Sarah's Silks Playsilks, Dress-Ups, Natural, Eco-Friendly Toys for Children

Dragonfly Wands

2010-05-13T10:23:00.000-07:00

We are enjoying the famous California sunshine here while we make our silk dragonfly wands. First, we dye the stuffed dragonflies in our own recipe of non-toxic turquoise dye. Then after they air dry, we spray them with emerald green to create their spots. The dragonflies are then attached to the wooden wand with a satin ribbon and ready to fly! They are perfect for flying through the sunlit spring days.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the fun things we are up to for Easter. We've made a Nature Table, complete with fresh lilac branches, wooden bunnies, washi eggs, and of course, silks! And while we were dying our Easter eggs, we used the same food-safe dye to color some silk animals!

What DO All Those Toys Do When the Owners are Away?

2010-04-01T08:53:00.000-07:00

According to Timeless Toys in Chicago, it looks like they have a lot of fun without us!

Check out their clever video on their website - Timeless Toys

National Mom and Pop Day!

2010-03-30T10:05:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay
In honor of National Mom and Pop Day yesterday, we here are celebrating all week. Sarah's Silks has been a proud Mom and Pop operation for 15 years now. Sarah and Mike are here with us everyday, running the business and collaborating to make the best products possible.

Here an interview with one of our retailers run by mom Tracy Coe. Hazelnut Kids is a great online resource for natural toys of all kinds. What I love about them is that they provide so much information about the companies they represent. We are proud to be part of their business. Read on to learn more about Tracy and Hazelnut Kids.

Sarah's Silks: It’s obvious that you put a lot of effort into your business, how do you juggle being a mom and entrepreneur? Any tips for other working moms or small business owners out there?
Tracy: Work/Family balance is always a challenge. Some days work wins and some days family demands more attention. The home office (the dungeon, my family calls it) is where it gets tricky. I can't walk by the computer without checking email and then I get sucked right in and forget I was supposed to be finding clean socks for the kids! I hate giving advice to anyone, but something I do constantly is remind myself that my children will only be young once and I will have plenty of time to work when they no longer want me around.

Sarah's Silks: How did you get into the toy business?
Tracy: By accident, like most things in my life. When I was pregnant with my second child I began to read a lot about natural parenting and becoming more aware of the dangers of most children's toys, especially plastic ones. I was introduced to a wonderful lady named Sheri who created Hazelnut Kids just for parents like me who were looking for toys made of natural materials like wood, wool, organic cotton, and of course, silk. I was a loyal customer for four years and an advocate of safe, natural toys. So when Sheri decided to move on to other things my phone rang and here I am!

Sarah's Silks: What is the mission or philosophy behind Hazelnut Kids?
Tracy: HazelnutKids.com provides a place for parents, grandparents, and friends to shop for beautiful, natural toys that are safe and feed the imagination of children. We are huge supporters of land conservation and donate 1% of all sales to local land conservancies as well as have one tree planted for each toy sold.

Sarah's Silks: At Sarah’s Silks, we believe in the importance and the magic of imaginative play. What other toys do you sell that really inspire open-ended play?
Tracy: The first toys to come to mind are the playkitchens and playfoods because my children have spent hours role playing with them. They pretend they are at the farmer's market, they take turns playing waiters and cooks in a restaurant, and we've been able to make some great math lessons playing market.
I have great memories of Sarah's Silk's also. Simple playsilks have been capes, skirts, a leg cast, you name it! And just yesterday, my daughter rediscovered her silk streamers and took them outside because it was a lovely day.

Sarah's Silks: I really love all the creative projects you have on your blog. Can you point us toward one project that you might take on for Easter?
Tracy: Not so much a project, but we love your idea of using a lime green playsilk instead of messy grass for the kids' Easter baskets. I'll be snagging two of them today before I head home.

Visit Tracy's website at Hazelnut Kids and her blog here.

Waldorf Philosophy at Home

2010-02-17T11:31:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
The first time I walked into a Waldorf preschool classroom, I wanted to cry. Truly, when you step into one of the classes, you can see what a nuturing, warm environment it would be for your child. I wish that I had had that experience in my youth at schools! Please take a minute to read this blog interview with Sarah Baldwin at Bella Luna Toys. She very eloquently gives the reader a great overview of Waldorf early education as well as some excellent ideas for incorporating some of the best of these philosophies into your every day life. Even if your child doesn't attend a Waldorf school, we can all benefit from some of the thoughtful advice she has. Please check out the blog right here.

