May
10
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

Moms helping Mamas, Mamis, Muttis, Mères, Ahms, and Omas

One billion children (1 in 2 children in the world) miss out on their childhood as a result of poverty.

Those are stark, ugly numbers. They are the reason we at B. are so connected and committed to Free The Children. As sad as the thought of those children makes me, with mother's day approaching I feel a profound sorrow for their mothers. I cannot fathom the crushing feeling of not being able to feed, keep safe, or educate my kids. Or the devastating loss of not ever being able to see my beloved three thrive.

The moms (and aunts) of B. want to share with you large and small ways to help. A year ago we told you about "Mamas to Mamas". A year later 137 million more babies were born into the world. Our blog post from last year is worth repeating...

* * * * *

What do you want for Mother’s Day? Some peace and quiet? Flowers? Handmade cards? A new vacuum cleaner? Breakfast in bed? (I once got ALL my favorites combined onto one English muffin: cream cheese, strawberry jam, and tomato with salt and pepper — yuck! Ehem…I mean YUM, of course!).

We at B. wish all moms, grandmas, aunts, caregivers, and all who mother whatever it is THEY wish for on this special day.

But we also dare wish for something much much bigger—a more fair world, one in which all mamas get a chance to raise healthy kids…and wish a little for themselves too. We have big, medium and little ways you can help another mom far away. Today.

BIG
Buy her a Mamas to Mamas goat, beehive, or training program that could completely alter the course of her life and her dreams. Baa Baa or beehive does not matter. This is a true direct gift. 100%.

MEDIUM
Support her handicraft alternative income effort by buying yourself or someone you love a gorgeous, individually (and ethically) handcrafted gift from Me to We Artisans. Free The Children’s Adopt A Village sustainability model helps not just children overseas go to school and have access to clean water and health care. It also helps their mothers bring about change for their family and community through alternative income projects. With the hard work of mothers, whole families are empowered and lifted from the cycle of poverty.

Founder Roxanne Joyal, a founding member of Free The Children was inspired to found Artisans after witnessing talented Maasai beaders forced to travel daily to small tourist markets flooded with similar products, where they would sometimes sell their intricate beadwork at a loss. Today, the mamas are able to earn twice as much as before—without giving up their traditional way of life.

Gathered under acacia trees with their young children in tow, the Maasai mamas bead using art forms passed down mother-to-daughter through the generations, turning their traditional handiwork into a livelihood. By joining Artisans, each woman is empowered to build her savings and do things she never would have believed possible: improve her home, buy food and medicine for her family, send her children to school, and believe that her skills and her voice have value.

SMALL
Buy a B. toy for the little person who made you or someone you love a mother in the first place. Bring some joy to a child, knowing 10 cents of your purchase goes to support the work of Free The Children, the world’s largest network of children helping children. May not sound like a lot, but as dimes add up they change the world. See for yourself how powerful you can B. in even the smallest of ways. Asante Sana (“thank you very much” in Swahili).

Little by little, the same way our babies grow, generosity can change everything. A gift from a mama to a mama, a mom to a mami, an abuela to an oma. A daddy to a mommy. No matter. Every little bit counts. We thank you from the bottoms of our hearts for what you already give by buying our toys.

Warmest wishes come true for you.

—Gisela

Mar
28
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

You, yes YOU, are changing the world.

Every time you buy a B. toy 10¢ get set aside to help children on the other side of the world who, by the mere stroke of fate, are less fortunate than our own. When you hold a dime in your hand it seems oh so small. So inconsequential. How can that little coin make a difference?

It does. It makes a BIG difference. Those dimes add up. They go to Free The Children to build schools, and water wells, and clinics, and alternative income programs. The four pillars of this holistic Adopt a Village model (Water—Health—Education—Alternative Income) are what sets Free The Children apart from many other organizations who help in only one of those areas. Building a healthy community through the Adopt a Village model is like building the framework of a house. Each pillar provides crucial support, without which the whole thing would eventually crumble. The Adopt a Village four pillars for community development are all based on the idea that no problem and no solution stands alone.

I have seen the work of Free The Children with my own eyes. Taken my kids to Kenya to mix cement and carry bricks with our own hands. Watched my 14 year old daughter carry a 40 pound jerrycan of water on her own back. I can vouch for these dimes personally. In a deeply heart-felt and committed way. Truly committed. So committed that now, after these two years of working with Free The Children through B., and after my own personal travels, I sit proudly on the USA board of directors of Free The Children. (Oh, the many places these toys have taken me…)

I hope that every time you play with a B. toy you will remember that you sit there with me. Every one of you who has chosen to support this quirky toy brand with the kraft paper packaging and the earthy colors and the big heart.

