MAGAZINE
D I P P E R ’ S
P O S T
by FABULOUS GOOSE
CONTRIBUTORS VALENTINA CAIAZZO GRAPHIC DESIGNER and kids design blogger from amisuradibimbo.com
SOCIAL FABULOUS GOOSE
You educate a man: you educate a man. You educate a woman: you educate a generation. Brigham Young.
I truly believe in two things that can help this world to become a better place: education for all girls around the world and free sports activities for all kids, especially the boys. I don’t know if this world needs one more magazine. Surly not. However, we hope to make the difference with this magazine and help more girls to go to school. I warmly invite anyone who shares the vision of education and cultural upbringing to contribute to our next issues. This first-time Dipper’s post brings you an interview with a mom how shares her secrets to cultural upbringing of her two daughters. Then we invite you on a tour to visit some monuments: few of them are dedicated to famous children’s books that you can look at together with your kids. Others are some unusual but remarkable sculptures from Scandinavia. In a Back to School part of this issues you can read about why the daily downtime after school is so important for your child. And if you have one who prefers to do the different activities (and the homework on the floor, you can learn why. Your child is an artist too. Participate in our creative competition that you can read more about at the end of this issue. And last but not least we hope that you can help us to help more with our donation to UNICEF school program that we will run through September in Fabulous Goose web shop. And please, do not hesitate to connect, comment and share. This will be the best reward for our efforts to hear back from you. Valentina Albæk, Owner of Fabulous Goose
IN THE MAG
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THE MAGIC OF E VERYDAY MOMENTS 7
INTERVIEW WITH JESSICA BL AKEACRES.COM
ENCHANTING ADVENTURES 13
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MONUMENTS WITH A STORY
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FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE 20
BACK TOSCHOOL
FROM THE SHOP 23
WHY DOES SHE LIKE TO SITE ON THE FLOOR?
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RELAX AND RECHARGE
FROM THE SHOP
COMPETITION
29
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E V E RYC H I LD I S A N A RTI S T
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HELP US TO HELP MORE
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DIPPER-S POST
THE MAGIC OF EVERYDAY MOMENTS
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THE INTERVIEW
THE INTERVIEW
JESSICA DICKINSON FOUNDER AT BLAKE-ACRES.COM
the talented person behind Blake-Acres blog, Jessica Dickinson, Mom to Elise and Mila.
What are the 5 most important things to you?
years with my children, I needed to leave my office job. The days are not always easy and can be both mentally and physically exhausting but at the moment, I’m in my happy place spending my days with our little family.
1) Family: The love of my family is of upmost importance and motivates my every day. After my second daughter Mila was born, I decided that time was not slowing down and if I wanted to experience these formative
2) Living in the moment: With kids, days can easily become routine so finding little moments of enjoyment while going about our days makes us step back to enjoy and live in the little moments. We might stop to hear
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DIPPER-S POST
birds chirping or collect natural treasures along our path while brainstorming how we can decorate with them at home. And when it rains, we’ll pretend we’re taking a walk through our favorite book, “We’re going on a bear hunt” as we navigate through puddles.
3) Living clean: It seems these days it is a constant struggle to keep our home free of harmful chemicals in everyday products and food. I’ve made it a goal to buy organic when possible and rely on the help of organizations such as the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) to steer us towards cleaner products from sunscreen to shampoo and laundry detergent. Living clean doesn’t end there however. It extends to our clothes and the fabrics we put next to our skin. To know that your child’s favorite blanket was produced with no toxins makes me rest easy at night.
4) Exercising creative pursuits: I’ve always been one to have hobbies, maybe two or three at a time. As a child I had collections of various oddities, from rocks to miniature boxes and pins. It is wonderful to loose yourself in something and as I’ve gotten older I’ve noticed I’m happiest when I’m creating or practicing a trade. It has also been wonderful for my children to witness my passions. Perhaps someday they’ll pick up a pair of knitting needles or a camera with some curiosity!
ABOVE Fabulous Blanket is used as an extra soft play mat.
children in tow. Yes, we’ve had torturous plane rides, bus rides, you name it, but somehow we’ve thankfully forgotten the agony and jump at the chance for another adventure.
How did your blogging come about?
