's Easter Basket!

Do you want a Free Basket this year?

2011-03-01T11:04:00.003-05:00

As a store owner I wanted to offer Easter Baskets this year. However, I was conflicted with the idea of expensive baskets when so many get abandoned all the time at thrift and second hand stores. These perfectly good, like-new baskets still have a lot of life left in them and are looking for a new home! So my idea is to offer these for free with a purchase of $20 or more now until the weekend before Easter. Let's make a pact together to reduce waste and reuse these baskets :) You will also be providing a safe and imaginative toy from Lilly Bean or making up some creations of your own!

About the baskets: All of the baskets given away during this promotion are cleaned and in excellent condition. There are various types and sizes of baskets. I will do my best to match the basket to the order. For example if you order a large set, you will get a large enough basket to accommodate the order. If you would like more than 1 basket, you will need to make them as separate orders (this is important because I will have to ship the baskets in separate boxes). I'm sorry, but you cannot choose the exact basket.

Stipulations: The $20 purchase can be anything except for e-books. You can buy e-books in the same order, but $20 of you order has to be in physical product.

How to get the basket: Simply use the coupon code: FREEBASKET during checkout!

Idea: Make your own play money out of shrink film!

2011-02-26T16:39:00.007-05:00

This isn't the first time my kids have done this fun project, but it always manages to keep them busy for hours and the finished product gets played with too!

You remember Shrinky Dinks right? I can remember coloring My Little Ponies and having my mom pop them in the oven. It was all great fun :) Well, you can still buy plain shrink film and make hundreds of your own creations! One of my favorites is play coins. Here is a quick tutorial on how we make them:

1: Trace around a cup onto shrink film (we used about a 3" in diameter cup).

2: Let the kids go crazy designing their own money inside of the circles! We have found that permanent markers (like Sharpies) and colored pencils work best. Washable markers will...wash off of your project!

3: Cut out the circles.

4: Bake as directed on the package. (It takes about 4 minutes)

5: Taaa Daaa! Play money!

Thinking Spring!

2011-02-25T09:30:00.003-05:00

Well, as my pact to myself, I've decided to blog at least once a week. This week I'm going to let you know about a few things that are in progress!

Plans for Easter: I'm going to launch a couple of new products for Easter this year. They will be available as a kit, e-book and as finished products. Curious?....okay I'll share a couple: bags of jelly beans, candy bars, bunny cookies and at least one other product. I will finalize my decisions and finish the details by the end of next week! So please check out our facebook page or this blog during the next week.

Reclaimed Basket Campaign: I have thought about offering Easter baskets here at Lilly Bean, but so many baskets get donated to thrift and second hand stores that I hate to add to the mass consumption and waste that goes along with that. That's why I've decided to do something a bit different. Starting next week you can get a reclaimed basket for FREE if you make a purchase of $20 or more! All you have to do is check the Free Reclaimed Basket box during the checkout process. Help us re-home these like-new baskets and save a little money in the process! There will be more information coming this week about the exact details before we launch this campaign!

A Very Fuzzy E-book: Yes! We will be releasing an e-book that includes all 3 of our Fuzzy Foods sets. This big e-book will be released very soon so please check back this week!

Also, don't forget to use coupon code: WELCOME to take $5 off of your order :)

Fun Things to do with Play Food!

2011-02-18T08:59:00.003-05:00

If you are a fan of Lilly Bean, you probably already know how fun play food is! I thought that I would post 5 ways that I have fun with my kids while playing with play food:

1. Color Sorting - This is great for toddlers! Grab a few baskets and bowls and sort all of your play food into color categories.

2. Food Groups - Hmmm...does the tomato go in the fruit or veggie pile?

3. Restaurant- Try spicing it up a bit by helping your child make their own menu. Cut out pictures in magazines or draw them. Then take turns being the waitress and the customer! Hint: you can secretly get a manners lesson in here ;)

4. Shopping - If you don't have a cash register, make a money box out of an old shoe box. You don't need fancy fake money. Have your child design their own psuedo-legal tender. Maybe print out some pictures to use on those dollar bills.

5. Food toss - Ok...we wouldn't recommend this with wooden or plastic food, but Lilly Bean play food is great for tossing. Set up a laundry basket and have at it!

More fun play time ideas to come!

Announcing our new Newsletter!

2011-02-11T11:39:00.003-05:00

Want the inside scoop here at Lilly Bean? Well, you should sign up for our brand new newsletter! We will be sending one newsletter each month via email full of fun information like tips and tricks, coupon codes, free tutorials, the latest news from Lilly Bean and fun play time activities for your family! As always, your information is safe at Lilly Bean. We do not share information with third parties and we will NOT load up your email inbox with tons of advertisements. So sign up today! You will find the sign up located on our home page in the lower left hand corner. Our first newsletter will go out March 1st. Thanks so much for supporting Lilly Bean!

Grand Opening of our new website!

