SouleMama

SouleMama Sponsor ~ BELLA LUNA TOYS ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Bella Luna Toys. In owner Sarah's words:

"Bella Luna Toys is proud to have been providing families with the highest quality natural wooden Waldorf toys, art supplies, musical instruments and more since 2002. This online toy shop is owned and operated on the coast of Maine by Sarah Baldwin, an experienced Waldorf early childhood teacher, author, and mama to two Waldorf grads. Sarah chooses every item offered for sale at Bella Luna Toys with care, based on its quality, developmental appropriateness and play value.

You can follow along with Sarah's blog Moon Child where she shares thoughts on parenting and Waldorf education as well as Bella Luna giveaways!"

SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led to where you are today?

Sarah: My background is not in retail, sales or marketing, but rather in Waldorf education. After teaching early childhood classes in a Waldorf school for many years, I was ready to take my life in a new direction.

When I made the decision to take ownership of Bella Luna Toys in 2009, I felt a little daunted when I realized how many websites there are now selling wooden and natural toys on the web, but as I explored them, I realized that few retailers have the background in education, or the years of experience using these toys, both in the classroom and at home, that I have. While I don't consider myself an expert in retail or marketing, I am an expert in children and play. I can promote the toys I sell wholeheartedly, since I only sell products that I love and believe in.

SouleMama: What do you envision and dream for the future of your business?

Sarah: Bella Luna Toys has just taken a big step into its future this month! After a year-and-a-half of running the business from my home, we just moved in to a bigger warehouse and office space in Rockland, Maine. The move was overdue, as I had long outgrown the confines of a small barn/warehouse and home office. Our new space now has  lots of room to continue growing, and for me to introduce all the beautiful and unique toys which I dream about adding to the website! We are adding new products to the website daily.

SouleMama: Tell us about the product or offering you are most excited about offering right now.

Sarah: I am really tickled about the new wooden dollhouses that we've just added. Our small dollhouse and two sizes of wooden toy barns are handmade here in Maine by a small family business, and we've also just introduced an exquisite handmade Waldorf Wooden Dollhouse that is just magical!  During the coming months, I'm looking forward to adding people, animals and furniture for the dollhouses. Readers can sign up for our newsletter, if they'd like to be kept informed about new additions.

 

 

 



 
For today's giveaway, Bella Luna Toys is generously offering the following to ONE winner:

~a Bella Luna Waldorf Birthday Set! 

(includes a Waldorf Birthday Ring Set, imported from Germany, 1 Rainbow Silk Birthday Cape from Sarah's Silks, and 1 Wool Felt Birthday Crown (in winner's choice of green or pink, with choice of number  from 1 to 6) by Mosey Handmade)

In addition, Bella Luna Toys has invited SouleMama readers to receive a FREE muslin bag of soy Crayon Rocks with any order placed now through May 15. Enter "SOULEMAMA"  in the comment section when checking out (Note: Be sure to leave as a comment, NOT as a promotion code). And All orders over &75 ship for free in the continental U.S.

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Thank you to Bella Luna Toys!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.

Comments closed! The winner is...

So lovely, thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: molly pocket

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{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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day off

Sorry for the silence today, and thank you for the emails! No, there is no baby (it's not time), just technical challenges and one of those days. I'll see you back here tomorrow for {this moment}!

at the shore

Oh, sweet seaside bliss!

on the farm :: early spring beginnings

This spring has been damp, cool and slow in coming. This is true. And yet. And yet...when I look around I do see beginnings everywhere, and evidence of spring work that has happened when the rain (and snow) breaks.

The chicken yard is free of snow...

...the chicken coop is cleaned out, and broody hens (without a rooster) take a little coaxing...

...chicks are growing oh so fast...

...tools are at the ready...

...fencing is being repaired, taken down, moved, repurposed, and put back up (I'm told this is how it goes) for spring arrivals....

...we're moving rocks, and more rocks, and rocks...

....where the worms and good soil abound, where we plant what we can, and wait patiently for the rest...

...and always - always - there is a helper (or two or four) to lend a hand.

Oh yes. In small ways, in little windows of time between the frequent rainfall, in tiny little corners of the gardens and pasture...after a long winter, this land and this little farm - that has been sleeping for so many years - is waking up. It's beginning!

simply ten good things

fresh art supplies and new books
chocolate bunnies
treasures the snow leaves behind
old school rollerskates and the rinks to wear them in
stripes
spring peepers after an April day of snow
harmonica neck straps on a shaggy-haired eight year old
(not-a-baby-anymore) kid toes
playing in the dirt
lemon tarts for breakfast

Oh, sometimes there's nothing like a list of goodness to start the day, to slow it all down, to plant us right where we are, and to carry it with us as we begin the week.
Do you need that today?
Give it a go - simply ten good things.

(And Happy Monday to you!)

