Thursday, March 11, 2010

An Interview with my Sweet Natty Sister, Beccijo from The Enchanted Cupboard

I am turning 40 this year and feel as though it is a big step. I feel like I need to start that year with the Waldorf tradition of leaping out of my bed. I had written a letter to myself years ago of all the things I wanted to do before turning 40. Things like "find my true self" Thank you Etsy for the help with that one. AND Put fun colors in my hair, I never did it in high school even though it was the era of PUNK! So I'm thinking some purple chunks!

I tend to always see the brighter side in life. I believe we have a purpose and that humans are meant to create, when we don't we get lost. Who I am is very much molded from my childhood. I came from a LARGE family, 9 kids to be exact with lots of foster kids here and there. They (foster kids) were mine all of them. I took them under my wing, loved and nurtured them like one of the baby animals on the farm. There stories would break your heart but I wanted them for how ever short of time I had with them that they felt love. I learned a lot about the differences in people and families. I learned how to be a leader, how to be calm, how to delegate, and how to succeed. And sometimes when the world was just too much for them or me I made up a story. A story about fairies, mermaids or pirates. The good always won and there was always a happily ever after!

I have since been able to reconnect with some of the kids as they find me on facebook. They tell me sweet words of how I made things for them that they kept and how I made a difference in their life. I think it is pure magic to be able to create and give a little of ourselves. I am just so tickled to know that there are children all over the world playing with my toys, weaving their own stories. Sometimes when I am overwhelmed I close my eyes and imagine those kids playing.... imagine the little hands, the tiny giggles, and the big smiles.

In the real world I get to hear my kids and see them play. Sometimes they help me with ideas but they always inspire me. I think it is a wonderful blessing for them to see me truly happy and being creative. To make something that someone else is willing to pay what I say it is worth is like winning an Oscar ever time that sale email comes in! I do a lot in my day with 4 kids, homeschool, Etsy shop, and teams but I love every minute of it!

Some people think I do not sleep, I am just very organized. It really is the key to having a life that your are living not just surviving. I hear moms beating themselves up all the time about feeling guilty about what they may be taking from their families to have their Etsy Dream. The truth is Yes you can't have it all...at least not all of it all the time. You need to make time for all the parts that you are... self, wife, mother, sister, daughter, friend, etc. When we do this our children see it and we change the next generation.

Please take a moment to visit Beccijo at her store on Etsy - The Enchanted Cupboard

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Easter/Spring NaturalKids Team Blog-A-Thon & Giveaway!

The NaturalKids Team was started by woodmouse in 2007. Early members included faerierebecca, fairiesnest, cozycottage. It was a small group, with a small presence on etsy. Since that time members have come and gone but our mission has stayed the same. To be a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children. We are a diverse group of artisans who make natural toys, utensils, clothing and accessories for kids. Our sellers work with materials from the Earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. Our goal is to support, promote and have fun together while building our businesses.


One of our 1st Team Blog Post read as below and it is still true today....

"We are a diverse bunch from all over the globe who have at least one thing in common: we all work with natural materials in our products for children. Oh yeah, and we're all pretty darn crafty & talented too! Wool, wood, cotton...just simple materials direct from the Earth."
So who are we?
Some of us are mothers of small children.
Some of us are mothers of grown children.
Some of us make dolls, some of us make hats, some of us make toys.

Some of us have been selling our wares for many years.
Some of us are just starting to discover our talents and start selling.
Some of us work with natural materials for environmental reasons.

Some of us work with natural materials as part of the Waldorf educational philosophy.
Some of us work with natural materials because we believe they are healthier and safer.
Some of us just like working with natural materials.

Some of us sell our wares for a living.
Some of us sell our wares as a hobby.
Since that time, some of us are fathers.

There are many members now! Please have a look at the list here
To celebrate our NaturalKid-ness, we are having our very first giveaway on our blog! Yay!

Offered here is an awesome little playset from The Enchanted Cupboard.

The playset looks a bit like the one in this photo, but it has more! It also includes an extra, smaller pine tree and a larger, different shaped magical mushroom.

To enter, simply visit The Enchanted Cupboard's shop and then come back and leave a comment as to what your favorite item is. The drawing will be March 26.

For more entries - please leave a comment for each:
1. Tweet about this giveaway!
2. Follow us on Facebook! http://artist.to/birchleafdesigns/
3. Follow our Blog!
4. Follow The Enchanted Cupboard's Blog! http://thereluctantcitydweller.blogspot.com/
5. Follow NaturalKids on Facebook!  http://www.facebook.com/NaturalKidsTeam
6. Follow NaturalKids' Blog! http://natural-kids.blogspot.com/

That's 7, yes 7 chances to win!

Thank you for reading and now join in the fun to take a trip to see what you may find at these NaturalKids Team Members Blogs! Happy Spring!!!

Oh, be sure to check out these sweet gift items for Spring from the Natural Kids Team!

The blogs listed below are all participating in the Spring Blog-a-thon...Please take a moment to visit them: