elephants that entertain

Can environmentally friendly clothing be beautiful? Can earth-friendly toy be cute? But of course. And can it be affordable? Absolutely. Maybe not in Poland, but some other places, it can.
I like Entertaining Elephants for the simplicity of the outfits they offer.

Peasant dress is one of their long time hits (I've seen this company about 5 years ago) - large paisley on black background is my favourite, and would LOVE to have such a tunic with puff sleve for myself (I fancied myself riding a bike in this tunic and leggins, with a shawl waving -, no, maybe this shawl isn't great idea for I have no intention to be another Isadora Duncan. But the tunic stays.)

Or dress with decorative hem - maybe it would be great as a tunic too - made of double layer of silk printed in birds. What is the best: this dress is not cute - it's just beutiful dress also a mother would want to have.
Maybe that's the key for my choice for children's clothes - I like only those clothes I wouldn't mind wearing.

And their have an excellent logo - putting it in front of each item, with no woven labels was excellent idea. And it's also environmentally friendly.

Among toys my favourite is this set of tableware - all made of recycled milk jugs!
It seems that the quality of outfits haven't changed but their website have and now it's much more sophisticated than it used to be - from a shabby chic to modern chic, cool.

Instead of morning coffee...

I just love ruffles and frills, and luckily I have a mini-me so I can dress her! In a tunic like that every preschooler will look lovely.
Waking in an early morning I should focus on work - but what do I do? I browse through girl's clothes - and I found this warm taupe dress - adorable! If only I was flat chest I would wear it myself! With stripey longsleeves t-shirt and ballerinas. Well, maybe for stripey tee it would be better to have an alluminium version - it's gorgeous.

Re-modelling

Pink Polka Dotted Vintage School Desk, originally uploaded by niftythriftygirl.

What a day - hot and sweaty. To refresh myself I've just watched How About Orange blog again, as usual full of inspirational posts - and this photo (uploaded by niftythriftgitl) reminds me it's high time to show my re-modelled furniture and lamps! As soon as I get home, I promise (myself :) ) Re-modelling is fun, sustainable, and - as long as you don't destroy the stuff only to show how skilled painter you are, it's a real gift and respectful attitude towards our past, and good craftsmanship.

Summer holidays and I think about education....

I've been thinking about the education system lately very often - my daughter is 4,5 years and the time to go to school is approaching fast - but what kind of school? I want her not to be just educated - but to learn about herself. Producing automatons seems to be the only result of current education system - I know how angsty it sounds and though I exaggerate a bit, it is only a bit.... I remember myself as a child and I was planning to transform education system (thank goodness, I wasn't allowed) - I planed that decent education should content more sport, more dance, arts, music, than it was in curriculum these days (it was in early 80ties)
So when I came across this guy and his short lecture at TED, I was moved to tears - he was speaking about the same idea I had that many years ago - but luckily, he managed to implement it in UK, and now Sir Ken Robertson is popularizing the idea across the world. Profound but still hillarious speach.



And another interesting voice adding something to my research about alternative education - immense education. As far as I know, this type of education exists in UK, Wales, and works especially good among bilingual societies, like Welsh. Inspirational, isn't it?

I remember the face of Russel Means from movies (playing Native American, of course...) but I haven't known that he's activist for Lakota independence and promotor of immense education.

A miracle? This too, but also fresh air

I hardly believe my eyes - after almost a year my blog is free from trojan - how come? How come it was unavailable in the first place that I couldn't even open the site? And now this miraculous thing happen, hah - it must be for important purpose, I want to believe....
Well, let's celebrate this auspicious event thenm with writing about something useful - year ago I was writing about Fresh Air Fund - and they still exist! :) (I am very sorry Sara I couldn't write about the Fund earlier) - and maybe You would help somehow? They are still looking for host families :) so don't be shy and if you live in US, apply and become a host family for children who hardly or never experienced summer holidays outside the city.
Blessed be everyone
Aloutka

It's still Summer - support Fresh Air Children!

Last week I've received a letter from Sara Wilson, and she was kind enough to tell me about Fresh Air Fund - I'm interested in lots of thing connected with children and parenting - and, what was surprising and flattering in a way, to write about it.
So I checked the Wikipedia and their site, and what I've read amazed me: this fund exists for more than 130 years, and serves few thousand of children every year. What is the purpose: to help the inner-city children to experience summer holidays in the country, anyway - outside the Big Apple.

The most important news after my survey is - it is still time to host a child!!!

Volunteer host families open their homes to inner-city children for two weeks or more in the summertime.
There is no such thing as a "typical" host family. If you have room in your home - and your heart - to host a child, you could be one too.
Host families are not paid. The fund has also a program for placing children who have special physical or emotional needs.

But one of the most impressive element of this organization is Career Awareness Programm. As a scholar myself, I know the value of education. The innovative Career Awareness Program is designed to help New York City youngsters understand the relationship between school and work and how to make choices that will determine their futures. Youngsters aged twelve to fourteen participate in job shadowing that offers a close-up view of business, and a career fair. The year-round program includes weekend camping trips and an intensive three-and-a-half week summer session at the Career Awareness Camp – Camp Mariah. The career camp is named in honor of Board member/singer Mariah Carey for her dedication, support and commitment to Fresh Air youngsters. Career awareness graduates continue to receive support through the PreOccupations Club and benefit from the guidance of volunteer mentors.


There is still time to host in 2009! Call (800) 367-0003 or click here to fill out a host inquiry form.

The Fresh Air Fund has a site at Twitter and Facebook so you may check yourselves. As for me it is hearwarming initiative and I feel grateful that Sara wrote me about it.
All the best :)

Holiday search - just a starter

Well, during last few months I've almost forgoten that I have a blog.... But I feel that finaly I am back in the game - it's high time to write about plushes and interior design for children when it comes to Xmas, isn't it?
Today, as I am having a fresh start, I'm happy to present some of my favourite characters among handcrafted plushes - coy, unpretentious yet ingenious little friends: Junco, Ludic, Reddy, Ozard and Fluke .

The thing I like the most about them all are their dreamy faces - and Ludic remains my absolutely favorite and beyond competition - with his nosy ears lifted up, eyes blurred. In seasonal headdress he's looking even more handsome than ever (sigh).

Now all of us have very special opportunity to grasp one of Woollyhoodwinks (or all of them at once!) for till the Chrismas the Black Forrest staff offers a sale from 20% to 25% off of all their merchandise including new full-color story book "The Woollyhoodwinks vs. The Dark Patch" - you better take a look at it before the end of the cut - price.

Each Woollyhoodwink comes brilliantly packaged in it’s own pillow-box ‘tree’ complete with a few special surprises inside - sounds delicious!