SouleMama

{this moment}

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{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 Year of Popcorn: Maple Popcorn

You saw this one coming, right? It's March...sugaring season....of course that must unite with the very food staple by which we Soules sustain ourselves. Yes, yes...this March, I bring you Maple Pecan Popcorn. Sweet - but not too much. And deliciously crunchy with those nuts.This one goes fast with the littles. I strongly suggest a parental bowl on the side. You know. Just to be sure everyone gets their share.

Enjoy!

Maple Pecan Popcorn

The Makings:
8 cups or so cooked popcorn 
1/2 cup real Maple Syrup
1 cup pecans or walnuts 

The Method:
Cook the popcorn in your preferred style. For this combination of flavors, coconut oil is clearly the favorite base from which to start. (I can't eat coconut, but everyone else happily can, so it's a bit of a treat to for them to get that flavor around here and this is the perfect place to do so.) I simply coat the bottom of a heavy stock pot with coconut oil, add the kernels and pop it. You'll want as few extra unpopped kernels as you can get for this one (they'll stick to the popped corn with the syrup), so don't put too many kernels in to start.

Meanwhile...
Chop the nuts. Roast until they're toasty smelling and just beginning to brown. I do it in a cast iron pan on the stovetop, but you can also put them on a cookie sheet in the oven at 375 for 5 to 10 minutes (watch it closely!). Set aside.

On the stovetop, bring maple syrup to a boil in a small saucepan. Lower the heat and continue to cook until it's 236 degrees. It won't take long - five minutes maybe.

Drizzle the syrup over your bowl of popped popcorn. Using an oiled spoon, stir to coat the popcorn, and add the nuts quickly.

2013 in Popcorn:
January - Cheesy Herb Popcorn
February -  Breakfast Popcorn

twelve days

A lot of you have asked for a tutorial on how I'm putting together Ezra's quilt. While I'm hardly qualified for quilting instruction, I can atleast try to tell you what I'm doing. For both Adelaide's quilt and the ocean-inspired throw, I used the log cabin quilt-as-you go method that I learned about in Patchwork Style. In each of those, the top pieces are stitched to the batting squares, those squares then joined, with backing to follow. Binding and quilting - tying in both of those cases - still has to be done, but it eliminates the batting in the last step. 

I really like the feeling of those quilts - so heavily 'quilted' on the top that it's got quite a bit of heft and a good weight, but the back is smooth and free of quilting lines. I don't know as though that makes sense, but that was my thinking in making another one this way - I really do like the resulting feel of a quilt done this way, so even though this one is a string quilt not a log cabin, I thought I'd apply the same technique. One major bonus for me in this method is that it's still quilted, and with some simple tying, I can avoid having to push the heft of an entire quilt through my machine, which I always find so frustrating and cumbersome. The style is inspired a bit by some of the lovely, wild, and colorful vintage string quilts I've spied around the interwebs on at flea markets over the years (a few examples are on my Pinterest Sew board). I am not a fan, as you likely already know, of making terribly fussy things. I admire those with such attention to detail and patience, and the beauty that results, but at this point in my life anyway, I much prefer oddly-sized pieces and mismatched seams and just winging it. Convenient and lazy, perhaps, but definitely homemade and simple - I like it. 

So. There are twenty 19" square pieces of batting cut. The strips of fabric are cut straight but in different random sizes varying from 1.5 - 4 inches in width, and varying lengths to fit at several points along the diagonal of the square. The center strip for each square is the same fabric, but other than that, there's no rhyhme or reason as to the order. I sew the center diagonal strip down first, then work out from both sides first stitching it to the previous strip, then pressing it front and stitching it down every 1/2"....continuing on until the end, and on the other half. It's then trimmed to the square and set aside. When they're all done, I'll stitch the squares together, add a backing, tie quilt it, and bind it. (I'm not entirely sure any of that was clear, though I do hope it answers some of your questions!)

I'm having a lot of fun with this quilt. I find this method of quilting really enjoyable, and it goes quite quickly. But most of all, I'm loving working with this wild combination of prints and colors my boy Ez chose - I don't know how, but it just works somehow, and each complete square brings a smile to my face. I'm so eager to see it all together. And he is too - with a grin on his face each time he walks by or into my studio to see me stitching it.

There are eight squares complete and ready to go, which leaves twelve to go plus all the sandwiching, quilting and binding. In twelve days. I can totally do this.

not-quite summer scarf

When Steve gifted me two skeins of String Theory DK for Solstice (from his and my favorite sorta-kinda-local yarn shop, KnitWit), it came with the polite insistence that I make something for myself. Well, well. I couldn't ignore a request like that from the man who buys me beautiful yarn, now could I? Exactly. I've knit with this yarn before, on Annabel's baby blanket, for one, so I know what a dream it is not only to knit with but to hold next to your skin, as it ends up wrapped half around me at nap time each day with her in my arms.

I landed on the Summer Scarf, a wonderful pattern that was easy to memorize and became my go-to knitting this past month or so. And I know, it has a funny name for me and our neck (ha!) of the woods, yes. These pictures were taken last week after our most recent snowstorm, the very morning after I had cast off. I will confess that I was most excited about the snow and the cold days that followed because I knew I'd have this lovely warmth wrapped around my neck. It feel so good, and I have every intention of wearing right on into summer. Maybe I'll even take it off my neck and properly block it. Then again, maybe I won't. I'm pretty comfortable with it right where it is.

(Ravelry link for my scarf. And in case you're wondering about the hat, it's here. Thanks to my love for the pictures, and the yarn of course.)

it's worth it

Yesterday, which happened to be Maine Maple Sunday, found the seven of us outside, gathered under the woodshed and around the evaporator once again for a long day of boiling sap. The maple syrup - oh what a fickle crop it is! There's just a three week or so stretch of time in which the sap will run before the tree heals up the hole we've created in it. And in that three weeks, in order to get the flow to really run, the temperatures need to be below freezing at night and above freezing during the day. The first week after we tapped was too warm at night for much of a run, followed by a week of too-cold days, and the remainder of those three weeks have been a hodge-podge of both of the above. The word on the street - or at the local diner, as the case may be - is that the only producers getting much sap these days are using vacuum, which is a whole lot more than we have any interest in. We're just in it for the backyard sugar love, after all.

