SouleMama

SouleMama Sponsor ~ Imagine Childhood

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

"Outfitting Children and Families for Life's Adventures. Imagine Childhood is a family owned and operated company specializing in earth friendly goods, craft and activity tutorials and educational supplies.

Visit the Imagine Childhood blog."

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

Sarah: We just recently launched our winter catalog and, I have to say, I think it might be my favorite one yet. This year we have some great new items from artisans all around the world that are particularly lovely. It’s a lot of fun searching out unique items for the shop, but it’s even more fun when we get to share them with our customers.

SouleMama: How has your business changed over time?

 

Sarah: When we first started imagine childhood, it was an evolution of the toy store my mom had when I was a kid. We wanted it to be a place filled with lovingly crafted items that encourage kids to explore the world of their imaginations as well as the one outside their door.  Along the way, through our blog, and later our book, the business began to expand into something more than just a place to find quality goods for children. It became a place where we could share our favorite stories, crafts and recipes, but most importantly, it became a place where we could share in our community. It’s funny how sometimes the most rewarding things in life are the ones that show up on their own without plans or expectations. They just come into being.

SouleMama: As a child, what did you wish to become when you grew up?

Sarah: When I was a kid, I thought teachers were magical, actually, I still do. Armed with little more than a piece of chalk and passion for knowledge, they could expand and contract the universe like a pair of lungs, breathing life into the body of my imagination. My first real dream was to become a teacher so that I might do that for someone else one day. While I may not be spending my days in a physical classroom, I feel lucky to be able to realize a piece of that childhood dream in the work I am doing now.

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

 

Sarah: Right now it’s “to invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk” ~ Thomas A. Edison

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

~ $100 gift certificate to the Imagine Childhood shop!

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In addition, Imagine Childhood would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% of all orders placed between now and December 4th, as well as free shipping for all orders over $100. Use code "soulemama" at checkout.  Discount expires 12/4/13.

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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 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are..

LOVE this shop. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Posted by: Ashleigh

oh please, let THIS be the one time I ever win anything!!
Posted by: han

Thank you, Imagine Childhood!

in gratitude

Dear SouleMama Readers,

In place of {this moment} today, I want to take a moment to say thank you. I am incredibly grateful that creating in this space - this blog - has, over the years, become a part of the work that nurtures and feeds my soul and also supports my family. It is a pleasure and a joy to spend my time working on SouleMama, and I thank you for spending your precious time here as you do - whether it's been for almost nine years (gulp) or you've just found your way here. Thank you!

I also want to say thank you today to the people and businesses who support this space.  Their goods,  wares and creative tools and inspiration fill my home and outgoing gift bundles. I am proud of each of them and the ethical, creative and thoughtful work they do. I am honored to be working with the people behind each business - and inspired by the ways in which they work.

Today, I want to highlight all of our current sponsors. Many of them have graciously offered special discounts for the coming weeks that you can read more about below. I encourage you to check out their businesses as the coming holiday gift giving and craft-making season begins. 

Thank you, friends!

Amanda 

 

 

A Gathering of Stitches

 

A Gathering of Stitches offers an open and inviting space for all your hand craft needs, including sewing, knitting, quilting, dyeing, screen printing, embroidery and more. We hold workshops at all levels, offer specialized equipment and facility rentals, and house a supportive community for your fiber and textile explorations.

 

Through December 31st, we are offering SouleMama readers a 15% discount on any registration. Use the code smholiday13 upon checkout.

 

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Alewives Fabrics

 

For more than 35 years, Alewives Fabrics has been offering a carefully curated selection of high quality fabrics. We are a family owned shop, carrying everything from quilting cottons to vinyl laminate and a whole lot in between. Our brick and mortar shop is located in beautiful Midcoast Maine and you can shop our entire inventory on our website anytime, anywhere!

 

Alewives would like to offer 10% off your entire purchase (in store or online) through Sunday, December 1st by mentioning "soulemama" at the counter or entering the code "soulemama" into the promotional code field at checkout on our website.  Discount does not apply to shipping and won't appear in your final order or confirmation e-mail: we will manually change the cost of your order on our end!

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Artterro

 

Artterro Eco Art Kits inspires creativity with gorgeous, natural materials like wool felt, recycled handmade paper & more.  We make it easy to unplug and enjoy art with family & friends--perfect for making holiday gifts together!  Assembled by hand in WI.

 

We welcome you to take 20% off your entire order on our site by entering SOULEART20 at checkout, through 12/16.

 

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The Aurora Shoe Company

 

The Aurora Shoe Company was founded on the principles of quality handmade craftsmanship.  We make all of our shoes by hand, one step at a time. It's an art form and a tradition that we're proud to be a part of. Made in the USA from American materials, our footwear is created using the best we can find.  From our high-grade, full grain Horween Leather uppers to our shock absorbing and flexible Vibram soles, we pair quality materials with handmade workmanship to create shoes you'll love to wear for years to come.

 

Enter the code "Soule Mama" at check-out to receive free shipping on all orders placed by January 1st. Don't know your gift recipient's size? We have gift certificates available.

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Bamboletta Dolls

 

At Bamboletta Dolls we lovingly handcraft all natural, one of a kind dolls for the young and young at heart on the West Coast of Canada. Please visit us on our website or on Facebook at 'Bamboletta Dolls'."

 

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Barn Owl Primitives

 

Home of Family Rules and Typography Word Art ~ hand painted signs to decorate your life!   We have several Christmas designs in stock and ready to ship!  Stop by the Barn and take a look around!  Merry Holidays, from our Barn to yours!

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Bee's Wrap

 

Bee's Wrap is a beeswax and cotton alternative for food storage. Wrap cheese, bread, veggies, a sandwich or cover a bowl. Reuse again and again! The "new" old fashioned alternative to plastic wrap. Handmade in Central Vermont."

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Conscious Clothing

 

Conscious Clothing specializes in hand made, organic cotton and hemp clothing for women and children. We use only the most environmentally sustainable fabrics, dyes, and inks. Offering cozy sweatshirts, flattering dresses, comfy pants, and many eco-friendly accessories and gifts!

 

Enjoy 15% of your entire order 12/1 and 12/2 with the code HOLIDAY13.

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Crafting Connections

 

Crafting Connections is a creative magazine and website for little ones and their grown-ups, offering projects, tools, and inspiration for raising creative children. We believe in crafting an authentic, connected, and creative life - for you and your little ones - through the act of making. Bonus: we are now offering a brand-new eCourse - Craft to Connect - which addresses everything you need (tools, time, and space!) to turn creating with your little ones from an overwhelming dream into an enjoyable habit. Join us!

 

We love our readers from SouleMama (as we are readers ourselves!) Please enjoy 20% off all magazines - includes print, digital, 4 seasons packs, subscriptions, back issues, and single issues through the end of the year!!  Enter code SOULEMAMATHANKS at check out.

 

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Flora & Fauna Artisanal Skincare

 

100% natural, hand-crafted, bio-compatible paleo skin and body-care products for the whole family, from skin potions for glowing gorgeous skin, to fluoride-free tooth care alternatives to support remineralization. Everything is made using the highest quality raw materials, and we donate 5% of our profits to organizations that support sustainability initiatives.

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From Hectic to Harmonious Holiday Challenge

 

The Nourished Home is proud to present it's second annual FREE From Hectic to Harmonious Holiday Challenge. Laura Thompson Brady, PhD & founder of The Nourished Home, is on a mission to help families slow down, simplify, and experience life as the joyful, soul-stirring adventure it is. Join Laura and Mamas from around the world this December in 28 days of simplicity, celebration, and connection to what matters most.

