Tell us a little about your lovely Etsy shop Mamma4Earth.
My little Etsy shop
began 4 years ago, a few years after we started homeschooling our children with
the Waldorf philosophy. I have always enjoyed knitting and would often try to
knit some of the more complicated projects that my mom was knitting when I was
little, she would patiently show me how to form the stitches and eventually
finish the item I was busy with.
I just loved Waldorf
inspired natural toys and the materials they were made with. At first I mostly
knitted toy animals and sold farmyards in my shop and later I started selling
my animal patterns. I still make custom knits for people when they request it.
My Etsy shop has grown tremendously over the years and I have connected with
the most wonderful people from all over the world. My business has been life changing
especially because of the learning element that developed alongside the running
of an Etsy shop. I have learned how to spin, dye yarn and master many different
knitting techniques, it is a fantastic journey...
What inspires your creations?
My creations are
inspired by Africa and the beautiful and majestic animals that grace our
continent. It is such an honour to venture out into the bush and observe them
in their natural habitat. I love to watch the fluidity of their movement and
their primal instincts come into play. This really helps me while designing and
finishing a pattern. It’s one thing to knit a creature but entirely another to
finish it off with the shaping that represents the traits of that particular
animal.
Do you have secret to share about how you find the time to
create while homeschooling four children?
Homeschooling has been
the right choice for us as a family and because Jenna and Erin are getting
older we decided to hire a tutor last year, to come in and assist us with the
more difficult subjects physics, maths and science. Jenna is now in Grade 10
and needs to put together a 3 year portfolio and present it when she completes
her schooling in her final year, matric. At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted a tutor, I
always try and do everything myself and I was starting to feel a little burnt
out. We decided to go ahead and look for a tutor and found the most wonderful
woman, I am very grateful for her.
Are you working on
any new patterns? Care to share any of the details?
At the moment I am
thinking about a Lemur and a Panda, I like to spend a few weeks of thinking a
design into being, looking at plenty of photos of the particular animal and
observing them in their natural environment, if I am lucky enough to be able to
visit a game farm that is not too far away. Once the thinking and observing
period is over, I take out pencil and paper and draw the animal and then the
designing of pattern rows begins. It is an exciting process for me and I really
enjoy this part of my work. I often look at an animal and through its movement;
I can see stitches and rows in my mind and imagine how this observation will
translate into a design for a pattern.
What are you currently reading?
At the moment I am
reading two lovely books on my Kindle, The Power of Now by Eckhard Tolle and At
Knits End, Meditations for Women who Knit Too Much, by Stephanie Pearl Mcphee.
What is your favourite spot in your home?
It’s actually outside,
I love to sit on the soft green grass with my knitting and absorb my
surroundings, it’s like a meditation...
What is your favourite time of day?
My favourite time of
day is right before dusk, just as the sun is setting. I really adore the beautiful
colours of green, yellow and orange radiating across the sky. I can feel them
in my heart. It’s both energizing and empowering.
What is the highlight of your week?
There are a few,
spending quality time with my family, going for a cycle on my mountain bike and
visiting my friends for tea (and knitting of course).
You have one hour to yourself, how do you spend it?
I will usually spend
it knitting and then I start missing my family.
What is the dream at the top of your bucket list?
I would really love to
travel to Alaska with my family.
What is your favourite quote?
At the moment:
“Kind words can be
short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
― Mother Teresa
― Mother Teresa
Thanks so much for taking the time to share a little bit about
yourself with us. It was wonderful getting to know you a little better Linda.
You can connect with Linda and Mamma4Earth a few ways:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Linda has generously offered up 8 of her lovely patterns to
one lucky Mothering
with Mindfulness follower.
To enter today's
giveaway, leave a comment, one per person, below.
You can earn additional entries by:
Be sure to come back and leave a comment for each extra entry.
Giveaway is open until Saturday February 2, 2013 at 7pm.
I will draw a winner after this time and
announce it in this post.
Thanks so much Linda!
And the winner is:
Comment #107 from momentsofpeacemama
"My goodness, they are all adorable!"
Congratulations!
And the winner is:
Comment #107 from momentsofpeacemama
"My goodness, they are all adorable!"
Congratulations!
Mom, wife, teacher, and entrepreneur. You're an inspiration! I'm still trying to make sure I've brushed my teeth before everyone else awakes.
ReplyDeleteWomen like you show us that eventually, it's all possible. Thank you for sharing Linda.
