Conscious Family Giveaway #1

As stated in a previous post, this month is dedicated to the Conscious Family. And, as I stated prior, we will be having some fun giveaways during April.

Kellie, from the Indigo Forest, is our first business owner in our month-long theme who exemplifies Conscious Family values. Kellie and her mom, Tammy, have delightful felted and wooden items throughout their store that I am sure my readers would love. But first, I want to help you get to know Kellie and Tammy a little better.

THE INTERVIEW
Can you tell me a little about you, as a person, and then a little about how you, the business owner, came to create your store?
Well, my name is Kellie and I am the mother to two beautiful little boys and the wife to one amazing husband. While I have called California and Washington state home, we currently live in lush, central North Carolina. Growing up, I was always surrounded by music and art. My father is a very talented artist and is very musically inclined. My mother has been crafty for as long as I can remember, sewing, working with leather, and the fiber arts are where she shines. I feel very blessed to have been exposed to so many wonderful talents as a child. I guess you can say I owe it all to my wonderful parents! I, as well as my own little family are very passionate about nature. We love being outside! I am also very passionate about attachment/natural parenting. It was my love for nature and attachment/natural parenting that led me to want to start The Indigo Forest and my own mama, Tammy, was right there with me to support my journey. Many of the items we make and sell in our shop support a more natural way of parenting. Everything from natural wool toys, to items that show support for breastfeeding. We are always brainstorming for new ideas. We really love creating for folks and it really brings us a lot of joy to know that people really love our work! We are so grateful for the many supporters we have had thus far and we hope to be creating for a long time to come!
What were you like as a child?
Kellie - I was born in California, but soon moved to Washington state and lived there in a small mountain valley and had what I believe to be the most wonderful childhood any kid could have! I spent all of my time outside. Whether it was summers at the lake, ice skating and sledding during the winter months, or playing make-believe and runner through the lovely apple orchards, I always had an amazing time. I often wish I could be a kid again (but who doesn't?).

Tammy - I was born in West Virginia, but grew up in California. The beach is where I called home. I spent all of my childhood outdoors. Swimming, softball, skating, biking were some of my favorite outdoor activities as a child. When I was indoors, I was very crafty. My mother and grandmother taught me how to sew, crochet, and cook when I was younger and I am forever grateful for the passing of those skills to me. My true passion is leather work and I learned that in my 20's.

If you had to pinpoint one turning point in your life/career, what would you consider that defining moment/event?
For both of us, that moment would have to be becoming mothers. I know you've heard it a thousand times, but having children changes everything!


You offer some attachment and family-friendly products, so tell me why these things are important to you both personally and professionally.
Kellie - Like I mentioned above, I am very passionate about attachment/natural parenting. It is so important to me because I see the difference it can make in a child's life to have parents who believe in this way of loving and nurturing. Far too often I see parents being very "unattached" to their children and I don't really understand their logic behind parenting that way. I think a lot of parents have been misinformed. In our work, we really try to show a love for attachment/natural parenting and I think it shows.

What do you hope your clients get from your products?
So much! We hope they find a love for natural parenting through our products, we hope they fearlessly show their support for things such as breastfeeding through our products. We want our clients to know their support really matters to us and we are thankful everyday.

Can you share something personal (recipe, etc..) with my readers?
Kellie - Since the warmth is returning and summer will be here before you know it, I thought I'd share a very unique recipe that, if you live in the south, can be made in the later part of summer. If you live in the south, as do I, you have probably heard of Kuzdu. If you haven't, Kudzu is a vine that basically takes over everything in its path (aka- the vine that ate the south). Well, I have heard of this plant plenty of times while living here in NC, but I never knew that this vine produced the most wonderfully fragrant and beautiful flowers, not until last summer that is. When I did a little more research on this vine, I found that most of it is edible. Including the flowers. After reading that, I just had to find a recipe that included the flowers! I ended up find this little gem of a recipe. Enjoy!

~*Kudzu Blossom Jelly*~

• 4 Cups of Kudzu blossoms (make sure they haven't been sprayed with chemicals)
• 4 Cups of boiling water
• 1 Tbs lemon juice
• 1 (1 3/4 oz) Package of powdered fruit pectin
• 5 Cups of sugar

Directions:

• Wash blossoms in cold water, strain and place in a clean bowl
• Pour 4 cups of boiling water over blossoms and refrigerate for at least 6 hours
• Strain liquid through a colander into a Dutch oven, discarding flowers
• Add lemon juice and pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil over high heat stirring constantly
• Stir in sugar, return to a full rolling boil. Boil stirring constantly for 1 minute.
• Remove from heat, skim off foam with a spoon
• At this point you can pour the jelly into jars to store regularly (like I did) or you can choose to can them like you normally would for preserving them for long periods of time.
• Store jelly in the fridge.

**Note: The liquid will appear gray and dull before you add the lemon juice, then it will be the most amazing shade of pink!! And if your wondering about the taste, well...its a cross between the best grapes you've ever eaten and magic...yeah, that sounds about right! (In other words, a very unique flavor everyone will love!!)

Enjoy!

THE GIVEAWAY
Ok, want to hear something awesome? Kellie and Tammy are offering TWO items to the giveaway. That means we will have TWO winners for our first giveaway. So, what might you win?

oh, aren't they beautiful?

  

The first item is an original-design maple wood car with black walnut axles. Finished with a homemade beeswax polish with a hint of lavender essential oil. 6x3 inches.

And this? Oh, this is a personal favorite (thank you Kellie for including this one). Hand wet & needle felted wool breech birth ball, original design. Wet felted using Dr. Bronner's soap (lavender and/or peppermint). 9 1/2 inches around.

 
As with every giveaway, there are rules. So, read below CAREFULLY for the rules to enter!
RULES FOR ENTERING:
To enter, you MUST complete #1 on the list. After that, feel free to enter as many additional times as you would like (#2-#7) and in any particular order you so choose. You must leave an additional comment for each entry for it to be valid. Please don't forget to leave me some way to get in contact with you if you are the winner.

1. Like Indigo Forest's Facebook page, leave a comment on her wall saying that I sent you, and come back/comment here to let me know you did. :)
   
2. Like my Facebook Page, then come back and let me know you have. If you are already a liker, let me know. :)
   
3. Share this giveaway on your own blog, then come back here and comment, sharing the link to that post in the body of your comment.
4. Share this giveaway on your own Facebook wall, tagging my or Kellie's FB pages, then come back here and comment, letting me know you did. 
   
5. Go to their etsy shop and browse around, come back here and let me know what item you like the most.
6. Become a follower of Kellie's blog, then come back and let me know you did and what your google name is. 
7. Visit Tammy's etsy shop and browse around, come back here and let me know what item from there you like the most. 

Entries must be received by April 30th at midnight. Drawing will occur in the first week of May. Good luck!!!