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Grasshopper

 

At Grasshopper Boutique, you will find a unique selection of  fun, safe, and eco-friendly toys , puzzles, and games that will spark the imagination of every child on your list. In addition to toys, you will find a carefully curated selection of art supplies, books, and décor, as well as one of a kind dresses from our clothing line Wild Carrots, produced locally in Portland, Oregon.

 

We are happy to offer Soulemama readers 10% off their purchase with code “thankssoule” now through December 10th.  

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Imagine Childhood

Imagine Childhood specializes in earth-friendly goods, craft & activity tutorials, and educational supplies. Our winter collection is filled with thoughtful gift solutions for the holiday season, with hundreds of unique heirloom quality toys, tools, games, and craft projects. Many are $25 or less with free shipping on orders over $100.

SouleMama Readers can take 10% off all orders placed between now and 12/4/13.  Discount Code: SouleMama

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Kelbourne Woolens

 

Kelbourne Woolens is the distributor of the Fibre Company's unique artisan yarns. Treat yourself, or your loved ones, to a cozy hand knitted item this season by taking 50% off one of our many patterns available on Ravelry! Happy holidays, and many thanks to you and yours!

 

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Lavender's Blue Homeschool

 

Lavender's Blue Homeschool offers a Waldorf-inspired kindergarten curriculum, with circle times, the full circle on audio, stories, painting, modeling, and crafts. It's complete, beautifully integrated, and includes consulting so you can relax and enjoy the kindergarten years!

 

Use coupon code HOLIDAYS for 20% off your order through the end of 2013!

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Monaluna

 

Monaluna offers 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton fabric in a variety of whimsical and modern prints, perfect for quilting, apparel, accessories and the home. This season we are offering sewing patterns, kits and gift certificates in addition to our fabric and fabric bundles.

 

Use the code TDAY2013 for 10% off your order through the end of December!

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Natural Kids Store

 

We are a group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting natural kids products.

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Nest European Toys + Home

 

We offer a wide selection of made in Europe & North America natural toys, Waldorf toys, and crafts, as well as organic clothing and home furniture and accessories.

 

From Nov 28th - Dec 5th save 10% on the angel concert pyramid, the pair of birds and snowman ornaments. Use Promo Code: SouleMamaNestXmas.

And receive Free Shipping on orders over $120 (oversized items excepted). 

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Nova Natural Toys & Crafts

We sell toys and crafts that inspire and encourage children and families to learn, share and play together. Whether it's a classic like our rainbow blocks or a newfangled toy like a slackline, we're committed to being the source for products that engage a child's natural creativity and bountiful energy.

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Ottobre Design

 

Sewing and pattern magazine for kids of all ages (sizes from newborn to teens) and for women in European sizes 34-52 and US sizes 6-24.

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Quince & Company

 

Quince & Company sources wool from American sheep and has it spun and dyed in New England to make pretty hand-knitting yarns. Our wool yarns come in 5 varieties, each in 45 colors. We also spin an American wool/alpaca blend, and we import from Italy a sweet 100% organic linen yarn, great for warm weather knitting/wearing and for babies.

 

Enjoy 10% off your order of $25 or more Nov 30 through Dec 2 by entering mamasoule13 at checkout.

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Sarah's Silk

 

Sarah's Silks specializes in playsilks, dressups and toys made of silk, cotton and wood. Our silks are used in Waldorf schools all over the world. They are open ended and inspire fun and imaginative play! Our grab bags make great gifts at just $39!

 

Enter coupon code "family" at checkout and get a free mini-star playsilk (while supplies last!)

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Silk Oak

 

Hand Printed Eco-Friendly Clothing and Accessories for the Whole Family. Made with Love in Ithaca, NY

 

10% off our next order with the Coupon Code “GIVETHANKS”  thru Dec 1st

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Soul Sister Circle

 

a noncompetitive, empowering movement supporting the whole creative woman

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Sparkle Stories

 

Follow the days of Advent with the Martin & Sylvia Audio Advent Calendar, and enjoy the wonder of Christmas with Martin and Sylvia in their Christmastime Audio Book. Sparkle Stories has Sparkle Gifts too - from $15 and up, for children of all ages!

 

We'll share Free Holiday Stories each week of November and December too - on the Sparkle Stories iTunes Podcast!

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Stubby Pencil Studio

Stubby Pencil Studio offers eco friendly art materials, stationery, greeting cards, paper and sketchbooks. You'll also find unique gifts, non-toxic toys, classic games, educational books, craft kits, and many other creative products for your family.

Enjoy 10% off your order through the end of 2013 by entering MAMASAVE10 at checkout!

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The Magic Onions

 

The Magic Onions shop is filled with handmade toys and treasures for the natural home ~ beautiful, hand-crafted creations made with natural and eco-friendly materials. Don't miss our felted Christmas ornaments and colorful wool garlands.

 

Enjoy 10% off your order through the end of 2012 with the coupon code SouleMama at checkout.

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The Vintage Pearl

 

The Vintage Pearl creates unique and meaningful handstamped jewelry, makes an amazing gift from the heart.

 

Our new Vintage Spoon Charm necklaces are the perfect gift for many on your Christmas list!

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urban baby bonnets

 

UB2 offers hip, modern sun hats for boys & girls. they're handmade in the USA and designed so babies (even ones who hate hats-- REALLY!) can't get them off.

 

We're kicking off the holiday season with a FABULOUS Black Friday-Cyber Monday Fire sale. Most items in our store are on sale, many are 30% off or more. Some are listed at below our cost. Take advantage of this special thank you event for our loyal customers! The sale begins at 12:01 am on Friday, November 29. Set your alarms! This is a REAL sale-- so big and so bold that we only do it once a year!

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Woolen Moss Farm and Studio

 

Woolen Moss Farm and Studio makes organic, natural and ecofriendly clothing specializing in wool and organic cotton. Keep warm, casual and stylish this winter in my new infinity scarves or check out my other goods in warm and toasty wool.

 

Enjoy 15% off any purchase during the holiday weekend and through December 7th with coupon code SOULE13. Thanks and stay warm!

 

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this thanksgiving

My baby girl has a very amazing ability to fall asleep anywhere. I'm not sure if it's just who she is, or because she's the fifth child. It is equal parts puzzling, entertaining and incredibly sweet. Wherever she may  be, when she gets tired, she just lays her head down and sleeps. No words or announcements, no fuss or crying. She just sleeps when she's tired - as simple as that. Of course, in front of the woodstove, on a cozy daybed, on a dark and stormy early winter's afternoon? Well, that's the kind of nap any of us could go for. And maybe - just maybe - I couldn't resist and laid down beside her and closed my eyes too - for a quick moment or two. Mmnn....

But there will be no napping (for me!) today. The next stretch of days hold a great deal of goodness - with a great deal of time at the theater as we kick of this year's Nutcracker season. My stage-loving ballet boys are quite excited about their roles this year, and ready for the show to begin. With all that driving and costuming and excitement - and the stacks of trim piled up in my kitchen as we near the finish line on Gram's room - our Thanksgiving will look a little different than usual this year. It'll be quiet - a day of family rest, really. I might even insist upon a family nap hour. I'm sure I'll have some takers.

Wishing you and yours a most lovely stretch of joyous days ahead (with a few moments of peaceful rest too!). 

