Meet Wee Whimsicals {Sponsor Highlight}

Today I am pleased to introduce you to the newest Sponsor here at Small Town Simplicity, Wee Whimsicals!  I was so excited that Paula wanted to work with us.  Her beautiful designs and eye for excellent fabric caught my eye initially, and the more I go to know her sweet personality, I knew she'd be a perfect fit.  The shop is stocked in aprons, stacking bowls, bibs and bags and bunnies - all beautiful works of art, yet practical and meant to be used every day.

Here, in her own words, is what Wee Whimsicals is all about!

WeeWhimsicals is a natural extension of all things creative in my life. Raised on the New England coast, my work is heavily influenced by the rhythm of the seasons. I am constantly playing with new yarns and fabrics, colors and designs. I love clean looks, simple designs and practical items.  Designs that have withstood the test of time, updated with a modern flair. All paired with vibrant colors and lively prints. You will seldom see ‘subtle’ in my work, although I am occasionally drawn to a sweet vintage print or two.

A modern sewist, my love for all things stitched and handcrafted began in childhood. The women in my life had a huge influence on these passions. My mother taught me to sew at a fairly young age, first hand stitching doll clothes and then later my own clothing. From her I acquired a love and an appreciation for high quality materials and workmanship. It was my Irish grandmothers who taught me to embroider and crochet (with a great deal of patience, if I may!) They instilled in me a desire to create items that are beautifully made, yet could withstand daily handling.

I’ve been involved with fibers and stitching forever it seems. From studying costume design, managing fabric shops, and working as a seamstress, to making my own girls clothing. For a number of years, I studied decorative painting at Rhode Island School of Design, growing that passion. Like many who have a zeal for the creative, I’ve dabbled in a multitude of mediums. But ultimately, it’s been my love for all handwork and stitching that has brought me full circle.

I opened my shop doors several years ago, working on custom orders and private commissions initially. I love the independence and the freedoms my business offers me creatively, and in tending to my families needs. Creating locally (my studio aka former dining room), selling globally. Tending grands and stitching up a storm, an equation that just feels right.

My studio makings change daily, keeping things fresh and alive for me. From the crisp cottons of summer to the warm woolens of winter, my work is in constant motion. My preference is to work with natural fibers, sourcing locally and from other Etsy shopkeepers. Always practical, I strive to bring a bit of the whimsical and simply creative to each piece I work on. Creating with intention, I hope to inspire, ignite and most especially, bring joy.

Thank you, Wee Whimsicals!

If you have any questions about sponsorship, please drop me a line at lydiajwill at gmail dot com.

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Sponsor Highlight: Tiffany's Kitchen

{Today I have the pleasure of sharing one of my lovely sponsors with you!  I first met Tiffany at our homeschool co op.  I knew I liked her from the start when I looked across a crowded room and saw her knitting!  She has since moved on and settled with her family in Ohio, starting up the new business venture that I am thrilled to be sharing with you today.  Take a moment to read through our little Q & A and head over to her site to check out her lovely wares!  You can also catch up with Tiffany and her beautiful family at www.acuffadventures.blogspot.com.}

Q. Tell us a little bit about Tiffany's Kitchen.

 A. When we lived in Michigan, I made several attempts at selling my sewn wares at local farmer's markets. While it wasn't a complete bust, it was really just an expensive hobby and not a money maker.  When we moved to Ohio last year, we decided to sell produce from our garden at the local farmer's market. Just one problem. We didn't have produce to sell for the first few months, but still needed to be at the market each week to establish ourselves a midst the community. Solution? Bake delicous-ness, of course!  So, I started making scones, cookies, pretzels, amazing brownies, and some gluten free goodness for some friends of mine (and others who happened to be thrilled to have it as an option). I also sold my aprons, burp cloths, and blankets. When the vegetables ripened, I tried to sell them at market, but failed. I couldn't compete with the big farmers and ended up selling most of my extra produce to friends who lived along my route home from the market each week!  In the meantime, people were seeking me out each week for their baked treats, and I was selling out nearly every week.  My sewn items sold slowly but surely at the market, while online, I was getting at least a new order a week. Tiffany's Kitchen took on a life of its own over the course of the market last summer.  I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love my late nights and early mornings sewing and baking for the enjoyment of my family and customers!

Q. How did you decide to start your own home-based business?

A. We're working our Debt Snowball (if you like Dave Ramsey, you'll get that!).  While we have enough to live on, it is going to take us forever to pay off student loans. This is why I do what I do..So that we can make extra payments as often as possible and get out of debt that much faster!  

