I am happy to introduce you to fellow boat dwelling mama Charlotte for a giveaway this week. I met Charlotte about a year and a half ago when I interviewed her for an article in SAIL Magazine (
see sidebar). Then we became pregnant around the same time. Then we swapped all sorts of links on etsy and it became clear we have very similar tastes. So I was all kinds of excited when she put her wonderful sewing talents out there and opened an etsy shop,
Red Charlotte.
So my first question for her was naturally - how the heck do you have an etsy shop on your boat while caring for a baby?
Right now I rent a small workspace near the boat where I do all my sewing and store my fabric, so Red Charlotte is not technically run from our sailboat, although I do all of the computer work on board. Cora is my little work buddy. We have a daily and weekly groove. I have a set list of things that need to get done each day, but they are never done at the same time or in the same order. Each day always includes: some type of exercise, some hours spent sewing, and some playtime outdoors with Cora. When I'm working in the shop, Cora is always there with me. She plays with her toys and I stop periodically to read her books and sing songs. We sit together while I trim and turn sucking pads and sometimes she pushes the foot pedal as I sew. She's the best business partner ever!
(Look at that punim! This is baby Cora, the CEO of Red Charlotte, sporting one of the shop's gorgeous bibs)
You're so talented with the sewing machine, how did you learn?
My mom taught me how to use a sewing machine when I was a little girl. I also loved to hand sew and would design clothes for my dolls and make them sleeping bags and purses. I grew up in Alaska, so the long, Alaskan winters offered me a lot of time to sit at home and practice my craft!
Red Charlotte offers up all kinds of sweetly sewn baby items in really fabulous fabrics, even organic ones. One of my favorites are the sucking pads. I don't know what I'd do without these little beauties on my Ergo (they can be used on all kinds of carriers). They are part drool pad, part toy, part emergency rag, part oh-heck-these-are-just-a-cute-way-to-dress-up-my-ergo! Naia especially loves to play with the ribbons and I have been known to hang my keys or a playsilk from there for fun.
Today
Red Charlotte is generously giving away one Ergo Stuff Sack in your choice of fabric. I have one and I can tell you it's soooooo handy! I love that my ergo can become a nice little pillow rather than be sprawled on the floor or couch looking untidy. And the sack protects my ergo when we're out and about. These are a fun way to treat yourself and they make fabulous gifts for new parents.
(This was perfect for our recent beach camping trip. It protected my baby carrier and doubled as a pillow!)
To enter for the stuff sack giveaway please just leave a comment here telling us your favorite item from Red Charlotte. This giveaway is open to anyone, even overseas. For an extra entry click on over to the Red Charlotte facebook page and become a fan. I will close comments Friday morning and post a winner Friday evening.
And the winner is... Lisa from
Sweet Georgia and the Crafty Squirrel! Congratualtions!
In addition Charlotte is offering a 10% discount in her shop from now through Sunday June 12 to anyone using the code
BOATBABY2011.
Thank you
Red Charlotte!
