By renee | Published:
May 22, 2010
One thing I don’t think I can bring myself to do is to carry those specially made nursing covers or shawls or whatever they are even though my customers sometimes request them. Honestly I just don’t think that a mom should have to hide or cover up her baby while it’s eating. I mean it’s not as if something obscene or shameful is going on. We have a strange sense of modesty in our American culture. When I was nursing my babies back in the 80’s I would do it anytime, anywhere. I never encountered any problems, maybe because I never expected any or even gave it a second thought. People these days seem to need a lot of very specialized gear for babies that becomes obsolete very quickly and end up in the trash when the baby outgrows it. No wonder it can be so expensive to raise a child! Not to mention the wastefulness of all this stuff. I guess this is a whole other topic, but anyway just my thoughts on the matter.
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By renee | Published:
May 14, 2010
I have a neighbor who has a mini ATV that is used by the little kids that live there. They ride around and around the yard with it. While I am not in favor of this activity, I’ve taken a humorous point of view of the situation (even as I listen to the loud roar of the motor and smell the wafting exhaust on a beautiful sunny blue sky day). I have to-they are my neighbors and I like them. I also try to imagine how happy and lucky the kids must feel (I probably would have loved it too if I was a kid!). HOWEVER, in light of the huge disaster in the Gulf of Mexico, I am saddened and disgusted. I am disgusted that a recent survey showed 6 out of 10 people in favor of offshore drilling, saying the risks are worth the benefits (like oil for our kid’s ATV so they can drive it around and around and around). Worth the risk, REALLY?? 11 people dead, unimaginable (& yet unknown) environmental devastation, economic and social devastation for people living and working in that area. This will affect the entire country if not the planet. WORTH IT? Really?
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By renee | Published:
May 14, 2010
Yeah, it’s been a while-hello! Been busy, always brainstorming about the store, displays, advertising, etc. Then there’s this whole disaster in the Gulf. Too depressing, it’s hard to not think about it, and I’m one who agonizes over every rotten thing that we get from these big businesses. I’m sorry but I just can’t be nice anymore. When the sole purpose of a business/company is to increase profits I will never trust them or anything they have to offer. It’s not in their best interest to care about us, they’d rather pay a few fines and keep doing business as usual. Then these wealthy jerks have their corporate offices in other countries so they don’t have to pay their fair share of taxes in the US. They build themselves mansions with their obscene wealth but don’t dare ask them to contribute to national health insurance-Makes me want to drop out and not be a part of this whole system that keeps going on and on.
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By renee | Published:
April 6, 2010
Hi! We are finally carrying Trumpette ( I know, it’s about time!) the cute little gift sock sets for babies that look like shoes on their feet. They come in a six pack of assorted colors to match any outfit baby may have. While we were at it, we picked up “Howdy” also made by Trumpette, the ride on bouncy cow for ages 3 and up. I mean how could we not, this being Wisconsin and all. We have Howdy in white or pink.
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By renee | Published:
April 6, 2010
Today we got in a big shipment of Kathe Kruse. In case you did not know, Kathe Kruse is mainly a doll company and their products are mostly cotton with some items made from organic cotton and often in the “Waldorf” style. Their products are of natural materials and made in Germany. We mostly get in a lot of baby toys from Kathe Kruse but this time we also got in 3 “Feng Shui” dolls for girls that are just lovely! All are cotton knit for the body and the hair is made of the very softest wool mohair imaginable. I believe they are filled with beads or sand so they have a nice weight to them (about 11 inches tall). One is called “Fire” and has a reddish dress and the skin is a gorgeous brown and the hair is a fiery red. The other is “Earth”and has a green dress with blond hair. The last one is “Water” with a blue dress and beautiful blue gray hair. A little girl would LOVE any one of these dolls!
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By renee | Published:
February 20, 2010
Global Mamas Yin Yang Halter Dress in Rose
Just got in the new spring ‘10 Global Mamas catalogue and I’m excited! They have some really cute new styles, colors and fabrics. I’m going to place a BIG order for our store and you should see the new spring line arriving at Wild Child sometime in March. Can’t wait!
