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Scout by Petunia is Heisted ... plus design loves DeNai

It's always the most authentic form of praise when a consumer goes out and picks a product from a sea of competing brands, purchases it with their own money, and then loves it enough to sing it's praises in print.

It's this kind of enthusiasm that guided Carrson at StyleHeist to blog about his new Scout Bag from Petunia the other day. 

Carrson writes, "...in the time between your beautiful baby becoming a pimply angst machine there is an awful lot of equipment to lug around and for the mothers there is a whole industry built around this need.

Dad, though, fares worse. Big spots, bright colours and butterflies are good for the ladies, but what about the style-conscious father who doesn’t want some day-glo tote bag putting a kink in his mack-daddy image?  Look no further than the Scout Journey Pack from the unusually titled Petunia Pickle Bottom." 

Be sure to read the entire post and enjoy the other cool entries on this style driven blog.

Another amazing blog that wrote about Petunia Pickle Bottom recently is SimplyGrove, which focuses on great interior design.  SimplyGrove is delighted with the shots of Petunia founder and head designer, DeNai Jones' new baby nursery.   

SimplyGrove writes, "This nursery designed for [DeNai's] son is the perfect balance of sophisticated and simple. The color pallet is so soft and natural."

The writers at MaternityandStyle were knocked out by the Rubicon Rucksack in Black from the Scout Collection this week as well.

Uber blogger Grace at DesignSponge wrote about DeNai's nursery with a full slate of images that got tons of great feedback and comments.

And Coochicoos made a great slideshow and published the link to DeNai's mood/idea board that served as inspiration for the design of her fabulous baby nursery.

In Search of the perfect Uni-Sex Diaper Bag

What's in a diaper bag?  Bottles, snacks, wipes, hand sanitizer, diapers of course. 

And then, are there those mom and dad items too like lipstick and cell phones like you'd find in a purse or a briefcase? Or is the diaper bag just the province of baby? 

More and more parents are opting for the latter these days - as babies are cared for throughout the day alternately by mom/dad, grandma/ grand-pop, and even a babysitter or two thrown in for good measure - they seem to need a bag all their own as they make their way between all the caring parties. 

But when mom and dad need to trade off what style of bag do they choose?  Not too girly, because dad might feel that's not his style when it's his turn to tote his bundle of joy with him downtown.  And for mom - she may not cotton to sporting a Rambo looking bag covered in a camouflage print as she skips out for a little shoe shopping.

As Heather Millstein, author of The Coterie blog suggested recently, the Scout Bags from our client Petunia Pickle Bottom have just the right edge for dad, and aren't too masculine for mom.  Pictured above in the Scout Journey Pack in Heathered Olive Felt, and below in the Rubicon Rucksack in Buffalo Brown Leather, we too think it's just the thing.

Heather confesses that she'd also love to get a Petunia Cake bag for herself in Pistachio or Lemon Chiffon, but she realizes that her husband Matt might not love it as well when it's his turn to change diapers during church and other parts of town. 

Bringing up baby with nature - DeNai Jones gets inspired

When DeNai Jones, head designer at Petunia Pickle Bottom, was expecting her second son recently, one of her prime goals was to create a unique nursery.

"I longed to make my second son Miller's nursery a place of tranquility," says Jones of her design process. "I love color, but this was going to be my one exception."

DeNai opted for soothing earth tones and natural imagery both she and her husband Braden would enjoy.

Here, DeNai Jones outlines her choices for this truly gorgeous baby nursery.

Inspiration and Color Choice:
I found inspiration in the design of my son's nursery from a few key pieces: our Misty Shanghai Boxy Backpack, this amazing wallpaper from Cole and Sons: Trees, and two pillows from Anthropologie. All of these pieces incorporated a shade of grey that I was hoping to use in the nursery and were the perfect elements to create a focus for my mood board. I love a nice monochromatic palette with a splash of color, much like the Misty Shanghai, and these pieces combined these two elements perfectly.

