First this is me Sally-Jane

I have 2 kids both born at home in water and cloth nappied from birth. I was one of the founding members of Earth Babies and it is definitely like one of my babies. No3 is on the way any day now.

Elaine our seamstress, she does all the Earth Babies sewing and so all the products are lovingly made by her. She has 4 girls of her own and uses cloth nappies and slings etc so she know how they work and how to get them right for you. She is also going to help out with Afrikaans articles for the blog and tweet for us in Afrikaans. I hope by adding more languages people will feel more involved and able to comment and interact.

Liz, she has been the agent in Joburg for a while but is going to be taking over more of the stock and posting and handling orders, especially when I have baby no3 it is going to be helpful to have someone able to do the post office run for me.

Both are able to see people to view stock Elaine in Pretoria and Liz in Johannesburg, it is often nice to be able touch and feel and see what stuff looks like before making a choice. They are very knowledgeable and will be able to answer lots of questions. We will all tweet and write message on FaceBook but will sign them with our names afterwards so you know who you are talking to.

I am available in Cape Town ( Melkbos) for people to come and see products and Barbara although stepping down from the day to day running of Earth Babies is still available for people to see products and place order on the South Coast.

Please email me for details if you wish to view products and I can put you in touch with the person in your area. We love feedback so please feel free to chat and tell us things you like or don’t like.

Barbara and I started Earth Babies together just after our first babies were born over 6 years ago. We have watched this company grow just like we have watched our kids. It has been wonderful working together, we are very different but complement each other. We have not only run a business together we have become close close friends.

In life things change and people move on and for Barbara that time has come. She has decided to leave Earth Babies and we wish her everything of the best in the future. I know I will miss her very very much as this really has been our baby together.

I might be saying goodbye to a business partner but not to a friend, even though we do live quite far apart now, this is a forever friendship.

With Barbara leaving I am going to make some changes to Earth Babies, mostly so I can cope on my own especially with baby no3 on the way in a few weeks. As such there is a big Sale in our shop so pop over and see what bargains you can pick up. Click here or on image

SALE! SALE! SALE! SALE!

from this 30/11/2004

I think becoming a parent has been the most educating influence in my life. Have you ever noticed how once a person becomes a parent (from pregnancy) it is as if they cannot talk about anything but babies, nappies, birth, children, milestones, nutrition, discipline, education, etc etc.
I have seen many people roll their eyes and think a person has become less intellectual – tunnel visioned, but think about the masses of new information that you are suddenly experiencing – talking children never leaves you ignorant but more informed. You are learning hands on about the most intricate and complex creatures on earth from conception – the human being. Becoming a parent does not limit your knowledge, it can expands it way beyond what you ever imagined.

I chat on a mothering forum and when you mention it to people you get more raised eyebrows. This form of interaction however has again opened up my mind to so many things I would never have considered, child related but even more so about the history, science, people, politics and current events. We laugh, cry, moan, fight and debate with each other and all through it we are sharing and learning.

to this 30/11/2010

Conversation with another person if you open yourself up to listen to them is never a waste, every person can teach you something – sometimes it is something you never knew and sometimes it is maybe simply a different point of view, how to listen, compassion or how to do things better.

Every person you meet has something they can teach you and a baby more so than an adult.

Babies love the cuddly softness of these easy to hold fleecey comforters. The ribbons offer a touch experience that babies find soothing when chewed on, rubbed against their skin or rubbed between their fingers.
This would make a perfect stocking filler for your baby or an ideal gift for a baby shower.

To win a taglet by Illana simply comment below before 26 November 2010

Suggestion: Follow us on Facebook; Twitter or add us to your Reader so you can keep track of future posts and upcoming giveaways (you dont want to miss them!).

*South Africa only

Lee-ann of ALTT Creations specialises in needle felted teddy bears and critters using New Zealand Corridale wool roving. The techniques used are a combination of wet and needle felting. Each individual teddy and critter is loving and patiently created, this is evident in the colourful personalities of each of her teddies/critters.

ALTT Creations is a family business, and each member contributes to the creation of each critter. There is the mommy ALTT, who is primary designer and creator; there is daddy ALTT, who is assistant designer, quality control, and critique; and last but not least there are 2 junior ALTTs who are quality control and critiques.

