A Child's Dream Come True GIVEAWAY!

We have our winner... it's Lauren! Congrats :-)
And if you were wondering what Lauren thinks she'll get with her $50 spending spree, this is what she wrote in her comments...
"Hi... I found your awesome Giveaway through Hybrid Rasta Mama's tweet... I would love to enter:) if I win I would probably get the "Tidy Up Kitchen Set", the Wax Candle Rolling kit, and some roving... My daughter would love your shop...',

Thanks again to Debbie and A Child's Dream Come true for offering such a super giveaway!  For all of us who weren't lucky enough to win this one, don't forget that Debbie has offered all Magic Onions Readers 10% off their entire purchase until the end of November. So, Friends, now's the time to get those goodies you need from A Child's Dream Come True. Enter the word 'MAGIC' to redeem your discount.

* * *

Three years ago I discovered the wonderful art of needle felting and a whole universe opened up for me. I had always known that I was creative... I had, from a very young age, held a deep yearning to create, yet nothing I tried in the artistic realm seemed to work. Painting was not it no matter how hard I painted. I failed miserably in my pottery phase, I dabbled at making jewelry but could never master the intricacies of working with the different materials, and the list goes on and on.

But, friends, this is the truth... the very first time I picked up a felting needle, I KNEW I had found my medium. It was love at first sight. I made the cutest little toadstool on that first day and I was hooked. I have been a needle felting addict ever since, creating little woolen treasures at every available moment.

 A few days after making my first toadstool, I realized that I needed my very own library  of wool... I needed every color ever made. I called my expert felting friend and asked her where I could buy my own stash... her answer was A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE. Oh my gosh, I was totally blown away by what I could find in this gorgeous shop... any color roving my heart desired... moss green, fuschia pink, turquoise blue. I loved that I could purchase just a few colors at a time... I could pick and choose, getting just a few ounces or a pound.

I waited anxiously for my first order to arrive and sat with my new colors arranged carefully in my lap, gazing at them for the longest time. I was almost too nervous to actually use my new beautiful wool but soon I was away, making all manner of magical gnomes and mossy lands.

I discovered that I could buy braided wool for wild fairy hair.

 I could buy curly sheep's fleece, IN RAINBOW COLORS!

I could buy felting needles when mine broke.

I could get my own felting board too.

So, when Debbie from A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE contacted me a while back asking about sponsoring The Magic Onions I was truly delighted. As I browsed through her shop all these years later, the excitement of my first needle felting adventures came flooding back to me... the flutter of my heart when my new package of wool arrived from her shop, the delight I felt when I first saw the gorgeous colors in person, when I held my roving in my own hand, the amazement I felt at the treasures I could create with this beautiful wool.

So friends, I'm so excited to present my new sponsor, A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE.

In Debbie's words, we offer a mouth-watering selection of natural wool felt, felting wool, kits and creative supplies for all ages. You'll also find some little wood toys, soft treasures and favorite books for children and families. We're Waldorf-inspired, family-owned and operated and thankful to work, live and play in beautiful, rural North Idaho

I enjoyed reading about how Debbie and her family found a way to work their love of Waldorf into their everyday lives, here. An inspiration to all of us who want to work what we love.

Please have a browse through this amazing Waldorf inspired shop, A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE. I have always loved giving my friends and family Christmas gifts that can ignite a whole new creative adventure for them. And, for yourself, if you have been wanting to give needle felting a try, now you know where you can find the best of everything.

GIVEAWAY!

Debbie has generously offered a $50 spending spree gift certificate to one lucky reader. All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post, telling me what you would (perhaps) get with your $50 from A CHILD'S DREAM COME TRUE?

You can enter 4 additional times by...
* 'liking' A Childs Dream Come True on Facebook
*blogging about this Giveaway so that others may have a chance to win too.
*tweeting about this Giveaway
* 'liking' The Magic Onions on Facebook

Please come back and add your additional entries by leaving an additional comment for each extra entry.

Winner will be chosen on Sunday, 20 November 2011.



And, if you just can't wait and need to get something from this gorgeous shop right away, remember that Debbie has offered all Magic Onions readers a %10 discount until the end of November... just enter the code MAGIC at checkout for your discount to take effect.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

Thank you, Debbie,
Blessings and magic,
Donni

Sorry, this draw is closed. Lauren won but A Child's Dream Come True is offering all Magic Onions Readers 10% off their entire purchase until the end of November 2011... enter the word 'MAGIC' to redeem your discount.

Sponsor Love.

Today, I wanted to say a super huge Thank You to my wonderful Etsy Sponsors... your shops are all totally delightful. I am very proud to be able to share your beautifully handmade creations on The Magic Onions.

Dear Readers, as a treat to you, I thought I'd put together a collection of some of my favorite summery finds from their shops.