2011-02-09T20:45:00.002-05:00

Wheeew! It's been a while since I've updated our blog! We have been working hard over here, getting ready for the launch of our new website! We hope you will come on over and check it out :) We have a lot of new features including newsletters, new coupon codes, order tracking, and gift certificates! Enjoy the new organization of our user friendly shopping experience. It's easy to find exactly what you are looking for! Should we make it a little sweeter? How about 2 different coupon codes for you to try out! Coupon code: WELCOME will give you $5 off of your order of $10 or more. Coupon code: WELCOME10 will give you 10% off of your order. Pick whichever one works best for you. Thank you for being a Lilly Bean customer and let us know what you think of the new changes!

Christmas Count-down and deadlines :)

2010-12-09T09:14:00.003-05:00

Here at Lilly Bean we are working like crazy to get out orders in time for Christmas! Here are a couple of things to ensure that your order gets to you in time :)
Our wool felt food is now called our "Artist Originals Wool Felt Food". What does this mean? Now all of the wool felt food is created by the artist (Hilary Karnatz). This means limited availability and a little extra time for your order to be completed, especially during this busy time of year. It also means the highest of quality and artistic detail goes into each and every piece!
The deadline for ordering our Artist Originals is Saturday Dec. 11th. If you live in the USA we promise that your order will reach you in time if you order by Dec 11th! After Dec. 11th all wool felt food will be considered backordered.

Our Fabulous new Fuzzy Foods are made in a small sewing company right here in the USA. Since we carry these in stock and ready to go, the deadline for shipping these items is Dec. 18th. Each piece is inspected for the highest of quality and standards.

Kits and fabric can be ordered up until the 18th as well.

To encourage you to order early, here is a coupon code for 10% off: HOLIDAYDEAL

We hope you have a very Merry Christmas from my family to yours!

After Thanksgiving Sale! Fuzzy Foods and E-Books!

2010-11-26T02:04:00.005-05:00

Just released today for our After Thanksgiving Sale is our Fuzzy Foods 2010 Collection! Your cute kiddo will love our super soft minky play food. It's durable and completely machine washable. This collection features all 3 of our Fuzzy Food sets: Four Fuzzy Fruits, Pancake Breakfast and Super Fuzzy Lunch! Grab the Collection today while it's on sale :)

And for those of you that have the crafty bug: All of our e-books are only $2.00!!!
Downloads are instant so buy some today and get sewing :)

The Forget Black Friday sale! 20% OFF!

2010-11-19T22:53:00.003-05:00

I have an idea! Forget Black Friday this year. Stay home and sew or browse around the Lilly Bean market for some handmade goodies. Stock up on your felt and tutorials or load your cart with some of our new Fuzzy foods! Lilly Bean is having a pre-black Friday sale. Saturday Nov 20th you can get 20% off of your order just by typing: SATURDAYFUN into the coupon code box in the checkout!!! Don't miss out on this great deal! Then stay home on Black Friday, drink a cup of tea and relax :)

Simply Sweet Cupcakes and Muffins by Lilly Bean!

2010-11-02T09:47:00.004-04:00

Our brand new e-book will show you how to make these fun muffins and cupcakes! They fit right into your regular muffin pan :) So fun and easy you'll want to make a dozen. What flavor do you want to make?!

Lilly Bean has gone Digital with our new e-tutorials!

2010-10-08T13:24:00.003-04:00

You asked for it and we are delivering! Many of our kits are now available as e-tutorials. Simply purchase the tutorials and shortly you will receive the PDF files in your email inbox. Print them out or view them on your computer screen. All of the instructions have full color pictures and step-by-step directions. All the patterns are included! More e-tutorials will be ready soon :) Why not pick up the newest addition to the Lilly Bean tutorials that was made especially as a e-book?

How to Make Lilly Bean Mini Felt Food Ornaments

Lilly Bean Workshop!

2010-07-24T10:36:00.004-04:00

Our first Lilly Bean workshop at the Hopscotch Children's Store in Grand Rapids, MI was a hit! Learning how to make a felt food is fun and easy. Do you want to come to a future Lilly Bean workshop? Do you live in Michigan or own a store in Michigan? Send me an email and we can set something up!

Finally time to Go Fuzzy!

2010-06-25T22:16:00.005-04:00

Lilly Bean Market has just gone Fuzzy with our brand new line of plush play food! Made of super soft minky fabric, these are ultra-cozy! Want another reason to try Fuzzy Foods? Our new foods are completely machine washable and are made in America. Bonus: Fuzzy foods are stuffed with fiberfill that is made out of recycled pop bottles.

The first 3 Fuzzy Foods sets have been released today: Four Fuzzy Fruits, Perfectly Fuzzy Pancake Breakfast, and the Super Fuzzy Sandwich Lunch.

Lilly Bean is about to go Fuzzy!

2010-06-05T20:25:00.002-04:00

Next week we will be introducing a brand new (Fuzzy) line of products! To get a sneak peak, check out our Facebook page!!!

Check out our Facebook page for a really Great Deal!

2010-05-28T23:17:00.003-04:00

Current shipping times: Kits - 3 days
Play food - 4 days

Psssssst....are you a facebook fan yet? There is a great deal going on for a free Lilly Bean Sandwich. Want to know more? Well head on over to our Facebook page and find out!

A Lilly Bean kit Review!