Furniture and Function:
The crib and changing table were the most daunting decisions for me. I love all the new modern and oh-so functional nursery furniture that can be found, but we own an older home so I wanted to find something that would strike the perfect balance of old and new. The Panel Crib by Newport Cottages served up just what I was looking for. As an added bonus-the wonderful people at Newport Cottages indulged me with a custom paint color to match the room's palette. Both pieces contain clean, modern lines, and the changing table converts to a dresser once you are done with diapers-an ideal attribute so that the piece can grow as Miller does.

Hands down my favorite piece is the Luca Glider Chair by Monte Designs. If I didn't have a busy little toddler running rampant I would sit and cuddle my newborn son in it all day-it's incredibly comfortable not to mention so stunning.
 

I love the Tamar Mogendorff mobile. Thanks to Grace over at Design Sponge for introducing Tamar and her incredible talent. The dolls/objects are made from linens, wool, Mohair wool, cotton, vintage fabrics, tweed, antique embroidery, pashmina and other fabrics. Each piece is handmade and the pictures on her website do not do them justice.

My intention when designing my son's nursery was to create a tranquil, organic, and textural experience.

The stump side table and owl night light rounded out what I wanted to achieve, and the cable rug I found at West Elm offers a nubby, wool weave with lots of texture to help soften and warm the room.

Two of the wall art pieces I used to finish the room were from Anthropologie. I liked the simplicity of the art and the organic nature of the two pieces. In addition, I always try to put in every room of our home some sentimental piece or photograph. The archival bird studies were purchased on a trip to Nashville, Tennessee. On a short day trip to Franklin we happened upon an amazing shop dedicated to archival sketches and studies of anything you could possibly imagine. I knew I would use these sketches at some point in my life and this was the perfect spot. Miller loves to look at these while I change his diaper.

Ultimately, the nursery is the most calming place in our home…so I believe I achieved what I set out to accomplish. Now with a two year old toddler and a newborn reeking havoc in our home, it's the place I like to kick up my heels and find tranquility.

DeNai Jones is super hot!

How HOT can one mom be?  Super Hot - this according to people who should know - the Hot Moms Club.

Our client DeNai Jones, head designer at Petunia Pickle Bottom, is the website's hot-mom-preneur this week.

In a very revealing interview, DeNai discusses the trials and triumphs of starting and growing her company (together with her husband, Braden Jones, and best friend, Korie Conant).

To read the article, skip on over to HotMomsClub.com. 

Petunia reaches out to the children of Haiti

Twice a year, our client Petunia Pickle Bottom, holds an incredible Outlet Sale of Certified Seconds and Discontinued Classics from their line of gorgeous diaper bags.  A portion of the proceeds from each sale is earmarked for donation to local and global children’s Charity groups.

This year, the Petunia sale was so successful that the company was able to donate more than $6,500 to the remarkable Hands & Feet Project. 

Hands & Feet is a non-profit children's village located in Jacmel, Haiti.  The project's mission it is to care for the many children orphaned by political violence and disease in that country. 

Korie Conant of Petunia relates,“We met with Hands and Feet co-founder Mark Stuart and were impressed with how he and his organization are truly making a difference. Each orphan at the Hands & Feet project is given a new life with medical attention, education, and a nurturing environment. We are honored that we might have a hand in changing a child’s life for the better through our donation.”

The Hands & Feet Project started in 2004 with only a parcel of land and a passion to make a difference.  Mark Stuart and his band Audio Adrenaline embarked on the construction of facilities to care for the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of orphans in Haiti.  Hands & Feet now cares for more than 34 children, from 2-months to 9-years old and has plans to open another home in Nicaragua. By connecting world-renowned bands with each new site opening, the goal of Hands & Feet is to promote a call for help by utilizing the influence of pop culture to bring about awareness, compassion and aid to children in need around the world.

and the award goes to ...

