Sponsorship Giveaway with Prettydreamer

We are so thrilled to be sharing a giveaway from one of our sponsors today!  Prettydreamer is a wonderful Etsy store owned by the talented Pamela.  Prettydreamer specializes in lively, useful, colorful, and simple goods — for home and play. Original & handmade Waldorf-inspired and classic wood toys, art toys, home decor and housewares. All materials are carefully chosen and non-toxic.  Prettydreamer is offering one reader a $25 gift certificate towards purchase of something of their choice from the store.   To enter, please browse through the store and leave a comment about what it is that you were fond of while visiting Pamela’s Etsy store.

Pamela is also generously offering the readers of Rhythm of the Home a 10% discount by entering the code ROTHWINTER at checkout in her Etsy store for the duration of the giveaway.

Tell us a little bit about Prettydreamer.

My name is Pamela, the artist and the hands behind Prettydreamer. In a studio workshop that has a way of spreading to nearly every corner of our home, I make wooden toys, artful playthings and useful things for the home.

I am inspired by the beauty and vitality of the Waldorf aesthetic and the art of everyday folk hands. Even as these traditions call to me, my desire is to stay true to my ideas and sensibilities, and work within a living tradition to create my work.

What inspired you to begin your work, and what keeps you motivated today?

Prettydreamer originates in the pure child-like beauty that is found deep within the playground of imagination. The story and worlds created by a child at play, I believe remain the same seed of inspiration in the creative process even as we become adults.

I have always loved toys and their animate nature (I don’t think I am the only one).

Simple wooden toys possess a liveliness all of their own. They can some how be smart and playful even while at rest. It is my hope to share their joyfulness in my work with children of all ages.

I love the innate integrity found in wooden toys .When you pick up a well made wooden toy, you immediately feel the weight of its solidness, it can help but be genuine. While designing my classic line of toys, my thoughts turn to using traditional woodworking techniques that were used to make the real counterpart. I believe that a child understands this authenticity even without consciously being made aware of it. The truthfulness of the design and materials gives power to the imagination.

I deeply love the natural world and the materials that come from it, like wood and fiber. The tree that grew and braced itself against the wind has a story to tell in the wood’s grain. When I take a rough sawn board that grew and was milled a town or two away, I begin to take part in that history too.

When a family shares that they have seen my squirrel scamper as I had imagined or heard my lion roar as I heard it, I am thrilled. When a mama writes back to share the adventures of her own little woodcutter wielding a toy ax I have made, I feel completed as an artist. How wonderful to take part in a families’ history by what I make.

How do you balance being an artist, business owner and a parent?

I am strong believer of intuition and the answers that arrive by this way. Everyday I am learning through experience and making adjustments for all these three areas in my life., though many times, I may still need to make changes bit at time because real life has a way of happening.

I am fortunate to do work that I absolutely love, even when it is not always easy. The hours are always long. My daughter, my own prettydreamer, has a strong independent imagination and creative spirit; she never has a lack for a project of her own. I work hard everyday to make the balance better for all these important parts of our life.

I handle all aspect of Prettydreamer – design, production, communication, photography, shipping, (the list goes on.). I truly do love being able to give all this attention from the when the idea first shows itself to a lovely package that arrives in a customer’s hands – from my hands to their hands. I am always looking at how I can set up my time to create balance and a harmonious flow between work life and family life more effectively

What are your hopes for Prettydreamer in the future?

I cannot tell you how many notebooks and sketchbooks I have running. Some are by my bedside, others at my desk and still more at the worktables. Everyday another idea inches its way into my life, I hope to get to many more of them. I am grateful for all the kind support and sharing that has allowed me to live my Prettydreamer.

To learn more about Prettydreamer, please visit Pamela’s store or website.

To be entered to win, please leave a comment below and we will announce the winner on Monday. Thank you so much to Pamela for your wonderful giveaway.