We whole-heartedly live by the words of 18th century cleric Sydney Smith: "It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little."

I want to share with you a story by Loren Eiseley that will stick with me forever.

One day a man was walking along the beach, when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…
”I made a difference for that one.”

For this one and this one and this child who cannot thank you personally…we echo Marc Kielburger, co-founder of Free The Children, thanking YOU for your help. And we share with you Robin Wiszowaty's Asante Sana message all the way from Kenya. As program director in Kenya for Free The Children, Robin, more than anyone, sees daily how much B. funds are able to help children have hope for the future—and a childhood now.

We proudly show you a glimpse of the first Kenyan village Battat, B. toys and YOU are helping through the generous B. donations, a little at a time, a dime at a time. Meet Ngosuani, a remote village deep in the Maasai Mara where currently 98% of the women and 90% of the men are illiterate, families live on less than $1 dollar a day, a third of the children are in situations of child labor, and the average age for a first-time mom is 15. This is Free The Children's newest community in Kenya and exactly where your B. contribution is going.

My daughter Sydney traveled there last summer with a MetoWe trip to bring back the photos in the video above, to actually dig ditches and to meet the Kindergarten children who are so excited to go to school they could not stop hugging her as if she represented every one of those dimes, every one of you. (It is not lost on me that she was 14 at the time and by sheer cosmic fortune was born in Boston rather than there, where she would not know how to read or write, would carry water for hours a day, and would this year be married.)

Sydney brought back those hugs, and if I could post them all here I would. But all I can do is thank you. Thank you. Thank you. For being a part of the solution.

ASANTE SANA, GRACIAS, MERCI BEAUCOUP.

—Gisela

Feb
15
2012

posted by

Gisela Voss

It is a happy talent to know how to play. —Ralph Waldo Emerson

Boy oh boy. Girl oh girl. We KNOW how to play!

Yup that's me hopping on one foot. :) We just got back from the 2012 International Toy Fair in New York. We loooove showing off our new creations. And we have a B.ig one to unveil in about 4 weeks. Quite likely the coolest musical toy you've ever seen. If you've not yet signed up for our B.mails or joined us on Facebook, you will want to be among the first to know when "Symphony in B." hits the shelves. Because the first small test shipment will sell out very quickly. We just know it!

We stood on our soap boxes for 3 days and told everyone who came by about our mission to make toys that are a sea change in the industry: beautiful enough to leave out when company comes over, respectful of our planet, generous to children less fortunate than ours.

How do we do it? We love it. We care. We play.

Beyond the visible signature patterns and colors…we labor over the ‘feel’ in a child’s hand, the thickness of the plastic, the smoothness of a strap, the curve of a corner, the recyclability of our packaging, the size of the box, the meaning of each word, the kerning of the font. We really sweat these details. Wake up with them in the middle of the night! Tweak and finesse them until we have everything juuuuust right.

Where possible the toys come with self-storage (the drum holds the instruments, the clinic roof houses the tools). We hate toys that leave a pile of trash as big as the toy itself when unpackaged. And yet, when clear trash plastic is inevitable, we’ve paid extra for the most recyclable #1 PET plastic. And we've designed even the recycling symbol to be B.eautiful.

But most of all, in our heart of hearts, in that spot where we are parents first, we make open-ended toys that encourage a child’s own stories to lead the fun. That engage that most powerful engine of creativity—a child's imagination. That support and celebrate our mission: JUST B. JUST YOU. B. YOU. That trust children to know how to play.

B. happy!

—Gisela

Feb
07
2012

posted by

Carly Hagins

Sweet Treats

There’s nothing quite like Valentine’s Day in grade school. Friends exchange small gifts and there are classroom parties with festive decorations. One of the first holidays since late December, it’s an excuse to let people know you care. And maybe eat a candy heart or five.

The B.ig day is only a week away. Are you still searching for creative ideas about what your wee ones can bring to school on February 14? If so, you’re in luck! We’ve combed the internet to come up with these suggestions just for you.

For many, Valentine’s Day is all about candy. The options are endless: there are heart-shaped boxes full of chocolate, lollipops wrapped in red, and conversation hearts printed with sweet sayings.