Our end syrup yield this year will be okay. Not great, not terrible. With hopefully one more boil in our future this week, we'll end up somewhere just a little over four gallons of maple syrup. That's with forty-something taps in, and three solid boil days. Not to mention the everyday walking around and hauling of sap buckets from woods to barn (where we store it in fifty gallon storage drums until boiling days) and back again (remember, it's forty gallons of sap to one gallon of syrup). And certainly that doesn't include the days spent hauling firewood from the snowy woods and splitting and stacking it to keep the evaporator going. 

I will confess that there has been a moment or two, looking at just how fast that maple syrup goes flying off my pantry shelves (a whole lot faster than it went on), and precisely how much time this activity has consumed of our days, when I've wondered if it's worth it. Surely, if we're talking about straight dollars and cents, and accounting for the realistic amount of time it all takes, the answer would be a clear and definitive "no way, lady...go buy it at the grocery store."

And this question...this question 'is it worth it?" is one that we sometimes ask ourselves about all kinds of things going on around this new little farmstead of ours. Switching to heritage breed turkeys, only to watch them grow so slowly that by Thanksgiving the biggest amongst them was a mere nine pounds, and by Valentine's Day only three pounds more. Or, when our scraps aren't enough for the pigs, staying diligent in buying organic hog grain with its rising price that in the end makes the 'true cost' of raising them seriously questionable. Sometimes the answer is to change what we're doing or stop it altogether, and sometimes, the question just helps us reframe our priority and goals to where they belong for us.

Yesterday was another boil day. Harper, with full knowledge now of which trees are maple and which are not, checked the taps and emptied the buckets with his Papa just as he's done at dusk everyday for the nearly three weeks now. Adelaide brought the enamel cups in the basket we bring outside and doled out the sap to all who wanted it, knowing by the color at various stages just how sweet it might taste. Ezra and Calvin stayed warm by the evaporator all day long and planned what they'd make for breakfast tomorrow to fully enjoy this new syrup. Annabel bopped from one leftover cup of someones sap to another, insisting on using the ladle herself in the buckets of cold fresh sap, and pulling the sled when she thought it was time to gather the new buckets. By the evaporator yesterday, there was spoon carving, baseball throwing, knitting by hands big and little, a jump start made on next winter's firewood, a new tree house begun, songs sung, stories told, and well...our life lived.

Later last night - much later - with most everyone asleep inside, Steve and I found ourselves back out there by headlamp, waiting and watching it carefully to reach the point at which we bring it in for finishing off on the stove inside. Away from the distraction of a house that needed cleaning and work that needed tending, we sat together under the light of a nearly full moon and a clear crisp sky. It was cold, but the most deliciously smelling woodfire and maple steam was enough to keep us out there a little bit longer even than we needed to be - enjoying the silence and the peace at the end of a full and good day. 

There were no words needed in that moment for the answer to the questions we've been asking ourselves in recent days. Of course, we'll tap again next year. 

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Bee's Wrap ~

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Bee's Wrap. In Sarah's words:

"Bee's Wrap is a reusable beeswax and cloth alternative to plastic wrap.  Use the warmth of your hands to mold the Bee's Wrap to create a seal around the top of a bowl, half of a lemon, a crusty loaf of bread, wrap cheese or a sandwich, when cool the wrap stiffens holding its shape and seal.  Rinse with cool water and use again and again.

Visit our Facebook page to see what is happening at Bee's Wrap this week."

SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.

Sarah:  Good food has always been central to our home life here in Vermont.  We grow and preserve most of our vegetables, we milk goats, raise sheep, pigs and chickens.  Our family life revolves around the garden and kitchen.  But all of this food needed to be kept fresh and growing concerns about our environment and the health safety of plastic, made plastic no longer a viable option for food storage.  As a stay at home mother of three I was also interested in bringing in additional income while staying home and available to my children.  

This is where Bee’s Wrap enters.  Enchanted with all the shades of muslin, old flour sack, scraps of trimmings, lace, yarn, and given some invaluable suggestions from family and friends, I found that by infusing it all with beeswax my creations became functional!  The combination of fabric infused with beeswax made for the perfect alternative to plastic for food storage.  Bee’s Wrap evolved into a basic food storage product that was easy to clean and use, that we could make available to many people, not just our own households. 

SouleMama: What's your favorite part of your job? the most challenging?

Sarah: I love that I can work with a couple of really great women and be at home with my children.  We have set up a workshop connected to the house, so I am within easy access of the family, but can also get away to get work done when the need arises.  Integrating home and work feels natural to me and allows my children to see "Mama" in other roles.  Life is work and work can be incredibly rewarding and enjoyable and they are able to see that every day.  That said, running a business and a household at times can feel like overload.  There are days when it just doesn't seem possible to get through the next hour, let alone check off anything on my list, but we always seem to pull through and are rewarded with a harmonious day when I just can't believe it can be this good.

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

Sarah: I am really excited to be able to offer the Bee's Bread Wrap.  It is extra large, easily wrapping a loaf of homemade bread or a crusty loaf from the market.  Being a bread maker myself, it was frustrating not having a way to keep bread fresh for more than a day or two without a plastic bag.   If there's extra loves they can be wrapped and put in the freezer for shorter periods.  The Bread Wrap is also great for covering a bowl of proofing dough and a larger dish for taking to friends and family.

 

For today's giveaway, Bee's Wrap is generously offering the following gifts to ONE winner:

~ Bee's Wrap set of 3 sizes!
(includes one of each size- small 7"x8", medium 10"x11", large 13"x14") and one Bee's Bread Wrap (17"x23")                         

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In addition,  Bee's Wrap would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% off your purchase through March 31^st. To receive the discount, please enter the code  "soulespring" at checkout.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Monday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed!  The winner is:

What a great idea! Thanks for the chance
Posted by: My Wild Wood

Thank you, Bee's Wrap!

