Tag: nantucket

Alana Dorothy Leaf Skeletons

Meet Creative Mother: Alana of Tafari Designs

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This summer we travelled to Nantucket, a beautiful island about 25 miles out to sea off the coast of Massachusetts, in the United States. We were staying on the coast with my parents at a beach house they had rented in Cape Cod. Knowing I was so close to the island where some of my favourite creative families lived, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to visit. I’d known Kaity (of Fareisle) and Michelle (of Dancey Pants Disco) for a while and was getting to know Alana (of Tafari Designs). The visit did not disappoint. I was completely inspired by their way of life, crafted in such a way that their passions support their families, feeding their creative interests and their tummies too. I asked Alana and Michelle if they would share their stories on the blog, so others could be inspired. They humbly agreed. (I’ve already posted about Kaity here — she is equally inspiring, especially for food creatives). So, first, Alana.

Alana is a mother, gardener, jewellery and textile designer, who understood from a young age what truly made her happy, what filled her heart and inspired her mind, and proceeded to fashion a life after these. She’s an inspiration to me, I’ve followed a more conventional path of dividing career, home and interests. I only wish I had the insights and confidence Alana did sooner. Please read on to hear from Alana, herself.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy

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

I’m a island girl, born and raised on Nantucket’s sister island, Martha’s Vineyard. I’ve always loved island life and felt a strong connection with the ocean for as long as I can remember. My parents moved to the New Hampshire countryside when I was 9 and while I loved running through the fields and forests, picking apples and laying in meadow grass I longed for our summers on the Vineyard and I always knew I would dwell seaside.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Ocean View

What part of the world do you live in?

Nantucket Island, 26 miles off the mainland of Massachusetts.

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

Marcus and I have two sons. David is 7 years old and he’s spirited and soulful, and very creative –He keeps us on our toes, and continues to amaze us with his wisdom and wit! Hue is 8 months old and he’s bright-eyed and joyful, and very sweet –loves laughing and screeching!

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Ocean

What are your core family values?

Our core family values are honesty and kindness. Two very different, difficult things to balance but it’s what we strive for. To be honest and kind to each other, the earth and ourselves.

How do you spend most of your days?

We spend our days cooking and making, our days are full but we’re so thankful to be living our dreams.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Whale

What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

We love to go to the beach together. Swimming and bodysurfing, walking the shore, collecting shells and watching the sunset.

What are you passionate about?

I’m passionate about sustainability, about resourcefulness, about enjoying and loving nature, about my family, and about cultivating a meaningful life.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy

What inspires you?

I’m inspired by nature, travel, the sea, the stars, my husband and our children.

Can you tell me a bit about Tafari Designs?

Tafari means inspiration in Aramaic. Tafari Designs is a culmination of our inspirations — it will always be evolving, as we are. For now we’re happily making what we love –reclaimed woodwork and art, naturally dyed textiles and wampum jewelry.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Indigo Dye

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Wampum

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy Indigo dye

Why did you decide to start a business? 

Starting our business felt like something we just had to do. Marcus and I both have always worked for ourselves since we were teenagers and when we joined together we really wanted to do work that felt meaningful and allowed us the lifestyle we desired –for Marcus that meant freedom to take a swim in the middle of the day or cook a meal when he felt hungry, for me it meant staying closer to home, working with my hands and being with my kids.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy

Did your career aspirations change once you had a child? 

Definitely. I had originally wanted to be a travel writer but when I was pregnant with David I had an overwhelming desire to make with my hands.

What are your dreams for your business?

I have so many dreams for my business but I really try to take it slow. I’d love to start incorporating some women’s wear pieces into my textile line and experiment using different shells for my jewelry designs. I’d love to teach workshops and expand my business enough to employ my very talented quilter and seamstress mother –whose talents put mine to shame.

Tafari Designs Nantucket Alana Dorothy seashells

Thank you, Alana, for sharing pieces of your life. Readers you can find Alana on Instagram @alanadorothy. You can also find her and her husband’s online store and blog here: www.tafarinantucket.com

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Mindfulness & Making a Flower Crown

