Shop Small + Organic, Baby!

This is post 12 of 12 in the 12 Organic Days of Christmas series. To view other shops featured in this series, click HERE.

You guys. It’s day twelve of the series which means tomorrow is Christmas Eve! I’m sad this etsy-organic-mama boutique series is coming to an end but that’s okay, because I have a rockin’ shop to introduce you to as a grand finale!

Organic cotton bibs from Seeking Sunday! When I first stumbled across Seeking Sunday I reached out to Sarah, this rockin’ small biz’s owner, asking if I could feature her organic bibs in the series. And here it turns out she makes and sells a huge diversity of items! Bandanna dribble bibs, natural wood teethers, dresses, tunics, harem pants… and that beanie cap?! Oh my word.

Sarah’s products are photographed wonderfully and have a wonderful modern, clean, hipster vibe to them. You can also reach out to Sarah with custom order requests – I promise she’s really fun and easy to work with!

Etsy 12 Organic Days of Christmas for Mama & Baby | Seeking Sunday

An interview with Sarah, owner of Seeking Sunday
(East Cowes, Isle of Wight, UK)

► Seeking Sunday – how did you come up with this brand name and what does it symbolize?

Finding the name was a long road, I wanted to encapsulate my vision in a few simple words and it took a lot longer than I expected.

After 2 months of soul searching, googling, and bouncing ideas off friends and family I decided on ‘Seeking Sunday’. Sundays have always been a time of rest, relaxation and family in our house. I wanted to create a brand and a shop that offered my customers a slice of Sunday life, no matter what day it is.

► Think back to when you first began dreaming up Seeking Sunday; what one piece of advice would you send back in a time capsule to yourself?

Do your research, then do more research, be brave, take chances and work to a schedule.

► What keeps you inspired? Do you have any techniques for getting out of a rut?

Every time I get a new order I have a new surge of inspiration and drive to create more. The feedback from happy customers is always the best fix to get me out of a rut. Oh, that and shopping for new fabrics!

Pinterest and Instagram are also great ways to see what else is happening in the world. I limit my time on them though as hours can pass without even noticing.

► Name a most used or favorite tool for creating your product:

If I am going to be honest I am going to say my Nespresso pod coffee machine and my cross trainer. Without those two in my life I would have no drive.

► What activities keep you busy in your free time?

A toddler and anything to do with the ocean, I just received a SUP from my partner (stand up paddle board) and even though its winter here I am dying to get out paddling. I also love car booting and rummaging through charity shops looking for retro and vintage treasure and knitting needles to use in my jewelry designs.

► List three adjectives that describe the style of your shop:

fresh – bold – fun

► What eco-initiatives have you established within your business?

I have another Etsy shop ‘In The Bowerbirds Nest’ that’s focused on upcycling and creating with sustainable aim. With ‘Seeking Sunday’ I wanted to offer a range of organic baby and children’s items that were fun and modern and did not break the bank.

I started using organic fabrics for the first time ever and sustainable organic wood for my teething rings. Not all my fabric is organic, I also have a range of gorgeous baby and kids clothing in cotton mix jersey. This was simply about trying to offer an affordable clothing range to families who chose not to dress their children in branded high street clothing.

Becoming a mother inspired me to use sustainable materials – it’s not my world, it’s my child’s and I want my legacy to be a positive one.

► What’s next for Seeking Sunday?

I have some simply divine fabrics coming in February 2015 and am working on some other clothing items at the moment. I would love to break into home-wares at some point but that’s just a pipe dream for now.

► What book are you currently reading?

Oh dear I have about four on the burner! I am terrible at finishing a book, so at the moment it is:

Sucking Eggs: What Your Wartime Granny Could Teach You About Diet, Thrift and Going Green

Bansky: The Man Behind The Wall

The Hobbit

The Mummy Congress (amazing book I am re-reading about mummies and those who study them)

Please support this small, handmade business! Shop Seeking Sunday on etsy (also be sure to check out Seeking Sunday’s sister company, In the Bowerbirds Nest on etsy!) and follow on facebook.