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Charlotte Lyons ~

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Charlotte Lyons. In Charlotte's words:

"Charlotte Lyons designs playful stitch samplers and panels that can be transformed with needle and thread for pillows, ornaments and accessories. She also designs fabric for Blend Fabrics. Charlotte blogs as House Wren Studio and lives in a small town on the lower Hudson River in New York, just a short train ride away from Manhattan.

Visit Charlotte on her blog and at Blend Frabics."

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

Charlotte :  My craft and design story is a fairly long one starting as a crafty kid growing up in the 60's. That path ultimately led me to co-authoring the Home Companion books with my friends, Mary Engelbreit and Barbara Martin. But the big turning point came about when I was writing and creating my book, Mothers and Daughters at Home (Simon and Schuster, 2000). It's a beautiful book, the story of our creative home, my three daughters, the projects we made together, the how-to for those and the lessons learned in making things side-by-side. While promoting the book and the one that followed, I found my audience and ultimately connected the dots through blogging, Etsy and teaching. Crafting really is a lifestyle for me. Starting with coffee in the morning, making things continues to be my daily preoccupation and great joy. I've designed for many crafts, but in recent years, I've circled back around to one of my first loves: stitching with colored thread. I used to stitch little motto samplers and paint needlepoint canvases for a local shop when I was very young. The panels in my shop now are printed with a design that the stitcher can cover in her own threads and stitches.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Charlotte : Ideas still come from everywhere - from my newest fabric collection in the works to a simple doodle on a scrap of paper. One of my favorite parts is the sketching and tinkering with a new design. Adding a little bird here, another flower there. Maybe a few words. Of course, I love the actual stitching too. It's peaceful, portable, experimental and so colorful! I'm not really the best stitcher per se, but my designs allow for that and I'm getting better with every try. Sharing a new design with the stitchers who follow my work and seeing what folks do with the samplers in their own hoops is a huge inspiration too. Color choices and stitch varieties amaze me and I'm especially delighted that children are learning to stitch using my sampler panels.

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Charlotte : "Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do or do without." As far back as I can remember, that's been in my head, my Scottish grandmother's legacy. Whether I'm upcycling old clothes for a hooked rug or using that last bit of pretty thread for a flower center, creative thrift makes me very happy!

  

For today's giveaway, Charlotte Lyons is generously offering the following gifts to TWO winners:

~ Winner #1: Any 2 samplers and/or PDF's and a set of fat eighths from my new fabric line, "Tilly" for Blend Fabrics 

~ Winner #2: Any 2 samplers and/or PDF's
                

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In addition,  Charlotte Lyons   would like to offer SouleMama readers 20% off your entire order through April 7^th. To receive the discount, please enter the code  " SOULEMAMA" at checkout.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are:

I love Charlotte's work and I thank you for a chance to win!
Posted by: Pammie

i totally need some therapeutic stitching right now.
Posted by: anie

Thank you, Charlotte Lyons !

{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.

. . . . . . . . . .

chicks, inside

It is quite possible that I was ignoring both the calendar and the normal temperatures for this time of year when I created my handy dandy brooder schedule for the season. For the cold snap that is upon us has meant that even with all the doors closed and even with two heat lamps, the barn brooder is just far too cold for those little chicks before their feathers come in. And so, we have a makeshift brooder beside the woodstove. Yes, in my living room. In my living room that we share with five children. And as you might imagine...well, you can imagine.

They're all quite pleased.

on the equinox

Well...if we were going to be snowbound with a late winter storm at the point in which we're all kind of over it....I can't imagine a better way to have done so than we did. With Southerners Ashley English and her boys in the house, plenty of good food and drink, lots of knitting, scrabble and music, and my favorite six people. Not to mention some (annoyed) chickens, (sleeping) pigs, and (hardy) sheep. I heard no complaining at all...just delight.

Happy Spring Equinox to you!

getting started

It is my great hope, that neither you or I tire of these fabrics, these colors, this sight in the coming weeks. For there are seventeen squares yet to go....

gratitude on a monday

I am headed into a full and busy week. We are embarking on the heaviest (and most fun, in my mind) editorial work in the rhythm of preparing for our next issue, the snow is thawing and the work of the farm is demanding more of our attention everyday, (easy and much-anticipated!) company is on their way here as I type, there are all the regular goings ons of our every day - homeschooling and working and baseball and dance and horseback riding, oh my...and there is a snowstorm brewing that threatens to throw a wrench into all of the above.

Sometimes, I have a tendency to feel a little overwhelmed when all of those things collide into one smashing sort of a week, as this one is shaping up to be. But this Monday morning, looking through my photographs from this weekend, the silliness of that is so crystal clear to me. For every single one of those things I am feeling a wee bit overwhelmed by, I am simultaneously incredibly grateful for.  And so, from the weekend and just three simple photographs, my gratitudes as a way to start this week...

:: a husband who lets me sleep in most days, making the days I get up first nothing but a rare treat

:: precious, sun-filled morning hours with just her delightful self

:: the handknits I made for one years ago, reappearing on another 

. . . . .

:: kicking off boring Sunday errands in the city with a leisurely visit with a friend in her simply adorable handknit sweater (that inspires me to learn intarsia)

:: chocolate cream pie and peppermint tea, for breakfast

::  time. alone. to connect and simply be

. . . . 

:: the heat on my back and the wood that was chopped, split, stacked and brought in by the boys I love

:: knitting projects so far in progress that they're wearable while knitting

:: so much fabulously loud and amazingly fun (most of the time) chaos just outside the frame of this shot. My life. 

. . . .

Wishing all of you a most lovely beginning as you greet the fullness and beauty of your own week.

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Kelbourne Woolens ~

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Kelbourne Woolens. In Kate's words:

"Kelbourne Woolens is the distributor of The Fibre Company yarns. Since 2004, The Fibre Company has been creating hand crafted artisan yarns for hand knitting and crocheting. Each unique fiber blend is carefully selected for the best quality in softness, striking color and heirloom-quality longevity.

