Creative Mother Fleur Lyon: Peaceful Posies and Squares of Strength

April 2, 2016July 8, 2016Leave a comment

“Never suppress a generous thought” – Camilla Kimball

I’ve been following Fleur Lyon on Instagram, formerly known as @thepeacefulposy, now @thefolkmaker, for about a year or so now. As I became familiar with her creativity and mothering I became more and more inspired to reach outside of the Instagram platform and have chat with her. You see, Fleur creates beauty, but beauty with deep purpose, and I knew there was more to discover about her. So I asked Fleur to share a bit about herself with me and what I learned filled my heart. Fleur is a mother of three and a natural creative. In the year that I’ve been following her she turned her creativity toward helping others through two different projects: Peaceful Posies and Little Squares of Strength. (Read on to the interview to find out what these are about and how you can get involved!). Hearing about Fleur’s background and her passion for helping others it all made sense to me. Fleur is quite humble in how she shares on Instagram, so her open conversation was a treat and quite illuminating. Thank you, Fleur, for sharing and for reminding us how kindness, generosity and creativity matter, and when done with great purpose can make an important difference in the lives of others.

Dear Fleur, can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

I’m a Mumma to 3 little girls, I make bespoke woollen posies in my little online shop. My posies are handcrafted with yarn and natural twigs that I collect from underneath the big gumtrees on our property. I am always creating, singing, playing with flowers, and daydreaming. I love working with natural and repurposed materials where possible. I used to make little hand-painted comfort dolls that I dressed in vintage florals and donated to children in orphanages. I am heading in the direction of my wool and materials being even more natural and homespun. I have dabbled a little in natural eco dyeing of wool and silk which I hope to do a lot more of, and I received a beautiful vintage spinning wheel for my birthday recently, so I am truly looking forward to starting to spin some of my own wool. I dream of some gorgeous woolly alpacas roaming on our property in the future. I also started a kindness project last year called the Little Squares of Strength Project which I will talk a little more about later.

What part of the world do you live in?

I live in an enchanting little village town in Western Australia called Balingup, full of beautiful rolling hills. Our family moved to the country about 2 years ago to escape the faster pace of city life, and to have a bigger space for the kids to roam free, where we could live a slower, more simple lifestyle. Here we embrace the wonders of nature, a more homemade life, a creative life, and a greater sense of community. While we build a little farmhouse on the top of a hill, we have been living in caravans for quite some time, and now a little shed (while we still sleep in a caravan). Although as a family of five, this has been rather challenging at times, this way of living in some ways has forced us to experience the simpler life, more time outdoors, and to be more grateful for small things.

How many children do you have and how would you describe them?

We have three little girls aged 2, 4 and 7. They are all quite different. Lilliana, our eldest is very creative and crafty, and she loves to sing, but she is also quite studious and factual, and loves her schoolwork and reading. Willow, our middle child is a little quieter and really loves cooking, imaginary play, and sensory play. Ivy, our littlest is bursting with energy, loves to perform, and loves nothing better than lying in the mud or playing in the dirt and sticks on our property. I love that they are all so different, but they all share a love of creativity and the outdoors.

Do you have a favourite quote or words you live by? Favourite books?

My favourite quote is “Do small things with great love.”

My favourite magazines to read are Frankie, Peppermint, Country Style, Taproot, Slow Living, and Womankind.

My favourite book is A Table in the Orchard by Michelle Crawford. I can relate incredibly to Michelle’s thoughts and dreams of their move away from the city to a simpler life. Her stories of homegrown, cooking, and countryside life fill my soul with warmth and inspiration and I could read Michelle’s beautiful words over and over again.

What are your core family values?

Gratitude and kindness.

How do you spend most of your days?

A typical weekday for me would go like this:

Before school – hectic times while I help our 2 older girls get ready for school while Ivy is craving attention too. I would say this would be the most challenging time of the day when the sibling rivalry and all of the chaos happens, and I need to remind myself to be patient, breath through it all, and try to make it fun.

After dropping Lilli and Willow off at school, Ivy and I sometimes stop off at the post office, and then we go for a walk around the streets close to home. This is when I take in the magnificent scenery that surrounds us – the rolling hills, the vineyards, the orchards, and at this time of year the beautiful leaves that are just starting to change into vibrant Autumn colours and fall from the trees. Ivy and I usually collect a few leaves and flowers on our morning walk, which I play around with later for a moment of calm, and use in my photographs of my posies that I make. Often when the girls see me playing and creating with leaves and flowers they like to do it too. They have also tried some natural solar dyeing. I love it when they see me creating and take an interest in it too.

After our walk Ivy has a play outside while I make myself a coffee I do some creating at the outside table. Between crocheting posies and cups of tea I push Ivy on the swings and chat to her while she plays.

Then it’s some quiet play inside, lunch, and watching playschool on the TV while I get a few household chores done if I can, and photographing my posies, and then it’s nap time for Ivy. During Ivy’s nap I try to catch up on anything else that needs doing. Housework is not really my forte! I’d much rather be creating, but I do try! Then it’s time to pick up the girls from school, followed by playing outside until Daddy gets home, or sometimes a little screen time, then dinner/bath/homework and the bedtime routine.

There are of course other days when Ivy and I go to playgroup or to the fruit and vege shop together, or the park.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

My most favourite thing is when we are outside our little shed, the girls are playing under the trees making cubbies, playing in the sand, or swinging on the tyre swing, I am crafting, and my husband Nigel is pottering away in the garden. We also love going out for picnics and exploring together. And the girls love to help their Daddy in the vege garden.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about love, peace, flowers & leaves, being creative, trying new things creatively, music, singing, homegrown, homemade, and nature. I am passionate about styling, and making our living space a warm, cosy, inviting home, wherever we are. I am also passionate about empowering and supporting minority groups of women. I am passionate about raising our three girls as healthy, independent, strong, gentle, free-spirited, loving, kind, creative human beings. And I am passionate about keeping a loving, supportive, equal relationship with my husband Nigel, continuing to honour each other’s strengths and weaknesses, continuing to work as a team to raise our children and complete everyday tasks, and continuing to build our dreams together, doing everything with love.

What inspires you?

So many things! Nature, the moon, flowers, live music, our children, rolling hills, the ocean, the forest, simple things, homegrown fresh produce, colours, other creative souls (especially through Instagram), vintage, and the 60’s/70’s “barefoot and flowers in your hair hippie” era.

I loved your hashtag #slowfloralstyle, why did you start it? What is it about?

I love playing with flowers and leaves. Often when I am having a tough day or just caught up in the busyness of life, I find myself using flowers (and tea) to slow myself down, even if just for a moment or two, and my mind feels instantly calmer. Sometimes it’s by creating flower mandalas, or sometimes simply picking some garden flowers and making a little bouquet. I have noticed through Instagram that a few people find playing around with flowers peaceful, and I think it’s especially important as a mother to create little moments of self-care throughout your days. So #slowfloralstyle is about finding little pockets of floral calm in your day. And I just love scrolling through this gallery every week, so many beautiful images!

Last year you undertook an amazing project Little Squares of Strength, can you tell me about it?

I started the #littlesquaresofstrength project last year as a way to bring women crafters from all walks of life, all over the world, together as a community, to send love and kindness to other women who needed a bit of encouragement and support sent their way. It was about each person crafting one small square, that would come together with many other squares to form an incredible blanket of strength and love.

LIttle Squares of Strength

My background is in women’s studies, women’s health, and working with very marginalised groups of women, and for many years I have taken a strong interest in supporting and empowering women. Now that I have had children I love coordinating the #littlesquaresofstrength project alongside my online posy business, as something that gives back, and makes a difference to the lives of those women who are unwell or having a tough time. In addition to the #littlesquaresofstrength project, I also have a hashtag #posiesforpeace which I use for my handcrafted posies. For every posy I sell, I donate $2 to various organisations that help to make the world a more peaceful place. Last month this money went to safesteps.org.au – helping to keep women and children safe from domestic violence in Australia. This month the money is being donated to destinyrescue.org ~ rescuing children out of sexual slavery and exploitation. My plan is to continue donating to a different charity each month.