Hilarious, tongue-in-cheek, but really not that far from reality.  Check out how one of Petunia Pickle Bottom's Idealistic Istanbul Shoulder Bags finds a home.

Petunia tells Cal Poly Magazine how it all started ...

Cal Poly Magazine recently profiled our client Petunia Pickle Bottom.  What started as a standard profile revealed some inspiring facts about Mom-&-Dad-Preneurship the Petunia way! 

We've excerpted writer Jo Ann Lloyd's piece below:

Christina Aguilera, Gwen Stefani, Salma Hayek and Heidi Klum all have one.

Oprah Winfrey presented one to Julia Roberts during an Oprah show. Even Sheryl Crow sings its praises.

It all started while on an extended trip to Alaska, where [married couple DeNai and Braden Jones] had time to explore their career options. “We had no mortgage, no children. It was the right time to take a risk, to pursue our goals of building a business,” Braden said.

His first challenge was to convince a “totally risk-averse” DeNai, who thought a teaching career would offer security, a regular paycheck and summers off.

When the couple returned to Ventura, they got right down to it. DeNai did everything by hand. In a room above her parents’ garage, she traced the patterns and cut them out. She soon found a store in Santa Barbara that she knew would be a good fit for the high-end diaper bags she was designing.

“We started out slowly, from scratch. Soon our bags were appearing in celebrity magazines,” DeNai said. “It got to the point where I could'nt’t cut them fast enough. So we risked it … we took out a personal loan for $30,000 and had a few hundred units made.”

As business grew, they realized they needed someone to help market their product. They brought Korie Conant on board as vice president and director of brand development. The three of them worked for years with no pay. “Korie worked as a waitress at night. We were totally boot-strapping this thing,” DeNai said.

The company now employs nearly 20 and distributes to more than 1,200 retail outlets nationally and internationally. Their bags, ranging in price from $150 to $325, are sold in high-end baby boutiques and stores such as Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

But DeNai and Braden recall more humble days. “In the beginning, we had to create a façade larger than we were. We didn’t want people to know we were working out of a room above our parents’ garages. We had one phone with nine extensions, and family members who would answer, ‘This is John in Shipping.'”

After five years, DeNai is finally getting to do what she loves – designing. “I always wanted to focus on just the design aspect of the job, but I was busy packing boxes, putting out fires, making phone calls.”

Petunia Pickle Bottom headquarters is the kind of place that nurtures creativity.
A large loft-like space with wood floors, high ceilings, huge windows and a view of
the Pacific, the offices are open and airy and light. “We’ll pay a little extra for a good working environment,” Braden said. “We want it to feel like family.”

And no wonder. Both DeNai and Braden have nothing but the highest praise for their families, especially their parents. “Our parents supported us all the way,” Braden said. “They gave us strong foundations. You can’t jump far without a good foundation.”

What’s next? “We want to expand the brand, make it more noteworthy,” Braden said. “We want to grow the company, too. We’re on the next five-year plan, which includes multi-product launches in the baby industry.”

And multi-baby launches, as well. DeNai and Braden are the proud parents of two-year-old Sutton and are awaiting the arrival of a second son in March. Korie had a boy last October.

Cake Cosmopolitan Carryall for Mother's Day on TopButton

The adorable website TopButton.com came out with their picks for Mother's Day and among the fabulous gifts chosen was our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's Cake Cosmopolitan Carryall (shown here in Chocolate Cherry Cake). 

They write:

New Mom: If sleep was for sale, we know that's probably what any new mom would ask for as a gift, but since it's not available on shelves (and really, who is she kidding, she won't get a good 40 winks worth till the kid’s at least 18), the next best thing? Stylish mommy accessories! Diaper bags have certainly come a long way since the duckie/clown phase, but this takes the cake. Literally, the Cake line from Petunia Pickle Bottom (the diaper bag ELITE) are not only as gorgeous as a normal tote, they are also practical when not many great looking bags are. The must-have Cosmopolitan Carryall  has multiple pockets (outside and in) including one for a cell phone 4 bottle pockets, a zippered changing pad pocket, and an interior antique brass key clip. It’s not just a gift, it’s a necessity.