We regularly update our blog with new free and for-sale patterns, designer interviews and behind-the-scenes peeks from our Instagram account. You can also find us on Facebook."

SouleMama: How long have you been in business?

Kate: This is our fifth year in business, and to celebrate we recently self published a book, a retrospective of our "best of the best" patterns. We called it  Kelbourne Woolens, Volume 1.  Sometimes simple is best! 

SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.

Kate: The beginnings of Kelbourne Woolens (KW) was tough, but also a ton of fun. Courtney had a young son and I was still finishing my graduate program in textile design, so we were very busy in our personal lives but also very much committed to KW. Our main focus was taking the existing and paire-down line of Fibre Company yarns and educating our customers about the amazing qualities of the Fibre Company yarns, putting out new and exciting pattern support for the shops that carried our product and giving the best customer service we possible could. It has been amazing to see the company grow so much in the last 5 years, and we will always be grateful for our humble beginnings cramped into a tiny 400 sq foot warehouse space.

SouleMama: How does the balance of family and work play out for you? If applicable, how has motherhood affected the work you do?

Kate: Working together every day for so long, we sometimes joke that we spend more time with each other than we do with our partners...and it may be true! We both have small children, so running a business and running households is quite a lot, as I'm sure many of your readers know. I think that is probably the most challenging part of the work we do. At the same time, though, since we work for ourselves and have a lot of the same needs, we make it work seamlessly. We are both extremely lucky to have found each other. I think there's no way either of us could have done it all on our own, and we trust each other to know that we each have the best interests of the company, and each other, at heart. 

For today's giveaway, Kelbourne Woolens is generously offering the following gifts to TWO winners:

~ Two knitting kits: Florence (baby bonnet) and Clarence (set of small handwarmers)!

Each kit using one skein of our soft and shiny Canopy Worsted.

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In addition, Kelbourne Woolens would like to offer SouleMama readers 15% off the purchase of a kit through March 30^th. To receive the discount, please enter the code " SOULEMAMAFLORENCE" for the Florence Kit or "SOULEMAMACLARENCE" for the Clarence Kit    at checkout.  Only one discount may be used per purchase.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8am EST on Monday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are:

sounds like a great little company and gorgeous yarns - hope I win this one :) :)
Posted by: Anne

Ohh - I'd love to win!
Posted by: desireelucy

Thank you, Kelbourne Woolens!

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Artterro ~

 

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Artterro .  In Forrest Espinoza words, founder of Artterro :

"Artterro is all about creativity!  We design our eco art kits to offer an engaging experience with fresh fun projects and artist quality materials.  Prepare to be inspired and delighted as you design beautiful jewelry, fanciful bubble wands, sophisticated storybooks and more.  Helping people tap into their creativity with fun, affordable projects is at the core of Artterro’s mission, as is our committment to sustainability."

 We love chatting with our customers on our Facebook page. "Like" us to stay in touch"  

SouleMama: What inspired you to start your business? 
 

Forrest: I was inspired to start my business after a frustrating shopping experience. I wanted to find a fun arts & crafts kit that I could do with my young son. I had always loved making art with beautiful natural materials and wanted to find a kit that was affordable and easy so we could make gifts together. After searching everywhere (I really mean everywhere), I thought, if I'm having this problem then there must be other parents with the same issue.  I created my first kit soon after. A couple years later I found my business partner Jen, who shares my passion for art, creativity and family life. We now have twelve products that we produce here in the US at Goodwill Industries, and we sell them to specialty stores all over the US and Canada, and directly to customers from our web store.

SouleMama: How do you come up with new designs and ideas?

Forrest: Product development is our favorite part of the job!  We design the kits to be ones we would enjoy using alongside our kids.  I like to come up with the big picture idea of a project, and Jen is good at filling in the details.   Once we have the idea for a new kit, we curate the contents so there are enough beautiful, natural materials for 2-4 people to share.  Our goal is for each kit to be fun and colorful and have enough instruction to get people started but leave a lot to the imagination to inspire creativity and original thinking. 

SouleMama: What's the product or offering that you are most excited about in your shop right now?

Forrest: We are very fortunate to have had an opportunity to jointly design our Art Journal Kits with Strathmore Artist Papers.   Art journaling is a fantastic way to explore your creativity, and we wanted to make it easy for people to get started.  So we include several pages of tips and techniques, plus handmade collage paper, bright construction paper, fine drawing paper and a pocket for scraps.  Strathmore shares our commitment to the environment, and they produce the kits in Wisconsin with lots of recycled content.

SouleMama: How does the balance of family and work play out for you? If applicable, how has motherhood/fatherhood affected the work you do?

Forrest: We are always striving to strike that elusive balance between caring for our families, our business and ourselves.  It starts with being very honest with ourselves and each other as business partners about what we need.  We strive to be very accepting of each other's needs while still being very committed to our goals for growing our business.  It's very tricky!  Great communication and dividing tasks up by who has the right skills and time to do it are the best way to tackle it for us.  Knowing what to say no to is also very important, staying very focused on realistic goals and then executing them well.  The flexibility of working for ourselves and both having very supportive husbands makes these choices easier.

For today's giveaway, Artterro  is generously offering the following gifts to THREE winners:

~ Wool Felt Bug Kit  
(Fun and easy to sew, colorful wool felt is perfect for making one-of-a-kind creepy-crawly friends. Ribbon and beads make great wings, eyes and antennae. Makes up to 7 fuzzy art bugs.  Ages 7 and up.)

Bubble Wand Kit
(Bend high quality copper wire with marbles into two beautiful, sturdy wands. Blow huge bubbles, decorate a garden or use for magic!  Ages 8 and up.)

Art Journal Kit:
(Artterro teamed up with Strathmore Artist Papers to create the Art Journal Kit, a unique product for budding artists to easily explore their creativity through art journaling.  Artists of all ages can learn fun doodling, drawing and collage techniques with inspiring materials.  Available in 5 fun colors!)