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By renee | Published:
February 15, 2010
Over the years we’ve had lots of people look at any given item of clothing in our shop, balk at the price and exclaim, I can make that myself! Yes, true and short of something like brain surgery, I can probably do a lot of things myself too. Indeed I have spent countless hours of my time cutting pieces of lumber, re-cutting (because I measured wrong) drilling holes, re-drilling holes (measured wrong!) putting it all together for a wobbly little crooked shelf that I made myself. When you consider the actual amount of time & effort spent looking for and getting the materials together, then preparing the materials (cutting, measuring) then putting them together-is it really worth it? Everybody out there is trying to make a living with their own little talents, please support them! I guess I am mainly talking about the individuals out there and the small USA made companies, not the big corporations outsourcing their products to the lowest bidder. In our business my partner does the garment dying of all our beautiful, colorful Wild Child clothes that we sell. He has in certain circumstances sold small amounts of dye and provided instructions for a customer to dye a piece of clothing themselves and every time they come back and say it’s waaaayyy too much work. We on the other hand have all the tools and are set up to do this, and our results are fantastic. About 95% of our Wild Child clothes are made by small companies right here in the US and the other 5% are made by small workers collectives. I feel so good supporting these products, I hope you do too.
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By renee | Published:
February 15, 2010
It’s been a while. We’ve been busy with the website, in case you haven’t checked-take a look wildchildclothes.com. Lot’s of great new products on it. Everyone always says, your site should look like your store and I thought that’s hard-we have sooo many things in our store, how am I going to show everything? Slowly though we are making our website look more and more like our store. It’s been fun, we put bits of the best of everything on our site. Now spring is starting to arrive daily(new clothes!) so I take my camera and quickly take a picture of something new and cute and get it on the site (with the help of our fantastic webmaster JonahCoyoteDesign). It’s great!
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By renee | Published:
January 12, 2010
We have begun asking our customers if they would like a bag for their purchase. You know what, lot’s of people are opting out. They either bring their own bag, or put in it a bag that they already have from another store. Besides, some of the products out there are over packaged as it is. It’s great to see people trying to make a difference and trying to cut back on their carbon footprint. I mean we are already one of the most consumptive societies in the world. Shouldn’t we try to do something about that? There was an article about Walmart in California and how they are no longer giving out those insidious plastic bags with every purchase, instead encouraging customers to bring reusable bags for their items. I must say (and sheepishly admit) that I was in a Walmart recently, something I pretty much never do, but nonetheless- when I went to check out with my 3 food items, I said “no bag” to the clerk. Her reply was, you have to take a bag, the “greeters” won’t let you out of the store without one. I glanced over at the “greeters”, a little old lady and a little old man and thought, sure wouldn’t want to tangle with them! So I grudgingly took a plastic bag and groused to the checker that they should outlaw these things and make people bring their own bag (she agreed!) When I got home, I told my husband what had happened and his opinion was that I should’ve taken a stand and refused the bag. When I thought about that, I realized, yeah- what is this? They were forcing me to take a bag against my will? Would they call the police? Would they not allow me to make a purchase? Would they not let me leave the store with my purchase? THIS IS AMERICA !!! You can’t do THAT !!! We talked about it some more as I bemoaned my missed opportunity, but then decided that I could go back to the store and do the exact same thing, just to make a point (or a scene). I will make a stand about an issue that is important. Anyway, if you read about a minor commotion in a Walmart in Wisconsin, you heard it here first. And to all those fantastic folks who don’t use extra resources unless absolutely necessary -CHEERS ! We love you!
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By renee | Published:
December 18, 2009
This is Sophie, the squeaky baby toy made of all natural rubber that is a wonderful teething/chew toy. Made in France for the last 40(!) years, Sophie is coming to Wild Child in January and will also be available on our website. Here’s what people have to say about Sophie:
so cute!, delightful, highly recommended, great toy, favorite teether, charming & beautiful, baby loves the squeak! well worth it, fantastic, classic, easy to hold and clean, quality and safe product, the greatest, baby adores Sophie, perfect.
Say hi to Sophie!
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