Last year, the #littlesquaresofstrength project was about sending blankets of love to women who were having a tough journey. This year, the project is about mother + child blankets. People can nominate a little one who is having a tough time, and collaborative blankets will be sent to children and their mamas. This year I have a team of volunteer stitchers who are helping me out with the joining of squares into blankets. The guidelines for making and sending squares are all on my website. You can knit, crochet, weave, sew, stitch, or embroider a 16cm x 16cm square, and send it in to be part of a #littlesquaresofstrength blanket. You can be as unique as you like with how you make your squares, and even the most simple and basic squares are wonderful in the blankets! Just imagine wrapping yourself in a blanket that is made up of squares handmade by women all over the world, infused with so much love. This is what the #littlesquaresofstrength project is all about.

What are your dreams for motherhood?

My dreams for motherhood are to create an environment where our girls feel that they can express themselves freely, creatively or otherwise. To have a relationship with them in which they feel that they can be open and communicate easily. To raise them in an environment that encourages them to dream, to be imaginative, to feel that they are supported in whichever direction they choose to take in life, to show kindness and empathy towards others, and to have a healthy self-esteem and self-confidence. To teach our girls that partnerships should feel equal and supportive. To fill their lives with music. Music from all genres and cultures, all over the world. And to make life fun!

Thank you, Fleur!

You might also like my post:

How to Make All Natural Temporary Tattoos from Real Flowers

Garbage Free: How to Make Your Own Delicious Cashew Milk

How to Make a Mother Nature Leaf Dress from Real Leaves

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people

Creative Mother Kate from A Playful Day

April 1, 2016Leave a comment

Have you heard about The Maker’s Year? When I came across it, quite by accident through an Instagram hashtag — #themakersyear — I followed the hashtag trail and it led me to the creative and inspiring Kate from A Playful Day, what a lovely surprise, indeed! A few months back Kate interviewed Melanie Barnes and I (read it here) about our Slow Living Project. Since our short conversation with Kate I’ve been totally intrigued by her creativity, both the range of her artistic abilities and her intelligent contemplation of the role creativity plays in (her) life.

Kate is a mother, writer, blogger and podcaster, and as she says “sometimes a photographer.” Kate reminds us to make time for creativity, but most importantly to notice all the small, routine, daily activities in which we create. We are always making and creating to sustain our bodies, minds and souls. The Maker’s Year gives a nod to this making and creating and inspires us to share our creativity with others. In good fashion the Maker’s Year is also focussed on sustainability and seasonal rhythms. The Maker’s Year not only asks us to think about how little creative acts can make a big difference in our life, but also how being creative and in tune with the seasons and sustainability our small acts can have a huge, important impact. (By the way, it is not too late to join in The Maker’s Year, so visit Kate’s site and get involved).

There’s a lot more to Kate than the Maker’s Year, so please read on and hear her story of motherhood and creativity, slowing down and making. Enjoy!

Kate, please tell me a little bit about yourself. What is your background?

I fell into the creative online life almost entirely by accident. When A Playful Day began I was living in London and working an incredibly stressful job. My career had been focussed on helping those in need: families in crisis, teenagers with mental health problems, children with extreme social behaviour problems… so many challenges and so little time to help everyone. Blogging was a way to feel like I wasn’t living for the spaces in between all that noise and activity. I rediscovered my love for writing and explored photography a little again having lost them almost entirely. As the blog gathered momentum, so did my need to make positive changes to my life and rescue my health. I went searching for a playful moment in every day and found a completely new path. I’m forever grateful that I took that risk.

What part of the world do you live in?

I recently relocated with my daughter to rural Dorset which is to the south of England. We spend our days gasping at big skies and are lucky enough to witness lambing and birds of prey swooping into the sea. It’s as spectacular as it sounds but not without challenges. It’s currently soaking wet and our routes into preschool each day keep flooding. I wouldn’t change it for the world though.

How do you spend most of your days?

My weekday life is pretty fast paced. As it’s just my daughter and I, I try to wake a little before her to check news and what’s been happening in the world before she calls for me. We breakfast together, talk about our plans and soon are in the car and driving through the countryside to drop her to preschool. While she’s there I work on commissions for writing or photography. Sometimes I meet with creatives for planning and coaching sessions but for the most part I’m at home with tea and a playlist keeping me company. It’s a varied work day which can be fun but a bit overwhelming sometimes. Before long I’m back in the car to collect my daughter and we often bake and make together until bedtime. Then I work into the small hours on admin, emails and my own blogging and podcasting content.

The weekends though…. Now the weekends are where things get truly wonderful. My daughter and I like to do small chores in our pjs and share a slower breakfast which usually involves one quick bowl of cereal to take the edge off then something delicious we made like granola or eggs and fresh bread. I sip coffee and we pack bags and head out to the coast with waterproofs and cameras. We collect shells, laugh at the wind whipping our hair and reconnect with each other and all the things we love. My daughter and I are true nature babies so filling up on these moments sustains us for the busy week ahead.

Do you have a favourite quote or words that inspire you?

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style” – Maya Angelou

I never got over my teenage hero worship when it comes to Maya Angelou. Her beautiful words speak to me as a single mother in my thirties as much as they did an awkward 15 year old girl learning her place in the world. Maya understood the need for sass and the deep desire to tell a story. My understanding of feminism feels more complete for reading her words about the value of women, of colour and class in the world. My days are fast paced because I’m living and I always think of the quote above when I’m tired and wondering if I should just lay low for a little while.

What are some of your favourite books?

Anything by Toni Morrison. I think I’ve read most of her books at least once and each time I am touched deeply by her ability to see the twists and turns of life and love. Toni wrote the most beautiful passage about a love that will bring you to your knees in Jazz and her opening to The Song of Solomon remains my favourite start to any novel I’ve ever read.

What were you passionate about as a child? Has creativity always been a big part of your life?

I come from a family of story tellers and book worms. My grandfather made up stories about a naughty goblin named Jerry and through every season he would appear, spoiling our apple pie or hiding my second mitten. I read 3-4 books a week and wrote stories that I sent to my teachers, grandparents and friends. I can still remember the day my father handed me a camera and told me to look for the thirds and suddenly I had a way to express myself even further. However with little encouragement to pursue my interests, I fell into a traditional academic route and the Arts took a back seat.

At University I studied Theatre and English language at a really radical university where we built sets and performed weird feminist pieces in dumpsters. It was here that I realised I had an ability to make and channelled it into costume design and constructing huge installations. Knitting and food didn’t come till much later in my life when I felt my creativity had dried up.

What inspires your work? Can you tell me a bit about your blog and podcasts on A Playful Day?

I love process and creativity that connects us together as makers. I get into a certain meditative state when taking a photo or baking bread and that’s when ideas and thoughts flow. I try to make both my work and A Playful Day feel that way. Whether I’m writing copy for a maker’s website or styling a beautiful process shot, I want the person who discovers that content to feel a story there that they can connect with.

A Playful Day focuses on storytelling and reflection. I blog and podcast about my knitting, passion for food and commitment to sustainable living. I have an open, honest style and I love the way people react both as readers and listeners but also as guests on the podcast. When I invite people on for an interview, I always share 5 questions that we’ll think about but we move so much deeper than this as our conversation evolves. I come away feeling like my need to discover has been sated and I will often have guests write month’s later to talk about the interview impacting their creativity for months. I guess it is important for all of us to find time to reflect and celebrate our choices and process.

Can you talk about your latest project the Maker’s Year? What inspired this? And how can people join in?

The Maker’s Year came from my need to make every day. I feel overwhelmed by 365 challenges and suspected that if I looked closely enough, I was already making in some form each day. I began to wonder if I could document this for others to draw inspiration from. I wondered if in taking the time to be present and mindful in my making, whether I could cultivate further creative habits that enriched our family life. I’m increasingly concerned with our climate and wanted to develop practices that focused on local produce, sustainable sources and keeping things manageable for me. It all came together as The Maker’s Year and a determination to explore how and what I create on a daily basis. When I shared my thoughts, the response was enormous and one of my favourite wake up activities now is to browse #themakersyear and look at the little changes people are making each day to nourish their need to make and enrich their lives. It doesn’t have to be huge. I finally made some marmalade and felt so accomplished. No more store bought jams!

When you aren’t working, what do you love to do?

Get outside! We live in one of the most beautiful areas in the world and I feel as if my eyes become hungry for the colour and texture it provides. Whether it’s trail running, hiking or playing by the sea with my little girl, my day always feels better for just being outside. I get the worst cabin fever!

