Monkey Business

I knitted a monkey for a dear friend who recently turned 3 years old.

Her Mommy recorded the most adorable video! You can see it HERE.

And then more monkey adorableness.......

I love to knit monkeys, there is something so special about their faces. :)

Natural Toys I want to play with!

Maybe one day I'll have grandchildren (well, hopefully not for quite a few more years yet....). I think it might be time to start collecting my favorites (the ones I don't already have but have been yearning for...).

Don't you want to play wild west with this set?

By Willowbaus.

Pretend that running water and inside plumbing wasn't invented yet....

You can find at PrettyDreamer.

Hmmm, I might be needing these woodland animals sooner rather than later....

by JustHatched.

And I have this thing for mermaids....

At TheEnchantedCupboard.

And, for sweet dreams at night, who doesn't need a dolly best friend?? At LittleElfstoyshop.

You can find more wonderful MAGICAL. natural toys for children HERE.

Acorn Pixies!

Quite a few years ago, I used to make Pixies out of bendable wire and felt, and wooden beads for their heads. There are quite a few wonderful shops on Etsy that make these adorable dolls. Including my teammates from the Natural Kids!

Anyway, I decided to try something a little different.

I have had a stash of wooden doll bodies for FOREVER. Finally, recently, I started playing with them. I'm not sure that I've perfected them yet, but I'm really having fun with them.

I have a wooden dollhouse, that sits up on a shelf in our living room. I am sure it is quite dusty. But these are the perfect dolls for that dollhouse.

Just wanted to share some of them with you - they are available in my Woolies shop!

I hope you like them!!

NATURAL KIDS!

Easter/Spring NaturalKids Team Blog-A-Thon

The NaturalKids Team is a group of like-minded shops on Etsy.com. The team was started by woodmouse in 2007. Early members included faerierebecca, fairiesnest, cozycottage. It was a small group, with a small presence on etsy. Since that time members have come and gone but our mission has stayed the same. To be a group of sellers dedicated to creating natural products for children. We are a diverse group of artisans who make natural toys, utensils, clothing and accessories for kids. Our sellers work with materials from the Earth, such as wool, cotton, silk and wood. Our goal is to support, promote and have fun together while building our businesses.

One of our 1st Team Blog Post read as below and it is still true today....

We are a diverse bunch from all over the globe who have at least one thing in common: we all work with natural materials in our products for children. Oh yeah, and we're all pretty darn crafty & talented too! Wool, wood, cotton...just simple materials direct from the Earth.
So who are we?
Some of us are mothers of small children.
Some of us are mothers of grown children.
Some of us make dolls, some of us make hats, some of us make toys.
Some of us have been selling our wares for many years.
Some of us are just starting to discover our talents and start selling.
Some of us work with natural materials for environmental reasons.
Some of us work with natural materials as part of the Waldorf educational philosophy.
Some of us work with natural materials because we believe they are healthier and safer.
Some of us just like working with natural materials.
Some of us sell our wares for a living.
Some of us sell our wares as a hobby.
Since that time, some of us are fathers.









Thank you for reading and now join in the fun to take a trip to see what you may find at these NaturalKids Team Members Blogs! Happy Spring!!!

Visit these blogs from our team! Some giveaways going on!

http://thereluctantcitydweller.blogspot.com/

http://thefairiesnest.blogspot.com/

http://sewnnaturalstudio.blogspot.com/
http://www.tribaltimes.blogspot.com/
http://www.katsinthebelfry.blogspot.com/
http://www.polarbearcreations.blogspot.com/
http://fairtradefamily.blogspot.com/
http://germandolls.blogspot.com/
http://www.curlymonkeyandco2.blogspot.com/
http://www.bananabottoms.blogspot.com/

ALL of these wonderful items featured here and MANY more can be found here:

THE NATURAL KIDS STORE!

Injustice

Forgive my ramblings......

Amanda Knox - an innocent girl (in my opinion) found guilty of murder and imprisoned in Italy.

Kate McRae - 6 years old and fighting a malignant brain tumor.

Two young people, their lives ahead of them. Facing almost insurmountable odds.

The questions start -

Do I believe in God? Do I believe that God will save them?

How is this OK? How is this OK with God?

Is this caused by humans? Human error? Yes, in the case with Amanda. With Kate, we don't know what causes cancer, so we don't know.

Both of my parents died of cancer. My mother at a young age (56). Was their cancer caused by something they did wrong? My mother used spray deodorant. Did that cause her breast cancer? My father drank and my step-mother smoked like a chimney - did that contribute to his lung cancer? My answer is yes. So it was avoidable. Was it?