2010-05-07T08:13:00.002-04:00

We love to see people making our kits! This is a great review of our fruit kit and can give you a sneak peak at a few pages. Check it out!

New Packaging

2010-05-07T07:31:00.003-04:00

Have you seen our new packaging? We are now shrink wrapping around palm leaf plates to package our play food! Palm leaf plates are made from fallen palm leaves that are stacked and steamed together....that's it!...no chemicals, no processing! They are sturdy and beautiful and yet are completely biodegradable in about 2 months (they are just leaves after all)! We will be adding labels to our packaging soon. Stay tuned for details. We love our minimal packaging because shows off our beautiful product and keeps our carbon footprint small :) We are doing our best to keep the Bean green!

Happy Earth Day! Welcome the new Market Veggie Kit!

2010-04-22T13:11:00.002-04:00

A very Happy Earth day to you!

We are proud to introduce our newest kit: Make it yourself, Market Veggies!
Learn how to make carrots, asparagus, green beans and radishes. The kits come with patterns, full color instructions and wool felt. Fun and easy :)

Are you following us on Facebook?

2010-04-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

Want to really connect with Lilly Bean? Want the latest information? Well then you should be following us on Facebook! Get regular updates, coupon codes, and share input about what you would like to see from Lilly Bean in the future!

Lilly Bean Sale!

2010-04-11T06:53:00.003-04:00

Shipping Times:
Finished Products - 3 Business days
Kits and Fabric - 2 Business days

Want to see more updates? Check us out on Facebook or Twitter! Get the latest Lilly Bean information and deals!

For 2 days only (Sunday & Monday), you can pick up our Big Box of Food for only $65! That's $35 off our regular price! Facebook and Twitter fans check out an additional discount. This deal won't last long. Fill your pantry today :)

Our kits are getting a Makeover! Welcome the Green Eggs and Ham kit!

2010-03-13T22:16:00.003-05:00

Our fun felt food kits are getting a makeover! I've been taking new pictures, revising instructions and putting everything into a new format. Why not try one out today by purchasing our brand new Green Eggs and ham kit?

The Lilly Bean Loft: Our new space!

2010-03-13T22:10:00.002-05:00

Lilly Bean LLC now has a studio! Our awesome loft space used to be a furniture factory and while it's a bit rough around the edges, we love the HUGE windows, brick walls and wood floors. With some cleaning and a bit of paint, our little toy company will have a new home!

Staying Connected...

2010-02-12T23:30:00.003-05:00

Lilly Bean Market now has a Facebook Page! Become a fan and keep up to date on the latest Lilly Bean news.

2010-02-06T14:59:00.002-05:00

Current timing for shipments: Kits and Fabric- 2 business days Finished play food - 5 business days

Look to your right....YES! I'm Twittering. I'm working on some fun new kits that will be released in a couple weeks. The bunnies are back and in the "New" section of the website. We are working a pretty steady pace and keeping up with orders. As a small business, it is so good to have your support even in the tough economy. We thank you!!!

Important website changes...

2010-01-18T14:54:00.003-05:00

Current timing to ship orders: 5 business days

1. New shipping information will now be available on my blog...right at the top of the latest news...see it there in red? :) Now you can check this before you order so that you will have a good idea as to when your package will ship.

2. New international shipping surcharges: I've decided to use USPS Priority mail to ship ALL packages. I used to ship international packages using economy (which is a lot less expensive!) however, I have no tracking information and sometimes it takes weeks for a package to arrive to it's destination. Now with the new shipping method, packages will be trackable and arrive faster :) Unfortunately there was no way for me to keep international shipping prices as low as US shipments. I had to add a surcharge to Canadian orders of $10.00 and all other countries add $20. We apologize that the price is so high, but we needed a better way of getting your orders to you!

3. Automatic shipping emails with tracking numbers: You will receive an automatic email with a tracking number as soon as your order goes out. That way you can track your package and know when it will reach you.

Have a great day!!!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!

2009-12-25T10:15:00.000-05:00

Lilly Bean and her elves are taking their short winter's nap Dec. 25-Jan. 4. During this time we reflect on the previous year and try to make Lilly Bean even better in the new one! We have a lot of exciting things to reveal in this new year and some changes too. While the elves sleep, you may still place orders...but they may not get shipped until the new year.

A big Thank You to all of our customers that continue to support Lilly Bean...a small American company that "sprouts creativity". Without you, none of this would be possible!

A Lilly Bean Christmas Promise!

2009-12-02T21:17:00.002-05:00

Christmas time is wonderful!!! But it is also chaotic. Schedules are a bit crazy and maneuvering dozens of boxes and a newborn through the post office is taking a bit of getting used to (LOL)! I can't always be precise as to when exactly you will receive your order right now, but this I PROMISE YOU: If you order in stock items (and you live in the US) before December 15th you WILL RECEIVE YOUR ORDER BEFORE CHRISTMAS guaranteed or your money back. It has taken a bit to get back into production. There was a pause in production the month leading up to little Gavin's birth and 2 weeks following. Items are now quickly restocking our shelves and orders are being filled :)

Hilary finally enters the 21st century = Faster email response!