This is post 12 of 12 in the 12 Organic Days of Christmas series. To view other shops featured in this series, click HERE.

This is post 11 of 12 in the 12 Organic Days of Christmas series. To view other shops featured in this series, click HERE.

Etsy 12 Organic Days of Christmas for Mama & Baby | Blissful Things By Lani

It’s day eleven and today I’m introducing you to organic cotton diaper bags by Blissful Things By Lani!

My favorite part about these bags is that they don’t scream diaper bag! You see, it’s my belief that just because you’re carrying diapers, butt cream, and stray fruit snacks in your bag nowadays doesn’t mean the outside of your bag has to reflect this. Lani, the owner of Blissful Things By Lani, designs and makes these bags in her home studio and you know what? She’s a mechanical engineer. So, we can rest assured that her bags are designed perfectly and built to withstand everything that happens here in crazytown.

She also makes several types and sizes of bags so you can mix, match, and organize!

Etsy 12 Organic Days of Christmas for Mama & Baby | Blissful Things By Lani

An interview with Lani, owner of Blissful Things By Lani
(Boise, Idaho, USA)

► Blissful Things By Lani – how did you come up with this brand name and what does it symbolize?

When I was in college I loved snowboarding and drawing. I used to dream about designing my own line of boards and graphic t-shirts. In my free time I would draw my ideas in my sketch books. I named my board company Bliss and the logo was of a fat bird. When I was coming up with a name and brand for my bags, Bliss evolved into Blissful Things by Lani and the bird became a pretty feather.

► Think back to when you first began dreaming up Blissful Things By Lani; what one piece of advice would you send back in a time capsule to yourself?

I have been selling my bags for a year now and I wish I would have had more confidence and a better vision on where I wanted my company to go. Just last month I did my first Market and it was great. I met other ‘makers’ and have learned so much from them. I wish I would have gotten involved in the local scene earlier and the local ‘maker’ groups. All the ladies I have met and hung out with are so talented and helpful, they have encouraged me to grow and market my brand.

► What keeps you inspired? Do you have any techniques for getting out of a rut?

All the new designer fabric, I love it. I find myself browsing fabric stores online and filling up my virtual shopping cart with all the fabric I would love to buy if I had all the money and space for it. When I come back to reality I go through my own stash of fabric, there is a bunch. I then plan out and design new and different bags. I then take my piles of fabric, put on an old movie, and start cutting.

► Name a most used or favorite tool for creating your product:

My favorite tool and I have a love/hate relationship. She is a ergonomically correct soft handle rotary cutter. She is one of the only tools I needed to start creating my bags. We will watch a Doris Day or Jane Powell movie and get to work. By the time I’m done cutting out the lining, pockets, exterior, leather, and interfacing of a multitude of bags, my movie is over and my hand is sore and cramped up and I do not want to even look at my squish handle cutter again.

► What activities keep you busy in your free time?

I actually love to read. Right now I’m reading Gone Girl, i’m enjoying the dysfunctional marriage and the mystery of Amy. Some of my other favorites are the Game of Throne series, anything written by Sara Donati or Clive Cussler.

► List three adjectives that describe the style of your shop:

fun – useful – everyday

► What eco-initiatives have you established within your business?

I have a selection of organic cotton canvas bags. My most popular, and the one I carry, is a slate grey plus canvas tote with fabric by Cloud 9. I also use a natural unbleached canvas as a lining and interfacing of many of my bags. I love that there are so many more designers doing organic cotton fabrics.

► What’s next for Blissful Things By Lani?

I have a new design for a cross-body day bag. It will be a perfect bag for everyday use that is “not to big and not too small”. It will close with a 12-inch zipper and have an adjustable leather strap. They have been really fun to create and I’m excited to launch the day bag in my shop after the New Year.