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In addition, Artterro would like to offer SouleMama readers 20% off any order at our web store through April 1st. To receive the discount, please be sure to enter the code " SOULEART20 "  at checkout.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:00am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after.  Comments closed!  The winners are...

LOVE!
Posted by: Gina

art for girls AND boys...yea!
Posted by: sarahalice

Looks like fun!
Posted by: cat mom of 3

Thank you, Artterro !

{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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spring chicks

There can be no doubt that spring is on its way now. The maple syrup is filling up the pantry shelves, I'm washing muddy floors every day, and now this!  We got the early morning post office call yesterday, and quickly readied the brooder that will see a lot of action in the months to come (there's a brooder schedule, yes indeed). It is nice, I dare say, being in somewhat of a groove of things after a few years here now. Our third spring on the farm, and everything is in place, with systems only needing touching up here and there (thank you, duck tape and baling wire, we love you so).

This is just a small batch of laying birds that we'll add to the flock we already have. We had quite a bit of predator loss this winter, sadly...and some of the older girls we expect to stop laying by next winter. And so, adding some young ones into the mix this year, we've got more buff orphingtons (they're my favorite - so docile and pretty), and new to us - black austrolorps and silver laced wyandottes. I anticipate that all those birds will be plenty well people-socialized with all the helpers we have around here. But quickly Adelaide and Harper each identified their extra 'special ones' and lovingly named them Ruby and Judy Pecker (four year olds really are the best namers of things, I declare). A visit inside was allowed just this once (yeah, right) and fun ensued for a few moments before safely returning Ruby and Judy Pecker to the heat of their friends and the lamp in the barn brooder.

Adelaide: "Oh my goodness, you have to put them in cute little teacups, Mom!"
Mom: "Why?"
Adelaide: "Why not?"

And there you have it. The spring chicks are here. 

ready set go

Oh, that's a little unkind to greet you with such sights first thing in the morning! Here, let's skip right to the "after", shall we? ...

Better, yes? That's how I feel. Sometimes one has to make a bigger mess before order can follow. But ahhh...the deep breath and space for creativity that follows is delightful.

My work with Taproot this past year and more has meant that most of my studio time is spent at the computer, or on the phone, or (best of all) reading in the rocking chair. I do more sewing these days for my boys' dance studio - sateen, silk, tafetta and let's not forget the tulle! - than at home. But I've been gearing up for that to change. I miss it. I have clothes I want to make myself and my babies, curtains that need replacing, mending to be done, and most immediately and of great importance - quilts to be stitched. A quilt! I am soon to have a ten year old in the house and it seems like just the right time to replace his quilt. (Also? He asks me every day, sweet boy.)

This birthday of his is close - a little less than a month away. I have one lone square complete....and nineteen to go (plus all that pesky quilting and binding). But that's manageable, right? One a day? I can do that. Now that I can find my way to the sewing machine, now that the fabric scaps are thinned down to a reasonable basket full, and knitting projects tidily put away and organized, I've got myself some space and order in which to settle in for a nice long project. This is going to be fun.

Ready, set, go.

bittersweet

Extracting honey. Certainly not what I was expecting to be doing on March 10th. The honey from last fall's harvest just ran out last week - timed as it seems to have fallen in the rhythm of doing each year we've been keeping them - just before the maple syrup begins to flow. But a warm day this week led me to the hives where my growing suspicion was confirmed - I lost all of my bees over the winter. There was a bit of mourning followed by a lot of investigating to find out what had happened. I'm fairly certain that disease wasn't the culprit, and while there was plenty of honey there for them to eat, I do believe it was starvation that was the cause of death. Some late fall warmth resulting in some late brooding followed by a cold snap and a continued series of events that ultimately led to their demise. (I know I'm not explaining that scenario very well, I'm really such a new beekeeper still that I understand it well enough when explained to me, but am terrible at explaining it myself, so my apologies.)

(A very realistic, yet hopeful report on the state of New England bees can be heard in a great audio clip that Taproot contributor Schirin Oeding made to accompany her written piece in the latest issue DREAM. It's an inspiring listen when you have a moment.)

Just as I was beginning to beat myself up a bit for what I might have managed differently, I heard from a neighboring farmer and life-long beekeeper that not one of his ten hives made it through this winter. And later that night, a similar report from someone in line with me at the market. Heartbreaking for the bees, sadness for the beekeepers, and yet...a tiny bit of relief, I must confess, for this newbee. 

But none of what remains will go to waste. My little naturalist now has jars full of dead bees for her studying and drawing, the drawn comb (and a bit of honey) will be a blessing to the new packages bees we will start fresh with next month, and the rest of us are gifted with a generous three gallons of honey in a time of year we were most certainly not expecting it. Bittersweet.

sweet

Since we moved here, I've missed the drop-by visits we used to have when living in the city. Friends passing through who found themselves in the neighborhood - surprise visits, quick visits, frequent visits. Being more out of the way these days, those kinds of visits are mostly a thing of the past for us. But what has replaced the dinner visit is a weekend visit - long visits, leisurely visits, relaxed visits. I love them - I love the way we can settle into our lives and days with our visiting friends, take walks through the woods, share a bit of the work of the farm, and truly have the time and space to be together. I do so love the late night adult chats around the fireplace after all the children are asleep, or the quiet morning conversation with the early birds of the bunch, or the post-dinner dance parties that always have room for more....but goodness my heart just about bursts watching little ones with the animals. Cinnamon (the sheep) is a gentle love sponge of the truest kind. This weekend I watched sweet little Vijay discover the joy of burying his face right on into her warm, lanolin-rich fleece for a full-body hug on a cold late winter's day. Yes.

Our visit this weekend with the lovely Chitnis family had a bit of a maple theme, as we fired up the evaporator for the first time this year. A day of boiling resulting in our first gallon of maple syrup of the season. There was a great deal of sap consumed throughout the day, a fair amount of maple steam blissfully inhaled, and the inagural pancake and maple syrup breakfast that followed the next day. A beautiful long weekend with friends full of all the tasty goodness of this season. Sweetness indeed.

