KLT works textile artist Kristin Loffer Theiss

An Homage to the T-Shirt: KLTworks

November 11, 2015October 11, 20182 Comments

Yesterday, I shared the first of three interviews with t-shirt lines that I love. And, today, I’m sharing my interview with Kristin, the owner, artist and designer behind KLTworks. KLTworks is actually more than a t-shirt line, Kristin also makes beautiful textiles, mobiles, homewares, decor items, and journals.

I first found Kristin on Instagram a few years ago. I instantly loved her colourful gallery showcasing the beauty of her part of the world and snapshots of her family’s many creative endeavours. After a while I realized Kristin made and sold really cool t-shirts, so the next time Sen needed a few things I ordered from her. Over time, I learned more about Kristin’s unique drawing technique. I knew that if ever I had a blog that I wanted to share her work and her artful, humble, creative way of living with my readers.

Whether or not you are looking for tips to running a business, ideas for small shops to support, or just inspiration in general I think you will love what Kristin shared with me.

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

When I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do in school was to work at a ‘weasel’ or, as we know it, an easel. I loved it when I could do what I wanted and have free access to all of the art supplies – to do with as I pleased. From 1st grade to my junior year in high school, I was very involved with dance classes. I took tap, jazz, ballet and pointe. I loved to choreograph dances (and still do in my head). I was also in band (played the clarinet) and enjoyed creative writing and English classes a great deal too. So, my creativity has had many outlets over the years.

Additionally, my mother sewed a lot of my clothes when I was a kid and I used to love going to the fabric store with her. I learned to sew early on – but really just made things up as I went along (which I still do). So my love of textiles started when I was small. I majored in fine art (painting & drawing emphasis) in college with a minor in art history and writing. I got my MFA in fine art from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and later got a job teaching painting part time at a small college in my hometown in Washington State (while always working various full time jobs at the same time). I’ve taught there off and on since 1996. I had an opportunity arise when the non-profit that I was working for, changed leadership and direction in 2005- that’s when KLTworks was born. This month, KLTworks will be 10 years old!

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in a small farming town in the Pacific Northwest. It’s an hour north of Seattle, WA and an hour south of Vancouver, BC.

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

We have one child named Sayer. He’s almost 8 years old, going on 40- he’s an old soul. Sayer’s extremely creative and loves information.

What are your core family values?

I live by the same moral code as I always have and married a person that believes in very similar values. We believe in living authentically, true to who we are as people – not getting wrapped up in what is trendy or popular. We believe in being kind, creative, appreciative, loyal, and true. We believe in working hard and not taking things for granted. We always want to be learning something new and making things by hand. Family and the people that we care about, are the most important thing to us. Our goal is to pass all of these things to Sayer.

How do you spend most of your days?

If it’s a school day, walk Sayer to school and then I have time to work. The big trick is narrowing down my ideas. I have to float between creating, making, marketing & managing. Some days I’m better at certain things so that usually dictates what I work on if there isn’t a specific deadline that I’m trying to meet. My life revolves around setting timers so that I don’t slack anything that needs to get done- when I work, I tend to get into the creative bubble and lose track of time. When the timer goes off at the end of the day, I walk down to Sayer’s school to pick him up. Most of our days are spent making things– all of us. Seriously, our house is a working studio. Chris is a ceramic artist who teaches at two local colleges. He’s always working on something. Sayer is usually making maps of some sort or playing his electric guitar. I’m usually trying to figure out which idea to work on next.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

It’s hard to narrow it down. We spend a lot of time together. I like exploring and enjoying the valley together. We live in a beautiful area and like to take breaks outside either in our backyard, biking, going to the beach, going on the boat with my parents, or (particularly in my case) taking photos. Sayer loves maps and is a human GPS. It’s fun to have him map out places that we haven’t gone before and follow his directions. Probably my favorite thing is when we are all in the studio together, making things and listening to music. Chris & I have studio spaces that are connected– which includes a space for Sayer. We all love music and also really enjoy going to live concerts together where there is room to dance.

What are you passionate about?

I would have to say that I’m a passionate person – so I’m passionate about many things. I’m passionate about human rights, equality, creativity, making, all forms of art (dance, music, fine art, writing, photography), and learning.

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from my family, nostalgia, childhood, books, movies, and mid-century design. I live by waterways, near farmland in the Pacific Northwest. My imagery and colors are influenced by my surroundings.

What is KLTworks? What do you design and sell?

KLTworks is a working studio in addition to the name of my brand. When I first started out, I made a lot of home décor items, mostly for baby and kids (pillows, prints, mobiles and plush) – very family oriented. I’ve maintained making and selling all of these things over the years but added clothing to the mix in 2007 (when we were expecting a baby). When the market crashed, there was a bigger demand for a smaller price point. So I started putting more emphasis on apparel, namely for baby and kids and had many requests for adult apparel as well. Ever since, my inventory has been a larger percentage of clothing. In 2014, I consciously started making a slow switch back to making and designing a larger percentage of décor.

What does the name mean?

The “KLT” in KLTworks stands for my initials – Kristin Loffer Theiss. KLT works means all that I make or work on. When I named the business, I wanted something that encompassed all that I did and had longevity.

What is compelling about working with t-shirts that keeps you interested?

I think I’ve maintained interest primarily through having Sayer & Chris in my life. They wear everything that I make. It’s fun to have them wear things that I create. Sayer has worn a KLT owl tee his whole life! It’s also really fun to see how people relate to things that I draw. I love that so many kids in particular, connect with my drawings/images. I still love going out and about and noticing someone wearing something that I’ve made. I’ve been doing this long enough now, that I have a lot of really loyal customers that come back for the same image/design in different sizes. I also enjoy the stories about people and their connections to their tees.

How did KLTworks get started? How long have you been in the business? How has your business evolved?

It came about quite organically. It was during a transition in my employment and I was looking for a full time job. I had met some women who had their own businesses making things and I kept those connections during my job search. This was all before Etsy had started. During that time, I just started working in my studio at home as a way of processing and relaxing. I had the opportunity to be a part of a few shows with the work I was making. I started drawing with thread and making mobiles really early on. I started KLTworks in 2005 not really exactly sure what was going to happen, but willing to take the jump to see. While listening to feedback, I started narrowing down my line. The business then sort of gained enough momentum that my search for employment stopped. (Although, I’ve maintained my part time teaching gig teaching painting and drawing at the local college). For me, it’s always been more about creating and designing rather than the business element. Meaning, my process is about making things that I like, I then figuring out whether they are something that I should try to sell – rather than making things based on whether they would sell. You will never see me make things based on current events or what is trendy. I have a thread of continuity in my work that I like to maintain. My designs come from a place that is true to me and based on my experiences or surroundings. Currently, my business has evolved by me figuring out how to design and make more, rather than to spend all of my time filling orders and responding to demand.

KLTworks is a family business, how does that work for you? What is each person’s role?

It’s a family business in the sense that my studio is in our house and family is my first priority. I have never hired anyone (although I have plans to contract with a sewer soon). Everyone in the family has their part, from inspiration and modelling, to helping problem solve a technique or equipment issue. Chris is extremely helpful in the business – he helps me in so many ways. He’s more about supporting me in my needs, be it technical or emotional, rather than about KLTworks as a business. He has a lot on his own plate – teaching and his own art. He did help me design one of the first KLT mobiles, the Crawling Critters Mobile. Sayer is a great product tester and model. I have used drawings from both of them this year in a few KLTworks designs.

Tell me about your graphics, you have a very unique design process.

I love the line quality that I can achieve with thread. I create images by drawing with the sewing machine using free-motion sewing onto canvas. { editorial note: readers you have to watch this video and this video of Kristin drawing with thread } I also enjoy making designs by cutting paper. When I’m happy with a drawing or design, I’ll make a screen using those images. I then screen print in my small, northwest studio using water-based and hand mixed inks onto paper or fabric. I make all my serigraphs and hand-printed textiles, in very small, limited editions.

Recently you decided to bring your printing process in-house. What motivated this decision?

A number of things motivated this decision. First of all, I was really limited in how things were printed. I was working with people that knew how to print, but didn’t have an artistic vision. I couldn’t really try new things. They also knew nothing about working with water-based inks – which I like the feel of better and they require less chemicals during the process. I also paid a lot for printing services (because I kept things local rather than have things printed in factories). I dealt with continuous errors in my printing orders that drove me nuts. Quality control was my number one thing at times. I also had to order a lot of merchandise at one time to have printed so I couldn’t do custom orders or test the waters with what images people liked better. It took a lot more up front money.

In college, I took a screen-printing class called serigraphy. I printed only on paper then, and had used my oil paint (lots of toxic stuff) but I understood the concept. It was hard to sit back and watch printers do something that I felt I could do. I did a lot of research and decided to slowly transition the printing process to be just in-house. I actually really love printing and have worked really hard to make this transition. There was a really large learning curve – printing with oil-based ink on paper is different than printing with water based ink on textiles. I’ve been diligently learning new techniques and setting up my studio in a way that I can efficiently print textiles in my studio by myself – particularly continuous yardage. Another factor is that I wanted to slow the business down a bit. I know that sounds odd, but I wanted to be more thoughtful in the process and make more one of a kind products.