Q. As a homeschooling mama to 3 little ones, how does running a work-at-home business factor in to your daily family life?  

A. I do most of my sewing and baking when the kids have gone to bed. I can sew, knit, and/or bake in peace without any demands being made of me, save the 8 month old who thinks he still needs to eat on demand! Sometimes I include them in my baking adventures!

Q. Tiffany's Kitchen sells everything from baked goods (locally) to aprons, skirts, and items for home. What is your very favorite object that you sell?

A. Sewn items: Aprons with dishtowels on them.  Baked good: Gluten Free brownies that are AMAZING!

Q. The handmade industry seems to be on the upswing as people turn toward family owned businesses now more than ever before. What is your vision for Tiffany's kitchen over the next few years?

A. Over the next few years, I'd love to see Tiffany's Kitchen bring in a steady and fairly predictable income, from both local and internet sales. I hope to be selling in small stores locally within the year! I do have an online shop now, which is awesome, and I'll hopefully have an official "Home Bakery" by the summer, so that I can ship my baked goods, too!  I am looking forward to my son and daughter making things or participating in other ways within  the company to teach them about good work ethics and Christlike business practices.  God has certainly provided thus far, and I"m sure that He'll continue to provide our every need!

Stay tuned for a future giveaway from Tiffany's Kitchen, coming up soon!

{Interested in Sponsorships here at Small Town Simplicity?  Email me at lydiajwill at gmail dot com for my rates and more information.)

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Sponsor Highlight and Giveaway: Mothering with Mindfulness

{For today, a little chat with Small Town Simplicity sponsor, Mothering with Mindfulness!  I asked Kim some questions about just what makes her tick.  Also, for extra fun, we're offering a giveaway today!  Be sure to scroll all the way to the bottom of this post for all the information.}

Tell us a little about yourself and your site, Mothering with Mindfulness.

I am a mom to one awesome little man. I have been married to my best friend for almost 18 years. The three of us live in a little one room schoolhouse that was built in 1878. We strive to live simply, close to the earth and in tune with the seasons. Our little homestead is a work in progress, each year it changes and grows along with us. We have chickens, who graciously give us fresh eggs every day, we grow a lot of our own food during the summer and perserve for the winter season, and we try to reuse, recycle or make it ourselves as much as we can. We have dreams of bees (arriving this spring) and maybe a some sheep in a few years.

My site, Mothering with Mindfulness, shares the journey I am on with my little man. It is a little glimpse into our days and our lives as mother and son and the adventures we get into. You will also find some crafting, recipes, poetry and other things sprinkled in.

Your daily Nature Time is something quite important to you that you share with your son.  What tips do you have for other busy Moms who want to get their children out in the natural world, but may not have the same access to it right outside their door?

I am not sure what we would do without our daily nature connection. It is something that grounds us both and brings a much stronger connection to the earth and to each other.

I am very passionate about nature connection and children, and my hope for every child is that they able to connect and experience Mother Nature. I will admit we are very lucky to have access right outside our front door, but if you don't I suggest taking some time to look up conservations areas in your area. They are everywhere and can provide a starting point for many wonderful adventures. Find a creek, or pond, put those rubber boots on and have some fun splashing, throwing rocks or sailing handmade boats. Get some friends together and make an afternoon of it.

Many of our adventures start out with a back pack filled with snacks, a tracking guide and plans to just walk. We let nature guide us on the adventure and we have never been disappointed. Just get out there with your kids, forget the time, just go, and follow Mother Nature, I guarantee you a wonderful time.

What are some ways that you recharge yourself during the day?

I have a few ways to recharge. I think the most important one right now is my Sit Spot. This is a core routine of the Coyote's Guide to Nature Connection and requires that you spend 20 minutes every day sitting still in the same spot outside. There is no thinking, no forced meditation. It is just me and nature alone for 20 minutes. When I first started this I was amazed at the effect and I miss it on the days when I haven't found the time to make it happen.

You can also find me hitting the trails for a solo hike or a trail run to recharge, but those don't happen on a daily basis.

And some days when life gets crazy my little recharge might be an afternoon cup of tea and a few rows of knitting.

You are a work at home Mama.  Tell us how having a home-based business benefits your family bond.

