Conscious Family Giveaway #4

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.

Giveaway #1 can be found here
Giveaway #2 can be found here
Giveaway #3 can be found here

Nicole, from Evergreen Organics, is our fourth business owner who exemplifies Conscious Family values. She has been kind enough to donate an awesome item for our month-long event and I can't wait to share it with you... but first, I'd like you to get to know her 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 Evergreen Organics?
I am a new mama to a 4 month old boy who brightens every day :) I try to live with the values I want to instill in him, such as being good to all, people, animals, and the earth. As a family we try to be conscious of what we consume and what our impact is or will be on the earth and others. We do our best to recycle, use sustainable products, and eat healthy. I mainly prefer to buy handmade and support other work at home families.

I started becoming interested in organics as a teenager. I traveled 20 minutes to the nearest natural food store to buy my food because at that time organic food wasn't available in the regular supermarkets. After making healthier choices with what I put into my body, I noticed that my skin was brighter, I had more energy, and most importantly, the depression that I had been dealing with slowly started to become less of a burden.

I then realized that if what I put into my body made such a radical change, then what I used on my body probably mattered too. I couldn't afford the expensive organic skincare at the specialty stores, and wanted something tailored to my needs, so I started studying the properties of different herbs and oils. I then created my own products and grew from there!

What were you like as a child?
As a kid I remember being outside all the time. My best friend lived next door and we would play in the woods behind our houses and build tree forts and play "Indians," we went "hunting" and gathered "herbs" and things to make tinctures and food :) One spring my friends mom let us plant a garden in their back yard, and I remember loving the feeling of accomplishment when all the flowers came up.

If you had to pinpoint one turning point in your life/career, what would you consider that defining moment/event?
I would say the turning point in my life and career would be when I decided that I wanted to make changes in my life as a young adult. I struggled with depression as a teen, and I became frustrated with all the medications that were being prescribed to me. I decided to stop the meds and change my lifestyle instead. I started hiking more, eating better foods, and studied eastern religions and ways. At that time I also started a job with a group of like-minded, beautiful people whom I bonded with immediately. This time in my life got me thinking in a forward direction of what I wanted my life to be rather than being stuck in a fog.

You offer organic, natural products, so tell me why these things are important to you both personally and professionally.

I have proven to myself the power of nature in food and other products and would love others to find this out too. I also believe in the importance of preserving our earth, so I use recyclable and sustainable products and materials as much as possible. As a mother, I want my son to be aware of these things, and I hope that his generation sees this importance so they are not surrounded by pollution and concrete.

What do you hope your clients get from your products?
I hope my clients find something that makes them feel good in their skin, as well as feel good about their choices in products. I want to show people that they do not need to use toxic chemicals to get their clothes and skin clean, and that by choosing to use sustainable products we are stepping in a positive direction to preserve the earth for future generations.


Would you be willing to share your favorite recipe with my readers?
Haha, my partner would get a kick out of this question, he's trying to teach me to cook :) I can whip up some great beauty products, but when it comes to food recipes, I'm used to eating raw and vegetarian "rabbit food" :) I do have a weakness for oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, so here's a recipe I found for Vegan chocolate chip cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup smooth cashew butter or 1/3 cup almond butter or 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup soymilk
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup rolled oat
• 1/2 cup non-dairy chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts or 1/2 cup walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425°F Oil a large baking sheet; set aside.
2. Whisk together first five ingredients until very smooth. Add remaining ingredients, and stir to combine (be sure to mix in thoroughly the baking soda and salt--you may want to stir these into the flour first).
3. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto prepared baking sheet. Bake for about 8 minutes, or until tops just begin to crack. Remove sheet from oven, and wait 10 minutes before transferring cookies to a plate or wire rack.

THE GIVEAWAY
So, I bet you all are dying to know what she is giving away! She is offering an awesome cloth diapering sample pack from her amazing etsy store.

Cloth Diaper Sample Pack

 Click on the link above to learn all about it! :)

Now, I know you all are dying to get your hands on this very cool sample pack, 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-#5). 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 Nicole'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 Nicole's FB pages, then come back here and comment, letting me know you did. 
5. Go to Nicole's etsy shop and browse around, come back here and let me know what item you like the most.