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

See you all back here on Monday! Have a lovely weekend!

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SoulePapa Blogs :: along the ground

We set out into a damp gray morning, walking with careful steps as the saturated earth squished beneath our weight, attempting to pull boots free of feet.  The snow had finally relented enough to allow travel down our trail.  Although, cloaked in ice these many months, everything seemed somehow shifted and different.  I stopped mid stride to get my bearings and assure we were on the right path, as silly as this seemed having traveled it many times before.  A quick glance to the south revealed the tops of the giant white pines that have marked the border of this land for nearly two centuries.  Thick dark clouds blew quickly past the wooden sentinels and showed little hope of breaking or making way for the Sun.  Undeterred, we continued, following the water as it ran east falling away with the slope of the land. 

Clear and cold and plentiful, the water filled each and every hole in its path to the very brim before spilling over and down to the next low spot to repeat the process.  It never stops, I thought, marveling at the elemental journey of the liquid at my feet. 

As I held Harper's hand to wade through a particularly deep puddle, my mind focused back to my own steps on this ground.  His two year old fingers gripping mine and then releasing to amble with confidence through the mud and around the rocks.  It seemed only moments ago I was holding his newborn body against my skin for the very first time and wondering who he may turn out to be.  Cradling him easily with one hand as he slept, I could examine his tiny features and amaze at their perfection.  Here he was, moving happily across the land before me.  When he reached an obstacle too large for his size to navigate he would simply pivot and hold up his arms for Papa to lift him across.  This happened without words but made me smile each time.

Walking with Ezra and patiently listening to his many observations of that morning, I could tell that Amanda was happy to be out.  Surrounded by water and trees, walking with her family, following her own path.  Reminded by her back and legs, with each step, that she carries another baby with her today.  A baby that will join us soon.  A baby that will also prepare for a trail such as this.  A baby that, for now, is felt and anticipated and loved but unseen. 

Eventually, the slope of the land eases and the water is deeper here.  The old cedar foot bridge is in need of repair and sits covered in snow.  We stop here and decide this is far enough for today.  We sit and watch the water for a few minutes and listen to the forest sounds.  I stare into the pool to see a small current still visible, pulled by gravity toward the lake almost a mile away.  In the middle of a journey with no beginning and no end.

corners of our home :: a little nook

This little corner of our home, as you can see (and may have seen before), is in transition. It likely will be for a little (or perhaps long) while longer while we birth a baby, play and work outside, make decisions about it, manifest the perfect french doors to appear in our lives, and otherwise wait for this spot to move to the top of the budget, time and priority lists. It separates the kitchen and our living room (and therefore the 'old' and 'new' of the house, this corner was originally part of the barn),  so it's a space we pass through many, many times a day. And well - sheetrock and exposed lathe and all - I knew it could be a usable daily space right now, with just a little bit of effort.

And so, with just that little bit of effort - some painting, a "desk" installed (using the last bits of that table), and a little bit of new art made and gathered from around the house, this little nook off our kitchen has become our planning and dreaming spot. Seed catalogs, the seeds themselves, a few gardening resources, and new garden markers are at the ready for planting time (thanks to Adelaide who spied the idea in a recent issue of Martha Stewart Living).

Perhaps most importantly to me, though, and most central to the making of this space...is that it also holds our family farm journal, and a dedicated and always-clear space upon which to write in it. The journal is something we began in the fall to record our days here -  and it contains everything from the mundane potato seed order to a weather report to the orchard 'plans' to a child-written account of a(nother) day the pigs got out. (I'm loving that journal.)

Much like the garden, pasture, and land around us...this tiny little corner, too will likely be transformed many times over in the years to come. But, oh, I'm loving the beginnings and the right now of it so very much.

eggs, naturally

I'm rather fond of seeing our eggs au naturel - there's such variation in color with each one, and oh those great big and white duck eggs! But my little ones have been noticing the calendar and changing season and asking when, oh, when Mama are we going to dye eggs?

Of course! We did so this weekend, and we kept it simple, as that always works best when all six of us are planning on doing the same thing. I hard boiled the eggs. We did some coloring (with beeswax crayons) on them, and some elastics were applied. And we dyed with what we had on hand - lots of beets, some turmeric, coffee (onions are great too), and a little bit of this dye for the blue (because I couldn't part with my last bags of frozen blueberries). (Generally speaking, 2 cups of dye matter, 4 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, all boiled together for 15 minutes or so. Then cool. Or not, if you're too impatient to wait, as we all clearly were.) Some we just dipped, some we soaked for a long time, some we double dipped. And then we set them all out to cool. (The ones we planned on eating will be kept in the fridge, others decided theirs are decorative only.)

Oh, and the fabric strips are just sheets of muslin, torn into long strips. We dyed those just the same way as the eggs, in anticipation of a little spring May Day maypole celebration. I love how vibrant the colors are on the fabric! It's going to be one colorful maypole....