I love her patterns!
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try her patterns for ages!
ReplyDelete"liked" her on facebook!
ReplyDeleteAnd added her to my etsy favorites. :)Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI love her patterns! I follow here blog and love seeing the new animals she ones out with. Thanks for the opportunity to win a pattern!
ReplyDeleteOh, these patterns look so fun to make and fun for my littles to play with when they're finished!
ReplyDeleteAlso added to my etsy favorites <3
ReplyDeleteI am already a Mama4earth facebook fan!
ReplyDeleteI love these patterns! They have that element of realism that's needed.
ReplyDeleteI have drooled over these patterns before - but until now, I missed the FB page. Thank you - just "Liked" on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteBeen a fan on Facebook for a long time. Checked ETSY & discovered a Swan pattern plus a Llama one. Such fun to (try to) knit.
ReplyDeleteI have liked her on facebook
ReplyDeleteI have followed her on twitter
ReplyDeleteShe is on my favs on etsy
ReplyDeletelove, love, love her blog
ReplyDeleteI already have her as a friend on ravelry
ReplyDeleteI just love her patterns!!!
ReplyDeleteI am already her fan on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI already follow her on etsy
ReplyDeleteI would love these patterns! Thank You.
ReplyDeleteLiked Mamma4earth on facebook.
ReplyDeleteI have Mamma4earth as an etsy favorite.
ReplyDeleteI just love Linda's patterns, and she seems like such a nice person as well! Thanks for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteLisejackson000 at gmail dot com
I added Mamma4earth to my Etsy favorites!
ReplyDeleteI also liked Mamma4earth on Facebook.
ReplyDeletelisejackson000 at gmail dot com
Lovely giveaway. Thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteMama4Earth is one of my Etsy Favourites
ReplyDeleteI <3 Mama4Earth on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI love Linda's patterns and work! And she is an incredible person, too (as much as I can figure from the distance...)
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the giveaway!
Liked her Facebook page
ReplyDeleteAnd on Etsy ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
These patterns look like fun and a challenge too.
ReplyDeleteAdded her to my Etsy favorites with your Berry Berry Handy link; thanks.
ReplyDeleteLiked Mama on Facebook-very cute page she has set up with the little knitted critters all about the place so cheerful !~!
ReplyDeleteI have followed our Linda Dawkins on Twitter for many months now.
ReplyDeleteI am learning to knit slowly. So far I have made a roaster. I would like to make more. Love the rhino especially.
ReplyDeleteLove Linda's patterns!
ReplyDeleteLikes on fb already :-) and favourite on etsy
ReplyDeleteI loved Linda's pattern and have a few already.....
ReplyDeleteI already like her on Facebook
ReplyDeleteAnd she is already in my favorites at etsy......and I don't have twitter
ReplyDeleteWhat cute patterns from an inspirational woman!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to participate :)
ReplyDeleteI follow on facebook as: Carmen Hex della Fontana, on my page of facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Radura-Incantata/211830222238129?ref=hl#!/pages/Radura-Incantata/211830222238129
On Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/people/hexgreen?ref=si_pr
On Twitter: https://twitter.com/hexgreen
His creations are beautiful. :)
Ialready have Linda on FB and on Esty I do love her work
ReplyDeleteI have recently knit a few of her patterns and love them!
ReplyDeleteI love, love LOVE Linda's patterns. Just finished knitting my daughter a rainbow unicorn yesterday. This is such a treat!
ReplyDeleteMamma4Earth is on my Etsy favorites
ReplyDeleteI am a fan on facebook!
ReplyDeleteI love Linda's patterns! Fingers crossed...
ReplyDeleteShe's in my Etsy favs.
ReplyDeleteI like her on FB.
ReplyDeleteFollow her on Twitter.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Mamma4earth's designs. I have made many of her animals. Thank you for this lovely giveaway.
ReplyDeleteliked on fb
ReplyDeleteFavorite on Etsy
ReplyDeleteIt's so wonderful to know about the inspiring lady behind the designs! :)
ReplyDeletePlease enter me for the eight patterns.
ReplyDeleteAnd thank you for making me check Etsy - I thought she'd been favorited for years - but no. So now things are put to rights.
ReplyDeleteAlready liked on Facebook.
ReplyDeleteLove, love these pattern! Our Zoo jut got two Rhinos, my granddaughter gave me a crayon to match the color of yarn she wants her knitted one! (Liked her on etsy, also!)