Fairy Skirts at Play

2010-02-10T09:20:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
Our fairy skirts are one of the most popular items here at Sarah's Silks. I think it's a combination of the beautiful colors and soft, sumptuous silk that is so appealing to girls who love to dress up. A customer bought our skirts to use as a costume for the children's play. Here are a few pictures of the woodland fairies. Thank you, Dee Dee, for sending us these pictures! We love seeing the silks in play...

Dee Dee bought her skirts at Bella Luna Toys, please visit them for a wonderful selection of Waldorf-inspired and natural toys.

A Good Ol' Stick...

2010-02-03T09:57:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
The Stick! Is this the first toy ever? I think it is probably a close runner-up at least, the only competition I can think of being 'the rock'. I still play with sticks. You can poke, hit, draw, prod, and who knows what more with a simple stick. Sticks have been the walls of forts and fairy homes, the posts of leaf flags, the makings of a raft, swords and other dangerous weapons for probably as long as there have been humans. Now, this toy is finally being recognized! The National Toy Hall of Fame has inducted this ubiquitous little object. I think we can consider the stick as the first open-ended imaginative toy! What an inspiration for us...

Little Emma

2010-02-01T09:59:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
Poor Sarah has been surrounded by boys for a long time! Not that boys aren't absolutely wonderful, but there is something special also for a mom to have a little girl, especially when you are the creator of silk fairy skirts and princess dresses. But now Sarah is lucky to have little Emma. Emma was adopted by Sarah's Brother-in-Law and wife last year, and has been a joyous addition to the whole family. It's exciting to have a little girl to dress up! One of Emma's favorite things in the world is her silk rainbow blanket. It was one of her special welcome gifts. Our soft, silky blankets often become a baby's lovey, and Emma has certainly been attached to it ever since her arrival!

String Games

2010-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
I bet it seems like just yesterday for Sarah and Mike when their oldest son Josh was dressing up in all the silks and inspiring them to create more and more products. Now, Josh is a big 19 year-old and he is the one who has brought string games back to Sarah's Silks after much popular demand! Our string games are 100% Made in the US. We buy the nylon string from a manufacturer in the US. Then, Josh cuts them to length, seals the ends together and dyes them into a rainbow. We reintroduced them to our line in the Fall, and they have been a big hit. String games are a great way for kids to practice hand-eye coordination and dexterity without burning their eyes into a computer or tv screen. They are available at A Toy Garden or the new and improved Bella Luna Toys website.

The Acorn Store

2010-01-19T10:52:00.001-08:00

By Jay Jay
Ellen West at The Acorn Store was one of the first of our customers that I had visited. I was so impressed by the wonderland that is her little shop. The store is a haven for simple, creative toys in beautiful downtown Santa Monica, CA. Her space is small, but she certainly makes the most of every nook and cranny. You can't help but get swept away by the magic quality of her selections as soon as you walk in. But to be honest, the thing that was most impressive to me was Ellen herself. She is a sweet woman, and you can tell immediately that she loves children and her job. But don't let that fool you. She is very sharp, asks a million questions and truly cares about the products she promotes. I know that anything I buy from her store has surpassed her stringent quality, design and safety standards. We are proud to have The Acorn Store as one of our customers.

Check out the interview with Ellen at TD Monthly.

Remembering Haley...

2010-01-18T10:00:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
The other day, we were working on our new catalog and trying to find a good picture of our baby blanket. Sarah started to tell me the story of Haley, one of Sarah's Silks' first models and friend of the family. Her story is truly inspiring. She was a fellow student at the Waldorf school here and a big fan of our silks. She was born deaf, but through hard work and a pure love of skating, she became a very accomplished ice skater. I hope everyone takes a minute to read about Haley's life. We all have busy days and nights, but it is good to take a break once in a while from your own life. Her story is touching and brings me perspective on my own life as well. Rest peacefully, Haley.

Please visit the website to read more: Haley's Story

Fish!

2010-01-12T10:14:00.000-08:00

Time to restock! We are getting ready for the restock orders that retailers are working on right now. We dye all our sea and magic stuffed animals right here in our California office. It's fun when Carol has to dye big batches of fish and our other magic creatures. Here are some of the colorful characters hanging around while they dry.