2009-12-01T00:07:00.002-05:00

Well, if you've emailed me in the last couple weeks, you may have already noticed the speedy responses. I finally gave in and got a Blackberry. This lets me field emails as they come instead of tackling them in 2 hour sessions. Less emails are missed and more questions are answered. So....what does this all mean. Well, it doesn't mean that I can always respond instantly. I can't type while I'm driving and I have 4 kids that need an attentive mom, but I will check my phone often and do my best to give you the excellent customer service you deserve!!!

Cyber Monday! Deals of the day!

2009-11-29T21:44:00.003-05:00

Welcome to Cyber Monday! Starting Monday at 12:00 Noon the following items will be on sale:

The Brown Bag Lunch - regularly $40, Monday $30
Granny's Breakfast - regularly $30, Monday $20
Big Box of Food - regularly $100, Monday $80

Remember the sale doesn't start until NOON and will run until midnight US Eastern time on Monday only :)

Happy shopping!

Black Friday! Deal of the day!

2009-11-27T11:04:00.004-05:00

We couldn't resist having a crazy good deal for Black Friday! So....no shoving or pushing, only clicking LOL! Today's special deal is on our Big Box of Food! Regularly $100, today only $75! Also, if you have ordered previously and your order hasn't been shipped yet, send me an email with "can I have a special deal too!" in the subject to hilary@lillybeanmarket.com and I will add a mystery treat to your package! But time is ticking!!! This offer ends tonight at 11:00 US Eastern time :)

Coupon Code now extended :)

2009-11-12T08:57:00.004-05:00

Hi All,

Due to popular demand I've extended the coupon code WELCOMEGAVIN . It will expire on Nov. 15th. Have fun getting your holiday shopping done early :) This will be the best coupon code until after the 1st of the year. Thanks so much for your all of your orders and warm wishes. They are greatly appreciated!

Lilly Bean Play Food Featured in Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine

2009-11-05T13:47:00.002-05:00

If you are out and about at your local Target, Barnes & Noble or Babies R Us, look for us in the latest issue (Nov 2009) of Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine!

Please Welcome Baby Gavin :)

2009-10-29T13:22:00.003-04:00

Well, our long wait is finally over. Monday at 2:48 PM little Gavin William Karnatz made his way into the world. He is a healthy 8 lbs and 1 ounce bundle of joy!

To celebrate this very Happy Birthday, we would like to give you a present! Type WELCOMEGAVIN into the coupon code box during your check out and receive 15% off of your order! Most orders will be shipped within 1 week as we have worked hard to get completely caught up before baby Gavin arrived :)

Temporary Delays...ugg!

2009-09-21T12:28:00.002-04:00

Hi All,

For those who don't know I am about 34 weeks pregnant. At the end of last week I went into preterm labor. They were able to successfully stop it and I am at home now, but I am on bedrest. I am working on delegating the packing and shipping of orders at the moment. I have people coming over this week to get things going. Hopefully orders will not be significantly delayed. If they are, you will be contacted. As a precaution we are letting people know that it may take as much as 2 weeks to get your order out. Hopefully, it will not take that long, but we wanted to be upfront about the possibility of delays.

Thank you so much for your business and support. I will be updating this blog with more information :)

New Kits!!!

2009-08-20T13:39:00.004-04:00

2 new Kits are now being added to the Make it section of the Lilly Bean website!

Our new Deluxe Hotdog kit includes felt and instructions for our fabulous hotdog, pickle wedge and bag of chips.

Christmas cookies are always one of the super hot items every season! This year, why not make your own? This kit comes with the fabric and instructions for all 5 of our super popular Christmas cookies: Star, Ornament, Gingerbread boy, Christmas Tree and Snowman. Get started today and make a pile of them for presents this year :)

And the reasons I have been neglecting to post my blog are...

2009-08-17T09:32:00.005-04:00

I know it's been a while since I've posted on my blog....but I have some really good excuses :)

These 3 cuties!
Our fabulous summer adventures....

Our new addition (due in October)!!!
And (of course) we will have a few new kits available later this week!

Say Bye-bye to Bunnies and Hello to Hot dogs!

2009-04-19T18:20:00.006-04:00

Well, the Easter bunny has come and gone again bringing joy in baskets and hidden eggs :) So it's time, once again, to bid a fond farewell to our Chocolate Bunnies. We know you'll look forward to them next year with some new treats!

Enough about the fond memories!!! Time to introduce a new item to the line up. I've posted this item on the blog before, but it hasn't been available on my website until today. Yes, that's right!...In honor of Spring, we are now selling the HOT DOG :) (clap clap clap) You will find it in the NEW section and the MAIN DISHES section. There will also be a kit released for this soon! Enjoy :)

Lilly Bean News! Youtube Videos, new kits and more

2009-03-29T16:32:00.005-04:00

Hey Everybody,

It's been a while since I've posted on my blog! We have been so excited over all the orders and comments from all of you out there!!! Thank you so much for your kindness and support in making Lilly Bean such a success :)

We now have some extra help to get packages out the door. This means faster service, more timely responses and more products. We apologize if the "Martha Stewart rush" made your packages take a little longer than you expected, but rest assured that we are working hard to make the Lilly Bean experience better than ever. Each item is carefully inspected and only our best products get sent to you. We are now sending out packages within a few days of your order.

