rhonda of
RHOCKETT WEAVING textiles woven by the heart from
wrapping
CASSIOPE WOVEN
MAVENS OF YOUTUBE
+HIRING HIRING A BABYWEARING PHOTOGRAPHER
two of our favorite online resources
TheBabywearer.com & Loom to Wrap NOVEMBER 2015
BABYWEARINGTHEMAG.COM
As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen. —Winnie the Pooh
textiles woven
by the Heart
CASSIOPEWOVEN.COM
table of contents
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12 in every issue 2 FROM THE PUBLISHER 5 EDITOR’S NOTE 6 TRENDING Inspired style for the babywearing world. This issue: It’s woolie season! 8 CARRY ON Wrap carries to expand your repertoire. This issue: Poppins Hip Carry 10 RETAIL THERAPY Items that make your life easier. This issue: Let it snow
features 24 HIP, HIP, HOORAY! Seasonally inspired babywearing. This issue: Making memories 26 #BWTHEMAG Pics from you, our readers. This issue: You’ve got a friend in me 28 WRAP UP Chat with inspiring industry insiders. This issue: Rhonda of Rhockett Weaving
12 THEBABYWEARER.COM 14 LOOM TO WRAP 16 WRAPPING MAVENS OF YOUTUBE 20 CASSIOPE WOVEN
Photo credit: Three Plus Photogra phy threeplusphotography.com
from the publisher
THE WONDERFUL
world wide web
The internet is an amazing tool. It introduces us to new ideas and even how to implement them — à la babywearing and YouTube. It also connects us to new people. Babywearing was my first exposure to Facebook groups. Oh, how much I have learned since then. So many babywearing groups, from Babywearing Love and Support to groups for each individual brand and weaver. And then there’s the Swap. I have spent countless hours in these groups absorbing all things babywearing. I have also made many good friends via babywearing groups I never would have met otherwise, including our editor, Novia. The wonderful world of online babywearing is a vast, wonderful community with a niche for everybody. I hope you’ve found yours! ENJOY!
Sarah
publisher SARAH ZEENBERG sarah@babywearingthemag.com editor NOVIA CHANG editor@babywearingthemag.com art director SARAH ZEENBERG art@babywearingthemag.com business development DANNY ZEENBERG danny@babywearingthemag.com All information provided by Babywearing: the magazine, LLC, is intended for entertainment purposes only. Those who are new to babywearing should seek out the help of a local babywearing group or professional babywearing consultant. The publisher, editors, contributors and advertisers are not responsible in the actions or misuse of any individual on the basis of reading information contained in Babywearing: the magazine, LLC. The information contained herein is not a replacement for hands on instruction. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC assumes no responsibility for the advertisers. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is not responsible for typographical or production errors or accuracy of information provided by its advertisers. Babywearing: the magazine, LLC reserves the right to refuse any advertiser. Unauthorized use or reproduction of editorial content in any way whatsoever without the written consent of Babywearing: the magazine, LLC is strictly prohibited.
on the cover
From Janine: “I’ve been wearing since 2013 with the birth of our first daughter and now continue to happily hold our second daughter close in some of my favorite carries like Poppins or Ruck tied off with a Tibetan finish. My favorites are shorties (size 2) and I mostly have handwovens. My favorite of all my wraps is my Uppymama Tourmaline Woolie.” Janine is wearing Autumn Leaves by Rhockett Weaving.
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editor’s note
online
EDUCATION
I wore our two older children in buckle carriers, but didn’t learn about woven wraps until I was pregnant with our third. I bought my first woven, Didymos Tramonto Waves, watched YouTube videos and practiced with stuffed toys for months before she was born. I joined babywearing groups on BabyCenter and TheBabywearer and chatted with both novices (like myself) and experienced babywearers alike. At the time, I didn’t know that my local babywearing group existed. I learned how to use wraps and ring slings through online resources, and thankfully, I was able to wear our daughter from birth. While in-person instruction is ideal, online tutorials are invaluable. This issue is dedicated to the online resources that taught so many of us how to wear our babies. Without them, I would have been lost. ENJOY!
Novia november 2015
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trending
IT’S
woolie SEASON!
Photo credit: Petal & Vine Photography, petalandvinephotography.com
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Winter is coming. Keep your baby safe and snug with warm wool. Whether you are into neutrals, deep, dark colors or bright and soft, there is a wool blend out there that’s perfect for you.
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NATIBABY’S STARRY NIGHT design has been very popular and the new Inverno is a wonderful addition to the brand’s legendary collection of wool blend wraps. marsupial-mamas.com Natural colored wraps are perfect for every season and there are few wool wraps more classic than DIDYMOS’ TEVIOT. heart-hugs.com Finnish wool? Yes please! VANAMO SOLKI SAVU WOOL hipmommy.com Deep red NATIBABY NOTES is the perfect wrap for the season! wrapyourbaby.com ELLEVILL NORWEGIAN STYLE JACK in deep shades of blue. wovenwraps.com The color of DIDYMOS’ BLACKBERRY WOOL INDIO is as delicious as it sounds. wrappedbaby.com Warm orange, mustard yellow and beige makes this LITTLE FROG MERINO BLEND ideal for fall. littlefrog.pl What can be more luxurious than cashmere? A gorgeous, thick DIDYMOS CASHMERE INDIO in a lovely dark brown. purpleelmbaby.com While it’s called DIDYMOS BROWN WOOL VOGEL, the wrap is more of a warm, coppery red. Absolutely perfect for fall in both color and design. birdiesroom.com Not a fan of dark, warm colors? OSCHA’S KIKU PAULA is a mix of antique rose tones with a bright coral wool blend weft. oschaslings.com
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carry on
poppins HIP CARRY There is a great divide over one-shoulder hip carries. Most people only like one or the other, Robin’s or Poppins. Poppins is an intermediate carry that is great for a squish and still supportive enough for a large toddler.
