Kate Taylor: Interview and Giveaway!

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Many moons ago, when I was young and jetted to Manhattan for shows, I saw a fantastic show at The Cutting Room: Kate Taylor. This was back in the time of MySpace, and so, after the show, I messaged Kate on her MySpace to let her know how much I loved her music. She was so kind and replied right away! We struck up a conversation, and low and behold, when I went back to The Cutting Room to see Carly Simon and Ben Taylor play a show, Kate was there (not shockingly, as Ben is her nephew), and she not only said hi to me, but remembered me, my story, my life, and even introduced herself to my mom! Not only is Kate an unbelievably kind soul, but she's a gorgeous song writer; her songs are infused with history, heart, and passion. But, we're not here today to talk about Kate's music, actually! We're here because Kate is also an extremely talented jewelry designer...when I saw her pieces she was posting on Facebook, I became so intrigued about her design choices, and asked if she would be willing to do an interview with us; not surprisingly, she was kind as always, and happily accepted my offer. Today, we have a fantastic interview with Kate, we're also sharing her music....and we have a giveaway, too! Read ahead for more!

For more info on Kate, and to purchase her jewelry, you can check out her Facebook, her website, and her jewelry's Facebook and website.

1. Why did you start making jewelry?
Ever since I was a kid I have had an attraction to shells and also to jewelry and to combine the two was a natural. When my husband Charlie Witham, our friend Joan LeLacheur and I started working with the shell that grows here on Martha's Vineyard, we weren't really thinking about "jewelry" necessarily. Charlie had been a student of Native American art and culture, and we saw beautiful purple and white cylindrical beads (wampum) made from the hard shell clam (quahog), used by the original Americans, on display behind glass in museums. The beads were and are still used ceremoniously by the native people as a means of communication and to record important events. They beads were also used as adornment, but their highest function was as a mnemonic device, woven into belts and message strands to document tribal history; agreements, weddings, etc, and to trigger the telling of these stories through the oral tradition. We were drawn to these wampum beads and really wanted to have some. We didn't know of anyone still making them, and through research into how they had been made and through trial and error, we started the journey to making them for ourselves.

2. Where do you get your materials? 

Charlie realized that the shells these beads were made from were the same shells that we were finding on the shoreline where we live on Martha's Vineyard. Starting in 1971, we spent our first couple of years working with small pieces of the ocean tumbled shell that we found on the beach. We started drilling them and stringing them up as necklaces and bracelets. In January of 1975 we made our first cylindrical wampum beads. Along the way we also started to incorporate other shells such as scallop and abalone, precious and semi precious stones, gold and silver and sea glass into our pieces.

3. What inspires your designs? 

Our intent and hope has always been to make pieces that honor the deep and rich traditional uses of the beads.

4. Do you feel that there is a relationship between music and creating jewelry?

I suppose there is a relationship between all types of art. Our natural world inspires a lot of what I do. I find it fascinating and fabulous that people can take the same materials, the same notes, the same canvas and paint and make completely different and uniquely individual things from them.

5. Have you always been creative with your hands, besides playing music?

My mom and her mother were both very creative. They made things with their hands that were both beautiful and functional; braided and hooked rugs, knit and sewn garments, woven materials. And they were both singers! They taught me to knit and crochet and to feel free to follow any creative path that might lay before me

6. Do you do custom work?

You might say that all of the work I do now is custom. There are many styles of beads, bracelets, pendants and necklaces that I have made that someone will see and want replicated, so I can do that for them, and I also can meet with a client, talk about what they might like and design something especially for them. Because of the nature of the shell and the other materials, each piece is unique.
Each shell piece is quite labor intensive and some of the materials I use are rare and/or expensive and the prices can reflect that. To make some of the designs more affordable, I have started a line of necklaces that are made from photocopies of original pieces and with some gold leaf and resin they are set into pendant trays.