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

Exercise in Being Present - Guest Blogger

Laura is author of Authentic Parenting. She is our next guest blogger in the Conscious Parenting Series. She is a woman, a mother, and a wife. Additionally, Laura has a master's degree in communication sciences, but has chosen to stay at home with her child. A lot of the choices her family has made in life have revolved around wanting a big family.

But these choices have additional benefits. They get to see a lot of the world. They have already lived in four different countries together... currently, they live on the Ivory Coast (West Africa).

Everything family-related became a bit of an obsession to Laura soon after she became pregnant with her daughter. This 'obsession' led her to attachment parenting, about natural childbirth, baby led weaning and so on. It has led their family to 'go green' and eat paleo.

And ultimately it has led to her blog.

So kick back, relax, and enjoy her post on Exercise in Being Present:

Simply being present is one of the most important, life influencing 'presents' we can give to our children, yet simple as this may seem, it can prove to be a real ordeal for parents in a modern world.

We are so consumed by the bigness of the multitude of things we engage in that we walk past the small and the rare without noticing. Our children's marvels can seem futile compared to our struggles and worries.
We stress and ponder and fret and plan, and all the while life passes us by. While we are busy looking to the future, the presence unravels.

In order to be present for our children, the first thing we need to do is to be in the present. To experience the "now" as it is. Most adults have become conditioned to live through future or past projections so this may prove a difficult task...

Read the rest here!

Thank you,
Other Conscious Family themed posts:
Peaceful Parenting in the Teen Years
Peeling Away the Labels
Love Yourself
The Crab and His Mother
Gendering of Boys

Conscious Family Giveaway #3

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.

Giveaway #1 can be found here
Giveaway #2 can be found here

Veronica and her husband James own and operate Painted Turtle Wooden Toys, which can be found both on Etsy and on their main business website. And, they are our third business to exemplify Conscious Family values.

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 Painted Turtle?
About James (aka the woodworker): Perfectionist to the hilt and completely dedicated to his craft (and his son—he’s a stay at home dad!). Loves the feel of working with wood, knowing that the toys he makes are completely safe, and performing his own brand of extreme toy testing (aka running rattles over with the car to see how durable they are).

About Veronica (aka the office administrator): Office worker by day, Etsy seller by night! Loves natural parenting, hearing back from customers about how their babes like their new Painted Turtle toy, and has learned to live with wood shavings and sawdust sprinkled around the house.

When we were pregnant with our first-born and spoke with other parents about the toys they liked and used the most, one of the big topics of conversation was the lack of certainty with regards to the materials used in the more commercially available wooden toys. It was with this in mind that, in 2009, a hobby turned into a business.

What were you like as a youngin'?
Veronica: insatiable reader of books; lover of old musicals; and producer, writer, director, and star (with my younger sister) of wild plays put on at home for an audience of our parents & grandparents. Creativity and entrepreneurship was greatly encouraged in my home.

James: Depends on what age ;). If we are talking the start of school to pre-teen part of my life, then I would say generally polite, quiet, observant and a lover of the outdoors. I had an insatiable need to explore and to create. I was putting hammer and nails to wood at a very young age.

If you had to pinpoint one turning point in your life/career, what would you consider that defining moment/event?
Veronica: I would have to say that there wasn’t just one….there were two. The first was immigrating to Canada to go to university and therefore, meeting James. The second would be getting pregnant. The first one is obvious: without having met James, there would be no Painted Turtle Wooden Toys. And the second—having that little peanut inside of me—was the catalyst that sparked the creation of this amazing venture.

James: My defining moment came years before starting what I do now. During university, the stress of doing something I disliked in an institution that supported those with good memorization skills over those with the ability to actually apply knowledge, led to a bit of a breakdown. It was during the following semester in my Buddhism studies class that I came to realize that I didn't have to please everyone else and that I should live my life for myself. I acknowledged that I didn't have to have a "traditional" career, and that if working with wood was going to make me happy, it was better to spend the years of my life in that pursuit. It took a few years to get here, but the journey was worth it. This defining moment also had an unexpected side effect. Being self-employed has allowed me to live out another dream of mine - being a stay-at-home father.

