Shop talk

        Bombay for kids: The Bombay Co. is spreading into the children's world. But don't look for new stores just yet. The furniture, textile and accessories company last weeklaunched Bombay KIDS through mail order and a Web site, www.bombaykids.com. The design team developed several furniture groups for kids' rooms meant to grow with the child. The furniture line, named Morgan, David and Emily, include bedside tables, rocking chairs, mirrors, blanket chests, chairs, desks and dressers in chestnut brown and white finishes. The bedding and accessories are whimsical without being too precious and include flower, princess, airplane, stars 'n' stripes and sport designs in colors and fabrics. (800) 829-7789 for catalog. Examples of prices: giant floppy frog floor pillow, $99; boys' quilt duvet cover, $149, bedside nightstand $199.

We tried it

        Bug off: Bugged by whining mosquitoes and bees this time of year, we picked up this coiled bug bracelet at Bed, Bath & Beyond for working in the garden. The $2.99 Bug Off by Stinger is Deet-free and supposed to last 180 hours. We tried it while clearing out a poison ivy patch. The band arms you with oils of citronella, Geraniol and lemon grass. It doesn't smell bad and kept the biters at bay. No stain. No mess. It comes in a reuseable container and in kid's sizes, but considering what kids put in their mouths, I'd hesitate. It did nothing to keep the poison ivy away.

In print

        Sleep large: The longer you live with your partner, the more likely you are to sleep on a larger mattress, according to a new survey of iVillage.com users conducted by the Better Sleep Council. It found 52 percent of couples slept on a full-size mattress when they first got together, but just 20 percent slept on the same size mattress when surveyed. Forty-nine percent said they sleep on queen-size mattress, while 31 percent sleep on king-size. The queen-size mattress was the No. 1 selling mattress in 2000. For a free copy of Better Sleep Guide, a 16-page brochure on shopping for a mattress and sleep solutions, write: Guide, P.O. Box 19534, Alexandria, VA 22320-0534 or e-mail bsc@sleepproducts.org.

Wise buys

        Disney stitches: Mickey and Donald fans who sew — or have moms and grandmas who sew — have access to more Disney characters in clothing design and construction with two new Disney Home Embroidery Machines from Brothers International Corp. The new machines have 50 and 77 built-in Disney character embroidery designs, including Mickey Mouse and Friends and Winnie the Pooh and Friends. The machines have embroidery areas from 4 1/4-inch square to as big as 6 1/4-inch-by-10 1/4-inch. The machines are compatible with Brothers library of design memory cards. Brothers machines are sold through Beach's Sew and Vac stores in Newport, Cincinnati and Fairfield. Information: www.brother.com.

        Contact Joy Kraft by phone: 768-8467; fax: 768-8330; e-mail: jkraft@enquirer.com

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