 

choretime with Peach (and Papa)

 

 

We are a little over a week into Peach's several month stay here. She's settling in quite nicely, I'd say, and we're settling in quite nicely to having her here. I have a better sense of how her body moves, and how to move around her - where she likes extra love (under the chin). She is such a sweet girl. And she, in turn, is figuring out our order of things at milking time and starting to predict and wait for what comes next. Getting acquainted with the sheep (who are still quite uncertain of her). We're getting to know one another. It all feels very romantic still, even in the freezing cold and high winds (of which we've had plenty this week). Milking time - right now - is nothing short of dreamy and any difficulty or nuisance is totally overshadowed by adrenaline and joy. I know that can't and won't last forever. And it's far too early, of course, for making predictions or declarations about our future with (or without) a cow, for there is so much to consider still. And so, for this moment, we are enjoying the discovery of so much that is new, and appreciating the beginnings of a rhythm that is forming around her presence here.

We do not have water or electricity in the newly constructed barn, nor will we until spring (or later) which means there's a great deal of hauling buckets back and forth from the house to the back pasture, where she and the sheep are. It is a job made much easier by two sets of (bigger) hands. Given the option of going out to help us milk or hanging inside and reading or playing games with the littles, the two older boys hardly skip a beat in their answer. And so...milking time has become a twice daily 'date' that Steve and I share. I milk her while he shovels and freshens hay and water...and sometimes we switch jobs. By manner of hooks and buckets and wagons, we did figure out a way to eliminate a few trips, making chore time actually possible with just one adult. But shhh....let's just keep that to ourselves, shall we, and save it just for emergencies like Mama's night out and Papa's guitar nights? Because we're not telling anyone inside that. They're all quite happy without us for a few minutes, and dare I say the feeling is (lovingly) mutual and appreciated. Beginning and ending the day together this way is such a gift - sometimes deep in conversation and planning for what is to come, and sometimes working together in silence. 

And the milk? Oh my, the milk! Four gallons a day, it turns out, is just a bit too much for even my milk-loving kiddos and all my cheese making attempts. No worries, we have friends to share with, and there are many more cheese experiments to come that will require gallons and gallons to get just right, I think. With a lot of willing helpers, there's a lot of kitchen time happening these days, and a refrigerator full of our experiments (it's a white world in there). We are having so much fun with all of that.

No matter how full and busy the rest of our day may be - and they are right now, deep in the middle of nutcracker and construction and life - there is no rushing through the milking and the animal chores. I think that might be what I love most about it - it just is the pace it is. And bookending our day with the chores - together - well, it feels like a steady anchor to home.  And I like that a whole lot.

five is fine

 

My baby boy turned five this weekend. Five. Oh my. He went to sleep the night before in full costume and character as Laura from Little House on the Prairie and woke up to don his birthday crown, new tool belt and set of (purple!!) tools for Purple Working Man. I love five. Five can be anything and everything, and it is...sometimes all in just one day. 

Each year, five times a year now, I keep learning the same lesson - one that deepens each time. And that is that our most simple of birthday celebrations are always the most special, the most peaceful, the most heartfelt and loving, with fully present parents and attentive siblings and a 'filled up with love' celebrated little one. Such was true this year with this one with a day all about him - all his favorite foods and favorite things. Lunch with a favorite friend, a visit to his grandparents. Lots of time for games in front of the fire (he's a Rush Hour wiz, this one), stomping about in the first snowstorm ("best birthday present ever" he declared), and building with all those new tools (building letters out of scrap wood seems to be the thing to do these days). We had brownie sundaes after lunch and dinner both (why not?). And I didn't see that shiny, sparkly Harper smile leave his face all day long.

Yes, five is so very good. A full hand! Happy Birthday, sweet Harper Jude.

SouleMama Sponsors ~ urban baby bonnets

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, urban baby bonnets. In Colette's words:

"featuring fresh, contemporary fabrics & a totally innovative design, UB2 sun hats are perfect for the modern baby. their big brim & unique reversible design is ideal for use with all kinds of baby carriers, allows discrete breastfeeding, & the adjustable snap closure means they’ll stay on! hip, matching accessories complete the look. designed & handmade in the USA."

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

Colette: Our biggest news this month is our annual Black Friday sale, which runs Friday, November 29- Monday, December 1. This isn't some hum-drum, boring, ordinary sale, with a handful of items at 10% off. This is a REAL sale. It's deep discounts on TONS of items... and it is definitely worth a look. If you haven't already, like us on Facebook and you'll be able to see the sale preview, so you know what will be on sale (but not what the sale prices are). Most things that are on sale will be 30% off or more. We clear stock once a year in a HUGE sale that is really about saying THANK YOU to our customers. It helps us generate cash flow to buy fabulous new fabrics for next season (wait 'till you see what we have in store!), and it lets you get some amazing, handmade products at a price that cannot be beat ANYWHERE else. Don't believe us? Check it out for yourself... and tell a friend!

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

 

Colette: i'm not sure this counts as "inspirational" but it's been the creative mantra that guides the bulk of my artistic decisions. it's: "make it more of what it is." an art teacher i had in graduate school said that to me as I was complaining that I couldn't force the clay to take the form I wanted it to hold. he encouraged me to stop thinking about controlling the form and to start thinking about it as a dialogue with the medium. I have an idea, but my hands, eyes and the material impact the expression of that idea. I can get frustrated, or I can speak to the medium with my actions and listen and take its advice as the work progresses. this seems to make more sense with handbuilt ceramic sculpture than it does with, say, designing a bonnet or a dress... but it always grounds me when I find myself feeling a little creatively lost. 

 

SouleMama: How are your children incorporated into your business?

 

Colette: my daughter is my inspiration...and she is central to everything i do-- from what i do to the way i do it. lately, we've been drawing and painting together a lot. she loves the animals i draw, and i love the ones SHE draws. we are both always trying to draw more like each other. her sketches have such a raw, funky, sweet style. they're disproportional, but in all the right ways. they're out of perspective, but in a way that accentuates the important features. i am hoping that once i finally do have time to design my own line of fabrics, that some of her ideas and designs will be central to the first collection I release.

SouleMama: Is there a creative pursuit you haven't explored yet, but would like to?

Colette: yes! i want to learn how to do stained glass-- you know, the real kind, where you break the sheets of flat glass and solder them together... there used to be a local class offered, but it was cancelled about a year ago... before i had the time (and the money) to invest in it. since my fine art paintings look so much like stained glass, it seemed like a natural extension of my existing body of work. just thinking about it gets me excited for learning a new process and a new way of expressing the images and passionate combination of colors that press themselves inside my mind. i'd also love to learn how to be proficient in adobe illustrator so I can take my own designs to the next level-- and have them printed as fabrics! i would love to do an exclusive line of fabrics for bonnets that are designed for the hats we make and with our customers in mind. i'm really excited about moving on to that aspect of design for UB2, but at the moment, I am too swamped with running the company to dedicate the time and attention I think fabric design deserves. it's part of my long range plan!  :-)

 

 

For today's giveaway, urban baby bonnets is generously offering the following gifts to ONE winner:  

~ Gift certificate for $36 for the hat of your choice!

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In addition, urban baby bonnets would like to offer SouleMama readers FREE US shipping begins December 3, ends December 31. To receive the offer, enter " soulesearching " 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 am EST on Monday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winner is...

Would love to win one of these!
Posted by: Allie Henderson

Thank you, urban baby bonnets!

SouleMama Sponsors ~ Natural Kids Store

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, Natural Kids Store. In their own 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.

Visit the Natural Kids blog. We are also on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest!"

SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.