Being a mom is by far the most important thing to me. My work is scheduled around being a mom, which I feel very fortunate to be able to do. I work as a holistic nutritionist with a specialty in pre conception, pregnancy, post natal and early childhood nutrition and as a birth doula. Both are areas I am very passionate about. Being able to work in these fields and share my passions fulfills that pull I have to offer moms advice and help on their own journeys. It feels right and it feels good.

Our family benefits in so many ways. First and foremost I get to be the mom I want to be and have always dreamed of being...at home with my little man, sharing his journey, watching him learn and grow and learning, growing and changing myself. The little bit of work I do allows me to bring in a little income for our little family, which is always helpful. And sharing my passions makes me so very happy, and we all know what that means at home...a much happier mom.

It works well for our family and I feel like we have found a balance that works for us.

What are your top five tips for mothering in a mindful way?

Five tips...

Trust...in yourself, in your child and in the journey you are on together.

Be aware...in each moment. So many times we are not fully present with our children. Put the phone down, turn off the computer, TV, radio and video games, tune out everything else and just be with your child, in the moment. No thoughts about the past or the future.

Let go of judgement...try not to judge whether the moment you are in is good or bad, just be in it. This is usually much easier to do in moments of good times.

Forgive...yourself. Mothering is not about perfection. We are human. We will make mistakes. Mothering is about the journey, a journey of continual discovery about who you are and the mother you want to be. Learn from your mistakes and then let them go.

Take time for you...mothering is not always easy. There are days when you might just want to curl up under the covers and cry. We need to make time for ourselves. Find the things that make your heart and soul sing and then do them...every. single. day. You might not have a lot of time, but even a few minutes can give you some much needed room to breath and a moment or two to connect to your inner being. This is being mindful about what you need and is so important if you are going to be mindful in the relationship with your children.

You can connect with Kim following the links below!

Blog - http://www.motheringwithmindfulness.com/

Your Green Baby - http://www.yourgreenbaby.ca/

Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/mindfulmama40/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/YourGreenBaby

Today, Kim is giving away her book "Raising Happy, Healthy Babies" to one lucky reader from the US or Canada.  Here's a bit about her book:

Raising Happy Healthy Babies is packed with easy to understand nutritional information for mom, baby and toddler. The foundation for your child’s long term health and wellness starts before you are even pregnant – learn how to nourish your body preconception, during pregnancy and as a new mom for optimum health and well being for both you and your baby. And once you are holding your little one in your arms let Raising Happy Healthy Babieshelp guide you as you breast or formula feed, start solids, tickle tiny taste buds, and raise a happy healthy baby.The book includes detailed information for each stage of development as well as 95 recipes for mom, baby and toddler.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


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Sponsor Spotlight: Whole Parenting Family

For you today?  A chance to get to know my sponsor, Whole Parenting Family, a little better!  Below is an interview with founder and Mama-extraordinaire, Nell.  I know you'll love her as much as I do!

Tell us a little about yourself and your blog.

I'm a wife to an amazing husband, mother to two little sweeties, a little over 2 1/2 and 10 months, lawyer, blogger, crafter, and horse lover. I'm taking a break from practice to be home with our little ones. I share my journey of familyhood at Whole Parenting Family (www.wholeparentingfamily.com), interspersed with recipes, sleep tips, natural labor articles, and contributions from readers on their birth & parentings stories in our Birth & Parenting Series (http://www.wholeparentingfamily.com/category/birth-parenting-series). I run monthly giveaways to subscribers and am always happy to connect with likeminded folks as sponsors.

 How did you become interested in natural parenting and decide to start Whole Parenting Family?

I've loved healthy living & food for quite a few years now, but the healthy & natural parenting all started when a friend suggested we have a doula for our birth when I was 5 months pregnant with our first. I had no clue what she was talking about! We read the Bradley Method book, got a doula, and two unmedicated (one water!) births later, I'm a big advocate for normal birth. 

The approach to parenting with no screen time, wholesome food, imaginative activities, and multi-generational living slowly evolved over time, as everyone's parenting style does. My blog hopefully helps support moms and dads who are figuring out what works best for their own families. And my mom said "After all the research you've done, you should make one of those blogger thingies." Gotta listen to your mother. I started writing more to share research I'd done on say, breastfeeding, or what to register for, and then over time it evolved into behavioral training, co-sleeping, and managing a household with two small children without going insane.

You and your husband are both lawyers.  What advice do you have for Moms who are making the transition from career to full time at home parenting?