Also I love to have time to knit. I have so little free time these days. I love it when I find time to curl up with a project, my needles and a yarn that feels like a story in itself. Breed specific wool is a growing passion of mine. It is endlessly fascinating how wool varies between breeds and the different processing methods that create the materials I end up working with.

Thank you, Kate, for sharing on the blog, you have inspired me in so many ways with what you’ve shared, and I’m sure you’ll inspire many others to live creatively and sustainably.

Readers, you can find Kate on Instagram @aplayfulday and make sure to visit her website, A Playful Day, which is the hub for all her creative activity, including The Maker’s Year. You can also find Kate on Twitter, Pinterest and Steller as @aplayfulday.

This interview is part of my Creative Mother series, find the rest here.

***

If you liked this post please consider sharing it or subscribing to my blog (see the side bar or below to subscribe), your support helps me continue to write and share

You might also like my post:

Inhaling the Season, Inhaling the Moment: A Story about Biking through a Snowstorm

How to Make All Natural Temporary Tattoos from Real Flowers

Garbage Free: How to Make Your Own Delicious Cashew Milk

How to Make a Mother Nature Leaf Dress from Real Leaves

Drawing a Day: A Summer Drawing Project

Want to find me in other places?

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise

Artist Profile: Kara Rane and her Cosmic Circles

March 30, 2016Leave a comment

Sen, by our bedroom window, enjoying the colours shine through two layered cosmic circles by artist Kara Rane. Such a fun, creative, open ended play thing. I always wonder what he’s thinking about. [ Sen’s necklace is from Tribal Dreaming “Earth Warrior” and his leggings are organics from Mabo ]

I remember well what my passions were when I was a child: drawing and arranging things artfully, dancing, playing in the forest, and (as crazy as it sounds) I was passionate from as early as I can remember about environmental protection. But I also remember thinking from very young that none of these passions could be an adult pursuit. (How wrong I was!!) I somehow thought that happiness came from things, from comforts, and that I couldn’t have those things (and thus happiness) without money. Since the statistical likelihood of earning money as an illustrator, artist or tree hugger seemed quite slim, I decided to be practical and enter a traditional, remunerative profession in order to find myself in a context that would afford me things, and thus enable happiness. Well, surprise ending: Things don’t make you happy. Passions do. People do.

Today, I’m happy to share with you the story of a woman who knew and followed her passions throughout her life and has been able to provide for herself and her family what they need to sustain themselves and their happiness. Kara Rane is an artist, world traveller, and mother of one, who makes beautiful artwork inspired by her deep connection and reverence for the earth. She and her partner have a small homestead nestled in supportive community committed to sustainable living. What a beautiful environment in which to raise a child! I put much hope in children raised in such an environment for their future contributions to community and sustaining our planet. But I know that us urban dwellers living in the mainstream can also play our part in raising our children differently, it might just be a little harder to drown out the distractions, noise and clutter. But we can do it too!

Whether you are living rurally or in an urban setting I think Kara’s passion for art and sustainability will inspire you to find ways to nourish yourself and your family with creativity and the natural world. I hope so!

Dear Kara, please tell me a little bit about yourself. What is your background?

I grew up at 6,000 feet in the mountains of Southern California, in a log home. Nature was a huge part of my childhood, and I found my favorite places to be were among the trees, streams, lakes & wilderness. I also love the ocean so I decided to attend the University of California at Santa Barbara (studying Environmental Science and Art studio) where I could live by the sea.

I am deeply connected to the natural world, but my curiosity compelled me to explore urban life and I lived in San Francisco and New York City. Having a passion for travel, I also lived for a time in the Caribbean on a tiny remote island, trekked the Himalayas of Nepal, returned to my native Nordic countries, explored Thailand and Vietnam and have road tripped throughout parts of the United States. All of these experiences I was able to manage on only the money I earned. At times it was a daunting task as often I found myself with nothing other than my creativity to survive.

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of Northern California on a 6 acre homestead. We have an organic and heirloom orchard of 44 trees, an organic hop yard and small gardens to grow our food. We love the community, as there are many ‘back to the Earth’ folks. It is common practice for us to trade with one another for goods and this is truly a delightful way to know your neighbors.

How do you spend most of your days?

Recently, most of my days and nights are spent caring for our baby. I have learned to incorporate him into projects via baby wearing, so work continues on. We also make a priority to hike at least a couple times a week, often with other mamas and their babies and children.

Do you have a favourite quote or words that inspire you?

“What is man without the beasts? If all the beasts were gone, men would die from the great loneliness of spirit. For whatever happens to the beasts, soon happens to man. All things are connected.” -Chief Seattle

This quote resonates so strongly with me as I feel that I am trying to recover a part of myself that has died due to the loss of so many animals, trees, and the myriad of life forms who are now extinct, or are at risk of extinction due to human caused perils. In honoring these beings I feel wholly united. It is my hope to draw, paint, create them back into the world of the living. In nourishing this wildness, I too am trying to resurrect my soul.

What are you passionate about?

Our capacity to change as individuals and a collective global society gives me hope. Without this, it would be impossible for me to be passionate about anything as I have a lot of concerns for the future of the environment on which we depend. Hopefully, the work I do as an artist can help bring about this change.

Can you tell me a bit about your work as an artist?

Using vibrant, neon, and rainbow colors to layer sacred shapes and patterns, the vision is revealed to me as the lifting of a veil. Into a dimension of light, a familiar yet brighter and more alive Universe is known. I see a place of harmony, peace and happiness. Through nature and ancient symbolism I glimpse the Divine.

Are you able to support your family financially with your artwork?

My art sustains me as a whole person. Throughout my life it has also been a source of income in various ways. Often times, I have been forced to get creative in how this might look. For example: I worked as a studio artist in NYC for a corporate art making company. Although, I was not making my own art I was given a lot of freedom. Currently, I am a full-time mama and have created several eco-friendly product lines featuring my art. They are sold in retail locations, at local festivals and farmers markets and via my website.

Can you talk about your cosmic circles?

The ‘Cosmic Circle’ designs are a kaleidoscopic portal allowing light, color, energy and beauty to fill your Life. I hand create the original designs and Greenerprinter, a business based on the highest standard in environmental printing, reproduces the images. These colorful, transparent clings adhere without adhesive, so they are easy to use, remove and re-use. Better than stickers!!

When you aren’t drawing, what do you love to do?

Working with my hands, in all things! I am very dedicated to living a sustainable lifestyle, to supporting and growing organic food and to understanding how to best care for the land and creatures we depend on. This requires a lot of work outside on the land and that is where I love to be, with the trees, birds, sun and sky.

***

Thank you, Kara, for sharing a glimpse into your world and creative vision and purpose. How beautiful visually and soulfully! Readers you can find Kara on Instagram @kara_rane and you can read more about her art and visit her shop at www.KaraRane.com.

This interview is part of my Creative Mothers series, you can find the rest here.

You might also like my post:

How to Make All Natural Temporary Tattoos from Real Flowers

Garbage Free: How to Make Your Own Delicious Cashew Milk

How to Make a Mother Nature Leaf Dress from Real Leaves

Drawing a Day: A Summer Drawing Project

How to Make All Natural Bath Bombs with Dried Flowers

Want to find me in other places?

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise

Zero Waste: How to Make Easter Egg Bath Bombs with Flowers + Essential Oils

March 24, 2016November 10, 20184 Comments

zero waste vegan easter egg DIY flower bath bomb essential oils hippie in disguise

I freely admit that the naturally dyed Easter eggs I see on Instagram (these ones!) and Pinterest (these ones!) have me feeling a little underwhelmed with our own vegan Easter crafting traditions. For a few years now, I’ve wanted to naturally dye wooden eggs but haven’t found an economical source for the wooden eggs. We’ve been making our own bath and beauty products for the last year or so (deodorants, creams, toothpaste and so on) and it occurred to me when I was getting our Easter decorations out that the plastic Easter eggs we use for the egg hunt would make perfect bath bomb moulds, so I decided to try it out with the kids. And, low and behold we found our Easter egg, vegan friendly, crafting tradition! (Note: After years of frustration related to buying aluminum wrapped chocolates, I decided to buy reusable plastic eggs that I could fill with dried fruits and other treats, rather than put aluminum foil into landfill. Zero waste life!).

