Made by US: eco-kids Art Supplies

It's our goal to provide our customers with the world's most beautiful, purposeful playthings. Many of our award-winning toys are designed and manufactured right here in the US. For the next few weeks, we will feature American-made toys in a series entitled, "Made by US."

In 2008, Kip & Cammie began selling their earth-friendly art supplies at a local farmer’s market in Portland, Maine. Cammie first started making eco-dough from a family molding dough recipe. With some tweaking, Cammie & Kip developed their own unique product that has evolved into a whole line of high-quality, handmade art supplies.

Each product is handmade using all-natural, Eco-friendly and edible materials. The colors are derived from organic fruit & vegetable extracts from plants such as beets, annatto, spinach, sweet potato, blueberries & paprika.

eco-dough is molding dough that is easy to use, easy to clean and has a light, pleasant fragrance. It is great to use with clay tools or cookie cutters to make interesting forms and sculptures. To revived dried eco-dough, simply rework it with a bit of olive oil. They also make a gluten-free version for kids with allergies or dietary restrictions.

Cammie & Kip were even nice enough to custom make a batch for an aMuse kid with a very rare food allergy. They care about the kids who use the products they make, which is one of the many reasons they’re one of our favorite companies.

eco-paints are dried powder pigments that you can mix to your preferred consistency. Just add a little water for edible finger paints, or add a lot of water for more transparent watercolor-like paints. eco-paints are also available in a gluten-free version. These are a great option for little ones who love colors, but tend to stick things in their mouths.

eco-crayons are the newest product in the eco-kids line. These rock-shaped colors are made from 25% beeswax and 75% fruits, plants & vegetables. The thick pieces are easy for little hands to use, and you can color with all sides, which eliminates paper peeling and frustration. They are the perfect for a young artist.

eco-art pad is treeless paper made from dried banana fibers and recycled materials. It’s slight texture and substantial weight makes it perfect for use with all kinds of media both wet and dry.

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Top 10 Handmade Toys

"The most effective kind of education is that a child should play amongst beautiful things." - PLATO

 Quality and care are synonymous with each of the handmade items featured in our top handmade toys list. We encourage you to read about the creation processes of each of these brilliant companies, as we know that you'll appreciate them for the same reasons that we do:  beauty, care, quality, longevity and play value.  

1. Cate & Levi

MADE IN CANADA. Each piece by Cate & Levi is handcrafted in an artist studio in Toronto, Canada. All of the reclaimed materials are sourced locally as to reduce the company’s impact on the environment. Cate & Levi take great pride in the individuality of each item that is handcrafted with care.

2. Kathe Kruse

MADE IN GERMANY. Kathe Kruse has been handcrafting dolls and baby toys in Europe since 1905. Their attention to detail through every step in the manufacturing process is what sets them apart from other companies in the market.

3. Luna Organics

MADE IN THE USA. Luna Organics face paints are handmade in New Hampshire using natural mineral pigments. They are hypoallergenic, gentle on the skin and FDA-approved.

4. Ellie Bellie Kids

MADE IN THE USA.  Ellie Bellie Kids (EBK) is a Baltimore-based company. Founded by local mother, Jennifer Cooper, EBK strives to provide the highest quality classic play items for children. Each piece in their product line is handmade in Maryland by local artisans.

5. Yellow Label Kids

HANDMADE WORLDWIDE. Each one of Yellow Label Kids’ products are made by hand by artisans worldwide who are paid living wages, in accordance with Fair Trade practices. Many of the artisans are mothers and use their work as a means to support their families.

6. Peculiar Pets

MADE IN THE USA. Peculiar Pets are handmade in North Carolina using repurposed vintage afghans. Each pet is uniquely embellished with felt cutouts to accentuate each pet’s individual personality.

7. eco-kids

MADE IN THE USA. eco-kids eco-dough and eco-paint are made using all-natural ingredients. Their products’ beautiful colors are extracted from all-natural vegetable sources such as beets, carrots and berries.

8. The Earth Friends

MADE IN THE USA. Each of the Earth Friends are handmade from either recycled or organic fabrics right here in the USA. Their eco-friendly business practices are a core value to the company, and each friend features a tree planting kit in their backpack.

9. Let's Play Mail!

MADE IN THE USA. The playful, slouchy design of Let’s Play Mail felt mailboxes make them a charming addition to any playroom. The cute letters and mailbag that accompany the mailbox feature hand screen-printed illustrations.

 10. Camden Rose

MADE IN THE USA & Peru. Each item by Camden Rose is meticulously constructed by craftspeople that specialize in their art. Their products are not mass-produced, rather they are created one-by-one, the old-fashioned way. They use all-natural materials ranging from solid wood to yarn.

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Why I Buy Indie

One of the major pastimes in our home is wandering around the neighborhood. We watch the boats from the Cat’s Eye steps, play with the puddles and pigeons in the square, and pop in and out of the neighborhood shops. It may seem like we are just killing time, but really, much, much more is going on.

In the early days, it was a way to keep my sanity with a baby who never, ever slept. Just having another adult to talk to while we bumbled through another day was comforting. Later, I convinced several of the local shop employees to baby-sit, even though none of them were “babysitters”. As the baby grew into a toddler who never, ever slept, I bounced ideas about parenting, education, community, and everything else off the merchants who had gotten to know me and my family.

One of our favorite places to visit has always been aMuse, not just for the excellent toys they have in stock, but for the time they take learning about the different manufacturers, suppliers, and toys. With eleven nieces and nephews, not to mention my two own children and all their friends, to shop for, it’s comforting to know my local toy store offers me items that are unique, safe, and will provide more than just 10 minutes of entertainment before the child moves on to something else.

It’s about more than just keeping our money in the neighborhood, instead of just shelling out to some faceless corporation. aMuse KNOWS us. My son has celiac, a gluten intolerance that means he can’t eat wheat, rye, barley and most oats. This also means commercial modeling dough is off limits with him, as it can get stuck in his nails, or his sister could get it in their food, or he might even absentmindedly nibble it. Without even being asked, as soon as aMuse started dealing with a company who offered gluten-free dough, I got an email. I asked for two tubes, as modeling dough is in heavy rotation at our home, and got another email as soon as it was in.

Needless to say, the dough, by ecokids, was perfect. My kids love it, and I don’t have to worry about it harming my son. It also smells amazing, another unexpected bonus. Shopping local means supporting our friends and local businesses, but it also means they help support us.

Elizabeth Gardner lives in Fells Point with her husband, Nick, her children, James and Catherine, and her neglected dog, Jenna. She likes banana peppers and blogs about them, among other things, on Cooking and Screaming.

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eco-kids

eco-kids is one of our new favorites for art supplies. Every one of their great products is made from natural materials. It's so important to use quality materials with young children, since it often ends up in their mouths and on their skin.

Their eco-dough is a molding dough handmade with flour, salt, cream of tartar, organic rosemary oil, vitamin E oil, soybean oil, coconut oil,  potassium sorbate, citric acid, natural and organic fruit, plant and vegetable extracts from beets, spinach, paprika, carrots, purple sweet potato, red cabbage, blueberries and tomatoes. You can't get more natural than that!

Another great thing about eco-dough is there is a gluten-free option! We know a couple families who were thrilled to find this great dough for their gluten-free kids!

We are getting a big shipment of eco-kids tomorrow. Perfect timing too, with this dreary weather. Let's brighten up our days with some creativity!