Wildling Magazine - Volume 1

VOLUME 1 - APRIL 2015

WILDLING MAGAZINE

VOLUME 1 - JUNE 2015

VOLUME 1

Š 2015 Wildling Magazine All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced by any means without prior written consent from the publisher, except for brief portions quoted for the purpose of review, as permitted by copyright law. www.wildlingmagazine.com info@wildlingmagazine.com Instagram @wildlingmagazine Facebook facebook.com/wildlingmagazine Publication Design by Emma Wood Front Cover image by Elizabeth Messina Back Cover image by Rebecca Lindon Back Inside Cover image by Nancy Ebert 1

CONTENTS VOLUME 1 June 2015

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Contributors

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Peaceful Pastel

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Editor’s Note

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Meditating with Children

5 Wildlings

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Rylee & Cru

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A Voice from the Heart

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Island Life

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In Daddy’s Shoes

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The Art of Storytelling

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A Scottish Adventure

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The Platypus

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Thymian Hustensirup

101 Snuggles

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Woodland Spirit

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Gaining Through Loss

113 Morocco

The Little Shoemaker

55 Ohana

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Step Into Spring

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The Power of Mothers

Three Months in South Africa

129 Stockists

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CONTRIBUTORS

Elizabeth Messina www.elizabethmessina.com Nina and Wes Photography www.ninaandwes.com Siegrid Cain www.siegridcain.com Natalie Dybisz www.missaniela.com Jon Canlas www.jonathancanlasphotography.com Nancy Ebert www.nancy-ebert.de Wendy Laurel www.wendylaurel.com Francis Firebrace www.newagemultimedia.com/firebrace Maria Hibbs www.mariahibbs.com Ali Dover www.alidover.com Rebecca Lindon www.rebeccalindon.com

Image by Nina and Wes Photography.

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EDITOR’S NOTE

Ever since the birth of my three-year old son I have been looking for a place where I fit in as a parent. I’ve shared brief conversations and read articles that resonate with me but I struggled to find a kindred community. Following the arrival of my daughter in 2014 I decided to reach out and create that community myself and Wildling was creatively born. Our aim is to share conversation with free-spirited families and tell the stories of those who are treating family life like an adventure.

Curating Volume 1 has been a joy, and as is often the case when you follow your art and your heart, has introduced me to people who have listened to my own parenting insecurities and healed a little part of me along the way.

I have discussed managing curls with Elizabeth (and bought some Moroccan hair oil on her recommendation), letting go of anger with Ali and been supported through the process of launching a start-up business by Jon, Wendy and my wonderful friend Siegrid. I am thankful.

If you read this journal and feel compelled to tell a story, share some thoughts or tell us about something beautiful you cooked, created or photographed then please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Rebecca Lindon Edior-in-Chief

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WILDLINGS PERSONAL ESSAY words and photography by Elizabeth Messina

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Motherhood is melange of humility and grace.

There are moments wrought with uncertainty, sleepless nights, bleared eyed feedings, the constant urge to check and see if your little one is breathing, and yet somehow within the uncertainty and unpredictable struggles of day to day life with an infant, you surrender to a sublime happiness that seems to weave all of it together.

It is one of the sweetest times in a mother’s life, as if your baby opens a new chamber in your heart and fills it so full of love you think you might burst with joy. Within all of this vulnerability lies unimaginable beauty. That is what I yearn to capture when I am photographing a mother.

For me, realisation of this new foreign land began when I first found out I was pregnant.

It took my breath away. I was a mix of intense anxiety and elation.

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There is nothing quite like the moment you look down and see a plus sign on that innocent little stick, you know nothing will ever be the same.

Let’s be honest, although pregnancy is a beautiful part of motherhood, there are many days that test your strength. For many of us, its brutal morning sickness, which honestly for me was never gracious enough to come only in the morning. Then it’s the absolute surrender to a body that is no longer your own. Your clothes don’t fit, sleeping becomes increasingly difficult (with the exception of mid-afternoon naps, which are simply divine) and of course you have to pee all the time. As your belly grows, so does your anticipation and perhaps a little insecurity. You cannot wait to see, to hold, to love your sweet child. I’ve always felt there is something so simple and sweet about pregnancy, it’s the only time the baby is absolutely yours, nestled inside you.

The moment your give birth, you begin to share your baby. If you are lucky enough to carry your own children, I think it’s important to relish the sweetness of pregnancy. It does not matter how much your miss your jeans or your sleep, it is the beginning of the most amazing experience of your life; motherhood.

the subtleties of motherhood in an image.

I have been blessed with three beautiful children that have literally turned my life upside down.

Having navigated through so many of my own imperfections as a mother, I feel a special kinship with other mothers. There are times as a mother, I feel lonely and unsure, as I imagine many mothers do as well.

I know we all experience the blessing of motherhood in different ways. Some of us deliver our own babies and are immersed in the most intense pain ever (I delivered all three of my children without any drugs). A feeling so intense you think you will disappear within the pain, and then without any explanation you survive and your baby is born and the agony is replaced with bliss. Then you are holding the most beautiful baby you have ever seen in the world and words can only barely scratch the surface of how this feels. It is simply one of the sweetest moments ever.

When I see other mothers it is their utter sweetness and tenderness that touches me. I feel compelled to show other women how truly magnificent they are. I realize this is a bit of a conundrum and that I can never really capture

For others, the passage to motherhood takes another course, loving, accepting children into their folds through adoption. The path to adoption I understand can be equally if not more challenging than carrying your own children.

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I am in awe of women that adopt. It does not twists and turns until your child comes home, matter how you get to the moment a child is but somehow at the core, its utterly the same. yours, we are all united by a force bigger than ourselves.

As a photographer, my work often takes me away from my children - that is a struggle for me - I Inevitably, you’ll find yourself at home with want to comfort them and witness their growth a newborn baby or an older child, with no and discoveries. I also want them to see me as a instructions. Honestly, even if you buy a strong woman pursuing my dreams, who always vacuum, it comes with a manual. Your friends, returns to them. I think the greatest gift that my your family, everyone will have ideas, suggestions working gives them, is an opportunity to develop and opinions. You’ll soon realize you are this a truly strong and unique bond with their father. child’s mother and you will do what feels right My husband is a wonderful father and I think for you. Please know, this can be a difficult time we parent well together. When I am on location for any mother. You will undoubtedly do most making photographs he has the opportunity to everything wrong and yet everything will be spend such quality time with them – even in our perfectly alright. You may feel overwhelmed busiest times we have never hired a nanny. My and alone, but somewhere within the storm, husband and I raise them together and I feel very you feel a deep sense of happiness, a connection blessed to humanity that is so simple and obvious but somehow you never noticed it before. A piece of I hope my images make you see how beautiful your heart will forever live outside of your chest. YOU are, all of you. Pure love is a powerful, mythical force that leaves us all breathless and For every mother the journey is different and baffled. You are a melody of all the matters in yet somehow the same. We all have a unique the world. You are the keepers of secrets, the birth story and the special private moments of storytellers and a safe place for a sweet little soul, cradling a newborn or a tale of adoption that that thinks you are the most beautiful woman in the world (and so do I).