Making Rainbow Streamers

2010-01-11T22:13:00.000-08:00

By Jay Jay
Just a little insight as to how we make our very popular rainbow streamers. They are one of my favorite products, and I am so excited to announce that we will be introducing mini versions of the streamers for the Spring! My daughter was lucky enough to be one of the testers of the mini streamer prototype months ago, and she still digs it out every time she fancies a dance. Here is Zahira making 100 streamers in our office for one of our customers back in early December. We like to think that 'Santa' gave many of these streamers away this Christmas...

New! String Games are Back!

2009-09-29T11:53:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay
Our String Games are back in town! Sarah's Silks has brought them back this season and they are flying off the shelves. They are made in the US, and dyed and put together right here in our workspace. Here's a video of Morgan showing off his string game skills.

Enchanted - NYC

2009-09-18T21:21:00.001-07:00

By Jay Jay
I met Gloria, who runs this beautiful store in the upper East Side, at the Nuremberg Fair back in February. It was so great to meet her there and chat with a fellow American, so of course I had to stop by the store and say hello today! The ladies at Enchanted have done so much to personalize the store and make it special. So many of the fixtures are stripped down and re-painted to match the feel of the place. I was really struck by the gorgeous hand-felted tree behind the counter! It just sets the tone for a place that you know is one of a kind. This time, I also got to meet Carolina, who is a Waldorf mom and used to run the school store at the Pasadena Waldorf School for years. I thought her daughter was so lucky to grow up with a metropolitan mom that works with these gorgeous toys all day. It really is special to find a quiet, magical little store in the middle of crazy manhattan. It is a haven for beautiful toys and books, and the perfect place to find a gift. Just as I was getting ready to leave, a woman at the door was hopefully looking in the shop. They let her in even though they were getting ready to close, and she explained to them in a heavy European accent that she was told that she had to come by the store and look around. It's true - even if you don't have kids, this shop is a great place to stop and marvel at the whimsy that has been created. Enchanted Toys - 1179 Lexington Ave (bet 80th & 81st), NYC

Playing Mantis - Tribeca, NYC

2009-09-18T20:59:00.001-07:00

By Jay Jay
Ella and I are in NYC for a wedding this weekend, and while I was here, I really wanted to at least stop by one or two stores. I love visiting the stores we work with because I know that they will not only be beautiful, but the people there always care so much about the toys they sell and the families they are selling them to. Playing Mantis is a gorgeous store in lower manhattan. They have just the kind of space you would expect in Tribeca, long and tall with that gorgeous loft feel. Joel and his crew have done such a great job transforming the space into a magical land of natural toys. They somehow made it work so well in this industrial, hip location. Ella, of course, has no problem coming along with me and testing the toys for them. We had a great time and encourage you to visit them if you are in the area! Be sure to visit the dress-up corner in the back of the store! Playing Mantis - 35 N Moore St, NYC

Dying Unicorns

2009-09-09T10:59:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay
Our unicorns are finally back! Carol's favorite Sarah's Silks product is the unicorn wand. I think she even has one next to her bed. She happily spent the morning dying some more unicorns so we can make our wands. They have been out of stock for too long already!

Sing-a-Long at Sierra Waldorf School Store, Sonora, CA

2009-08-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

Sierra Waldorf School Store

2009-08-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay
Ella and I got to visit the Sierra Waldorf School Store today. It is a sweet little space filled with gorgeous toys! So many of the toys, dolls, hats and clothes were made by local artisans. We enjoyed meeting Ginny, the owner of the shop. She is a potter herself and has the back half of the space dedicated to pottery classes for all. By our good luck, we got there in time for sing-a-long! We joined some of the local tots for music and stories by Bizby - a wonderful grandma herself. It was such a great visit. If you are ever in this quaint town, make sure you stop by and say hello!

Birthday Banner

2009-08-25T21:12:00.000-07:00

There are some real perks in working with these beautiful silks all day. My daughter celebrated her 4th birthday this past weekend. My husband thought of this great idea to decorate for her party! The hallway looked magical!

How to Make Butterfly Wings

2009-08-25T20:27:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay
We made some of our beautiful wings today. This is not one of the products we usually make here, but since we are out of stock, Zahira came in to help us dye some more. Check out the pictures of the process. I still love watching Carol or Sarah or Zahira dying silks. There is something so beautiful about the simplicity of the project.

First, we start with a beautiful, clean batch of pure white silk wings.
Then, they are dyed a sunny yellow.

Then, Zahira takes them out of the machine and folds them a special way.