1. Diamond Sunrise with Gold Leaf, 2. Tipi Fire with Gold Leaf, 3. Big Tree and Night Sky with Gold Leaf, 4. Big Tree and Night Sky with Purple Foil and Gold Leaf, 5. Circle Four Directions with Gold Leaf, 6. Wampum Beads, 7. Wampum 45’s Insert, 8. Circle Full Moon on the Water with Gold Leaf, 9. Diamond Full Moon on the Water with Gold Leaf, 10. Circle Tortoise with Gold Leaf, 11. Big Tree and Night Sky with Red foil and Gold Leaf, 12. Tipi Fire with Red Foil and Gold Leaf


Kate not only creates this jewelry, but she has many songs about these natural resources, the shells, the wampum, the waters which inspire her art...she collects her materials at Menemsha Pond, a salt water, tidal pond that is 3 miles across and is 1/2 in Chilmark, Mass and 1/2 in Aquinnah, Massachusetts. To hear some of the songs inspired by the pond and its natural resources, check out, Beautiful Road (one of my favorite songs), Shores of Paradise, Shanty Song, and King of the Pond.

Wait, wait...there's more! Kate has generously offered to give away one of her pendants to a Lovely reader! Just in time for Mother's Day...! How can you enter to win one of Kate's amazing hand made pieces? Just check out the widget below and entering is so easy! Better yet: YOU get to pick the one you want to win! 

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A Village is a Village

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Back in the good ol' days, when a tragedy occurred in a community, it was the women who came flocking to each other. They would take care of the children, cook, clean, do laundry, and help their fellow mama-friend grieve; whether it was the loss of a husband at war, a stillborn baby, or losing a child to polio, the mama had a community around her to support her, lift her up, and grieve for her child or spouse in those moments when the grief was just too heavy to bear.

Over the last year, I have been part of a small group of women, in an online community. There are only two hundred of us, so you get to know the names, stories, and children's lives pretty well. We share our house-hunting, weekly menus, parenting ups and downs, and most recently, our tragedy. We live in literally all corners of the world, from New York, to England, to New Zealand, but, when once of us needs help, a hug, or just to vent, someone is always, always on the other end of the computer. Yes, it sounds pretty weird: how can you be so connected to women whom you've never met (though, I have two in-real-life good friends from the group, and one woman I went to college with!)? Well, I guess, for someone who met their husband online, the concept just doesn't sound too odd to me! I care for these women and their families. When they suffer, we all do.

One of these amazing women, Tessa, from New Zealand, has a little girl named Eva. Eva was born with an extremely rare disease called CHARGE Syndrome, and though she could not see or hear, she was as close as any baby to her mama, laughed, giggled, loved the sunshine, and loved hugs and kisses. Eva's life was not easy, and full of doctors and tests, but Tessa charged onward for her daughter and gave her a beautiful life.

Though Eva had CHARGE, she was doing wonderfully, which is why when all of us mamas in America woke up on February 25th to devastating news, we were floored. Tessa let us all know that Eva had passed away, suddenly, from a small respiratory issue. Like any baby with a small cold, she was having trouble breathing, and then, in front of her mother's eyes, she passed away. I can't even write this without crying.

My Mama-Group got to action immediately. We may not be there to attend the funeral, or hold Tessa's hand, or cook her dinner, but we did everything we could to make her know we were there for her, no matter what. Just as she would do for us. There are care packages, flowers, money being raised, and then, we did what any community would do: we sat vigil.

We declared that on 8PM EST (which is when the funeral began in New Zealand), March 1st, for 24 hours, we would each light candles and post our candles on to our community page. For 24 hours, only candles. Only Eva. Only Tessa. We communicated to Tessa our love and strength before and after the funeral. We wanted her to know that for 24 hours (and always, obviously), we, 200 women (and more in other mom groups, too!), would be holding the grief when it got heavy. We were praying for them, thinking about them, and holding them in our hearts.

Tessa has been keeping a blog chronicling Eva's amazing life, and I implore you to read it. I just wanted to make a few shout-outs: first, to Hillary Frank for starting the Longest Shortest Time group on Facebook, for it is through that group, that two smaller groups have formed, which have been a steadfast place for Tessa to fall apart within. Secondly, the mothers in these groups who got to work as fast as they could and have worked non-stop creating videos, cards, sending gifts, and love...you're amazing.

And lastly, to Tessa: thank you for sharing Eva with us. We have loved watching her grow, her smile, and her brilliant life. She has taught us all more in her life than most people can teach in theirs. We are here for you on this long journey.

Our villages may be different now, but a mama is a mama. I have never seen such devotion, love, and strength in a group of women. We may not hang our apron up in her cabin and sit by the fire with her, but we are just an email, message, text, and "like," away.