What has made you the most proud of yourself and your business?

Firstly, that the business is still around! About 85% of the stores that carried my work have now closed. This field and market can be brutal. I started at a time when things were really different- when Etsy and social marketing weren’t around. I find that it’s a business in itself to keep on top of things. So much of KLTworks is about learning things that I don’t know how to do. While that causes tears and frustration sometimes, I’m really proud of myself for sticking with my vision and learning what I need to learn to make things the way that I want. I’m proud of the fact that Sayer sees me passionate about what I do and knows that a person (with hard work) can make something out of nothing. I am proud of the fact that I’m continuously growing everyday in my skill set and in my creativity. I love that I’m able to make and create things every day. I don’t do things the easy way and KLTworks is truly something that comes from my heart. I pride myself in my work being unique and not something that you see everyday.

What are your dreams for your business?

My dreams are big and many for the business. Namely, I want to keep things interesting and fun, while spending more time creating rather than production work. I’ve been really interested in making patterns and textile printing – particularly yardage and have lots of plans for how to utilize that interest. I’ve been slowly creating a cohesive décor line that is coming together nicely. I’m learning new avenues and ways to see my ideas realized. I hope to continue pushing myself creatively. I love working with people and collaboration. I hope to nurture more partnerships in the future.

Thank you Kristin!

Readers: You can find KLTworks in a few places: KLTworks, on Big Cartel, on Etsy, on Amazon Handmade, on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Twitter, and on her blog “KLT Sketchbook”.

Discount code for KLT on Etsy: KLTIS10 – for 40% off anything in the shop Expires November 18th, 2015.

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An Homage to the T-Shirt: Pop Kids USA

November 10, 2015October 13, 20186 Comments

This week I’ve got a fun mini-series I’m calling “An homage to the t-shirt,” where I feature some of my favourite t-shirt lines. Each line is unique in terms of its aesthetics and production process. However, each uses the t-shirt as a canvas for art. These lines are not about putting a trendy slogan on a shirt. Rather, the creative process is important. Each designs with great integrity and craftsmanship.

Pop Kids USA Hippie in Disguise sunflowers canada

I enjoy children’s wear for the way designers creatively combine function and beauty into a wearable piece of art. But art comes in many forms. In fashion there is a lot of emphasis on designed garments (“constructions”), more so than on textile, print and graphic design. I want to put a spotlight on graphics and the (almost) universal garment: the t-shirt. I like to think of t-shirts as a democratic garment; they are affordable, widely available, come in every possible size and aren’t exclusive to a particular age, gender or body type.

Today, I share an interview with my friend, Ellen, from Pop Kids USA, along with photos of Ro and Sen, over the years, enjoying themselves in her shirts. I met Ellen through social media, and was instantly drawn to her t-shirt line simply because it was explicitly not trendy. I really liked and appreciated that she was doing her own thing…and I hope you will too.

Tom Fruin Hippie in Disguise NYC Pop Kids USA

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

I grew up in New York City in an artistic household (my father was a fashion illustrator for a major department store) and I can’t remember a time when I, myself, wasn’t immersed in drawing. In college, I studied fine art but later on, through various evening classes (one with the legendary graphic designer Milton Glaser), I discovered that my true love was graphic design (art that has to do with ideas). I worked as a freelance graphic designer for several years (and at many boring, dead-end jobs as well), I also published some of my own illustrated writings in various magazines. And I self-published a graphic novel (it is called Ice-olation and it’s the allegorical story of an ice cube that doesn’t fit in) that was distributed at bookshops around New York. Finally, I had an adult line of “conceptual” tee shirts that sold at various gallery and museum shops, including the Whitney Museum of American Art. Oh, and I’m an obsessive writer of Letters to the Editor — I’ve had many published in the New York Times, New York Magazine, and other well known periodicals.

Do you have a hobby?

I have never really old clocks grasped the concept of a “hobby”. Instead, I believe in interests and pursuits that consume one’s entire being – I guess you would call them “passions”. Hobbies are things that you do in your spare time – passions, on the other hand, permeate your life and define you. For me, these passions include photography, reading, walking, designing, listening to music, film-going, and thinking. The other thing that occupies me in a rather obsessive way is the Past – I am haunted, not only by a time that is no longer, but by the vestiges of that time that are to be found in the present day – for instance, urban ruins (and particularly old and weathered signage) completely have my heart. Like this beautiful old clock below– I found it in a NYC junk pile and photographed it.

What are you passionate about?

In terms of life in general, I am most passionate about cities, nature, animals, and ideas. I love to walk – I’m what you call a “city hiker” and, whether in my own city, or a new one, there is always so much to discover. I also feel passionately about “community” – by that I mean, not the geographic community in which I live and not any professional community either. I mean simply a group of people (most of whom I’ve never met and never will meet) who are bound to each other by their clear-sighted and down-to-earth values, their compassion, and, perhaps most important, their freedom of thought. This is not an easy community to find. But you never know where you will find it (for instance, I met you [Danielle] and your family on Instagram). And I “meet” a lot of “my people” simply by reading the Letters to the Editor of The New York Times.

In terms of my passion for art and design, here too ideas play a central role – I love graphics that incorporate strong and original concepts. I love, in addition, typography, color, black and white, and a certain vintage style of illustration. But as much as I embrace the world of design, nothing compares to my love of photography, film, books (including children’s books), music, and history. They are the passions that have shaped me the most.

Hippie in Disguise Pop Kids USA

What part of the world do you live in?

I reside in Chicago, though I was born, raised, and lived until 14 years ago in New York City (and was your typical die-hard New Yorker). I also spent a lot of time in San Francisco and Los Angeles – all these places have my heart. It’s probably worth noting that all the places I’ve come to love had figured to a large degree in the books I read and the films I had seen. So I had “nostalgia” for these places before I even visited them. I even had nostalgia for my own hometown of New York because the literary and film versions of the city had a good deal more intensity than the real place (and people would burst out in song (i.e. West Side Story), which they never do in real life :). And though I no longer live in New York, I think it’s the latter version that I hold in my heart.

There is a part two in terms of answering this question as to where I live (I actually love this question). The other answer is that I also live in a place that is not geographical at all. The thing is, as mentioned above, I have an obsession with time. And, for better or worse, I feel the place I inhabit most strongly is not the here and now, but somewhere in the Past. Which is to say, not the Past as it actually was, but more as I have recreated it in my mind through the mining of books and films and music.

NYC Hippie in Disguise Pop Kids USA

How do you spend most of your days?

I spend my days either in front of my computer, at our printers, or sitting at a local café (I’m at home in any café anywhere). I work on new designs, supervise the printing of them, or less excitingly, tend to the administrative parts of running a tee shirt company. Sales is a big part of what I do, though that is my least favorite part of all (understatement).

Tom Fruin Hippie in Disguise Pop Kids USA

What is Pop Kids USA all about? And what does the name mean?

The name Pop Kids just came to me one day – I suppose it is a reflection of my love of Pop Art and, in particular, the art of Andy Warhol, one of my personal heroes. I adore him not just for his art, but for his unique way of embracing the world around him – he was truly one of a kind. Pop Art is fun and it is cool and it is rooted in American popular culture (which, in my mind, is quite different from here today/gone tomorrow “trends”). The pop culture of Pop Art is classic, not trendy. If you look at Andy’s work, you’ll see that the things he painted (like Marilyn, and Elvis, and products like soup cans, and dollar bills) were deeply embedded in the popular culture — they were not popular in a fleeting way. That’s how I see our line. Our graphics celebrate the Beatles, and Hendrix, and baseball, and Batman, and motorcycles, and peace signs, and the iconic idea of the American Rebel — American culture of the timeless variety. So we are very Pop in our vision – thus our name and what we are all about.

Pop Kids USA Ottawa Preston Street

How did Pop Kids USA get started? How long have you been in the business? How has your business evolved?

I got the idea to do a tee shirt line for kids the first day I moved to Chicago from New York 14 years ago. As mentioned above, I had had a line of “conceptual” tee shirts for adults that sold to gallery and museum shops in New York, so the idea to do kids tees evolved out of that. At that time there were not, as now, 5,000 lines of kids tees. Hard to believe, but there were not even five. So I got the idea to do what seemed unique at the time – to put conceptual graphics on tee shirts for kids just as we had for adults. Our first season we got an order from Bloomingdales and some major catalogs as well, so that was quite encouraging. That first line was called Pluto tees – Pop Kids came about 2 years ago when we decided to focus on a slightly different type of graphic.

It is hard to say how our business has evolved as there have been many ups and downs. I can say, for sure, though, that our designs have gotten better and better.

Pop Kids USA Ballon Rouge

What is compelling about working with t-shirts that keeps you interested?

Tee shirts are, for me, the perfect artist’s canvas — it is the most satisfying medium I have ever worked in. Of course, as canvases go, they’ll never hang in a museum, be put up for auction, or placed inside a frame. Yet tee shirts are ART that does not take itself too seriously – art that is fun, and can be worn by kids the world over. On a personal level, we love tee shirts because they allow us to play…to have fun with words and ideas and images, and the challenge of visual thinking.