Then, she dips certain parts of the wings into the red/orange dye

And...voila! Now they are off to get their pretty satin ribbon sewn on!

A few days later...finished wings!

Fairy Blanket

2009-07-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

The fairy blanket will be back this fall! We have been working hard on a new design and are coming down the home stretch. Our bookeeper, Mandy brings her two adorable girls to work once a week, and they tested it out for us. I think they like it!

How Our Playsilks are Made

2009-07-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

We've created a slideshow from Mike's recent trip to China. It was great to see all the photos of the people who help us make these beautiful playsilks. Now, that I have learned how to make this slideshow, there are more to come!

Please visit our website to view the show:
Sarah's Silks Slideshow

Another Long, but Good Day in China

2009-06-05T09:10:00.000-07:00

Mike is having a great time in China, but I bet he is going to crash when he gets back! Here is some of what he had to say:

"Another long and grueling day. But again very productive. Here's a photo of one of the sewers that works on our products. There were 2 that were working with our products today. [The factory manager] explained that the best sewers do our products because they are the hardest ones to do. They were a lot of fun to interview!

Then went for a fancy lunch with the managers of the factory and another one of their customers who buys scarves. All dishes I had never had!

In the afternoon, went to the hand hemming village to first work out a process with the hand-hemming supervisor to talk about pricing and how we can document that the hemmers would get their increased pay. We're targeting a 25% increase over the market rate. Then went into this marvelous old house where we interviewed the women. They were quite chatty and spoke so openly about their lives. Here's a photo of the hemmers."

It will be great to see all the videos and pictures when he gets back.

Chengdu Waldorf School

2009-06-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

By Mike
June 2, 2009

Chengdu. Once a starting point of the Silk Road, it is now a tourism draw of its own with the Panda Breeding and Research Center not far from the city. It's also a bustling city of 3 million people. The Chengdu Waldorf School. What a different sense of calmness w once you step onto the grounds. The teachers and children were all so welcoming, going out of their way to call me over to be included in their mid- morning snacks or to join the kindergarten at play. While the language was different, the gentle play of the children, the circle games, and the sword making projects reminded me so much of my own children's Waldorf kindergarten days.

Today is my last day here. I've been speaking with Harry Wang about starting a craft business of hand-painted silks that we could help market but with revenues going to benefit the school. The last hours were spent on those tedious, but necessary details of business records, packaging, labeling, and shipping.

I had brought some of our silks as gifts for the kindergartens and these were eagerly examined and put into action. What fun! I was touched when the teacher tenderly folded up and put the rainbow silkscape away at the first sight of a child pulling on it. She seemed to think it was too precious to keep it out.

One of the funnest moments for me was when I was asked to come to a kindergarten teacher training meeting at then end of the day to teach them string games they had seen me do.

It's been a great time- just wish I wasn't so jet-lagged! Now it's off to another ancient city of silk - Suzhou.

Here are two pictures from the School. They are both pictures of the kindergarten. One is inside at lunch just before they sang a blessing. The other is a playhouse outside in the courtyard.

Here is a picture with one of our silkscapes.

Streamer Sale!

2009-06-03T12:39:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone! We are having a summer sale for our retailers on one of our most popular (and one of my favorite) items - our beautiful silk streamers! Summer is the perfect time for these fun toys. Take them to the beach, the parks, the family bbq, or running around the back yard. They were always at a great price point, and for this month only, even better! Take 30% off any order of 12 or more in any one particular style. Choose from rainbow, star or heart. And don't forget to use the promo code: streamer09.

Maker Faire 2009 was a Blast!

2009-06-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

by Jay Jay
We had a great time at Maker Faire last weekend! I went to the fair Sunday while Sarah and Carol manned the booth on Saturday. We had never gone to this fair before, but it just sounded too fun to pass up. It certainly exceeded all our expectations. There were arts, crafts, techy and green projects from all kinds of creative people. The energy there was truly catchy. If you've ever read The Celestine Prophecy, you may believe that if you are close to someone who is feeling a particular surge of emotion, you can feel it too. That's how it seemed to me at the fair. The whole place was buzzing with excitement, creativity and happy vibes. What an inspiring Sunday for me!
We came up with a little project for the kids who visited our booth. We had a dye your own silk station that was a big hit. I loved working with the kids as they flexed their creative muscles and came up with some really beautiful designs. Thanks to everyone who stopped by - we loved meeting you all!

Gerard, the Paella Guy from Sebastopol. I STILL didn't get to try his paella!! The line was way too long, and I had to man the booth.