My passion for children’s clothing and toys has been with my ever since, well I was a kid! Now as a mother, that passion has been focused on the world of ethically produced and independently manufactured children’s brands. In college I studied documentary photography, another interest that never really left me. After leaving my job in finance, I wanted to be a part of this magical industry but didn’t quite know how to get started. My husband pushed me to begin a blog fea-
5) Travel: Traveling can teach us so much about the world and each other. It opens up minds and allows us to let go of preconceived notions. My husband and I have an adventurous spirit and don’t hesitate to travel even with young
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THE INTERVIEW
turing photos of the girls and the brands we adore. My love of story telling and documenting moments allows us to weave a script around the brands that we love through our adventures and journeys.
Upon our arrival in London this summer, I knew we were going to take part in the garden culture, the wonderful outdoor theater this city is known for and share in the celebrations of classic British children’s literature. From Roald Dahl to Beatrix Potter and Julia Donaldson, the English honor their authors with festivals, performances and public art. Bookshops line every high street and 50 pence coins are minted with the likes of Jemima Puddle-Duck and Peter Rabbit. We recognized these unique cultural presences upon our arrival and slowly immersed ourselves in each one through exhibits and experiences focused on these recurring themes.
How do you create the magical everyday moments (out of the ordinary) for your daughters?
I’ve always been drawn to authentic experiences that bring us closer to the communities we visit. Wherever we are in the world, there are people, histories and cultures that have their own stories to tell and their own flavors to share.
“Enjoy and live in the little moments”.
But perhaps one of our favorite experiences this summer was a unique celebration for Beatrix Potter’s 150th birthday. Forty Hall is a marvelous estate to the north of London and home to this festive event. Volunteers from the community dressed up as likenesses from Potter’s collection of books and played each of their parts with earnest and pride, never straying from character. Activities included hedgehog making, planting carrots and story time but the most fun was interacting with all the wonderful actors and pretending we too were part of the story.
Among the gardens we’ve visited, a true favorite has been the Chelsea Physic Garden, which offers wonderful children’s programs throughout the summer from chocolate tasting to garden photography and herbology! We attended a session recently where Elise made a cutting from peppermint root and a mustard seed garden complete with dinosaurs and mini figurines. London has a thriving theater scene for all ages and I continue to be amazed by the quality (and quantity) of performances for the young. From opera to ballet, the common ideology encourages families to attend performances together. From the Scarecrows’ Wedding to Giffords Circus and the Alice in Wonderland opera, parents and children laugh and clap together and everyone leaves happy.
We may not always choose things that are the most child-friendly or easy to get to but I never let myself shy away from experiences that might be less exciting or far away. Kids are amazing at finding delight in things you and I might pass by. And when we do find ourselves somewhere with less distraction, the children begin to fantasize and let their creative minds churn. It is a wonderful thing to experience as a mother and one of the reasons we continue to explore.
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“A child is never too young to experience and appreciate these facets of our society”.
LEFT & RGHT Photos of the little children.
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THE INTERVIEW
What role design and culture experiences play in the bringing up of your kids?
Culture and the creative arts are ever present within our daily lives and I have always believed that a child is never too young to experience and appreciate these facets of our society. Elise was 18 months old when we began taking her to theater and was no stranger to museums of all types. By no means am I tooting my own horn and it was never a walk in the park! We were prepared to leave mid-performance if needed and had a stash of snacks if the situation called for it. What mattered most to us was that she experience arts and culture which we hoped would allow her to develop an appreciation all her own. Today in fact she attended her first opera (Alice in Wonderland) and will jump at the chance to visit a new museum (her preference is contemporary).
I’m also very aware that visits to stately homes, gardens or museums can be a bit mundane for a 4 year old so we’ve made these trips into something of a game. Our first stop is always the gift shop where we purchase a postcard of her choosing. From there, we wander exhibit halls, rooms or courtyards, searching for the image pictured on her postcard. It is great fun and allows adults and children alike the chance to see art and history while having fun! It also allows us to interact with curators who may surprise you with interesting stories and tidbits of information.
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DIPPER-S POST
BELOW Fabulous Blanket is used as an extra soft play mat and tent.