To win this beautiful characterful felted rattle specially created for our Earth Babies readers leave a comment below and tell us what you would name him.

name me and ♥ me

To view her critters & teddies visit her portfolio
Become a fan on facebook
Lee-ann sells premade or custom orders contact her at alttcreations@hotmail.com

LOOK OUT FOR 2 COMPETITIONS STARTING THIS WEEK FOR NEW EARTH BABIES PRODUCTS

Anyone can enter so share with friends.

Suggestion: Follow us on Facebook; Twitter or add us to your Reader so you can keep track of future posts and upcoming giveaways (you dont want to miss them!).

*South Africa only

What is your fall-back sure-fire get the kids to eat recipe?
email it to us at admin@earthbabies.co.za and stand a chance to win Enchantrix bubble bath for the kids.

This is a favourite meal for Yvonne’s (Concious Living) children.

Bacon & Vegetable Quiche

2 Tbsp butter/marg/oil
1 packet bacon (250g) rindless, chopped
1 large onion
1 cup spinach, torn/shredded
1 cup baby marrows, chopped (Yvonne suggests grating it)
1 cup carrots, grated
1/2 cup flour
5 eggs
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup cheese, grated
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 Tbsp lemon juice
1 cup milk
Dash of cayenne pepper (optional)

Heat up oil in large pot to very high heat.

Add chopped bacon on onion, fry until browned.

Add spinach, marrows and carrots, stir fry for 2 minutes only to develop flavour.

Remove pot from heat!

Add flour and mix in well.

Add all remaining ingrediants and mix well.

Pour into large glass dish (bear in mind that it will rise slightly due to baking powder) and bake in oven preheated to 190deg C for +/- 35 minutes (or until browned on top)

- Hopefully onwards and upwards but for now simply to different provinces – Barbara will be moving to the Port Shepstone area in the first week of April and Sally will be moving to Cape Town mid April – Earth Babies stock will be moving with Barbara.

a) As a result order processing and parcel sending will be on hold between the 1st and the 16th of April to allow for packing, unpacking and settling of home and business.

b) The collection in Pretoria option for parcels will no longer be available as of the 1st of April.

c) Future distribution will take place from Port Shepstone.

d) It will be possible to organise product viewing of the whole range on appointment in Port Shepstone and Johannesburg and then from May in Cape Town. Note however that you will not be able to buy stock directly from all venues as for now this will still be kept at a central point (namely Port Shepstone).

What is your take on children being aware of colour? How do you approach it with your own children? Is recognising someone’s colour discrimination?

I think we are taking being Politically correct about colour way too far – I cannot tell you how many times people try claim that children “dont see colour” – Of course they see colour, they just dont care! But as adults trying to navigate the maze of rules as to what is ‘allowed and not’ we try to tell ourselves that they don’t see colour. Now if they can see that a boy has a blue shirt, or a girl has blonde hair – why would they not see that that skin colours differ?

What are we actually teaching our children by trying to make them stick everyone in one colourless box? Do YOU want to be colourless?

The whole colour PC issue is going the same way as the feminism movement, where in my opinion they lose focus of what is important. If we ignore colour we lose sight of all the wonderful unique attributes of people and actually I feel create a nation less tolerant of differences in culture ‘as we are all meant to be the same’. I WANT my children to recognize racial differences and learn to accept them. How do we expect children to learn about different cultures and respect them if we are teaching them in the first place not to recognise or acknowledge those differences?

For me respect is based in acceptance, and tolerance and not in being the same. Equality is based on respect and acceptance of others and not on overlooking differences.

Waldorf Doll:

Description from Wikipedia
A Waldorf doll (also called Steiner doll) is a form of doll used in Waldorf education. Made of wool and cotton, using techniques drawing on traditional European dollmaking, its appearance is intentionally simple in order to allow the child playing with it to improve or strengthen imagination and creativity. For instance, it has no facial expression. Its legs and arms are flexible, allowing natural postures.

Technique: Traditional Waldorf dolls are made from cotton interlock knit fabric and wool stuffing. They are often entirely natural. Typically the trademark long hair of a Waldorf doll is made of mohair or boucle. Some doll makers use alternative hair material such as: Wool, Rayon, and Cotton. The facial features of a Waldorf doll vary with the maker. Most Waldorf dolls have small suggestions of noses, their eye and mouth colors are generally varied with each doll.