Happy Valentine's My Little Peacock.....

Finley is Peacock obsessed.  I work as an art dealer as well as SLD and every time I show her a painting she tells me "My personal connection to it is it reminds me of a Peacock."  She's too funny. :) 

So I knew I had to create a peacock silkscreen.  It's the perfect animal that really shows off what  individuality is all about. 

I was planning for my two-year SLD anniversary (coming up Feb 24th!) and I knew I wanted to continue the "Big Collection."  Last year I created the Dream Big image to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Soren Lorensen Design.

A huge portion of proceeds of each Dream Big sale for two weeks went to fund micro loans around the world for seamstresses needing small loans to help grow their businesses.  We raised nearly $1,000 that was lent out to multiple women around the world, including  Lucy, in Kenya and Gilda, in The Philippines.  They've been repaying their loans, and I've been able to re-invest the repayments so now we've sent nearly $2,000 in loans!  Can you just imagine, after a lifetime of reinvesting the loans (which is what I plan to do!) how many women around the world, and their families, that we have helped affect!  It's really so powerful!!!

So, back to the story!  I decided to create the "Love Big" image for the two year Soren Lorensen Design anniversary and once again, donate a portion of proceeds to another non-profit organization.  This year I decided to focus on the kids, rather than the grown-ups, just to spread the love :)

This year, a large portion proceeds during the Two Year Anniversary Big Collection event (more about that later) will go to a donation to Pajama Program.  This is such an amazing program.  It's been around for ten years, started by a woman who saw this great need to give underserved children, many in the foster system, a semblance of the comfort most other children have at bedtime.

I can't tell you how special bedtime is for me and Finley.  It's our bonding time, our giggling time, our deep conversation time, our reading time, our rub her back time.  It's some of the absolute best times of my life.  To think that we can help some kids at least get a glimpse of hope for better times, is pretty nice.

The founder learned that some children, like the nine-year old boy who sent her a Thank You note, has never ever owned a pair of pajamas.  The organization donates pajamas and books all around the country.  You can watch a very powerful video, including an Oprah moment, on YouTube.

Next, the search for the perfect image was on to make this fundraiser a hit!  One day, I stumbled upon the intricate and masterful Folk Art Paper Cuts by British artist Suzy Taylor.  You have got to check out her shop! 

Hello! (or should I say, "Hallo," she's British after all ;) She cut these designs out by hand!

And then...I spied her artful hearts-y peacock!  But it was sold out!  Instant Etsy convo later, and we decided to work on getting the image ready for this silk screen (also with the help of another wonderful artist and SLD collaborator, Rachel Birch of Rachel Ink.)  I added the caption, and Love Big was born.

You have to see how talented Suzy is!  She was just commissioned by Pottery Barn Teen to design two quilts (eek, can you imagine!!?)  And look at her process.....

I love it :)  You can find her on Facebook too.  :)

I'll be releasing a few "Love Big" Made to Order items (dresses and tees) this week in time for Valentine's day :)  It's a perfect little Valentine dress :)

Then, for the two year February 24th SLD anniversary, I'll be releasing more Made to Order's in both Dream Big and Love Big to help raise money once again, this time for the Pajama Program!

Thanks for joining me on this two year ride! It's so totally fun :)

xo,
Shari

Remember Dream Big?

It's back!  My annual BIG collection!  It's a time to dream and love and just be a kid.  Show your personality and individuality.  That's what the "Big Collection" is all about. :)

Last year was the year to Dream Big, and this year it will be the year to Love Big.  I'll introduce you further to it tomorrow, but here is a peek :)

xo,
Shari

Help Shape 2012 and Win a $30 Credit to Soren Lorensen Design!

I've been thinking....  (and it's never good when I do a lot of that ;)  But I've been thinking about SLD, and how soon I'll be approaching my two year anniversary (I have something special planned for that again!) and how I would love to pick your brain just a little. :)

I started with a simple little poll yesterday, but have decided to expand it a smidge to get even more insights from all of you.

If you'll take a moment to answer the questions in this SLD survey, you'll be automatically entered to win a $30 Credit to my etsy shop! :)

Let me know if you have any extra comments or thoughts, and as always, I would love if you could spread the word about SLD!  The success of SLD is all about its happy customers...so let your friends know how happy you are!

