My blog pal Melanie, mom to Daniel, has been hand-making absolutely gorgeous felt crowns and capes for kids. Daniel, who totally reminds me of Max, also has cerebral palsy, as well as infantile spasms and a rare brain malformation called bilateral perisylvian polymicrogyria. Melanie writes the blog Better Than Normal, and she has a strong grasp on reality and good sense of humor. She's been making stuff to pay for Daniel's alternative therapies, ones not covered by insurance. ALL proceeds from her handiwork go toward helping her son.
Melanie's Etsy shop is filled with adorable crowns. How can a kid not love them? She also makes ones by request, in pretty much any design you can think of, and she offers party packs for birthday celebrations (or any kind of celebration).
These are some of my faves, aside from the cape and crown Melanie recently made for SuperPurpleMax and Sabrina:
Melanie has offered to make three custom crowns for three random winners. To enter, please leave a comment telling us what kind of crown you think your child would like.
BONUS entries: After you leave your main comment, leave a separate one for each of the following that you have done:
• Head on over to Melanie's blog and say hi to her and Daniel.
• Follow Melanie's blog, while you're there.
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with your tweet time stamp (translation for Twitter newbies: click on the time below the tweet, which shows you the URL). You can use this tweet: Win a beautiful custom-made kid's crown or cape from @LoveThatMax, ends 5/25, http://tinyurl.com/26tmqkv, #giveaway
This giveaway is open until Tuesday, May 25, 2010, 11:59 p.m. EST, and is for U.S. and Canadian residents. I'll pick the three winners via randomizer.org, announce the winners the next day, and alert you by e-mail.
Please let friends know about this giveaway, and Melanie's handiwork. She's a talent, and did I mention all proceeds go toward helping her son?
Update: The winners are Jessie, Christina and smgoodie. Congrats!
Wow I had trouble choosing just one! But I like the customizable crown with a personalized name.
ReplyDeleteHere is my Tweet: http://twitter.com/sneakpeekatme/status/14206820651
ReplyDeleteI am now following Daniel's blog!
ReplyDeleteI love the Thing 1 crown. My boys had great red and white jammies and we joked that they were thing one and thing two. I'm on my way over to your friends blog to check out the goods.
ReplyDeleteThese are so unique and fun. I would go with the Little Bear Theme Crown because my daughter loves the show so much. Thanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteasmithonline at yahoo dot ca
My daughter's favorite show right now is Charlie and Lola ...so something with Lola on it she would just adore. I also liked the Owl Theme Felt Birthday Party Crown.Too cute!!
ReplyDeletezippieee@msn.com
Said hi to Melanie and commented on her post "Stay at home mom".
ReplyDeleteasmithonline at yahoo dot ca
Following Melanie's blog
ReplyDeleteasmithonline at yahoo dot ca
I am now following Melanies blog.
ReplyDeletezippieee@msn.com
tweet
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/zebastyandylan/statuses/14208806090
zippieee@msn.com
I would love to give my daughter one that has "Miss Good At Quite A Lot" on it. Of course her favorite colors would be a nice added touch.
ReplyDeleteI guess sometimes we could all use a boost to know that we can all do so much.
Thank you!
LOVE the crown with the heart tips!! These are adorable!
ReplyDeletehow sweet! I think I'd like a custom Brobee (Yo Gabba Gabba) crown with Noah's name on it. He's really into that show.
ReplyDeleteI'm following Melanie's blog now.
ReplyDeleteOne of my daughter's said she would choose the butterfly crown and the other said the blue/purple crown (she loves blue b/c it is her eye color lol).
ReplyDeleteTweet - tweet
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/jessie327/status/14223303243
Following Daniel's blog :)
ReplyDeleteSuper idea and for a great cause!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter would love anything we'd give her, thank goodness she's not picky...yet!
Just for the readers... these crowns are awesome. I have bought about 20 now. My kids each have two and all the mothers in the family got them for Mother's Day. Remember, Father's Day is coming up. They make GREAT gifts!!
ReplyDeleteMy son would love the Silly Monster crown. He would also love the orange one...which he calls "fruit".
ReplyDeleteFollowing Melanie's blog!
ReplyDeleteThese are adorable! My younger son would love the Thomas one. And my 3 yr old said he would want a Spiderman one. Thanks for the chance! candaceotto32 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteCorrigan will be two, next week, and the ONLY character that he can identify (including Mom and Dad...ugh) is NEMO. So, of course, I would choose something that marks his bday, his name and a little tiny clownfish!
ReplyDeletemindy411@hotmail.com
LOVE the crowns. I have a feeling I will be ordering one if I don't win! So cute and I love that her creativity is helping her family. Another family rocking out in the Special needs world!
ReplyDeleteThose are so cute! I have been trying to build up a dress up box for my little guy and its hard to find stuff for boys sometimes. I'd love to add a cape or crown to our collection.
ReplyDeleteVisited Melanie's blog! What an amazing family and those crowns...love love love!
ReplyDeleteMy little guy would probably love the Elmo crown... anything Elmo these days or Noah's Ark. They are so beautiful and she has so many choices on her site!