You offer more natural products, so tell me why these things are important to you both personally and professionally.
While eating locally and living sustainably was important to us right from the start, it really came in to focus for us when our son was born. "Future generations" was no longer just an abstract concept for us. The safety of what we and our son are consuming is at the forefront of our minds when making choices on what to buy and what to eat. Similarly, we create products that we would trust our son with. We are able to avoid the risks of factory "lemons" because each piece is hand worked and inspected throughout the entire process. We buy wood from a local and sustainable saw mill, so we feel confident that those forests will still be there when our son gives his first child his or her own rattle.

What do you hope your clients get from your products?
A few things, though most significantly (we feel) is peace of mind. The peace of mind that the toy the most precious person in their life is playing with, isn't going to hurt them. The peace of mind of not having to worry that mouthing or chewing the toy is going to be breaking loose a whole cocktail of chemicals and heavy metals.

Tell me a little more about you, some random or fun tidbits.
Veronica: I speak Spanish, English, and some mediocre French; my family is Chinese-Panamanian; I have 23 first cousins, most of whom have their own kids too; and I have a passion for acting in theatre.

James: I am a stay at home dad; aside from toy making, I love being outdoors; I studied geography at university but ended up as a woodworker; and I have deep philosophical thoughts and ideas while I am hand-sanding a large order.

THE GIVEAWAY
Ok, the giving away! This wonderful couple is offering a beautiful wooden rattle for one lucky reader!

Be sure to go to their etsy shop (linked) to read about this handsome rattle! Who knows, your babe might be the lucky winner!

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-#5). 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 Painted Turtle's Facebook page, leave a comment on their 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 Painted Turtle's FB pages (or both even), then come back here and comment, letting me know you did. 
   
5. Go to their main website and browse around, come back here and let me know what item you like the most.

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

10 Ways To Guide Children - Without Discipline - Guest Blogger

Dr. Laura has a wonderful blog at Aha! Parenting. I love her site and am subscribed to receive all of her blogs. Some of the great posts that I have enjoyed in the past include "There's an Angel on Your Shoulder", "You Have the Most Important Job in the World", and "Holding Your Child Accountable Without Punishment".


As both a mom and a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Laura Markham sounds two clear themes in her advice to parents.  The first is that when we feel good, we're better parents.  Quite simply, we can only give what we have inside. That's why her daily parenting inspiration emails are about how to take better care of ourselves and manage our own emotions.
Her other theme is that parenting effectively always depends on our connection to our kids. Without that connection, we have little influence ("My kids won't listen!") and, frankly, parenting becomes an exhausting, thankless task.

Deepening our connection with our kids and keeping it strong as they grow is the work of parenting.  Of course kids need guidance, but that only sticks if the connection is there to support our teaching. Dr. Markham definitely encompasses, through her parent-teaching, the ideals and principles of a Conscious Parent intent on encouraging a Conscious Family unit.

""The reason a child will act unkindly or cause damage is always innocent. Sometimes she is playful and free spirited, and other times, when aggressive or angry she is unhappy or confused. The more disturbing the behaviour, the more the child is in pain and in need of your love and understanding. In other words, there is no such thing as bad behaviour in children. Instead there is a child who is doing the best she can and we don’t understand her.” – Naomi Aldort

I talk to parents about their children all day, every day.  Parents are often shocked when they hear that I don’t believe in most of what we think of as discipline (spankings, consequences, timeouts) because it keeps kids from becoming responsible, self-disciplined people.  “How will my child learn how to behave?” they ask. My answer is that children learn what they live...."

Go here to read the rest of the article.

Conscious Family Giveaway #2

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.

Giveaway #1 can be seen here

Deb, from Mudd Puppy Pottery, is our second business owner who exemplifies Conscious Family values. I learned about Deb and her awesome ocarinas about a year or two ago and we have sent emails back and forth from time to time. I wish I were as skilled with my hands as this lovely lady is. I am happy to give you the opportunity to get to know her 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 Mudd Puppy Pottery?
I'm a 33 year old mother of four, born in a small town in Ohio, and currently living in a small town in North Western PA. I've always enjoyed working with my hands, making things, and doing something "different."

Starting Mudd Puppy Pottery came in spurts and sputters. I started out making some sculptures in polymer clay, but do to my lack of getting the material to work for me, I decided to purchase a used kiln about 5 years ago. I started off with little scenes I'd sculpt, and eventually I discovered how to make whistles out of clay. This eventually led to making pregnant belly whistles, which then led to birth art, and directly due to the encouragement from my own doula and midwife, I decided to try selling my pieces, and here I am today!

