I have long been fond of saying: if we all bought a whole lot less, paid a whole lot more for it and treated the people providing things for us a whole lot better, the world would surely be a better place. Of course I say this as I am on my way to IKEA for the great prices but I do mean it and I am always looking for ways I can live this truth (and not go broke spending by my conscience).
Fortunately for me and everyone else reading this, there are little pockets of joy right here in Portland where you can feel really good about what you have bought, who you have bought it from and how it was made. Humble Luna – Whimsical Designs for Children – is definitely one of those pockets of joy. Our own swap shop member Heidi Witte has a humble little business making custom costumes and colorful art smocks for kids that she sells in person and on line.
You can see some of her designs at her website, Humble Luna – Whimsical Designs for Children . Better yet, you can meet her most Wednesday afternoons as she moves quietly around our arts and crafts room helping kids craft their dreams. Heidi is one of the most peaceful people I know and that’s reflected in the way she sweetly meets every kid who wanders into the art and crafts room for our weekly craft meet up. It’s also reflected in the pieces she makes: puffy dragon tails, felt birthday crowns, smocks from vintage materials.
Sure the $40 price tag for a wrap-around-your-belly, hang-way-out-behind-you spotted dragon tail is more than most of us would usually spend on a whim but is is a real artist’s wages for work well done . . . the price of knowing the person you are interacting with and a great way to help secure a place for local crafting in our community.
The best part of building a friendly relationship with the people we buy things from is that ability to be a part of what they sell. We get a chance to let them know the things they make that we think are wonderful and also give our feedback and ideas on ways to grow.
Heidi is working right now on a hood that will make kids look like a whimsical little lion. If you have a child that would really be into their own lion hood, let her know. She makes custom costumes too so you aren’t putting her out when you meet up with her at the swap shop and describe the costume that would really rock your little guy’s or girl’s world.
Who knows? Your custom design might become her next best seller for her local and on-line customers as nearby at Eugene and as far away as Israel.
I don’t know if anyone else practices the same kind of justified big spending that I do, but I’ve discovered I’d much rather go to the more expensive local shoe store for one or two pairs of shoes for each of my kids each year now that most everything else they wear costs me nothing more than our time to look through the swap shop bins and clothing tables at the big exchanges.
Now that we have the swap shop, I get to spend the same amount of money I might have spent on a bunch of cheaper things on fewer better-made items that I feel a lot better about. It’s great to know that we can add Humble Luna to our list that already includes Small Wonders kid’s consignment shop on 79th and Foster as one more local way to find sweet gifts for kids.
I was just at Small Wonders checking in with their owner, Lisa Knudson, this week and fell in love with a tan and country red bouncy horse that she has (one of those exersaucerish baby jumpers). My kids were way to old to justify buying it and running home to put it in my house but, if you are interested and it still there for sale, it’s a discontinued model that you can’t buy new but you can get it from her for $60.
You never know what you will find on Heidi’s Humble Luna web site or at Small Wonders so peek in often and think of both of them when you need a great gift for a special kid. Say hi to Heidi when you are at the swap shop on Wednesday afternoons and Lisa when you are at Small Wonders. It’s a small wonder and a great feeling to be able to support each other well and have great things for our kids. A big thank you to both of these women in business entrepreneurs for becoming Roost sponsors.
Humble Luna – Whimsical Designs for Children
Heidi Witte
humbleluna
gmail
com
971-222-9994
Small Wonders Children’s and Maternity Consignment Store
Lisa Knudson
7979 SE Foster Road
Tue-Fri 10am-6pm; Sat and Sun 10am-4pm
(503) 772-1920