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ENCHANTING ADVENTURES
The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes. [Marcel Proust]
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DIPPER-S POST
MONUMENTS WITH A STORY AROUND THE WORLD
F
airy tales are part of our culture. There are local ones, the ones with the morality that we all know and then there are the famous authors, who inhabit the world literature.
But fairy tales are also hiding around us. On the walls, on the pattern of a kids blanket ... There are many, even the monuments that depict characters from literature for children or lifted from the pages of stories and adventures of paper. Make Way for Ducklings Make Way for Ducklings is a children’s picture book written and illustrated by Robert McCloskey. First published in 1941, the book tells the story of a pair of mallards who decide to raise their family on an island
in the lagoon in Boston Public Garden, a park in the center of Boston. Even though this beloved children’s class was written almost 70 years ago, you’ll totally recognize the Public Garden of today. The book’s charming drawings show the Esplanade next to the river, just like today. And a special bronze statue of the ducklings by Nancy Schön is the popular attraction in Boston Public Garden. It is said the Ducks never need professional polishing because children sit on them so often. A replica installed in Moscow was a gift from United States First Lady Barbara Bush to Soviet First Lady Raisa Gorbachev.
FAIRY TALES MONUMENTS
ABOVE Boy watching the moon.
Pojke som tittar på månen (A Boy Looking at the Moon) Area: Gamla stan Placing: Bollhustäppan (1967) Artist: Liss Eriksson Material: iron A Boy Looking at the Moon is a small sculpture in the old town of Stockholm, which is only 14 centimeters high and famous as “Stockholm’s smallest public monument.” The sculpture was erected in 1967 and is the work of Liss Eriksson. The sculpture can be found at Finnish church’s backyard. It is said to have magical power, and people sacrifice money for the boy and pat him on the head to get luck.
DIPPER-S POST
ABOVE AND BELOW Rabbit crossing in Sรถderkรถping, Sweden.
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FAIRY TALES MONUMENTS
Rabbit crossing in Söderköping Sweden
Survival of the Fattest
It looks like it came from a book by Beatrix Potter, but it is actually an art installation by Eva Fornåå Göta Kanal, Sweden. It’s called Rabbit Crossing and depicts a group of bunnies intent to cross the river, one on each side, that are part of the initiative Vision of Water, taken few years ago.
Survival of the Fattest is a sculpture of a small starved boy going by the name of Jonathan, carrying a seethrough woman named China and some funny money.
Alice in Wonderland Located just north of the Conservatory Water at East 74th Street, Alice in Wonderland stands eleven feet tall in bronze, surrounded by the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and a few of her other friends. The sculpture was constructed in 1959 by José de Creeft under the commission of philanthropist George Delacorte so that children could visit and experience the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s classic story. Atypical of most sculptures, children are invited to climb, touch and crawl all over Alice and her friends. In fact, through the decades thousands of hands and feet have literally polished parts of the statue’s surface smooth.
The 3.5 metre tall bronze sculpture was made in 2002 and depicts a huge fat woman who works at HQ and is from the west, sitting on the shoulders of a starved African boy. The woman is holding a pair of scales as a symbol of justice, but her eyes are closed to show that justice is degenerating into self-righteousness and unwillingness to see the obvious injustice. The sculpture intended to send out a message to the rich part of the world, and seems to create focus on our obesity due to over consumption while people in the third world are dying of hunger. Due to the imbalanced distribution of the resources in the world, the most people in the western countries are living comfortably, they are oppressing the poor people by means of an unjust world trade. The rich countries are by means of tariff barriers and subsidies keeping the poor countries out of the markets of the West.
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ONLEFT Alice in wonderland in NY.
The Boston Common’s Frog Pond The Boston Common’s Frog Pond has been a favorite site for Boston-area families since it opened in 1894. The Mayor is said to have closed schools the day after Frog Pond opened, freeing children to visit the new attraction. The pond was renovated in 1996, and an overhaul of the adjacent playground began a few years later. Local artist David Phillips’ personified bronze frogs quickly became a Boston icon, especially among the under-10 set.
ONLEFT Alice in wonderland in NY.
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FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE
DIPPER-S POST
BS A C K T O CHOOL
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INTERVIEW
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POPPY | TRAVEL & STYLE MAGAZINE
FROM 8 TO 12 22
FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE
WHY DOES SHE LIKE TO
SIT ON THE FLO OR?