 

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Sarah's Silks ~

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Sarah's Silks.  In Sarah's words 

"We design, make and sell playsilks, dress-ups, toys and canopies that inspire imaginative play.

 Visit our blog ~ Silk and Wood Childhood ~ for DIY projects, stories and inspiration."

SouleMama: How do you come up with new designs and ideas?

Sarah  : I keep a design/idea journal which has lots of random writings, torn images out of magazines, small sketches, and photographs that I like. Even when they are not directly related to toys and Waldorf philosophy there is something to be learned from all kinds of other people's creative work. My current favorite book is Steal Like an Artist: 10 Things Nobody Ever Told You About Being Creative.   

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Sarah: “You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.”  ― Plato

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

Sarah  : Our new enchanted playsilks and new blended colors of silk scapes are fun. For the most creative play, I am a fan of the least "formed" toy. So more imagination is involved in the play. These new playsilk colorways are inspired by colors of the sea, fire and blossoms in nature but can be used in so many ways.

For today's giveaway, Sarah's Silks is generously offering the following gift to TWO winners:

~ Easter Basket Giveaway! Choose boy (playilk "grass", cape, streamer and crown) or girl (playsilk "grass", fairy dress, streamer and garland)

 

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In addition, Sarah's Silks  would like to offer SouleMama readers $10 off your order of $50 or more through March 16^th. To receive the discount, please be sure to enter the code " Soulemama " at checkout. 

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:30am EST on Monday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after.  Comments closed! The winners are:

What a beautiful idea. We would need the boy one since all I know how to grow are boys.
Posted by: Knitting with Olof

Oh I've been a big fan- my two would love these!
Posted by: possible worlds

Thank you, Sarah's Silks !

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Alewives Fabrics ~

 

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor,  Alewives Fabrics. In Rhea's words:

"For the past 35 years, Alewives Fabrics has been located in a big red barn in beautiful Midcoast Maine and since 2004 has been owned by the mother/daughter team of Barbara Neeson and Rhea Butler.  A few short years ago, we began selling fabrics via our website.  We carry a range of different substrates: everything from quilting cotton to vinyl laminate, with a special eye for the best of contemporary and classic designs. 

Rhea keeps a blog that is equal parts personal and business at alewivesgirl.blogspot.com.  We are also on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter!"  

SouleMama: How long have you been in business?

Rhea  : This year, Alewives Fabrics is celebrating its 35th year in business!  We've changed a lot over the years, from a shop that carried mostly garment fabrics to a shop that carried mostly quilting weight cottons. Now we carry all kinds of different fabrics for creative sewing: corduroy, a great selection of organic prints, flannels, voiles, velveteens, jersey knits, vinyl laminates, lawn, home decorator fabrics, and of course our old favorites: the quilting cottons!

SouleMama: How do you keep yourself motivated, and avoid burnout?

 Rhea : I love to rearrange the shop: the rest of the staff call me "Rhea-arrange." Even though they joke about how they can never find anything, I know the staff AND customers like it when I rearrange.  It helps keep the place looking fresh and you're bound to see things in a new light and notice things you never knew were there before!

SouleMama: How does the balance of family and work play out for you? if applicable, how has motherhood/fatherhood affected the work you do?

Rhea: On December 25th I got the best Christmas present anyone could ever get: our son Bert Corthell Butler was born at 2:10 in the morning! Having a child really shifts your priorities, and in my case it has meant that I "edit down" quite a bit at the shop, but in the best possible way. I literally don't have time to over-think my decisions or worry about the little things that don't really matter anyway. The shop will always be my "other baby" and having Bert has definitely changed Alewives Fabrics for the better!

 

For today's giveaway, Alewives Fabrics is generously offering the following gift to ONE winner:

~ one of our brand new "A little Bertie told me" fat quarter bundles. 

This set of 20 different fat quarters (all in quilting weight cotton) are made up of small to medium scale prints, all set against a white background with happy hues of purple, pink and orange.  A little Bertie told us that these fabrics make him think of spring: it really is right around the corner!

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In addition, Alewives Fabrics would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% off their purchase through  St. Patrick's Day, Sunday, March 17^th. To receive the discount, please be sure to enter the code " Soulemama "  into the promotional code field at checkout. The discount will not apply to shipping charges and won't appear in your final invoice or confirmation e-mail, but rest assured we are working hard on our end to manually change the cost of your order. If using the code in person at the shop, just mention "Soulemama" at the register and we will discount your purchase by 10%.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:30am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after.  Comments closed!  The winner is...

love the fabric -- thanks for the offer!
Posted by: basil lou

Thank you, Alewives Fabrics!

{this moment}

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{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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home alone

I cannot remember the last time I was alone in my own house. Mamas, it's a rare thing, isn't it? But yesterday, I found myself in just that situation - with all my people off a day-long adventure and me at home waiting for a meeting that was a little delayed. Home! Alone! But what's a mama to do? Why...make some new pillows, paint a bookshelf, and wander around her house marveling at the sun and the silence and the left-behind sights of those she loves. Oh, and a little bit of tea with knitting too. Naturally.

It was all rather delightful. As was wrapping my arms around them the very moment they walked back in the door.

do it yourself (myself)

It's funny the things we think we can't do, isn't it? For years, I've been sending lamps out to the workshop/barn/basement/storage spot of the moment. Those vintage ones I fall in love with while out thrifting and bring home, not entirely certain if they work or not, plus those in the house that work for a while and then...just stop. Another one added to the pile. Each time, I'd nudge Steve with a reminder of said pile of lamps, and a reminder of the darkness of this corner of a room or that one. Knowing he had never rewired a lamp before, I'd periodically send him links to tutorials I'd come across online. I think I even checked a book out of the library about it for him once. See? See how easy it is, I'd say. You can do it. Nudge, nudge.