But I can also look beyond the personal pleasure I get in designing. Because looking at it from a humanist point of view, I see tee shirts as a democratized form of art. Unlike the paintings that hang in galleries and museums and that often fetch millions at auction, a tee shirt is something that is relatively inexpensive – something that most everyone can afford. I should also add, that while I am drawn to the couture-like clothing I see these days for children (which I definitely view as “art”), I don’t believe that children need couture – I feel that that is geared to the parents and, unfortunately, very much about status. Kids don’t need much to be happy – mostly they want to have fun. And what can be more fun than a colorful, whimsical, tee shirt?

National Art Gallery Canada Hippie in Disguise

Tell me about your graphics, who designs them and what are they inspired by?

The line is designed by my husband Luke (a painter) and me. We both work on the concepts, the color palette, and the typography. I, however, am the one that does all the illustration work on the computer. Our design style is clean and bold, though I do wish I had more of a talent for a looser and more linear type of illustration (as that is something I have always been very drawn to). For this reason, I would love to collaborate with other illustrator/designers. One who I’ve met and befriended on Instagram is Emma of Pax and Hart – I think her illustrations are amazing.

What has made you the most proud of yourself and your business?

I’m most proud of designing a line that I love, that I can honestly say I have put 1000% of my heart into, and that fully incorporates my love of design, color, typography, and ideas. I’m proud of designing a line that I see as both fun and cool. I’m also proud that we are original – this is not always easy in an arena, where trends rule and conforming to them seems to be the norm. I’m also proud of the fact that we have persevered – this can be a tough business, and the retail world has seen hard times, especially of late.

Museum of Civilization and History Canada Pop Kids USA

What are your dreams for your business?

My dream is pretty modest – it is simply for more people to know about us and to buy our shirts. For that to happen, however, stores (and their customers) would have to care less about what is the new “it” line or the line that has won the popularity contest on Instagram. Our talent and expertise happens to be in the area of design — it is simply not in the area of branding, marketing, and promotion.

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Thank you, Ellen, for sharing what inspires you and your graphic designs. Readers: you can find Pop Kids USA online shop here. Find the second interview in this series, with KLTworks, here.

Pop Kids USA Tom Fruin Hippie in Disguise NYC

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Interview with a Minimalist: Amanda

October 8, 2015October 7, 201610 Comments

When a baby is on the way, there’s often an intense need to nest and prepare for their arrival. Cleaning, arranging, and accumulating. Making sure the stuff baby needs to survive and thrive are at the ready. When I learned that my friend, Amanda, was expecting her third, I was curious to know how she was approaching nesting this time around, after all nesting is most often an instinct and not an intellectual decision. Other people I know have no less prepared and accumulated stuff for their third than for their first. But, Amanda is a minimalist. I wondered curiously whether her minimalism was affecting how she felt about preparing for baby this time around. We chatted, and I learned a lot more than just about her baby prep, I learned that Amanda’s story of coming to minimalism was a lot like my own. For me, there is no lofty intellectual or artistic story to tell. I didn’t aspire to a particular home decor aesthetic. It was a completely practical decision. Faced with never ending tidying, exhaustion from work and mothering, I made the decision that our home needed to have way, way less stuff if I was going to save my sanity. Some people are comfortable in clutter and disarray, I’m not one of them.

Amanda is a stay-at-home mother and a photographer. I asked her to share her story of finding minimalism and how it is now part of her everyday life. I think you will find her answers refreshing and engaging. She speaks in a very honest and practical way, with beautiful snippets of revelation here and there. I absolutely love how Amanda so clearly sees that minimalism doesn’t stop with your living space, it permeates how you live and how you make decisions. Minimalism changes how you think about your schedule, your grocery shopping, your texting, everything.

I hope you are inspired by Amanda’s story.

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

I’m 28 years old. I’m the oldest of four preacher’s kids. Born, bred and breeding in the desert of Southern California. I was 20 when I married my best friend, who turned me from a preacher’s kid to a preacher’s wife. Together we have two daughters and one on the way!

What are you passionate about? How do you like to spend your time?

Although I would not describe my transition to motherhood as smooth, I am passionate about my little ones and relishing in the beautiful and short years that they will be with me. My photography business has the ability to keep me busy, but I love being able to set my own schedule and create more space if that’s what I need. It’s also been a wonderful creative outlet for me during the chaos that accompanies these years with young ones all around.

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

My firstborn, Jaryn Rose, is 5 going on 15. She’s articulate and sassy, with a sensitive side that craves down time and quiet. Raynen, my soon-to-be middle child, is a little ball of fire and attitude. She is stubborn and hilarious and fearlessly daring. She has speech apraxia and sensory processing disorder which plunged us into the world of therapy and special needs, but everyday she makes me more the mama I want to be.

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

“If you watched a movie about a guy who wanted a Volvo and worked for years to get it, you wouldn’t cry at the end when he drove off the lot, testing the windshield wipers. You wouldn’t tell your friends you saw a beautiful movie or go home and put a record on to think about the story you’d seen. The truth is, you wouldn’t remember that movie a week later, except you’d feel robbed and want your money back. Nobody cries at the end of a movie about a guy who wants a Volvo. But we spend years actually living those stories, and expect our lives to be meaningful. The truth is, if what we choose to do with our lives won’t make a story meaningful, it won’t make a life meaningful either” – Donald Miller: A Million Miles in a Thousand Years

“We never fully realize how strong the grip of consumerism is on our lives until we try to remove it.” – Joshua Becker

This could not have been more true for me. I thought I was naturally minimalistic. I don’t hold onto every scrap of paper my kids scribble on and I regularly clean out my closet and donate old clothing. But saying no to new and unnecessary things required another kind of determination. Saying no to the patterns of first world consumerism meant taking a hard look at what I owned, what brought me joy, and what story I wanted to write.

What is your story? What drew you to minimalism or what motivated you to become a minimalist?

I used to joke that laziness is what made me become a minimalist but in reality it was exhaustion. Pure exhaustion. All day: cleaning up and putting away and organizing and stepping on toys. Constantly telling my kids to pick up after themselves. And still, it seemed, at the end of every day my husband would get home from work and the house would be a disaster. A trail of tutus and blocks and coloring pages and books, down the hallway and invading every room. All day: trying to keep the kids entertained. Coming up with new activities and reminding them of all the stuff they had to play with, just to be told how “bored” they were. It was maddening. How could they have so much and be so discontent? How could they have bins and closets and drawers of toys that “encourage imaginative play” and never use their imagination? At first, I thought maybe they weren’t old enough or maybe imagination was something that had to be taught. But as I slowly removed the excess, I realized imagination isn’t learned and has no age requirement, but it is easily smothered. Their imaginations were buried beneath a layer of unnecessary excess.

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

When I started this journey, I believed minimalism was purely about the usefulness of what I kept in my home. If I used it on a regular basis, it could stay but I needed to stop storing things that I didn’t use all the time. I also wanted to be intentional and thoughtful about the quantity of each thing I was keeping. Now, I’ve learned to part with things that, yes, I could use, but not often enough to keep in my house. I’ve also found items that have more than one purpose so I can eliminate the need for multiples. I found this useful with kitchen items. Yes. I purged my kitchen. Who needs 15 mixing bowls anyways?

One of the things I didn’t expect was how it would change my view of “bargain shopping”. I used to love to find a deal. Get something cheap. Find it for a low price and buy 4. Now I have less qualms about buying something quality that will last longer, accomplish more, and allow me to have just 1. I’ve applied this to my clothes shopping as well. I’m not my kids, I don’t need new sizes every 6 months. And I know what I like. I found that I wore the same outfits often and kept lots of clothing that never made it out the door with me because I would go back to my favorite pieces. One rule I put in place for a while to help me purge my closet was that if I put it on while getting ready and took it off to change into something else, I would purge that piece of clothing. If I wasn’t going to wear it in the moment it actually made it off the hanger and onto my body, I was never going to wear it. Bye, bye.

Minimalism also means living out from under the weight of obligation. There was so much I kept because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. This mainly applied to gifts. If it isn’t useful or beautiful to me, I had to let it go. And just because I loved something once, doesn’t mean I have to keep it forever.

Lastly, minimalism has affected my time and how I fill my schedule. The same way I’ve learned to say no to overfilling my home, I’ve learned to say no to overfilling my schedule. The same way I’ve created empty spaces in every room and drawer and closet, I’ve created empty spaces in my days and weeks and months. And the same way owning less has given me the freedom to enjoy more, doing less has given me the freedom to say yes to the ones that matter most to me.

Minimalism is not just a one time event. A yearly purge. Or the same as spring cleaning. Minimalism is intentionally choosing to live with less. To live with room. To live for experiences instead of things. To have time and space for events and items that bring me joy.

“Minimalism isn’t deprivation, it’s liberation.” – Joshua Becker

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

www.becomingminimalist.com is an amazing website that got me started. The founder, Joshua Becker, also wrote a book called Clutterfree with Kids and it really helped me take things to the next level. It doesn’t just explain the “how” behind decluttering and the minimalist lifestyle, but includes the “why”, which I think is so important for maintenance and any long term change.

In what ways/areas do you struggle with maintaining your minimalist goals/values? What is your weakness?