If you'd like to light a candle for Eva, please do so, and share with #theoneinamillionbaby.

The Little Toyshop at The Sandbox Playspace

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Lovelies, it is no secret that Weston and I are huge fans of The Sandbox Playspace in Huntington. From the classic wooden toys, to the mama-interaction-time, to the wonderful owners, we love spending our days at The Sandbox playing, hanging, learning, and loving life. The Sandbox has become our second home in town, where we land after a long day of errands or meetings. And now, I am so excited to announce that The Sandbox has opened up their own Toyshop! Owners, Toni and Rob, hand picked each and every toy that they sell, and I can tell you from experience, that the toys are beyond gorgeous and would make amazing holiday gifts. Not to mention that The Sandbox is now selling gift cards! What's a better gift than the gift of play (and uh, of mama hanging out with other mama time!)?! Sandbox gift cards would make a perfect first birthday gift, stocking stuffer, or even baby shower present!


I am thrilled to have Toni here today on Lovely to share some words about their new Toyshop, the importance of play, and how critical it is for parents to have a safe mental space to go to; thanks for sharing, Toni!

Childhood is new territory these days. Life can feel rushed, noisy & high-tech and it's easy to feel pretty disconnected from the natural world.

We wanted to offer toys to counterbalance the speed of life and to honor childhood. Toys that truly value play, slowing down, being in the "now". Toys that encourage making time and space for imagination and creativity. We wanted toys that will become beloved and last a long time. 

Wooden toys inspire the senses. The smoothness of wood and it's weight and coolness feels so good in a baby's hand as she begins to discover her tactile senses and explore grasping, clutching and coordination. Plus, our toymakers use only the highest quality, sustainably harvested wood and completely natural, non-toxic dyes, paints and finishes so wood toys can double as teethers and you don't have to panic when they go straight in the mouth. 


For bigger little ones, there is magic in watching a hand-carved horse become real. We treasure watching our own boys dig deep into playing. We love when they are talking in high little voices and forgetting about the real world around them. They don't know it, but as they flex their little "imaginary muscles", they are actually practicing creative, critical, flexible thinking- the kind of thinking which will serve them through their entire lives.

We like toys which stick around and remain loved for the long haul. Blocks, a ukulele, puzzles, a spinning top, a sweet, soft doll - they chisel a place in your heart and they teach children that some things in life are very special and not disposable.


And, if you are looking for the gift of togetherness, a gift card to the Sandbox is perfect under the tree. (E-gift cards for sale or call (631) 421-1600 or drop in to purchase a classic gift card) - A great suggestion for the uncle who might otherwise choose a dancing plastic chicken who squeaks "The Macarena" on repeat. 


Also, a perfect stocking stuffers, gift cards are available in any amount and can be used for a Sandbox Play Membership, Play Package, Open Play Visit, or for merchandise.

So, as the harsh days of winter approach you will have a cozy clubhouse to come and play together. Your sanity might just depend on it.

You have more than enough time before Christmas to stop in and stock up on toys which will become family heirlooms! Hope to see you there!

A Day in the Life of: Tara, a SnugBug Mama

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You know when you come across moms who totally inspire you? That's Tara! She's a mother-baby nurse, a nutrionist, and owns her own "SnugBug Fitness Class" where she helps moms get in shape while wearing their babies. Not to mention she's super smart, friendly, and has a gorgeous pixie of a baby girl named....Magnolia. Swoon. Totally girl-crushing on today's A Day in the Life Of guest poster! Take it away, Tara!



A Day in the Life of Tara Allen…

6:00 AM – The alarm goes off. Magnolia has been up and breastfeeding since 5:30 (for her 5th middle-of-the-night feeding). I still set a ‘just in case’ alarm everyday.

6:15 AM – Done breastfeeding. Giggles, poking Daddy, and saying “Mama” about 20-30 times before we get out of bed.

6:45 AM – Done with diaper change, vitamins, dressing, combing hair, and brushing teeth. The brushing teeth thing is more like an opportunity for Maggie to bite my finger without being told not to bite. Teething again, right? ANY day now!

7:00 AM – Joe hangs with Maggie while I quickly wash up and throw some workout clothes on. We have 2 classes to teach today!