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE POPPINS TUTORIALS: POPPINS HIP CARRY IN A WOVEN WRAP by Baby Wearers Western Australia INC. We like the trick for keeping the wrap off your neck. youtube.com/watch?v=9OQ9dFVAHds
POPPINS HIP CARRY IN A WOVEN WRAP by WearAllTheBabies This version may be easier for newer wrappers because of the pre-made pocket. youtube.com/watch?v=JPD5of0xam4
POPPINS HIP CARRY by WrappingRachel Tips for leaners! youtube.com/watch?v=ALgrqgmiZc0
*NOTE: All these tutorials show the carry tied over the leg, but you can bring the last pass under the leg as well for seat poppers.
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retail therapy
LET IT
snow
You’ll be ready for colder weather with these snuggly babywearing accessories designed to keep baby warm and cozy.
SHERPA LINED LUMBERJACK WRAP SCRAP HAT Keep all that valuable heat in with these adorable lumberjack hats. Available in four sizes with the wrap of your choice! Starting at $45, etsy.com/shop/MamaSewWhat or facebook.com/MamaSewWhat
BABY/TODDLER BOOTS These wrap scrap boots are lined with Sherpa to keep tiny tootsies warm. Available in kids’ sizes 1-8 and even in mama sizes! You can customize the wrap, boot style and sole to make them your own! Starting at $35, etsy.com/shop/MamaSewWhat or facebook.com/MamaSewWhat
HIS AND HERS HOMEMADE BABY WEARING DIAPER BUM PANTS Custom hand-made pants to make babywearing easier. No more lost pants legs in your carrier after getting baby up. The cuffs & comfy, stretchy cotton allow one pair to fit for over a year. Adorable bum circle to fit fluffy diaper butts. Prices range from $25-$32 per pair, hisandhershomemade.com or facebook.com/hishershomemade
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THEBABYWEARER.COM
TheBabywearer.com is an extensive internet forum dedicated to babywearing: the art and practice of keeping your baby close to you using one of a variety of types of slings, wraps, and carriers. Here you can meet other babywearers and learn about babywearing safety, different types of carriers and carries, tips and tricks, DIY, and more, find a local babywearing meeting near you, or visit forums to buy and sell used carriers. 12
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{BWTM} Tell us about the history of The Baby Wearer (TBW) {TBW} TBW was launched on November 17, 2003 by founders Jennifer Norton and Denby Angus. Their vision was to build a site where babywearers could find information and reviews on baby carriers and babywearing. {BWTM} How has TBW changed over the years? {TBW} The first few years, we grew very quickly. There were three sections on the original site - the review system, the articles and the forums. The forums became the most popular area of the site and are the heart of TBW. We have experienced growing pains and with that has come changes in servers and platforms to keep up with technology. We have always been dedicated to maintaining a close knit and welcoming community. Even though it looks a little different than it did a couple years ago, TBW is still the same supportive community that it has always been. {BWTM} How Babywearing International come to be in charge of TBW? {TBW} Over its nearly 12 years of operation, TBW has had an amazing group of owner/administrators to whom the site has always been more than a just a business that generates income. Two years ago, when our owner/ admin Crystal was ready to move on to new endeavors, she didn’t want to sell TBW the highest bidder. TBW belongs to the community. It needed to have an owner who would allow it to continue to grow and be a place for the history of our community to live on. Crystal reached out to BWI who agreed to take TBW on and support it. BWI has been incredibly generous. Their support has allowed TBW to continue being a free and accessible resource for our community. {BWTM} How has the babywearing community changed over the years? {TBW} I think the biggest change I have seen is the increase in popularity of babywearing. There are so many babywearers now, and so many new baby carrier manufacturers and vendors. We used to be a very small community. I used to dream of the day when babywearing education and quality carriers would be accessible to all caregivers and now there are so many ways to access education and resources. {BWTM} What changes would you like to see in the future?