ReplyDeleteetsy favorite!
ReplyDeleteCute :)
ReplyDeleteCant decide if I love the piggy more than the horsie!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, I would love to enter! I just love the elephant and pig! So cute!
ReplyDeleteI love Linda's patterns! Thanks for the giveaway
ReplyDeleteI have Mamma4Earth in my Etsy favorites
ReplyDeleteI already liked mamma4earth on Facebook
ReplyDeleteI like @mamma4earth on Twitter
ReplyDeletehi there :-)
ReplyDeletei love lindas knitting patterns, i follow her blog for years, never regretted :-)
thank you for the chance :-)
regards, dana
What a great giveaway! A while ago I bought her rabbit pattern and I loved it! so easy to follow and the results were so CUTE! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway! I bought her rabbit pattern a while ago and I loved it! So cute and easy to follow too! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful patterns she develops. The instructions and pictures are superior to any others I have purchased. I follow her blog and I look forward to reading her words every day. Truly a great person.
ReplyDeleteI follow her FB page and blog - her patterns are beautiful and she is very inspiring. Sam x
ReplyDeleteI already "Like" her page on Facebook to make sure I don't miss a single word she has to impart on us.
ReplyDeleteLinda's patterns are the best!!!!
ReplyDeleteI so enjoy receiving and reading about you and your amazing family and all of your escapades and daily life you put to pen and paper! Keep up the wonderful journey you are destined to be on!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy reading about Linda's life. She lives in a place so different than most.
ReplyDeleteShe has wonderful patterns.
I love reading Linda's blog and would love to knit some of her lovely animals. Thanks for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteI was looking for patterns online as I wanted to knit something for my new baby and so many of the images I liked led me back to your patterns. It would be lovely to have a chance to win some! Will definately follow Linda on FB and Twitter!
ReplyDeleteLinda's patterns show her talent for observation as well as her artistic talent. I would love to win all these patterns.
ReplyDeleteLovely patterns. I so enjoy her blog! Would love to win some of her patterns.
ReplyDeleteGreat interview, thanks for the chance to win! :-)
ReplyDeleteI love Linda's patterns. I love how she shares her life with all of us. What an inspiration she is!
ReplyDeleteAdded Mamma4Earth to my Etsy favs
ReplyDeleteLiked Mamma4Earth on FB
ReplyDeleteI liked her awesome Etsy shop ;)
ReplyDeleteThat should read --"I favorited" her Etsy shop ...and I also like her already on facebook!! :O) I don't use Twitter ...but at least I have 2 entries ...worth a shot ---thank you for the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteWonderful! I have my eye on quite a few of these patterns. :)
ReplyDeleteAlready in the etsy favorites! :)
ReplyDeleteLiked on facebook! :)
ReplyDeleteFollowing on twitter! :)
ReplyDeleteHi. I liked Linda on etsy. I love her paterns.
ReplyDeleteI also follow on Twitter
ReplyDeleteI also follow her on facebook
ReplyDeleteI love Linda's knitted animal patterns. I've made some of her cowls, but I haven't tried one of her animals yet. This would give me the reason to do so. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteMama4Earth is already one of my Etsy favorites. Thank you for the chance.
ReplyDeleteLove her animal patterns. So cute!
ReplyDeleteLiked on Facebook!
ReplyDeleteNow in Etsy favourites as well!
ReplyDeleteHer patterns are lovely and make fantastic gifts!
ReplyDeleteI love Lindas patterns- wish I could knit better but this may just be the inspiration I need!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win.
ReplyDeleteLove her patterns. Added etsy shop to my favorites on etsy. Thanks for the chance to win!
ReplyDeleteHer patterns are always lovely! Thanks for sharing a little more details about her and for organizing thw giveaway.
ReplyDeleteI love Linda and would be so grateful to have my name entered
ReplyDeletein your giveaway.
My goodnes, they are all adorable!
ReplyDeleteLiked on FaceBook too :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!!! I love contests & give-aways!!!! The patterns really capture the essence of the animals.:)
ReplyDeletewow, love those patterns! Especially the cow...:)
ReplyDeleteLove the designs! Thank you for sharing your talents!!
ReplyDeleteAdded as a favorite to etsy!
ReplyDeleteWould love some new patterns - thanks for the chance!
ReplyDeleteI love her shop and patterns! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeletefavorite her shop on etsy
ReplyDeletefollow her on twitter
ReplyDeletefollow on facebook
ReplyDelete