As I was recently rearranging this graveyard of broken lamps to make room for yet another old one that suddenly stopped working, and found myself getting a little grouchy about it, I got to thinking about this whole business of rewiring those lamps. Clearly, it wasn't a priority/need/desire for my husband....but it was for me. So why, exactly, hadn't I just done it myself? Surely, I'm not afraid of learning new things...and yet this thing, this simple little thing, that fell a little bit outside of my comfort zone and skill set, I was passing off to someone else to learn. Maybe it was some deep-seeded gender thing this feminist didn't know she had going on. Maybe it's that I don't know the difference between a phillips and a regular screwdriver and thought the learning curve was too steep for me (that's not true, I really do know the difference, I promise). Maybe it was the fear of messing up electrical wires coming from a firefighter's daughter. Who knows what the reason was before then, but in that moment, they were all thrown out the window and replaced with the obvious answer: do it yourself. 

It turns out, I'm happy to report, that rewiring lamps isn't really rocket science at all. It's totally doable! Easy! Fun, even! He could do it, I could do it, you could do it. And it has me wondering, looking around to see what other possibly 'complicated, scary, outside-of-my skill set' things I could do too. Oh, the possibilities...

(Now...fabric on lampshade? That, I know.)

days of march

I was lamenting with some other farming friends recently the sight of our respective homes these days, feeling a little self-conscious about the state of things when I take a step back and look around here. A beautiful, idyllic and picturesque homestead, it is not right now. The melting snow, and puddles of mud bring a raw realness to the doorstep that is only found this time of year. Literally to the doorstep, as one is lucky to make it from car to stoop without getting stuck and losing a boot in the gloriously deep and slippery swirl that is the combination of turkey poo and mud that make up the dooryard landscape right now. The snow has dwindled just enough so that we can see all those farm and house projects we had to abandon in the fall due to lack of time and priority and forgetfulness, but it has not dwindled or thawed enough so that we can really do anything about those things.  The rusted out lawnmower, that should have been retired long before it even began its life with us, but most certainly will not make it another year - sits beside the woodshed with flattened tires deep in the mud. It became a roosting spot for one lone chicken this winter, and well, appears as such. At each feeding spot in our pastures, we find grain buckets that for one reason or another, one day or another, one child or another, were not brought back into the barn and therefore spent a winter under the snow. The tall piles of snow created by our plow to keep the drive clear are beginning to break down to just the pile of gravel that we'll need to rake out of the grass. The hammock I forgot to bring in still rests on its stand, probably a little worse for the wear for having spent a winter in the elements. Outside my garden shed, a few forgotten pots have been carried around and broken by the pigs, and lie mixed in with the citrus rinds they ignore in their slop bucket. These things, this time of year, we can see, but not do much about quite yet. "Beauty" on the farm, is a subjective word these days. "Pretty" is nowhere to be found.

And yet. And yet, there's a blessed flip side to all of that. All of that rawness and all of that waiting that this time of year forces us to endure. Because in that waiting, is all the hope in the world about what comes next. Sure, we'll get out there and clean all of that up - just as soon as we can. That sap is runing and by the time we're done syruping, the snow will be nearly gone. And then the seeds will go in the ground, and the sheep will be sheared, and I'll plant that row of elderberries and winterberries, more apple trees will be added to the orchard, and that treehouse will get its walls and a roof, and maybe this year the yurt will go up and the cow shed will happen? Well, why not think so - in the bleak, cold, muddy, messy days of late winter, looking at the open hopeful seasons ahead of us, there is all the reason to dream, plan and believe that all of those things will happen. That anything can happen.

It might not be immediately apparent when you're slogging through the mud and everything is caked in ice, but without a doubt there's beauty to be found here now too. 

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Imagine Childhood ~

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Imagine Childhood. In Sarah's words:

" ... 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.

Visit our blog."  

SouleMama: What's the product or offering that you are most excited about in your shop right now?

Sarah: The thing I’m most excited to share at the moment is our new Spring Catalog!  We have so many great new items for the coming season from gardening tools and seed trays, to cuddly plush bunnies, and sweet spring activities and books. We hope you have as much fun looking at it as we did putting it together!

SouleMama: Tell us about your customers?

Sarah :  When we started this business over five years ago I had no idea that is was possible to feel a close connection to so many people I’ve never even met. That somehow, through the mess of wires and signals that travel this globe I’d have the privilege of encountering a community whose kindness and humor make me smile, and whose compassion and generosity frankly inspire me.  I had no idea that I would be able to see so many corners of the world through their eyes, or that I would learn so much from their stories. I guess what I’m trying to say, is that I’m very thankful to have had the opportunity to get to know so many wonderful people.  The fact that they enjoy the items in our shop is just icing on the cake!

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Sarah  : Right now I am inspired by the changing light. After spending most of my life in places with four distinct seasons, I’ve spent the last year living in a temperate climate where the shifts between summer, fall, winter, and spring are much more subtle.  Here I don’t have snow or ice to change the color palette, I have light.  And so, being that it’s the most distinctive character of my current landscape, I’ve been watching it closely.  I’ve been paying attention to the way it directs the flora and fauna, how it opens up the space around me or closes it depending on the hour. I’ve been observing what the light does when it stretches to claim a few more seconds and minutes each evening.  How it reveals new worlds with every passing angle and hue as it falls just below the curve. I’ve been watching the way simple shifts in perspective can completely transform the environment around me, and I’ve been inspired to follow the example.

 SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Sarah  : Today it's: 

“Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling”
~Margaret lee Runbeck

   

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

~ $100 gift certificate and a copy of our book

IMAGINE CHILDHOOD: Exploring the World Through Nature, Imagination and Play!

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In addition, Imagine Childhood would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% off all orderd placed between now and March 8^th, as well as free Shipping for all orders over $100. To receive the discount, please be sure to enter the code " Soulemama " at checkout.  Discount expires 3/8/13.

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To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:30am EST on Monday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after.  Comments closed! The winner is...

Ooh! Makes me dream of spring on this gray morning.
Posted by: Michele

Thank you, Imagine Childhood!

 

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Natural Kids Team ~

 Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Natural Kids Team. In their words:

 "We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart."