{TBW} We have a fantastic tech team who are constantly working to make TBW the best it can be. In the very near future there will be some cosmetic changes to the site — adding a new banner and background. We added a lot of great upgrades this past year that we will be tweaking a little bit, but I’m pretty happy with what we provide right now. Our goal was to bring our members an updated user-friendly site without losing the unique feel and history of TBW, and I think we have done a pretty good job. {BWTM} The babywearing community now has several niche Facebook groups. How does TBW stay relevant in this quickly evolving social media climate? {TBW} TBW is made up of user generated content. It’s our amazing members who log in every day and post about their lives and babywearing adventures that keep us buzzing along. Social media has done a wonderful job at helping to spread the word about babywearing, but it moves so fast and it’s constantly changing. TBW is an easily searchable archive of the past, present and future of our community and it belongs to us. In this changing social media climate, it’s more important than ever to protect it. So many of the other early community resources have long been shuttered - blogs abandoned, videos and photo tutorials deleted - but we still have TBW thanks to the contributions and sacrifices of people who believe in TBW. We hope that new generations of babywearers will discover TBW and feel a connection to those who paved the way before them. We have a rich history - one that celebrates babywearing in all its forms. {BWTM} What is the most popular feature of TBW? {TBW} I would say our “what did you wear today?” threads are the most active. That’s where our members go to chat daily about their babywearing adventures, but nobody does a pregnancy/birth stalking like TBW mamas — keep your eyes peeled for sneaky signature changes. Babies tend to be in the water over on TBW. {BWTM} What’s next for TBW? {TBW} Our next big event to celebrate will be our 12th birthday coming up in November. Then we are looking forward to International Babywearing Conference in Atlanta next summer. Did you know that the first babywearing conference was organized by TBW members who wanted to meet and hang out with each other? The 2016 conference marks the tenth anniversary of that first event.
thebabywearer.com
facebook.com/thebabywearer
loom to
WRAP
Loom to wrap is a Facebook group that covers everything about handwoven baby wraps, from loom to finished product. It’s a place to discover new weavers, review handwoven wraps, learn about basic weaving info, and talk to other handwoven wrap fans. The group welcomes sharing of everything about handwovens, from the design process in a custom, to discussing wrapping qualities, to trading and selling of wraps.
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{BWTM} Talk to us about the increase in babywearing weavers and popularity of handwoven wraps in the last few years. {L2W} The entire wrap market has totally transformed from what it was only a few short years ago, and the handwoven wrap segment is no exception. At the time, the only boutique handwoven wraps that were ‘available’ were woven by Pamir, and they were later joined by Heartiness. A little later still, Uppymama came into the market and brought custom handwoven wraps to a small segment of babywearers. Those early, heady days were primarily played out in online forums, led by TheBabyWearer.com where geekery reigned supreme. Custom spots were difficult to come across, so demand was very high, and custom handwoven wraps became highly sought after. Custom wraps had been available only through companies like Girasol, which required high minimums and prolonged wait times, and were only offered through retailers or contests. Natibaby also offered group customs, but again, the minimum yardage was often so high that it was prohibitive and difficult to obtain a custom design. When Uppymama began to offer custom wrap spots, small groups of friends were easily able to make a dream wrap colorway come to life. A coexisting benefit to the availability of small batches of custom wraps is that handwoven wraps were discovered to be very cozy and comfortable and required little breaking in. Interest in these opportunities began to grow. The rumblings of a movement kicked off properly when experienced weavers like Vila from Warped & Wonderful were approached and encouraged by babywearers to weave custom handwoven wraps. The bug had bitten deep, and the movement coincided with the community platform moving to Facebook, thus in turn becoming more accessible to the wider community. In part to meet the high demand for custom and small-batch handwoven wraps, pioneering work-at-home-parents took to weaving. Established community members such as Karen Schiltz of ETLA and later Jamie Vandeloo of Vandeloo Woven, and several other weavers made names for themselves during 2012 and 2013. Experienced weavers got requests to weave wraps via Etsy and
babywearers took up weaving for a variety of reasons, be it frustration at not being able to score a handwoven themselves, or to pick up a beautiful hobby and then turn it into a micro business. Just as Facebook allowed the movement to gain momentum, it also enabled weavers and babywearers to get in touch with each other to share knowledge, and therefore everything became more accessible. The rest is history - there continues to be an upward growth of wrap weavers, and this of course brings with it benefits as well as some drawbacks. {BWTM} How and when did Loom to Wrap (L2W) get started? {L2W} Loom to Wrap was created in the fall of 2013 by a handful of women who were either very passionate about handwoven wraps or weavers themselves. Their aim was to fill the growing need for a place in which enthusiasts and collectors could geek out and safely buy/sell/trade, as well as to provide a resource for those who were curious about the growing world of handwoven wraps. In those early days, handwovens were scarce on the market and in exceptionally high demand. The founders of L2W saw the very real danger of customers purchasing handwovens out of haste without knowing what they were buying due to scarcity. The group sought to educate consumers and connect them with weavers, while also encouraging the love and appreciation of the wraps themselves. {BWTM} How has the market continued to evolve? {L2W} As the market and community
