how 'bout labels, ah ha

//blueprint says this is a much nicer laber than the silly name
$label = $type_info[$base_node->type]['fields'][$fieldname]['widget']['label'];
$items[] = l($label, 'node/'.$base_node->nid.'/add/'.substr($base_field['field_name'] , strlen('field_')).'/'.$typename.'/'.$fieldname);

It seems reasonable, given how far we've come to this point?

yours,
Mark