Marie, Knecht Ruprecht Dolls: I grew up in a family of artists, with lots of self-made and handcrafted goods around myself. Since I am a mother to a little daughter and a little son I started working on dolls and wooden toys for my children like my mother did for me when I was little. Some friends asked if I could create dolls and wooden toys for their children too and so I started to sell my handcrafted treasures for babies and children. I live and work together with my family in the north of Austria's countryside. My first sale on etsy was ordered from Texas which was quite exotic for me living in Austria. I was so thrilled and loved the idea to send my dolls to children all over the world. My dream came true and now there are Knecht Ruprecht Dolls all over the world. I am so pleased and happy to make these dolls and last but not least this kind of work is very compatibly while having little children. It allows me to stay at home with them and work beside them when they play, having my sewing basket at my side.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

 

Beth, Jupiter's Child: To take an idea from conception to design and to end up with a product that you believe in is quite thrilling. To have other people like it as well is just the icing on the cake. My creative partner and I both enjoy the process of seeing our ideas come to life, and we spend a lot of time working on our new products. We try to create quintessential childhood toys, but with a new twist. So the plain cotton jump rope now has vivid colors; the wooden animals are made from sustainably-harvested wood and are finished with non-toxic organic polish. We send our creations all over the world, and it’s very gratifying to know that others are enjoying them.

 

SouleMama: What artists/crafters/teachers have inspired your life?

 

Allison, Outside Everywhere: My husband Daniel and I are the makers of wooden toys for our shop Outside Everywhere. We are both very much inspired by the hand-crafting traditions of our families. Daniel's grandfather was a woodworker and made beautiful wooden furniture and home decor. We love having some of his furniture in our home. I come from a long line of quilters and fabric artists. My great-grandmother made beautiful quilts by hand until she got a sewing machine in the late 60's. I inherited her sewing machine and use it now. It's probably my most favorite possession. My dad is a painter and mural artist, and I am in awe of his eye for color and landscapes. Daniel and I have learned the beauty of making things by hand from our families, and we hope to continue this tradition with our own little family.

 

SouleMama: How are your children incorporated into your business?

 

Beccijo, The Enchanted Cupboard: Because we home school, our children are a direct part of my business, The Enchanted Cupboard. I work while they do their daily learning. The children have been my inspiration for some of my toy lines because they were really into spaceman, mermaids, or pirates. My educational toys were created to help them master different skills.

 

The children also love to join me in the studio to help with daily activities. They enjoy sorting supplies, sanding wooden cutouts, or doing inventory. The children also love to chart on the map where all the orders go and they get excited when we get to learn about a new town or country.

 

Our children know that Santa has special elves (like mommy) who help Santa with special orders when the elves get too busy. On Christmas eve we watch online to see when Santa is delivering to all the places that I got special orders from. This wonderful tradition helps our family find fun and not frustration during the holiday toy rush!

 

SouleMama: What inspires you?

 

Jennifer, MinnieAndTheMonster: I'm a homeschooling mom to three of the most amazing children on the planet. We spend our days learning together, reading the most amazing books (our current favorite is Oliver Twist), creating masterpieces for the fridge, chasing the chickens out of our garden beds, and battling imaginary dragons with wooden swords. Minnie and the Monster is a colorful reflection of our days and dreams (especially when they contain rainbow unicorns).

 

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

 

Emmanuelle, Curly Monkey: "What one loves in childhood stays in the heart forever" Mary Jo Putney

 

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

~ Winter/Christmas Giveaway Package, shown above!

 

Shops participating in this giveaway...

Armadillo Dreams, Art of Felting, BirchLeaf Designs, CurlyMonkey, German Dolls, Handmaiden Canada, Jupiter's Child, Knecht Ruprecht Dolls, MamaWestWind, Minnie and the Monster, Mosey Handmade, Outside Everywhere, Pail and Pie, Sylvia Starlight,

 The Enchanted Cupboard, The Magic Onions, and Woolies

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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 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments Closed!  The winner is...

Everyone in my family would really enjoy this package. Thank you for this generous giveaway.
Posted by: Orsi

Thank you, Natural Kids Store!

{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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sewing, last spring

This post has the potential to deceive so let me just say at the outset, I have not been sewing of late (well, there is the tulle at the dance studio, but not in my own studio, which is where it really counts). I have been thinking a whole lot about sewing. I have been dreaming a whole lot about it. I have even been ordering fabric and printing out patterns as though I were sewing on a very regular basis these days. And despite what my calendar tells me, I have great hope still, of some sewing before the holidays. What can I say? I'm a bit of a Pollyanna and not afraid of owning up to that.

No, this handmade project has only come about as a result of the very chaos in which we are living right now. I sewed this little blouse back in the spring, late enough in the spring - early in the summer, really - so that it was just too much fabric for wearing at the time. I tucked it away, unworn, in the back of my closet where it was promptly forgotten about for a season. Until this very week, when I found myself digging back there looking for something to wear. This is a common theme around here these days. My washing machine is more often than not unplugged and sitting in my kitchen while construction carries on. I've come to realize that I am quite fine without a lot of appliances. Dishwasher? Don't want one. Furnace? Nah. Dryer? Not necessary. Oven? A bummer, but we can make it work. My washing machine? Dude! Don't mess with my washing machine! The most lovely (and they really are) contractors here might believe me to be a Crazy Lady with my frequent questions about just precisely when I can move it and plug that back in again. (Floor tiles? I don't care which ones we use! Just give me my washing machine back!). The laundry around these parts is a serious affair with seven of us working, playing, and farming here all day, and it's just one of those things that - when really behind on - can make me feel a little nutty. Do you know what I'm talking about? Of course you do. Or maybe it's just me.

Anyway. Moving on from the washing machine....I did happily find this nearly forgotten about shirt this week from the depths of my closet. All I remember about the fabric is that it's from Z Fabric in Portland. And the pattern is Lisette 2211. It was, I recall now, a very fun sewing project and a relatively quick one too. I had plans, I remember, to make a few more just like it, but in very different fabrics (chambray, yes?). Maybe I will do just that this fall with these bundles of fabric piling up in my studio. Of course, I'd have to wash the fabric first and that would require my washing machine. Wait. Am I talking about my washing machine again? 

Back to the newly discovered shirt. I like it very much. 

in the shop

In the mix of barn building and construction managing and cow milking (and homeschooling and dance driving and oh, just feeding all these peeps), I've been fitting in all kinds of good work too. As we slide on into our third year (what?) so many exciting things are happening within and around the pages of Taproot. Right now, I'm having a lot of fun with a big box of samples that arrived this week. Many months ago, we dreamed up some papery goodness for the holidays with some of our longtime (can we say that after just two years?) artists, which was an absolute blast. The results are all here...and in the shop now. 

There are notecards, packed in sets of twelve that feature art from within our pages by Michelle Kroll and Phoebe Wahl. Both of these sets include images that I've adored since I first saw them - a baby on the back, a woman's hands in the dirt, a basket of yarn. Finding art (and pairing it with words) might just be my very favorite part of my job. How could it not be with beautiful things images this appearing in front of me? Goodness. There are so many seriously talented folks in this world of ours.

And...a 2014 wall calendar with art by Phoebe Wahl! It includes many of the images that have appeared in the pages of Taproot with a few newly created ones too. I think I say it to her about each and every new piece I see, but really now, that oceanside August image takes the cake. But then there's the maypole. Hmn. I am so looking forward to walking through the year with these images on the walls, month by month. Phoebe has such a way of capturing family and nature that serves as both comfort and inspiration to me, and I know I'm not alone in that response to her work. I'm so glad this project has come to fruition and can now be shared. I'm also glad that - even though I originally argued against it (silly me) - we crafted these monthly pages to include space to actually write on. I'm envisioning lots of doodles and exciting dates added to the pages by big and little hands alike. Filling in some of those big dates this week for example, I found myself writing "13th birthday!". Does my baby really become a teenager this year? Well, oh my. Isn't that something.