Making the bath bombs was really easy and a super fun activity for the children. They got their hands into some dough, designed their own scents from mixing essential oils, and crumbled dried flowers. A sensory and very satisfying experience! The bombs smell great, are healthy for sensitive skin and soothing for the soul. On top of this, you can make the bombs with common household ingredients that are likely to be in your pantry or available at the grocery store.

zero waste vegan easter egg DIY flower bath bomb essential oils hippie in disguise

zero waste vegan easter egg DIY flower bath bomb essential oils

Here’s how we made them:

In a bowl combine: 2 cups of baking soda, 1 cup of potato starch (you can also use corn starch or cream of tartar), 6 tablespoons of Epsom Salts (you can also use sea salt).
If you want to make different scented bombs, then separate the mixture evenly into a few bowls — we separated into four bowls.
Crumble approximately 2 teaspoons of dried flowers into each bowl. We did different combinations to get different colours. For example, a pink egg from wild roses, and a green egg from blue hydrangea. Make sure to finely crumble the flowers because the bits will go down the drain in your bath so you don’t want to clog it up. Although, as Ro said: “It would be the nicest clog ever!”
Add 7-10 drops of your favourite essential oils to each bowl. I use Do Terra essential oils which are very high quality (pure) so I didn’t need many drops, if you use a more conventional essential oil you may need a few more drops to get a strong enough scent. We used lavender, wild orange, balance, serenity, citrus bliss, eucalyptus and melaleuca in different combinations.
- Lavender, balance and serenity are calming.
- Wild orange and citrus bliss are energizing and refreshing.
- Eucalyptus is great for opening up the air ways especially if you have congestion or a cold.
- Melaleuca, also known as tea tree, is a natural anti-septic, is soothing and smells great.
- I’ve included links above to purchase from Amazon, but if you are interested in opening an account with DoTerra to get oils at a significant discount email me: hippieindisguise1@gmail.com
Add 2 tablespoons of melted (liquid) coconut oil to each dry mixture, if separated into four bowls. (Overall you would add 6-8 tablespoons to the entire mixture).
Using a spray bottle or a teaspoon to very slowly add water and mix, only add water until the mixture is crumbly but will hold together if you squeeze it in your hand. At this point it can be pressed into your egg moulds. Pack the moulds fully and firmly so that as they dry they will hold shape. I let ours dry in the egg mould for 2 days although 1 day was probably enough.
Gently open the moulds. A few of our eggs crumbled from over excited hands, so be careful.

natural easter egg bath bomb diy dried flowers essential oils

zero waste vegan easter egg DIY flower bath bomb essential oils hippie in disguise

natural easter egg bath bomb diy dried flowers essential oils

No surprise, the children couldn’t wait for Easter to use the bath bombs. We found they worked really nicely. They didn’t fizz around (you need to add citric acid to the recipe if you want fizz, but citric acid can be hard on the skin so I don’t add it to my recipe) but they smelled really good and easily melted into the bath water. The crumbled flowers floated to the surface of the bath and made the bath water extra fancy. The coconut oil was soothing on the skin and the essential oils gave off a delightful and calming aroma. Overall, the bombs were a success.

natural easter egg bath bomb diy dried flowers essential oils

If you have any questions about how we made the bath bombs please leave a comment and I will be happy to answer. For an amazing tutorial to make naturally dyed wooden eggs visit Fareisle Blog here.

***

You might also like my post:

How to Make All Natural Temporary Tattoos from Real Flowers

Garbage Free: How to Make Your Own Delicious Cashew Milk

How to Make a Mother Nature Leaf Dress from Real Leaves

Drawing a Day: A Summer Drawing Project

Want to find me in other places?

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise

Interview with a Minimalist: Evelyn of Smallish Blog

March 21, 2016January 6, 20176 Comments

A recent study showed that household consumption could be the most significant driver of climate change and is likely making the largest impact on the planet’s declining health. A life of shopping and continuous acquisition is not only vapid, but is seriously harming the planet that sustains us. Many of us have grown up in a culture obsessed with consumption, a culture that insinuates that our identity is tied to fashions, our worth is displayed through things. It’s no wonder 93% of teenage girls rank shopping as their favourite past time.

But imagine changing the culture, imagine raising children differently. Imagine raising children who enjoy giving things away, rather than acquiring more. Imagine raising children who value experiences over things. Imagine what these children, what this generation, can do for the health of our planet.

When I interviewed Evelyn Rennich, a mother of four who intentionally lives in a small space (four kids in one bedroom!), I was excited to hear that her children had developed an ease in parting with things. In my opinion, it’s all the better for children to learn at a young age that things do not complete them, better for their self-development and better for the planet. Better yet if they grow up in an environment in which acquisition is not a major focus of their time or energy. Intentionally living with less Evelyn is raising her children differently. Thank you, Evelyn.

Evelyn shares her family’s story of intentionally living small over on her popular blog Smallish Blog. Although she’s a busy stay at home mother, Evelyn was generous enough to answer some questions for me, so we could all learn from her experience. I hope you enjoy hearing Evelyn’s story of finding minimalism and how it has enriched her family’s life.

Smallish blog evelyn minimalism

Let’s start with a little bit about you. Who are you? What’s your background?

Hi! I’m Evelyn. I’m a mountain girl, happily married to a great man and mommy to four young kiddos. I love hiking, coffee and earth tone colors. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Colorado, but I love my current gig as stay-at-home-mom (as difficult as it is!).

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in Colorado, close to the Rocky Mountains.

How many children do you have and what are they like?

We have four children ages 5, 3, 2, 8 months. (Yes, my days are busy busy busy!) Our oldest is intellectual and caring and is often designing elaborate projects. Our second son is bright, sweet and relational. Our daughter is a great mix of wild and mild and easily keeps up with her brothers. Our baby is very chill and happy.

Smallish blog evelyn minimalism

So, what is your story, how did you start on a path toward a minimalist lifestyle?

We sort of stumbled across minimalism as we explored living in a small home. Before our first child was born we downsized from a 1,300 sq. ft. “normal” house to a 450 sq. ft. apartment in order to allow for me to work part-time. Although the move felt forced financially at the time, it turned out to be a major blessing. We found that we liked “living small.” And naturally, a smaller space meant living with less stuff. We discovered that we enjoyed living with fewer belongings. We felt freer, lighter, less stressed. That teeny apartment was home for nearly five years; it was where we started our family. We recently moved into a modest 1,000 sq. ft. home, and we continue to evaluate what we truly need and enjoy as we seek to move toward a more minimalist life.

Smallish blog evelyn minimalism

I believe there are many ways to be a minimalist and many forms of minimalism. What does minimalism mean to you? And, in what ways are you a minimalist?

It’s funny– I’ve only just become comfortable with embracing the term “minimalist” in the past couple months as I’ve accepted that there’s no “right” way to do this lifestyle. Although we’ve intentionally lived with less for years, I always feel like we don’t qualify because maybe we still have too much stuff to make the cut. I’m at the point now where I can say, “Yeah, we are minimalists because we are always searching for the minimum level of what we can live with.”

Minimalism to us is limiting possessions, certainly, for we see giant blessing in fewer belongings, but it is so much more. Living intentionally with less is a holistic endeavor. It positively affects nearly every area of our lives.

We are a family of 6, so minimalism in the strict, least-amount-of-belongings doesn’t quite fit us. However, I am constantly purging physical things that we don’t use or need. In nearly every area of home or heart, I seek to “find the minimum level” of what I can live with. Most days, the things we own still seem like too much, but this whole thing is a journey. Minimalism also means we are committed to living slowly–not filling our schedules up with too many activities. It means we’d like to live with minimal impact on the earth, which is also an area in which we’d like to improve.

At the very core, minimalism is a way that we can practically live out following Jesus’ simple, people-focused lifestyle without the distraction of stuff weighing us down.

Are there any websites or other resources that have inspired your minimalism? Favourite books?

I’m a big fan of Joshua Becker’s Becoming Minimalist.com, Rachel Jonat at The Minimalist Mom.com, No Sidebar.com, Melissa Camara Wilkins, Break the Twitch.com, and Shannan Martin at FlowerPatchFarmgirl.com.

Books: the Bible, Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth, The Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn.

In what ways do you struggle with keeping things minimal? What is your weakness?