If you're looking for more Spring & Easter egg goodness, some links for you today:

These watercolor easter eggs are lovely.

Stephanie's elastics inspired us.

Mother Earth News has a good tutorial for natural egg dyeing.

Martha's recipe is also quite simple.

These eggs are gorgeous too.

These, too, are the colors of spring!

In my kitchen

This week, in our kitchen, we have ....

:: stopped to admire at every given opportunity the 'first' of this season's harvest. The tidy (little) corner of precious syrup. (The season is over and it was a good one!)

:: enjoyed and nourished our bodies with our family-raised pork with much gratitude, reverence,  respect and thought.

:: continued to honor my committment to using all of the animal that I can. This week, that meant rendering lard for the very first time.

:: been, therefore, preparing for cold-process soap making for the very first time!

:: made hard boiled eggs oh-so-often thanks to finally figuring out a trick to making fresh eggs easier to peel (a simple little poke in the end of the egg before boiling...I use a clean thumbtack).

:: been enjoying the simplicity and yumminess of Heidi Swanson's (of 101 Cookbooks) new book Super Natural Everyday so much that I haven't even gotten past the breakfast chapter (so far, her spinach strata and muesli are big hits 'round here).

:: made this fried rice (with brown rice instead of white, and sometimes adding sausage) a whole heck of a lot.

:: reluctantly turned the March page on the Nikki McClure calendar from my favorite image in all the years of having that calendar. I might just need to frame that one - it's so very right now for me.

:: made those brownies more times than I care to admit (Double the batch. Always double the batch.).

:: welcomed the return of the seasonal 'snack plate for lunch'. Quick to prepare, easy to eat on the run out of doors - hard boiled eggs, nuts, fruit, popcorn and easy things like that.

:: begun freezing meals to have on hand for the first baby-days that are ahead of us. Do you have any favorites?

:: been visited by a cooking purple dragon. Who knew?

It's a busy place, this kitchen of ours.

What's going on in YOUR kitchen this week?

SouleMama Sponsor ~ MAKE GOOD BOOKS ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Make Good Books. In their words:

"Make Good: Crafts + Life is a series of craft books meant to inspire creative living. We’re part of Trumpeter Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications.  Our website features descriptions of all of our books as well as free sample projects. (Full disclosure: We also publish Amanda’s books!)"

SouleMama: How long have you been in business?

Make Good Books: The Make Good series launched in 2008 with two books; we now have seven titles and more in the works! While the series is still relatively new, Shambhala Publications has been an independent publisher of high quality books of benefit for over 40 years.

SouleMama: What inspired your beginnings?

Make Good Books: The idea for this series was inspired by our love of Japanese craft books, and our desire to make those books more widely available. What we love about these books is the quality and beauty of the photographs, which really capture the craft lifestyle. In each book there is a strong sense of nature and home, and a casual elegance that makes each project feel like a natural extension of our day-to-day lives.  As a bonus, they also feature wonderful projects and have really clear instructional illustrations!

SouleMama: How do you come up with new ideas?

Make Good Books: While many of the books in the series are Japanese craft books in translation, we also publish original titles in the Japanese craft style. When considering a new book for the series, we look for an overall style that resonates with us as people, not just as crafters. We see crafting as a lifestyle—one that allows us to slow down, connect with our family and friends, and seek inspiration from nature.  Each of these books are meant to inspire, whether you actually make the crafts or not.

 

For today's giveaway, Make Good Books is generously offering the following to THREE winners:

~a bundle of four books each!
Natural Patchwork, At Home with Handmade Books, Felting for Baby, and Carefree Clothes for Girls.

In addition, Make Good Books is offering SouleMama readers a 15% discount on any Make Good Book. Just use coupon code Mama411 at checkout. Offer expires April 30, 2011.

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Thank you to Make Good Books!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Monday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.

Comments closed! The winners are:

I am drooling!
Posted by: Kate

Would love to win this giveaway. All books I've been inspired to get.Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: Carrie :: Between Hitching Posts

Oooh, a book giveaway! Divine!
Posted by: vermontmommy

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SouleMama Sponsor ~ HIP MOUNTAIN MAMA ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Hip Mountain Mama. In Suzy's words: 

"Hip Mountain Mama is a small Mom and Pop Shop specializing in Sustainable, Fair Trade, and Handmade products. We are your source for hip, eco-friendly, and beautiful items for your natural lifestyle."

Hip Mountain Mama blogs too, where we offer ideas, inspiration, and support on making green changes in your life as well as posts on my family adventures in the great outdoors.  We also run an active Facebook page with inspirational quotes, green living tips, product information, and shop sale announcements."

SouleMama: With Earth Day coming up, a lot of people are wondering what they can do in their own lives to make a difference.  What are some ways Hip Mountain Mama can help with making small eco friendly changes?