First tip: Know it's not going to all be peaches, roses, and organic homemade baby food. And be okay with feeling in-betweensy for a while, as your identity shifts. Mentally prepare yourself that you will hate it somedays. It's a tough mental thing when you've been receiving affirmation from other adults, to switch to the more inward and silent affirmation of children (Everyone still alive? Great. Diapers & dinner? Great. Just maintained the status quo? Great. Looks like I've done nothing all day long.). Talk to your friends or family who stay home. Don't know any? Find some. Because your working friends won't get your daily struggles, just as you're transitioning such that you won't really get theirs anymore either.

Second tip: Don't give in to the temptation of becoming judgmental of other moms who don't stay home once you've made the leap. It's easy to think,Look at all I'm giving up to do this awful-wonderful-difficult-most important-challenging-job. Guess my friends don't really have the right perspective. You don't know what their circumstances are, and frankly, being sanctimonious about the trials and travails of staying home doesn't encourage other moms to contemplate it if it's in their prevue! Be where you are on your journey; encourage others to be and reach in their own journeys.

Whole Parenting Family has a store, Whole Parenting Goods, where you offer handsewn items for the whole family.  What role does creativity play in your daily life and how important is it to you to make time for that?

Oh goodness, I love my little Etsy shop so much! Whole Parenting Goods (www.etsy.com/shop/WholeParentingGoods) provides a creative outlet I didn't know I needed until I had. It's a slice of me-time in a family-centric life. I get to fashion and sew organic & plush baby bibs, burp cloths, quilts, blankets, and even a little something for the mamas like organic flaxseed eye packs & heat packs. A few crocheted and knit items make their way into the shop on occasion too.

I was inspired to start it by realizing I wanted to create and adapt things for better use in my own children's lives, which is why my Bandit Bibs have three layers of absorbent fabric instead of two (kids gotta lotta drool & food around here), and my Contour Cloths fit on my shoulder because I have always lost the burp cloth while aggressively working out those elusive burps.

I make time a few days a week to create because it's also my time to connect with God insofar as it's quiet and contemplative in nature. When I haven't had it in a while, I can tell I need that little space and time because I'm far less loving as a parent and partner!

Faith seems to play an important role in how you are raising your children.  What insights do you have for introducing faith tradition to little ones?

Faith is the bedrock of a secure identity for a child. They get someone to lean on (God) and grow from (Love) and be inspired by (Truth). We're Roman Catholic and feel like giving our children exposure to the beauty and richness of our cultural heritage is the greatest gift. When you're introducing faith traditions, it's like anything else with kids: if you're not into it, they're not going to be. 

Make God fun! He's all Love and Beauty--bring Him alive with lots of reading, artwork, and music in your home. We pray as a family often throughout the day (morning prayer, mealtimes, sleep times). And make God accessible. We talk about God like He's the invisible guest--always lurking, always loving. We have plenty of beautiful icons and statues around to inspire them. We sing church songs in English and Latin and listen to Gregorian Chant often (pretty out there, I know :). And lastly, we view our role as parents to be our children's first encounter with their Heavenly Father--we better reflect His love!

Thank you so much, Nell, for sharing a sneak peek into your life with us!  Please connect with Nell using the following:  Email: wholeparenting@gmail.com; Subscribe: (http://feeds.feedburner.com/wholeparentingfamily); Facebook (www.facebook.com/wholeparenting); Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/wholeparenting); Etsy (www.etsy.com/shop/WholeParentingGoods); and Twitter (https://twitter.com/wholeparenting)

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Welcoming Sponsors to Small Town Simplicity

After saying I was going to do it, and really intending to do it, I added it to my goal list for 2013 and actually did it.  I opened up Sponsorships here at Small Town Simplicity.  I decided to go with blog sponsorships as opposed to traditional advertising so that I can be in complete control of what businesses and websites are advertised here, and only work with those with whom I am completely comfortable recommending to you.

This month I am thrilled to welcome:

 Mothering With Mindfulness, a blog by Kim Corrigan-Oliver, holistic nutritionist and founder of "Your Green Baby."

Whole Parenting Family, an excellent resource for natural parenting and whole family living.

Tiffany's Kitchen, a family-owned company of a dear friend, specializing in hand sewn goods for the whole family.

Welcome to Small Town Simplicity!   Please take a moment to visit these wonderful websites and learn more about them.

If you have a business or website you believe would be a good fit here at Small Town Simplicity and are interested in learning more about sponsorships, what they entail and what I offer, please email me at lydiajwill at gmail dot com.


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