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I had planned on sharing photos, of our recent trip to the United States, in chronological order. But as I was biking home from work today, I was struck very strongly with the urge to share our experience making a flower crown with Kaity Ferrell while we were in Nantucket, which happened closer to the end our trip. I hadn’t planned on writing a post about making a flower crown, since it was a spontaneous activity, but it was such a lovely, mindful learning experience that I wanted to give it it’s own space on the blog.
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Now, first off, for those of you who don’t know me very well, I do not let my children pick flowers, pluck leaves from trees, tear at grass, or in anyway take the lives of plants needlessly or for aesthetic reasons. This is not because I have any special knowledge of what a plant death is like, but out of an interest in living consistently and holistically, as much as possible. We do not eat animals or animal products, and limit the inclusion of animal fibers in our wardrobe, including them only when they are the more environmentally friendly option. We do this because we don’t think it is our human right to take life. Animal life or plant life. Having said this, we know that, however mindfully and carefully we tread upon this earth, we do take lives. We eat plants plentifully to nourish ourselves. And we certainly indavertently and accidentally take the lives of countless animals, mainly insects, as we go about our lives. However, when we had children we decided that we wanted to be as consistent as possible with our children in terms of the belief that taking a life is not a given right, a life should not be taken lightly, and a life should never ever be something we take “just because we can,” because we are a dominant species. Picking a flower is easy to do, a young child can do it with little effort. If and when our children do take lives we want them to be mindful about it and always limit it as much as possible. Enough of a diversion into our flower politics…on to making a crown.

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When we arrived on the island of Nantucket our first host, the absolutely divine, Kaity Ferrell, along with her son Iley, greeted us at the port. Their big smiles and sweet souls wrapped hugs around us as though we’d been friends forever. It was a beautiful welcome. Kaity took us to a favourite beach and then after some time in the sun and a dip in the ocean we returned to her beautiful, simple homestead.

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I am not someone who plans their day, even while on travel. I really like to be spontaneous and go with the flow of where things take me. So, of course, upon arriving at Kaity’s we had no particular idea of how we would occupy our time. While Sen and Iley set to playing with Lego, Ro and I were curious to see Kaity’s garden, where she grows fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs. Given that Kaity’s garden is source of ingredients for her foods and the goods she sells, we were surprised by how much space was afforded to growing flowers. I asked Kaity what she used them for and if she sold them at the farmers market. She replied “I sell some, not many, but they are just beautiful to have around, right?” Yes! I felt a little silly for assuming that she would necessarily pick or cut them for her products and goods.

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As Ro and I admired a bouquet of flowers, that was now a few days old, sitting on Kaity’s dining table, Kaity suggested that we make a flower crown. Not surprisingly, we have never made one, since we would never happen to find and collect enough fallen flowers (with stems intact) on a given day to make one. In that moment, I instantly felt as though this was the right time and place to make a flower crown. Kaity’s reverence and connection to her garden and the lives she grows there assured me that if ever there was a time and place for respectful, mindful picking, it would be done here, with Kaity as our guide. My intuition also told me this experience would deepen Ro’s respect for plant life and wouldn’t lead to a slippery slope of picking flowers for aesthetic purposes.

Ro and I followed Kaity around her garden as she gently cut a few flowers, naming them as she did and talking about her experience growing them. Once she had a small bouquet cut, she sat with Ro and started to braid the flowers, explaining to Ro how to continue the braid and how to handle the flowers with care. Ro took the flower braid and continued until all the flowers had been used. Then Kaity looped the braid back on itself and tied it securely with some kitchen string. The braid was the exact right length for Ro’s head, with no wasted flowers. It was as if it was meant to be! But I also knew there was some sort of deep embodied knowledge in Kaity that allowed her to know exactly how many flowers to cut, and how the braid would come together.

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Overall the experience of making a crown with Kaity was wonderful. While on an intellectual level, I have to admit that cutting flowers was a conflicted experience for me. On a bodily level I feel at peace with the experience. Ro wore the crown for the rest of the day and evening, and Sen, without any prompting asked to wear it too! We saved the crown during the rest of our travels gingerly protecting it in our picnic basket, and it will, in its dried form, hang on the wall in Ro’s room (see it here), as a reminder of our experience with Kaity, but also as a reminder to live mindfully and with respect for all life.

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Thank you very much, Kaity, for hosting us in Nantucket and for sharing your positive energy and kindness with us. Readers: you can read more about Kaity in my interview with her here and please find her on Instagram @fareisle and on her awesome website www.fareisle.com and her blog here.

Clothing details: Canadian-made merino tops worn by Ro and Sen by Luv Mother; Ro’s plaid tunic by Kids on the Moon; Ro’s dijon skirt from Little Heirloom; Sen’s organic striped leggings by Mabo; Ro’s sandals from Mini Mioche.

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Creative Mother Kaity Ferrell

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Today I am launching a new series of interviews with creative mothers. Mothers who have started their own business, mothers who are artists, mothers who live a creative lifestyle. These are women whose passions line up with the work they do each day. The thing about passions is the you have that feeling that the energy you are putting into them is contributing something valuable to the world and to the lives of others.