My greatest struggle is clothing. As someone who has struggled with weight issues for years, I battle the desire to keep old sizes and buy new sizes and then save the sizes I’m no longer wearing. I also think I purchased clothes because I believed if I had something new it would make me feel better about my body but that never turned out to be true. In fact, I always ended up wearing my tried and true favorites from brands I really loved and in that way, minimalism has been a perfect fit for my wardrobe. But it’s still been hard to say no when I see something I like or think would be flattering. The part that’s made it easier is thinking about the amount of clothes I’ve donated since starting this journey. I remember specifically a few items that still had the tags on them! If that doesn’t make you pause long and hard before a purchase I don’t know what will!

You have a third child on the way. Has minimalism influenced how you are preparing for your newest addition?

Almost two years of intentionally pursuing this lifestyle, preparing for another wee one has shown me what a huge change has really been made. Obviously with the first baby, it’s hard to know what you’ll actually need. You have to just go with what everyone is telling you. And giving you. So of course, I have experience on my side this time around. But even so, there’s plenty of “things” that I could use or buy or hope for. I could buy lots of clothes and register for multiples of everything. Instead, I narrowed down my wish list to actual needs (a place to sleep, something to wear, and blanket to keep warm) and then I choose to only bring a certain number of these items into my home. I don’t need 30 newborn outfits. Or 12 swaddling blankets. I bring in smaller amounts of the necessities and say no to the rest. It’s so freeing not to feel a pull toward all the things. I don’t feel weighed down and burdened while waiting to bring a new life into the world. Instead I can focus on the beauty of what my body is doing- the rest that I need to stay healthy- and remind myself I already have everything I need to welcome another little one earthside.

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

For the most part my husband has been totally on board. I know this isn’t the case for lots of couples, so I’m grateful. I think his biggest concern early on, watching trunk loads of home goods being donated, was that I was giving it all away to eventually replace it. It took time, but eventually I was able to prove that was not the case. He learned my motives and my determination and has been fully supportive ever since.

My older daughter also showed some resistance when we first began. Suddenly, toys she hadn’t played with in months were her greatest treasures. But when I showed her the pile of clothes I was giving away and decorations and jewelry, she warmed up to the idea knowing I wasn’t only purging her things. Since then, it’s just constant conversation about why we live this way. Making sure they understand the “why” behind the lifestyle and inviting them to be a part of it.

Have you had any positive or negative experiences with friends or family related to minimalism?

Both sets of grandparents currently live within a 15 mile radius of us, and there are so many reasons this makes us lucky. But it was also part of the reason our girls had an overabundance of… well… everything. And in the beginning their responses varied from disappointed confusion, to totally ignoring what we asked and buying lots of gifts anyways.

One of the things that helped was making suggestions of what to give the girls as gifts instead. I appreciate their generosity and their desire to spoil their grandbabies, so I didn’t want to rob them of that entirely. Encouraging ice cream dates, and train rides, and Disneyland tickets and taking them to ride the carousel — making them realize there’s still ways to give them something special without it being wrapped in a bag and bow, helped them get on board. I think it also got easier for them when they saw the reactions to the “experience” type gifts versus the toy aisle type gifts. Not only were the girls more excited and engaged, they remembered it and talked about it at every family get together for months afterwards. It wasn’t just another doll collecting dust under the bed.

In what ways has minimalism improved your life?

I don’t spend as much money. I don’t spend as much time cleaning. And cleaning. And cleaning. I have more free time. More: yes time. More: play time. I don’t see bigger houses and feel envy and desire. In fact, sometimes I feel downright grateful that I found minimalism before I slaved my way into a home that would really serve as a giant storage unit. A place to put all the things that I’ve accumulated and have no use for. It’s improved my life because I’m lighter, freer, more content, and more available. That’s the kind of wife and mother and friend I want to be.

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

Start somewhere. Anywhere. Start small.

Don’t tackle the sentimental stuff first. Don’t let your first project be the entire garage. Start with the countertops. Start with a drawer. Start with the easy stuff. Clothes with holes and stains. Toys that are broken. Then go another layer deeper.

Go through your entire closet. Donate the shoes you don’t wear. How many winter jackets do you need? What’s shoved on those shelves that you can’t even reach? Is it time to let it go?

Watch yourself feel lighter. The decisions will get easier. Repeat the process as many times as necessary.

Lastly, find a resource. Bloggers that inspire you. Books that give direction. There are so many resources available. And there are so many ways to pursue minimalism.

You can find Amanda on Instagram @mytinytribe or her photography website www.amandarose.photography. Thank you, Amanda, for sharing your story and tips.

Readers: if you are a minimalist or know someone who is that may be great for an interview on my blog, please be in touch with me by email at hippieindisguise1@gmail.com or via direct message on Instagram.

***

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Seasonal Traditions & Apple Picking in Mini Mioche

September 11, 2015October 23, 20185 Comments

I love capturing our seasonal traditions though photography. Last weekend we went apple picking for the first time this year. It was lots of fun and hard work, which for a child are usually the same thing. Sen’s favourite part was using the ladder, which he moved and readjusted about a hundred times for pure enjoyment, meanwhile, Ro kept moving from tree to tree searching for the perfect apple with the perfect leaf. We completed our visit to the farm with some good old fashioned hay jumping and a game of tetherball. Sen figured he was pretty much a Junior Farmer by the end of the day.

I decided to outfit Ro and Sen in their mini mioche basics, so that I could capture their hard work in the closest thing I had to farmer’s attire: overalls and a shirt (the overalls sadly are getting small…so if you are wondering about sizing they are each wearing overalls two sizes too small). I don’t remember how I came across mini mioche, but it has been a few years now that Ro and Sen have been wearing their lovely line of organic basics, designed and made every step of the way here in Canada.

There can be a temptation, when budgets are tight, to spend our dollars on stand out pieces in our wardrobes, a special dress or a unique item, something that has impact. Basics typically don’t stand out in a wardrobe, and so it may be the place where we are tempted to cut costs and buy from discount stores, like Old Navy or Joe Fresh. And yet, basics are the backbone of any wardrobe, they are the ‘go tos’ to complete a look, they typically get the most wear, and are the heart of a reliable capsule wardrobe.

We love special pieces of clothing, but know that investing in quality basics is important. Supporting local shops and local production, and buying organic is important no matter whether the item stands out or not.

As many of you know, I love to learn from mothers who are also entrepreneurs and artists, hear about how they balance life and how they started their business. I think you’ll enjoy hearing from Alyssa, the woman behind mini mioche.

How would you describe Mini Mioche in 5 words?

Simple, cool, comfortable, sustainable and practical.

Tell me a little bit about yourself, the person behind Mini Mioche. What is your background?

I previously worked in wholesale fashion and owned a fashion sales agency in Toronto selling adult clothing brands to retailers for about 12 years (I sold it in December 2014). After I had my daughter 7 years ago, I took a little bit of time off (like a month or so) and during that time I came to the conclusion that as much as I loved fashion and my wholesale business, I wanted to do something that was a little more creative and that I could have more control over and so drawing upon my experience and contacts in the fashion industry, I set about designing and launching the first mini mioche infant basics collection.

You call yourself a serial entrepreneur, what do you think draws you to start something new?

I have always said that I have an addiction to newness. Part of it is that I definitely get bored easily and love to be challenged constantly. I have a lot of ideas and also have ‘focus issues’, that combined with the fact that I am really not risk-averse, means that I like to embark on new ideas and projects often. Part of the reason I sold my other business is that I recognized how important focus is when it comes to anything really – but especially growing a business. So that is my new goal – to try not to get distracted by other ideas and to just focus solely on growing this business and making it really amazing.

Why did you decide to get into designing children’s clothing?

I’ve always loved baby and kids clothing – even before I had children of my own. There is something about mini versions of adult clothing that just kills me. I am a total jeans and tees kind of girl and I wanted to dress my daughter in a similar aesthetic. After she was born, I was surprised at how hard it was to find nice, well-made, decently priced, soft infant and kids basics – especially in neutral colours like grey, white, black etc. I couldn’t stand all the stuff on the market at that time with cheesy sayings or graphic prints. As I mentioned before, I was also looking for something new and more creative to do at that time and so mini mioche was born.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

I always wanted to do something involving fashion – I think I wanted to be a personal shopper, although I’m not sure that even existed back when I was a kid.

What does Mini Mioche mean? Why did you choose this name for your brand?

When I was pregnant with my daughter, my husband and I referred to her as ‘mini’ the entire time she was in utero. She was born full term and healthy but she was mini – weighing only 5 lbs 4 oz so the name stuck for a little while. She is 7 years old now and so not mini! My mom always shared my love of beautiful, well-made children’s clothing and when I was little she used to shop for me once in a while at a store in the Yorkville area of Toronto called Les Mioches. I really wanted to include the word ‘mini’ in the brand name since it was meaningful to me and I just liked how it sounded with the word ‘mioche’, which is sort of a slang word meaning tot or brat in Parisian french.

Organics, sustainability and local production are important to you. How do you translate these into your designs and your business model?