This giant snail shot fire out of its antennna!

A crazy sculpture made from empty plastic soda bottles

Maker Faire 2009 - May 30-31

2009-05-21T11:29:00.001-07:00

By Jay Jay

We are going to the Maker Faire this year! For those of you who haven't heard, the Maker Faire is like no other. It is created and put together by the editors of Make (and formerly Craft) magazine. This fair is basically a gathering of hundreds of some of the most creative and innovative artists out there. Thousands of people come to see, and I fully expect to see lots of interesting inventions, crafts and arts there. Learn more about Maker Faire here.
The Sarah's Silks booth will feature a fun craft for kids! We will be letting the kids dye their own capes to take home to show off their creativity. It will be alot of fun. If you are going to be in the Bay Area the last weekend in May, please come by and visit us!

The Story of Stuff

2009-05-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay

**I want to start off this post by expressing that this post is the explicit opinion of me, and not necessarily of the company. I am hereby absolving my really great co-workers and Sarah of any crazy things I may say in my passion on the topic!**

I have been wanting to post about this for quite some time now, without a clear idea in my head of how to formulate what I was trying to say. Then, one of the moms I know sent me a link to this video and the light bulb struck!

The Story of Stuff

Please watch this video and pass it on. It very concisely and clearly illustrates the crazy consumerism and not-so-slow decline of our environment as a direct result. Yes, there are parts that seem a bit overboard, but valid all the same. The basic direction of the short film is for us to all take a more careful look at the where, how, and why of the origins and by-products of what we consume.

A big reason I love working for a company that produces natural toys is that I do feel that I am promoting a product that helps our Mother Earth. By using products made from natural, sustainable and renewable resources, we are cutting out the use of harmful chemicals, and not to mention by-products, that pollute the air, land and sea. By being careful about which sewers and producers we work with, we are cutting down on the world's glut of unfair labor practices and social irresponsibility. And by using the best methods we can to produce these natural toys, we are passing on our values to the next generation.

Come See Us This Weekend!

2009-04-23T09:03:00.000-07:00

Click here for the Sacramento Waldorf School Website

Click here for the Pasadena Waldorf School Website

By Jay Jay

Sarah and I are each going to Waldorf Fairs this weekend. These fairs are always great fun for us. We love getting out and talking to everyone about the silks and life in general! They always have fun activities for the kids, lots of local artisans and good food. Since we are on Waldorf school campuses, the grounds are going to be lovely too. The weather should be just perfect, so if you are looking for something to do this weekend, please stop by and say hi!

Support Your Local Business

2009-04-22T16:17:00.000-07:00

By Jay Jay

Sarah's Silks is a mom-and-pop and we fully support small, local businesses. Most of the stores and websites that carry our products are independent businesses. As a former retailer myself, I know first-hand that the importance of supporting your neighborhood businesses is crucial to a thriving community. Small business is the heart of the American dream and the flavor of your community. I stumbled onto The 3/50 Project through one of our customer's websites: Peapods in St Paul, MN. (Incidentally, the owners of Peapods are great advocates for small businesses and heroes of handmade toys!) I love the 3/50 philosophy, and I encourage everyone out there to read what they are saying. We all have so many choices in life and can really make a difference if we try!

Nuremberg international Toy Fair 2009

2009-04-22T15:19:00.004-07:00

I love this picture of Bianca in our Unicorn Costume. I had set up a little table with Ghiradelli chocolates. Germans make such wonderful chocolate, I wasn't sure if they would even like it - but it was a huge hit! Chocolate raspberry was the overwhelming favorite.

2009-04-22T15:19:00.003-07:00

2009-04-22T15:19:00.001-07:00

Nuremberg Toy Fair 2009

2009-04-22T15:11:00.001-07:00

By Jay Jay

We had a great time at the Nuremberg Fair this year. I had been to other trade shows in all different locations in the US - Javits in NYC, Vegas, LA, San Francisco, but the Nuremberg Fair tops them all! The convention center was enormous! Over 12 halls chocked full of toys of all shapes and sizes. I wish I had a chance to take some pictures, but there were several uniformed men cruising the corridors bearing badges that had a camera with a slash through it. Since it was my first time there, I decided not to chance it! Here are a couple of pictures of our booth. I was proud to represent our line and meet all the wonderful people there. Thanks to everyone who stopped by!

Green for Halloween!

