Good Vibes

Little R. and I are about to run out the door to join a mama friend and her Little T. at play gym, but I was so excited about this morning's press that I just had to hand Little R. the phone (as a distraction) and type up this quick post.



I've been reviewed on BabyVibe! It's a great e-newsletter out of Calgary that covers, very well, all manner of baby, child and parent related events, products, tips, news and more - they have a BC and an Alberta edition, and I have always enjoyed reading them (well written, concise, interesting). I highly recommend subscribing to their free newsletter.

And now they feature moi! Thanks BabyVibe!

Primary Colours

I love photography, and love to take photos - and I'm not always great with the science of how it all works. In my first year photography class, this is over 10 years ago now, I loved the charge of getting out and right into capturing images, and in the dark room I loved the idea of mixing chemicals and manipulating the dials on the enlarger ... but very few of my images found themselves fixed successfully to photo paper. I know that somewhere I have a box of black and white negative strips from those days - the ones that I managed to actually develop into something other than blurry grey smears - I should pull them out and take them to the local photolab and see what treasures they hold.

In the meantime, I'm thankful for digital technology and that little "adjust" box that pops up in my iPhoto program making editing images a breeze. And an art form in it's own right. Or science?



Another photo shoot for the Heirloom Organic Rainbow Soft Blocks.

Subject, Object; Object, Gift

The other day I was getting together a *very* exciting package of samples for a *very* exciting review slated to be published in May (fear not, I will spill when the time is right), trying to figure out what all to include, and having fun with my sister's digital camera (which I have commandeered, apparently indefinitely).



I snapped a few photos of my upcycled products, and enjoyed the playful relationship captured between these two stripey, squashy characters. And I was reminded of early art school days, by the second one especially, where things lost their subject and become objects, simply colour and line and form.



And they made me laugh! What a fun gift set.



Upcycled Knotty Cap & Squishy Squashy Cloth Ball, together at last. $22

Online

Last weekend I was in Vancouver at BirthFest with the gals from Natural Pod. It was a lot of fun - so, so many excellent resources and local, mom-based retailer and crafters; it was an event full of creativity and creation and potential and growth, in every sense!

Speaking of creativity, creation, potential and growth, I wanted to let you know about two more of the wonderful online retailers that I'm working with these days. I've mentioned Natural Pod many times, so you all know all about them! And these other two will quickly become favourites as well:

Mahar Drygoods
established 2005, vintage and artisan inspired goods for children


Kid Dynamo
the online source for modern eco-design for your kid dynamo!


I could go on about each, but I've got an episode of the West Wing awaiting, and I know that you'll fall in love with Robert and Erin's shops without any further gushing from me.

Check them out!