I have a major textile problem. We have an overabundance of blankets, towels, bedsheets, washcloths, etc… But we actually use most of them each week in playing or cleaning (I put down full length towels on the hardwood floor whenever it’s snowy or muddy outside). It’s what we need in this stage of life. We also have a lot of children’s books, but we use those often too.

Smallish blog evelyn minimalism

Have there been any struggles with the other people you live with about living in a minimal way?

Not really. My husband is on the same page with me for the most part, however there have been times when we disagree about whether or not to keep a certain item. Purging is so much a part of our lifestyle, our kids know that every so often we go through our things and create piles to give away. They’re not really resistant to it. In fact, sometimes they’ll want to go giving away their nice toys that they play with all the time and I’ve had to say, “No, you really love that. Let’s keep it for now.”

What have been some unexpected experiences, positive or negative, you’ve had with minimalism?

Years ago we had one repairman who was simply unable to grasp that we could be content in such a small apartment with so little. It made for a very interesting conversation. Positively, minimalism has opened up a pool of amazing friends and acquaintances. We really love meeting new people with similar mindsets of living happily with less–this camaraderie truly enriches our endeavors!

Smallish blog evelyn minimalism

What advice can you offer to people interested in living a minimalist lifestyle?

I’d say that adjusting your mindset is key. Once your heart and head are in agreement that less really is better, the actual purging and letting go isn’t a struggle. Also, I’d probably hug them and jump up and down and squeal that they’re gonna love it. 🙂

Do you have any goals for this year or the next few that you want to share?

I’d like to explore zero waste living this year. Honestly the concept seems so daunting and impossible, but that makes me want to try–even as a family of six–all the more.

Thanks so much for hosting this series, Danielle, and for your thoughtful and sincere questions! You’re a definite blessing to the minimalist community.

***

Thank you Evelyn! Readers, you can find Evelyn and follow her story over at Smallish Blog, on Facebook and on Twitter. You can read all the interviews in this series here “Interview with a Minimalist”. You can read about families making zero garbage and zero waste here (Julie’s family) and here (the Devines).

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people
*New* Author, Sisterkeeper & Muse for Saturn*s Sister : Use my Discount Code: HIPPIEINDISGUISE to join the community or browse the blog here

Have you subscribed to the Global Guardian Project yet? These are monthly learning capsules for children and families to learn about global stewardship. Each month features a different country’s wild life, landscape and challenges, and includes art projects, activities, meditation, recipes and more! Use my discount code: HIPPIEINDISGUISE for 10% off, you can read more about it here

Social Media Minimalism: How To Balance Instagram and Family Life

March 17, 2016January 4, 20179 Comments

“Life is what happens while you are staring at your smartphone.” – anonymous

A few people have asked me variations on the same question. How do I live slowly when I clearly do so much? How do I stay connected with my children, family and friends, when I’m also very connected to social media, in particular Instagram? I can’t answer all at once, but I thought I would start by sharing how I use Instagram and remain connected and present for my family. I will explain below, but first…

Last night I arrived home a little early from work and from picking up the kids, so rather than jump straight into dinner preparations I sat on the couch to read for a few minutes. Sen was already on the floor building with his blocks and Ro was on the couch knitting. I pulled a magazine from the shelf and opened it to a random page. Leaving things to the universe, I like to think that the page I land on will have information or inspiration that I need in that moment. I landed on an article about Japanese Tea Ceremony relating it to the concepts of presence, mindfulness and ichi-go ichi-e. I usually have a strict policy of not putting forward my own understanding of another culture’s practices, of simplifying something very rich by laying it over my life. But I was struck in the moment that this concept applied so well to me and how it’s easy for me to prioritize my family and children over social media. According to the article, ichi-go ichi-e is a concept suggesting that each encounter is unique and will never be recreated. With this view we can bring greater presence, intention and gratitude to each encounter we have. Not having much of something is often an easy way to appreciate it. Not having much time with my children, I appreciate the time I have. Knowing that this moment with Sen quietly humming and building with blocks, Ro knitting and humming her own tune, me reading and Matt playing with a new musical instrument my sister gave us – this perfect moment will never happen again. I’m breathing it in, not breaking the hum by starting a conversation, and just appreciating these few minutes before dinner begins. This is life.

Before I tell you how I keep my social media use in check, a little more about me might help you understand…

My academic background is in the social history and art historical understanding of photography. In this sense I came to parenthood with a very keen and deep sense of the role of photography in history and in human self-development (sense of identity). Matt and I have always taken a cautious and reserved approach to documenting our lives and the children. We didn’t photograph many major events in our life because of this. Sometimes, admittedly, with regret.

As a parent I have been inspired and deeply influenced by the book Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne. Among other things, Payne advocates limited exposure of children to media and screens. I took this approach to heart and have tried my best to maintain a home and dynamic with my children that minimizes time with screens. That being said, my children do watch shows on an iPad, they see me use my iPhone (which is my phone, camera and computer all in one), because screens are a reality of life, like the newspaper at the front door once was. I try my best to limit it, without at the same time raising my children in a bubble that will inevitably burst.

So…my use of Instagram and social media is heavily influence by my academic studies of photography and particularly its impact on human personality and development and by my alignment with simplicity parenting and the importance of minimizing screens and electronic media for children’s healthy development.

Preamble over –> on to Instagram now.

Instagram is the predominant social network in my life. I also have a Twitter account, which is almost exclusively auto-fed information from my Instagram account and my blog. I have yet to learn how to use Twitter effectively. Probably never will. Don’t really care to. I also have a Facebook account, which I’ve used more in the last year to connect with people I know in real life, since my Instagram account grew too large beyond my circle of friends and family to keep up with.

So, a few details about my life and my Instagram account are important to share and set the stage for how I use social media:

+ I work full time outside of the home

+ My Instagram following is too large to keep track of notifications and new content (a blessing in disguise)

What do these two things mean?

First, working full time outside of the home, a minimum of 40 hours a week, plus my commuting time (by bicycle) to get to and from work, means that I have a lot of time away from my children. My time with the children during the work week is very limited, about an hour in the morning, and about 2 hours at night, during which time I have to do all the parenting duties that come with having children, feed, clothe, bath, homework, which leaves usually about 15-20 minutes of unstructured free time. This means my time with them is precious and I have no interest in wasting it away on Instagram or other social media. But working outside the home means I have plenty of time during the work week on my break time to engage in social media.

Second, my Instagram account has grown to such a size that I cannot keep up with the notifications that come in. I could be slightly off on the exact number, but basically Instagram will only provide you with the last 100 notifications related to you (notifications are the likes and comments others have left on your photos or in response to comments you left on other photos). I used to be able to open Instagram once or twice a day and not miss any news in my notifications, I could easily see when someone replied to a comment I left them and then go back to continue the conversation. This was because when I signed in I would have 20-40 notifications. Now that my account is much larger I easily have 100 notifications every hour. If I’ve just posted something new I will have 100 notifications in 5 or 6 minutes. In order to stay on top of the notifications I would have to open Instagram many times an hour not to miss anything. (Perhaps there’s an app out there that tracks expired notifications but I haven’t bothered to look and wouldn’t want it anyway).

My Instagram account grew fairly steadily (except for the two times that Instagram added my name to the Suggested User List). I was able to manage the notifications at first; I would check in three times a day, then four times a day as my following size grew. But after a certain point it was impossible to keep on top of the notifications. For example, when I woke up in the morning there would always be 100 new notifications in my feed, which meant I necessarily missed some news. At first I was little stressed, thinking I could have missed an important message from a friend or that possibly I was rude for not answering someone. But when I stepped back for a moment, I realized there was no reasonable way to control any of this and that my real friends wouldn’t drop out of my life if I missed an Instagram comment. I certainly wasn’t about to wake up during the night to make sure I didn’t miss anything! So, I conceded that I couldn’t stay on top of the news. And then realized that this was actually a freedom.

Freedom.

Freedom to check in on Instagram only when I felt like it. Freedom from the tyranny of notifications (overstatement, I know) and from keeping up with all the new content.

Since this time, I’ve had a much less engaged relationship with Instagram. There are trade-offs for not being on Instagram and constantly liking and commenting on others photos, or replying to comments: I don’t get as many likes on my photos, I lose followers and I don’t get new ones as quickly. But this doesn’t bother me, because the gains are far greater: lack of stress related to keeping up and greater presence during family time. And, my enjoyment, experience, engagement and connection to the Instagram community has not been adversely affected.