These things are all intrinsic to the mini mioche brand. From the beginning I wanted all of our clothing to be made locally and ethically by people who are paid a fair living wage and are treated well. We still do basically everything here in Toronto from knitting the fabric to dying it, to the cutting and sewing. We design our own graphics and have them printed locally. We partner with other local designers and companies on various collaborations and capsule collections (such as bookhou and Heart & Habit). All of our fabrics are knit from organic cotton yarns and we try not to use any plastic at all – we don’t receive product in plastic bags and we don’t ship it in plastic. We try to be as sustainable and environmentally conscious in every part of our process and we also believe strongly in supporting local business, including local manufacturing.

I have loved your collaborations with Toronto design-duo bookhou and blogger Brandy Mercredi. How did those collaborations come about?

Brandy, who is the blogger and designer behind Heart & Habit, and I met a while back now – to be honest I can’t remember exactly how – I think she wrote about mini mioche on her blog and we just started chatting from there. A little while ago she reached out to me because she had some ideas for a line of graphic tees that she thought would be right up our alley and as it turns out, it was! Our first collaboration launched in spring 2014 and we just launched our third collection together. For fall 2015 we have something really amazing lined up.

I have always loved and admired bookhou’s beautiful products and prints and one day a thought just popped into my head: ‘How amazing would those prints look on our clothes’? So I sent the owner, Arounna an email and the rest is history – we just launched our third bookhou for mini mioche collection for fall 2015.

Everywhere I go with my kids when they are wearing your clothing, I hear adults tell me they want them in their size. Do you plan to expand the line? What about Mama Mioche?

So this goes back to your second question – the one about being a serial entrepreneur. I do hear requests for adult versions of our clothing often and I never say never, but for now I am all about ‘focus’ and that means just sticking to baby and kids apparel – at least for now.

Do you have any new projects in the works?

We always have new projects in the works but our primary focus right now is on our online business and growing that, so most of what we are doing is geared towards making that a more functional aspect of our business and an amazing experience for our online customer.

What has made you the most proud of what you’re doing?

The reality is that starting a business and growing a business is really, really hard. I don’t have anyone telling me what to do or how to do it. I have had to figure it out on my own for the most part and along the way I have made some (very big) mistakes. There were many days where I questioned what I was doing and why I was doing it and if it was worth it. So I guess I would have to say the thing I am most proud of is just that I am still here, doing it and that it is growing and actually working pretty well.

When you are all caught up on work, what do you love to do?

I love to hang out with my hubs and two kids. I love to spend weekends skiing up north or relaxing at the cottage with good family and friends. I love to shop. I love binge watching really good tv. I also never turn down a good glass of wine.

You can find mini mioche online at www.minimioche.com, where they sell their in-house line of organic basics, but also all sorts of premium brands, shoes, and accessories. Think Herschel, Salt Water Sandals and Hunter Boots. You can also find them on Instagram @minimioche.

**With the Canadian dollar weak these days, it is a great time for American and international shoppers to take advantage of Canadian prices.

Brian Hester Less Means More Project with Townes Father Minimalist

Interview with a Minimalist: Brian

September 9, 2015September 10, 20166 Comments

Today, I am excited to share my interview with Brian Hetzer. This space needs more voices from fathers. Not because fathers necessarily have a distinctly different view, some do (and some mothers do too), but because I want this space to feel inclusive, to represent a variety of ways of being that are kind, open, respectful, creative and sustainable, and having only women and mothers speak feels a little exclusive. Having said this, I did not choose Brian for an interview because he is a father, I was drawn to his story, only afterward did I realize he would be the first father to appear on the blog.

Without giving you all the punchlines, let me say you will want to read this whole interview and share it. There are lots of fresh ideas and fresh spins on old ideas. I love Brian’s honesty and openness about the struggles he and his family have faced in living a minimalist lifestyle. First, as a matter of circumstance, then later as a matter of choice. Brian describes his ups and downs, the pull of consumerism, the challenges, real commitment and letting go that it took to realize what was important to him. I know you’ll enjoy!

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

I’m Brian, she’s Renae, and this is more than a little about us. Having both worked in and around the skateboard and snowboard industries, we met at Surf Expo in 2004. The day we met, we had bad pizza for lunch, ditched the rest of the afternoon at the tradeshow, and hung out until she dropped me off to catch a redeye back to the Midwest. I told her that night I’d marry her and she laughed at me. Renae had lived in LA [Los Angeles] and SF [San Francisco] prior to our meeting and shortly would be moving to NYC. I was traveling for work, more or less living out of my truck, and about to move to Chicago. We dated for a couple years, never living in the same state until we married. We had a wildly extravagant wedding in Palm Beach, Florida with an Alice in Wonderland theme.

Once married she joined me in Chicago and we settled into a routine of eating out, Renae lurked around the Marc Jacobs store, a lot, and basically excelling in the art of consumption. We look back at the Chicago years now with wonder, what if we’d made different decisions back then when money was fluid and life was fancy free? We were the least likely folks to become minimalists. Renae often joked that her idea of a perfect vacation would be Paris with a credit card, but times have changed and now she’s survived a good bit of hiking and camping in the wilderness, maybe even enjoys it…

Six months into Renae being pregnant our lives were hit by one of the many aftershocks of an industry in distress. The parent company of the shoe brand I was working for (and had in some capacity been working with for much of the past ten years) laid off a few hundred employees in 2009 and I was one of the many who woke up one day to a phone call and a severance package.

Renae would tell you that when life hands you the bare minimum, you become a minimalist. But we didn’t overnight transform into minimalists. It’s been a long journey, and we haven’t yet arrived at our final destination. We are constantly chipping away at what it looks like to live simply and intentionally. We are carving out the pieces as we go and creating a life that is not only simple but beautiful and full of experiences and adventure. We found shelter from the storm of job loss in Dayton, Ohio in my parents’ home. Townes was born there, we rested for eight months, then felt the strong pull of freedom, independence, and the prospect of getting back to work in skateboarding, the only business I’d known. The mecca of which is southern California, of course, and in short order we loaded up a UHaul with baby and cat in the cab and headed west to find what we had lost.

Our financial circumstances being what they were we couldn’t live anywhere near the coast. We found a small hundred year old hunting cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains and set up a quaint little life. I chopped wood to heat the place and we roughed it for almost two years. During that time we would learn to get by on less than twelve thousand dollars a year. Those were some of the best years of our lives. We learned first hand that less can mean more, all the while minimalism was creeping into our lives unsuspected.

Somewhere around the two year mark of mountain life I was offered a job with a decent salary in Oceanside, CA. Right away we were ecstatic, we charged ahead and grabbed on to this new lease on life which coincidentally meant a new lease on a home near the ocean. Which came with a much higher price tag. Our new Carlsbad bungalow was a dream. Walking distance to the beach, a beautiful ocean view from the kitchen table, fruit trees, and a Koi fish pond. Life was new and fresh. We thought the glitch in our road had come to an end and smooth sailing would finally be here to stay. That job fizzled out in only six months and reality began to crush down on us. I went back to work as an independent sales rep and we stuck it out for about eighteen months. That’s when the concept of real sustainable freedom started to enter our minds. A life without paying rent or a mortgage, no fear of job loss. A life of real faith.

Together we’re headed towards a more sustainable future for our family, consciously tipping the scale towards time together doing the things we love, and doing things for others that show we love them.

What are you passionate about? How do you like to spend your time?

First and foremost, family. Also adventuring, snowboarding, hiking, camping, finding a swimming hole, skateboarding, reading, creating, healthy living, geocaching, homeschooling. I cook, ferment things, write (slowly), fool with WordPress, and do the driving. Renae’s background is in graphic design, but she’s really an all around creative type. She loves to do art collaborations with Townes, concoct recipes for me to cook and decorate the space we inhabit. She spends countless hours researching and acquiring knowledge. She’s especially passionate about the Bible and health. I know she has a longing in her heart to get back to the sea and be on a surfboard again. I’m hoping that will become a reality in the next phase of our adventures.

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

Our son Townes is half past five years old and his current life aspiration is to be The First Good Pirate to Sail the Seven Seas. He’s very thoughtful and deliberate, creative and free spirited but not much of a wild child. Although recently he convinced me to throw him off a ledge into a swimming hole in the Davidson River (Pisgah National Forest, NC), which was out of character and great fun. He soaks up and regurgitates all sorts of interesting knowledge, especially about animals. He has an uncanny natural tendency towards activism and a pioneer’s spirit.

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

“The price of anything is the amount of life you exchange for it.” –Thoreau

“Less is more.” –Mies Van Der Rohe, 1886

“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.” –Leo Tolstoy, 1828

“We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.” –Thoreau

What is your story? How did you get started on a minimalist path? What drew you to minimalism or what motivated you to become a minimalist?

We weren’t consciously motivated towards minimalism, it stalked us for years. A wild beast in the brush just outside our sight, stopping to sharpen its claws each time we hit a bump in the road. Once we’d hit enough bumps to finally cause a total breakdown in our lifestyles it pounced and cut us all up. The lifestyle we had built for ourselves simply didn’t work financially and maybe more importantly, we couldn’t get what we wanted out of it. There is little joy in living within walking distance to the ocean when there’s not enough food in the cupboard in order to pack a lunch. Try as we might, we couldn’t make ends meet and had to come up with a new plan. We didn’t read a book on minimalism and start purging ourselves of our worldly goods in pursuit of a more noble way of life. Rather, as our handle states, we’re looking for more in our lives and minimalism is a means to that end, oddly. We hatched a long term plan and put it into action quickly. A little over a year ago we started with garage sales, craigslist, ebay, donations, and any other means necessary to minimize our possessions and lighten the load that would need to be moved out of our Carlsbad, CA bungalow. Although we still have some downsizing to do, we packed out of our home using two 336 cubic foot moving containers, well under half the space of the fully loaded truck we moved in with. Based now in southern Ohio, our income hasn’t changed much but with expenses drastically lower we’ve enjoyed more traveling in the past year than we’d managed to do in the prior three or four years combined.