Love, Laini loves Petunia

We were super amused when we came across this really clever, "pretend" registry for stuff that the Bohemian Flower Princess wants. 

Number one on her list is the Petunia Pickle Bottom Shoulder Bag in Hibiscus Roll.  This is a really pretty combination of blush roses spread across a chocolate background.  This is one of Petunia designer DeNai Jones' new brocades for 2008.  The interior is lined with water resistant chocolate material and it has many pockets for all the stuff moms (and non-moms need). 

Other items on the Bohemian Flower Princess' list include a set of cookware, a teapot, and cotton sheets!  Good choices BFP! 

Maternity & Style Magazine - an online style source

We wanted to send a shout out to Maternity&Style for having the great taste and good baby chic sense to consistently give news about our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's gorgeous collection of baby and mom designs. 

In a recent post on their blog, theScene, they told their readers about the new collection of Petunia Pickle Bottom Touring Totes in glazed fabrics.  They featured the Misty Shanghai Touring Tote, (one of my favorites) and detailed the other fabrics in the collection.

They were one of the first to preview the to-die-for Cake Cosmopolitan Carryall from Petunia when it was rolled out earlier this year.  The Cake collection is truly stunning.

Recently they featured Petunia's organic cotton sling collection, Sojourn, which is an incredible pouch style collection that has matching diaper bags moms can buy.

Not long ago, they also featured the Petunia Trotting in Tiergarten (glazed) Boxy Backpack, with a fabulous description and photos. 

Thanks Maternity & Style - we think you're great too!

Petunia organic cotton socks a Babble Best

They're cute, stylish, and they stay on really well. 

Those are the reasons Babble.com editor Gwynne Watkins picked our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's adorable Organic Cotton Socks for her own newborn. 

In a recent post on Droolicious, Gwynne listed the top 5 essential items that she registered for her new baby.  We're completely honored that Petunia Pickle Bottom's socks made the list! 

There are 3 styles of sock sets in the Petunia Pickle Bottom collection.  One for boy, girl, and neutral, all in the cutest little prints one can image, carefully designed by DeNai Jones and her group at Petunia. About $13 for a set of 3. 

St Louis Magazine loves Petunia's Cross Town Clutch

We're so thrilled St Louis Magazine chose our client Petunia Pickle Bottom's Cross Town Clutch in Blue Danube as one of their Things We Love this month.

Said the magazine:

In the why-didn’t-I-think-of-that category: a diaper bag disguised as a clutch purse. Complete with wipeable exterior and snap-out changing pad, as well as pockets for the gear, this hand-embroidered handful puts “baby” and “efficient” in the same category. For once. Petunia Pickle Bottom Cross Town Clutch, $68. Available at Sweet Petunia, 169 Carondelet Plaza, 314-721-3133, petunia.com

For more fabulous finds, stop by the online page.

Organic Cotton Baby Slings from Petunia - the ideal baby wearing accessory.

They're comfortable, fashionable, and 100% organic cotton.

The new Sojourn Slings from Petunia are an earth and baby friendly choice for those who love to tote their babies.

The Sojourn Sling collection is available in 4 styles, India Ink, Corsican Blue, Sparrows on the Seine, and Morning in Mumbai.

Each 100% organic stretch cotton sling is reversible, and is available in sizes S, M, L.

These pouch slings are particularly comfortable -- moms can simply slip them over their heads and they're ready for baby.  No adjusting of straps or winding fabric at awkward angles is necessary. 

Another perk of these Petunia slings is moms can pick matching diaper bags to go with each design.

Each Sojourn Sling fabric is offered in a matching Boxy Backpack, Touring Tote, and Cross Town Clutch.