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A VOICE FROM THE HEART THOUGHTS words and illustration by Dallas Clayton

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“Find something that makes you happy and use it to make others happy. There are no rules in these lives we’ve carved out for ourselves, many of the standards by which we live aren’t but a few decades old - entire nations only a few hundred.

We are all, right now, each and every one of us, floating in space pretending we’ve got it all figured out... but it’s all just a guess, so why not do whatever you can to enjoy your time here.”

get them as loud and crazy as possible. To get them firing as much as I can, then to see if I can take them back down to a small quiet place. A place for thinking. It’s a great challenge, but I think it’s an important lesson, to remember that each of us has the capacity for deep introspection as well as the ability to raise our mighty voice to the heavens.”

“It feels to me that a huge portion of ones youth “Remember that your children are not you, that should be about consumption. The consumption they are growing up in an age and place you of ideas, experiences, entertainment, newness didn’t have access to, so try your best not to let on all fronts. your own hang ups and nostalgia undercut your child’s ability to grow beyond you, to thrive in a Read what you can, see what you can, go where world you never had access to. Children are a very you can, do it all as much as you can then slowly honest mirror. Whenever I am at a crossroads and steadily begin to refine your own ideas and emotionally, or strategically I’ve found my son hopefully put them back into the world, new and to offer some of the best untainted advice. No improved for others to consume. This isn’t to say nonsense, just a voice from the heart.” that consumption should be cut off at a certain age, or that one is obligated to stop consuming “Art is a term I use loosely as there is much art in order to create but I do feel that personally it to be made of the practical world, and as such I goes in waves. A few years back I think I hit a find artists at nearly every turn. Those who have peak for consumption and have been spending chosen careers that aren’t certain, pathways that my recent career, and most of my free hours have no clear map, I find a kinship with them. trying to create. The side effects of this are that I recognize that they each seem to be driven currently I find it difficult to sit through an entire by a desire to hold onto magic. What is that movie because as soon as I sit down in the theater magic? Residual youth? A fist raised against I start thinking of stories I’d rather be telling. I the mundane? A step toward a greater self? don’t know how long this phase will last, but I’m I can’t say for everyone, but I know for me it trying to leg it out as much as possible until the represents a true internal yearning to find new work I’m doing begins to wear thin, at which and exciting adventures every single day. This in point I’ll probably be back to consuming again, many ways is the embodiment of being a child at least in moderate levels. Who knows what the - the unknown - a world where you meet new future holds!” people, learn new things, and find yourself day after day. What a joy.”

Dallas Clayton is a children’s author and illustrator.

“At this point the audiences I read to are pretty big, auditoriums full of kids, so my goal is just to www.dallasclayton.com

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IN DADDY’S SHOES PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY

by Rebecca Lindon

Stanley, 2, Graphic Designer 22

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Billy, 7, Rugby Coach 24

Henry, 5, Marathon Runner 25

Zeus, 3, Artist Manager 26

AN ADVENTURE IN SCOTLAND TRAVEL ESSAY words by Nina Mullins and photography by Nina and Wes Photography

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When Wes and I were getting ready to welcome twins into our family, we would hear what everyone hears when they’re about to “lose” the bliss of a childfree life.. ‘Get in all your travel now, because once those babies are here, that freedom will be gone.” Or, ‘You can travel with your children, but it’s a miserable experience, and it will be more work than vacation.’

I wasn’t a mother yet, but I was determined to prove all those naysayers wrong.

Here is a little peek into my own history. Before my third week of life, I was on a plane to Norway with my mother and two older brothers, crossing the Atlantic Ocean, to meet my grandparents for the first time. I spent many summers in this stunning country, exploring the vast, blueberrycovered countryside, and experiencing life in another landscape and culture. I ate foods like shrimp, crab and brown goat cheese, all delicious edibles that were different from my everyday American cuisine. I learned a second language, and played in the streets daily until late at night, because the sun didn’t set until about 11pm in the summers.

Those summers were filled with carefree adventures, fishing off the coast of Bergen,

bonfires by the pond behind my grandparents’ house, and climbing mountains with breathtaking views....and these are some of the best and most amazing memories from my childhood. These are the memories I cherish, and the same kind of memories I want to share with my own children.

While there is no magic formula to make traveling with your children easy, it is possible to vacation and travel with your children and have fun at the same time. Yes, there are more challenges that come when traveling with miniature versions of yourself. There is a bit more work involved and you can’t necessarily go rock climbing or bungee jumping, but you can teach them to love a world that is beyond their own four walls. And by doing so, they might just grow up to be men and women who have a greater understanding of the world around them. And because of their exposure to other countries and cultures, they will hopefully grow up to be beautiful human beings with a an even greater capacity for kindness, compassion and generosity.

Our twins are nearly 5 years old, and in the first 5 years of their lives, they have traveled from Ethiopia, to California, to Mexico, to Norway, to the United Kingdom, and Nepal.

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They have seen children with no families. They have learned that not every child has access to a bed, clean water, and nourishing food. They have seen the majesty of the fjords of Norway, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the Himalayan mountains. They have learned to love authentic Mexican enchiladas, and Ethiopian injera. They have hiked for hours upon hours through the wild trails of the Isle of Skye in Scotland...in the rain...and were disappointed when the day came to a close. They have slept in about 50 different homes and beds, and they have boarded many flights across the globe.

Yes, there were plenty of moments where their lack of maturity and years came to light... tiredness brought tears, and perhaps a tantrum or two, but overall they have become some of the most flexible and cheery travelers I have ever known. They are always up for a new adventure.

When they grow tired, we don’t just pack up

and go home. We don’t necessarily pick them up when they don’t feel like hiking anymore.

We give them a chance to be brave, and strong, and joyful, and adventurous in the light of new things, people and surroundings.

So if you are wondering if life will stop after children, or if the light and excitement of your marriage will dim once you add tiny human beings to your family...the answer is, only if you allow it to. We all have a choice to go against the grain...to be different...to choose adventure over the mundane. Start small if you need to.... take a day trip to the closest city. Go camping in your backyard. Spend the night in someone else’s home, and give your babies a chance to be flexible. You may be surprised at what your children are capable of if you let them go and give them a chance. And they may just grow up to tell their own stories of the adventures and places they experienced with their brave and globetrotting parents.

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THYMIAN HUSTENSIRUP: A REMEDY FOR SNIFFLES RECIPE words and photography by Siegrid Cain

INGREDIENTS 900 ml water 450g of liquid local honey 15g dried thyme 8g dried sage 8g dried chamomile flowers 2 teaspoons fennel seeds 1 teaspoon aniseed 1 teaspoon ground ginger 10-15 cloves METHOD Grind all the herbs roughly in a pestle and mortar. Put water and all herbs into a pan with simmer for 20 minutes with the lid on. Pour the liquid through a fine sieve and squeeze excess from the herbs before disposing of them. Put the strong liquid back in the pan and simmer without lid until the liquid is reduced to 200ml.

Add the honey, stir and quickly bring to the boil.

You should now have a syrup consistency in the pan.