So, here is how I use Instagram:

Because I work full time outside the home, I have many hours away from the children each day. I use my break times at work to post to Instagram, to check in on others accounts or to reply to questions. This way I’m not using Instagram when my children are around. When I’m with them I’m either doing parent and household tasks or playing with them. I save Instagramming for breaks at work. I post on the weekends when they are asleep or playing with friends. It’s that simple.

A few other things:

I do not have the notifications turned on. Never have.
I do not worry about missing a post from a friend.
I do not worry about seeing, liking and commenting on all of my friends and others photos coming through my Instagram feed.
I do not scroll through the Instagram feed each day, usually only once a week. Sometimes less often, really.
When I sign into Instagram, I will choose a few friends or accounts to visit and I will catch up on their photos that way.
I do not use my time to reply to and thank people for every comment made on my photos. I try my best to answer questions and particularly thoughtful comments, but I know that I definitely miss some. C’est la vie! That’s life!

Taking Photos.

Photography is a big part of Instagramming, so I thought I’d share how I incorporate photography into my children’s life. First, I use an iPhone for photography, which is great for it being small and much less conspicuous than a conventional DSLR camera – you can take photos in a way children often don’t take notice of.

Clearly, however, even with an iPhone camera, my children are aware of the device and its presence in their lives. I do not photograph my children as much as it may seem. In the late fall and winter I very rarely take photos. If I look at my camera roll now, until very recently I had only taken photos of them 3 times since December. I do a lot of recycling. I pull old photos that I never shared or repost favourites with new captions. During the more temperate seasons in late spring, summer, and early fall I do photograph the children more often, but only when they are unaware or okay with it. My style of photography and the photos I like are un-posed, organic and capture something authentic, in this sense my photography excels when the children aren’t aware that I’m taking pictures. I also make a clear decision not to photograph them every day or to capture all their moments in digital form. I can write more on this in a subsequent post if there is interest.

There you have it: a little social media minimalism for you. You really don’t need to be on social media all the time to stay connected and engaged in a community, you won’t lose real friends or real community. Maybe some fickle people will leave you behind. You don’t need them! As I have experienced, I can still find lots of inspiration by way of images, captions and conversation on Instagram without having to digest it all. I haven’t lost any real friends for it or my sense of being supported by a virtual tribe of like-minded people. You can design your relationship with social media to be what you need and what adds to your life, rather than letting it suck away the time in your life.

What can you do if you are a stay at home parent?

If you are a parent who is home with children many hours a day and would like to scale back the amount of time you spend on social media, try adapting my approach to your situation. Pretend you can only use Instagram during your break time (when the children nap?). Resist the urge to photograph every milestone and day of their life. Just be in the moment and use your grey matter to remember things. Old school style! Or, try to be okay with letting the memory fade. If I’m an example of sorts, you can definitely capture enough photos of your child’s life by taking photos once or twice a week (or less), you don’t need to take photos every single day just because you can.

On the topic of living slowly while also having a busy life, I talked about this in a guest post for Ruth & Ragnar. In the post I talk about slow living and how I incorporate a slow focus into my busy, hustled days, in particular where and when I choose to be busy or choose to be slow and present. Read it here.

***

If you liked this post please consider sharing it or subscribing to my blog (see the side bar Bloglovin), your support helps me continue to write and share

Want to find me in other places?

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise

Interview with a Minimalist: Nora of Inconnu Lab

March 13, 20162 Comments

Minimalism needs a discussion of class. So that we can talk about it and then divorce the two.

The reality is that for many people living in an affluent circumstance minimalism is an easy, comfortable and (cringe) trendy lifestyle choice. “I could choose to have a lot or a little. But it’s my choice!” I cringe at the thought that people think I’m a minimalist because I can afford to selectively live with little or to give things away willy nilly because if I need something I can just buy it without much thought. At the same time, I cringe at the thought that people assume my minimalism is simply a rationalization, a way to enjoy living with very little because I have no choice in the matter, because I have very little and can afford very little. Whether I have little by choice or by force of circumstance minimalism becomes a class issue when talked about this way. Minimalism becomes a discussion of stuff and money, when minimalism could be about sustainability, mindfulness, mental health, and so on.

I recently met a woman named Nora who is the owner and designer at Inconnu Lab. After interviewing many people over the last year it was fun to have someone tell me that their work, their passion and their hobby are the same thing. I think that when our work, passion and hobby are aligned we are most fortunate because we are using our time in a way that we love. Nora isn’t sure if she’s a minimalist, but she definitely has lots of ideas (and designs) inspired by minimalism. I won’t give it all away but take note of the class, sustainability and other dimensions of minimalism that Nora alludes to. I do have to say that I absolutely love that Nora’s designs aim to minimize waste by using geometric shapes. Brilliant!

Hi Nora! Let’s start with a little bit about you. Who are you? What’s your background?

My background is not as creative as you would imagine as I graduated in Economics in Hungary. After some years of working in international work environment, I dropped everything at once to move to Trieste (Italy). It was not easy, as I love Budapest, but it has been a good decision. I like the unknown and I like getting out of my comfort zone. I believe that you can grow only if you are willing to try something new. That’s why I chose the name Inconnu (which in French means ‘unknown’) for my brand. Inconnu is not only a brand name, but my key inspiration as well.

You are a designer at InconnuLAB, an Italian slow fashion brand, can you tell me a little about it?

In my Trieste based home-studio, I create versatile and customizable bags with a focus on environmentally-friendly practices. Minimizing the impact on the environment is at the heart of the ethically made InconnuLAB products. I create geometrical forms which allow to throw away the least possible materials. I have total control of the manufacturing process which makes it possible to use even the smallest production leftovers. The bags are characterized by functional minimalism as I avoid the use of unnecessary things like clasps and buckles but still make them easy to use. I use only high-quality Italian materials like waterproof heavy canvas and durable, yet soft, leather.

So, what is your story, how did you start on a path toward a minimalist lifestyle?

I had to start it really early, I learned everything from my mom. We never had anything at home which was not useful. Un-useful things were thrown away immediately! Anyway I don’t know exactly what kind of lifestyle I have and I don’t like when my style is classified by genre. I don’t think that I am a minimalist, I just simply don’t like un-useful things/words/gestures.

I believe there are many ways to be a minimalist and many forms of minimalism. What does minimalism mean to you? And, in what ways are you a minimalist?

My bags represent my thoughts about minimalism: at the first glance they are designed simply but if you take a closer look you realise that they are made with supreme attention to details; the edges are aligned and finished carefully.

Sometimes people confuse minimalism with frugality and that’s a big mistake. Minimalism means for me: avoiding the superfluousness preserving and enhancing the quality.

Are there any websites or other resources that have inspired your minimalism? Favourite books?

Some of my favorite inspiring magazines: Volume Project, Elephant Mag, and Frame Web

Some of very inspiring websites: Design Boom, Its Nice That, Design-Milk, and Dezeen.

In what ways do you struggle with keeping things minimal? What is your weakness?

My biggest challenge is definitely to prioritize tasks.

Have there been any struggles with the other people you live with about living in a minimal way?

Luckily, no! We can always reach a compromise.

What have been some unexpected experiences (positive or negative) you’ve had with minimalism?

It’s simply amazing how much stuff you can have, in a relatively small space, keeping them in order. You would be astonished if I told you on how many square meters I live and work!

How small is your work and living space?

It is the same space. It’s 36 metres squared, which is around 385 square feet.

What advice can you offer to people interested in living a minimalist lifestyle?

Well, as you’ve previously said there are many ways to be a minimalist. People have different interpretations for minimalism therefore it’s pretty difficult to offer advice. However in my opinion it’s always important to distinguish frugality and minimalism. Never compromise the quality when it comes to minimalism!

Do you have any goals for this year or the next few that you want to share?

I am 100% focused on my business; in the next months I am going to design new models and there is another surprise which I will share with you in the near future on my blog. So keep up-to-date! 😉

***

Thank you, Nora. Readers you can find Nora on Instagram @inconnulab or over at her webshop and blog Inconnu Lab (great stuff on her blog!). Nora is also on Facebook and Twitter.

You can find all the other interviews in the minimalist series here.