Many of you have asked if "everything will be made into a kit?" The answer is yes! We are working to make kits available for every Lilly Bean product. We will try to release 1 or 2 new kits a month. If you have a suggestion for what you might want to see next, post a comment or send me an email :)

We are now releasing our Make it yourself Chocolate Cake kit and our Make it yourself Peanut butter Kiss cookies and Black and white Sandwich Cookies. Happy Sewing!

Also, I just uploaded a new Youtube video. Head on over to the Lilly Bean Play food Youtube Channel and check out How to make a Lilly Bean Felt Fish. Don't forget to watch Part 1 & 2.

You'll also notice in the Make it: Wool Felt section of the website, we have added Purple Jelly felt and Silver Gray wool felt...more colors for you to enjoy.

The Grand Rapids Press and Martha Stewart...OH MY!

2009-02-17T14:24:00.004-05:00

If you managed to pick up a copy of my local paper (Grand Rapids Press) you might just find me in there! If not click this is a link to Craftsanity . Jennifer Ackerman Haywood wrote a great follow up story about my trip to New York to be on the MARTHA STEWART SHOW!

Yes... You read correctly... I am going to be on the Martha Stewart Show that airs Feb. 18th!!!
I taught Martha how to make a felt Cherry Pie and Cherry. This kit is available on my website :) The kit available on the website is for a 5.5" pie and there is no enlarging of templates necessary ;) Watch the show and enjoy!

NEW KITS!!!

2009-02-15T20:06:00.004-05:00

I know, I know....you are probably saying "about time!" Well here are 3 new kits so that you can feed that felt food addiction. Introducing Cherry Pie and Cherries, Sushi, and Chocolate Bunnies! Enjoy these and new items will be along very soon :)

My Family just got bigger :)

2009-01-31T21:37:00.004-05:00

Just a little announcement: January 23, 2009 I got married! Introducing my new husband Todd Karnatz and his adorable son (and now my stepson) Jaden. And, YES, that means my name has changed :)

and Away We Go....

2009-01-11T08:36:00.002-05:00

Hi All,

Thank you so much for all of your business and continued support! We will be out of town from January 11th - 21st. While we are away I will still be working and the Amish are continuing to stock our shelves with lots of play food. However, I will not be able to mail packages. Please know that any orders placed between January 11th and January 21 will be shipped by Jan 23rd. We hope that you understand :) Keep watching for new products to be released later this month including cherry pie, cherries, hot dogs, and several fun new kits. I will still be answering email while I am away.

Thank you so much,
Hilary

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

2008-12-30T09:42:00.003-05:00

The packages have all been sent and we have spent lots of time at the post office. Good thing Lilly is such a great little helper! Thank you for all of your help in making this such a wonderful holiday season! In spite of the economy, Lilly Bean is holding up well in part to our fun products and people like you supporting small American companies.

We are currently restocking our shelves, working on new products and getting ready to release some fun new kits. Please check back for updates later this week.

We hope you've had a very merry Christmas and a spectacular New Year!!!

Thank you,
Hilary Seabolt

Help Save Handmade Toy companies like Lilly Bean!

2008-12-09T15:45:00.002-05:00

Help Save Handmade Toys in the USA from the CPSIA

The issue:
In 2007, large toy manufacturers who outsource their production to China and other developing countries violated the public's trust. They were selling toys with dangerously high lead content, toys with unsafe small part, toys with improperly secured and easily swallowed small magnets, and toys made from chemicals that made kids sick. Almost every problem toy in 2007 was made in China.

The United States Congress rightly recognized that the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) lacked the authority and staffing to prevent dangerous toys from being imported into the US. So, they passed the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) in August, 2008. Among other things, the CPSIA bans lead and phthalates in toys, mandates third-party testing and certification for all toys and requires toy makers to permanently label each toy with a date and batch number.

All of these changes will be fairly easy for large, multinational toy manufacturers to comply with. Large manufacturers who make thousands of units of each toy have very little incremental cost to pay for testing and update their molds to include batch labels.

For small American, Canadian, and European toymakers, however, the costs of mandatroy testing will likely drive them out of business.

A toymaker, for example, who makes wooden cars in his garage in Maine to supplement his income cannot afford the $4,000 fee per toy that testing labs are charging to assure compliance with the CPSIA.
A work at home mom in Minnesota who makes dolls to sell at craft fairs must choose either to violate the law or cease operations.
A small toy retailer in Vermont who imports wooden toys from Europe, which has long had stringent toy safety standards, must now pay for testing on every toy they import.
And even the handful of larger toy makers who still employ workers in the United States face increased costs to comply with the CPSIA, even though American-made toys had nothing to do with the toy safety problems of 2007.

The CPSIA simply forgot to exclude the class of toys that have earned and kept the public's trust: Toys made in the US, Canada, and Europe. The result, unless the law is modified, is that handmade toys will no longer be legal in the US.