Suzy: We search out the latest reusable products that folks can use in their own homes.  You don’t have to go green over night, and by making one small eco friendly change at a time, you can really make a difference over time.  For instance, switching to reusable straws, using cloth sandwich bags, or eliminating dryer sheets by switching to dryer balls can all have a large impact in the long run.

SouleMama: What's the product you are most excited about offering right now?

Suzy: I would have to say Soap Nuts.  Soap Nuts are a dried fruit that are used to clean your laundry in place of detergent.  They are so wonderful, they work, are inexpensive, and 100% natural!  I know it sounds crazy if you haven’t heard of them before, but it really is a great natural way to clean your laundry.

SouleMama: What does the Hip Mountain Mama family and company do to go green?

Suzy: As a business we reuse 99% of all of our packaging supplies that we gather from other local businesses, we purchase wind power for our home and business, we support local green efforts, we print promotional material on recycled paper, and we donate time and money to nature organizations.  As a family we are working in both of our daughter’s schools to help them make green changes, we teach our kids daily the importance of taking care of our earth, and we constantly strive to make our daily decisions based on what is best for our Mother Earth.  Over the years we have made many small changes in our lives to live more sustainably, and there are many more changes we plan to make.  Once we tackle one change in our lives, like hanging laundry or cutting out dryer sheets, we make sure to have this in place for at least a month before taking on something new!  We can all do our part by making small changes one at a time!

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Suzy: "Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves." ~John Muir

  

For today's giveaway, Hip Mountain Mama is generously offering the following TWO prizes: 

~ In honor of Earth Day, two Eco-Friendly Prize Sets: 
~ Green Kitchen Kit and includes 2 Eco Scrubs, 4 cloth napkins, and 2 bamboo kitchen towels. 
~ Reusable Lunch Kit and includes 1 Insulated Lunch Tote, 1 Insulated Sandwich Sleeve, a set of Bamboo Flatware, 1 Stainless Steel container, and a Hip Mountain Mama Water Bottle.

In addition, Hip Mountain Mama is all SouleMama readers $5 off all orders over $30 now through April 24, 2011. Use coupon code "Soule5" at checkout.

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Thank you to Hip Mountain Mama!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday.

Comments closed! The winners are...

Green Kitchen Kit ~

what beautiful products!
Posted by: nina beana

Reusable Lunch Kit ~

Just getting ready to send our little one to "school", and this would be perfect!!!
Posted by: Amanda Roe

 

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{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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a quilt for Harper

Some of you might remember a guest fat quarter pack that I put together for Sew Mama Sew last winter. In choosing the pieces, I always intended for it to be the beginnings of a quilt for Harper...when he was ready for his own quilt. (His flannel quilt/blanket has loved and warmed him, but was never meant to be his real, true Mama-made quilt.) The quilt bundle has sat (and grown a little bit with a few new pieces added), waiting for the right time in which he was ready for a room or space of his own.

Just recently, that time has come (a little unexpectedly by this Mama who still thinks of him as such a little one), as he moved on into Ezra's room. Ezra who has missed having a roommate since we moved here, loves having someone to read to, play music for, and sing to at night (and someone who doesn't complain when it's the Boxcar Children and Conor Oberst once again). And Harper stands and walks just a little bit taller and 'older' now that he has his own space in which to play, read and sleep (and learn to love vinyl). Both boys are delighted at the change. (And Mama and Papa are both delighted that they're both delighted.)

The pattern is a Chinese coin quilt, though I didn't really follow a pattern (there is, though, a great crib size coin pattern in Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.) I cut the pieces to both two and three inch lengths, sewed those into strips, and adjusted the sashes to make the size quilt I wanted. The white  fabric (sashings and the back) is a wonderfully thick and hearty Moda muslin from Alewives. I used the Nature-fil bamboo batting, which I've used on all of our quilts and like the (thinish) weight that it creates. I used painter's tape, as you saw, to mark the quilting lines - just simple diagonal machine quilting worked well for this, I think. And the binding I made (with this fabric) and applied using the instructions that I always call upon in Denise Schmidt Quilts.

When all was said and done, and the quilt was happily set upon Harper's bed in his new space, I went back to the pile of scraps I had leftover to make a pillow...and the banner over his bed (the banner was made by simply ziz zag stitching the squares to a strip of twill tape).

(Anticipating some other questions....Harper's doll is by Bamboletta. The alphabet cards on the door are from Ida Pearle. His knit blanket I wrote about here. And the instructions for making the bird collage hooks are in Handmade Home.)

Who knew when I was choosing these fabrics over a year ago that they would end up so perfectly fitting into the band-aid colored room in which he was to sleep - and read and dance and play - with his big brother. All I knew is that they reminded me of the late autumn season in which my fourth babe, Harper was born.