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

For us it means finding ways to live with less so that we can experience more. It means foregoing (as long as is feasible) a career path that keeps me from my family. Since the thought is bound to cross some readers’ minds, I’ll clarify that I didn’t just say that I’ve co-opted minimalism as justification for being broke and lazy. I am however certain that living minimally allows for the option to spend more time with the ones I love and less time working for the weekend. If we keep the overhead low, financial resources go further and I’m not trading as much time for paper. It must be different for everyone, but when we eliminate something we can live without, we rarely (if ever?) find ourselves in want of it down the road.

Why do you identify as a minimalist? In what ways are you a minimalist?

In the food we eat, the things we buy, how we spend our time, the choices we make, we look to trade quantity for quality. More isn’t better. Better is better.

Are there people you look to as role models?

The closest I can come to identifying role models would be the friends and family that have looked after and pushed us along. We have friends back in California that gave us gifts that we’ll never be able to repay, and family that has supported us whether they agreed with or understood our motives. There’s a verse in the Bible from the book of Luke that reads “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” We look forward to being able to give in the way these wonderful people have given to us. One day our choices will enable us to in some small way reflect the love and generosity we’ve felt from these folks.

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

A short list would have to include the likes of OurOpenRoad.com, Bumfuzzle.com, BenHewitt.net, Foster Huntington, Jedidiah Jenkins, BecomingMinimalist.com, Tolstoy, Thoreau, and Ed Abbey.

In what ways/areas do you struggle with maintaining your minimalist goals/values? What is your weakness?

Our kid and toys! We know better but it’s not easy always saying no to the kid. I do the cooking in our family and I need my kitchen gear. We’re not much for the “this one does it all!” type appliances so I tend to want to add nice, specific pieces from time to time.

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

We honestly couldn’t be more thankful to our family and close friends who have been nothing short of a blessing to us throughout the transitions and struggles of the last few years.

Have you had any positive or constructive experiences with friends or family related to minimalism?

I feel as though we haven’t gotten there yet. Our journey towards minimalism is still ongoing, we have such grand plans for the next year or so. We’re looking forward to the opportunity to influence or impact others through the choices we make.

In what ways has minimalism improved your life?

Humility and simplicity. We’ve learned a lot about each.

What have been some unexpected experiences you’ve had with minimalism?

Community. Thanks to instagram and the like we’re in touch with, and get to peek into the lives of so many families, individuals, and friends that we’ve never met because of common threads like minimalism, travel, or health. One thing we’ve not minimized is our data plan…

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

Minimalism doesn’t have to mean a kneejerk reaction and a firesale of all your worldly goods in an effort to somehow cleanse. It can be small steps that allow more time/ money/ resources for something you’re without. It’s not in the cards for everyone with a mortgage and the trappings of life to just pack it in and move into an RV or a treehouse. But for folks that find that a combination of things like career, bills, kids’ activities, social calendar, etc restrains from enjoying life, simplification can be eye and heart opening.

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

Our ultimate goal at this point, the next step, is to fund, find and build out an over the road bus. That’s our Mount Everest. It’s our ideal version of a (not quite) Tiny House. We envision a forty foot WVO powered life on wheels, spreading the joy of how Less really can mean More. Volunteering, educating our child in the real world, seeing it all, together.

***

Thank you Brian for sharing your story so honestly and openly. Readers, you can find Brian on Instagram @lessmeansmoreproject and on his website www.lessmeansmoreproject.com

Have you subscribed to the Global Guardian Project yet? These are monthly learning capsules for children and their 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 and read more about it here.

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Inspiring Mother Jo

August 31, 20151 Comment

Today I’m excited to share an interview with Jo, who writes the most delicious recipes over on her blog Nurturing Kitchen. I very rarely share recipes or post food photos here or on my Instagram account, not because I don’t love to prepare meals, but because my food photos are terrible (I blame my iPhone and the dingy yellow lighting in our home and not my lack of skill…ahem).

Our food choices and what we eat are important. They speak to our values in terms of health, tradition and the environment. I have wanted to give food a bigger place on this blog, but my photography has been holding me back. However, in the interest of sharing healthy, plant-based recipes, I decided to approach Jo about contributing a recipe, since her food is delicious, healthy and beautiful. As we got to chatting over email, Jo shared bits and pieces of her parenting and her way of life and I loved everything I heard, I knew that I wanted to share more than just a recipe from this lovely inspiring mother, so I asked her a few more questions and pulled together this interview. I hope you’ll enjoy hearing from Jo and her approach to nurturing her girls through nature and wholesome food.

As a side note: If anyone is interested in contributing a recipe to the blog, I would be happy to hear from you, please send me an email. My only stipulation is that the recipe is vegan and that you have one photo (or more) to go with it. And all the credit goes to you! Email me at hippieindisguise1@gmail.com

What part of the world do you live in?

We live in the south-east of England, on the outskirts of the lovely city of Norwich in our little patch of Eden surrounded by woods and meadows. We are just a short drive away from the city, but it feels like we are tucked away in the countryside where our home lies. I’m proud to say I have lived in this sleepy village my whole life, having travelled a lot I always enjoy coming ‘home’ to this place of ours.

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

I have two girls, Fern who is 2 and a half and Cerys who is 3 months. Fern is a nurturer through and through. She is always caring for things, from her ‘babies’ to bugs, flowers and nature treasures. She naturally holds, kisses and touches every living thing with such care and love. She likes to cook with me and loves her food! She’s always pretending to make something. ‘Pancakes mama?’ ‘Would you like tea?’. She loves being outdoors and getting her hands dirty too, always helping me in the garden and caring for her own patch of earth. Recently she has gotten more and more into drawing and painting. She is always creating and caring with her hands. She adores her little sister who is the most easy-going baby I’ve ever known. It is as if she has always been here with us, and she accepts all of the craziness of our busy household with the most charming of smiles.

What are your core family values?

Giving gratitude is something I practice daily and it has helped me through some darker times in my life. Ending each day with an appreciation for the seemingly insignificant things which have brightened our day brings me an inner peace which I like to share with others and is a practice I personally value greatly. We value nature-time as our greatest gift and teacher as a family, so showing our appreciation to mother nature is something we do as often as possible, through our daily actions and adventures we take. I would say that our outdoor surroundings define a lot about ourselves, from the way we socialise, the way we get our food and the way we storytell. Having respect for nature is something we show daily through caring for our plants, visiting our neighbouring woods and rivers and giving gratitude to our food, the sun and the rain. Over all things, though, is to love. To do all things with great love and have enough love for yourself that you can spread it out into the world. Self love is something I wish to show my girls, in the hope that they grow up with confidence and acceptance of themselves just as they are.

How do you spend most of your days?

We wake up naturally as a family. We are lucky in that both myself and my partner work for ourselves and don’t need to rush out of the door in the morning, so breakfast is always leisurely and eaten together. I like to get up early and practice some yoga before the others wake, if possible, then I make breakfast when Fern wakes up so she can help me make smoothies and porridge, or whip up some pancakes. After Geoff heads out to work, we usually head out into our garden to tend to the crops and take our play outside, from painting to den making or caring for our babies. We pick what crops we have ready to harvest to make up our lunch, which usually consists of a pot of cooked grains dressed with lots of fresh herbs and lemon, salad leaves, avocados and either eggs or cooked pulses. After lunch we often head out to see friends or go to our local library and park. After a hearty family supper when daddy is home I often catch up on cake commissions or simply relax with Geoff. If Geoff is off work, then we will spend the whole day exploring new places, at the beach or the river, picnicking and camping out during the summer. We have just bought an old caravan to make traveling even more accessible to us as a family of four, so are planning lots of UK adventures before the end of this year.

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

Explore. And eat. So exploring new places and discovering new foods is our perfect day. Whenever we have the chance we will set off somewhere new, hike on an unbeaten path and lay out a picnic feast.We are drawn to beaches and Geoff loves to surf so we often head out in search of waves and I play with the girls in the sand while their daddy catches the waves. A day spent walking, foraging, picnicking and surfing would be perfect.

What are you passionate about?

Being a conscious consumer and knowing where our food comes from is something I am so passionate about. We live in a society where we have so much choice yet spend less and less time in the kitchen and connecting with where our food comes from. I am all about shopping locally, eating in season and as much organic as possible, choosing small-scale producers over factory farmed goods when funds allow. To make this more feasible on a tight budget, we passionately grow as much of our food as possible, from fruit trees we’ve planted, cut-and-come-again greens, foraging and sprouting pulses on our windowsill. We also trade a lot of food with like-minded neighbours and it’s amazing how much you can receive for free by growing simple plants! I am passionate about sharing my love for plant-based foods for the planet and for our health with others, as I believe that eating less animal-based foods and more plant-based is the key for healing the planet and our bodies.

