Children's Hour

Personalized baby gifts, perfect portraits and more.

Capturing Smiles

Cute As Can Be

Pierce Street Portraits has been doing business in downtown Birmingham for

Darcee Matlen is no stranger to the world of design. Before she became a mother

25 years. The location for which they were named may have changed from

of two, Matlen studied fashion and worked in retail. When the West Bloomfield

Pierce Street to Old Woodward, but their high-quality photos remain the same.

resident began designing and selling personalized baby gifts through her Web

Elaine Yaker, Marcia Boxman and Nannette Carnick — known for their fine art

site, Violet Gumdrop, a little over a year ago, she never expected an interna-

photography — go beyond the fabulous faces they capture through the cam-

tional response. "I was just looking to present a unique product from home,"

era lens. "We are so much about family," Yaker says. In fact, the same families

says Matlen, who has expanded her lines to include jewelry for juniors. Now, her

they photographed two decades ago keep coming back for more. Handcrafted

designs are shipped throughout the country and as far away as Australia and the

books and storage boxes also are available. Sitting fee starts at $175. Prints are

U.K. One of her bestsellers is the friendship necklace, which comes in fun styles

additional. piercestreetportraits.com ; (248) 646-6950.

— Jeanine Mallow

like PB & J and Milk & Cookies. violetgumdrop.com ; (248) 770-8116.

Child Style

Sisters Marla Bednarsh and Alisa Berke weren't able to find a selection of unique, high-quality

clothing for their kids under one roof, so they opened their own specialty store. Peek-A-Bootique

at the Boardwalk Shopping Center in West Bloomfield offers familiar names such as Monster

Pe

Republic, Sister Sam and Cotton Caboodle, along with newer names like Pinc, Pamela Jo and

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Jannuzzi. "I like a lot of variety," Bednarsh says. "We carry fun, fresh and hard-to-find styles."

The sisters weren't content to simply carry something unique; they wanted the shopping experience

to stand out as well. Their clever concept for a children's play area makes it a breeze for adults to

browse. Little ones can sit on swivel chairs and watch their favorite shows on TV, read books or

play with puzzles and toys. (248) 855-8000.

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