Pour into a sterile glass bottle or jar, tighten the lid and turn the bottle over to create a vacuum.

Let the syrup cool down and store in a dark cool place. After opening, the syrup will keep for a few weeks if refrigerated.

Dosage (can be safely used for children over 12 months to ease and loosen a cough) 1 teaspoon, 3-6 x a day

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WOODLAND SPIRIT FASHION photography and styling by Rebecca Lindon

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Ella wears skirt by Feather Drum. Feather cape is stylist’s own.

Holly wears romper by PetitBo and hat by Feather Drum. Fringed jacket is stylist’s own.

Models are Holly and Ella Watson of Sandra Reynolds Agency.

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Blanket by PetitBo.

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Ella wears dress by Bobo Choses. Holly wears romper by Louise Louise.

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GAINING THROUGH LOSS PERSONAL ESSAY words by Natalie Dybisz

2013 was the year I first became pregnant. We were so excited. Months of reading books on natural birth by Ina May and Michel Odent and Sheila Kitzinger had all blown a gust of amazement through my mind, exciting me deeply for this phenomenon of nature, reshaping that common ingrained cultural fear of childbirth we all have to some extent. We chose an independent midwife who attends many home births, and we had a beautiful spring and summer dreaming of our child to come.

Sadly at 32 weeks, shortly after returning from a exciting trip to LA, I learned some news. Our child was not going to live beyond my womb.

Because of a rare anomaly, ‘Potter Syndrome’ or bilateral renal agenesis, which means no kidneys, our baby (whose sex we did not yet know) was only going to be alive for as long as my body supported them.

I was a weird mixture of determination and devastation whilst I wavered on what to do, and after a couple of weeks I eventually found some peace in the plan of continuing my pregnancy and waiting for my baby to arrive naturally in their own time. I realised that sadness alone wasn’t a cue for medical intervention in my case, given some time to get over the shock.

I spent the next 12 weeks enjoying my baby’s presence and growing strength in the face of their fate. I relished again in nourishing them with every meal, hands always on my belly to feel their rolls and movements. I read them stories, sang to my swaying hips in the shower and even returned to where I’d previously got a prenatal massage, for baby and I to enjoy it once more. My partner

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Matthew and I kept close, with deep talks, long walks and comfort foods; and kept motivated by embarking on exciting photography plans for 2014.

It was not easy at times, it’s surely one of the hardest things a woman could do. I will be here for you all the way, I told my baby, I will see you through. A sense of duty gave me courage. And I was powerfully drawn back to my original plan of a home birth, as the peaceful way to get through labour for both myself and for my baby.

At 43 weeks I delivered our son Evan, on our bed, passing away the moment he arrived. Right in the spot where I’d slept with him for so many nights in my belly, I now held him in my arms, tearlessly at peace and in awe of his presence. I was happy and so relieved. For the worst had already been done - nearly 3 months prior when we first got the news. Since then we’d been waiting behind a tall gate, we’d built a strength we didn’t know we had, so this outcome was, in such a sad situation, satisfying. I got the beautiful closure I wanted from a stark, dark horrible situation. By being fearlessly present for our child, by facing and feeling it all, we knew we looked after him all we could. And I’m so grateful in retrospect to myself for doing that, as to have his lifeless body in my arms made me happy that when his heart did beat and his limbs did move, he was freely loved and cared for, frustratingly mysterious behind the flesh curtain of my body.

From a painful loss I feel we gained a gift, from a beautiful, visiting angel soul who taught me what we can achieve when we least thought it possible - the real depth of love, and meaning of strength.

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I am proud, but not for my ego. I am proud for once. But I know it doesn’t work like that. There what I have proved humans can do. We are super is energy in making art and energy in making new humans if we allow it. life: everything is made of energy and creativity comes in many forms, we are diversely creative What has dawned on me is that maybe the worst creatures. things in life are not the big terrible shocking events, but the niggling, irritating trivial events. During the worst parts it helped to spend time Whereas the latter is like a pesky mosquito in your making things, not just as a distraction but as room, the former is akin to a snakebite, which may a channel. I did not feel like going out taking knock you unconscious but you awaken, grateful pictures, but creativity goes beyond your one to be alive, cleansed and even rejuvenated, a detox usual medium of choice. for the soul.

I kept busy editing video, writing a fresh blog with I decided to list some things that this painful but new zest, as well as private journalling; I released a enlightening experience has shown me… real, new website even though I felt like putting myself strong things that have the power to dry up hot on hold. Life does not stop. ‘Whatever happens volcanic tears. Altogether, here are 14 wonders of in your life… make good art.’ (Neil Gaimon). adversity, revealing true unconditional aspects of Adversity showed me that art is not dependent my life. Alive or not, this child has changed my on my happiness, but on all kinds of powerful life. feelings. See all of life as an opportunity for expression. There is always a way to express.

1. Food does nourish the soul, or simply ‘I do love cooking’ I found a painter online and commissioned a painting of Evan. I could not share pictures of In shock and through grief, it is common to my baby as other mothers can, but I could share lose appetite and motivation to spend time in this beautiful painting to thoroughly mark my the kitchen. My diet went from meticulously child’s existence. I also choose delicious words organic, to choux buns and boxed convenience for his memorial stone, words like ‘victory’ and foods. Who wants to cook when your world has ‘voyage’ - there was a whole new healing power fallen down? The treats helped pull me through of language I discovered through writing on my at first, but when I got out my Woll pan again blog. No matter what, a child of mine deserves and smelt the aroma of fresh chopped onion and my full expression. garlic going into the hot seasoned olive oil, and slice a crisp pile of pepper, I realised my own fresh 3. I can appreciate simple things cooked, healthy meal was far tastier, better and even easier. Adversity showed me that my healthy Adversity has shown me the power of simple, eating is not a fad that depends on my happiness. sensory things. Movement. Breath. Birdsong. For Healthy eating supports happiness. a while after the shock, I found switching from my usual frugal toilet roll to scented paper, it was as 2. Creativity never stops though I needed the distracting pleasant fragrance just to get through the banality of a bathroom If I were to fall victim to polarising motherhood visit. Adversity teaches us that there is great power and career, I’d tell the universe it can take back in being present in the moment, for it’s the only every single wonderful photography career way to escape the fear of what is happening or opportunity it’s given me and return me my son at coming. And then we realise the futility of that

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fear, for we only ever have ‘the moment’. When we engage with our senses: look up to the sky, smell a herb, take time out to properly taste our food, have a long hug, make love, exercise, laugh, sing, dance - all these things feel good because we are forced into mindfulness of the moment, not the daily tension of wolves painted by the mind.

issues. I have not lost my concern for them but I’ve refocused on the wider universe beyond this relative toy-town of a world. We make our own reality.

5. How important it was to have good wellbeing in advance

The memories and the things that we savour through our senses are ours to keep forever. Not all that we cannot physically keep, do we lose. I’m still getting the hang of trying to be mindful. Too often I fail epically. It’s something I am learning, as is the case for all these points. Knowing something, and actually feeling / doing it, are two separate things. Persistence of practice builds the great power of habit.

