Could you just die? If your baby has a lovie, you understand how this photo melts my heart. That’s Clare (the one with the green marker on her face and the shaggy Feral Child from Road Warrior hair) holding “Mermaid
” and a portrait of “Mermaid” painted by Erin Chainani of First Friends Custom Toy Portraiture. Even Mermaid sees the resemblance…
Here’s what Erin says about First Friends:
First Friends celebrates children’s love for their favorite toys. Formerly a Yale-trained NYC-based professional costume designer, I’m now a Miami-based mom of three-year-old twins searching for new ways to stay creative and keep painting. I was inspired to create First Friends after painting portraits of my kids’ favorite stuffed animals — when they saw their paintings for the first time, they jumped around and screamed with joy….and thus First Friends was born. Dollies, stuffed animals, trains, action figures, or even toy garbage cans (seriously – one of my real commissions!) – whatever the toy, kids and adults love to see their favorite first friends memorialized in a unique, hand-painted portrait.
You can choose to order your portrait unframed or custom framed with a white mat and white recycled wood frame. I offer three portrait sizes, with prices ranging from $65 to $165. All portraits are hand-painted in watercolor, gouache and ink on professional-grade watercolor paper. Gift certificates are also available (and are a great option for grandparents, friends, uncles, aunts or anyone else who may not have access to a photo of the special toy). And for kids who have more than one true love, I’ll paint multiple toys together in the portrait for no extra charge.
Aren’t we going crazy over these portraits!?! I still can’t get over the cuteness and I’m so I’m excited to announce that Erin is giving away a Framed 6″x9″ custom toy portrait here on Prudent Baby!
Read on to find out how to enter this WORLDWIDE giveaway and see more adorable toy portraits.
Go to Erin’s site and peruse the gallery (Mermaid is there!) then come back here. Leave a comment anytime between now and midnight next Wednesday, March 30th. We will randomly select a winner and announce next week. WORLDWIDE!!! Tell us what YOUR favorite toy was as a tot. I was big into Smurfs, like psychotically into Smurfs. For additional entries every day, Stumble, Tweet and Facebook “Like” this giveaway. Leave an extra comment for each.
Good Luck!