2008-10-28T09:18:00.000-07:00

Not only are our dress-ups beautiful, soft and fun for kids, they are an eco-friendly way to green your Halloween. Made of natural, renewable materials, and non-toxic dyes, our dress-ups are a more responsible way to celebrate Halloween than a plastic store-bought costume.

Take a look at some recent media coverage on Access Hollywood:

http://www.accesshollywood.com/greening-your-halloween-oct-25-2008_video_783281

Happy Halloween!!

New Sea Pets!

2008-09-11T10:37:00.000-07:00

Sea Pets! Starfish and seahorse friends for your little ones. These pets come on wrist garlands and go perfectly with our mermaid costumes.
Pink Starfish - #0081, Lavender Seahorse - #0082, Turquoise Starfish - #0083, Green Seahorse - #0084

New Products for Fall!

2008-09-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

Magical Pet Wands! These wands are a delight for any boy or girl. The stuffed unicorn, dragon and dragonfly are made with silk and dyed right here in our warehouse by Laila. The kids we have given them to do far love playing with them as magic wands or as little pet friends. I'm always amazed at the imaginations of little ones.

Pink Unicorn Wand - #0071, Lavender Unicorn Wand - #0072, Green Dragon Wand - #0075, Turquoise Dragonfly Wand - #0077

Hot Topic: What is Fair Trade?

2008-09-11T10:22:00.000-07:00

In America, it’s easy to forget that there are so many people in the world who are forced to work in unhealthy conditions with poor wages just so they can provide a meal for their family. Fair trade is an organized commitment to eradicate poor working conditions and disproportionate wages around the world. For toy manufacturers and consumers, this means more than just which country your products are made. It means being actively involved in choosing the right manufacturer that holds to higher standards for their employees. We often talk to our customers about fair trade because it is a topic of growing global concern.

At Sarah’s Silks, we are continually working hard to ensure that our products are made responsibly. Mike has personally visited the sewing factory in China and seen first-hand the fair working conditions there. Our playsilks are all hand-hemmed in a village outside of Shanghai. These women work from their homes. Thus, they are able to be with their children and provide income for their families at the same time. While much of the sewing is done in China, we still employ families here in California to sew, package and assemble some of our items. The process to find fair trade cooperatives for silk toys has been quite a challenge. However, it is something that Sarah’s Silks is certainly committed to and constantly working on.

On the horizon, Mike will be making another trip to China with new sets of requirements and questions for our factories, so that we can keep checking the standards and keep our customers informed. Mike has also been tirelessly learning Mandarin Chinese (not an easy feat!) every day, so that he can try to directly communicate better with the employees and supervisors. We are also investigating new certification programs through international inspection companies to try to align with certified textile manufacturers. This is all an ongoing mission for us, and I can assure you that social responsibility is a high priority for Sarah's Silks.

How Silk is Made

2008-06-26T16:23:00.001-07:00

Silk is a natural fiber that can be woven into beautiful textiles. There are so many benefits of giving your children something made from silk. It is a natural, renewable material and naturally beautiful, soft and allergen-free. Have you ever thought about how silk is made? It is produced with the cocoons spun by thousands silkworms that are fed with leaves from the mulberry tree. So, next time you see a mulberry leaf, you may look at it in a whole new light!

Horse Play

2008-06-26T10:19:00.000-07:00

Some of our local Waldorf school friends got creative with our rainbow silkscapes and their favorite horse! We are constantly coming across new and inventive ways to use the playsilks. I think I would have never thought to dress a horse in one!

Fall 2008 Photo Shoot

2008-06-09T11:01:00.000-07:00

We had our semi-annual photo shoot this weekend for the Fall catalog. It went very smoothly and was so much fun! It is always a joy to see kids getting their hands on the playsilks. Mira loved playing with the streamer. She was 'friends' with 'the wind' and when the wind blew through her fairy skirt and streamer, she would say, "Thank you, Wind!". Mason loved dressing up as a pirate in the playsilks, and Isabella was a regal princess in our pink princess dress and hat. And at the beach, all the girls had so much fun with our new product, the Sea Pets! Avonlea had hers dancing at a 'disco' while some of the others were chatting with each other or getting buried in the sand. Even though many of the kids didn't know each other, their common bond was our silks, and they all became instant friends!

It was a pleasure to work with Sarah Lane for the first time. She was great with the kids, and we can't wait to see all the great photos! Thanks so much Sarah, the Summerfield Waldorf School, all the great kids, and moms and dads that helped out!