continue to mature, we believe that the consumer base has generally become better informed and educated before making their first purchase. L2W used to function largely as a buy/sell/trade group for the secondary market, but that was never the purpose of the group and we found that in this format, a lot of the love of handwovens were lost among the sales listings. Last year, we shifted away from that by containing secondary sales to one particular album, and we are now doing more to promote information about handwovens and support weavers selling directly to customers in the primary market. {BWTM} What are the latest trends in handwoven wraps? What do you think will trend in the near future? {L2W} The expansion of the market has definitely led to innovation due to weavers upping the ante. The market continues to be extremely competitive and in order to survive, weavers have recognized that they must create exceptional work as well as provide excellent customer service. Weavers are experimenting with exciting and beautiful weave structures, new fiber blends, and specially dyed yarns. We have seen some really successful collaborative efforts between yarn dyers and weavers. In the future, it would be really cool to see collaborations between weavers themselves. {BWTM} Tell us about the weaving competitions. {L2W} The Great Competition of Weavers has become something of a highlight in the handwoven world’s calendar and we
are very proud of it! It is a bi-annual event that was started in 2013, and the premise is that the entries are all anonymous so that the wraps stand on their beauty alone rather than it being a popularity contest. It has grown from eleven finished entries in the inaugural competition to a whopping 91 in the most recent one this fall. Voting is open to members of L2W only, and we logged an incredible 16,900 total votes and 5,700 total views this time around. Needless to say, we are thrilled with its success and how it continues to grow each time it rolls around. The competition tends to set trends of its own which is very exciting to see, and there was even a spin-off competition for Mama Metal artisans this fall that followed the same theme and format. There are some really fun ideas on the table for the next competition in spring of 2016 and it’s a continually evolving event. {BWTM} What’s next for L2W? {L2W} Almost two years later, our group has over 11,000 members and well over 200 weavers listed in our Review Album. With this immense shift in the availability and interest in handwovens, we have guided the group to meet the needs of the current market. What was then about scarcity is now about abundance. We recently implemented a large shift in L2W’s structure to create greater opportunities for weavers and customers to connect, and we look forward to seeing how this shapes the group. This December, we will also be celebrating our second birthday and have some awesome contests planned in celebration. We will continue work on shaping the Spring 2016 Competition of Weavers.
facebook.com/groups/LoomToWrap & facebook.com/loomtowrappage
mavens OF YOUTUBE WRAPPING wrapping
RACHEL
{BWTM} How did your babywearing journey start? How did you learn how to wrap? {WR} I started babywearing a little over seven years ago when my oldest was born. My neighbor had an extra front pack carrier and it really made new motherhood so much better for me! I could take a walk without my baby crying. I could unload the dishwasher. I could walk around the mall without having to figure out how to fold up the giant stroller we had and get it into and out of the car. I loved it and it made me want to learn all about babywearing. I bought a pouch sling and then a buckle carrier. When I was pregnant with my second child, I wasn’t able to get comfortable with any of the carriers that I had, but my daughter still loved to be held. I bought a ring sling and a woven wrap (a Storcheweige Leo that I still use almost daily!). I found wrapping incredibly comfortable and set out to learn ev-
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erything I could. My local Babywearing International chapter, BWI of DC/MD/VA helped me a ton with my wrap. My local volunteer babywearing educator (VBE) taught me how to tie a slipknot and how to nurse in a carrier. She helped me learn to do back carries. She also told me about thebabywearer.com where I found a whole wealth of information and great support. I joined all of the carry of the week challenges there. I loved the wrapping, learning and the community. It was and still is, SO FUN to learn new carries and new tips. Wrapping is incredibly comfortable, snuggly, and beautiful. {BWTM} Why do you think it is important to have online wrapping tutorials? {WR} I think it’s important that there is free and reliable information out there on the Internet. There is no substitute for in person help with babywearing, but many people are
unable to make it to their local babywearing group or consultant (or do not have a local group or consultant). Having tutorials that are reliable available on YouTube means that more people can find joy and comfort in babywearing. For me, babywearing has made motherhood so joyful and I hope that the tutorials that I put on YouTube will help other parents and caregivers find the same comfort and joy in carrying their babies. {BWTM} What is your favorite carry? Least favorite? {WR} My favorite carry, hands down, is Front Cross Carry. It’s so quick and comfortable. I love that I can pre-tie it before I leave the house. When I get where I’m going all I need to do is quickly pop the baby into the carry. There’s no need to wrap in the parking lot and I can get my baby into the wrap before my 4 year old has time to unbuckle his car seat and dart into the parking lot. My least favorite carry is always changing. I find that when I have a carry I don’t like, it’s usually because I don’t know the best tips for it yet. When I have a carry I really dislike, I make myself use it and try to figure
out how to make it better or how to solve whatever problem the carry is giving me. I used to really dislike Poppins hip carry. I couldn’t find a way to wrap it that it didn’t slowly lower over time. I’ve since learned a few tips for that carry and now it’s one of my favorites. Likewise, I didn’t like wiggle proof ruck or wiggle proof variations on carries. This was because the wiggle proof pass was so difficult for me to spread over my baby. A good friend of mine taught me some fabulous tips for this type of pass and now I love ALL of those carries. {BWTM} What is the one wrapping “trick” you would give to a new wrapper? {WR} If you’re new to wrapping, I would say pick just ONE thing to master. Start with one carry, maybe front wrap cross carry or front cross carry. Do that carry every day for a week or two until you really have it down. Once you’ve got it, if you want, try a new carry. It can be easy to be overwhelmed by all of the different ways to wrap, but it only takes one carry that really works for you to love wrapping. {BWTM} Do you have anything special planned for the future? {WR} I’m slowly working on captioning all of my YouTube videos to make them more accessible to everyone. I have just over half of the videos captioned now. If you click the “CC” button below the video, you can watch them with captioning. I hope to have this job finished by the start of the new year.