If this law had been applied to the food industry, every farmers market in the country would be forced to close while Kraft and Dole prospered.

How You can Help:
Please write to your United States Congress Person and Senator to request changes in the CPSIA to save handmade toys. Use our sample letter or write your own. You can find your Congress Person here and Senator here.

This information was provided by the Handmade Toy Alliance.

Holiday Gift Guides Galore!

2008-11-26T18:08:00.004-05:00

A BIG THANK YOU to The Full Mommy and Zrecommends for including Lilly Bean in their holiday gift guides! Take a look at all of their wonderful picks and great ideas for this holiday season. Oh, and look for a coupon code at The Full Mommy!

2 New Kits added the the Make it section!

2008-11-23T08:58:00.004-05:00

I've just added 2 new kits to the make it section. I really hope you enjoy the Pizza kit and the Fruit kit. More kits are coming!!!

Zrecommends - Prize Giveaway!

2008-11-14T08:31:00.004-05:00

Want to have a chance to win a Lilly Bean play food pizza and fortune cookie set along with Green Toy"s cooking and dining set and Haba's In the Country game? Well then click on over to the Zrecommends website and sign up for their monthly news letter. You will automatically be entered in the giveaway! Not only will you have the chance to win cool monthly prizes, but you'll receive reviews on great products and helpful information :) Enjoy!

Learn how to make Lilly Bean Felt Eggs! FREE

2008-11-10T13:18:00.004-05:00

Why not make your own Christmas Presents this year! We have lots of felt and kits to get you in the crafting mood. You'll be excited to know that I just released another Youtube video : "How to make Lilly Bean Felt Eggs". Enjoy!

Be sure to subscribe to my blog or Youtube Channel. Be the first to get updates, new products and more Youtube videos. Stay tuned new videos will be available soon :)

Do not adjust your computer screen...these Ham and Eggs are supposed to be Green!

2008-11-07T08:24:00.007-05:00

Well, let's face it. Fall is here and winter is right around the corner. The weather is getting colder. It's the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book and have fun with Lilly Bean play food. With our new Green Ham and Eggs set, you can become part of the action. Recreating stories with your child is a great way to encourage reading and help with comprehension. Another feature...the green in our new set is 100% wool :)

Our Christmas Cookies are Back! Limited Availability

2008-11-04T17:39:00.002-05:00

Our very popular Christmas cookie set is back this year. This fun set is always a favorite for kids and adults alike. Beautifully handmade, they make a great gift. These gorgeous cookies come in shapes reminiscent of vintage cookie cutters. Included are the Star, Snowman, Ornament, Christmas Tree, and Gingerbread Man. Frosting is all hand stitched securely with care and precision. I only make a limited number of these and when they are gone, they will no longer be available until next year!

Lilly Bean Big Box o' Food...just in time for the holidays!

2008-10-28T16:04:00.003-04:00

This new Big Box set comes with 1 sandwich, strawberry, banana, apple, pear, carrot, green beans, pancake, bacon,egg, teabag, fresh fish, chicken drumstick, 5 ravioli and 4 cookies! This will fill up your child's play kitchen with beautiful wool felt food. The perfect gift :)

This set is $100.00 which saves you more than $19, plus free shipping!!!
Order today!

Learn how to make Lilly Bean felt Fortune Cookies! FREE

2008-10-27T17:05:00.005-04:00

Check out my very first YouTube video! You can watch "How To Make Lilly Bean Felt Fortune Cookies". Stay tuned for more YouTube videos! Subscribe to my blog or my YouTube account.

Lilly Bean play food pictures are now on Flickr!

2008-10-26T16:23:00.003-04:00

Want to share some of our great pictures of Lilly Bean play food? Want to add Lilly Bean pictures to your website or blog? Well, now you can do this easily using Flickr. Just access the Lilly Bean Flickr page and browse through all of our play food. Email a picture to your friend or mark us in as one of your favorites!

Hooray! Hooray! The updated site launches today!

2008-10-22T17:01:00.005-04:00

Our new updated site launches today with some fun new items and neat changes. A great round of applause to the guys over at 2GTechworks for doing such an awesome job and listening to me ramble on and on about my ideas!

Here are some of the fantastic changes:

- Kits and Wool felt fabric : We now offer wool felt and felt food kits! We are starting with just a few kits, but many more are to come. So be on the lookout and check back soon for your favorite foods to go into our new MAKE IT section.

- Coupon Codes : We now offer coupon codes and offers. If you have a coupon code you can type it in at the check out. In fact here is a code you can use for the next week : HOORAY If you type HOORAY into the coupon code box in the check out page you will get 10% off! This coupon code is valid until October 30th.

- New Site Organization : You will now notice that on the homepage we have 3 main sections: Play Food, Make It, and New. Under Play Food you will find all of our individual items as well as kits broken down into easy to follow categories. Under Make It you will find kits, patterns and wool felt. More craft items will be added to this section later :) Under New you will find our latest creations. These items are also in the other categories, but are grouped all together in the New section for ease and convenience.