This must be the cutest gnome ever from Heartfelt Passions

Teddy LOVES these colorful dino's from The Enchanted Cupboard

I use this very soap... it's utterly wonderful! Made by my dear friend at Sacred Water's Soap Co

Oh, how I want to make these little cuties... patterns from Jenny and Teddy Creations

I can see hours of fun summer play with this delightful cottage from Fins and Flowers

My children ADORE anything that comes neatly packed in a tittle bag... how Kitty would love this playset from Woolies

And, for me... I've decided to make an effort to look pretty even if we are staying home all day... this darling will add 'pretty' to anything I wear, from Skipping Stones

Of course, you all know how much I covert these wonderful tree puzzles from The Puzzled One.

And, isn't this a darling beach scene... just the kind of days we are going to spend this summer, from Periwinkle Sky

Thank you to all of you for bringing your handmade beauties into the world.

Anyone interested in becoming a sponsor on The Magic Onions, please pop me and email at vined (at) ymail (dot) com and I'll send you our stats and rates. 

Blessings and magic,
Donni

Natural Soap and a GREAT Giveaway!

Are you looking for Christmas gifts? Special handmade, gorgeous things? I am! Well, look no further... Hand made, natural, luxurious soap! Soap for Mom, soap for Dad, Soap for your Good Man and soap for YOU!


I am so delighted to introduce a my dear friend and one of my new sponsors, Shannon from Sacred Waters Soap Co. I have to admit that, up until about a year ago, we were a family who shopped at Costco for our soap. I loved that I could buy a pack of 12 soaps and not have to think about running out of soap for months at a time. Then, Shannon showed up with a little wicker basket filled with the most wonderfully-smelling, prettiest-looking, made-with-love soaps I had ever seen. I looked at this little basket and thought how beautiful soap could be. I couldn't resist buying one of each kind. I took my soaps home and immediately had a bath. I was amazed at the luxuriously foaming gentleness of my new soap and couldn't help thinking how I on earth I had put up with the hard, synthetic smelling-soaps for all this time. So, without further ado, here is Shannon from Sacred Waters Soap Co.

* * *

It all started long ago in a tiny kitchen, images of my grandmother in my head. She did everything herself. She sewed the clothes, grew the food, preserved the food, and made the soap among many other things. Everything in her world was handmade and a thing of beauty and love. There is soul and emotion in things made by real people. Their spirit becomes a part of the creation. I have always wanted to reconnect with that life.

Living in the middle of a huge city like Los Angeles, it was hard to imagine how I was going to create that farm life I wanted so badly. Fortune smiled upon me and I found my tiny farm in the city. One 1/4 acre was all I needed. My vegetable gardens and fruits trees planted I turned my sights to the animals. We are so lucky to have chickens, rabbits, and a beautiful, if rather crabby, little black pig.


In the future I hope to add a pair of pygmy milking goats and a bee hive. My children live such an enchanted life. At 12 and 5 they are deeply connected to the natural world around them. It doesn't occur to them to go to the store to buy something we need. Their first question is always "how do we make that".


Both my husband and I have studios on the property. We tried sharing the garage at first but as it was going to lead to a divorce we decided that separate studios would be a much better solution. I love my work space so much. With it's front and back doors, I can look out into my gardens, watch the chickens scratch about, or keep an eye on the kids while they play. The pig loves to come and stand at the back door and chat while I work.


The soap shop was dreamed up out of a desire to connect with my past but soon blossomed into an education in natural healing. My daughter was very sensitive to all of the commercial baby products and broke out in hives. So I had to figure out how to make soap, lotions, diaper salve and even laundry soap that she could tolerate. Thirteen years later I am still making those same products and many more.


I try to keep the ingredient lists simple and of the highest quality. I want the customer to be able to read the label and think, "Oh, I know what all of that is". Technically I make castille soap using a foundation of olive oil with just enough coconut and palm oils to create a rich creamy lather for the soaps. For fragrance and healing, I strive to use essential oils where ever possible. High quality organic herbs and botanicals create the final layer in the process. My very favorite products are the solid lotion bars. I created this recipe for a dear young friend with terrible eczema and skin allergies. With no preservatives, chemicals, mold retardants etc., it has been the perfect solution to the dry cracking skin and soothes the eczema.

* * *

I just have to tell you that I have signed up for Shannon's soap on a monthly basis... it's the BEST thing... every month, a few bars of soap show up at my doorstep, I never run out of soap, I NEVER have to brave Costco! I know that my family are not lathering themselves in harmful chemicals. An unexpected benefit is that the wonderfully gentle aromas of nature waft from my bathroom, filling my home with just a hint scent... I feel like the Queen of the Meadow!


Lucky us... Shannon is offering a GIVEAWAY to one lucky reader... a $40 gift certificate to her store!! All you have to do to enter is visit Shannnon's shop and pick your favorite item. Let us know what it is in the comment section below.

You can enter additional times by...
* 'hearting' Sacred Waters Soap Co on Etsy
*blogging about Shannon's Giveaway
*tweeting about Sannnon's Giveaway
*sharing Shannon's Giveaway on Facebook
* becoming a fan on the Sacred Waters Soap Co's Facebook page

Please come back and add your additional entries by leaving an additional comment for each extra entry.

Blessings and magic and GOOD LUCK TO ALL!!

Voting is closed and the winner is announced in a recent post. But don't despair... Shannon is offering a 20% discount to ALL Magic Onions readers... just add 'Magic Onions' in the 'note to seller' at Etsy checkout and Shannon will refund you 20% of your purchase price!

