Kids go cuckoo for LuCoo's colorful, quirky T-shirts

Queen Anne mom Amy Laybourn knew that she wanted to be part of the do-it-yourself craft uprising that took hold of the country several years ago; she just wasn't sure how she would do it. A former Web designer, Laybourn dabbled in stained glass, then began designing kids' T-shirts a couple of years ago with her art-director husband, Wayne.

Named for their two young kids, Lucy and Cooper, LuCoo is the result of their partnership. Wayne designs the adorable LuCoo creatures, and Amy chooses the fabrics and colors. She buys pre-made T-shirts and hires a local company to cut and sew the appliqués onto them.

The LuCoo characters are bold and colorful, combining whimsical fabrics with a pop-art sensibility. The Laybourns' best sellers are a girls' turquoise shirt that features a sleepy turtle with a mod purple polka-dot shell, and a boy's bright red shirt that sports a friendly blue robot.

Other members of the menagerie include a bird and an elephant. In addition to T-shirts, Laybourn also sells hoodies ($48), pillows ($36) and plush characters ($28).

Laybourn says she wants the LuCoo brand "to inspire creativity in kids through color and fashion." She envisions her Web site, where she currently sells the LuCoo collection, growing into an online destination with games, activities and a magazine for kids, and a community space for parents.

The T-shirts, available in sizes 6 months to 6 years, sell for $32, but a little LuCoo birdie told me that all new spring short-sleeved shirts are on sale for $24 at lucookids.com.

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