Sponsor Giveaway :: Mosey Handmade

I'm so excited to introduce this sweet little Etsy shop! Mosey Handmade makes gorgeous goodies for wee ones out of recycled materials. I just love love love their shop! And they are based in Maine! Yay for local! I'm swooning over this bunny and these cute baby mushroom rattles!

Jes (owner and maker) has sweetly answered some fun questions about the business!

1) When did you start your Etsy shop?

I started my etsy shop around 2006 on the urging of a college friend and after my first Renegade Craft Fair where etsy had a table full of amazing cutesy crafts.

2) Have you always been crafty?

My mom and my Grandmother were both super seamstresses and made most of my clothes when I was a little one, lots of calico and corduroy. So I always credit them with starting my sewing career. And I've always loved making things for other people, little gifts, handwritten letters. So now it's like I get to do that and make a living...hooray!

3) What inspired you to start making toys and clothing for wee ones?

I had been working in a Waldorf Kindergarten and always LOVED kids, so I just started making hats for the children as holiday gifts. That's actually how the first *Creature Hat* got made!

4) Do the Waldorf ways play a big role in your lives?

Yes. We have our own little one now and are raising her in a very Waldorf way. Lots of good handmade toys, wooden things, silks, lots of reverence for nature ...I feel lucky because there is a pretty great barter system out there for crafters and we get and give a lot of our lovely things that way.

I also have a small little home based school  inspired by the Lifeways approach...so we eat, sleep (or at least nap) and breath it! 

5) Where do you find your recycled materials?
AHA! Enter my business partner. I used to get all of my wool from Boston but with some good cold winters under our belts recently the price of a used wool sweater has really gone up since I started my business. I now source all my wool from Texas where it is very inexpensive and plentiful. It's kind of like New England wool was becoming a rare bird, but it runs wild and free in the Longhorn State. My business partner is a crafter and art teacher in Texas and I am SO SO lucky to have her!

6) What is your favorite item to make?

Our birthday crowns have become a favorite, they are just so festive!

7) Where do you see your business in two years?

I hope it can grow enough that many many children will be tooling around in a Mosey Handmade hat or jumper.  It feels like having a partner is helping Mosey expand and flourish in creative ways too...like we now have a pretty strong Spring & Summer line, which we never really did before.

8) And just for fun...what is your favorite ice cream flavor? :)

Well I'd have to say I'm more of a gelato girl, unless of course it's hand churned and in that case vanilla with fresh strawberries, please!

 

Mosey Handmade has generously offered a giveaway of a fabulous plant-dyed wool felt cape with a custom little bluebird on it! (Aww!) To enter, tell us what your dreams for the summer are! I'll pick a winner Tuesday 8 p.m. EST. Good luck! 

Don't forget to check out...

• Their fabulous shop!
• And super sweet blog!