And so, with this project complete, and for just a very little while longer until the last babe arrives, I will rest happily at night knowing that all of my babies are tucked peacefully into their beds under a quilt I stitched just for them. And that is a very happy feeling indeed.

quilt, (happily) interrupted

Oh, it's really Almost Done now.

But first, with the sun shining yesterday and more snow melting, how about a walk in the woods with friends? Down by the stream where birch-bark canoes are made and raced, and everyone (or at least those brave and adventure-seeking souls under the age of twelve) can take their first-of-the-season, wild and wonderful walk in the cold, fresh April stream.

Yesterday, feeling so awake with the fresh air of spring, I was reminded of a favorite Mary Oliver poem, "Such Singing in the Wild Branches" (from Owls and Other Fantasies). The last few lines (though, I hope you can read it in its entirety somewhere) for you this morning...

"Listen, everyone has a chance.
Is it spring, is it morning?

Are there trees near you,
and does your own soul need comforting?
Quick, then - open the door and fly on your heavy feet; the song
may already be drifting away."

Oh yes...these days are so good.

seeing stripes

Almost Done.

(the quilt, not the baby)

Such exciting words in a big project, yes?

There's no time for a long blog post today. Or getting out of pajamas or making dinner, for that matter (I hereby declare Popcorn!). For, this is Almost Done. And just as soon as it is, and I can once again see straight (ahem), I'll be back to show you.

Have a lovely Tuesday, everyone!

:: right now ::

right now, I am...

:: marveling at my little man Ezra who turned EIGHT this weekend.

:: recovering from a weekend of vinyl-loving, rollerskate-happening, harmonica-playing, ice-cream eating celebrating...eight year old style.

:: feeling challenged - and entertained - by (some of) the music my boys are listening to these days.

:: being inspired - and entertained - by the music my boys are making these days.

:: noticing the balance tip towards more time spent of out of doors than in.

:: spying buds on the trees.

:: watching seedlings grow.

:: seeing snow melt everyday.

:: rejoicing that spring is here!

:: enjoying our maple syrup on my blueberry waffles.

:: looking forward to hearing Iron & Wine in just one week.

:: loving all the good live music that came with the State Theatre reopening.

:: thinking I need to make these brownies (again) very, very soon.

:: heading into the studio for a rare and precious, full and quiet day of work and play.

:: hoping that pileated woodpecker makes another appearance today outside my window.

:: wishing you much simple pleasure in your coming day!

 

SouleMama Sponsor ~ EXPERIMENTAL ART E-COURSE ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Experimental Art E-Course. In Amelia's words:

"The experimental art e-course is designed to give permission to anyone wishing to get more creative and artistic, whilst offering some great tips and techniques for ‘blocked’ creatives too. It’s jam packed with unique ideas and ‘walk through’ art techniques all done from the comfort of home but with a great creative community online. Ignite, and get in touch with your own creative ideas on this course."

You can also follow along with Amelia on her website.

SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?

Amelia: I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a creative household but as I got older being creative got left further and further behind – it’s so easy for work and responsibility to take over. When I became a mother I realized I needed something for me and decided to return to art school. I completed a part time art degree (fitting it around children and working) and it was the best thing. I got in touch with my creativity, met wonderful people, learnt some amazing art techniques and all of this I’ve recreated on the experimental art e-course. Based on my own experiences, I felt the internet was great for a course as there are times when finances or childcare challenges don’t permit going to physical classes yet with the invention of the net art can be done from the comfort of home but still with others through an online community.

SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business?

Amelia: In January last year I had a bit of a ‘moment’ where I realized I could no longer carry on trying to earn money in one job, look after my kids and home and do my art too, particularly because I learnt 3 years ago my youngest child had a form of Aspergers Syndrome. It has been very tough. Also, I’d worked in a nursing home with people at the end of their lives and it was a good wake up call as I realized one day I too would be at the end of my life and I asked myself what I would regret not doing by the time I got there - I got a loud and clear answer that I had to give being a full-time artist and earning an income from my passion a proper go! Thus I took my teaching experience and wrote the experimental art e-course designing an online course I would love to take. I also applied for my MA in Fine Art (which I am doing currently). Taking the risky plunge to do what I really wanted has definitely been the right decision. This time last year I launched my first ever experimental art e-course, although I’ve been doing art, teaching and exhibiting for quite a while now.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Amelia: I’m inspired by people living their dream and passion, who encourage others to do this too (by doing it themselves), people who are happy to share their thoughts, ideas, lifestyle, however radical, which in turn gives others permission to follow their own passions and ideas too. Nature inspires me, human kindness and generosity – someone recently gave me this book The Gift - the content and the fact that someone I barely knew gave it to me as a gift (another artist) really touches me.

SouleMama: Tell us about your customers?

