Perfect for the nursery or play room. Find these and more at our Anniversary Celebration Event on Saturday 8/28!
Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Baby A Sneak Peek presents . . .
Cute paintings by local artist and mama-preneur Patty Elligott.
Perfect for the nursery or play room. Find these and more at our Anniversary Celebration Event on Saturday 8/28!
Perfect for the nursery or play room. Find these and more at our Anniversary Celebration Event on Saturday 8/28!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Call for Crafters to Join Baby A's Anniversary Celebration on 8/28!
As we're gearing up for our Anniversary celebration on Saturday August 28th -- mark your calendars! -- Baby Awearness owners Ashley and Nicky are pulling out all the stops to make it an exciting, fun, family-friendly day at Baby A.
As part of the grand festivities, we want to invite local crafters, artisans, and any budding or blossoming eco-friendly business to be part of the event's sidewalk sale tables. This will be a great way to meet customers, sell products, and to use the event as a marketing opportunity for your business. Another great incentive is that Baby A will offer a one-time, special 70/30 consignment fee, meaning you get to keep 70% of the day's profits and only pay Baby Awearness a 30% fee.
New owners Ashley and Nicky feel so tremendously blessed in the store's pilot year that they would like to support other fellow local entrepreneurs, businesses, and the community-at-large at this celebration.
Please contact Lani Lee as soon as possible if you are interested so that a table may be reserved for you. There are only six tables available and they are going fast!
As part of the grand festivities, we want to invite local crafters, artisans, and any budding or blossoming eco-friendly business to be part of the event's sidewalk sale tables. This will be a great way to meet customers, sell products, and to use the event as a marketing opportunity for your business. Another great incentive is that Baby A will offer a one-time, special 70/30 consignment fee, meaning you get to keep 70% of the day's profits and only pay Baby Awearness a 30% fee.
New owners Ashley and Nicky feel so tremendously blessed in the store's pilot year that they would like to support other fellow local entrepreneurs, businesses, and the community-at-large at this celebration.
Please contact Lani Lee as soon as possible if you are interested so that a table may be reserved for you. There are only six tables available and they are going fast!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
** Sage Mamas Making A Difference**
Lauren Rabb, Muse and Mom Behind The Felt Commissary
Here at Baby Awearness, we firmly believe in all things cute and lovable as well as eco-friendly. We are excited to add handmade felt food toys to our growing toy 'n play section (Also keep an eye out for July's "Let's Talk Toys" segment that's posting soon). Next time you're at the store, you'll have to take a look at these beautiful and well-made felt creations. They would make treasured additions to any child's toy collection.
Local mom and crafter Lauren is proudly married to her husband, a Navy man who just passed his 10-year mark this month. Their family is comprised of two young toddlers, their dog Kona, and their newest addition -- a foster St. Bernard named Rook.
In this debut post of our new monthly column Sage Mamas Making A Difference, Lauren shares some thoughts about being a busy momtrepeneur and the inspiration that started The Felt Commissary:
What inspired you to start making your own toys?
I was inspired to make my own toys because of all the recalls on toys that were being made in China. I only had one or two recalled toys but that scared me. Plus I had just spent my hard-earned money to buy toys that my son couldn't play with. I had seen a few felt toys around but they were extremely expensive and almost looked like something I wouldn't want my child to "mess up." So I jumped online and got some ideas from other craft sites and began experimenting.
My first few ventures weren't very pretty. I tried to make an eggplant and it turned out looking like a giant purple chili pepper... it was funny! I really couldn't help but laugh. As I started to get the hang of it, I really enjoyed the sense of pleasure I got from other parents' responses. I got a lot of "you could sell this," though I really didn't think I could until I started to ask people who weren't familiar with eco-friendly toys if they would be willing to pay for handmade toys. When one mom in particular, who told me she would rather spend money in a store "the easy way," saw my felt foods, she became an instant convert! That was validating and nudged me into the direction of turning my craft into a business venture.