Like a cliché come to life, once I had children my priorities completely changed. No longer did my passions lie in a career pursued outside the home, my passions were right there in front of me, making messes, asking questions, and giving endless snuggles. Living in Canada, I am fortunate to have been able to stay home with each child for a year. But if it had been financially viable, I wouldn’t have gone back to work. I would have stayed home with them until they were in school full days or maybe longer. Who knows, maybe I would have homeschooled them?! I still hold out hope that I might be able to craft a life where I spend my work hours doing something I enjoy and feel passionate about, and so I am drawn especially to women who have been able to do this for themselves.

I am excited to have Kaity Ferrell as my first first creative mother feature. Kaity is the owner of Fare Isle, a small business that focuses on farm to table foods, skin care and wellness products. All Fare Isle products are made by hand from her organic garden and wild harvesting. I met Kaity through Instagram and was first drawn to her because she posted the most beautiful and scrumptious vegan food dishes. She is more than a chef though, everything Kaity touches becomes beautiful. To me Kaity is an artist who plays with plays with food, flowers, colour and texture to create a feast for the senses.

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As I got to know Kaity, I was also inspired by her as a mother and as a person. She seems to have curated a balanced life for herself, filled with family, friends, creativity and passion. Her life is not about the things she has accumulated, but about the experiences she fosters for family and friends. As a mother she is giving her son many gifts: her presence, her love and the foundation of a life cultivating and cherishing moments.

Enough of me talking, read on to hear from Kaity, herself.

What part of the world do you live in?

Nantucket, a magical faraway island situated 26 miles off the coast of Cape Cod in Massachusetts. I feel so blessed to call this place home.

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

My partner and I have one son, Iley, who turns 4 this summer. Iley is a bright-eyed curious playful boy. He loves food and will eat almost anything we make, and loves to help with the cooking. I would say his favorite activities are riding his balance bicycle, building with legos, and treasure hunting in the forest. He has a contagious belly laugh and those hazel eyes of his are always full of mischief.

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What are your core family values?

Honesty is important to us. My partner and I try to instill in Iley to be truthful always. This quote always sticks with me, “Truth is an offense but not a sin”, not to say that speaking the truth is always an offense, but that it is better to speak the truth and risk offense than to lie. Togetherness, family time is so important to us. Kindness is equally as important; kindness to all beings and to the earth.

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How do you spend most of your days?

I work from home on a flexible schedule, thankfully. My partner and I rise and make a cup of tea before Iley wakes up. Then we make breakfast and work while Iley plays. Iley and I run our daily errands midday and then try to sneak in an afternoon adventure outdoors, weather permitting. We make and eat dinner early. We head out to watch the sunset from the beach when we can and then return home and have quiet time in the evening. I usually work some more at night after Iley falls asleep.

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What is your favourite thing to do as a family?

We love family walks to the beach from our house and also family bike rides in the summer.

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What are you passionate about?

I’m a passionate foodie at heart. I love developing recipes and styling and photographing them for my blog.

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What inspires you?

The sea – whenever I am feeling stuck I head straight to the ocean and the salty sea air, the sound of the surf and the sand between my toes always clears my mind. I will forever be in awe of a fiery sunset and a rainbow after the rain. The incredible work of honey bees amazes me-since becoming a hobby beekeeper and watching them work around the garden I just cannot believe what they accomplish. The scent of my son’s head gives me tingles all over and I hope that never changes-what magic is this!? The beauty of a just picked tree-ripened peach, its juice running from my mouth after the first bite is pure heaven. Basically everything in nature inspires me and i am grateful to live in a place surrounded by natural beauty. I’m not sure I could make it as a city dweller.

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Did your career aspirations change once you had a child?

I wouldn’t say they changed, but rather I gained the confidence to go after them and make them reality.

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What is Fare Isle and why did you decide to start your own business?

Fare Isle is a culmination of what I love: sustainable living, growing food, herbs and flowers, making small batch foods and body products by hand, and sharing our recipes and stories on the blog. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted and am happy. And to be able to share this all with our customers, followers and friends is more than I could ever have dreamed.

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What are your dreams for your business?

I am focusing more energy on developing recipes and writing in hopes to move my business more toward freelance work and writing a cookbook. That’s what I really love to do the most. I would also love to host destination workshops on the island; an idea that has been floating around in my brain for some time now, and I would love to make it happen this summer. We’ll see!

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Visit Kaity on Instagram @fareisle and check out her website and recipe blog.

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You might also like my post:

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset   Strawberry Picking

Processed with VSCOcam with a9 preset   A Wild and Beautiful Life with Jessica Wuzle

Processed with VSCOcam with f2 preset   Talking Motherhood and Minimalist Fun

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