In Honor of World Breastfeeding Week, BirchLeaf Designs is offering up a bright green playsilk…But, the fun does not stop there! There are many giveaways from different shops! Please enter and share! Thanks to Monkey Mama Necklaces for putting all this together!
Huge Giveaway with many shops offering cool stuff!
This baby was breastfed!
Reposted from a sweet mama over at Avery Lane on Etsy…
Baby showers are one of the ways to celebrate the anticipated birth of a new baby. It is also an excuse to pamper the mama to be and help her with the overwhelming amount of baby supplies she will need, especially when it will be her first child. Friends and relatives get together to socialize, play games, and share many, many memories.
Through the numerous showers that I have attended, I’ve noticed that the gifts given often reflect the gift givers’ style, interests, and parenting emphasis. I have often given handmade gifts as baby shower gifts, and have seen others doing the same. Giving handmade gifts, whether it is made by you or someone else, shows thoughtfulness and the gift is often unique, which is always appreciated. After all, each person is truly unique, biologically and in personality, so it is so appropriate to express your uniqueness with the gifts that you choose to give, as well as appreciating the uniqueness of the mom to be and her baby.
Many first time moms have to make important decisions they have never had to think about, like “cloth or disposable,” “bottle or breastfeeding,” and “natural versus plastic toys”. Your gift can open up a wealth of natural alternatives and sustainable choices to the recipient as she embarks on her child rearing journey.
From natural teething rings to cloth diapers, mama pads to diaper bags, first toys to nursery décor, one need not look farther than Etsykids. Here are some of the many products that I would love to give to an expecting mom, all of which help support sustainability, handmade, and individuals instead of corporate CEO’s.
Reading to your baby can foster a secure attachment and emergent literacy. Touchable cloth books also offer sensory stimulation, which promotes cognitive development. This one is lovely by WoodenPondDesigns: http://www.etsy.com/listing/68581175/woodland-fabric-soft-and-quiet-book-for
Wooden teething rings by BirchLeafDesigns are not only a natural choice for baby, but will also help strengthen those finger muscles: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62396830/wee-wooden-teething-ring
MaggieSueDesigns offers some adorable diaper bags that allow mom to not give up her stylish ways while toting around the assortment of diapering supplies and necessities. http://www.etsy.com/listing/12248581/timeless-tote-or-diaper-bag
Babazoobee offers an upcycled choice for those that appreciate sustainability: http://www.etsy.com/listing/43979472/upcycled-wool-and-cotton-messenger-style
KeikiBoutique has some modern looks in compact diaper bag accessories: http://www.etsy.com/listing/10074387/rts-posh-pouch-diaper-and-wipes-holder
Let’s not forget mom. So often a new mom doesn’t know that certain things are helpful, until they are needed.
TheCrazyElephant offers many such items. This shop even has an entire section dedicated to the mama. Making sustainability stylish: http://www.etsy.com/listing/67965857/1-set-of-elegant-elephants-nursing-pads
Etsykids member DeniseJacobsohn creates privacy covers for mom, using beautiful fabrics, as well as makes shopping easier with her gift sets. Any new mom would be so lucky to receive one of these: http://www.etsy.com/listing/56882679/baby-shower-gift-sets-perfecting-when
Nursery Art is important for baby and often overlooked. WeAndTheBean has some beautiful designs that encompass the mother child bond. I especially love this one: http://www.etsy.com/listing/59725343/night-papa-monkey-8-x-10-childrens-art
With all the strollers and car seat research to do, nursery art can be a comfort to the mom to be as she and her baby will spend many hours together in the nursery. A nursery lamp, mobile, or picture can stay with a child for years. I still remember my Peter Pumpkin Eater musical lamp fondly. Giving such gifts can help build fond childhood memories for child as well as mum.
Another etsykids artist who does extraordinary work is MyArtsyBaby: http://www.etsy.com/listing/67667585/penelope-owl-birds-and-butterflies
Babywear: There is so much to choose from Etsykids! With warmer months coming and ease of dressing, snap bottom tees are the staple for a new mom.
Greensies make some really creative and unique designs. I love her momma and baby giraffes snap bottom tee: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62990202/giraffe-looking-up-to-you-onesie-size-3
I love everything from ChirpAndBloom. Designer Rebecca Harkin has such wonderful style and her pillowcase dresses are CSPIA compliant as they do not contain drawstrings. This vintage set is sure to be one the mom saves for years to pass on: http://www.etsy.com/listing/47216733/recycled-vintage-embroidered-pillowcase
The CleverKitty is so clever indeed with her felted baby shoes. Helps keep those sleeping infants’ toes comfy and warm, as well as high in style. Many to choose from for lads:
http://www.etsy.com/listing/16225425/felted-high-top-baby-shoes-leaf-green
OR for lasses: http://www.etsy.com/listing/9543938/felted-flora-jane-baby-shoes
For those who like sew gifts themselves for a new baby, FunkyFriendsFactory has a large assortment of wonderful first friends or lovies. I know each of my children has a favorite stuffed animal that has been with them for as long as they can remember. Here’s just one of the many patterns available in her shop: http://www.etsy.com/listing/62618152/lamb-plush-toy-pattern-pdf
Hope this gives you some inspiration for the next time you are lucky enough to be invited to a baby shower or know someone who is expecting a special little bundle of joy.