What inspires you?

Cliche I know but nature truly inspires me everyday. It inspires me in the kitchen, in our play and in our daily rituals. As a plant-based foodie, I am always looking to what is abundant in nature around us to inspire our meals, like in the first days of spring when the wild-garlic first appears, I’m taking our morning walks down to the river, taking photos with the girls in the dewy woods and gathering leaves before making pesto and bread and soup when we get home. When we are out on family adventures I’m always on the look out for wild edibles. Cherry trees in summer, seaweeds at the beach, chestnuts in autumn and making rituals to induce warmth and nourishment in winter.

Nature inspires so much of what I do, but my biggest teacher has to be my children, They are my constant reminders to live in the moment, explore, examine everything and believe in magic. Living under the guidance of mother nature and my girls has brought me to the happiest and most content time of my life.

Thank you, Jo, for sharing a piece of your life. Friends, readers, you can find Jo on Instagram @nurturingkitchen and on her fabulous website www.nurturingkitchen.co.uk

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Talking Motherhood and Minimalist Fun with boy+girl

June 19, 20158 Comments

In the news! I was interviewed by boy+girl as part of their series on motherhood. I loved doing this interview, because they asked really great questions that got me thinking more deeply about life and career and pushed me to open me up more on the topic of motherhood and my own struggles. You’ll also hear about my personal style, the aesthetic of my home, where I want to live internationally and lots more. Please check it out. And a few excerpts to whet your appetite…

On motherhood:

“Feeling in a deep and embodied way what unconditional love means: it is a gift. The challenge that comes with that is the vulnerability you feel knowing that unconditional love ultimately means loss. Motherhood has given me the gift and reason to live life fully.”

On personal style:

“My style is classic with bohemian mixed in, and, as much as possible, sustainable. I avoid fashion trends because fast fashion leads to waste.”

Advice to my 20 something self:

“Follow your passions and don’t worry about being practical!”

I hope you’ll skip over there to have a read.

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Interview with a Minimalist: Alison Mazurek

June 11, 201515 Comments

Minimalism.

I’ve been hearing that word more and more each day. I use it a fair bit too.

In paying more attention to the ways minimalism is used and to my own use of the term, it reinforced for me that there are many meanings and interpretations of the word. For me, minimalism is about reducing quantity and increasing quality, whether this applies to the things we own, the responsibilities we have, or the friends we keep. My minimalism is motivated by environmental concerns and interest in living a sustainable lifestyle, and by my affinity with simplicity — living a simple life, clear of mental and physical clutter. For others, minimalism is grounded more in, for example, design movements or the idea of living small. While minimalism might not be exactly one thing, I do think there are underlying ideas that connect its different iterations.

Wondering about what connects or if there is a common thread through the ways minimalism is lived, made me want to hear from others about what minimalism means to them and how it informs their lives. So (big surprise, I know), I decided to interview minimalists to explore the concept and to hear from others about the benefits and challenges of living a minimalist lifestyle.

Today, you will meet Alison, who lives in a 600 square foot space with her husband and son. In her interview Alison shares practical insights for living small and the benefits it has on quality of life. I hope you enjoy the read.

Let’s start with a little bit about you. Who are you? What are you passionate about? How do you like to spend your time?

I am Alison, a wife (4 years married, but almost 14 years together), I am a mother of one and work in design project management. When my kid falls asleep I try to share how we live in our small space on my blog 600sqftandababy and @600sqftandababy. Most of all I love spending time with my two guys. I have a great love for design and beautiful spaces, good coffee, travel, wine and dinner with friends, which reads like every other short bio you have ever read! Apologies, but I truly do love wine, coffee and travel!

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

I still consider myself a new mom, our son Theo is 22 months now so I probably have to stop saying that soon. Not sure how I sum up my boy in a few sentences, but he is full of energy, loves to laugh, loves being outside on his run bike or running with a ball, and loves new experiences and people. We are constantly laughing at the crazy things he says and does. He is also a monkey with a stubborn streak who keeps us constantly on our toes.

What is your blog about?

600sqftandababy is about our efforts to live in our small space in the city with our toddler. We try to live with less “things,” be thoughtful with our purchases and get outside as much as possible, whether for a walk to a local park (coffee in hand) or travelling with our little one.

I think there are many ways to be a minimalist and many forms of minimalism. What does minimalism mean to you?

I don’t know if I would define myself as a minimalist as I don’t think we are perfect at it. In a way it was a reaction to the outrageous real estate market here in Vancouver and despite the housing situation we wanted to stay in the city and keep our walkable lifestyle. Minimalism for us was one big decision to live small and a million tiny choices everyday to make it possible.

What drew you to minimalism or what motivated you to become a minimalist?

I must confess that I am a shopper or at least I was. My ideal day before Theo was spent wandering the shops and stopping for coffee and a great lunch. Choosing to live in our small space forced minimalism on me but I have come to love it. When I go shopping now I have to think really hard about what I currently have in my house and if I REALLY need a new shirt or shoes and what am I willing to lose to make room for this new thing. Usually this thought process makes me so tired that I end up walking away from the item, ha! And it turns out all the fun is in the doing, not the having.

Are there schools of thought or people you look to as minimalist role models?

I really admire Scandinavian design, their spaces are so minimalist and beautiful. They seem to have so little in their space, every item is carefully chosen and impossibly beautiful and minimalist. I wish our space looked like these ones!

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

Some websites and blogs I really like are A Merry Mishap, Nordic Days, and Trendenser. Life Edited has also been a huge inspiration for me. I am really drawn to the Nomad movement and Tiny Homes movement. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by our small space I look up people who live in camper vans or on a boat or in container homes and I realize we have more than enough space. It’s all relative.

I love this word ‘fewerthings’ that you use. Where did it come from and what is meant by it?

Our friends and fellow small dwellers @maryandthejoel came up with it on trip to Tofino, when we packed 4 adults, a toddler, pack and play, stroller and 2 surfboards into a Honda Fit and shared a hotel room. (We consider ourselves certified small spacers at this point, so not much phases us.) We are always comparing stories and tips on how to make our spaces more functional and multipurpose. We hoped that by sharing the good, the bad and the ugly of what we need to give up, donate, sell or trash to keep living small it might encourage others to live with less. So, please use the hashtag and share your efforts to live with less and have #fewerthings. Looking through the #fewerthings posts can also be a great laugh or maybe you will learn a new or better way to recycle or reuse?

In what ways do you struggle with maintaining your minimalist goals? What is your weakness?

My natural inclination is to be buying clothes for myself and Theo all the time! So I am constantly having an internal battle with myself over whether or not we can add another shirt or dress to our space (the answer is usually no). But this does leave more money for my soy cappuccino habit…

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

With my husband, Trevor, there is always a struggle of his stuff versus mine. It’s so much easier to tell you partner to live with less than to look at your own things. I am forever frustrated by the amount of sporting equipment he buys and keeps, our small storage locker is full of it. And he doesn’t understand my need to buy pillows and rugs. Theo has no concept of #fewerthings or living with less but he does think our entire home is playroom… we are working on this.

Have you had any positive, constructive or negative experiences with friends or family related to minimalism that you could share?

I find we often get negative feedback about living small when it comes to our kid. Often people will ask, “where does he play?” Or, “he doesn’t have a yard?” “He must not have many toys?” “Are they all wooden toys?” But these comments are usually from people who don’t see our everyday life. All the local parks are his backyard, every walk up the street is an adventure and he has plenty of toys. We know our choice is not conventional, but maybe it will become a new normal as priorities shift across North America.

What have been some unexpected experiences you’ve had with pursuing minimalism?

I think the most unexpected thing has been that decisions that seemed so risky and overwhelming at the time, like losing our bedroom and losing our kitchen island have become such an easy transition and brought so much more to our life. We gained our living space back in the evenings and we gained a table to sit down to meals together with family and friends. Also with buying and owning less things I have found the things we do own or buy we love more and can often afford better quality.

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

I don’t want to tell someone how to live their life, as Amy Poehler says, “Good for her, not for me.” But I have found that living with less is a process and sometimes it takes time to wrap your head around it. It also takes time to let go of “things.” I find asking myself these questions helps: Do I love this item and find it to be beautiful? Is it useful and how often have I used it in the past 6 months? Obviously you need to allow for seasons (especially in Canada!)

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

Our goal is just to take this one day at a time, that’s what got us to this point (I am a planner and a project manager for work, so I can promise you that living in the moment does not come naturally to me!). Trevor and I check in with each other regularly, what is working, what’s not working and what we’re going to do about it. We have a few ideas running around in our heads right now like travelling more and reconsidering our car for something more equipped for quick weekend getaways and camping. Longterm we would like to attempt to stay in our small space when/if we have second child and all the logistics and creative planning that goes along with it.

Please leave a comment to share your thoughts on minimalism and the names of other interesting minimalists or just to say ‘hello’!

Don’t forget to find Alison on Instagram @600sqftandababy or visit her awesome blog 600 sq feet and a baby.