On your label, it says you use eco-friendly materials. Where do you get them? Do you make your own felt?
I don't make my own felt... I would love to but I don't think I could keep my prices as low as they are if I were to do that. I get my felt threw local craft suppliers and I try and make my foods around the various colors that are in stock, which can sometimes limit my creativity. I also use locally made fiber-fill. I am a firm believer in helping the local economy.
How do you balance your crafting and business while being a mother?
This is the hardest part of the whole thing! I really have to scrape together little bits of time to make felt toys. I cut out pieces while I am waiting on noodles to cook for mac and cheese, or I sew while my husband and I catch up on our DVR-ed episodes! I really try and make the best of the little bits of time I have. However, I often find myself sitting up late at night crafting these little gems because I can't turn my creativity off long enough to go to bed (LOL).
Can you offer any ideas to parents and kids out there on creative ways to play with their felt food toys?
These felt toys have a wide array of uses. I use them to teach my son (who is 2.5 years old) and soon my daughter (who is 4 months old) about wise food choices. Instead of calling bread just bread I talk about wheat bread. I know he is only 2.5 years old but he seems to like when I explain things in an adult fashion. I also talk to him about carrots and strawberries and then show him our garden and I can see the light bulb go on as he makes the connection at the dinner table when he points out the food on his plate and the felt food on the floor! My husband and I joke that my son is a self-made fruitarian. He doesn't eat meat and would eat fruit for every meal if he could!
Also, the felt foods help sometimes to introduce new items. I also use them to teach colors and counting as well as chores. My son loves to pull out ALL of his felt food and pretend to cook, wash and eat them, but when it comes to the clean up part it can be more difficult. But by being specific it has really helped. For instance, I tell him to "bring me the carrots" and he does!
What is your favorite felt toy food so far?
Wow, I feel picking a favorite felt food is like picking a favorite child. I love them all. I just made pop-sicles or "pops" as they are called at my house and those turned out great! I love the corn in the husk as well as the peel-able bananas! However my son couldn't make it through a day with out his "appies" or apples, real or fake! I can't wait to see what my daughter's favorites are!
Any new foods to look forward to?
I am having fun creating new food that should be in the store soon! I have cupcakes and green apples as well as cherry pie slices. I am also crafting pizzas with removable toppings! That should really be something to look out for!
Baby A: Thank you Lauren for taking the time to make such wonderful handmade goodies to share with us all as well as for inspiring us with your story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sage Mamas Making A Difference is a new monthly column that is now part of Baby A's blossoming blog. If you know of any inspiring moms in our local community, or are one yourself (modesty not required), drop us a line at lani@babyawearness.com so that we may feature your story and endeavors about how you're making a difference right here in paradise. (LL)
Here at Baby Awearness, we firmly believe in all things cute and lovable as well as eco-friendly. We are excited to add handmade felt food toys to our growing toy 'n play section (Also keep an eye out for July's "Let's Talk Toys" segment that's posting soon). Next time you're at the store, you'll have to take a look at these beautiful and well-made felt creations. They would make treasured additions to any child's toy collection.
Local mom and crafter Lauren is proudly married to her husband, a Navy man who just passed his 10-year mark this month. Their family is comprised of two young toddlers, their dog Kona, and their newest addition -- a foster St. Bernard named Rook.
In this debut post of our new monthly column Sage Mamas Making A Difference, Lauren shares some thoughts about being a busy momtrepeneur and the inspiration that started The Felt Commissary:
What inspired you to start making your own toys?
I was inspired to make my own toys because of all the recalls on toys that were being made in China. I only had one or two recalled toys but that scared me. Plus I had just spent my hard-earned money to buy toys that my son couldn't play with. I had seen a few felt toys around but they were extremely expensive and almost looked like something I wouldn't want my child to "mess up." So I jumped online and got some ideas from other craft sites and began experimenting.