- Fun new features : Our site now has more "add to cart" buttons on the products page for faster shopping! We also have more pictures of our products if you click on them. New pictures will fade in and out giving you more views of our beautiful play food. Note that not all of our products have more than one picture, but soon they all will.

What did you say, Kiddos?...You want more play food!

2008-10-14T14:18:00.006-04:00

Do these kids look happy to you? Well that's because I just told them about a few new Lilly Bean toys! Seems that they approve of the new selection and are happily waiting for more items to come for Christmas!

Kids are sure to recognize the cute new Lilly Bean hot dog. The bun is like a pocket and the hot dog can be taken out and put back in. Top it off with mustard and ketchup!

These peanut butter cookies with the kisses on top look so real, they make me hungry every time I look at them. I make the real thing every Christmas with my kids...I think these year the tradition may start early!

Boutique Cafe reviews Lilly Bean :)

2008-09-12T14:06:00.008-04:00

Grab a "little cup of couture" over at the Boutique Cafe and be sure to check out the Daily Dish where you will find a fabulous review of Lilly Bean play food. Also, try to win a free Lilly Bean Brown Bag Lunch!

Want to know a little more about Lilly Bean???

2008-08-19T14:36:00.002-04:00

....then please check out this interview at The Freak of Nature http://thefreakofnature.blogspot.com/2008/08/interview-with-hilary-from-lilly-bean.html

Rebekah recently did a wonderful interview that will give you a little more about this felt food junkie :) Enjoy!

We're off!

2008-07-03T17:04:00.003-04:00

Yes, we are off on a brief vacation visiting family in Virginia. Have no fear, we will be back on July 14th refreshed and ready to get back to work! You are welcome to send an email to me as I will still be answering them while I am away. All orders placed July 4th-14th will be sent out as soon as I get back :) Thanks so much for all of your support and kindness. Have a wonderful 4th of July!

Seven Dogs and a Baby really like our stuff!

2008-07-03T16:25:00.004-04:00

No...I'm not suggesting that you hand over Lilly Bean play food to the dogs! I'm talking about the website http://www.sevendogsandababy.com/2008/06/good-enough-to-eat.html . So go over, check out our great review and see what they have to say.

Lilly Bean play food in a museum?!?!

2008-06-19T20:54:00.005-04:00

Yep, that's right! Lilly Bean play food is on display at a historical museum in Rockville, Maryland. A representative of Montgomery County Historical Society contacted Lilly Bean about adding items to an exhibit on breakfast foods and we were happy to oblige. They are also selling Lilly Bean in the museum gift shop. So if you plan on being in the Rockville, MD area, check out the museum!

Their address is: 111 Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20850

Superdumb Supervillain reviews Lilly Bean play food!

2008-05-23T00:15:00.003-04:00

A big thanks to Superdumb Supervillain for the great review! You can read it and other great reviews by this talented mom HERE.

Lilly Bean named a VIP Product by Mommy Perks!

2008-05-18T15:19:00.003-04:00

VIP stands for "Very Impressive Product" and we are delighted that the people over at Mommy Perks love us! Please check out their awesome review and other great products HERE!

Pasta Please!

2008-05-14T23:03:00.002-04:00

We understand that those little pots and pans need to be filled with something! Introducing Ravioli! This little set comes with 5 ravioli and are sure to become a kitchen favorite.

Z-Recommends....recommends Lilly Bean!

2008-05-06T09:55:00.004-04:00

Check out what they have to say HERE!

TOP! (The Opinionated Parent) Recommends Lilly Bean!

2008-04-14T11:48:00.005-04:00

We are so proud and honored to have our toys reviewed by The Opinionated Parent! You can read all about it HERE!

New Spring Veggies!

2008-03-23T22:12:00.003-04:00

It's time for spring and in celebration Lilly Bean is introducing two new veggies! Our awesome Asparagus is available in a set of 3 and is just too cute! Our radical radishes are fresh from the Lilly Bean garden and ready for picking.

*Lilly Bean Hint - Play food is a great way to introduce your child to unfamiliar foods. Playing with toy asparagus and radishes can help prepare them for when you decide to serve it with dinner.

F.A.Q.

2008-03-21T09:00:00.004-04:00

Hi all,

Here are answers to some of your most frequent asked questions.

Q. What ages are Lilly Bean play foods appropriate for?

A. We recommend that children be 3 years or older to play with Lilly Bean Play food. Although our play food is non-toxic, they are not meant to be teething toys. Most of our toys are not considered a choking hazard. We list on the website if a set contains small pieces. Pizza is an example of a set with small pieces. Children ages 3-6 are immersed in pretend play and are very interested in role playing games and thus are some of our happiest customers!

Q. Are your toys washable?

A. Yes, we recommend hand washing and then letting them air dry. You can also iron your play food if it is wrinkly after washing!

Q. Who makes Lilly Bean play food and where is it made?

A. All of our play food is made in Michigan (USA) by a group of dedicated seamstresses. Much of the hand sewing is done by a small group of Amish women. We love that we personally know every person that creates our toys.

Q. Are your toys hand sewn or machine sewn?

A. The answer is both! In many cases we machine sew the “bodies” and appliqué the rest. How much hand sewing and machine sewing depends greatly on the item.

