Mockingbird closes

I’ve been out of town for a couple of weeks (my apologies for being so absent here), so imagine my surprise when I took a stroll down Garland Avenue the other day and discovered that Mockingbird had closed down.

I don’t have the scoop on why they closed, but I’m sure bummed about it. It was one of those shops you cheered for—small, locally owned and full of adorable goodness for kids. What I really liked about it was that you knew you could find something special if you were on your way to a baby shower or a child’s birthday party. Plus, it had an adorable logo (see above). I’m a sucker for a good logo.

So where do you shop when you need a baby or child’s gift?

Downtown offers Whiz Kids toy store and Children’s Corner  Bookstore in River Park Square, as well as Auntie’s Bookstore a few blocks down.
Coco , a women’s clothing boutique in Spokane Valley Mall, recently opened Coco Bean for wee ones. Simply Northwest ’s Spokane Valley store has a small selection of top-quality children’s clothes and gear, as does Sweet Pea in Coeur d’Alene. A Child’s Dream Come True is a store in Sandpoint I’ve always admired online but have yet to visit in person.

Any other gems I’m missing?

Here are some of my favorite online sites for children’s merchandise, although I must admit I usually only visit to find inspiration for my sewing and crafting projects.

Little Fashion Gallery

Mahar Dry Goods

Quiet Hours Toys

Sarah Jane’s Studio

And there’s Small magazine , which is full of links to adorable shops.