Mermaid, I'm sorry I forgot your questions. I'm fairly sure my friend goes to that parade in NYC every year The name tiles and stamped border are done with polymer clay. the danglys are just strung plastic beads - but I take great pleasure in using those. They were passed to me by an employee at The Inn at Little Washington, its a 5 star, 5 diamond Relais Chateau (and the reason why we moved here - I was hired to be the head gardener) But the thing is, the owner would totally seeth over these being reused - they insist that anything removed from the place be thrown away... including spent rose petals from the floral dept... nothing is allowed to be reused (they worry that will cause people to throw out valuable things, just so they can have it) They are total kooks about this, wouldn't it kill them to know I have their old plates too. It gets better, several of my items are on consignment in their gift shops right now, maybe i should whip up something with those plates and send it down for sale! LOL

There is a web site, Baby Heirlooms, that has some good choices. We've given the Tower of Time (for 5 years of handprints on the baby's birthday) to lots of folks and it has always been a big hit. There are lots of other gifts to choose from, too. Here is a link that might be useful: Baby Heirlooms

Buy larger size, one family I nannied she got alot of sleepers,etc. that her youngest son got at her baby shower and we kept changing him so he would actually wear and one was really long and yet when we said lets try it his toes are at the end and couldn't wear them long, they grow fast. What is really nice buy toddler clothes if you know if its a boy or girl. The baby equipement and such are extremely high prices, the car seats alone now a days are huge and like $300 and up and strollers and highchairs, all those things now. The best for parents to do is buy second high, join toy library where they sign for toys for however long its agreed and return it so kids get different toys. Instead buy books, that is so needed, read and be with the child in learning stage but enjoying it. I agree don't buy mobiles or things that parents decorate their babies rooms.

The guys in the lab at DuPont are all saying "We told you so." to the marketing and design departments. The bald people at DuPont are all in the Public Relations department. They've pulled out all their hair. Swami Joe predicts they pull the plug on this; it's unsustainable because of the internet. I'd love to throw some Tenax Quartz Toner on that stuff just to see what happens.