Losing a child has not torn me apart because I’d already made a healthy habit of happy and honest living. The longer we avoid living true to your dreams and feelings, then the harder we make life when adversity strikes. We should start being true to ourselves about anything that bothers us in life.

It does not mean making sudden, rash decisions for example to exit a relationship or job right away today. But to air our feelings, think without selfcensoring, and plan for a well aimed leap of faith.

4. That death is not the worst thing Maybe you dream of living in another country but you fear leaving your relatives behind, a fear Death is scary because we don’t understand it, that suffocates your dreams in pursuit of the ‘safe’ but it doesn’t stop the bond from a loved one option. to another, and I learnt this amazing truth from being forced to experience the bond from mother Maybe you stay in a relationship because you to child undefeated by the diagnosis and event of fear the world outside. Or maybe there is person death. you want to reveal your love for. Don’t be pushed around by fears, be led by your true desires. The You do not have to be religious to take comfort day I left a relationship with immense difficulty but that death is not the end. Religion is after all a honesty, I’d got a text from my sister: ‘listen to the particular version of spirituality. I cannot imagine voice inside. She knows’ (except ‘knows’ was spelt how I’d deal with family deaths if I believed ‘kno s’ in some strange text speak). that death was terrible, and is the blunt end of everything. I have entertained many theories By cultivating the habit of listening to the ‘voice and read mind-stretching books that I may have inside’, you will weather yourself for the storm of never opened if it were not for Evan’s passing. life crisis. No problem will be too heavy for the It is proven that all energy moves on, the many muscles of positivity, and the lens of good attitude theories of what and when and how and why… that you built. are yours to explore. In our human form we can’t wrap our heads around it, we are too physical. 6. ‘There is nothing either good or bad but But I do believe our abilities as humans are much thinking makes it so’ more than our everyday, humdrum mainstream society even cares to consider.

That quote from Hamlet rings truer all the time to me. We are all obsessed to some degree in saying Death has also put life into perspective. Before the whether we like or dislike, love or hate something Evan episode I was stressed about so many world or someone.

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I’m slowly realising the pointlessness in fixing or stating my like or dislike of anything. Everything just is. Everything serves a purpose. In an argument between two people, they usually both have a point, hidden behind tangled semantics and a bypass of compassion. Everyone has their own constructed reality, inflicted on each other to become one big muddle of misunderstanding and unnecessary offence - partly why I avoid almost all mainstream media as much as possible, for it thrives on drama and tension.

So I’m even doubting that what happened to me was ‘bad’. Why was it bad? A child lived a life, shorter than we expected, shorter then we wanted.

Who said life gives us everything I expect or want?

And who’s to say I didn’t get what I wanted: a child, who would live, and I would love?

with zero fear in my bedroom, pain absent and melancholy nowhere in sight, was nothing short of a miracle. Now I know the impossible is possible and it’s up to me to be inspired by that night for the rest of my life.

8. Life begins before birth Life begins before birth, because Evan lived his whole life inside my womb, so how could it not?

His heart beat, his limbs moved, his eyes opened, and closed again before I ever saw them. But he lived. All the way to the 43rd week he heard my voice and tasted everything I ate. So this teaches me something very definite, what to conclude from it is another discussion. I know for one, that it makes me even more eager to enjoy my new pregnancy, to speak to my new baby, caress and communicate my love to them before birth. Life in the now.

When we decide to feel it all, it can make everything extraordinarily easier. Much of pain comes from resistance.

9. Men and women ARE different and thank God for that 7. Female strength is the biggest kept secret in this world.

When I was an 18 year old first exploring feminism and the important notion of equality, It’s possibly the greatest strength in the world. somehow that notion was piggybacked by a belief In a world built for man, woman is a mysterious that everything about gender was completely misfit, her intuition a thing of legend or constructed. That men and women are basically obsolescence for its frequent incompatibility with the same in every way. I have learnt that is pound for pound productivity. And nowhere is absolutely untrue, but to the same end. Women the misunderstanding of women’s power clearer and men are biologically different, of course this than in the vast normalisation of medicalised has to be true, for women’s bodies are designed childbirth. Woman, in the most powerful moment to carry a baby for a start. Becoming pregnant of her life, subdued by hands of hindrance and showed me that. The question, however, is how by her own self-sustaining belief that her body culture’s attitude interprets and concludes from does not work without interception, when in those differences. How it places a role upon fact it - most often - works supremely when left men and women according to what it believes without distraction. In medicine, in agriculture, those biological differences mean. Also, the in science; man meddles with nature in pursuit environmental context in which the sex is made of domination and commodification instead of sense of! seeking to understand and respect the exquisite inherent design.

It will always be tricky to see women for their true value as long as we try to make sense of them How empowered I was giving birth to Evan within what is truly designed as a ‘man’s world’.

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Going through my journey with Evan meant listening to my heart and my intuition as a woman and mother. My partner Matthew had his role to play but I had to take the lead. This was a big lesson in understanding and valuing true ‘femininity’, not the false kind tottering on stilettos and plastic fetish, but the real core of being a woman.

of a difference to my response to each stage! In fact, a whole world of difference! What a beautiful lesson this has taught me: how strong we are as humans when we have the luxury of time and thought! We can overcome anything, even the fearful event of the death of our loved ones.

Not everyone gets that time.

12. Ignorance can be bliss

10. Perspective - knowing what is really worth crying about Simple really. Something terrible happens and you cry about it. A simple shift in perspective that shines a light on the triviality of all the other stuff you once cried about. In fact, I don’t consider this the worst time of my life. The worst time of my life was when I spent two years depressed about some crap crush on someone when I was a teenager. The Evan experience was a journey with focus, love, support, ini the midst of living the life I want to lead with no regrets. Big difference.

I can’t promise I won’t get stressed or cry about trivial crap ever again, but I’ll always have it in my mind what my priorities are.

11. Time does heal

This is a lesson in the value of our flawed humanness.

If someone told me, before I’d ever conceived, that we had to lose our first baby… that we had to go through this loss in order to get pregnant again with another (healthy) baby, I would never have got pregnant to start with! I’d be waiting for the perfect time to take the plunge and do it, like thinking too much before you jump out a plane, and I’d never do it, and never get pregnant at all.

As my pregnancy progressed in oblivion of what was going on, the new life of my baby grew and flourished, albeit with a short fate ahead. I had a wonderful pregnancy, absorbed myself with trust and awe of nature as my body swelled and little legs kicked. I was more focused on the moment than on buying lots of things for my baby, in fact I had bought barely anything for him by the time his diagnosis came at 32 weeks. I did not have a cot and many clothes to mourn over, it was more memories of all the wonderful meals I’d nourished him with.

Grieving people often pooh-pooh this one. Time doesn’t heal, they claim. But of course it does; the question is only how much it heals. And how much time has gone by so far. First, don’t expect time to make a wound disappear. The point is that it heals it, but the wound is still there, still a scar.

We feel that as far as a sad story can be happy, it went as happily as it could.

I had time carrying Evan to term. I had time waiting for the birth.

