We might cry over spilled milk, but we shed happy tears of joy over spilled paint, thanks to Moth and Crow’s new Marsupial Fold-Over Shopper handbag. Crafted by Capitol Hillster Dawn Smithson, the supple bag has welt pockets (à la its mammalian namesake) and, thanks to detachable straps, can be sported in four different ways,…

Cruising along Interstate 90, many travelers never bother to search beyond North Bend’s massive outlet mall and fast-food corridor. But those who do go deeper have long enjoyed iconic outdoor destinations such as Mount Si, arguably the most popular day hike in the state, and locally beloved diners such as Twede’s Café (137 W North…

For kids who say “no!” to wearing too-stiff denim jeans, local parents Erin and Nick Cloke offer an alternative: cute, kicky denim styles made from eco-friendly and ultrasoft bamboo. The Bainbridge Island pair, owners of KICKY PANTS kids’ clothing (kickypants.com), use bamboo denim for their collections of kids’ jeans, which come in dark and light…

Too often, music that has the power to soothe a savage toddler meltdown is tooth-achingly sweet; downright intolerable for adults. Not so with the new release by Portland-based musician Laura Veirs. Her new kids’ album, Tumble Bee, is filled with spirited American folk classics, charming lullabies that meander into minor keys and a even a…

One of the heavy hitters in Seattle’s booming “kindie rock” scene is branching out into books. West Seattle’s Caspar Babypants (aka Chris Ballew of the Presidents of the United States of America) has teamed up with his wife, artist Kate Endle, to release two kids’ books, complete with sweet sing-along songs. MY WOODLAND WISH ($16.99),…

Health nuts who dread getting a box of chocolates for Valentine’s Day can breathe a sigh of sweet relief. New Seattle company Vibrant Chocolate enriches its truffles and treats with vitamins and nutrients—such as calcium, vitamin D and omega-3s—which means gobbling them up is (mostly) guilt free. Warning: Monthly subscriptions are available. vibrantchocolate.com  

The next time you need a gift in a pinch (as in, 20 minutes before that forgotten afterwork party you just remembered), swing by one of two new gift stops, located on opposing hilltops to suit any crosstown breakneck trek. The former proprietress of the still-popular Illume Candle line (she sold the business more than…

For designer Mark Tindall, the “big and tall” section in menswear only works halfway. “[Shirts] were always long enough, but big and boxy,” he says. “They would be huge on my neck, short on the arms.” So, the 6-foot-3 former Microsoft marketer started sketching his own pattern ideas and in late 2009, along with his…

WHY WE LOVE THE LOOK: Former pro snowboarder turned musician and producer Mike Marsidi has one-upped Grease’s Danny Zuko, managing to walk the style line between sports jock and rocker T-bird with ease (and without the tragic gray sweatpants). While oozing 1950s cool in fitted leather jackets and high-top sneakers, he also blends in slim-cut…

If your lifestyle necessitates a bag worthy of carrying puzzles, books and snacks for your brood while containing your entire office on the go (files, laptop, iPad, etc.), look no farther than the City Tote by Push Pull Cambodia, a gorgeous, sturdy cross-body messenger bag. The brainchild of Kasala furniture owner Daniel Flickinger, Push Pull…

Seattle’s South End hilltop neighborhood is heating up. Long treasured for its diversity, Beacon Hill is amassing a trove of new tastes, out-of-the-box art and community music spaces—not to mention the new light rail station that provides quick and easy access for residents and day-trippers alike. TASTE >> Longtime favorites such as Kusina Filipina (3201…

Best New Home and Gift Shop: Butter Home The sentiment “Go to your happy place” became a physical, rather than mental, destination after the arrival of sweet charmer Butter Home last December. Tucked under the rafters in the new Melrose Market, gifts and wares range from the eclectic (felted gazelle-head taxidermy-like wall hangings!) to the…