Rachel Boarman is a Certified Babywearing Consultant trained through the Center for Babywearing Studies and volunteers as a Master Babywearing Educator for Babywearing International of Southern Maryland. Rachel maintains a babywearing instructional YouTube Channel under the username “Wrapping Rachel.” wrappingrachel.com
youtube.com/user/WrappingRachel
facebook.com/wrappingrachelbabywearing november 2015
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BABYWEARING Faith Rayland is a babywearing educator offering private babywearing consultations in-person for those in the Central New York area or worldwide via Skype. She also offers free instructional videos on her YouTube channel.
faith
{BWTM} How did your babywearing journey start? How did you learn how to wrap? {BF} My babywearing journey started after the birth of my oldest child in 2007. I got a pouch sling and could not figure out how to use it confidently until he was about a month old. I used a few different carrier styles with him, but started learning how to wrap when I found out I was pregnant with my second in 2009. I knew I wanted to wrap from birth. TheBabywearer.com was where I learned it all! {BWTM} Why do you think it is important to have online wrapping tutorials? {BF} I think it’s important to have online wrapping tutorials because a lot of people do not have access to in-person instruction, or they need to learn a new skill before they are able to obtain in-person help. When I first started making videos, there were far fewer babywearing groups than there are now and online support played an even more crucial role than it does today. {BWTM} What is your favorite carry? Least favorite? {BF} I don’t know if I can pick just one! For my toddler, I’d say any back carry with a waist belt and chest belt, like Giselle’s Back Carry or Double Hammock (I have videos for both of these with waist belt and chest belt). Least favorite, I’d probably say Poppins Hip Carry. Team Robin’s all the way! {BWTM} What is the one wrapping “trick” you would give to a new wrapper? {BF} Hold your baby in-arms against your chest. The position your baby assumes is the position you want your wrap to support. {BWTM} Do you have anything special planned for the future? {BF} A new wrappee and more newborn videos coming in February!
youtube.com/user/BabywearingFaith
facebook.com/BabywearingFaith
love WRAP YOU IN
Hedwych of Wrap You In Love is a Dutch mom living in Germany, a certified babywearing consultant (Trageschule Hamburg & l’école-à-porter) and a mother of three. {BWTM} How did your babywearing journey start? {WYIL} My first daughter was born in April 2011. Like all babies, she loved being close to mom and I imagined babywearing would help me to have my hands free. I didn’t want to try a woven or stretchy wrap because wrapping seemed so complicated, so I bought a Hoppediz Hop-Tye wrap conversion mei tai and a ring sling. Celine was two weeks old when I wore her for the first time in a ring sling. {BWTM} How did you learn how to wrap? {WYIL} I learned through YouTube. I practiced with my baby right away, but it would have been better to try it with a doll or stuffed animal first. Last year, I completed the basic and advanced babywearing consultant course (Trageschule Hamburg), where I improved my technique.
{BWTM} Why do you think it is important to have online wrapping tutorials? {WYIL} At first, I didn’t know that babywearing consultants existed. There are a growing number of consultants now but the internet is available almost everywhere, all the time. You can search for a carry in the middle of the night. I love how online wrapping tutorials offer a huge variety of carries and finishes for experienced babywearers as well as videos with information about basic carries and themes. It can’t replace a personal consultation, but it’s the perfect addition. {BWTM} What is your favorite carry? {WYIL} Double hammock (with ‘Birte’s Finish’) for my toddler and front wrap cross carry (FWCC) with a twist for my infant. {BWTM} Least favorite carry? {WYIL} Poppins hip carry – I didn’t make a
wrapyouinlove.com
tutorial for the carry for this exact reason. {BWTM} What is the one wrapping ‘trick’ you would give to a new wrapper? {WYIL} Move your body – move your shoulders when you tighten, wiggle, hop, shake! There is always some hidden slack which will cause your carry to loosen up slowly after you tie off and start moving about. {BWTM} Do you have anything special planned for the future? {WYIL} I’m hoping to expand my database of tutorials, adding more ‘beginner-proof’ videos (as my first tutorials were all aimed at more experienced babywearers), and of course, more newborn babywearing videos. We are working hard on translating the videos so they will be available in different languages for parents all over the world!