Looking back on the life I gave Evan in my womb, it makes me happy that I did not know any I had time before I said final goodbye to his sooner, because he lived all those weeks basking body (a whole week, in fact). And then I had in my good vibes and even post-diagnosis, after a whole year before seeing his gravestone (not the shock, I built back those good vibes for him intended to be that long, but it turned out that to bask in during the last weeks. way). All of these lashings of time made a heck

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If we know what is coming in life, we do not live life fully. It is only in our human ignorance of what is ahead, that we can go at life with full force and enthusiasm. We must go at life blindly or not live at all, forever shrinking back.

And then choosing the route to give Evan a home birth after the diagnosis of his fatality, was something the hospital and doctor questioned, but I had to follow my heart - and with the support of my partner and my independent midwife I was able to achieve that.

13. We are all one It was mind-soothing to go beyond the physical and explore spiritual possibilities (thinking of Evan as being on a mission, moving on through this life to the next). I would read about soul theory and found my mind being blown open even wider with the addition of these books to my shelf. The experience has therefore given me another angle on life to explore, building on more of my own curiosity for knowledge and to think outside our normal paradigms. In life always, we need to make sure we do not just stick around with the everyday ideology of our peers and family. We need their love, but we individually achieve our true potential in life by going beyond what any of them might think, and even to actively challenge it. Freed from the shackles of habit, peers and fears, we can go beyond and discover. Visit other I look at any man and think, that could be my channels of culture and knowledge for a different son. I look at any woman and think, she could take. Turn off the TV, find new friends, pull at be someone who goes through just what I went the playdough of your mind. We build our minds through. bespoke to see what we want to see.

Evan has given me more compassion for other people. It doesn’t mean I’m now a perfect altruistic human being, for there is also a mark of bitterness and anger burned into me forever, which is a mother’s prerogative for what she will never truly accept in the loss of her son. But when I see a disabled person for example, I have more empathy because I know that could have been Evan. We somehow think that only ‘bad things happen to other people’ and so on, but disabilities and diseases and fatal anomalies unfortunately can happen completely out of our control. Even my fastidious attention to nutrition 18 months prior to conception did not prevent Evan’s fluke condition.

We are all the same really, arguments are really Proud to say we gave birth to a healthy daughter just confusions of semantics. Underneath we all in April 2015. want the same: love and harmony. Evan has made me begin to feel the oneness of humanity.

14. That to truly feel the power life has to offer, sometimes you have to go outside your comfort zones beyond what your family and friends (and media) think Truly speaking, this is not one I learnt first from Evan. I already learnt this chiefly when I first began to plan a home birth even though I didn’t know a single woman who’d had even a natural birth, let alone one at home, or an experience they’d describe as in anyway pleasant.

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OHANA OHANA PHOTOGRAPHYESSAY ESSAY PHOTOGRAPHY JonathanCanlas Canlas bybyJonathan

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THREE MONTHS IN SOUTH AFRICA TRAVEL ESSAY words and photography by Nancy Ebert

“We planned our South Africa trip for over a year.

I spent some time in Cape Town a few years back as a fashion photographer and just fell in love with the landscape, the people - and the light! I knew that my husband Julian and our daughter Emmi would love it there too. So we packed our

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things and went on our longest vacation abroad ever. But it was more than a vacation. We also wanted to experience if we could imagine a life in South Africa. After three months in this gorgeous country the answer is a definite YES!�

“We love traveling with our daughter. Many people think that fun and adventure ends once you have children but for us it’s the opposite.

We now travel more often and to more exotic places than when we were just two. In the three years that Emmi has been with us, we’ve been to Puerto Rico, Portugal, Morocco, UK,

Belgium, Holland and now South Africa. If you are happy your kids are happy. Choose a destination and accommodation where you feel comfortable. If a family resort is not your thing and you’re unhappy, your children will feel that and will give you a hard time. Instead do what you love.”

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“We found that we had the best times when we were flexible to go wherever we wanted. Our trips in a vintage VW bus in Cornwall, UK or now in the camping-equipped Land Rover in South Africa were just a blast. We could drive and stay wherever we liked to and this freedom had such a liberating effect on us as a family.”

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“It is true that you need to plan a bit further ahead when traveling with kids. So for our South Africa trip we spent days on the internet, searching for child-friendly accommodation, planning a nice route and thinking about things that we would need to bring with us. For instance, we found that Pinterest is a great source to look for cool

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accommodation. When setting up a route we always tried to keep the driving distances between locations below two to three hours. And when we packed our bags we would always first think about what our daughter would need. Preparing, planning and dreaming about family trips is so much fun. If you travel for three months as a

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family finding some free time for yourself can be quite challenging. As parents we found that giving each other some space from time to time to do something alone was really necessary. But that’s just little things compared to all the fun and great experiences we had as a family.�

“We spent most of our time in the Cape Town area. There is just so much to see and do within a one-hour driving distance that you could spend weeks visiting breathtaking places there, without ever seeing the same thing twice. Since we had so much time on our hands we also traveled the whole coast line from Cape Town over the famous Garden Route and along awesome nature reserves, all the way up to the Wild Coast and the Drakensberg mountains. We then flew back to Germany from Johannesburg.”

“Emmi enjoyed having so much quality time with her parents. Playing at the beach, walking bare footed most of the time, and of course seeing so many wild animals in the nature reserves that she previously only saw in storybooks. One standout memory was when a ranger took us on a private game drive in the evening sun. It was just us three and the ranger in a roofless vehicle driving through the wilderness. Pure freedom!

And then we found a family of wild elephants grazing peacefully just a few meters next to us.

This was such a great experience.”

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PEACEFUL PASTEL INSPIRATION photography by Rebecca Lindon

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Bed and bean bag chair by John Lewis. Duvet and glitter canopy by Numero 74.

Artwork by Mrs Mighetto. Swan rug by Sew Heart Felt.

Ballet Shoes paper storage bag by Tell Kiddo. Corky The Cat by Ilka Handmade, Albino Whale by BigStuffed and Classice Pigmee Doll by Pigmee.

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MEDITATING WITH CHILDREN words and photography by Rebecca Lindon

Meditation has become an everyday theme for many adults in the modern world, whether that be the practice of yoga or exploring mindfulness in daily life. Buddhists have been practising mindfulness for 2000 years and the benefits are now well-researched and documented, yet society has been slow to apply these methods when it comes to children.

meditation and mindfulness skills and is the author of ‘Calm Kids.’ Her experience has left her with no doubt about the positive results.

“It helps reduce anxiety and the effects of a build-up of stress. This in turn can help improve focus, concentration and the ability for children to absorb information. By reducing stress levels, it can also help promote good sleep patterns.”

In the UK there are now almost 80,000 children and young people who suffer with severe depression and one in ten children under the age of 15 has a mental health disorder*. In the US, research has shown that an estimated two million more children were diagnosed with ADHD between 2003 and 2012 and most of those diagnoses started before the age of six**.

Meanwhile over in Australia, a study*** has shown significant improvements in ADHD symptoms with children who were taught to meditate.

For parents who practice meditation on a regular basis, introducing these habits to children is a relatively easy task since they will naturally copy their behavior.