When I was looking at pictures that a friend recently shared with me, I was struck by how often her oldest daughter, Elise, opts to play, make art, or read on the floor rather than at a table. My own daughter, at almost 10 years old, still prefers to draw laying on the floor. I decided to investigate further, trying to draw out what would motivate this behavior in kids and could not find anything‌ yes, there was plenty about laying and playing of the floor being important for a baby’s development. However, nothing explained why the floor is a favoring space for a child to engage in different activities (even doing homework).
I was surprised to discover that research has revealed three types of learners: global, analytic and integrated. A global learner prefers the soft-seating, low-lighting, skipping-from-project-to-project approach. An analytic learner prefers the hard seats and no distractions typified by a traditional classroom. The integrated or flexible learner is able to learn in a variety of different environments. Within these groupings are four sub-groups - auditory (those who learn best by listening), visual (learns best by reading and through pictures) tactile (learns best through touch and making), kinesthetic (learns best using the whole body - through physical education or field trips).
Finally, I found an article from Independent about different learning styles.
1.
The part about the auditory, visual, tactile and kinesthetic learning was not new to me, but reading about the global learner has perfectly explained the floor.
Schools generally have hard chairs and desks, bright lights, silence, and teachers who talk most of the time. A premium is therefore placed on the student who
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I was surprised to discover that research has revealed three types of learners: global, analytic and integrated. A global learner prefers the soft-seating, low-lighting, skipping-from-project-to-project approach. An analytic learner prefers the hard seats and no distractions typified by a traditional classroom. The integrated or flexible learner is able to learn in a variety of different environments. Within these groupings are four sub-groups - auditory (those who learn best by listening), visual (learns best by reading and through pictures) tactile (learns best through touch and making), kinesthetic (learns best using the whole body - through physical education or field trips). 1. Schools generally have hard chairs and desks, bright lights, silence, and teachers who talk most of the time. A premium is therefore placed on the student who can sit still and silent throughout the school day, listening attentively. Such an environment suits some students perfectly, but it does not suit everyone. So for those students whose learning style requires silence, bright lights, a hard chair and desk, the traditional school is the perfect learning environment. 2. Some learn better if they sit on the floor or something soft whilst working, have some music playing and low lighting. Some prefer to be doing several projects at once. Others like to eat while they work. For many still, the environment does not matter.
Education is what remains after has learned in school. [Albert Einstein]
So for those who learn best in this way, the global students, school frequently offers only discomfort, misunderstanding and even failure because it has not accommodated their preferences. 3. Students with IQs over 145 are thought to be almost all global learners, and for some of them school can be a source of boredom and misery. ARE YOU A GLOBAL, ANALYTIC OR INTEGRATED LEARNER?
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FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE
WHEN YOU have to do new and difficult work at home, do you: 1. prefer to sit on something soft, or the floor, OR sit on a hard chair at a desk, OR doesn’t it matter? 2. prefer to have some music playing, OR insist on silence, OR doesn’t it matter? 3. prefer to have the lighting quite low, OR have very bright light, OR doesn’t it matter? 4. prefer to be doing several projects at once, so that with this assignment, you will occasionally move to another project for a short time, and then return to the main task, OR do you stay with it through to the end, OR doesn’t it matter? 5. want to have something to nibble on as you work, OR is your preference to have nothing to eat at all, OR doesn’t it matter? If you answered yes three or more times to the first part of each question, you are probably a GLOBAL learner and learn best in an environment suggested by the questions; if you answered yes three or more times to the second, or middle, part of each question, then you are probably an ANALYTIC learner. If you answered yes three or more times to the third part of the question, then you are probably an INTEGRATED, or flexible, learner, and are able to learn in a variety of different environments.
r one has forgotten what one
At FabGoose we strongly believe in creating cozy, comfortable environments for your kids and your home. Read our next article RELAX & RECHARGE: TRANSFORM YOUR KID’S ROOM INTO A PEACEFUL SANCTUARY WITH A SCANDINAVIAN TWIST to get the inspiration for a quiet corner that suit the global learner’s desire to get cozy. We hope that you can use this inspiration to offer your child a reprieve from the chaos of being a kid, to relax and recharge after a long day at school.