What were you like as a child?
A goody-two-shoes, which is probably good, but also a tad boring, LOL! I was picked on a lot by my classmates, so I never felt like I fit in, a quality which has actually worked in my favor as an adult because now I enjoy feeling "unique"! I was your typical nerd - nose in a book, was a color guard for the marching band for two years, and the only "sport" I participated in was Bible quizzing.


If you had to pinpoint one turning point in your life/career, what would you consider that defining moment/event?
I know it sounds like a cliché, but the birth of my oldest child truly has divided my world into the "before" and "after." Not just in the typical "now my life revolves around this little one" kind of way, but my entire world view and my perception of other people has changed. I questioned a lot of the beliefs I was raised with because I was parenting differently than any one else I knew, and that led to an entire life-changing process that is still on-going. I am now more understanding and respectful of other people; more compassionate that I used to be.

Ironically enough, her birth also birthed my interest in crafting the types of things I do. A year after she was born, I made some corn husk dolls - mothers holding babies, which I gave to the midwives and doula present at her birth. That same year, I made my husband a foot and hand print for Father's day...out of polymer clay. Which is what sparked my later interest in the material.


You offer mama and family loving products, so tell me why these things are important to you both personally and professionally.
The pieces I make definitely reflect my belief that childbirth and child rearing are so very NATURAL, and also very extraordinary. To think that women are given the awesome experience of growing a new life within them, and then giving birth, and then taking care of this new person who is totally whole right from the get-go...it's just amazing.

I especially love the new pieces I'm working on which feature figures - a mother and father in labor, or standing holding their pregnant belly...a mother and child embracing. These things are MY experiences, my memories, and I hope that part of me comes through in these captured moments, that I can connect with my customers as they recognized themselves, too.

What do you hope your clients get from your products?
I hope that they receive a piece of art that is both aesthetically pleasing, as well as something that inspires them, makes them smile (or maybe even cry!), and helps them hold on to memories and moments that might last just a minute, but at the same time live on forever. I also strive to ensure that they receive quality items - it often takes me hours to complete a piece, which is worth it to me to create something special vs. something quick and easy and meaningless.
Can you share some personal 'favorites' with my readers?
In case you haven't them, yet, this husband and wife team makes very cool glass mamas & babies: www.etsy.com/shop/familytreeglass?ref=seller_info

And this is the blog of a lovely woman I am fortunate enough to know in "real life", Justine Julian: www.stateoftheheart.net/


THE GIVEAWAY
Ok, so what is Deb giving away?! She is offering an awesome Family Tree Mama Sculpture from her amazing etsy store.

 

This beautiful sculpture is very much like this one. Only especially made for the Conscious Family Series here.


Now, do you want to know how to make this beautiful mama your own? If 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-#5). 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 Deb'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 Deb's FB pages, then come back here and comment, letting me know you did. 
   
5. Go to Deb's etsy shop and browse around, come back here and let me know what item you like the most.

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

Learning To Parent Consciously - Guest Blogger

 

Karine, aka, Wolf Mother, is an awesome blogger over at the Fabulous Mama Chronicles. She is a passionate and somewhat brazen birth/parenting enthusiast with a whimsical sense of humor who believes in children’s inherent worth and strive to be a conscious parent to her son, Leonidas.

The birth and parenting decisions she makes are based on the philosophy that children’s needs are as valid as everyone else’s and she honor them by following her biological impulses to nurture them. This means she aims to parent by keeping everyone’s dignity and sense of self intact, respecting them as people within their own right. Essentially her aim as a parent is to be a type of guardian of the lives that are birthed through her until they are capable of caring for themselves. She believe that gentle birth practices and intuitive parenting choices leads to shaping a person who is confident, emotionally stable, intelligent, compassionate, and adaptive to any environment.

And these are her thoughts on becoming a conscious parent!

After high school I chose to attend college for Early Childhood Education to explore different philosophies to give me a base from which to work from in choosing how I would parent my own children. I wanted to find a different way than the traditional parent-child relationship from my own childhood and my studies lead me to discovering attachment-theory and the concept of conscious parenting and this resonating with me on so many levels.....

Continue reading her wonderful post here.

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!!!