Holiday Gift Guide GIFT GUIDE 2015
BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM
Welcome to our Holiday Gift Guide! With the countdown to Christmas upon us and Hanukkah already here, we have gathered a few of our favorite babywearing related gifts in one place. Clip out your favorite and send it to your significant other, parent, best friend or even Santa! Many of these items are hand-crafted and support small businesses and work-at-home moms. Not only that, but most are available year-round. Get shopping for the holidays and beyond! We have also included interviews with a few of our favorite makers. Get a glimpse into the process and inspiration that goes into your favorite pieces. ON THE COVER: Custom portrait by Scribble Bee, scribblebeedesign.com
Red Thread Emporium Each doll is stitched custom on a personal basis the old-fashioned way. Price upon request, facebook.com/redthreademporium
{BWTM} How long have you been making jewelry? How did you first become interested? {LL} I have been collecting rocks since I could crawl and some of my family’s favorite stories of me growing up are of the extents I’d go to get or bring home the perfect rock. My grandfather was of the mindset that everyone should have hobbies and started taking me to special places to collect rocks and learn about gems. My dad also taught me to hammer nails while he was building a tree house in our yard. I was only five years old and my mom was not pleased but I remember hammering a line of nails in the porch while he finished the roof. I loved the dappled look of the metal when the nails were hammered well beyond reason. My love for rocks developed into a love for beads and gemstones and I started collecting those as a little person, stringing them together and making compositions. As a teenager, I started drawing settings for gemstones and offering to make pieces for family and friends. I took my first official class in 2003 after graduating from college. In 2005, while making jewelry on the side selling to friends/family and working in a coffee shop, I stumbled into the bead shop in Palo Alto. It was breathtaking and the owner was an interesting character who I learned so much from. I began working there selling beads and giving lessons on basic techniques but that also opened me up to taking any classes they offered. From my first class with my now mentor and friend, a long time professor of metalsmithing, I knew I’d found my right place in life. After a year studying and working, I was promoted to managing the classes and educational materials. I continued taking classes and brainstorming with the artists who taught in our shop. It was truly a dream job and while I was sad when it ended, I learned so much and made so many friends there.
Lull
{BWTM} What was your first project? {LL} As a child, my first metal jewelry project was setting the carnelians I’d collected on Cronkite beach into earrings for my mother. I remember being gravely disappointed to learn many gem settings involved glue. Many years later when I learned to fuse pure silver, what struck me most was the process being so clean/free of toxic fumes. I took classes in soldering and was not happy by the notion of breathing in smoke to make the art I so desperately wanted to create. My first firing project was a peacock weave bracelet in class at the bead shop. Afterwards, I started making heavier link jewelry, incorporating gemstones and peacock weave or other lighter weight chains.
{BWTM} Where are your favorite places to draw inspiration from? Please tell us about your design process. {LL} I love seeing shapes in nature and architecture around me and translating them to metal in non-literal ways. I spend a lot of time outdoors and live in a beautiful, old city. My aim is to translate the feelings I get when I see the shapes into metal. As such, some of the simpler shapes carry special stories and meanings. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite necklace you have designed? Favorite custom piece? {LL} Choosing a favorite anything is almost impossible, isn’t it? I love the original two tiered architectural links. That was one of the first custom projects I did where the customer pretty much just told me to have fun. She wanted something not circles and hearts and something two tiered but didn’t know what. I had the idea in the middle of the night when my second child was a new little bundle but I jumped up to draw because I was so excited and found time to make it the next day. The customer went on to become one of
Mixed metal hearts. $225, facebook.com/LullabyLinks
laby Links my best friends, a trusted advisor and one of my first Lullaby Links administrators. I was so proud of it, I contacted my favorite art professor to show him. I made myself a mixed metal version upon returning to San Francisco and it’s still one of my favorite pieces in my personal collection. The small squares above and rectangles below are the lines of building and windows and the gold edition reminds me of the magic hour just before the sunsets. It’s so beautiful where I live now during magic hour and the gold glow on the windows always warms me.
