For the Love of the Child....
Today I am writing with some very exciting news....For the Love of the Child has officially become a reality!! I will be opening my vendor booth inside D'vine Designs Antique Store in downtown Perrysburg, OH on April 1. I have been so busy with furniture rehabs and my sewing projects that my blog has seen very little action in the last few months....however, its all for a great cause. Thank you to all that have given me such support and inspiration. I very much value all of the feedback that I have received and have considered your advice at every turn.
So, what exactly is For the Love of the Child? Well, that is a good question as it took me many months to finalize the direction I wanted to take it. Lets start with the name.....last Labor Day weekend my children had gone to the cottage with their grandparents as my husband and I worked all weekend. In our childless down time, we decided that it was a good time to refinish my oldest child's furniture. Seeing so many tutorials on Pinterest and the like, I really thought it would be an easy thing to do....come on now, the tutorials make it sound so simple!! Well, in assembly line fashion we lined up his bed (which my husband built), armoire, dresser and bookshelf. Long story short, what seemed like an easy thing to accomplish over a long weekend in between our work shifts, ended up being a monsterous undertaking. I would get home at 3 AM to find my husband sanding the second or third layer of paint, I would then sleep for four hours and take over while my husband was at work....etc....we kept saying that it was, "for the love of the child," that was keeping us going....to see his little face light up when he came home and saw his 'new' room!! We were a sleep deprived mess by the time the kids came home. However, somewhere in all that hard work, I found some peace....yes, this was hard work, but, it was enjoyable work. And, I couldn't help but think that I could not be the only parent out there that couldn't find the 'bed in the bag' look that fit either of my boys' personalities....that I could make something better than what I could buy, but, who has the time? I decided to make the time....and that is what my store is all about. For the Love of the Child is a culmination of vintage inspired looks and furniture. It is the handmade items that you wish you had time to do. I have made the time to rehab (thats my husbands part) vintage furniture, paint it with child safe paints and finishes and put it into your hands with love from our home to yours. I do the same with vintage inspired, boutique-styled clothing and baby gifts as well. Don't you just love a well made handmade gift? I know I do.....and, lets be honest....it takes time.....and we don't all have a lot of time these days. So, let me take time out of the equation for you and put a beautiful, vintage-inspired collection together for your baby, toddler or child. Or, allow me to put together a lovely shower/new arrival gift for the newest love of your life.....thats what I do. And, that is what For the Love of the Child is all about.
We are a green company. I recycle old vintage items and restore them back to beauty. I only use milk paint and child safe finishes and wash all fabrics in Dreft. No chemicals are used on our products. Not even a dryer sheet. My fabric softner is Epsom Salt with a couple of drops of chamomile essential oil for fragrance. I promise that your child is safe with me.
If you live in the Northwest Ohio/Southeast Michigan area, please stop in to the physical store. If not, you can find me on etsy.....and, eventually I will have a website up and running for custom orders. You can also communicate with me via email at rach868@aol.com. I so look forward to working hand in hand with all you parents out there that desire a little more than what your local 'baby' retailer offers.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I am beyond excited to have finally put enough pieces together to have a booth!! Please leave me your comments and feedback....that's what helps me grow!!
Rachael