Attachment Parenting! Yay for Attachment Parenting! I was browsing through 1000Markets and stumbled upon some little lovies for your new babe.
Whether you are loungin’ around the house or out in the community, baby wearing is so cool! Wear your baby with this great ring sling from Lil Peepers Keepers http://www.1000markets.com/products/11241 I wore my babies until they were 4 and until my shoulders couldn’t bear it any longer! But, boy, do I have some sweet mama muscles now!
Out on the Town? Be sure to dress your little one in an adorable outfit from One Girl Circus http://www.1000markets.com/products/4968 and don’t forget a hat to keep her noodle warm from The Yarn Chick http://www.1000markets.com/products/15771
Teething monster in the house? Be sure to check out these little wooden teething rings from our shoppe http://www.1000markets.com/products/15203 …you can even add a little essential oil of Clove or Lavendar to liven up the experience! Tie one on to your sling ring!
Feeding time? Here is a bundle of “Eat Your Veggies” bibs from Kunkle Baby http://www.1000markets.com/products/10511 and don’t forget the wee little wooden spoon from our shoppe! http://www.1000markets.com/products/15189
Whew! What a day! Now it must be Nap time!? Be sure to snuggle your baby in this sweet little Noonie from LaLa’s Pequinos http://www.1000markets.com/products/18053 and lull her to sleep with a colorful, flying angel mobile from FlyingZoo http://www.1000markets.com/products/5873 Then, you can either A. take a nap with her or B. write down every little detail about her with this cute journal from This Is It http://www.1000markets.com/products/24761 and arrange all the sweet photos in this photo album keepsake from DaisyBlu http://www.1000markets.com/products/896
BelliesBabiesBlessingwaysBreastsBodiesBreathingBirth!
How lovely they all are!
Here is a sweet give-away and an awesome Birthing website for that special Mama and Babe-to-be. Please take a few moments to look around Nicole’s blog.
I experienced one of my first blessingways in a little cabin in the woods…just up the hill from where I live. The cabin was just abounding with love! The wisdom from the elders encircled the cabin with the new mama and baby tucked safely inside. We sang together, songs passed on from mama to mama weaving in new traditions with the old. We pampered the mama with full body massages and foot soaks. We honored the elements and the four directions. We shared words of birth and encouragement with the mama and babe to “help them on their way”.
Much was learned that day. So much, that I knew right then that I wanted to have this experience myself and to help share it with others. That is also around the time when I met Ellen – the local midwife from Tree of Life Midwifery Care. Ellen’s business is all about families and babies and she took me in under her wing.
I have been attending births with Ellen ever since my daughter, Kiah was in my belly back in 2000 (nine years!). Ellen, midwife for over 25 years, and I teamed up together to attend homebirths (including the birth of my two children) in the community and surrounding area. The births weren’t many…but we liked it that way because of the way we lived. Both Ellen and I have cabins that are tucked away in the woods a few miles back…she in the Mulligan Plains and I near the Yellow Dog River. We live off the grid, off the beaten path.
Births were so few and far between, that it surely could not foot the bill for a family of four and we had no desire to be away from our little cabin in the woods…so we came to a point where we had to figure out a way to work and still be at home. With the wisdom our younger elder (young body, old soul), Queen Kiah, we found a way to make a living and to also be at home, (however, this could all change for us in the near future…see handmadetoyalliance.org. In 2006 my family and I created BirchLeaf Designs (see our website here) where we started making playthings for children and adults – we also have goods for new mamas and babes like newborn tiedyes, little belly button cord stump pouches, star and snuggle babies, wooden teething rings and wee little spoons. Along with Tree of Life Midwifery Care, we also make the much coveted Mama Bath and Mama Tea.
My children are older now which makes it easier to attend more births…Today, Ellen and I are on call for 6 womyn, 4 of them due within a day of each other! Yay for Homebirths!
We like to make a raw cranberry sauce…with cranberries, an apple, orange juice, bit of sugar (can use maple syrup or honey), lime juice, zest of orange and lemon, add any spices if you like (cloves, cinn., nutmeg)…blend it all up and whalah!
Last Wednesday, Ulla, from German Dolls posted a “Breadman Bakeoff” on the NaturalKids Blog…Our family was so inspired to make these little guys! We spent the day on Sunday baking.
We pretty much followed the recipe, maybe using a little more flour during the kneeding and rolling portion. I will try soaking the raisins next time and maybe add more lemon and honey instead of sugar. Such a tasty recipe – you can find it here!
Here are our creations…
Kiah, age 8, made the top row – (from left to right is a pregnant mama with a belly and bubbas to boot, a faerie with wings, and a breadman).
Milo, almost 5, made the bottom row – (from left to right is a turtle, mr. breadman, and a ghost).