{BWTM} There have been wraps woven that have been inspired by your work. Can you tell us how those connections came about? {LL} I’ve often heard people remark on how much support there is in the babywearing community both in off topic groups and in vendor groups. What a lot of people might not know is that there’s quite a big support network behind the scenes as well. We are all small business owners, artists, women and most of us are mothers. With so many commonalities and a mutual adoration for each other’s art forms, is it any wonder some deeper friendships have formed there? All of the custom pieces I’ve had made were either won after entering draw after draw, trades from maker to maker or spots offered by mutual customers in trade for links. I have loved working with Farideh, Zatgebo, Heartstring Handwoven, Solnce and Weaving Alabama and have loyally followed many other artists as well. The friendship of these women as well as the advice/experiences shared means the world to me. {BWTM} Do you have any plans in store for the coming year? {LL} Last year I moved up state, got the business incorporated, hired ten contract employees to help with various aspects of the business and launched a website. Next year I plan to take it easy,
but will probably just settle for a little easier. My teacher, mentor and long time friend had been teaching less and wanting to work from home more when I moved back to the Bay Area. I was really excited to have her work with me again and am proud to be working with her. I am hoping with her help and the help of a couple other local jewelry makers (also babywearing moms!), to have regular stockings of some of the signature pieces on the new website in addition to doing draws for limited items in our not so secret “secret” Facebook group. I have been enjoying working on inspiration pieces on the side which gives me more creative freedom but I also want to get back to doing a couple custom pieces per month. I know there are a lot of parents out there who have stories they want told in links that they can wear with their little ones and I have enjoyed chatting with people as part of the custom process. Because last year was so busy, I fell a little behind the seasons with my offerings and I am working to get ahead this year by starting Spring right now! I’m also very excited to be sharing a booth with a sweet friend at the International Babywearing Conference in Atlanta next summer. I loved last summer’s seasonal pieces and I will definitely be making more but I am also hoping to bring something really cool and new to offer there. Anyone who wants to play around with summer ideas and maybe inspire me is welcome to come join the Lullaby Links Chatter group. I could sure use some warm and sunny inspirations to get me through the cold season!
lullabylinks.com facebook.com/LullabyLinks
Photo credit: Julian Martitz, www.martitz.de
Laqua Design
The DrawString BackPack and Clutch meets Wallet are lovingly handmade of high quality materials. All you need is a wrap scrap and the elusive slot. Both products can be customized with your choice of leather and lining. DrawString BackPack: 260â‚Ź, Clutch meets wallet: 110â‚Ź, facebook.com/LaquaDesign
Pavo Textiles Futurism wool throw by The Oriole Mill. It is safe to call it permastash! 54% cotton / 46% wool, 50” x 74” $390, pavoguild.com
Babylonia USA These Doll Slings are just like Mama’s and Daddy’s with two rings for easy adjustment. With a bit of elastic in the pouch, dolly will stay in without constant adjustment. Babylonia also offers dolls to complete the experience. $29, babyloniausa.com
Wood and Thyme Carry your babywearing pride everywhere you go with this keychain hand cut from Oak, then carefully sanded and sealed with a non-toxic baby friendly sealer of beeswax and coconut oil. $12, etsy.com/shop/woodandthyme
a la Avra by Ruth Avra LEFT: With something for everyone, this mama metal is made entirely of sterling silver. Most feature signature Ruth Avra clasps. Starting at $90, www.alaAvra.com Use the coupon code BWM2015 for 15% off anything purchased in the “in stock” category!
Scribble Bee
{BWTM} How long have you been painting? {SB} I started painting as a child. I feel like I must have come out of the womb with a paintbrush but my passion for watercolor painting really started in my teenage years. I am self-taught, apart from a dabble into fine arts university right after high school. Everything I’ve learned has been through experimenting and honing in on my ‘style’.
{BWTM} How did you start creating babywearing portraits? {SB} The babywearing community is so much deeper than just the love of carrying your baby. Through different groups, I’ve been lucky enough to meet many like-minded mothers who I’ve connected with. My first babywearing portrait was a surprise from my friend, Catherine. It was just a small painting but she was so thrilled, she encouraged me to start Scribble Bee, to create art for others. Without that push and a spur of the moment gift for a mom across the country who I’d never met, there would be no Scribble Bee.
scribblebeedesign.com
{BWTM} What other products do you offer? {SB} I have on occasion created hand painted logos for companies looking for something handmade and unique. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite piece? {SB} Yes, every single one! I pour a lot of heart and love into my paintings, so many of the parents I get to paint share their stories with me. It’s hard not to fall in love with the current portrait I’m working on, until the next one comes along. {BWTM} Do you have any plans in store for the coming year? {SB} As my toddler gets older, finding time to paint is getting easier. When I first started, I only had time to paint while he was napping. Now I can paint with him along side me. My plan for 2016 is to try and build on that balance between motherhood and being an artist.
facebook.com/scribblebee
Made to order personalized babywearing portraits capture special moments with your little one. Starting at $80, scribblebeedesign.com
Swathe by Weshoyot Alvitre LEFT: From realtistic to funky, SWATHE custom portraits are sure to capture your personality. Starting at $300 for a 14” x 17” mixed media on bristol board, or $500 and up for custom paint on wood, facebook.com/swatheshop BELOW: SWATHE KOKOSCOUT backpacks are made from scrap or furoshiki and can be trimmed with either canvas or leather. Starting at $350, facebook.com/swatheshop
Starlight Amber A fun and whimsical way to keep teething pains at bay! This clear quartz and rainbow gemstone necklace features amber, amethyst, adventurine, quartz, gemstones, howlite. $25, etsy.com/shop/StarlightAmber Use the coupon code THANKYOU for a special BWthemag discount!