Amelia: I really could not have done the experimental art e-course without my customers! People from all walks of life and places around the globe have done the course. I’ve made great new friends, met brave, interesting, and lovely people. I’ve much admiration for those who’ve done the course saying they put their creativity to one side when told in school they were not ‘good’ at art – and yet here they are diving in to the creative process. Everyone is creative and can do art – artist’s work is as unique as snowflakes! And artists who are feeling a bit stuck and blocked have done the course and the fact we all work together sharing ideas, artists, techniques, and materials has meant for me a wonderful community has been created in the name of experimenting with art.

  

For today's giveaway, Ameila is generously offering the following to ONE winner:

   ~    a place in the Spring 2011 experimental art e-course
(starts Monday 25^th April for 6 weeks)

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Thank you to Ameila & the Experimental Art E-Course!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Monday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday.

Comments closed! The winner is...

Amelia, your site and course look wonderful... how nice to "meet" you! Amanda, thank you for hosting.
Posted by: Denice (inkstitch)

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SouleMama Sponsor ~ JUST HATCHED ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Just Hatched. In Amanda and Joel's words:

"At Just Hatched, we believe the best toys are simple and beautiful. We take great care to use only natural and safe materials in everything we create. We will never get tired of watching a piece of wood turn into something else, brought to life in the hands of a small child." 

You can also follow along with the Just Hatched blog!

SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?

Amanda: We never set out to start a business, just to make some simple toys for our own kids. But like many families, times were tough and we were brainstorming ideas to supplement our single income. One weekend we set up our Etsy shop on a whim to see if we would sell anything. The response we received on Etsy has been fantastic, and our shop has continued to grow throughout its first year. We are still learning a lot about the business side of things, but are still so grateful that we have this opportunity to share in a creative process that also helps support our family.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Amanda: Our two young sons are our greatest inspiration. Their love for nature and animals has given us many of our ideas for new products.

SouleMama: How does the balance of work and family play out for you? How has motherhood/fatherhood changed the work you do?

Amanda: My husband Joel works a full-time job at a nonprofit agency, so all of the woodworking has to happen in the evenings and weekends. Our precious family time is most important, but keeping the balance can be a challenge for all of us. The best part is knowing that we are ultimately in charge, and we can shut down the shop whenever we need a break or a vacation. We remain humbled and grateful for the opportunity we have, and for everyone who has supported our shop and our family throughout our first year of business.

I still remember the time our oldest son unwrapped the first toys we made for him.  Nothing compares to the feeling of seeing your child's eyes light up from a new toy that you know was made with love, and will spark the imagination.  We hope every person who gives a child one of the toys we make can share in that same feeling.

 

For today's giveaway, Just Hatched is generously offering the following to ONE winner:

   ~  a $50 gift certificate to the Just Hatched Etsy shop!

In addition, Just Hatched is offering free shipping through April 15th (in US and Canada only, please). Use code 'soulemama' at checkout.  

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Thank you to Just Hatched!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday.

Comments closed. The winner is...

Your shop is one of my Etsy favorites...wonderful toys.
Posted by: Michelle (maryland)

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{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

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SoulePapa Blogs :: My Little Chickadees

Starting out, I could tell his heart wasn't quite in the room but we forged ahead and soon the ideas were rolling and tools being plucked from the workbench.  After rummaging about the barn for scraps and bits of usable material I begrudgingly relented that we may need to buy a couple of items new to make this project fly.  Calvin was stoked with this news on a number of fronts.  Primarily because it meant a pilgramage to the hardware store and a ride in the truck where he just might get control of the radio from his perch in the front seat.  Also, I detected no disappointment by the delay in our father/son workshop time for which we were preparing.  I took no offense to this, for I too bristle at the mere mention of carefully constructed together time or scheduled spiritual experiences.  He's my boy and I knew exactly where he was at. 

As luck would have it, my favorite hardware guy was working and his form was impeccable:

Me : "I need 4 ten foot 2x4's"

Hardware Guy (insert thick, barely decipherable - even for a born and raised Mainer - Maine accent): "Haven't got any ten footahs."

Me: "Ok.  How 'bout 10 eight footers?"

Hardware Guy: "Not sure how many eight footahs we got."

Me: "Can you find out?"

Hardware Guy takes a deep sigh turning slowly to his trusty computer: "Says we got 28 of 'em but I'm not really sure we do."

Me: "Can I get ten, please...if you have them?"

Hardware Guy tries to upsell me: "Do you want more if we have more?"

Me: "Ten is all I need.  And one sheet of 1/2" plywood."

Hardware Guy:  "Haven't got any plywood.  Haven't carried that in yee-ahs...not sure why."

Me: "Just the 2x4's would be great then...if you have them."

Hardware Guy sighs again:  "Meet me 'round back."