Personalized matchboxes from inchmark are adorable—and hold a perfectly petite portion of your favorite sweet treat.
Gabrielle Blair, better known as Design Mom, always has ingenious Valentine’s ideas. We’re blown away by these portraits-turned-lollipop-holders. (Bet they’d work with pencils too!)
These See-Through Valentines (made by Kelli Wilson) are elegant enough to bring to a big kid’s party—or gift to your sweetheart.

Maybe you prefer to think outside the (candy) box? Lots of schools have started enforcing sugar-free celebrations. We love the idea of Valentines that last a little longer than a candy stash.

Mer Mag’s color theory cards make our designer hearts sing. We’re considering making a set for every holiday this year.
Simply wrapped, bouncy balls become a unique and very boy-friendly treat. Thanks to Super Mom Moments for the super idea.
These beautiful painted rocks from Aesthetic Outburst are a fun craft and a sweet memento. There’s no better way to say ‘you rock!’
Do you have a drawer full of crayon nubs? Cottoncandycastle’s heart-shaped mishmash crayons look soooo cool, are fun to use, and can teach a valuable lesson in recycling.
Little ones will feel like the head zookeeper with these wild cards from Design Mom. Don’t miss the free printable!
Food coloring and shaving cream come together to make these awesomely crafty cards from Modern Parents Messy Kids. Our recommendation? Put the kids on shaving cream duty, keep the food coloring in adult hands, and have a camera close by!

Valentine’s Day can also be the perfect time to teach your little ones about the importance of helping others. What better way to show your compassion than by providing opportunities to people who might not have them otherwise?

Me to We has many Artisan-made gifts that would be just right to give to your loved ones. Our favorite? The mood elevator!
Bee mine? A gift of honey bees via Free The Children can be life changing for families in need. If you ask us, that’s sweeter than any box of chocolates.

And if you’re looking for a gift for the loved ones in your life who have graduated from the days of pencil cases and milk in mini cartons, we suggest sharing the wisdom of your wee ones with our online quote maker. Quotes can be downloaded, emailed, tweeted, printed, and framed. The incredible insight of the most precious little people in your life is truly one of the greatest gifts around.

—Carly

PS- This year I’m sending Valentines from tattly—makers of awesomely design-y temporary tattoos—to my friends near and far. You’re never too old for a little treat!

Jan
27
2012

posted by

Andrea Gavin Becker

The Perfect Valentine's Day Gift: the words of a child

While it can seem impossible to find a Valentine’s Day gift that truly imparts the love, joy and gratitude you want to share with that special person, we think it can be easy and (almost) free.

Those brilliant, hilarious, poignant and priceless things children say can be turned into a gorgeous keepsake to be treasured forever using the B. Quote Gallery quote maker. Here's what I did:

First, I chose a quote by my nephew I know my sister is going to love. Then I entered it into the the Quote Maker which automatically turned it into beautiful art (ready for gifting to moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, babysitters and teachers).

Once I created my quote, I downloaded it to print. (You can also click on the envelope to email it, creating a personalized e-Valentine.) When it was printed, I added a few personal touches to turn it into a gorgeous valentine.

Here are a few step-by-step instructions to create heart art for Valentine's Day:

For each card, print a quote on matte card stock paper at your desired size. For the simplest of quotes, size them to fit in envelopes you have purchased at a stationery store or online. You can go super tiny or ultra big. Anything goes! Some of my favorite ideas are brown kraft envelopes or glassine envelopes you can find a photography supply stores.
Round the corners of the valentine with scissors, and then have your wee one sign the valentine if you like. Finally, decorate the envelope with hearts, doodles and love. One of my favorite things to do was to make hearts with a heart hole punch out of scraps of the quotes. I also found stickers and metallic pens added to the fun.
For a fold-over card, I simply printed 2 quotes and used glue tape to stick them together back to back. Fold over and voilà!
For that extra special someone, try printing several quotes and using tiny clothespins and baker's twine to make a string-a-long anyone would love.
Finally, if you want to go bigger, you can download the quote then send it to Shutterfly.com, Kodak.com, Mpix.com or Vistaprint.com to make a wonderful keepsake—a book, a bag, a calendar. You can use these quotes any way you would use a photo.

The most important thing to remember that it really truly is the thought that counts! Even a printout of a quote just folded in half would make anyone's day.

Happy Valentine's Day card making!

—Andrea