Here's the direct link to the poll:  http://apps.facebook.com/my-polls/sld2012

xo,
Shari

Cake Pops and Reindeer Treats....

Finley got a Cake Pop Bakery last night for Chanukah!  She's been asking for one forever, and she often quotes the commercial (at least I think that is what she is doing!!) 

She tells me "Mum, you can EAT all the FUN that you make!"

She was really excited to open her first gift :)

She was though dissapointed, upon seeing the black and white Manual/Recipe book.  She said "Where are all the fancy color pictures?  This is supposed to be an Activity Kit they said!"

It's hard to explain to her that Infomercials, as amazing as they seem (I am personally addicted to them) that sometimes they....well....embellish a little ;)

Anyhow, we'll be making Cake Pops this weekend to hand out as Christmas Treats for the neighbors.  Anyone ever make any?  Any tips?  Where do I find replacement sticks?  I can't wait to try it!  I am most definitely going to be reading up on some Bakerella tutorials!

Finley also came home from school with this really neat idea they made at school.  Check out how easy and fun this would be to do with your child!  Mix glitter and oats.  Done!! :)

I thought I was all done with my Christmas shopping (I may have gone a little overboard this year.  Mr. SLD tells me it's ok since I'm still new to this.  But I think he's just hoping that I got him a lot of gifts ;)  I actually went overboard on Finley, but shhhhhh.....we don't need to tell him that ;)

Anyhow, I thought I was done with shopping, until last night I got into bed with Finley to read her bedtime books.  We started one book and she stopped me and said "Mummy is this book by Jan Brett?  I really love her books, and she is a very good artist."

Huh?  How many kindergartners know books by their author/illustrator!!??

She told me she loves some of her books she's read at school, like "The Mitten"

I guess I better go shopping and see if I can find some Jan Brett Books in this tiny town! :)  When a 5-year old asks for books by author, I figure I have to comply with the request, no?! ;)

xo,
Shari

When Good Ideas Turn Bad, and how to Change the World

Random title, I know.  But stay with me :)

I've been envisioning this dress for a year.  A Double Bubble, cinched Waist Dress.  I have literally been dreaming about how great it would be.

We finally made one.  Harp music is floating through my head....I LOVE it!!!

 

Now, it's time to get Finley in it.......

MASSIVE FAIL!!!  LOL!!!

I guess some dreams should NOT be turned into reality! ;)

Embrace your imperfections and learn from them :)  I try to teach that to Finley EVERY SINGLE day.  She is one of those kids whose biggest fear is the fear of failure.  So much so, that she would rather not even try sometimes.  That makes me sad, but she is a pretty special kid, and even though she'll sometimes be terrified to try something new, other times she'll surprise us with the amazingly fresh ways that she thinks.

For example.....last night we had Family Game Night.  We were playing an I Spy game (the kid is a champion).  But for some reason last night she wasn't in the lead.  She would barely pipe up when she saw a match!  And Mr. SLD and I were occasionally trying to let her get the matches before us so that she could earn the points.

Well, at one point the three of us were all staring at the cards, and there are obviously two bumblebee matches.  No one says a thing, and Finley finally points at them with her arms, saying "It's....it's....!!!" And there we are, trying to give her the chance to say it, so we're saying "Name it, and it's your win!!" and she doesn't name the match.

We ask her why and she says to us "I just wanted one of you guys to get the match.  So I just pointed at them....waiting for you to see it."  Our hearts melt.  

So I say "Finley, why did you do that?  Why didn't you call out the match so that you can win the stack?" and she replies with....

"Because I am so Kind."

WHOA.  First laughter, then the tears roll.  Who knew that raising a five year old could be so emotionally gratifying and complicated at the same time?  We want to instill in her the desire to win and try her best, and yet at the same time, she's also managed to keep her kindness at the forefront.

I am amazed at the beauty that is a five year old.  When I think about that kindness, in a world when all is not always kind, I feel at peace.

It's there, you just have to look for it.  You can change the world with Kindness.

xo,

shari