We giggle our way out of the store and load up our hard earned 2x4's (all ten).  Heading home, I strain slightly to be interested in his music of the moment just as he strains to be interested in getting started early to build something with his Papa.  But love prevails and what I really love is how much HE loves his music right now and I could listen to this kid's passion all day.  Almost.

Back at the farm, the business of building a brooder for our rapidly growing chicks is at hand.  Just my kind of carpentry adventure.  No one heavy will ever have to sit on this and the only decor it will ever need to match is barn door.  So, with confidence high we dive in headlong with saws and drills, pencils, speed squares, hand sanders and a host of like apparatii.  I show Calvin how to refurbish old discarded boards and he convinces me to, "stop pulling things apart and just use this new one right here." 

In repetitive rhythm we marked and cut, held and connected, building something together.  Sometimes it was one person work and the other was allowed a little space to dream.

Sometimes others came so we put them to work.

Time whisped away and before long we were moving those little birds over to the new digs.  And soon a small crowd had gathered.

Ezra opted for the book by the boiling sap.

A sliver of shared time and a bunch of happy little chicks.  Though our preferences are often different we always seem to work our way into mutual understanding.  He decided to raise some birds of his own and together we built them a shelter.  

Just taking care of his flock.

longies for the baby

I decided it was time to move beyond all those sweaters I've been knitting this winter and onto knitting for the bottom half of this baby to come. Some wool longies were in order, with none other than Elizabeth Zimmermann as a guide (naturally). The pattern is in Knitter's Almanac, as Febrary "Baby Leggings," which starts out like this, "Don't worry too much about size; babies vary, and knitting stretches." Um, how much do I love Elizabeth again? A lot.

So the size ended up being a little larger than newborn, as I wanted to use a double strand of yarn - I'm guessing it's closer to 9-12 months. Just right for a warm wintry woolen pair of paints. Because of the sizing, I left off the bootee foot that the original pattern called for and just did a little ribbing at the ankle. The yarn is a gorgeous Sweet Basil Fiber Works sockweight skein combined with a goldenrod skein from deep in my stash that came from Siri. 

{Ravelry Link.}

I loved knitting these so much, that I immediately cast on for another much smaller, likely to fit right away pair. Because  we all know that a new baby can't have too many handknits now, can they? Of course not.

Besides... Knitting stretches, as Elizabeth says. And as I say, so do babies.

corners of our home :: a hint of tansy

{in July}

I've been thinking about tansies a lot lately, inspired surely by late winter dreams and longings for green (!), flowery (!), growing (!) things...as well as a recent little house project. They're my favorite flower, that common tansy weed - just the most perfect of colors, delicate and subtle, with a fascinating texture, and always arriving at a favorite time of year - in the height of our summer.

Have I told you that the kitchen entry to this house - upon our first visit to it - was completely overrun by blooming tansies?  I tried to be all calm and cool about that little detail and actually look at the rest of the house before saying 'yes, please!'...but, really now. She had me at the tansies.

This week, I've been painting our bedroom. It was the room that never quite made its way to the 'paint' list before we moved in. Not just because we ran out of time, or paint money, but mostly because it was lined with sleeping bags and gear from wall to wall as we made a mess in every other room of the house. It was the one safe and clear room. In all it's unpaintedness, it was a little refuge of sorts from dust, chaos and paint trays. I will never forget those weeks - that month - in this room with all of us, collapsing onto the floor each night in sheer new house excitement/exhaustion (with mama just freshly pregnant, to boot).

I've been waiting for a wintry stretch of days full of motivation to do something about this room. It finally struck these past weeks as I've begun thinking about making space for peaceful birthing and all the quiet, tender and restful moments of a new baby's life.

Tidying, rearranging, and painting - ceiling, floors, walls and trim, oh my! But oh, what a fresh coat of paint does. The paint is Yolo's Leaf .01 (my big paint post can be found here) and I think it just might be my current favorite. A little bit green, a little bit yellow in some light, definitely with a hint of mustard and  a touch of goldenrod...

It's a new kind of refuge now, this space. I've done my best to make it the barest, simplest and cleanest of rooms in the house, the result being that it feels like a deep exhale to me. It reminds me of those tansies. It may not be their precise color - but there's a quiet hint of it in just the right light.

Soon enough, there will be a new life quietly napping in here. The windows will be open to the breeze on a bright, colorful and busy summer. And I will fill this room with little white milk glass vases full of those flowers.

(when it snows) in April

When it's April and this is going on outside, I think there's only one option of what to do inside:

Ignore it and the shoveling that could be done (it will melt); remember that this is indeed spring (it is Maine, after all); and dig your hands in the dirt. Seed starting soil at the kitchen table will do just fine.

{This year, our seeds are coming from Johnny's Seeds, FEDCO, High Mowing Organic, Seeds of Change, and Baker Creek. (Yes, I had big intentions in February. And judging by the number of seeds I have, I must have intended to start a beet farm.) My favorite, always-nearby, forever-soiled garden bible is The Garden Primer by Barbara Damrosch. And that handy little gadget in the photos below is my new soil block maker - a new and exciting toy in our house this year.}

Oh yes. That feels so very right and good.