Thanks for letting me indulge you in a little bit of Taproot shop talk. It's been such a pleasure to work with these friends and artists to create these things alongside the magazine (the next issue is at the printer right now!). We hope you enjoy them! 

in milk

Oh goodness. Thank you, friends, for sharing in our excitement about Peach's arrival here! All is going well as we all get used to one another. While she is settling in, we're also settling into having her here and the rhythm of both the milking and the milk itself. Fumbling our way through milking time and figuring out just where everything should go in the parlor (also known as - the stanchion in the corner of the barn). And then...what to do with four gallons of milk a day? How can we juggle the twice-daily milking times? Does a family cow even fit into our lives? Well that's just what we hope to puzzle out in Peach's extended stay. And we're so excited to be doing that. Soon enough, even with her stay, I know that this will all become routine and part of the regular rhythm of our days. But for right now, for this day, everything is a novelty. The cow in the pasture the kids are so thrilled to go peek in on...the bundling up for morning and evening milking...bringing in the milk....and drinking, making and playing around with just what we can do with it all.  Yes. It's a very exciting beginning.

her name is peach

 

We've been working on this little animal shelter for a few weeks now, with enormous help from friends and family, and of course so many little carpenter hands. Shed? Barn? Shelter? Yeah...we can't quite determine what to call it yet. Anyway. It was - and is - intended for the sheep and goats, with stalls inside especially for lambing and kidding time. But somewhere along the way this fall, we decided it also needed to serve one more purpose - a little corner of it anyway - as a milking parlor. Like all good projects, this one kept along at a steady pace, building in intensity until the deadline loomed...and then it got a little crazy. Which is why this weekend was a building marathon if ever there was one, all hands on deck, let's get it done kind of a time - working by headlamp well into the evening, eating popcorn and carrot sticks for lunch and ordering out pizza for dinner. As the clock ticked closer, some things found themselves getting cut from the essential priority list (oh, siding, we're almost done with you!). Right up until the very minute last night (drills still in hand) that a trailer pulled into the drive, to make the livestock delivery we've all been waiting for.

Peach is her name. And well suited to it, she is. A lovely little Jersey who is here not forever but for an extended vacation while her true farmers, our friends (and gentle nudgers of homestead support) at Broadturn Farm, take a little break of their own. It feels a very good start and trial for us in so many ways, and we're very glad she's here. We are nervous (just like her), but so happy (like I hope she is too). 

I've waxed on and on, likely ad naseum, about our desire for a dairy cow - both here, and there and most definitely in person. And I dare say my family cow waxing has just begun. But for now? I think I'm still in a little bit of shock that there's a cow in my backyard. And...most definitely ready for a nap. And then...it'll be time to milk Peach.

SouleMama Sponsors ~ Alewives Fabrics

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

"Alewives Fabrics is an independently owned fabric store located in Midcoast Maine and run by the mother/daughter team of Barbara Neeson and Rhea Butler. We carry a great selection of carefully curated fabrics: everything from quilting cottons to vinyl laminate and a whole lot in between. Our shop and webstore draw sewing enthusiasts from all over the world.

Rhea keeps a blog that is equal parts daily life and shop news. We are also on facebook, twitter and pinterest."

SouleMama: How long have you been in business?

Rhea: Alewives Fabrics has been open since 1978. Over the years, the business has changed hands a couple of times, and our family bought the shop in 2004. We've evolved from a business that was geared towards garment sewing in the 70's and 80's to a full fledged quilt shop in the 90's and early 2000's. Today we are what we like to call a "creative home sewing" shop with fabrics and supplies for making quilts, clothing, bags and home furnishings. Fabrics have changed lots over the years (for the better, in my opinion): today's designs are gorgeous with unbelievable quality and of course the internet has really rejuvenated sewing by connecting and inspiring a new generation of sewists. All in all, it's an exciting time to be in the fabric business! 

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

 

Rhea : A "typical" day at the shop sees us doing lots of things: Pam is downstairs doing long-arm quilting for our customers, Tammy is stitching up shop samples or teaching a class, Shelby is uploading new fabrics to the internet and filling internet orders for our webstore, Martha is making gorgeous samples and helping to wait on customers, I answer e-mails, place orders and rearrange the shop, and my mom is probably next door at my house, babysitting Bert with one hand and paying bills with the other. We're very lucky to have a great crew here at the shop, and we have a LOT of fun.  

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

~ A "Coming Together" quilt kit!

 

The kit includes the book Simply Modern Christmas by Cindy Hammon, plus fabrics for the top and binding of the quilt, which finishes at approximately 60" square. The quilt gets its name from the flying geese pattern featured in the quilt, which reminds us that during the holidays, we all "come together" from different corners to enjoy the season. Our version of the kit includes a cheater print: it will look as though the center motifs are hand-appliqued, but really the gorgeous fabric is doing all of the work.     

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In addition, Alewives Fabrics would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% off their entire purchase at the shop or at alewivesfabrics.com through November 24th, 2013. To receive the discount, either mention "SouleMama" at the counter, or enter the code "soulemama" into the promotional code field at checkout. Discount does not apply to shipping charges and won't appear in your final invoice or confirmation e-mail, but we are working hard on our end to manually change the cost of your order.  

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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 9 am EST on Monday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winner is...

Quilt + Christmas = happiness! Thanks for the giveaway!!
Posted by: katie near chicago

Thank you, Alewives Fabrics!

SouleMama Sponsors ~ Artterro

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

"Artterro Eco Art Kits inspires creativity with gorgeous, natural materials—wool felt, recycled handmade paper & more. We make it easy to unplug and enjoy art with family & friends! Assembled by hand in WI.

We love getting to know our customers on our Facebook page. "Like" us to stay in touch"

SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of 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 assemble by hand here at our Madison, WI office.  We sell them to specialty stores all over the US and Canada, and directly to customers from our web store.

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

 

Forrest: We dream of a company that continues to help people tap into their creativity with easy and fun products for all ages and all abilities. We have many ideas for new kits in the works so stay tuned! We also look forward to growing our art outreach efforts in the community and our sustainable business mentoring work. We have so much we would like to do, but we also want to create balance in our lives and the lives of our employees. I hope many of your readers join our Artterro community and like us on Facebook (and/or Twitter and Pinterest) we would love to hear their thoughts and suggestions.

 

SouleMama: What advice do you have for people wanting to be more creative?

 

Forrest: It’s so important to make creativity convenient and easy! For busy families, it can seem like a huge undertaking to plan a project, get the supplies, clear a big work space, supervise and clean up. That’s why I recommend stocking a mini art supply area that’s easily accessible to kids, like a low shelf in the kitchen or a bin under the coffee table. That way kids can grab what they need to draw or collage without needing help. Here’s a good starter list: blank and colored paper, pencils, scissors, glue, tape, crayons and recycled materials like magazine pages, newspaper and small cardboard boxes. You can also keep an actual folder or a virtual Pinterest board stuffed with easy project ideas from magazines and blogs. For adults who want to be more creative, it’s always a good idea to start small, with one project that you work on for a little while everyday. I have a little “mobile art station,” which is just a bamboo tray with a nice lip around it, where I can keep a knitting project or a beading project, moving from the dining room table to the couch as needed without having to pack and unpack a bunch of materials each time I work on it. I love crafting with a TV show on in the background, or while my kids are busy with a board game. The key is not having to go out of your way to grab a little relaxing, creative time to yourself. 
 