“Children have different levels of attention span, interests and energy,” explains Lorraine. “The older we become, the more our focus improves and our interests change. Taking this into account when teaching will help parents to engage their kids’ interest in meditation. It’s like exercise… little and often is best. Teaching kids mediation isn’t a condensed form of adult meditation. I Unlike adults who are often able to recognise teach all my students to consider what their kids the effects of stress and anxiety and act to are teaching them from the experience.” address them, children are equally vulnerable to mental disorders but often confused by their For those who are just exploring meditation experiences and unable to communicate what for the first time, there are some simple ways they are feeling. to involve children by adopting an approach of gentle encouragement and low expectation.

Lorraine Murray of Teach Children Meditation says that practices can be introduced to children, Breathing “as soon as they can move or comprehend you Encouraging children to become aware of their guiding them. Babies respond well to adults breath; the sound and how it feels as it enters who practice meditation whilst being with them and leaves their body is a great way to bring their or holding them.” focus inwards and simultaneously encourage silence. Ask them to watch and feel how their Lorraine has dedicated her life to helping chest and stomach moves up and down. Once empower children, teens and adults with practiced, this method can be useful to introduce

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at times when you need to calm a child – that old understand that being physical doesn’t always saying of ‘breathe and count to ten’ works just as mean running and shouting at full pelt, it can well for children as it does for us. be slow and rhythmic and just as enjoyable.

Listening Otherwise known as silence! When you are outdoors with your children, ask them to stop and listen for a minute (or more if they can manage it). Allow them to hear the wind, the birds or the trees rustling. This simple activity of stopping and listening will help them understand that words are not always necessary and will help them engage in an activity that doesn’t require their mind to be racing with thought.

Music Listening to gentle music can really help to quieten a child’s mind, especially if you introduce this early on. Often our children are exposed to nursery rhymes and pop songs that involve lots of movement and loud singing but rarely do we bring the volume down. Create a quiet space with lots of cushions and dim lighting and lay with them to listen to some meditation music or nature sounds (youtube is your friend).

Yoga If you practice yoga then why not ask your children to join you in some short sun salutations in the morning? Technique isn’t hugely important here but the mix of breathing and movement is a method of meditation that will serve as a good base to grow upon. It will also help them to

Even better, ask them to chant ‘Om’ at different volumes and tones and allow them to enjoy the sensation in their tummy, chest and throat – again, this takes their focus inside and of course chanting improves focus and concentration and has powerful effects on brain development.

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Emotions Going back to the mental health statistics at the start of the article, helping children understand their feelings is hugely important. Young people can feel big emotions and don’t always understand what has caused them – often they can manifest in physical illness if they are not able to release them effectively. Try introducing three questions at bedtime that will help them understand the simple feelings of happiness and sadness and then you can expand from there:

Ending on that third question will make sure they aren’t left with a sad feeling right before they drift off to sleep and also gives you an insight into any new experiences they have been exposed to (bonus).

1. What is one thing that made you happy today?

2. What is one thing that made you feel sad today?

3.What is one new thing that you learned today?

Lorraine Murray is a meditation teacher and author of ‘Calm Kids – help children relax with mindful activities’.

The key thing with all of these suggestions is to keep your expectations low - young children may only be interested in engaging in these activities for very short periods but if practiced regularly, their ability to focus and meditate will grow.

Find out more at www.teachchildrenmediation.

* Reported by The Office for National Statistics ‘Mental Health in Children and Young People in Great Britain 2005’ ** Reported by The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (JAACAP) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) *** Study conducted at the National Therapies Research Unit and the Royal Hospital for Women in Sydney, Australia.

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RYLEE & CRU ARTISAN PROFILE words and photography by Kelli Murray

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“I went to the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandise and majored in Product Development. So it somewhat correlates to my career today. Art and illustration is something I became passionate about after working for several years as a graphic designer for a clothing company.”

tones with the occasional, but rare, pop of color.”

“As a new mom, I had a hard time finding baby clothes that spoke to my neutral loving, artistic aesthetic. I always had it in the back of my mind that I would someday put my passions and experience to use in children’s wear and start a line of my own. It wasn’t until last year, while I was pregnant with my son, Cru that I decided “In most cases, I tend to gravitate to clean, simple to really put those wheels into motion. My kids (yet artistic) design and muted colors. Black are an endless source of inspiration for me, and white and grey are the colors that dominate my really, the catalyst for chasing this dream from closet. And my home is full of warm, neutral the start.”

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“Inspiration comes in a lot of forms. I try to start with a theme and then let my mind run wild from there. I pull from my past experiences, my kids, from nature and our surroundings. Each design starts with a rough sketch, which eventually turns into a finished painting or drawing. The finished piece of art is scanned into the computer to finalize digitally, weather it be creating an allover print or a single spot print.”

As far as my designs, she always has an opinion on what she likes best and her opinion actually holds a lot of clout with me. She’s a kid, and I want kids to love these designs as much as their mom or dad do.”

“Motherhood has changed me in so many ways.

It’s pushed me to be the best version of me; less selfish and judgmental, more thoughtful and patient. It’s changed my priorities and “Rylee is pretty easy when it comes to dressing. commitments and has helped me to live everyday Like any other three-year old girl she likes to with a greater sense of gratitude.” wear princess dresses and plastic crowns when we are at home. But when we go out, she still Kelli Murray is the designer behind children’s lets me decide on what she wears and is not too clothing line Rylee & Cru. particular about it. As long as it’s comfortable, www.ryleeandcru.com she’s good with it.

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ISLAND LIFE: A FAMILY IN HAWAII PHOTOGRAPHY ESSAY photography by Wendy Laurel

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THE ART OF STORYTELLING LIFESTYLE ESSAY words and photography by Rebecca Lindon

I’ve always been drawn to storytellers, friends who somehow manage to captivate you while describing what they had for breakfast. How do they do that and why do my own stories sound so rigid and uninteresting? Since having children I’ve become even more interested in storytelling as I try to inspire them with fantastical tales in an attempt to help them make sense of the world.

I use funny voices and gestures but I always rely on the safety net of a book. Each time I try to come up with my own story I fall short at the first sentence.

Storytelling is as old as language itself, with moral tales passed on through generations and then later written down and presented in the form of books. Ancient storytellers held great power and were highly respected. African griots were important societal leaders and the Irish senchai were called-upon to record and pass on the tales of their people without ever writing them down.

Stories were used to strengthen communities and help connect the past, present and future.

Similarly, storytelling holds a long tradition in the culture of the Aborigines with epic tales incorporating key elements of nature. Aboriginal storyteller Francis Firebrace has been a friend of mine since I photographed him a few years ago.

We stood in a field as he told me the story of the platypus (read it overleaf ) with such passion that I was immediately gripped. Now in his seventies, Francis has thirty years of storytelling experience, but his fascination with the tales of his people goes further back to his childhood.

“In my time it wasn’t popular to be Aboriginal.

I grew up with a white mother and black father, which was very unusual in those days.

I felt sorry for my father because he was always trying to be someone else. He was made to feel ashamed of being dark-skinned.”

