Cool Hunting

You may have heard of the website by the same name. I was so excited to come across a pop-up store while on a visit to New York City over the holidays. Basically, they merged with the Gap and right on 5th Ave had a store of all many of their great finds, from art to hand-crafted to vintage goods.

http://www.coolhunting.com/design/cool-hunting-for-gap.php

I was tickled to see an artist, Ian Hundley, who I'm familiar with, who hails from Brooklyn, featured in the store. I included him in an article I wrote a few years ago on Redefining Quilting. It discussed how new artists are using innovative approaches to designing quilts as we know them by merging contemporary aspects with this tradition craft.

Here is video of a studio visit to Ian Hundley:
http://www.coolhunting.com/culture/ian-hundley-1.php

Another contemporary quilt designer, Ai Kijima, uses sheets, pillow cases, table clothes she finds at second hands stores for material. You can see her latest work here....when living in the U.S. one summer she was inspired by an introduction to Amish quilt making....

www.aikijima.com

The Baby Mash Cafe 2011

For the third summer I'll be dishing out some homemade baby and toddler food with dishes dictated by what's ready from my garden where everything is organically grown of course. Dishes made using all organic ingredients and made in front of your eyes, the fresh produce becomes the backbone of the Mash of the Day. I give parents the options to pick and choose from a selection of ingredients to take into consideration any food allergies.

I look forward to sharing my garden with you and to introducing your child's palette to some wonderful new tastes!

See you at the Baby Mash Cafe this summer! Stay tuned for updates.....

First Felted Wool Experiment

I was excited to give it a try. My son's teacher at the Kimberton Waldorf School, who is super crafty, gave me some tips. I had some old sweaters I wanted to put to good use and I was pleasantly surprised. Simple instructions: Take your sweaters and wash them in super hot water a couple of times (she even adds boiling water as they soak to speed process, but I didn't) and then put them in dryer. Do two cycles of both and presto, your wool will felt! I was a little disappointed that my nice cable knit lost its cables as I didn't expect that outcome. However, I was happy with a Christmas ornament I made and I saved two arms from one sweater to make some wool longies (one of these days when I can find the time along with that cowl I have been wanting to knit!).

Here is the result of my first experiment. I found the hand-hewn buttons at the Waldorf Holiday Festival.

Local Dairy + Zoo = FUN

Why trek all the way to the Philly Zoo when you can check out white Wallabees nearby in the gorgeous countryside of the Oley Valley! A little hidden gem that is free of charge, not only can you see an amazing selection of animals, some of which you can pet and feed, but you can head to the dairy afterwards for some locally made ice cream. They sell crackers you can feed the animals, inside the dairy.

While I prefer to make my own ice cream at home, during the summer months, I let my kid's indulge here from time to time. The ice cream is made from a local dairy that doesn't use any hormones or antibiotics and if you take your own ice cream cones, you'll be covered.

I take my own organic cones, bought at Kimberton Whole Foods, and they don't mind filling them if you hand them over. Their cones are made with artificial ingredients.

Don't Underestimate Baby's Palate

If you're following this blog, you mostly likely made homemade food for your baby, in which case you won't learn anything new from this article I wrote on the subject. However, I wanted to pass it on in the event you know of any new mom's who are on the fence, afraid or don't know where to begin on the homemade baby food journey. Please feel free to pass it...

http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=145324

Custom Adult Onesie

My husband and I were so jealous of our son's fleece hooded onesies they wear in the winter months that I was on a quest for us to have some of our own! After a search turned up zero options, I called my nearby fabric store to see if they knew of any sewers who could make an outfit/pattern from scratch. That led me to Nancy, a Mennonite woman who can sew ANYTHING. I dropped off the fleece I picked out at the fabric store along with one of my child's onesies and some requested measurements and voila, $8 (I kid you not) and one week later and we were all warm and snug in our new adult-size onesies. Sure, we look ABSOLUTELY ridiculous wearing them, but we can wear them in the privacy of our own home and just hope for no unannounced visitors when suited up in them! Har har.

Check them out..........
You can customize the entire outfit by purchasing your own zippers, cuff elastic etc, enabling you to color coordinate if you have a specific color coordination idea in mind. The more you provide, they less it will cost her to make.

Wooly Baby

A new friend of mine recently introduced me to wool longies. Supposed to be a wonderful cover option to diaper your child, I'll have to confess I use them for the warmth factor alone! On my first search for a trial pair for my youngest son, I was so delighted to come across this pair as well as to learn the girl who owns the etsy store from which they were purchased, is local, from Philadelphia. They are made from a recycled (upcycled) sweater. It is so nice to see my child all toasty warm in these pants during these chilly winter days and I have been so fascinated learning about the anti microbial qualities of wool.

How adorable are these?

http://www.etsy.com/transaction/37668856

Also, check out these slippers made of recycled wool and leather jackets. They are pretty irresistible...

http://www.wooly-baby.com/

Did you know this about wool? Compliments of Planet Green?....

1. The lanolin, a natural oil, makes it waterproof.
2. It wicks moisture away from you baby.
3. Wool is naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and antimicrobial.
4. Because of the antibacterial qualities the wool does not need to be washed that much; a few hours drying time and it is ready to go.
5. Warm in winter and cool in summer because it breathes. That means less likelihood of diaper rash.
6. These diaper covers are durable. With care they will last through several children.