Donni

New Favorites...

Welcome September. I can't believe you are here already (my mind still thinks it's March). Alas, how time flies too quickly.

I am delighted to share a couple of new sponsors. I will introduce each one in more depth throughout the month but I just thought you'd like to check out their stunning shops now. More sponsors with amazing shops will be added throughout the month too. Christmas is around the corner and I know you'll all be looking for extra special gifts for your little monkeys.

Woolies - heirloom quality knitted and sewn stuffed animals and dolls.

Merino Me - merino garments for all ages.

Meadowsweet Naturals - Waldorf inspired art supplies and natural lifestyle products.

Dovie Moon - Nature inspired photography and vintage treasures.

Their buttons, and those of my other super sponsors, are in the top right column of my blog. Clicking on a button will take you straight to their shops... have a look at all the magical things they make with their very own hands.

Blessings and magic,
Donni

Rhythm of the Home.

I can't tell you how much I enjoy the online magazine, Rhythm of the Home. It is a delight... a gentle meander through all that I love. It's articles, stories, discussions and interviews are delivered by moms 'just-like-us'... creative moms, gentle moms, determined moms... and dads, sometimes. It's pages highlight the beauty in treading this path we have chosen... the path of decluttering the lives of our children, of finding the soul in all we do and letting our children discover the magic that is childhood.

I adore this article on making boats from sticks and string. What an important lesson for our children... that they can make their own toys from nature's treasures.

I love how this dad discovers that we learn as much from our children as they do from us...

I love the idea of giving a dress 3 lives... how could we think to get rid of such a pretty thing just because it's become a little short for our fairy princess. With just a little altering, we can turn it into a beautiful skirt... and when that becomes too small yet again... what a lovely pillow it can be...

And, of course, how could you not be totally enchanted by these little chefs baking mud pies...

So, please, if you haven't already, do yourself and your family a favor and visit this magical journal. There are many super articles to inspire you... enjoy!

Blessings and magic,

Donni

World Cup Fever!!

Has your home caught World Cup Fever (or, as they say it in South Africa... Fevah!)? Ours sure has... especially since the host country is my very own homeland, South Africa... the Rainbow Nation. It warms my heart to see the happy images from home. I can't tell you how happy I was that South Africa drew their first game... a win would have been better, of course, but a draw was better than most had expected. I hope like mad that we play 'out of our boots' to advance through the competition. Good luck Bafana Bafana!!

So, in honor of the Soccer World Cup, I have chosen a few treasures from my favorite Etsy shops to share with you...

Here is the Mighty South African Lion from Mama4Earth... isn't he gorgeous!

If you are a supporter of Spain... you'd want this lovely crown in your house from Kats in the Belfry.

And, for all of those Brazilian Babes... these earrings will go wonderfully with your soccer outfit... they are from Skipping Stones.

Of course, I couldn't leave out my new country... the US of A. How cute is this puzzle from Puzzled for your little soccer fan!

Good Luck, All! May your teams do well and may you have fun watching them. I'd love to know who you all support?

Blessings and magic,

Donni

Kats In The Belfry!

Please welcome my featured sponsor, Kat from Kats in the Belfry.

In March, my family and I travelled to New Zealand to celebrate my sweet cousin's wedding. It was a fortuitous trip as A Good Man comes from New Zealand and all of his family were waiting for us. And, due to the wedding, all of my family were there too. A wonderful coming together of our extended families. The one thing that worried me, however, was the long 12 hour plane trip to get there. How would my children cope with being cooped in an airplane seat for so many hours... Kat to the rescue!! While browsing Etsy for nice 'travel' toys, I discovered Kat's little Shakespeare People and TOTALLY fell in love. You know what it's like when you happen upon a toy that just, for some reason, grabs you by the heart and makes you want to be a child again. Kat's Shakespeare People did that to me! I immediately bought a set for K to play with on the plane (but I'll be honest, I was secretly hoping K wouldn't like them and I could have them for myself... do you think I'm weird??) Judge for yourself... here is Tuck...

Alas, K LOVED them too. I'm really not exaggerating when I say that she played with them on the plane for 6 hours. They danced on the seat arms, slid down the seat belts and even swam in a little plastic water cup. Here is Josephine, isn't she too cute with her pouty little lips!

They were such an enormous hit that they became constant companions on all of our outings once we arrived too. Our family would even refer to them as if they were family members... 'We're going to a restaurant for dinner, be sure to bring K and T and Tuck and Pippa!' They accompanied us everywhere and are now very well-traveled peg people. Now that we are home, they are still firm favorites and I often watch K playing happily with her beloved Shakespeare People. Kat, we LOVE them!

Kats in the Belfry has other super cute items too. I love these pencil cases and have my eye on one for when school starts up again.

And, take a look at this magical bunting. So very pretty for a special day.

Kat also makes such cute crowns...

So, please dear friends, pop into Kats in the Belfry and bookmark this super cute shop for when you need to find a special gift for a lucky someone.

Kat... welcome and thank you for your sponsorship.

Blessings and magic,

Donni