youtube.com/user/Bikerbaby2011
facebook.com/wrapyouinlove november 2015
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woven
Cassiope Woven is a small, woman-owned company based out of the Tampa Bay area. All materials are sourced and produced in the United States. Cassiope is a member of the BCIA & strives to bring quality woven wraps as well as education to the babywearing industry. {BWTM} How & when did you start babywearing? {CW} My love affair with babywearing began when I was 17-years-old. During a mission trip in Haiti, I saw mothers carrying their babies and toddlers in wraps on their backs. They were planting, shopping, selling; they kept their children close and safe all day. I knew then that I would wear my own babies when I became a mother. In 2004, after giving birth to my first daughter, my love of babywearing only grew deeper despite restricted availability and limited options for quality carriers at that time. I loved being able to keep my daughter close and treasured the attachment babywearing helped foster. With each of my three children, my knowledge and options grew and I realized how truly necessary it was, especially as I became outnumbered! What began 11 years ago with wearing my first-born in a narrow-based carrier and a ring sling, has since transformed into my life’s passion and work. {BWTM} What was the defining moment that led you to start Cassiope Woven? {CW} “Always go with your passions. Never ask if it’s realistic or not” —Deepak Chopra Babywearing was always as much about fostering a healthy relationship with my children and helping me be hands-free when needed, as it was about expressing myself with the designs and art in the wraps and carriers I wore. I wanted to combine my love of art with my passion for babywearing. There really wasn’t a specific, defining moment as much as Cassiope just became a dream in my heart that grew into something I just could not ignore. I began to work on designs I wanted to wear myself. After talking with my husband about my ideas and desire to create Cassiope, I realized the only thing stopping me was…me. I knew if I wanted to see my dream become a reality, I had to step out in faith. So I did just that, completely unsure of where it would lead me, but knowing I wasn’t looking back.
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{BWTM} Would you mind sharing some of the challenges you have had with launching a new wrap company? {CW} My biggest challenge is one that is likely easy for others. I tend to be an old-school, pen-to-paper type of person and technology can be a bit overwhelming at times. Truthfully, this is my second time answering these questions because I somehow managed to erase them the first time! I prefer the romanticism of a hand-written letter and the ease of a paper filing system, so I rely heavily on my husband for much tech assistance. Luckily for me, he takes payment in hugs and kisses. It has also been a challenge getting the brand out into the babywearing community. There are so many amazing women, running top-notch companies, who have paved the way for entrepreneurs such as me. I am so grateful for their contributions to the community, but have to admit that being the new kid in town is always a bit intimidating at first. Thankfully, I have received nothing but love and support from this community of beautiful parents and business-owners. {BWTM} How has the company grown since you started? {CW} Cassiope really started as a few fanciful designs fluttering around in my imagination. Seeing those designs come to life on the loom is nothing short of exhilarating. The difference between simply showing my husband & close friends my ideas to watching babies being wrapped up in them has been more rewarding than I ever could have expected. My fan base has also grown more quickly than expected and my chatter group is such a warm and fun place to hang out. {BWTM} What are some of your favorite moments from the past year? {CW} The moment I open a package containing a prototype and see how a sketch has translated from pencil and paper to textile is enchanting every time. I think that’s something that will never lose its luster or get old. I also loved attending
Photo credit: Kimetha Photography
CASSIOPE
Photo credit: Kimetha Photography
MommyCon Orlando as a vendor and meeting babywearers who are excited about Cassiope. I really enjoy going to events, meeting people face-to-face, and getting immediate feedback as people see, touch and try Cassiope’s wraps first-hand. {BWTM} Where do you draw your design inspiration from? {CW} I adore vintage 1920’s flair, feathered hair clips, the patterns of crystal embellished headbands and rosette birdcage veils. The No.04 design was inspired by vintage hair combs, diamonds and lace. While Cassiope has no nature-themed designs, much of my inspiration comes from nature-the delicateness of ripples in the water, the colors of a sunset blending in the sky, a fallen feather on the ground amongst flowers. I have always had an interest in history and also draw inspiration from things like the shape combinations of prehistoric tools, the evolution of sculpture and architecture, as well as fashion. Truly, inspiration is everywhere. {BWTM} Tell us about your commitment to manufacturing in the US? {CW} Supporting American jobs is something very important to me. I enjoy working with and supporting small businesses, including several work-from-home mothers. Knowing the working conditions and fair compensation of employees aiding in production is an integral part of Cassiope Woven. Working with a WAHM provides some added understanding to my own situation of working from home. A toddler singing the entire Frozen soundtrack in the background while on a phone call doesn’t faze them nearly as much as
cassiopewoven.com
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it does some of my other work calls! {BWTM} Can you give us hints as to what your next designs/colorways will be? {CW} Cassiope’s upcoming releases will be all about color and softness. The next few designs will be brought to life through deep, saturated colors and will showcase the softer, gentler side of Cassiope. I will also be collaborating with a fellow artist and friend, Roscoe, on a project which will intertwine our two styles together in the birth of something totally new. Roscoe’s innovative designs and Cassiope’s romantic whimsy will come together to create something not seen before that I hope will be a huge hit with Cassiope fans. {BWTM} What events will you be at in the future? {CW} Cassiope will be traveling to Seattle for MommyCon at the end of November, as well as other locations in 2016. I am also delighted to announce I will be at the International Babywearing Conference 2016 in Atlanta. January marks the first anniversary of Cassiope’s maiden release with a fabulous celebration in the works! Everyone is invited and it will not to disappoint. {BWTM} What does Cassiope Woven have in store for the next year? {CW} Some bold color combinations are on the loom for 2016 release, as well as totally new designs. I have lots of exciting things up my sleeve! Be sure to like Cassiope Woven on Facebook and join the chatter group, The Cassiope Collective, to keep up-to-date on all things Cassiope!
facebook.com/CassiopeWoven
hip, hip, hooray!
making
MEMORIES By Lee Anne Roquemore of Petal & Vine Photography
Finding the perfect babywearing photographer can be a difficult decision. It is an investment, but with the limited number of wearing days, it can be a great way to memorialize this season of life. We asked some of our favorite photographers for tips on choosing a photographer to make your memories last a lifetime.