ReplyDeletethat is so awesome.. my kids would love one of those crowns,,, mine cannot walk or talk but i know they would want one,,, you are a truley blessed
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I'm pretty sure that I'd give one to a former patient from the hospital where I work - little G is such a princess, so I'm sure anything pink and frilly would do. Little G has a very rare form of Muscular Dist. She goes through horrible medical procedures with such bravery!
ReplyDeletealso following D's blog.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter, Lily, would love the pink princess crown! Also, these would make great gifts for birthday guests at our tea parties, Miss Lily's SpecialTeas, http://www.lilteas.com/ which specializes in hosting tea parties for kids with special needs. Please let us know how we can get more of these adorable items -- thank you.
ReplyDeleteHere is our tweet: http://twitter.com/misslilysteas/status/14248416733
ReplyDeleteThank you.
OOhh. . .my soon-to-be 4 year old princess would think she was 'all-that-and-a-bag-of-chips' in a pink, purple, flowery, sparkly and everything else girl crown. Her favorite character is Olivia the pig and I am currently working on an oh so fabulous Oliva party for her! Reading your blog is truely inspiring. Our Ally has mild CP due to prematurity and is the light of our life.
ReplyDelete((HUGS)) from Ohio!
(another) Ellen and Allyson
Wow they are so cute! I had the hardest time choosing one :)
ReplyDeleteI think the silly monster crown would be a lot of fun for my boys :)
jillk77 at aol dot com
COOL I ALWAYS WANTED A CROWN
ReplyDeleteHow fun! My son would love the monster crown!
ReplyDeleteThis is a request not for me, for Gabriella who just got a new heart http://listeningthruthenoise.blogspot.com/. What a supercool crown or cape would do for a little girl with a new heart. Mailing address listed under contact info.
ReplyDeleteThanks smgoodie
smg(underscore)gdp(at)hotmail(dot)com
Oh, wow. I think I want three crowns, one for each of my children.
ReplyDeleteI'm now following Daniel's wonderful blog!
ReplyDeleteI like the rocket ship crown (matches the bedding in the boys' room), but my son would like any of them. Yay for the kids who like hats/crowns!
ReplyDeletechristina.dreyer.1 at gmail dot com
I am following Melanie's blog.
ReplyDeletechristina.dreyer.1 at gmail dot com
Wow, VERY hard to choose just one, especially since I have two kids! I would have to buy at least a second one :-) LOVE the pink/brown reversible. Love the multi-year one too - how cute!!! They are GORGEOUS!!!!!
ReplyDeleteMy boy Zachariah would love to have diggers and construction on his crown.
ReplyDeleteI'm sort of thinking a crown like the one in the first photo, but with a purple base color, or something like that. A little girlier, but not too girlie. Love them all!
ReplyDeletewow so cool..my son would love the thomas the train crown!
ReplyDeletenannypanpan at sbcglobal.net
Love the Pink/Brown Personalized reversable crown - my little Grandaughter would look sooo sweet in it! Thanks for the chance to win ;-)
ReplyDelete1955nursehjc4me@myway(dot)com
I'm signing up to follow Daniel's blog, looking forward to what comes next!
ReplyDelete1955nursehjc4me(at)myway(dot)com
Also a BRAND-NEW follower of Melanies blog,,,,really interested in what's coming next... ;-)
ReplyDelete1955nursehjc4me(at)myway
My son doesn't respond to much (IS, CP, and other various issues) but he does respond to his black lab, Miss Hanna! He cries and she licks his hands and feet (I know it's gross to a lot of people but I really believe in animals having a healing quality) plus it makes him stop. She also helps with his PT (he doesn't cry if she is near him). Love your blog and already follow Mr Daniel! The crowns are great!
ReplyDeleteWe have crowns already that we bought the girls' for their birthdays. But, I would LOVE a cape for Emma's wheelchair. She would look soooooo cool with a cape on the back of her chair.
ReplyDeleteI follow Melanie's blog!
ReplyDeletePick me, Pick me, Pick me!! I been following Mel and her amazing son for quite some time she is awesome like yourself. I'd love a crown too for my special girl Ashley.
ReplyDeletePick me, Pick me, Pick me!! I been following Mel and her amazing son for quite some time she is awesome like yourself. I'd love a crown too for my special girl Ashley. And it would have to be the " "Miss Good At Quite A Lot" crown for sure.
ReplyDeleteI am now following Melanie's blog, and left a comment thank you. Hailey's favorite character is Curious George, I know she would love one with her name on it. but the funny thing is that I am Hailey's grandma and my favorite character has always been Curious George, I had my original childhood Curious George until very recently when my yellow lab Benny got a hold of him :( Love your blog Ellen! it is always very helpful, I also love Max's purple cape!
ReplyDeleteI love these and pass them on to everyone I know - I have them for my twins, but would love one for my singleton too! I like to customize!
ReplyDeleteShe makes WONDERFUl crowns I have the Finding Nemo one and I love the pink and brown with the flower on it.
ReplyDeleteI love the black mod crown
ReplyDeletejonilynntaylor at gmail dot com
Ohhhh these are super adorable, we must have the Curious George for a 1st birthday
ReplyDeleteI live the Multi Year crown so it could be used year after year by multiple children, but I think my son would love the rocket crown
ReplyDeletecouponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net
I tweeted
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/couponsiwant/status/14727252277
couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net