Mothering with Mindfulness Sponsor - Mamma4Earth

Today I would like to introduce you to one of my January sponsors Linda Dawkins of Mamma4Earth.

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

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:

Blog

Etsy Shop

Ravelry Group 

Craftsy Shop 

Pinterest 

Twitter

Facebook

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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:

                                                                          1) Adding Mamma4Earth to your Etsy favourites

                                                                          2) Liking Mamma4Earth on Facebook

                                                                          3) Following Mamma4Earth on Twitter  

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!