HIRE A PROFESSIONAL First thing to consider when hiring a baby wearing photographer - are they a professional? A professional photographer will outline what’s included in your session and when you can expect to receive your images. They will sign a contract with you for their professional services. They pay taxes, have a business license, and liability insurance. They have a system in place for backing up their images so that if your images were compromised, they have taken necessary steps to store copies of them. Take the time to do some online research and read any reviews listed. People with bad reviews will have them on multiple platforms, they usually will not be hard to find. Google and Yelp reviews are great to check. If you cannot find reviews, do not be afraid to ask them for references. Professionals should not be bothered by this and should not have any trouble connecting you to past clients. LOVE THEIR STYLE When hiring a photographer, look at both their prices and their entire body of work. Do they
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have a body of work that is consistent? Does it match your style? As you look at their photos, ask yourself: if I hire this photographer and they deliver an image like this, will I be happy with the quality? Take notice of what is consistent in their images and make sure it is what you would hope for. What stands out about them? TRUST THEIR EXPERIENCE When hiring a babywearing photographer, it’s especially important to hire someone who has experience with babies and photographing at least some aspect of the motherhood journey. This way, you know they will capture babywearing and the special bond shared between mother and child. A landscape photographer or senior portraiture specialist might understand all of the technical aspects of light and creating a beautiful photo, but they are not as likely to capture the emotional intimacy unless they are practiced at photographing moms and babies. It is a unique skill and sometimes requires a lot of patience.
PERSONAL CONNECTION Personal connection between the photographer and the mother is very important. Read the photographer’s bio in the about section of their website. Most photographers are happy to schedule an in person or phone consultation at no extra cost. Do your best to have an interaction that shows you a bit of their personality so you can really see if they will put you at ease and help you relax in front of the camera. For babywearing, breastfeeding, and all motherhood photography, feeling comfortable with the photographer is very important, as this is when you get the best images. Lee Anne Roquemore specializes in motherhood photography with her business, Petal & Vine Photography. She is located in Lakeland, Florida and has photographed babywearers in several states across the US and soon to be internationally. She is a babywearing mama to two (so far!) herself. She is passionate about creating and capturing beauty and supporting moms in this beautiful and often crazy mom journey. petalandvinephotography.com
ALLI AT LUZOGRAPHY The first step when choosing any photographer is to make sure you like their work. Check out their portfolio and see if their style fits with your preferences. Better still, see if you can look at past client galleries to see the breadth and depth of their shoots. Have a conversation, over the phone or in person, to get a feel for how comfortable you feel with this person. The personality of a photographer can make a world of a difference in how comfortable you are in front of the camera. Ask about their pricing and what it includes. There are so many ways to charge for photography services, and it helps to know what you want and what your budget is. Does the shoot include digital files, retouching? Is there a separate sitting fee or a charge per file or print? Does the total cost fit in your budget? Babywearing specifics: Ideally, chose a babywearing photographer who understands how to wrap/wear/adjust wraps and/or carriers. If there isn’t one in your area, look for a photographer who has ample experience shooting families, children and babies and be sure to send them babywearing photos before the shoot, to give them inspiration or ideas. In the case of hiring a photographer who is unfamiliar with babywearing, bring a babywearing friend to the shoot if possible to help perfect your wrap job and inspire confidence. luzography.com
SUSE AT MICROART PHOTOGRAPHY Look at their portfolio. Some photographers work in a wide range of styles ranging from photojournalistic, to portraiture, to fine art. Others specialize and have a signature style. Make sure that the photographer’s style is in line with what you want. Experience with photographing families and children is a must, experience with babywearing photography is a definite bonus. A photographer experienced in photographing children and babies will have techniques for getting children to feel comfortable in front of a camera. One who is also experienced in babywearing photography will have a greater understanding of posing and composition that is flattering for both wearer and wearee. Some tips for the shoot: Choose a wrap that both you and your child are comfortable in and a carry that you can do in your sleep. Today is not the day to break in that beautiful new wrap that just arrived, or try that new carry with the fancy looking finish for the first time. A simple but perfectly executed carry wins every time. When choosing your outfit, don’t forget your baby! Even if most of the baby is hidden under the wrap, their feet (and usually arms) are visible. Shoes that mismatch will be very noticeable. That gorgeous moment when your baby drapes her arm around your neck to cuddle you won’t quite be the same if her bright orange top doesn’t match the soft blue and purple tones in your wrap and shirt. facebook.com/ MicroArtPhotographyDesign or microartphotography.com.au
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MELISSA AT LITTLE MOON BIRTH PHOTOGRAPHY When you’re choosing a babywearing photographer, ask to see their portfolio. Do you like their style? Do the pictures evoke emotion or speak to you in a special way? Prior experience with babywearing helps, and being comfortable around children is a must. Also, the portfolio should reflect a diversity in types of carriers, as well as people — older/younger, hippie/conservative, multiracial, etc. littlemoonbirthphotography.weebly.com or Littlemoonbirthphotography@gmail.com
november 2015
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you’ve got a
friend in me
Babywearing is more than a way to connect with your little one, it can also connect you to new friends.