***

If you liked this post please consider sharing it or subscribing to my blog (see the side bar or below to subscribe), your support helps me continue to write and share

You might also like my post:

How to Get Started with Minimalism

13 Ways to Simplify Your Wardrobe

Ecominimalism: Talking about Sustainability with Robin Kay

Want to find me in other places?

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise

Zero Waste: How to Make All Natural Flower Tattoos for Children

March 12, 2016November 10, 20188 Comments

DIY Real dried flowers temporary tattoos zero waste hippie in disguise

When flowers are blooming over the spring and summer, the children and I are constantly picking up fallen petals and blossoms for little projects. We press them, dry them, make mandalas and do all sorts of creative things. Something both kids love to do is wear flower petals as an alternative to face paint. I’m fairly particular about what goes into and onto their little bodies so I generally discourage face painting and temporary tattoos because I’m not sure of what’s in them. A fun, easy and beautiful alternative has been using flower petals applied to the skin with a little coconut oil or a salve (I used this one). We just apply a little to the face and then the petal adheres easily. Depending on the rigidity of the petal they stay on for longer or shorter periods of time – but no matter what they have fun with it! We’ve found that more supple, flexible petals work best because they can easily ply to the contours of the face.

When I was on Pinterest a few months ago I came across a photo of an arm covered in flowers. The tattoos looked so realistic I clicked through the link and discovered that a makeup artist, named Verity Cumming, had in fact used real flowers as temporary tattoos. For her process, she had dried flowers and then applied them to the arm using synthetic glues, such as eyelash glue, to keep the flowers in place. I knew a glue would not feel great on the skin, especially for children who tend to be more touch sensitive, but also that glue isn’t the healthiest on the skin, so I decided to develop my own technique to affix the flowers as temporary tattoos.

DIY Real dried flowers temporary tattoos zero waste hippie in disguise soft star shoes

DIY Real dried flowers temporary tattoos zero waste hippie in disguise Soft Star Shoes

First, there were a few failures. (I thought I’d share them here, so you don’t repeat my mistakes) I tried using some flowers that we had pressed and dried and no matter what we tried they were simply too brittle to hold together on the skin – they crumbled. I realized they were too dry. Next I tried using some fresher flowers and petals, but these were either too heavy (from water content) or not supple enough/too rigid (from water content). They needed to be drier. But, have you ever noticed that if you let flowers air dry they tend to dry from the outside to the middle? I knew that if I let them dry naturally they would still crumble at the edges from being unevenly dried. So I tried to accelerate and even out the drying process. I adapted Verity’s technique of drying the flowers with paper towels in the microwave (using fabric dish towels instead of paper towels, because zero waste is a good thing right?).

Through trial and error I figured out the best way to make all natural temporary flower tattoos. Here’s what worked:

1) Gathering: Gather fresh flowers and petals of any and all sorts available to you. We don’t generally buy cut flowers or pick them, but we still have an abundance of sources of fresh flowers. Do not pick! Be resourceful! You can find fallen flowers and petals in gardens all the time. In the winter I visit the florist and ask if I can pick up blooms from the floor or use their floral “waste” from bouquets. They are always happy to share and curious about what I plan to do with the flowers. An opportunity to have a conversation about using flowers creatively!

2) Preparing: Cut as much of the stem off as possible, this is easy with flowers like hydrangeas and pansies. You want to end up with a very flat flower for application. For flowers that have a hard or thick stem I recommend pulling the petals off and drying them individually.

3) Drying: Lay a fabric dish towel over a large plate. Lay the flowers out on the dish towel. Place another dish towel on top to sandwich the petals between dishcloths. Then place a second plate over the dish towel. This will help to flatten the flowers. (The layering is: plate, towel, flowers, towel, plate). To dry them evenly I heated the plate and flower stack in the microwave for 40 seconds. I found that some flowers needed longer. If you are using many different types of flowers I recommend drying similar flowers together, they are more likely to require the same amount of time, and therefore you have less risk of over- or under-drying some flowers. To know that they are dry enough, just lift up the plate and towel and do a visual check, you will probably see some wet spots (flower sweat!) on the towel. Touch the flowers: if they feel limp and look flatter than before they are good. If they still seem rigid, then heat them a little longer. Once they are flat and limp, lay them out to finish drying in the air. They will still feel somewhat soft and moist, but I found they can’t be completely dried, they need some moisture for them to stay intact when tattooing. It sounds complicated, but once you try it I think you’ll see it’s pretty easy.

Warning: Some flowers will transfer their colour to the dish towel, so use a towel that you don’t mind getting a little stained.

4) Applying: I used a beeswax salve with lavender oil in it (because I know it’s soothing on my children’s skin and they love the smell!), I applied it to the skin where the flower would go, then gently applied the dried flower, gently smoothing the flower onto the skin and letting it adhere to the salve. For most flowers and thin petals this is enough. In some cases you might want to add a little salve to the exposed part of the flower (the part facing out/visible) to help smooth the flower onto the skin more.

The flowers and petals stay on pretty well like this. The smoother the petal is to the skin the longer it will stay in place. These are certainly not as long-lasting as a temporary tattoo that is glued on but it’s still lots of fun for the kids (and yourself!) and provides a fun way to decorate your child that is natural and encourages them to learn about flora. You could try experimenting with using natural glues like honey, agave, or syrup, I’ve heard these work well too. The advantage of salves is that it’s good for the skin.

Flower tattooing is a great opportunity to learn about flowers with your children, for example:

You can teach them the names of the flowers as you apply them
You can talk about which flowers retain their colour through drying and which change
You can feel and talk about the different petal textures

As with all of my “how to” posts and DIYs please feel free to ask questions in the comments or share your feedback, there’s always something I’ve forgotten to include in my explanation!

UPDATE: This tutorial was recently included in the publication Project Calm: A magazine for mindful creatives. You can read more about it here!

***

If you are interested in Ro’s shoes they are from Soft Star and are available through this link. Soft Star is an American shoe maker (men, women, children and baby shoes). All Soft Star shoes are handmade, using end-to-end environmentally friendly processes and materials. Ro’s shoes are the Hawthorne model (adults). Sen has the Swift model from the children’s range.

You might also like:

Garbage Free: How to Make your own Delicious Cashew Milk

Ecominimalism: Minimalism and Sustainability Talking with Robin Kay

Top post: Any Occasion, Sustainable Gift Guide for Children

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people

Danielle Chassin Mama Mala Thief and Bandit

Motherhood is Magic: Yoga, Meditation and Mindfulness

March 9, 2016August 30, 20162 Comments

Motherhood is magic. It really is. It’s also really hard, most of the time. But those moments of magic remind us of how special motherhood is, of how fortunate we are to share our lives with children. In my view children are the best teachers, showing us the everyday magic around and within us. They show us how to forgive and forget quickly. They show us how fascinating life is. How special a flower petal is or how inspiring a stick is. They show us how we can live life full to the brim with curiosity and joy. Children are magical beings, full of wonder and belief.

In reality, all this magic I’ve described, the things I’m calling magic are the simplicity and yet deep complexity of the natural world and human perspective – which we are too often closed to. Magic, essentially is about bending reality against the normally understood rules of the universe. With magic, things do not go as planned, our expectations are challenged. I suppose this is the magic of motherhood: things do not go as planned. But when we open our perspective to the beauty and potential of the unknown, the unplanned, to the awe of the moment and the complexity of life, we are opening ourselves to everyday magic. We’re encountering reality with a fresh perspective, one that does not repeat stereotypes and closed perspectives. With magic things appear very simple and yet are actually very complex. This is the same as nature. Nature, its scale, diversity and complexity are truly mind-blowing, and yet nature appears to be the simplest of things. We can find the magic of nature in ourselves and around us, with the help of a child’s perspective.

As mothers and primary caregivers we are fortunate to be part of that magical world children see, spin and invite us into. A large part of this magic comes from living present in the moment, opening our perspective to something new, rather than applying existing expectations to a situation. Children are expert at being here now. Opening themselves up to all the opportunity and wonder available in front of them and inside of themselves.

I was asked to share a yoga, meditation or mindfulness practice as part of the Motherhood is Magic week, and I couldn’t think of better inspiration than children. Below you’ll find easy instructions for a simple meditation you can do alone or with children.