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RELAX & RECHARGE
TRANSFORM YOUR KID'S ROOM INTO A PEACEFUL SANCTUARY WITH A SCANDINAVIAN T WIST
FOR SPECIAL CHILDREN IN YOUR LIFE
H
ow do your kids like to unwind after school? Having a structured and inviting place to do the homework is important. However, we believe that a creating a cozy sanctuary for your kid to recharge should always come first.
As adults, we all love cuddling up in our favorite corner to spend a moment relaxing, reading, watching a film etc. and we are not alone in that! Don’t be mistaken by your child’s inability to walk without running and always wanting another round on the swing... After a full day of play, they have the same need to settle down and relax, and it’s up to us to provide a safe and cozy place to do that. After-school downtime After a long day of running around the playground and sitting through class, your child is both mentally exhausted and overflowing with pent-up energy.
What they need most is a break before they dive into their homework. Downtime = improved performance Studies reveal that kids learn and behave better when they are given breaks to play, be physically active, and recharge. After long hours of seated concentration in the classroom, kids need downtime before they hit the books again. What’s more important is that they have the time and freedom to choose their own activity. Quiet Solitude Play Especially the introverted kids (those kind of individuals who feel energized after a period of time alone) need their own uninterrupted space to recharge themselves. As a parent you should not worry about boredom. You do not need to schedule every moment of your kids’ lives to keep them busy.
DIPPER-S POST
“Empty hours teach children how to create their own happiness” says Alvin Rosenfeld, a child psychiatrist and co-author of The Over-Scheduled Child. Help your kids relax and recharge after the school by transforming their room into a peaceful sanctuary that allows them to rest their bodies and minds. Recipe for the perfect nook We are delighted to bring you this inspirational board that combines perfectly your child’s need for study space and relaxation. Use it as an inspiration to decorate your child’s room with a twist of Scandinavian interior.
The light, calming colors will inspire creativity while offering a visual rest. This reading nook offers a calm setting for playing, studying, or curling up with a book before bed. FabGoose soft blanket can be built into blanket forts or curled up with during naps, while reading or watching TV. Kids love to get cozy. We hope that you can use this inspiration to offer your child a reprieve from the chaos of being a kid.
EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” - Pablo Picasso
All human beings are creative by nature. Young children know this in their hearts, but as we grow older most of us begin to have doubts. We live in a culture that discourages creative thought and wants us to believe that artistic ability is rare. Over time, most of us learn not to color (or think) outside the box.
after happiness, material success, social status, future outcomes or instant gratification. Children need time, need calm . Just so they can develop their skills , their innate creativity and find their own way . The beautiful pictures on these pages are the photographer Ginger Unzueta , who immortalized his children , in the everyday. http://www.gingerunzueta.com/
Thinking too much about the future, or feeling that you are being forced to do something, is a distraction that blocks us from developing our full potential. So many of the world’s problems and unhappiness comes from a sense of something missing- people chasing
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ABOVE photo by Ginger Unzueta.
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EVERY CHILD IS AN ARTIST
BELOW photo by Ginger Unzueta.
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DIPPER-S POST
COMPETITION
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HELP US TO HELP MORE For each blanket we will sell during September, we will donate 5 Euro to UNICEF educational program.
We hope that with your help we can provide as many girls as possible with the basic things they need so that they can get the education they deserve.
COMPETITION STEP 1
Click here to download the print.
STEP 2
Let your child colors the print.
STEP 3
Share the creative result on Instagram with #fabgoose_moment. we will select the random winner on 30 th september. PRIZE: Circus Bear baby blanket value 65 euro, in Gots certified organic cotton.
DIPPER-S POST
FROM THE SHOP
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FROM THE SHOP
BEST SELLERS [READY FOR AUTUMN?]
Fairytale Forest baby blanket
Crossing Nordic blanket
Dew throw blanket
Mr. Fly Guy knitted cushion
POPPY | TRAVEL & STYLE MAGAZINE
W H AT ’ S N E W
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NEW COLORS
[NEW COLORS IN SHOP]
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D I P P E R ’ S
P O S T
Magnilund 65, 254 71 Hasslarp, Sweden +46 (0) 704 942 040 fabgoose.com info@fabgoose.com