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You might also like my post:

Confessions of a Minimalist

Celebrating Individuality – an Interview with Carina-Marie Nilsson

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Joy in Nature with Sture & Folke

June 2, 20156 Comments

As a minimalist my goal is to keep to a minimum the number of items in my home and especially the number of new things I acquire. My general rule (as I wrote here) is to ensure that I actually need the things I am bringing into my home. Meaning: they will be put to good and frequent use and are not displacing a similar item that I already own and is in good condition. Having said this, I do still have more than a few redundant items in my home. That’s right, I’m not perfect.

Need is a tricky concept though. Aside from food and shelter, need is fairly subjective. I could argue myself into needing something probably just as logically as I could argue myself out of needing this same thing. And then there’s beauty and there’s art, do I need these? I think I do, but where do I draw the line? For now, I ask myself: Do I need this object? Will this object be used frequently? Is this object durable and ethically produced? Will this object add value to my experience of life?

Early this past spring Ro and Sen each got a beautiful hand-sewn blanket from Sture & Folke. Sen had long since outgrown his baby blanket, which nowadays looks like a napkin beside his toddler body; and Ro’s baby blanket had become too delicate (from years of love) to use for outdoor play. So, with many picnics and outdoor naps to come this summer, we acquired a blanket for both Ro and Sen.

Folded blanket showing velvet and linen sides and coloured ribbon details

Opposite side of the blanket showing satin “Elephant Zoo” fabric by Liberty

“Elephant Zoo” blanket :: Handmade doll by Dancey Pants Disco

I can definitely say that these blankets came into our life at the right time. They are constantly used. In the early spring, when it was still cold in our home, they used the blankets as play mats on our hardwood floors. Once the warmer weather arrived the children took the blankets outdoors for picnics, reading, drawing, and, of course, sleeping. I’ve been especially pleased to see Ro and Sen take special care of the blankets. They seem to recognize the special quality of a handmade blanket as an auratic object made from beautiful, soft fabrics. Earlier on in my parenting years I never wanted to buy anything particularly fancy for the children, I assumed they would ruin the items. But I’ve come to realize that it is often the opposite, special items are given extra care and attention and they end up being used the most, but lasting the longest.

Of his own accord, arranging containers by size before starting his picnic

Sen’s organic top by Nico Nico available from Little Heirloom e-boutique

After snacks, a little rest in the fresh air

Those of you who read the blog often know that I love interviewing people. I spoke with Karin, the designer of Sture & Folke blankets, and loved hearing about her childhood exploring the Swedish wilderness. It was especially heartening to hear that her childhood connection to nature has provided life-long inspiration. What we expose our children to leaves an indelible imprint that will direct them in life, for better or for worse. Fostering a childhood of joy in nature is the imprint I’m aiming for with Ro and Sen.

Tell me a little bit about yourself. What is your background? Where did you grow up?

I’m Karin, born and raised in a small village called Arvika located in the northern part of Sweden where the untouched woods never end and where silence is something you take for granted.

When me and my siblings had our porridge in the morning we often witnessed moose families passing by or a hare eating under our bird table outside our kitchen window. Nature was always around the corner. The summers were mostly spent in the southern part of Sweden, barefoot in my grandparents summerhouse by the sea. This was also a very peaceful place with nature as the closest neighbour. When the sun was shining I explored the seaside, I probably turned every stone on the beach looking for crabs, sea stars and great finds from the sea. All these childhood memories in combination with my two sons have become inspiration for the Sture & Folke brand.

Why did you choose the name Sture & Folke for your brand?

The brand name came naturally because the arrival of my sons, Sture and Folke, who were the trigger to start making the first blankets. I did search for blankets when I first got pregnant but couldn’t find what I was looking for.

Where are your designs sewn? And what is your relationship with the sewers?

The designs are sewn in Switzerland. We have a very good relationship, it’s a lot of good laughs when we work out new models and products, thanks to my poor French…

You recently added gorgeous bloomers and shorts to your line. What’s next?

Right now I’m working on a gorgeous sleeping bag and bigger sized blankets in true Sture & Folke fashion with innovative combinations of textures and patterns inspired by nature. It’s very exciting.

Do you have plans for other new items?

I have big plans but will move slowly to ensure the brand gets the right distribution and visibility. The brand will be kept exclusive and each model will only be produced in small quantities. Vision is to build a strong brand that stand for good quality in all aspects and reach out to all ages.

When you aren’t all caught up on work, what do you love to do?

I love to take long walks with my family along the lake and through the woods, pick flowers, watch birds and share everything I know about nature to our curious little boys.

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You can find Sture & Folke on Instagram @stureandfolke or online at www.stureandfolke.com

Foreground shows “Wildflower Meadow” blanket :: Sen’s outfit by Velveteen

Ro’s organic tee by Mini Mioche and skirt by Christina Rohde

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In their Element with boy+girl

May 27, 20155 Comments

I am honoured to have collaborated with boy+girl this season to celebrate their lovely line of sustainable clothing for girls and boys. boy+girl asked me to capture photos of the children “in their element.” I interpreted this to be when the children are most themselves, most happy, most enjoying life. Some children are in their element when they are in the kitchen baking treats for their family, when they are curled up on the sofa with a book, or when they are building Lego masterpieces. Well, my children seem to be the happiest, the most free and creative, full of zest for life and adventure, and thirsty with curiosity when they are out in the elements. Our recent visit to the Montreal Botanical Gardens proved to be an ideal place to capture them in their element: in the elements – at least earth, water and wind.

I love hearing people’s stories and what inspires them, so I’m pleased to share an interview with Christine, the designer of boy+girl. In the interview, Christine talks about her family, cultural and work background, as well as her sources of inspiration for clothing design, the ethics of boy+girl production and what’s new for next season. I hope you are inspired by her ideas and perspective. { Gallery of images below }

Tell me a little bit about yourself, the person behind boy+girl. What is your background?

I grew up in Northern California in a very tight knit family. My mom was/is the ultimate artist/creative, she made everything from scratch from all our meals to curtains to clothes. She encouraged and inspired me to be creative from the time I was little, so I was always drawing or painting, cooking and baking, lots of hours at the dance studio… that is how I grew up so I always very drawn to a creative path.

How would you describe boy+girl in 5 words?

free-spirited. minimalist. pure. clean. california.

boy+girl, the brand name, is simple and yet intriguing. Why did you choose this name for your brand? What does it mean to you?

It came very naturally to me. I wanted something simple and understated and classic. I think it means a lot of things but I like how it describes very purely what we all are.

How did you get started designing clothing?

I started 4 years ago when I started boy+girl. I had never designed before, but I knew what I liked and I love materials.

What did you want to be when you were a child?

My dream was to be a dancer or a designer.

What are your sources of inspiration for the line?

For the boy, I am definitely drawn to my West Coast roots, that skater surfer California little guy. For her, I like things a little more bohemian, simple yet fresh and always feminine. For both I am drawn to styles that are really comfortable, natural, free.

Craftsmanship and sustainability are important to you. How do you translate these into your designs and their production?

We put a lot of effort into the craftsmanship. I am really proud to work with amazingly skilled people – from our fabric mills, to our dyers, to our cutters and sewers. They are the true experts and I don’t pretend to know more than they do. I am very hands on in the process. In terms of sustainability we try to do a lot of different things. I think for companies and individuals it’s about examining everyday decisions with an environmental point of view. Our hangtags are printed on recycled paper with soy based ink. We source organic cotton. We produce locally. There are little things and big things that you can do to increase the sustainability of your business.

boy+girl clothing is sewn in LA. Why did you choose to work with a local factory/sewers? What is your relationship with them?

Two reasons: one is sustainability, you create less carbon footprint when you work locally. And, secondly, I grew up in a very community-focused culture – you want to be connected and contribute to the area in which you live. Working locally provides jobs to amazing artisans in our area. Our sewers are true artists, I ask them a ton of questions and rely heavily on their work for a beautiful product. I pop in all the time, pretty much every single day when we are in production. I look at samples, and we go over what’s working and what isn’t. And they know I love to eat so they always try to feed me!

What has made you the most proud of what you’re doing?

The line is so personal, the work is so personal. It has been really nice just to have people react positively and have beautiful stores and lovely customers support what you do. I appreciate that every day.

So far, you have only designed one piece for women. Have you designed clothing for yourself?

I haven’t but at some point I’d like to!

Do you plan to expand the line? What’s next for boy+girl?

Fall is the launch of our baby line. A lot of people have been asking for baby styles since we start at age 2, so that was really fun and exciting to do. There are so endless projects and things I’d like to do so I’m just going where the wind blows.

When you are all caught up on work, what do you love to do?

I love cooking, going to the beach, walking flea markets. Being with the people you care about in the California sunshine is always nice. And I’ve been lucky enough to travel quite a bit this year which has been really amazing. Hopefully there will be more travel in my future, I love going to new places and taking in the culture!

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Spoiler: Keep scrolling, you might find a discount code…

boy+girl has generously offered my readers a discount code worth 15% off all new arrivals. Use ‘HIPPIE15’ for purchases through their online shop.

Find boy+girl on Instagram @byboyandgirl

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Hippie in Disguise

slow living, minimalism and connection with nature

Tag: interview

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In their Element with boy+girl