Q. Are your products non-toxic?

A. Yes! Our products are made in the USA and are non-toxic. The wool felt that we use is also made in the USA and is non-toxic.

Q. What are your products made out of?

A. We make our play food out of wool felt blend fabric and we stuff them with fiber fill. The wool content varies by color from 40%-100%.

Q. Why don’t you use 100% wool for all of your products?

A. I wish we could! Right now the felt company that we purchase from makes 100% wool felt in only a few colors. The rest of our colors are in a very high quality wool felt blend. The felt company is adding more colors in 100% wool due to popular demand. As the colors become available, we will use them!

Tea Time anyone!

2008-03-18T23:32:00.003-04:00

Yes, Lilly Bean is known for our fabulous felt food, but today we are introducing something a bit different. Hilary (the creator of Lilly Bean) has pulled her grandmother out of retirement to create some very special ceramic tea sets. Jana Seabolt has spent much of her life as a ceramics artist and we are happy and proud to bring her into the Lilly Bean market to show off her wonderful talents. Each piece is poured, fired and delicately hand painted with expertise and care. These are sure to become something you and your child will cherish.

*Please note that these are ceramic and are better suited for children over the age of 5.

Icecream is Back! Just in time for spring!

2008-03-18T23:28:00.002-04:00

I scream! You scream! We all scream for ...felt icecream!?! I know all of you have been missing our beautiful (non-messy) icecream cones. Well we are bringing them back just in time for spring!

Amish Baskets and Super Sets

2008-02-21T15:54:00.005-05:00

As many of you are aware, Amish seamstresses help me create Lilly Bean play food. The Amish are also well known for their awesome craftsmanship. I am now carrying Amish baskets at my Lilly Bean Market web store. All of the baskets have been made by hand! I will start by carrying 2 different baskets. The first is a Market Basket (which also makes a very nice Easter Basket that could be used year round). The Market Basket features sturdy wood construction and leather handles that snap together at the top. This basket is great for play food and real food alike! Right now I am offering a Super food set that includes everything you see in the picture below.

The second basket I am offering is a mini picnic basket. This basket also features sturdy wood construction with 2 wooden handles and a snap on wooden lid. This basket nicely fits a sandwich and 1-2 sides. It is beautifully hand-crafted of high quality materials.

Chocolate Easter Bunnies! and Egg cookies!

2008-02-21T15:47:00.003-05:00

Hopping back again this year! Add this sweet treat to your Easter Basket. Also, new this year are Easter egg shaped cookies.

Press! Craftsanity.com and Craftzine.com

2008-01-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

Sunday January 20th 2008, I was featured in the Craft section of my local newspaper the Grand Rapids Press. You can access the article HERE.

Jennifer of the AWESOME site http://www.craftsanity.com/ also recorded the interview. You can also get a hold of my fortune cookie pattern and instructions if you are feeling a little crafty.

http://www.craftzine.com/ also links to this pattern HERE :)

Press! Mothering Magazine November 2007

2008-01-25T13:06:00.000-05:00

Mothering Magazine lists Lilly Bean Market's Ravioli set in it's list of "Best Natural Toys of 2007"!!!

Okay...the picture is really small (the set is in the oven on the left). Below is a picture of the set in it's entirety.

Press! Cookiemag.com Oct 2007

2008-01-25T13:00:00.000-05:00

Cookie Magazine website October 2007 Lilly Bean created the Icecream cones in this wonderful slide show of fabulous play food!

Below is a picture of our icecream cones currently for sale!

Lilly Bean....take two!

2008-01-20T19:51:00.000-05:00

After experiencing a few problems with the sites functions, we went into action. We hired a new web development company to fix our errors and clean up the site. In a few days the site will be fully operational! Until then, feel free to browse around our menu and see if anything looks good. You are welcome to order via email :)

Christmas cookies

2007-12-07T18:14:00.001-05:00

Lilly Bean Market's website is finally up and running!

2007-12-07T17:39:00.000-05:00

You might be asking yourself.....what is Lilly Bean Market??? Well, Lilly Bean Market is a toy company that creates artisan designed wool felt play food for your child. We believe in inspiring children through creative play.

Lilly Bean was started by me (Hilary Seabolt) in 2004 when my 4 year old son asked what his new stuffed animals were supposed to eat. Feeling quite creative, I whipped up a cute little egg and pancake. Soon after came donuts, bacon, fruits veggies....a passion was born. In 2006, with encouragement of my friends and family, I officially launched the Lilly Bean business. Lilly Bean is my daughters nick name. She was only a few days old when the obsession started and I just thought the name was so cute.

Now I work with a small group of Amish and a wonderful machine seamstress that help me sew up all of the Lilly Bean play food. We are committed to keeping the business in the US and we love knowing the people who help create such a beautiful product.

On December 2nd 2007 we finaly launched a retail website. Now you can buy items directly from us. We still wholesale to several stores and a list will be posted shortly so that you can see if there is one near you.

We know that you and your child will love our play food and you can feel good providing them with a quality product that was made in the USA!