“My father taught me a few stories but I was also interested in stories at school and I did a lot of research in to the old Aboriginal tales. I had a high degree of imagination – I wanted to be a cowboy and a pirate. I ended up becoming a horseman at the age of 29 and then at 48 I sold everything I had and bought a sailboat, which I lived on for 11 years. So dreams do come true. As I was travelling around I met a lot of Aboriginal people who also shared their stories with me and I realized I had become very good at telling them.”

When I was a child my Grandmother read fairytales to me at night and I remember pondering over their moral meaning long after the lights had been turned out. Looking back I see how those stories helped me understand how decisions affect outcomes and taught me right from wrong – albeit in a very simplistic manner.

Fairytales allow children to step inside the world of a character who triumphs over evil and becomes the hero, and they can recognise elements of those characters mirrored in themselves. Equally they might identify with the ‘bad guy’ and come to understand why he was angry. Essentially, they promote confidence, motivation and creative thought.

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Once I could read competently I became completely immersed in stories and my hunger for books grew as my imagination soared. Francis believes that feeding the imagination is the key to a happy life: “A good imagination is the most amazing thing you can possess, because all creativity stems from that. We need to encourage children to use their imagination and come up with stories of their own. We don’t nourish creativity in children enough. The very first thing we should teach them is to be happy with themselves because that’s the key to success.

Everything starts with having a belief in yourself.”

“I’m about to start work on a film called The Untelling and I play a wizard. It’s set in the future where stories have been lost and it shows the degree of damage that has been done to the social life. Once television and broadcasting came in to our lives it changed everything. People look to the TV for stories and they don’t tell their own anymore. A lot of people don’t read fairytales to children anymore either, which is a great shame because they really boost the imagination. Stories help children explore their mind and find their passion. We really need that.”

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THE PLATYPUS A STORY as re-told by Francis Firebrace

When Biame the Great Spirit god first made the Sadly, the groups of creatures began to argue Earth he created three tribes. and bicker among themselves about who was the best tribe and fights broke out until finally First, the animal tribes and the land dwellers; they separated and each held a meeting to decide reptiles that crawled on their bellies, echidnas who really was the better group. that buried themselves under the soil, koalas that lived in the trees, wombats that lived in holes The great kangaroo spoke to his mob saying, underground, marsupials and other creatures of “The land dwellers are the best. See how strong many shapes and sizes. and powerful I am. No one would dare to stand against me, for I am Bagaray the Kangaroo.”

Next, he created the bird tribes that flew high in the air above the land and birds that nested in The Animals cheered and all agreed and went to trees and the mountains. Parrots with feathers Platypus saying, “ Brother you have fur like the that were all the colours of the rainbow, Emus animal tribe. Join us now, because we are the that walked, birds that squawked, kookaburras strongest and therefore the best.” that laughed at the light of day and night birds like owls, that swooped in the dark and hunted The Platypus had quietly listened to what was for their prey. said and spoke saying, “I am honoured that you, my animal brothers and sisters, have asked me And last created were the fish tribes to live in to join your tribe and if you return in a short the winding rivers and billabongs. Fish that while I will give you my decision.” leapt out of the water and others who remained deep in the waterholes. Fish of all shapes and The bird tribe then held their meeting and Buntil sizes. Some with large mouths and fins like the the great Eagle spoke saying, “We the birds are codfish and yellow belly, perch and brim that far more powerful, and with our special gift of lived in the rivers and lakes and fish who could flight are surely the better tribe. All the birds survive in the mud of dry riverbeds along with shouted in agreement and went to Platypus the croaking frogs and insects, whose songs saying, “Brother as you lay eggs and eat worms helped create the music of the waterways. just like us, come and join our mob for we are the best tribe.”

Now among these three tribes lived a strange creature who had fur like the animal tribes, Platypus again listened to what was said replying, but also laid eggs like the bird tribes and swam “I am honoured that you my bird brothers and with the fish tribes. His name was Gaya-dari sisters have asked me to join your tribe and if the Platypus and he made friends with the three you return in a short while then I will give you tribes. They all liked him and had great respect my decision.” for this small, but wise little creature.

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Finally the fish tribe held their meeting and Goodoo the great Cod leapt out of the water, creating a big splash and spoke saying, “We the fish tribe are the best as we can not only swim like the others but we can breathe under water and they can’t do that.” All the water creatures voiced their support and called to the platypus saying, ”Join the fish tribe, Brother Platypus, as you swim with us everyday and you know we are the best tribe.”

A short while went by, and the three tribes gathered around the hole in the river bank where Platypus lived and out came this wise little creature saying, “Animals; I would like to join your tribe as I have fun just like you, and Birds I lay eggs and eat worms and would like to join your tribe and fish; I swim with you on a daily basis and we have become close friends.

What a difficult decision, but I have made one. I will not join any of you as a different or separate tribe, but have decided to join you all, as each “I am honoured that you my fish brothers and of you are a part of me, as I am a part of you. sisters have asked me to join your tribe and if No group or tribe is better than another and just you return in a short while I will give you my like myself,” said the platypus, “each one of you decision,” he said. are special and unique in your very own way.”

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SNUGGLES FASHION photography by Rebecca Lindon

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Eve wears romper by Rachel & Groms and snuggles her own bear.

River wears pyjamas by I Love Beautiful and snuggles Rab from Craftholic.

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Eve wears romper by Rachel & Groms.

River wears sleepwear by Amiki Children..

Marley wears sleepsuit by The Bright Company.

Zeus wears vest and harem trousers by Tootsa MacGinty and snuggles Albino Whale by BigStuffed.

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Marley wears one-piece from Baby Gap and snuggles Classic Pigmee Doll.

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Zeus wears Paul Pajamas from Amiki Children.

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Marley wears romper by Frank and Nora and snuggles Corky The Cat from Ilka Handmade.

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THE LITTLE SHOEMAKER ARTISAN PROFILE words and photography by Kevin Rowley

“I trained in the footwear industry when I first left school and did quite a lot of work on orthopedic shoes and professional equestrian boots among many other things. After about five years, I decided to follow a dream and try to become an artist. I quit everything and went to college and then university. While studying for my Masters Degree in London, I found a job in a footwear company and decided to work there for a few months to pay for my studies. Sixteen years later I was still there! I was working three days in London and two days as a lecturer in fine art and graphic design on the south coast of England.”

“In 2010 my first daughter Momoko was born.

I decided to buy her first pair of shoes and I spent a whole day looking for a British-made pair of shoes that I thought suitable for her. To my surprise there wasn’t anything I could find. I eventually settled for a very nice pair of sandals from a high-end French boutique in London. It was only when I got home and was fitting them to Momoko that I saw the label stating that they were made on the other side of the world. I have no issue with where a product is made but I just don’t think it’s right to be paying around £100 for such an item.

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It was at this point I had my ‘lightbulb’ moment.