But with Kate, a young innocent child wrapped in the arms of her loving family? Did they live near high wires? Did she stand too close to the microwave? Maybe facetious questions, but they reverberate in my mind, nonetheless.

If Amanda hadn't been living a bit of the high life, having adult experiences, maybe she would still be safe in her family's arms? Did she make some poor choices? Maybe, but she didn't murder her roommate, her friend. Of that, I am convinced. Although a jury was convinced otherwise.

The pain that both of these families live with - so very troubling. Haunting.

My heart breaks for these 2 families. For the agony they must endure. For the battles they face.

So, for them, I will pray.

Sunflower Houses Giveaway

My team-mate Beth is having a wonderful giveaway over on her blog, Acorn Pies. This book just looks so fabulous, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I am the winner! But I thought I'd share with you too.

I love to garden, but I also love illustrations. Just look at the one I posted above! If you go over to Beth's blog, tell her Woolies sent you!

Natural Kids Team

If you read my blog, you've heard about the Natural Kids Team of sellers on Etsy. My shop, Woolies, is part of this team. I admire everybody's work SO much! Imaginative, clever, beautiful, toys and other things for children. The team is made up of wonderful, supportive people. I love this team, and just thought you might enjoy some items -----

Gnomie needs a Homie by haddy2dogs

Giving, Saving and Spending Tags by Mamaroots

Bunny Teething Blanket, by Dayanra

Gnome Home, by Mamakopp

Waldorf handwork doll, by Oritdotandolls
I want all of these (for myself, my teenage boys sadly have no interest!)

Please enjoy visiting all of these lovely shops!

Woolies

Wanted to share some Woolies with you --- these will NOT be available in my Etsy shop, but on another really fabulous online store that I'll share with you shortly.

What do you think??

This is Goatie, made from organic hemp/cotton corduroy, organic sherpa, and organic cotton. Stuffed with wool. Droopy goatie ears.

Some girls.

Snow bunny.

Apple. Which one do you like better - the one with green arms and legs (like a little apple tree), or the one with contrasting orance and aqua arms & legs? I can't decide...

I have to make a LOT of them, so will be very busy the next couple of weeks.....

OMIGOSH! A Flying Pixie!!!

She flies! Watch out! I should say, she's learning to fly! She doesn't have anybody here who is a particularly good fly-er, so she has to learn on her own. So she keeps climbing up on tables and chairs and kitchen counters - and jumping! Her little wings go flappity-flappity-flap, and she actually stays up for a little while, then - crash!

I have to say, she is very brave.

Her name is Fiona. She's a hand knitted pixie-fairy. She's knitted from a mix of organic cottons, and wool/cotton blends. She's stuffed with clean carded wool. She has a flower in her hair, with neat and tidy (most of the time) little curls. She has a sweetly embroidered face, so she is safe for all ages - no buttons!

And - best of all - you can purchase her right here at my blog - look over to the right!

Please let me know if you have any questions! I do hope Fiona finds a good home, with lots of supervision while she learns to fly.

:0)

Natural Kids Giveaway - #5 !!!

Another in the series!

The Natural Kids is a team of Etsy shops that create items for Kids using natural materials.

These truly are heirloom pieces that your children will reach for again and again.

This is a bendy doll from Princess Nimble Thimble.


She's 2.5" tall and is a $10 value

Materials: wool felt, cotton threads, wooden bead, stainless steel and cotton chenille stem, nontoxic glue, nontoxic paints, nontoxic sealer, real acorn cap, chiffon fabric.







These are needle felted wool fairies from OritDotanDolls. You can read more about this item here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=15323472

In Orit's words:

These needle felted wool fairies, these art dolls are friends to anyone who owns them.They are sitting in a part of dry tree fruit that measures 3in height and 4in width.You can place the tree fruit on a desk or hang it.The two little blessing fairies measured 6in high, made of super fine merino wool that colored with ecological colors [without heavy metals].You can enjoy their gentle and beauty.They decorate and bring good atmosphere.

These are valued at $30.

The Rules:

Visit each shop.

Princess Nimble Thimble

and

Oritdotandolls

Come back here, and leave a post with your favorite item from each shop.

This Giveaway will run for 2 weeks, and end on June 21st.

You MUST leave an email address for me to reach you.

Have fun! Enjoy all the beautiful items that these shops offer!

To search for other amazing Natural Kids items on Etsy - click here:

http://tinyurl.com/oxo4nh

Have a great day!

winner!!!

