Soulemama Featured Sponsor & Giveaway

What a treat to be the featured sponsor on Soulemama!

I've been a fan of Amanda's blog for a while now. While

My kids are grown now, I find so much similarity in the

rhythm of her day to day life, the desire to balance it all

as mother, wife and creative businesswoman

and my own journey.

Can't wait to see who wins the Dragonfly Giveaway!

While you're at it, fan us on Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/silk.oak.tees

Baby Dragonfly

Momma Dragonfly

Unisex Child & Adult Dragonfly

Inspiration Takes Many Forms

Given the fast pace of life during the spring, summer and fall,

winter is a time to regroup, create new work and be inspired.

With Farmers' Market only 5 weeks away (!), spring is on my mind.

There are other harbingers of spring: last week's weather in the 60's,

the rosemary plant that has sprouted some hidden

morning glories from last summer outdoors

and the oleander and fig tree waking up.

Still, the view from my bed yesterday morning was awe inspiring,

enough to make me temporarily put spring fever out of my mind

and feel gratitude just to be right where I was.

No need to rush things. I'll have my morning tea

in my favorite Bill Davis Pottery mug, read my book

and let the inspiration warm me.

What's inspiring you today?

Perfectionism/Procrastination VS. Taking Action!

Sometimes, I think that I turn Perfectionism/Procrastination

into a fine art. I stew over certain tasks forever, afraid to take

the first step because I haven't figured it all out yet.

It's good to be prepared, to put your best effort out

there but, it can also be paralyzing. No fun, no action. Well,

after years of ruminating over the idea of doing a CSB,

Community Supported Business, I finally took advantage

of snow days and hunkered down at the computer.

In addition to fine tuning how the CSB would work, I finally took

the time to create my first newsletter (yet another thing

that I had been procrastinating on!). If you're not on the Silk Oak

mailing list yet, feel free to sign up for the newsletter!

Since so much of what I do is centered around creating a

Local, Living Economy , CSAs and CSBs are an integral part

of that. I'm excited to Take Action and looking forward to

seeing what the response is to the CSB.

So, without further adieu, here's the Silk Oak CSB!

Join the Silk Oak CSB

Community Supported Business

and Help Us Grow!

Buy a Share for the 2011 Season and receive a Bonus Gift Now!

What’s a CSB?Like a CSA, the CSB model is a partnership between a local business & their community. Members buy a share for the season and the business uses the money to grow and expand their business. Everyone benefits!

How does it work?Purchase shares in the form of CSB Certificates, receive a Bonus gift now and redeem your certificate during the Market season, April to December. They are available in increments of $100.00 and will be redeemable for Silk Oak merchandise at our booth at the Ithaca Farmers’ Market, Ithacamade or on our website and Etsy shop starting in April.
They will be available for purchase from January 31 to March 15. Shares over $200.00 purchased before February 15^th will receive an extra 10% discount!

What's my Bonus Gift!

$100.00 share receives and Organic Tote Bag

$200.00 share receives an Organic Tote & a Journal-

if purchased by February 15, get 10% discount, pay $180.00

$300.00 share receives a Hoodie Sweatshirt-

if purchased by February 15, get 10% discount, pay $270.00

$500.00 share receives a Hoodie, Organic Tote, Journal & Card Pack-

if purchased by February 15, get 10% discount, pay $450.00

Larger shares are welcomed, just ask us!

For more info: silkoak@silkoak.com or 607-275-9970

Settling In

It's been a few months since we opened the new store,

Ithacamade, but it's just starting to feel like we're settling

in. It was so hectic during the Market season that it all

seemed to go by in a blur.

Winter is the time to regroup, clean up the mess that

accumulates at a dizzying pace as the year draws to a

close and find some quiet space to create new work for

the coming season.

I can't help but think that the super

case of entropy that set in this year had something to do

with closing the little store at the height of the Market

season and opening the new one without ever dealing

with all the stuff that got cast off in the move. Still, it feels

daunting. Here are some before pictures. I'll post some after

as we make more progress.