The month of November must have had a lot of rainy days because there were so many creative little citizens who participated in our Activity Book Contest. This month, Olivia dazzled our Tea staff with her tribe of snowy monsters with actual snow! Congratulations, Olivia!
Olivia's snowy creation.
We love the snowy hula monster.
Thank you everyone for entering and be sure to submit a new picture for December’s contest!
Browse all the entries on our Flickr page.
Interested in entering the contest for next month? Take a picture of your child’s completed activity book picture and send it to us at blog@teacollection.com with “Activity Book Entry” in the subject line. We pick one winner each month to receive a $100 Tea gift certificate.
Download all of our activity book pages by visiting our activity printouts blog tag.
Nordic inspired paper slotted animals.
Cutting out the slotted animals.
A little crafter's original creation of Luke Skywalker and Jabba the Hut.
The kids enjoying their slotted animals.
Making them is easy. Just cut out a body shape and two legs. Then cut slots so you can stand them up. Click here for a Made by Joel for Tea Paper Slot Animals Printable or you can make your own designs! If you use a thicker paper, then you might need to cut your slots slightly wider so the feet stay straight.
After you finish, you can take them apart and put them in a little box or envelope. Then you can take them on the go to restaurants, etc.
Time to put you glasses on boys and girls! Find this gnome’s twin.
Once you’re done, submit your creation to blog@teacollection.com for your chance to win a $100 Tea gift certificate! Every month, Tea staff will pick one artistic little citizen to win! Honorable mentions will also be uploaded into their own featured blog post. Let your creative juices flow and show us your inner artist!
Download your own copy of spot the gnome.
Each month Studio T will feature one of our retailers. This month we are getting a glimpse into the mind of Miki, founder of Cotton Tails in Memphis, TN. Learn about her store philosophy here.
Miki at her first Ikebana lesson.
Tea: How did you decide to take the leap and open your own store?
Miki: When my oldest daughter was born, I used to frequent a children’s store. Every time I would walk in, I was completely ignored. I would find things on my own and would ask if someone would please ring me up! It was so frustrating but it was the only place to shop. When the opportunity arose, I felt I could start my own children’s store but have wonderful customer service. I don’t think Cotton Tails would be here today for 24 years if they had only treated me nicely at that store!
Tea: We know how special and unique all of our stores are, what makes your store unique?
Miki: We do Saturday arts and crafts for the children every weekend. We do an annual Sidewalk Sale that people arrange their vacations around. Twice a year we have a calendar sale with a different category on sale every day of the month. We do seasonal events, like Mrs. Santa, silhouette artists, frozen yogurt treats during the summer and anything else we can think of!
Our 2012 Nordic Holiday Collection at Cotton-Tails.
Tea: At Tea, we “Go There”, how do you share in that mission at your store and/or in your life?
Miki: I’ve ‘Been There!’ My mother is Japanese, and I was born and spent my early years in Japan. I have been very fortunate to be able to instill my mother’s heritage and customs into my life. It has given me a better understanding of working with people from different nationalities and backgrounds.
Tea: How do you balance it at all? What tricks can you offer us?
Miki: I do a daily list of what needs to be done at the store and check off accordingly. I try to just put the top ten.
Tea: What do you do in your “spare” time?
Miki: I love to cook and have friends and family over.
Tea: What is something that your customers would be surprised to learn about you?
Mikie: I LOVE to dance! Really!
Leigh and Miki at the Tea Time event.