 "We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart."

You can follow Natural Kids Team on their Blog, Facebook and Twitter.

- See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/10/soulemama-sponsor-natural-kids-team-.html#sthash.e3FXp9a5.dpuf

"We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart." - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/10/soulemama-sponsor-natural-kids-team-.html#sthash.e3FXp9a5.dpuf

"We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart." - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/10/soulemama-sponsor-natural-kids-team-.html#sthash.e3FXp9a5.dpuf

"We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart." - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/10/soulemama-sponsor-natural-kids-team-.html#sthash.e3FXp9a5.dpufPlease do visit my blog, you can find me there posting about artwork, embroidery, and NYC." 

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

Andrea Gommans, ziezo Designs: My life has basically come full circle over the past 20 years. I grew up in a home where I was introduced to sewing and knitting early on as my mother created the majority of the clothes for my siblings and me.  In high school, I took the creative track and focused on fashion and design.  Following that, I attended the Academy of Art, but then my other passion, volleyball, gave me an opportunity to study and play in the USA. What was supposed to be a one-year commitment, turned into playing volleyball for four years and ending up with three university degrees, neither of which has any relation to art.

What it did lead me to is meeting my husband, living in three different countries, and having one child born in each of them. Our move to Kenya, five years ago, allowed me to stay at home full-time.  It was here that I had a chance to re-connect with my creative side.  Helping for the creativity to be fostered and appreciated was our choice to educate our children in a Waldorf School.  Out of all that, the magic combination of ‘Waldorf-inspired crafting and living’ arose.   An entrepreneurial friend of mine encouraged me to create a label and sell my goods. The ziezo label was the next step and it became my new passion, which I can combine in wonderful ways with being a mum.

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

Ulla, German Dolls: I get up and 4 am in the morning. When I tell this to people their response is usually: Wow, how can you do it? That is crazy early!" Well, my husband happens to be an early riser. I used to wake up when he started moving about the house. It was no use asking him to keep it down. I am very light sleeper. So really that's how I came to be an early early riser.

Now I love it. The world is such peaceful place during those morning hours. I get all my computer stuff done while the kids are still snoozing. Six o'clock is when everyone is up. But in those two hours I get so much work done - it is truly mindboggling. I recommend it to anyone! Of course, the drawback is that I fall asleep on the sofa come 7pm...

SouleMama: What inspires you?

Becca Thornton, Mama West Wind: My inspiration comes from my children, nature and Waldorf storytelling and aesthetic. I began crafting toys when my eldest son was three.  It was at the same time I found and fell in love with the Waldorf method of schooling. I loved the idea of making simple, imaginative natural toys.  I began working with felt, then peg dolls and grew addicted to the light of excitement in my son’s eyes when I would gift him a new creation. When I couldn’t stop sewing gnomes, my Mama West Wind shop was born. Mama West Wind has become my alter ego, my friend, my creative outlet.

Nature and the seasons are a constant source of inspiration. My customers & their little ones inspire me too.  While I work I love thinking about the child who will be gifted my toy.  What stories will they come up with in their play? Children are so naturally imaginative. I want to make dolls that will uplift, inspire and ignite the natural storyteller and child in all of us.

SouleMama: What's the most challenging part of your job?

Stephinie Miner, Gypsy Forest: Balance. We are a homeschooling family and my husband travels often for work. Working in the home can sometimes be challenging with so much going on. I try to remind myself on days where not as much work gets done as I wanted that even a little is good. Knowing my children see their mama work in a creative way to contribute to the family is such a gift. As they have grown, the time I have to spend on my business has too. I'm slowly seeing and trusting in this creative path we're on. One day at a time.

 SouleMama: How are your children incorporated into your business?

Rebecca DeCarle, Handmaiden Canada / Luvkin: My children have always wanted to be included in whatever I am doing. Naturally, when I started my little handmade business, they wanted to be a part of that, too. Having nine children definitely has it perks when it comes to photo shoots...there is basically someone to represent every age and stage from 3 years old, up to 19 years old. Product testing? We can do that, too. If something survives our family, it must be well made! New product ideas? Children have a limitless supply of these...and the older one's have no problem keeping me up to date on what's "hip".  Looking for an honest critique? Nothing more honest than a child. Too much to do, in too little time? My older kids have been known to, in a crunch, "burn the midnight oil" with me, and help with stuffing the Waldorf dolls and crocheting hair for them. My children are my inspiration for starting this business...staying home with them was a priority, but I also needed to find a way to contribute to the family's finances. I am so grateful for the opportunity to try and do both.

For today's giveaway, Natural Kids Team is generously offering the following gifts to ONE winner:

~ one amazing giveaway, shown above!

We have a collection of items from 14 different kids shops for kids of all ages! Follow this link to check out a page showing each item that will be given away, along with links to the shops and links to other team websites.

~ one huge giveaway, shown above!
(We have a collection of items from 30 different kids shops for kids of all ages! Follow this link to check out a page showing each item that will be given away, along with links to the shops and links to other team websites. ) - See more at: http://www.soulemama.com/soulemama/2012/10/soulemama-sponsor-natural-kids-team-.html#sthash.e3FXp9a5.dpuf

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  To enter today's giveaway, please leave a comment (one entry per person, please) in today's post. I'll close comments by 8:30am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winner is...

The toys are just wonderful, but also, what an incredibly inspiring collection of crafty mamas! I loved hearing each story!
Posted by: PamJWM

Thank you, Natural Kids Team !

{this moment}

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{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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1 March

 

Welcome, March! And Welcome (and welcome back!) to the newest Sponsors here at SouleMama! Please let me introduce them to you this morning...

Urban Baby Bonnets 

unique fun and funky bonnets for boys and girls 

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bundle

diaper service, diaper franchise, and baby shop

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rhythm of the home 

the quarterly online magazine for families

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Check out their handmade, natural, and creative offerings - and those of our other Sponsors - in the days and weeks to come. I thank them and you both for your presence and support here. And if Sponsorship is something you're interested in for your own business, do be in touch.