We have a winner of the latest Natural Kids Giveaway - Jinxyandme!

Congrats to Jinxyandme - and thanks to all who entered! New giveaway will start tomorrow - check back!

Natural Kids Giveaway - #4 !!!!

Natural Kids Giveaway #4 !!!

The Natural Kids is a team of Etsy shops that create items for Kids using natural materials. I'm in love with the items for this next giveaway - can I enter to win???


These truly are heirloom pieces that your children will reach for again and again. Total Prize Value is $65!!!



First we have PolarBear Creations Mini-Baby. I can imagine this baby being toted around all day, everyday.

Next is Pupa's cotton bunny. Safe for young children, as the face is simply embroidered. All natural and so beautiful.

Wee Blossom Babe from FaerieRebecca would bring joy to any young child's playtime.


The Rules:

Visit each of the 3 shops

Polar Bear Creations

Pupa

FaerieRebecca

Come back here, and leave a post with your favorite item from each shop. This Giveaway will run for 2 weeks, and end on May 130th. (Which is when the next one will start).

You MUST leave an email address for me to reach you.

Have fun!

NATURAL KIDS GIVEAWAY #3!!!

The Natural Kids is a team of Etsy shops that create items for Kids using natural materials. The Variety and Quality of work is outstanding. These truly are heirloom pieces.

This giveaway is 3rd in a series, as we try to acquaint you with these fabulous shops.

Here is what you can win:

Pixie, handmade cloth doll - from fairiesnest.

Owlet, knitted baby owl, from Woolies




Children's napkins, a set of 4, from WeeBeaks



Total Value - $57 !

The Rules:

Visit each of the 3 shops

Woolies

WeeBeaks

FairiesNest

Come back here, and leave a post with your favorite item from each shop. This Giveaway will run for 2 weeks, and end on May 15th. (Which is when the next one will start).

You MUST leave an email address for me to reach you.

Have fun!

Help!

So...........I was knitting this bunny. But then I decided to turn her into a bear. But...then she got a pink nose. And her bear ears are kind of big. But...she doesn't have a tail.

My friend called her a hamster.

Is she a mouse?

What do YOU think???? I could use some help here.....

You can read more about her in my Woolies shop! I'd appreciate your thoughts! If she needs a tail, I can certainly give her a tail!

HELP!

UPDATE: She SOLD today. I asked my lovely buyer if she would prefer a mousie tail, and she said no, she liked her as a very unusual bear.

Thanks to all who who posted their suggestions!!!!

Natural Kids On-Going Giveaway!

OOOOOO you're going to have lots of chances to win absolutely amazing natural children's items !!!!!!!!

The first round of the Natural Kids Giveaway features three shops ~ Nushkie, Natural Star and WrenWillow.

On Etsy, my Woolies shop is a member of The Natural Kids Team. We are a group of shops that make items for kids out of natural materials. You will find some of THE most georgeous, innovative, heirloom quality, imaginative, exciting.....there are not enough superlatives to express my amazement at the work and skill that goes into these toys and items.

So, every two weeks for the next few months, The Natural Kids Team is offering you a chance to win some of these amazing works of art.

The rules are simple.

Each giveaway will consist of 3 (THREE) shops giving away a prize.

You will have to visit each shop.

Then you will have to come back here and post about your favorite item from each shop.

*You can put all your favorites in just one post*

*Please* leave an email address or a link to your blog so I have a way to reach you if you are the grand prize winner.

The first giveaway starts April 1st and will run for 2 weeks - ending on April 14th at midnight.

The second giveaway will start on April 15 and run for 2 weeks - and so on. So if you don't win during the first round - you will have lots of chances.

SO - onto the details of the Natural Kids Giveaway #1!

The Shops to Visit are:

Nushkie

Natural Star

WrenWillow

There will be ONE winner during each giveaway. Each winner will receive all 3 items from the featured shops! Questions? Please let me know.

So head off to find your fav item from each shop; come back to my blog and post about it. Enjoy all the wonderful shops that are part of The Natural Kids Team!

We have a winner - JJ! Thanks to all who entered. Look on my blog for the next giveaway!

Natural Kids Store

I encourage you to visit the Natural Kids Store, which has just been revamped and is very spiffy with all kinds of amazing wonderful natural items for your kidlets - the human kind.

Some of these items will be appearing here, on the pages of the Natural Kids Giveaway (on my blog). But others just have to be seen.

Like:

You'll have to go visit the store to see more!