Olivia's Eden

Our Labors of Love

It's amazing how our heart grows to envelop all of our different loves; and while very little compares to the love invested in our children, they undeniably inspire us to do better, be better, and think creatively.

My personal garden of eden came into full bloom when my daughter Olivia was born. She came equipped and ready with a captivating personality AND a full head of hair. It didn't take very long for both Mama and Dada to observe that Olivia quite early on, not only understood, but demanded to quench her desire to accessorize (most Mamas can understand this dire need). She may not know how to say what she means and mean what she says (lets face it, some of us adults aren't very good at that either) but she knows what colors she likes and where her decorative 'accents' belong. She also knows to look in the mirror and pause for a moment to admire with glee! And then, as if to compliment on a job well done, she kisses that little face looking back at her...sometimes more than once. Self-esteem issue? I think not. Just someone who honors the notion of healthy self-expression, perhaps a lifetime sooner than most of us.

As both Mama and Dada watch this playful routine throughout each day, we remember the innocense and freedom that comes with being small-ish. Being a Mama, as well as an art therapist and an artist at heart, I am always open and searching for innovative and chic ways to combine materials and create fun and functional goods. And while the glow of ingenuity is always present, Olivia has nourished and kindled and awakened my full creative light! This is the light that has lit the way on this journey into Olivia's Eden, this inspired labor of love, in creating small-ish gifts for our small-ish girls.