Little & Tiny Designs These fun wrap scrap hoop clocks in a wide-variety of colorways. They come with or without hand-embroidered numbers and your choice of hand color. Each 9.5” clock has a fully functioning quartz mechanism for reliable time keeping. Starting at $44, littleandtinydesigns.storenvy.com
Kindred Wrap RIGHT: One-of-a-kind quilts, individually designed and made with love in Seattle. Both soft and durable, this modern twist on an heirloom item is the perfect statement piece for any nursery and a wonderful legacy quilt for your little(s). 30” by 40”. Quilt top is pieced with custom designed woven fabric, backed and bound with Linen. $250.00, kindredwrap.co
Cuddle Stuff Boutique BELOW: Offering a wide variety of wrap scrap items, either custom or in-stock, Cuddle Stuff Boutique has you covered from everything from suck pads to ring sling conversions, though we’re partial to the ear warmers and wallets. Through the Looking Glass ear warmers: $25, Sally Wallet: $45, cuddle-stuff-boutique.myshopify.com
Slingamebobs The original Twistamebob necklaces are made from recycled woven baby wraps and popper fasteners. They are very robust, comfy to wear and look beautiful so both you and your teething baby can feel better! They can be worn alone or you can add a removable teether. Starting at £20, slingamebobs.co.uk
Customizable messager bag perfect for babywearing and beyond. Starting at $130, facebook.com/SmilingOctopus
Smiling Octopus
Scrappy Stocking Starting at $50
Just Essentials Set, $30
{BWTM} How long have you been sewing with wraps? {SO} I have been sewing bags for over 10 years and started working with wrap scrap approximately three years ago. {BWTM} What was your first wrap-related project? {SO} My first wrap related project was a roll up changing pad and diaper clutch that I made from my old Girasol Northern Lights. {BWTM} You are most known for your messenger bags. How did they evolve? {SO} I wore both my children and was really frustrated that I couldn’t find a comfortable bag to stay on my shoulder while babywearing. I started out just sewing pockets galore onto the tail of my wraps and ring slings, but with a newborn, there wasn’t enough space! I drew out a pattern with all the features I would want in a diaper bag and got to sewing. After we got through the newborn phase and carried less stuff, I came out with a smaller version of the bag. Then, once toddlerhood hit, I was determined to figure out a way to add a backpack feature since I was constantly chasing my little ones. {BWTM} What other products do you offer?
{SO} I can sew just about anything other than clothing. I offer matching accessories for the messenger bags - wristlets, card wallets, key fobs, toy leashes and luggage tags. Wristlets have a strap that can loop around a SSC waistband or strap. I also offer customization on the wristlets. You can add card slots, interior or exterior zipper pockets and even a vertical phone pocket. I also offer a handful of other large bags - a few totes and purse-like designs. I am hopeful that I can offer those on a regular basis once I have a little more sewing time available to me. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite wrap to work with? Favorite piece? {SO} One of my favorite wraps to work with is BB Slen’s Pineapple. It is so sturdy and dense that it is a breeze to sew. I am a huge lover of all things scrappy, so my real pleasure comes from piecing together all the little leftover scraps I have from different wraps and making them into something larger - a quilt or tote usually. {BWTM} Do you have any plans in store for the coming year? {SO} I am hoping to open custom slots for everything I offer, not just messenger bags. I would love to be able to offer a small, in-stock inventory as well.
hyenacart.com/stores/SmilingOctopus facebook.com/SmilingOctopus
Oscha Slings
Offering a variety of gifts from baby blankets to toy wraps and ring slings, Oscha can be a one-stop shop for your babywearing gifting needs. We narrowed it down to our two favorites. TOP: Ceò Scarves are light as air with a silky shimmer for an effortless, chic accent to any outfit. Superfine combed cotton with a frayed edge. From £45.00, oschaslings.com LEFT: Oscha baby blankets have been specially woven to make thick, cosy blankets, they feature our exclusively adapted patterns and are made in organic cotton and merino lambswool with a blanket stitch hem. From £38.00, oschaslings.com
SPB Custom Creations
Carry babywearing close to your heart with this sweet and sentimental mama metal. $48, spbcustomcreations.etsy.com