 

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

~ Set of the following three kits!

 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.

Canvas Storybook Kit: Explore your story with fabric art! Combine gorgeous hand-dyed batik and solid cotton fabric with ribbon, beads, and artist quality acrylic paint to illustrate a unique canvas book. Sew or glue fabric shapes onto the 6x8 inch pages. Multiple award winner! 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 your entire order at www.artterro.com through December 16th, 2013. To receive the discount, enter " 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 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are...

How nice for Christmas, thank you!
Posted by: Mama Nuru

What an exciting offer! Love their products!
Posted by: Linda

would love a chance to win - my daughter would LOVE this for Christmas!
Posted by: Jaime

Thank you, Artterro!

{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.

. . . . . . . . . .

it was meant for her

I'm not sure what I was thinking - I thought this hat was for me. In the yarn shop where I was just browsing (browsing in a yarn shop, ahem), I lingered over this lovely alpaca, silk, CVM yarn from Maine Twist. So incredibly soft and yummy. I originally picked up an oatmeal color thinking I'd make myself a hat and mittens, walked to the counter (before I could do more "browsing") and then did a quick pivot, replacing the oatmeal for the hot pink. What? I know. I don't know, really. "Get something different!" I think I told myself.

I cast on for Wurm, happy to add another hat to my winter stash, and delighted to knit with this lovely yarn. It moved quickly, as hat knitting can do. I was knitting in all kinds of light - in the passenger seat of the car, by the firelight in the evening, and and under the flourescent lights in the dance studio. And somewhere along the way, a creeping doubt became a loud and clear laugh "I am NEVER going to wear this hat!" 

It's a gorgeous color, and simply scrumptious yarn, and quite fun (and warm!) pattern. But that hot pink and I were just not meant for each other. 

I realized this, thankfully, just in time to stop a little bit short in the pattern. So that it would be just right for a smaller head, one for whom this hat is a perfect match...

 

at the table

{I've been thinking a lot about this table of mine.
Thinking about all that happens on and around it, and how it truly is a center for our family life. 
How the things upon it are so reflective of who and where are at any given moment. 
It's turned into a little bit of a regular photo series here...}

(Last time, at the table.)

11.10.2013, 6:50pm

On the table: Chicken stew with lard tortillas, last years seed catalog with my woodland mug from our dear friend Jess, and a table set for seven.

At the table: I did not want to make dinner tonight. This weekend has been long with too much time away from home, and I feel so out of my kitchen element. We are low on eggs, out of milk and cheese, out of pork for a few weeks and I am tired of chicken and turkey. Not to mention, I have nothing to cook any of that in - the oven is broken again as we wait a week for the repairman to return. And the entire contents of the laundry room, mid-construction, sit in front of my pantry blocking me from digging around for anything else. Aren't there some leftovers?, I ask the boys. (They ate them for lunch.) Or some takeout?, I fantasize. (That's nothing more than a dream 'round these parts.) As the clock ticks and the energy level rises from the little ones, showing signs of dinner-is-late spiraling, I give in to the reality that no one else is going to make dinner (Papa's working on the barn), and begrudgingly begin. But first, I make some tea (Brahmin from Smith Tea is a favorite these days), and put on some music (Old Crow Medicine Show seems just right), and ask for some help in the kitchen. I get three (little) volunteers, and we begin.

It isn't long before we find our groove. That the familiar rhythm of moving around my kitchen fills me up with something else all together - the comfortable chaos of all of us, the feeling of fullness in preparing food we grew and raised, and the gratitude for this moment in all that it is right now.

After a quick dash to the garden by headlamp for parsley, I use some leftover chicken to craft a quick soup. I keep it simple - carrots, onions, garlic, parsley and onions. As I look at the clock and the dropping eyelids of the two littlest ones, I make the decision to skip the usual half hour resting time for the tortilla dough. The table is set, the candles are lit, the dinner bell has rung for Papa. I notice that somewhere along the way, someone (Ezra) has changed the music from bluegrass to a fusion sort of thing (Parov Stelar is a favorite here these days). When all five of them are dancing - and happy - I roll with it, joining them in between tortilla flippings until Papa comes in.

The simple soup, it turns out, is a hit. And tortillas a treat. Everyone is happy, the meal is peaceful. Perhaps it is the simplicity of the meal, perhaps it is that we are all together at the table after such busyness in our days right now. Or maybe it is just that their bellies were empty enough, that filling them up was all anyone needed. I do not know the ingredients to a perfect meal. What I do know, is that sometimes the family dinners I struggle most getting started, end up being the very ones I treasure most of all. 

before the snow flies

"Hopefully, before the snow flies!" has been our answer to a lot of questions this year. When will the construction on the addition be done? When will Gram move in? When will the winter shelter be ready? When are the last of the animals joining us for the year?

Friends, the snow is flying now. 

So too is construction. Though there's still so much more to go, we can at least see the finish line. A glimpse of it anyway. I have lost track of who is here at any given moment - though I know there are a whole lot of pick up trucks in my drive each time I come or go. Contractors for the addition, deliveries of more lumber or another fixture being made, friends here to help for an afternoon or three days with the 'barn' construction. I am feeling blessed with all the people and energy going into these projects here that honestly, I have very little to do with besides answering questions, feeding whoever lands in my kitchen around mealtime, and herding children. At the beginning of the day, I try to get a grasp on what decisions I need to make right now (today: flooring for Gram, stanchion placement for the barn), and at the end, I walk around and marvel at just how much happened in a day.

I have a strong suspicion that this time in our life is one we're going to look back on and laugh about for years to come. When butcher turkeys, transport pigs, put on the rafters, choose all the light fixtures, go to press on the magazine, get to ballet (every night), and feed and water all (the many) living things, falls on a single daily to do list, and we're doing it in the middle of a construction zone, with my washer and dryer unplugged and an oven broken, and oh - there's a hole in the side of the house!.....well, there's a whole lot of cause for laughter right now too. Sure, there are moments of doubt and overwhelm. But for the most part, the fullness of our life right now is quite comical. It really is.

With dinner in progress last night, and five children playing so miraculously happy together, I slipped quietly out the door. Back in the pasture, Steve was working by headlamp on the barn, thankfully not on a ladder (or at least he wisely hopped down when he heard me coming). Alone enough to have a conversation for the first time all day, we both were well aware of how many important things and timely decisions we should be discussing. But we stood there in silence for a few minutes instead. I could hear the chickens settling in for the night, and we could see the sheep just along the rock wall. The smell of woodsmoke wafted by from the chimney, and a muffled laughter was coming from inside the house. And music too - the kind of music that I know those kids intend to be the start of a dance party.

We stood there for a moment longer in the quiet, taking it all in, catching our breath. Then we went inside to join them.

w e e k e n d i n g

 

(From my Instagram.)

Some treats from a visit earlier in the week to Mother of Purl and Cotton Weeds. They're at the top of my weekend play list. I'm anticipating fun today.

Enjoy what remains of your weekend, friends! 

SouleMama Sponsors ~ The Magic Onions

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, The Magic Onions. In Donni's words:

"The Magic Onions Shop is filled with handmade toys and treasures for the natural home.

Visit our Blog!"

SouleMama: Tell us about your craft.

Donni: Hi, I’m Donni from the Magic Onions Shop. I’m mom to two sunbursts of joy; Kitty who is 9 and Teddy who is 6.