7:15 AM – Pack the car – carseat, baby carrier, diaper bag, pocketbook, iPad and notebook (a.k.a. my mobile office), resistance bands, water, breakfast and lunch for mini-me and me.

7:30 AM – Kisses, coats, and out the door.

7:30 AM – 8:15 AM – drive to Huntington, listen to music, news, podcasts. Turn it all off. Sing "The Wheels on the Bus". That seems better. Magnolia catches a quick cat nap. I find some parking in between construction zones. Please don’t wake my baby!

8:15AM – 8:45 AM – Mobile office open for business. Check emails. Post on Facebook about the construction / parking situation for everyone. Write routine for today’s classes.

8:45 AM – Princess is awake. Perfect timing – was just going to wake her. Quick feeding and diaper change in the car. Time to teach our SnugBug Fitness class!




9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – SnugBug Fitness class. We talk, we sweat, and I feel lucky to do what I do.


10:15 AM – Another diaper change and feeding in the car. Blog about class. Welcome new clients. A gentle wrestle and toy distraction to get M into her seat. It works!

10:30 AM – Drive, drive, drive. Magnolia needs a real nap now and this is just about the only way we can get one.

11:15 AM – She’s asleep!

11:20 AM – She’s awake!

11:30 AM – She’s asleep!



12:00 PM – Call my mom from the car (hands-free, don’t worry). We talk about some holiday plans we have coming up and schedule some Grandma-Magnolia time (which equals some work time for this Mama).

12:25 PM – Arrive in Mineola. Park and continue to work. An opportunity to meet with the web developer after this next class. Great! Take notes for meeting. Hopefully a little sweat and a baby won’t be a distraction for my meeting.

1:30 PM – M wakes up – 2 hour nap – sweet! Lunch time. We eat (where else?) in the car today. She reluctantly takes a bottle of pumped milk at this time. I’m starting to slowly wean, so this is the “no boobie” time. Diaper change. It’s warm today – we head outside for a walk and a little fun Mommy and me time.

2:05 PM – Enter the wellness center to set up for class. Magnolia loves this time as she runs around the room and we listen to music. Quick dance party. Maggie’s got some slick moves already at her ripe ol’ age of 1.

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM – SnugBug Fitness class #2. Fun, fun! 2 workouts in one day is not such a bad gig, either.












3:25 PM – 4:30 PM – Pack up and head over to meeting. Joe works in the same building and can take Maggie for a few minutes while I meet with the web developer. Perfect! Concentrating on updating site to take registration for upcoming nutrition seminar I will be teaching. Oh no, is she crying?? “Mama, mama, maaaaaa-maaaaa!” Yup, she is. “We’ll finish this via email. Thanks”!

4:30 PM – Back in the “boobie” time frame. Nurse M and change diaper. We drive home in traffic and I break out the Christmas songs very early this year. She sings along with a “ya-ya-ya”.

5:30 PM – Home and unpack the car. Shower / bath time for us! Pajamas X 2 (why not?). Maggie grabs a book. We read. She eats the book. We play with her new medical kit. “Are you going to be a nurse like Mommy?” “Mama?” I’ll take that as a maybe. A load of laundry goes on, breastmilk defrosting to make bottles, and time to start cooking. I cook dinner for us, breakfast/lunch/dinner for Maggie for tomorrow, and breakfast and lunch for myself for tomorrow – I will be working all day at the hospital. A giant post-it note details all of Maggie’s meals for tomorrow so our family / babysitters know what she gets and when. This happens when you’re Type A, a bit overprotective of your child’s health, and out of the house for 15 hours straight.











7:00 PM (shoot, later than I planned) – We eat dinner. Joe will be home around 7:30.

7:30 PM – Joe is home! “Hello”, catch up for 5 minutes, and he brings M into the bath. Phew! Time to clean up from dinner, wash the dishes, flip the laundry, and start to pack things for tomorrow. Set the alarm for 4 AM.

8:00 PM – Pack my breast pump for work tomorrow, stock the diapers and wipes in the nursery. Take out the garbage and diapers. Lay out my clothes in the bathroom (so I can just slip out of the bedroom without waking anyone in the morning). Joe does lotion, bedtime stories, and brushes teeth. Sleep sack on and we meet on the couch to breastfeed. She’s not sleepy yet. She climbs on us. Sleep sack off. We chase her. She giggles – a lot!

