. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Daydream Believers. In shop owner Lori's words:
"Daydream Believers is for all of the dreamers and wonderers, wanderers and hopers... and the grownups who love them. Our goal is to honour our children by providing clothing that lifts up the nature of childhood (and our kids) through positive labels. We offer a wide variety of colours and styles in over 30 original designs (cotton and organic bamboo) which combine the power of words with appealing images to celebrate the persistent, the expressive, the wonder full kids in our lives."
"Beneath the Rowan Tree is the big sister site to Daydream Believers. Beneath the Rowan Tree is our home for natural, child led toys made to encourage imaginative play."
SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to where you are today?
Lori: Words and children have always been powerful currents in my life. As an ordained minister in the United Church of Canada for 15 years I have a deep rooted understanding of the living power of W/word to shape meaning and our sense of self and our place in the world. As I have worked with children over the years, I have seen the diminished capacity for true play and a loss of the sense of wonder in their world as children are groomed to be consumers rather than citizens. Add the life changing experience of mothering a sensitive and spirited child and the heart of my creative work began to emerge. Creative work that has taken my inner convictions and presented them through colour and natural materials (Beneath the Rowan Tree) to the wider world where they have met a hunger and a need in other parents longing to offer their children alternatives. This has been a very personal journey of claiming my own wonder and learning to live into the label of artisan, even artist. Daydream Believers has emerged as an expression of this same understanding and hope ~ it is using our words to create the reality for our children by lifting up their strengths and encouraging the development of traits such as compassion, joy and wonder. Daydream Believers is a converging of the currents which have moved my life.
SouleMama: How do you come up with new designs and ideas?
Lori: As a parent to a vibrantly free spirited 5 year old, many ideas come from her living ~ sitting back and taking that exasperated deep breath and realizing that the character trait giving me a run for my money is one that will serve her well in life and deserves to be appreciated. That stubborness is the persistence she will need to be her own person. That chattiness (inherited from me, and payback according to my parents) is an expressive nature that is to be cherished not quashed. Ideas also come from other children in our lives, each one different and beautiful. They come from tired, busy parents who appreciate the reminder that the frustrating child before them is a living possibility (who refuses to put on their PJs). They come from the smiling old ladies at church whose smiles mean 'be quiet' and not 'you are welcome here'~ the ladies who need to remember that the child before them is a gift from God (just like them!). They come from favoured quotes or an interesting illustration (like the children on the cow in our 'Be Silly' design!).
SouleMama: What's your most treasured thing in your home?
Lori: Hmm, this is a tough one. I *really* adore my new serger! But truly, there are family heirlooms I cherish but could live without as the memories are still mine. I think in that old 'what do you grab in case of fire' type of scenario I would be content to get out with my family and pets, and the only thing I could imagine going back in for would be 'Puppy', my daughter's lovey and constant companion. Dirty, floppy, matted Puppy is like our second child.
SouleMama: How does the balance of family and work play out for you?
Lori: I strive for balance over time. Like a good diet. Not every day is balanced, not everything gets done in every day, but over the course of days or weeks, we get there. Ok, maybe years when it comes to housekeeping. I read once that women in their 30s/40s have an unrealistic understanding of balance. That we have to do it all. Now. Rather, we need to understand that we *can* do it all. Just not all at once. This works for me. With my husband having started a new (thankfully growing!) business in the past year, a child adjusting to school, a fulll time job which never really ends as I am available 24/7, and two young and very energetic dogs (Archie the vigilant Sheltie, bless his herding soul! and Hooligan, the hooligan Brittany puppy) on top of two businesses, life is crazy. So balance for me is all about priorities. And my biggest struggle is to keep my own health (exercise, good diet) nearer to the top of the list. So we take it day by day, and each one is different!
For today's giveaway, Daydream Believers is generously offering the following to THREE winners:
a custom short sleeve 100% cotton tshirt in the design, colour and size of the winner's choice!
(Tshirts are professionally printed in our brick & mortar family shop in Northern Ontario. We use a direct-to-garment process which bonds the ink with the fabric for an integrated finish that leaves no 'hand'/ feel on the fabric and lasts as long as our durable, comfortable tees!)
In addition, Daydream Believers is offering a 15% discount to SouleMama readers. To redeem, put code "soulemama" in the 'notes to seller' at the Etsy checkout and 15% of your purchase price (excluding shipping) will be refunded. Offer valid October 22-24, 2010. Combined shipping is always possible, and multiples are available. If you don't see what you want, send us a note by Etsy 'conversation' on the offer dates and we will make you a custom listing honouring the discount!
. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Thank you to Daydream Believers!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Comments closed! Winners will be announced by end of day on Monday.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