I'm crazy about needle felting. I could needle felt all day long! It’s the most amazing craft. I start with a big bunch of colorful, un-spun wool that resembles cotton candy and I sculpt it using a tiny felting needle. I poke the wool hundreds of times until it takes on a shape. The sharp needle has tiny barbs, which grab the wool fibers and interlock them, tighter and tighter, making a firmly felted piece of magic. It truly is like magic ~ starting with fluffy wool that looks impossible to sculpt and transforming it into a beautiful little something I can hold in my hands! I love the gorgeous colors of the wool, the warmth of it, the noise the needle makes as I work and the unlimited possibilities of the things I can create. Kids adore the tactile softness of needle felted toys and the wonderful texture of felted goodies brings and earthy warmth into the home. I have lots of DIY needle felting kits available in my shop if you are eager to experience the fun for yourself.

SouleMama: What inspires you?

 

Donni: The woods are my favorite place of all. There is magic everywhere in the woods… little pockets of fairy dust tucked away in hidden spaces, glittering rain-jewels, the emerald green of a mossy stone. We are an inspired and loving family when we spend time together at one with nature. The magic of the woods spills out into everything I create and knits its spell throughout the Magic Onions Shop. I make colorful wool acorns, mossy felted pebbles, woodland garlands, toadstool ornaments, foxes, squirrels, owls ~ a myriad of delightful woodland goodies that are sure to enchant.

 

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

Donni: Without a doubt it would be my new woodland Christmas ornament collection. My kids helped me to come up with each piece and collaborating with them is always a precious gift. I am totally in love with all of them ~ seriously, if I didn’t make them myself, I’d have to buy them ALL as choosing a few favorites would be impossible for me. Each one has a character all of his own. I have a set hanging from a natural branch in my bedroom and they never fail to bring a smile to my face each morning.

I love what I do and I am wonderfully aware of how lucky I am to have been able to craft a business that allows me to follow my passion, every day. And I am proud of the goods I create… they are eco-friendly, made from natural and sustainable materials and good for the earth… and, of course,  full of magic!

 

For today's giveaway, The Magic Onions is generously offering the following gift to ONE winner:  

~ A complete set of Felted Woodland Ornaments consisting of a grizzly bear, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, Hoot the Owl, a squirrel and his felted acorn, a wonderful magic toadstool and a pine cone Christmas tree.

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In addition, The Magic Onions would like to offer SouleMama readers 10% off through November 30th, 2013. To receive the offer, please enter " 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 9 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winner, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winner is...

Aw, that collection is adorable!!!
Posted by: Elizabeth

Thank you, The Magic Onions!

{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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this week in my garden :: November 7

Last week, in my garden. (October 24)

This morning, in my garden.

And that, I do believe, is a wrap on the 2013 garden! This week, I harvested the last of the carrots, celery, brussels sprouts and other things left out there still edible. The parsnips will stay in the ground, the kale is getting sweeter with each frost, and the garlic is deep in the beds, covered with leaves till spring. The bees got their winter blankets, the garden shed was tightened up, and the garden furniture stacked. I brought in all the pots scattered about the garden, and the stakes too. The garden is ready for bed! But of course, it's not at complete rest. We moved the chickens and their hoop house into the garden as well, letting them do their thing and clean up even more. A little bit of portable fencing and the garlic is out of chicken reach, along with the few things we're still needing to protect. 

I'm turning my mind now to Thanksgiving - what is fast turning into my very favorite holiday - as we gather together with friends and celebrate this harvest season, and each other. We'll enjoy what we preserved as long as we can. And then, by the woodstove for warmth this winter, we'll dream and plan what next years garden will be. It's right around the corner.

knitting a sweater, thankfully

(Hoodie from Silk Oak.)

Ezra got his hat - just like Harper's, complete with a pom pom on top. I think Ezra pulls off the slouchy hat with pom pom quite well. That Ezra has a way. It's fun to make things for him.

So the hat knitting is coming along smoothly. A few more have been cast on and promptly cast off, but they best be kept top secret what with these holidays coming and all. 

I also had a little dishcloth making motivation a few weeks ago and got right to it. I don't usually love knitting with cotton, and I do believe that enjoying the process of knitting is just as important as the finished knit...so it took a little bit to find the cotton just right. I landed on Classic Elite Mesa, which is lovely, and this pattern became committed to memory quickly enough. I had grand intentions of making ourselves a big tall stack of dishcloths. But after two, well...maybe it got boring? Yes. A little bit boring. And you know that I believe handknits should be worn and used and loved and not treated so delicately, but still...I couldn't help thinking (knowing) exactly what kind of use and abuse would be in the future of these dishcloths. And then I realized the price per skein/washcloth and my interest in making more waned even more. At least for now.

Which left me just hat knitting. And it turns out, that's just not enough. I was feeling twitchy for something bigger, something that didn't require stopping and starting over again so frequently. With my goal still of not buying a whole sweaters worth of yarn, I began to really dive into my stash in a bit of desperation. There must be something in there, I thought. And that's when I found my long-abandoned Eternity cardigan, which was turning out to be taking me an ironic Eternity to knit. Somewhere along the way, I had decided I didn't like it at all...and yet...four skeins into knitting it, it was so hard to go backwards. So there it had sat, all summer long, just hibernating.

Now, ripping out five skeins worth of your own knitting is best done with a deep breath, not a lot of eye contact with the yarn, and a distraction of one kind or another. A movie, a book, a cute baby. If you're so inclined, I'd also suggest a martini. It does help.

And with that freshly frogged sweater, and now a great big pile of Brooklyn Tweed Shelter to use, I cast right on for another. This time, to Lady Marple, which I'm enjoying so much. Some of the ballet girls - a little curious but also little concerned about 'how long it takes' to knit something - asked me when I thought I might be done with this sweater. Wanting to encourage the knitting (because the knitting is good, yes?), "before Nutcracker season is over" slipped out of my mouth. And so there it is. I said it outloud, and made myself a little challenge. A bit of sweater knitting - for me - this holiday season. A perfect indulgence. 

Little Miss Jackie

On Halloween, we got word of a friend looking for a quick home for a cat. Living out in the woods not far from us, this friend had spied a black cat wandering around her property for a few days. On the morning of Halloween she lured it right on in the front door. She could find no owner, and no shelters with room at the moment. A little "timid and wild" is what she said about it, and we thought, "Sure, why not? We'll take her!" We all think Piper misses having other kitties around, and surely she could use some help with the mouse population out in that barn. Not to mention the most important reality - there's plenty of extra cat lovin' to give around these parts. 

By the next morning, this wild thing had warmed up enough, gotten comfortable, and wrapped itself right around its rescuer's neck, full of snuggles and gratitude. And the "cat"? Oh my, no. This "cat" turned out to be quite a kitten, she told us when we arrived. And so, with a little coercion, and thankfully no trauma, we packed the kitten up, gave our thank you's, and were on our merry way to our vet where this kitten got herself all checked out and we got the report that she was indeed no more than eleven weeks old, and not a bit over two and a half pounds, sweet pea.

And oh, this sweet pea! We all think she must have had quite a time of it before she was brought in on that stormy Halloween. Likely just dropped off there in those woods, we think. And who knows from where and for how long. She has been, since settling in here, quite simply exhausted from whatever it was that came before, and struggling, a little bit, with an infection. But she's going to be just fine - she just needs some meds and some time to rest and recover. Sleeping, sleeping, snuggling, snuggling. That's what she's doing for now, though I think it won't be long before she's joining the shenanigans all around this new home of hers.