8:40 PM – Rubbing her eyes! Let’s try again. Sleep sack on. Breastfeed to sleep. Joe and I stare for a minute as usual. She’s so beautiful! We’re so lucky! Joe scoops her up as I plant one last kiss on her forehead. “Is the sound machine on?” “Yup”. Transfer to her crib. It may only last about 2 hours, but it’s a start! Time to fold laundry, finish last minute emails, post the recipe for what I made for dinner, and catch up with Joe about the day.











9:20 PM – Crawl into bed. Try to get a solid hour or two for now. Magnolia will be up between 10:30 and 12 and will be nursing and co-sleeping with us from then on. Now’s my chance to sprawl out on the bed! Double and triple check my alarm. Goodnight!


Bring on tomorrow….

Thanks for reading! My blog can be found here! 

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A Holiday Giveaway From Me to You

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Lovelies, I have a very special giveaway for you today. It's a gift from me to you. What's better than giving the gift of music, right? Back in the old days when Eric and I first met, he played in a band in Connecticut; one of the band members was MorganEve, and she had a lovely boyfriend, Dave, whom I would chat with when our significant others were playing shows. MorganEve and Dave went on to form their own two-person music group, Brown Bird, and became wildly successful, touring around the country.

When MorganEve posted last year that Dave fell ill on the road, I had a pit in my stomach. Diagnosed with cancer shortly thereafter, Dave put up an amazing fight, but sadly, cancer took him away this past year. MorganEve has not stopped playing music, and furthermore, has not stopped impressing me with her grace surrounding her husband's passing. She recently released a holiday album that she and Dave spent years creating, and I wanted to share it with you today.

I downloaded their holiday album a few weeks ago and I simply cannot stop listening to it. It's gorgeous, haunting, sexy, swampy, and jazzy. I adore it. Though I cannot reach out and hand all of our Lovely Sisters' readers a gift this holiday season, my gift to you is to introduce you to such an amazing woman and the music she created with her partner. My gift to you is to introduce you to a new holiday album which is sure to become a classic and staple holiday album in your collection.

Furthermore, one of you will be lucky enough to receive the album from us! We're giving away one album (CD or digital, your choice!) to one reader. All you have to do is enter on the widget below.

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Felt Loose & Fancy Free & a Giveaway!

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Lovelies, we have another wonderful giveaway and feature for you today! I was introduced to Mary through a local mom group and was blown away with her Etsy shop! Mary is the owner and creator of Felt Loose and Fancy Free, where she creates gorgeous "felt board story sets that promote literacy, imagination, and learning - all in one playful pouch." As a mother, lover of literacy, and creative entrepreneur, Mary has rolled all her passions into one and hand makes playful story board sets to inspire children to use their imagination and spark their love of learning.

Top: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Set, Pizza Set; Middle: Jungle Safari, Under the Sea; Bottom: Crayon Set, Counting Apple Set
Mary's products are perfect and seamless. Each set is so well thought out, from the colors of natural wool felt she uses, to how each size, shape, and image she creates will inspire and educate young kids. Furthermore, all of Felt Loose and Fancy Free's sets come in a hand-dyed pouch so that children can learn how to clean up their sets too! Her whimsical story board sets are created with such precision, and made just thick enough for those grabby toddler hands to not ruin them. Personally, I love how these sets harken back to a time of simplicity, when teaching your toddler colors and numbers didn't involve an iPad and apps to download. Mary's sets are the perfect teaching tool to learn addition, subtraction, vehicles, animals, create stories, and letting your child's imagination roam. 

Felt Loose and Fancy Free will be at the Long Island Festival in Huntington on October 11-12, with Sewing Seeds and our friends, Mockingbird Parties. You can find them at booth #46, on Prime Avenue, and they will be hosting a huge giveaway! Make sure to stop by and tell them that the Lovely sisters sent you! 


Lucky for us, Mary is kindly giving away a Let's Color Crayon Matching Set and a felt board, to make your child's stories portable and easy to save. This is the perfect way to teach your toddler colors, counting, and making patterns. It's so easy to enter, and even if you don't win, head over to Felt Loose and Fancy Free because Mary is offering Lovely readers a 10% discount with the code LOVELYFELT10, entered at checkout. Enter to win the crayon set and a felt board below! 


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