fawn&forest

As we approach the end of June with a full + exciting month of Forest Finds action, I am pleased to announce Tressa's Teething BonBons to be amongst the top 3 best selling Forest Finds products. No surprise as the Teething BonBons are an ingenious solution to every parents dilemma: a teething baby.  Plus they are organic + super cute. I am refreshed by Tressa's enthusiasm and expanding creativity.

When you were a kid what did you want to be when you grew up?
A problem-solver, a group leader and self employed.  When I was in grade four I organized a club for my friends called 'The Golden Girls'.  I designed a logo, hand drew our membership pamphlet (this was the early 80s) and fashioned a clubhouse out of cement cinder blocks and old pipes that I found on a pile of fill from my elementary school's renovations.  I think that it was around the same time that I invented a dandelion picker and set up a one-day-only birch-bark crafts stand at the end of my driveway.  Back then my ideas didn't have a lot of staying power or technical support, but laid the foundation for a life of leadership, art, and engaging every creative possibility.

What is the most challenging part of being a Mom and having a business?
Not banking on nap time.  My daughter is just over 1 1/2 years and for the most part, a beautiful sleeper.  I have come to count on the couple of hours each day nap time affords - designing, prepping materials and sometimes even getting to the machine to put together a few Bonbons (the real production work happens in the evening when my husband scoops up the babe for her nightime routine).  As Little R. gets older and product demand increases, the nap time hours seem to be getting shorter and I find myself both counting and maxing the minutes.  Having a business and a family is about setting s.m.a.r.t. goals for long term vision and immediate focus, being well organized, and welcoming support from folks experienced, wise and enthusiastic.  And, of course, knowing when to ditch nap time expectations and head to the park.

(s.m.a.r.t. = Specific Measureable Attainable Realistic/Relevant Timely) 

What does the rest of '08 hold for you?
Each weekend I join a community of crafters, organic farmers and not-for-profit organizations at the Moss Street Market in Victoria BC Canada, selling my wares and educating folks on the benefits of organic cotton production from seed to my finished - handmade! - material goods.  This month, I am soooo excited to be on the brink of having my own line of fabric hand screen printed and ready to go - three prints, four colours.  They will be snipped and sewed into a super stylin' new branch of my classic organic soft toys.  August will find my little family climbing in our Volks for a road trip from our home on Vancouver Island to my childhood stomping grounds in BC's interior.  We'll do a bit of camping, some wine tasting (hello Naramata Bench!) and lots catching up with family and friends.  Come autumn, I'll be gearing up for a major event, the Vancouver Island Baby Fair and - golly - now I'm thinking about Little R's 2nd birthday and the Holiday markets that will soon follow ... 2008, where are you going?

Thanks Tressa! Sign me up for your 'Golden Girls' club! I was totally one of those kids.....