I felt that there had to be a market for someone making shoes in a traditional way that fitted somewhere between average priced and high-end shoes.”

what I want to create, I start by covering a last with masking tape and roughly drawing out my design. When I’m happy I’ll cut out the pattern with a scalpel and transfer it onto card, resulting in a pattern. This is followed by marking the leather and cutting out the shapes. At this point I start “I’m inspired by vivid colours and traditional to stitch the leather together to create the upper, designs. It’s interesting to create a traditional this is where it starts to become recognizable as a looking shoe that has been shot into the future shoe.” with the use of bright neons or metallic leather.

I’m also having a lot of fun playing with designs “When the upper’s complete I can start to fit it and styles and seeing how they develop. It’s very to the last (lasting). This is a tricky job as I need fulfilling to start with a piece of leather and watch to make sure everything measures equally. This it develop almost chrysalis-like into something is done by slowly pulling down the upper, bit completely new.” by bit, to make sure all parts fit properly. From this point I need to fit soles and remove the lasts, “I run all my ideas past my daughters and they finally finishing with filling, insoles and laces.” are an integral part of the process of my brand. I often discuss colours and styles. That being said, “My customers come from all walks of life, it’s I do have to take on board the fact that I’d be quite often people with similar values to myself making ‘Frozen’ shoes if they had their own way.” who want to preserve almost forgotten trades and skills. There’s also been larger wholesale customers “I usually start with an idea in my head for a few such as Fortnum & Masons making significant weeks. Once I’ve got a strong enough idea of orders for their stores.”

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“The artist in me means I’m always pushing myself to create something different and interesting for people to see. I’ve been working on a range of shoes and sandals called ‘Baby Bella’. Originally a little veg-tan booty it’s slowly developed into many different styles allowing me to play and manipulate it, sometimes without even any stitching.”

“It’s funny how one thing can directly relate to other things you’re doing. Quite often, the way I design and make shoes can be recognised in the artwork I create. My use and choice of colours are almost identical with both practices. Also, I find the way I design and make my shoes is quite freeflowing. I want to make shoes that are a memory of where my hands have worked, I don’t want to make shoes that have no sole.”

Kevin Rowley is the designer and owner of The Little Shoemaker. www.thelittleshoemaker.com

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MOROCCO TRAVEL ESSAY photography by Maria Hibbs

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STEP INTO SUMMER FASHION photography by Rebecca Lindon

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Grey boat shoes by Bisgaard Shoes.

Tangerine Traveller by Amy & Ivor.

Leather moccasins by Me & Hayari.

Ikat Powder booties by Donsje.

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Be Frank moccasins by Mini Mocks.

Baby Bella sandals by The Little Shoemaker.

Grey Coco Sandals by Donsje.

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Urban Moccasins by Amy & Ivor.

Bonnie Doon Mismatched Socks from My Shiny Shop.

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THE POWER OF MOTHERS THOUGHTS words by Ali Dover

“If you plant a seed, it grows into a plant, forms a bud and then it flowers. And when it flowers, it has succeeded in creating an amazing energy which produces that beautiful open flower. When a woman gives birth it’s a similar process; giving birth is like the magnificent opening of a flower; a child, who can then go on to bloom and do beautiful things. That’s why I believe that we’re so connected to the Earth because we follow the same biological processes.”

“Being a mother has definitely made me much more creative, more confident and I listen to my instincts more now then I ever did. I think with every child I’ve birthed, something else inside me gets unlocked and I discover something new about myself – that can’t be coincidence. I feel that childbirth brings the ability to tap into parts of us that we didn’t know were there before; it’s like a release of energy.”

in a very ‘male’ sense. As much as I think that women are just as capable of achieving as are men, I think this comes at a great cost to society. We can be ambitious, but if we just follow that path of narrow focus, we run the risk of undermining our own femininity and the power that is entrenched in that. This will undoubtedly manifest in greater societal problems such as anxiety, depression and crime as we submit to consumerism and obsession with earning money to buy more. It’s just not in tune with who we are as biological beings.”

“Men have an innate thought that they are powerful in some way. Women are brought up to believe that they don’t have that same ability, but actually they have great potential to be powerful in terms of shaping society. It’s important for us to recognize that power and ignore the government’s diktat as to how we should pursue our lives. We need to rise up but not necessarily in a suffragette way; it can be done quietly through a “Listening to our instincts and being aware of shift in consciousness and I really do believe that’s our power to shape society is one of the most happening. I see my role as helping to perpetuate overlooked potentials of women. When women that shift.” aren’t tuned in to their instinct the result is usually negative. Often they feel trapped and depressed, “Men became scared of the power of women and particularly in the first year of their baby’s life. that’s why we were subjugated. That is now slowly On the flipside, there are lots of women who have being turned on its head and we will return. The discovered something about themselves following utopian view is that we have equality but it’s not childbirth which has led to a new business or a the kind of equality that we need. Yes I can be a complete change of lifestyle. It gives you a new doctor just like any man can be a doctor but what perspective on life; it becomes not all about ‘me we really need is a sense that my role as a mother and what I can achieve for myself ’ but about and nurturer of the Earth is valued just as greatly creating a better life for other people, driven by as the man who is successful in business.” children.”

“We can be powerful, by quiet nurturing because “As a result of our quest for equality, we’re that’s what women do best. Even the thoughts encouraged now at school to be high achievers that we think can affect the way things are by a

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process of critical mass. Collective consciousness “Any government that we have has an agenda; that will change the world.” agenda is passed down through the media and is absorbed by the majority of the population as “There’s an unspoken connection that we as being ‘the truth’. Reality. We look to government women have with the earth. It’s not called to change our society by passing bills and making Mother Earth for nothing. Particularly over the laws but to have a long-lasting positive effect, the last century, our connection with the planet has change has got to come from us, inside us. I feel been rapidly lost. We’re not just here to mother that the more we as women become in tune with our children, we’re here to mother the planet the importance of our nurturing selves, the more and its resources and to educate our children society will change for the better. Therein lies the to understand and respect it. I believe that the power. It’s a huge energy that lies untapped.” feminine role is to retain that connection.

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STOCKISTS

Amiki Children www.amikichildren.com Amy & Ivor www.amyandivor.com BigStuffed www.etsy.com/uk/shop/BigStuffed Bisgaard Shoes www.bisgaardshoes.com Bobo Choses www.bobochoses.com Craftholic www.craftholic.co.uk Donsje www.donsje.com Feather Drum www.featherdrum.com Frank & Nora www.frankandnora.com I Love Gorgeous www.ilovegorgeous.co.uk Ilka Handmade www.etsy.com/uk/shop/ilkahandmade Louise Louise www.louiselouise.com Me & Hayari www.meandhayari.co.uk Mini Mocks www.minimocksshop.com Mrs Mighetto www.mrsmighetto.com My Shiny Shop www.myshinyshop.com Numero 74 www.numero74.com Petitbo www.petitbo.se Pigmee www.pigmee.com Rachel & Groms www.rachelandgroms.com Sew Heart Felt www.sewheartfelt.co.uk Tell Kiddo www.tellkiddo.com The Bright Company www.thebrightcompanyonline.com The Little Shoemaker www.thelittleshoemaker.com Tootsa MacGinty www.tootsamacginty.com

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WILDLING MAGAZINE

VOLUME 1 - JUNE 2015

1