Harper - with a birthday coming up and a wish for a cat - had the honor of naming her. "Halloween Kitty" was where he started. Followed by "Tootface Kittycat" (oh, five year old boys). But eventually, he made his way round to Jackie, in honor of Jack O' Lanterns and the Halloween day on which she was found. We think it suits her. 

We have her set up in Adelaide's room (otherwise known at the Soule Veterinary Clinic), where we can close the door and get her feeling extra cozy and safe and away from the hubbub. It's a quiet little cat sanctuary in there, where each one of us sneaks in to just sit and hold and fall into the mellow zone of a cat with a purr louder than any I've ever heard. Oh, there's not much better than a sleeping kitten on your chest. Little Miss Jackie. She's a love.

 

happenings

I know...I really do try to find the things that unite us here in this blog space, and steer away from politics, but let a daughter brag about her Dad for a minute, will you? I'll be quick, and then we can move right back to the yarn tomorrow, I promise.

The boys have spent a bit of time this season with their Grampie - my dad - as he prepares for another election. In this house, we like to call him Mr. Mayor whether he technically is (as he is right now) or isn't the mayor of South Portland, because he's just that kinda guy and always has been. Passionate about his city, he's a man about town who seemingly knows every resident or atleast their father/son/daughter/mother, and what's going on in all corners (which proved challenging whenever my sisters or I ever tried to get into any teenage trouble, harumph). I'd personally support him no matter what - he's my dad - but that we share political opinions and values? Well, that just makes me thrilled to rally behind him. His work preserving open spaces inspired me as a child, and it continues now as his energy goes towards building a sustainable city and right now, specifically, protecting the waterfront from tar sands. I think his city is lucky to have him, I'm proud of him, and so glad that my kids can witness, through him, government in action making positive change. We're all wishing him lots of luck tomorrow.

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, walls are going up! We are not doing the building ourselves, and with a crew out there working, it's incredible to see how fast this is happening. And how soon that means that Gram will be here! We are in the land right now of the little decisions! Vanity or pedastal? Tile or wood? Undermount or overmount? Brushed nickel or stainless steel? Dimmer or no dimmer? Really now. I think this week we made the last of them - for now, anyway - and each time I've worried about what we've decided, it's been met with "I love it!" from her. So we're good. We're all good.

Things are happening here, folks! So much in a day that it's slightly dizzying. But this, I know, is a short period in our lives. One full of so many good things that I might as well sink right on into and enjoy. Wishing you the very same as you start your week!

SouleMama Sponsors ~ Kelbourne Woolens

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

"Kelbourne Woolens is the distributor of The Fibre Company handknitting yarns. We create unique blends of yarns with the softest fibers that are then kettle-dyed to achieve deeply saturated colors with subtle variation in depth of shade. Gearing up for winter, we've been making ourselves lots of quick knits using Tundra, our bulky weight blend of baby alpaca, merino wool and silk.

You can read all about our projects and the lovely ways that other designers have used our yarn on our blog. Our office manager, Maura, blogs about all of her projects over at The Projectory."

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

Maura:  Like the cobbler's children, we spend much time knitting with few handknit garments to wear! Last winter, I began knitting a sweater for myself, a pullover out of Tundra with an oversized cowlneck. I began thinking about the "elements" of sweaters and how by using a basic shape, you could change the neckline and colors to make a completely different garment. I spent a night sketching and then the next three months knitting seven more sweaters, each from a basic raglan shape. The choose-your-own-sweater adventure came into fruition and the sweater that was intended to be my own gained a higher calling as a sample garment.

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

Maura:  At one time, knitting was a hobby for all of us. Over the last five years, we've been lucky enough to make a living at it, creating beautiful yarns, designing patterns and working with a fantastic array of yarn shop stockists internationally. While we still love knitting and knit for pleasure whenever we can, we've all found additional creative outlets to keep things interesting and bring us inspiration from unexpected sources. Kate has become an avid sewer, Courtney can turn a bag of groceries into a gourmet meal, and I take classes and perform as a trapeze artist.

SouleMama: Is there a special place that inspires you?

Maura: Anywhere but here! Running a small business and managing family life can be a precarious balance that largely relies on the predictability of a schedule, but inspiration is slower to strike when the scenery doesn't change. We do our best to support each other in ways to prevent ruts. During the workday, we'll take mental breaks to talk about interesting things we're heard or seen recently, and lunch is understood to be a sacrosanct time to take a walk or sit out on the porch. There is always work to be done, but weekends away and the occasional day off are imperative to keep moving forward. As an office, we recently took a road trip up to Rhinebeck, NY for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival. Between the parade of sheep we pet, the knitters we spent our time with and gorgeous yarns we saw, we came home with countless seedlings of ideas to germinate the next year's projects!

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

~ Digital copy of Maura's new sweater collection, Tundra: Elements,

a choose-your-own-sweater adventure! 

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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 am EST on Monday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are...

This is brilliant!!!!!
Posted by: ashley

Ooh, I love those sweaters! Great functional and funky style!!
Posted by: Fern Hollow Mama

That is a super fun pattern!
Posted by: Tara

Thank you,  Kelbourne Woolens!

SouleMama Sponsors ~ The Vintage Pearl

Today, we bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor, The Vintage Pearl. In Erin's words:

"We create simple yet meaningful handstamped jewelry in our Tulsa, Oklahoma studio. We use sterling silver and freshwater pearls, and our goal is to create pieces that connect with your heart and inspire your soul.

Visit our Blog and Facebook page!

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

Erin: We first began as a creative outlet- I was a stay at home mom of 4 little ones with a blog and the need for a hobby. I taught myself how to make jewelry for fun and first began stamping on my kitchen counters, then assembling and shipping form the kitchen table. Eventually I began to get overwhelmed and faithful friends jumped in to help. We now have a thriving online website, a wholesale collection that is carried all over the U.S. and we are opening our third retail store in Houston, TX (grand opening is Saturday, November 2nd!) Our other 2 stores are in Tulsa, OK and Edmond/OKC, OK.

SouleMama: Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Erin : Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

This is our team "motto", to use the skills that God has blessed us with to do good for others. We love to give and help people in need, and the success of the business allows us to do so!

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

Erin: I feel extremely blessed that I get to work with my closest friends everyday. My favorite part is brainstorming and creating new pieces with them.

The most challenging part is balancing work and home life, sometimes I have a hard time turning off "business" mode, and I want to be totally "there and present" for my family when they want me.

 

For today's giveaway, The Vintage Pearl is generously offering the following gift to THREE winners:  

 

~ $50 Gift Certificate to pick your favorite piece!

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In addition, The Vintage Pearl would like to offer SouleMama readers 15% off through November 10, 2013. To receive the offer, please enter " soulemama15 " 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 am EST on Sunday, and announce the winners, chosen via Random Number Generator, shortly after. Comments closed! The winners are...

ooooo fantastic
Posted by: pixiekiss

I would love to choose a gift for a dear friend...
Posted by: Chinamama4

Oh my, just beautiful! Thanks for the chance!
Posted by: Elizabeth

Thank you, The Vintage Pearl!

{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.

. . . . . . . . . .

(a Song and Dance Man, Pippi, Sir Harper the Knight, a Snow Princess, and the Mad Hatter Without a Hat)

November 1

Hello, November! 

Welcome (and Welcome back!), to the newest Sponsors here at SouleMama. I'm so pleased to introduce them to you this morning...

The Soul Sister Circle

a noncompetitive, empowering movement supporting the whole creative woman

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From Hectic to Harmonious

a free holiday challenge ~ slow down, simplify, & connect to what matters most

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Check out all of 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.