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 thrifted leather trench

jacket //  cuff // rings //

jeans  // bag// shoes

top // skirt

He’s possessive of ‘his phone’

 

dress // boots // hat

leggings // these sandals are now available (!)

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Outtakes



This week has been unseasonably cold. Read Freezing. So, to battle Spring fever, we’ve been enjoying swim lessons and downing an extra dose of vitamin D. While swim lessons have been more about crying for mommy than actually learning new strokes, I think we’re all secretly enjoying the change of scenery. Speaking of, Spring is just around the corner, (or so I tell myself).  Here’s a round up of some of my favorite posts. What were some of yours? The upside of low temps? Snuggles and hot chocolate. And now, excuse me while I get back to that.

xx

shalice

 

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Hand & Cloth is one of those rare companies that not only sells beautiful items, but supports a dignified cause. I purchased a gorgeous Kantha for our family for Christmas not only for its stunning color palette, but also the story behind it. I don’t want to raise ignorant children. I want them to know where things come from, to not take meals and a warm home for granted, and to have a heart that asks, how can I help? While that’s a heavy conversation for a 6, 4, and 3 year old, I’m willing to at least start it. The truth is, I’m always amazed at how much they retain and the questions they ask like, “mommy where is this blanket from?” and “who made this?? Both proved to be good conversation starters with my six year old. That said, I’m excited to share an interview I did with a friend of mine, Sarah Aulie, who founded Hand & Cloth. Very simply, they use textiles to employ at risk women.Stitched in each blanket is a name, ours was stitched in the above picture. I don’t know about you, but I love that kind of connection. A textile with a story. So, beyond the beautiful blanket, I see a young girl, a daughter, a wife, or a mother, stitching her Kantha, knowing she is God’s workmanship greatly loved despite her surroundings or social status. And I love that thousands of miles away, my little family can contribute to her cause. Because just like the tiny running kantha stitch that holds the blanket together, you and I are woven by a common thread: partakers of unmerited grace and loved with an everlasting love.

What is Hand & Cloth all about?

Tell us about a particular woman’s story and how did H&C play a role in her life?

Sarah:  We first met Pushpa (pseudonyn used) when she was staying at a shelter for girls-at-risk. Pushpa was very bright and had a knack for fashion. We put her in charge of selecting and matching the saris for each kantha blanket.  Pushpa moved to the northwest of India and now runs her own small business where she sells tasty food for tourists.  I recently had a phone chat with Pushpa – she told me that she attributes her good life to Jesus who helps her and takes care of her.

What are some of the challenges you face daily of helping battered women and how do you personally cope?

Sarah:  Hand & Cloth partners with organizations and ministries that work directly with women at risk and women in poverty. Our partners are the amazing people who work daily with the women who make textiles for Hand & Cloth. Each artisan making textiles for Hand & Cloth has survived trauma or has experienced extreme poverty. We believe that the process of creating beautiful, handmade textiles for Hand & Cloth can be a therapeutic process for a woman.  Working with other women offers community and support that she may not have had before. Earning an income offers her a way to provide for herself and her children in a dignified way. All of these are healing means for a woman who has experienced trauma or poverty. We partner with organizations that share our faith-based vision so that women who make products for Hand & Cloth not only have access to dignified work, but also have the opportunity to hear that God loves them and that they are “fearfully and wonderfully made” by Him (Psalm 139:14).

With many organizations and not for profits doing similar work helping at risk women, how is Hand & Cloth different?

Sarah: Hand & Cloth is working to create a design-focused textile brand combining both form and function that offers dignified work to women at risk and women in poverty. We want Hand & Cloth to become a “go to” brand whenever people need to purchase a practical throw for their home or a meaningful, one of a kind gift. Likewise, the next time the industrious mom decides to take on a new DIY reupholstery project, we hope she chooses a Hand & Cloth textile! Each Hand & Cloth purchase provides dignified work to women at risk.

This is her “queen” face

 

 

Even as we faced a 14 hour car ride, it amazed me that within a minute of pulling out from our street, they asked, “are we there yet?” But that was only the first of 1,567 times. Within 5 minutes, they asked if they could open the gifts my mother-in-law packed for them. Ten total, mind you, in personalized backpacks, one for each hour of the ride. Strict orders. 2015 resolution note to self, be more like my mother-in-law. Another fun question was, what is Florida like? Are there sharks in the water? These are the conversations that occupied our time between drawing on dry erase boards, DVD’s, she- took-my-snack fights and who will catch the rings in the pool. (See below for my travel must haves). Also a highlight was seeing the Rocket in Huntsville, Alabama, the sunset over Louisville KY, and the hills of Tennessee. Sights we could not see from 33,000 feet in the air. Upon arrival, we got what we were looking for: mild temps and a pleasant break from our hectic work schedules in Chicago. Jogging on the beach, watching our toddler ruin our sand castles, and frequenting our favorite Fonville Press coffee shop was the daily agenda. Still dreaming of that iced coffee. We rented a house for 4 adults and 8 kids in Panama City Beach, FL. Talk about a party. Yes, a little chaotic, but mostly a refreshing vacation with the dearest of friends. Thankfully there was a beach to run off the energy and temps that did not require hats, gloves, coats and boots. That added an hour at least to our day. Not to mention less tears. And while the lush European like layout of Rosemary Beach and stark white architecture of Alys Beach still calls my name, I’m already planning next year’s Florida trip. Afterall, 2015 is the year for the kind of planning that would make my MIL proud. So would I do it all again? In a heartbeat.
 

1. Stay flexible. We get there when we get there. Because our four year old may have to use the facilities every half hour. I’m all the wiser for expecting the inconvenient exploration and toddler tantrums and they’re not worth the gray hairs. Just go with it.

2. DVD’s  (We love Charlotte’s web, My Little Pony, Sound of Music, Lion King)

3. Books on tape: Winnie the Pooh, Frog & Toad and Chronicles of Narnia 

4. Individual size snacks Popcorn and chips, (I also bring extra Ziploc bags to throw snacks to the back row) Your only chance for healthy snacks is what you pack, so pack smart. Carrots, raisins, chips and popcorn are our favorites.

5. Play “I spy” games. Google native flowers and trees and see who can find them. Make it as educational as possible. For the younger ones, spy alphabet, shapes and colors.

7. Each child got his/her own pillow and blanket. Elsa and Anna blankets worked magic on this trip! 

8. Travel with friends. It was like 50,000 built in playdates everyday and knocks them out just in time for bed. We were amazed at how well they slept at night.