I had another intro written for this piece…but in the wake of the Paris attacks yesterday, I keep asking myself what should I be doing differently, if anything, to raise my children to be open and loving, to be peaceful especially, in the face of what seems like perpetual conflict across the globe. The values we instil in our children are what they take to school and into the future. The core of what they experience at home is what they will come back to in times of struggle. Feeling at one with peace, peace in our hearts, peace in our thoughts, peace toward others, peace toward ourselves, this becomes their home base. The more peace we experience, the more it radiates from us, the more people it touches. I think these small gestures can be huge. Thinking peaceful thoughts won’t solve clashes between abstract ideas, but their energy and intention will not go unfelt.

I want to introduce you to Rebecca. Rebecca is a mother, artist and social entrepreneur and the creative woman behind Children Inspire Design. I first met Rebecca when we worked together to raise funds for Free2Luv, an anti-bullying organization. Rebecca has combined her artistic passions into a socially responsible business that supports charities, all while creating educational art for children.In addition, all of her products are made sustainably, including using eco inks and biodegradable packaging. Rebecca aims to develop a sense of compassion for the earth and all its inhabitants and diverse cultures through her art for children.

It seems eerily fitting that I had this post planned for today. Peace and love start at home, cultivating compassion for the earth, all its people, cultures, and ways of life. Whether this happens through conversation, play, storytelling, or modelling, we are raising the next generation. Let’s raise one that has mutual respect and peace at its core.

Thank you, Rebecca, for making such thoughtful art that can help us have critically important conversations with our children.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What is your background?

I am a nomadic artist at heart. I’ve been living back in the [United] States with my family for 10 years now, but we are always on our way to a new place to discover. I’m married to a lovely Italian, we have two children and currently call Southern California home. I created Children Inspire Design while living in Mexico with my very young family. I saw a need for global inspired nursery decor, specifically art that supports multi-cultural families. So I started designing alphabet and number prints in different languages and things just grew from there.  Children Inspire Design is now 10 years old (yikes)!

What part of the world do you live in?

We’re currently in Southern California, but have kept our nomadic roots. While at home we have a lovely charter school our children belong to that allows us to homeschool while on the road. We’re currently packing our bags for a visit to Nicaragua and Costa Rica. We’ve worked hard to find a community to belong to that also supports our desire to travel and after a long road we’re grateful we’ve found it.

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

We have two boys, now 12 and 9. In a blink is an understatement. My kids are my muses, the whole reason for my business. I have this deep seeded need to show them the world, all the beautiful parts, the scenes, the colors, smells, tastes. The diversity and similarities. I want them to discover for themselves and get a sense of where they belong in this big, beautiful world. And they are eager. They’re at such a ripe spongy stage. The world is still a gorgeous mystery to them and they are optimistic and eager. It’s my job to do my best to maintain that for them. And to be able to create art for like minded global families who see the importance of this type of education.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

Travel.  Of course

What are you passionate about?

Experiencing new places as a family.

What are some words you live by?

“It comes and it goes. As it should.”

“A smile does wonders.”

Can you tell me a bit about Children Inspired Design? What are your products and how are they produced?

I’m the artist behind Children Inspire Design (CID).  I create the majority of the art designs in collage form using recycled papers. Simple cut and paste. Even my method is childlike and I like that.

CID shares profits with charities, how does that work?

Yes, in two ways. We donate 10% of proceeds from our sales on ChildrenInspireDesign.com to women and children-focused initiatives. We also partner with non-profits by designing exclusive art and donating 100% proceeds for a designated period of time. In the past we worked with global foundations such as Gain Health and raised enough money from our world map design to provide nutrition for 8,000 Rwandan mothers and children for an entire month. That was an amazing project to be a part of. I would do that forever if I could!

Who designs your graphics?

I do 90% of the designs. Every now and again I pull someone in to finish up an idea I just can’t put together on my own.

What is the ethos of Children Inspired Design?

Inspire Children. Change The World. If we can teach children how to care for the earth now, carrying that responsibility into the future will be second nature for them. Teach the littles compassion for the Earth and all who inhabit it. I think that’s our best hope to get them out of the mess we created.

Why did you decide to start a business?

Before Children Inspire Design, we were living in Isla Mujeres, Mexico and I owned a little coffee shop. From that experience I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I loved the feeling of my baby on my hip while running a business. I knew I could do it.

Do have any projects or collaborations coming up?

YES!  I haven’t made the official announcement yet, but I’m partnering with travel blog Global Munchkins as a contributing family travel blogger, so there will be lots of traveling in our near future. Together we’re launching the Global Guardian Project, which is a resource blog for global minded parents looking for educational projects/deep travel tips/videos on how kids can help care for the earth in everyday life. Each place we travel, I’ll be partnering with environmental organizations and my kids will be interviewing them and creating videos for kids teaching how you can help in everyday life. It’s a HUGE educational opportunity for my family and for Children Inspire Design. My hope is to be able to grow as a global resource for parents and inspire adults and kids alike to create change.

What are your dreams for your professional work and your family?

I just want my family to keep traveling and learning and to make art that help parents educate their littles.  That would be a true gift.   If my family is proud of me, there’s nothing else I need.

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Thank you Rebecca! Friends: you can find Children Inspire Design online shop here and on Instagram @childreninspiredesign. Her other shop is Kindred Sol Collective.

I will be hosting a one-day sale on my Instagram account on Sunday, November 15, 2015, where you’ll be able to purchase our favourite piece from Rebecca’s collection: the Our Earth interactive map, with reusable stickers.

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