My first few ventures weren't very pretty. I tried to make an eggplant and it turned out looking like a giant purple chili pepper... it was funny! I really couldn't help but laugh. As I started to get the hang of it, I really enjoyed the sense of pleasure I got from other parents' responses. I got a lot of "you could sell this," though I really didn't think I could until I started to ask people who weren't familiar with eco-friendly toys if they would be willing to pay for handmade toys. When one mom in particular, who told me she would rather spend money in a store "the easy way," saw my felt foods, she became an instant convert! That was validating and nudged me into the direction of turning my craft into a business venture.
On your label, it says you use eco-friendly materials. Where do you get them? Do you make your own felt?
I don't make my own felt... I would love to but I don't think I could keep my prices as low as they are if I were to do that. I get my felt threw local craft suppliers and I try and make my foods around the various colors that are in stock, which can sometimes limit my creativity. I also use locally made fiber-fill. I am a firm believer in helping the local economy.
How do you balance your crafting and business while being a mother?
This is the hardest part of the whole thing! I really have to scrape together little bits of time to make felt toys. I cut out pieces while I am waiting on noodles to cook for mac and cheese, or I sew while my husband and I catch up on our DVR-ed episodes! I really try and make the best of the little bits of time I have. However, I often find myself sitting up late at night crafting these little gems because I can't turn my creativity off long enough to go to bed (LOL).
Can you offer any ideas to parents and kids out there on creative ways to play with their felt food toys?
These felt toys have a wide array of uses. I use them to teach my son (who is 2.5 years old) and soon my daughter (who is 4 months old) about wise food choices. Instead of calling bread just bread I talk about wheat bread. I know he is only 2.5 years old but he seems to like when I explain things in an adult fashion. I also talk to him about carrots and strawberries and then show him our garden and I can see the light bulb go on as he makes the connection at the dinner table when he points out the food on his plate and the felt food on the floor! My husband and I joke that my son is a self-made fruitarian. He doesn't eat meat and would eat fruit for every meal if he could!
Also, the felt foods help sometimes to introduce new items. I also use them to teach colors and counting as well as chores. My son loves to pull out ALL of his felt food and pretend to cook, wash and eat them, but when it comes to the clean up part it can be more difficult. But by being specific it has really helped. For instance, I tell him to "bring me the carrots" and he does!
What is your favorite felt toy food so far?
Any new foods to look forward to?
I am having fun creating new food that should be in the store soon! I have cupcakes and green apples as well as cherry pie slices. I am also crafting pizzas with removable toppings! That should really be something to look out for!
Baby A: Thank you Lauren for taking the time to make such wonderful handmade goodies to share with us all as well as for inspiring us with your story.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sage Mamas Making A Difference is a new monthly column that is now part of Baby A's blossoming blog. If you know of any inspiring moms in our local community, or are one yourself (modesty not required), drop us a line at lani@babyawearness.com so that we may feature your story and endeavors about how you're making a difference right here in paradise. (LL)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Handmade Lovelies to Have and to Hold
Stop into Baby Awearness, check out our array of beautiful handmade goodies just in courtesy of Muumuu Heaven, and surprise someone special today.
(From top left, clockwise)
1) A cuddly and adorable Daijyobu Bear. Daijyobu means "no worries, it will be alright," in Japanese. Bears are fashioned out of vintage fabrics, button joints, and pompom eyes. All materials are reclaimed, remnants, or recycled. Available in small and large bear hugs.
2) Peace Catchers, or Bird mobiles. Made from fabric scraps, these birds are strung with shells and vintage beads deconstructed from retro jewelry, and crystal pieces from a chandelier once displayed at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The driftwood is from local beaches.
3) Vintage Owl. Like the bears, these owls are made from vintage fabrics and buttons and meant to bring cheer and goodwill. Owls are considered a good omen in Hawaiian and Japanese culture.
4) Heavenly Patchwork Quilt. Lovingly sewn by quilting circles of grandmas and seasoned elders in care homes, these blankets will keep you and your little ones warm, loved, and safe. Again, all fabrics are recycled remnants from muumuus and aloha shirts. (LL)
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