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"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."
~ Margaret Atwood

Here's hoping there was a little bit of dirt in your weekend - or in the days to come - too!

SouleMama Sponsor ~ LISA LEONARD DESIGNS ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Lisa Leonard Designs. In Lisa's words: 

"At Lisa Leonard Designs, we create custom, hand-stamped jewelry and gifts. Each one has a unique look and organic feel. Come on over and shop around, I bet you'll find the perfect thing!" 

You can also follow along with Lisa on her blog, her Twitter or Facebook page!

SouleMama: What's your favorite part of your job?

Lisa: My favorite part of my job is definitely designing new pieces. I love to think outside of box to create a custom keepsake that's affordable and lovely.

SouleMama: How are your children incorporated into your business?

Lisa: My kids are a big part of my business and definitely the inspiration behind my designs. I get a lot of work done while they are at school, but they often create along side me or play while I work. And of course, I try to close my computer and play with them as much as possible!

 

For today's giveaway, Lisa Leonard is generously offering the following to TWO winners:

   ~  a $50 gift certificate to our shop!

In addition, Lisa Leonard is offering 15% of all orders placed between now and April 30th. Customers can use code soule15. Expires 4/30/11. 

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Thank you to Lisa Leonard Designs! 

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Monday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday.

Comments closed! The winners are...

 She creates the most wonderful treasures. Love the new designs, especially the magnets! :)
Posted by Farmgirl Susan

So pretty- love the designs.
Posted by: Ren Lady of The Hearts

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SouleMama Sponsor ~ IMAGINE CHILDHOOD ~

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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Imagine Childhood. In their words:

"Imagine Childhood is... a little nature... a little imagination... a lot of play. Toys, tools and activities for growing minds. Imagine Childhood is a family owned and operated company offering high quality environmentally conscious toys and activities that encourage exploration, creativity, and open-ended unstructured play." 

You can also follow along with the Imagine Childhood blog. 

SouleMama: Tell us about what you dream and envision for the future of your business.

Imagine Childhood: We’ve always thought of Imagine Childhood as more than just a storefront.  We believe that children should experience the world through their own eyes, ears, fingers, and toes. That direct interaction with nature is the best way to learn about the world, and that open-ended imaginative play is the best way to learn about what it could be. In the current configuration of Imagine Childhood, our store provides tools to aid in this exploration and play and our blog is a space where we can share stories and activities as well as connect to an amazing community of families and caregivers.  In the future we hope to continue what we have started and to provide even more opportunities for community sharing and storytelling.

SouleMama: What's the product or offerring you are most excited about in your shop right now? Tell us about it.

Imagine Childhood: I think because I am so ready to see a little more green out of my window right now, I am most excited about our new seed kits.  We have an organic vegetable garden kit, scatter gardens for birds, butterflies and bees, and my favorite, a secret garden kit.  I loved that book as a child, and would have been over the moon to have a special little box filled with magical seeds and endless potential for summer adventures.

SouleMama: What does a typical day at work look like for you?

Imagine Childhood: Right now it includes a lot of writing for a fun new Imagine Childhood project (stay tuned!), soaking up those few fleeting moments in the day when the sun comes out from behind heavy spring clouds (even a five minute walk can really increase my productivity for the entire day), and looking for new products and activities to share with our amazing customers.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Imagine Childhood: It varies from day to day, but in this moment, spring is inspiring me.  The changing light, the slowly emerging buds on tree branches, birds chattering outside my window.  They’re all inspiring me to do the same thing, to shed my winter inhibitions and jump straight into new projects, to let all of the planning and waiting stop. To let the doing begin.

For today's giveaway, Imagine Childhood is generously offering the following to ONE winner:

   ~  Today we are giving away a $100 gift certificate!

In addition, Imagine Childhood is offering 10% of all orders placed between now and April 7th, as well as free shipping for all orders over $100. Use code "soulemama" at checkout.  Discount expires 4/7/11.

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Thank you to Imagine Childhood!

To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday.

Comments closed! The winner is...

I just love this store!! - Samya
Posted by: Samya

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{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wishing you a lovely weekend...and for the locals, enjoy this April Fool's Nor'easter!

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April 1st

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Welcome (and Welcome Back) to April's newest Sponsors here on SouleMama...

AppleCheeks ~ maker of reusuable diapering

BabyBearShop ~ apothecary of organic products for mama & baby

Playful Learning Spaces E-Course ~ a six week online course by Mariah Bruehl

It's such a pleasure to have them joining us!
Do check out their handmade, crafty, creative, and beautiful offerings and look for giveaways from them in the coming weeks and months.

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