My friend Heather, from Mama Malas, has organized a week long challenge celebrating presence and intention in motherhood through yoga, meditation and mindfulness. Starting this past Monday, a simple challenge is shared by one of the hosts each day, a yoga pose, a meditation or mindfulness exercise to help mothers. Although Monday has passed, it is not to late to join in! We know mothers are busy people, so join in when you can. Participants in the challenge who follow the hosts and sponsor accounts and share a photo on Instagram will be eligible to win prizes. { update: winners were drawn and notified on March 14, 2016 }

Here’s how to participate:

Find the hosts on Instagram and follow them to get notified of the daily challenge: Hosts are: @coldcupoftea, @ameliakyoga, @hippieindisguise, @mamamalas, and @namastetiff.
Find the sponsors on Instagram and follow them to be eligible for prizes!
1. @BYogaNow is a Canadian yoga mats, accessories and apparel line that is eco friendly! B Yoga Now is offering a B YOGA Mama Pack, a B Mat Strong (6mm) – extra cushioning and thickness for Mama’s comfort, and 2 B Blocks- for support and modifications for Mama, plus a surprise Pre-release B Yoga Product
2. @kanthabae is an American textile inspired brand making gorgeous handmade designs for women and babies. Kanthabae is offering a stunning RingSling
3. @thelovemoreshop is an American shop selling products inspired by love, encouraging others to love more. They share the profits with couples to help them nurture their relationship by sponsoring date nights. The Love More Shop is offering a Gift Certificate
4. @mamamalas is a Canadian company making mindfulness jewellery. Mama malas is offering a mala of the winner’s choice
Repost the challenge image (see above) on your Instagram account OR tag a few friends on the Instagram image and ask them to join you, link to the image here
Post a photo of you on Instagram completing any (or all!) of the daily challenges and tag #MotherhoodIsMagic and the hosts and sponsors

Join in as often as you can!

So, here’s my challenge to you:

I have found profound benefits through meditation and mindfulness practice, especially since having children. I like meditation because you can put just a little time in a get a lot of benefit out of it. At first, I was thinking of sharing a meditation practice that I do with my children, that is relatively simple and enjoyable, but I was really inspired by the simplicity of the challenges shared by Amanda (a mindful walk) and Amelia (savasana/corpse pose) earlier this week, so I wanted to share something everyone could accomplish. Often, for the uninitiated yoga, meditation and mindfulness can seem complex. On top of this, mothers and primary caregivers usually don’t have a lot time or energy to spare, so I wanted to share something that anyone could fit into their day. (However, if you are craving a slightly more involved meditation with children, check out this post here, where I explain the Sa Ta Na Ma meditation I practice with my children and myself.)

Tea Meditation

My challenge to you is to find the magic in a moment, an ordinary moment, by bringing your full attention to it, by connecting to the present. This means focusing on now. Be here now. Be where you are now. Be here in space and time. Leave out thoughts of things to do later today or tomorrow. Leave our regret of things past. Just be in the moment. Do this alone or with your children. Try to spend 5 minutes just living now, only now. As I said above, children are very good at this so don’t hesitate to include them.

If you haven’t done this sort of mental exercise before you may find it challenging. Your mind will wander forward and backward in time. Your mind may be drawn to check your phone, to pay a bill or to compose a grocery list. You might imagine yourself in a different room or outdoors. When it wanders just gently bring your focus back to the present. It will really help if you have something to easily focus on in the present.

Making yourself a warm cup of tea before you start will help. Start your five minutes with your hands gently hugging the mug, feel the heat, the sensation will keep you in the present moment. Feel your skin against the mug, feel the gentle vibration between your hands and the mug. Observe the smell, observe the steam. If you find your mind wandering hug the mug with your hands, remind yourself to be here now, be present. (If you don’t like tea, substitute another drink, if you like cold drinks that works too). It may help you to gently, slowly repeat the mantra “be here now” aloud or in your mind.

This meditation encourages mindful presence and connection to the moment. Children really enjoy this, so feel free to include them in it, with their own cup of (luke warm) tea. And, of course, you can choose something else to focus on, tea is just an example, but a tasty one!

I hope you enjoy this challenge and find a way to practice it not just today, but everyday. Five minutes of pure presence will be greatly beneficial to your mental energy and your feeling of inner calm. This sort of active meditation can help reduce stress and anxiety and encourage compassion, patience and understanding. Enjoy!

***

Long time readers of this blog might remember that I’ve interviewed a few of the mothers hosting this challenge. If you’d like to know more about @Namastetiff read an interview with Tiff here “Empowering Motherhood” (and see some stunning photos!), @mamamalas read an interview with Heather “Malas and Human Connection” here, @coldcupoftea (and @thelovemoreshop owner) read an interview with Amanda about the Love More Stories here.

***

Let’s be friends! Please come find me in other places:

Bloglovin: to subscribe to my blog feed
Instagram: @hippieindisguise
Pinterest: Hippie in Disguise
Twitter: @hippieindisguis
VSCO: HIPPIEINDISGUISE “Wanderlust and Minimalist Fun”
Facebook: Hippie in Disguise
*New* Private Facebook Discussion Group: Slow, Eco, Minimal Living just ask to join, we love to welcome new people
*New* Author, Sisterkeeper & Muse for Saturn*s Sister : Use my Discount Code: HIPPIEINDISGUISE to join the community or browse the blog here

Slow Living Project: Love

March 4, 20162 Comments

Each month I contemplate (very slowly, very mindfully about) introducing the hashtag #slowliving_blogpost because, well, I’m a little slow to post. Something I’ve come to accept, and even appreciate, about living slowly is that you become the final judge of your pace, not others. At first, it’s hard to feel comfortable in it because others have their expectations, others are whizzing and whirling around you, but ultimately we know the rhythm that is best for us. A slower pace has many benefits, not the least of which is being more connected to the moment.

So, on to love, let’s connect with love. With February’s focus on ‘love’ another beautiful collection of photos has formed as part of the Slow Living Project (read this post if you want to hear about how the project began, how it works and how to join in). Melanie and I wanted to focus on the word ‘love’ and to see what you love and how you capture it. We were both deeply inspired by the beautiful images and the heartfelt words you shared.

The photos and moments that struck me the most are shared below. (For my selections under ‘Wise Words About Love’ I especially encourage you to visit these galleries and read the captions.) You can view all the contributions to the gallery here. As always, thank you to everyone for sharing and inspiring others.

Love: The Basics

Photo by @mytinytribe

Photo by @weevintage

Photo by @ekwetzel

Love in an embrace, a glance, a hand

Photo by @megchittenden

Photo by @magdalenadom

Photo by @ambertia

Photo by @lulu_pine

Loving the simple things: music, friends, nature, others

Photo by @theindigocrew

Photo by @mama_2thelittleones

Photo by @thepeacefulposy

Photo by @chicangelic

Photo by @jaibess

Handmade love

Photo by @fareisle

Photo by @sugarhouseworkshop

Wise words about love

Photo by @lillalinaea

Photo by @findingjoyforus

Photo by @hanbullivant

Photo by @devine_tribe

Melanie’s selections can be found over on her blog www.geoffreyandgrace.com.

Thank you to everyone who participated this month and shared their slow living moments. Everyone, old and new, is welcome, so please join us in March as we explore the theme ‘create’ (for a second time!), using the same hashtag as before #slowliving_create. We hope you will find interesting ways to capture creativity and creation in the everyday. Slow down and notice those moments, create and share them. The last time we focused on ‘create’ the images were not only beautiful, but more importantly captured the spirit of creativity and creation in a slow and intentional way. We saw people bringing creativity to breakfast or a simple moment on the beach, slowly working at a creative project over days and weeks, and bringing slow intentional creativity to their time with children. See the selections post here for inspiration. At the end of the month, Melanie and I will select our favourites to share on Instagram and on our blogs. We can’t wait to see what you create! As always, please feel free to interpret this word broadly and in a way that resonates with you.

As a reminder, in December we started using the hashtag #slowliving_ for all our images in the project. Feel free to use it yourself, especially for any photos you love but don’t feel quite fit the theme of the month.

You can see previous month’s themes and selections ‘create’ here, ‘explore’ here, ‘bloom and harvest’ here, ‘raise’ here, ‘gather’ here, ‘renew’ here.

Our Pinterest board ‘Slow Living Moments’ includes all photo selections from the project, you can visit it here.

Thank you to everyone who shares photos and inspires us to live slowly, wholeheartedly, with gratitude. Best wishes for a beautiful and creative month! xo, Danielle

***