follow us on instagram {BWTHEMAG} and tag your photos with #bwthemag for a chance to be featured in the next issue!
november 2015
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wrap up
a chat with
RHONDA
of Rhockett Weaving
{BWTM} How long have you been weaving? How did you first become interested? {RB} I have been weaving since February of 2013. I first became interested thanks to a photo of a handwoven baby wrap that my friend posted in our local babywearing group. When another friend joined a weaving class, I decided to take it with her! {BWTM} How does being a babywearer prepare you for weaving baby wraps? {RB} Being a babywearer helped me to know how the fabric would look while in use, ensuring the design elements would be seen while wrapped. I also know the different wrapping qualities that babywearers want in their wraps, enabling me to create fabric that is comfortable for the baby and the wearer.
Rhonda Brackett, owner and operator of Rhockett Weaving, is mom to two teenage girls and a three year old son. Rhonda started babywearing after the birth of her son. Having teenagers and a baby made babywearing a necessity and after exploring the babywearing world, she found a way to combine her love of textiles and babywearing by weaving wraps. Rhonda loves working with caregivers to create custom wraps.
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{BWTM} How does your background prepare you for designing and weaving baby wraps? {RB} Some of my earliest memories as a child were of my grandma and I doing crafts together. She taught me cross stitch, embroidery, sewing, and macramé, to name a few, plus fun things like card games and jigsaw puzzles! My aunt also loved making rugs on her loom. Before I started weaving, I designed and constructed garments for children, worked in a fabric store, and was also a marketing coordinator. All of these things have prepared me for weaving and given me a wealth of experience from which to draw. {BWTM} Where are your favorite places to draw inspiration from? {RB} I usually take custom orders which means that the inspiration comes from my customers, however, an amazing photograph will get my creative juices flowing every time. {BWTM} What was your first loom? First project? {RB} I rented a loom from the local guild that had eight shafts and needed many repairs. I used it to weave two prototypes and my first few customs before finding a loom to call my own. My first project was a table runner that I made during weaving class. {BWTM} How long does a typical warp take, start to finish? {RB} Every warp is different, but it typically takes about a week of conversations and mock-ups to create the design. If yarn is in stock and everything goes smoothly with shipping, the rest of the process - measuring yarn, dressing the loom, weaving, wet finishing and hemming - takes about three weeks to complete. {BWTM} What is your least favorite part of weaving? Most favorite? {RB} To be completely honest, I love every part of weaving and especially look forward to measuring the yarn and dressing the loom. In a weird twist, I sometimes have to psyche myself up to actually weave.
{BWTM} What is your favorite type of weave? {RB} Advancing twill is my new favorite, because it’s soft and floppy right off the loom, beautiful to look at, and still provides support for larger babies and toddlers. {BWTM} Please tell us about your design process. How do you decide on color, fiber and weave structure for each piece? {RB} Currently, this process is done almost exclusively via communication with the custom owner and the people getting semi-customs. I am thinking of changing this soon by having one loom exclusively for customs and one for my own ideas, which will allow me more creative freedom in the planning stages. {BWTM} Do you have a favorite wrap? Why is it your favorite? {RB} It seems like my favorite is often the most recent off the loom, and with that in mind, I’d have to say the natty wool weft Autumn Leaves. This is my current favorite because it is full of reminders of my favorite season and encompasses what I love in a wrap: soft, floppy, and supportive. Penelope deserves a mention, too. Every picture I see of it reminds me of the sweet girl it is named for and how beautiful her life was. I never dreamed something I made would make such an impact on the family and am forever changed by her, as well as her mother, and the community love shown during that time. {BWTM} What is the Rhockett Retreat? How did it get started? {RB} In July 2014, I attended the International Babywearing Conference in Tempe, Arizona and left feeling as though there were still so many people I wanted to meet. The retreat was born out of that feeling and a hope for a place to connect with old friends and create new ones. {BWTM} Do you have any other big plans up your sleeve? {RB} While I don’t have any real plans in the works, it is my dream to have a building where I could go to weave and be surrounded by other crafters, including spotlighting local spinners and dyers. It would be amazing to be able to offer classes, as well as a few decadent snacks. {BWTM} What does Rhockett Weaving have in store for the future? {RB} Most immediately it’s what I mentioned earlier about having one loom for customs and another designated for my own designs. We’re also in the beginning stages of planning the next retreat, too! {BWTM} What is your hope for the future of babywearing? {RB} I would love to see the online community extend more into the ‘real’ world. Support from like-minded people is so important during the child-raising years, and my hope is that all caregivers can find in-person relationships like the ones I’ve seen and been a part of online. {BWTM} Describe your perfect day. {RB} Hugs and kisses from family, connection with friends, a little design work to stimulate my brain, a little physical work to stimulate my body, and lots of eye candy to stimulate my creative side! Oh, and chocolate.
rhockettweaving.com facebook.com/RhockettWeaving