A Look Inside Green Genes - Winter 2013

We'd like to give a huge THANK YOU! to Grandma Green Genes 

(aka "Bodhi's Mema") who created this wonderful video for us.

Whether you've been a regular over the years or have never had the opportunity to  visit our shop, please enjoy this virtual tour.

A Look Inside Green Genes ~ Winter 2013

And just because we like photo collages.....

Kid Interview: Airplanes, Architects and Apritada

One of the great things about having our business up and running for 5 1/2 years now is that we've been able to watch so many of the babies and toddlers we met years ago transform into kiddos, and often what seems like mini-adults!  Last week, I had the opportunity to sit down and chat with Green Genes' buddy, Nico, who happens to be one of these mini-adult-kiddos. 

At the ripe ol' age of 6, Nico has a fashion style all his own; and of course we love the fact that some of his favorite pieces are from Mini & Maximus, Mini Rodini , Maxomorra and Imagine Greenwear.

When I arrived at the store to meet Nico, he was there ready and waiting, and eagerly showed me a new airplane acquisition. After some demonstrations of its amazing skills and maneuverability, we settled in for a little chat, Cubebots in hand. 

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Heather: Did you go to school today?

Nico: Yeah...I got pushed. By a big, mean kid who's not even my friend.

After briefly discussing the bummer part of the day, our conversation quickly turned to trains and airplanes.

H: Have you even been on an airplane?

N: Yeah.

H: Do you remember where you've gone?

N: I've been to San Diego...Paris...

H: Those are both great places.

N: And Montana! And do you know what kind of transportation I took in Germany?

H: A llama?

N: No...a train. A super duper fast train. Like a bullet train. [followed by the sounds of zoom and swoosh and other super duper fast train sounds.]

We took a break so that he could demonstrate train and airplane maneuvers as well as how to properly use a parachute.

H: Do you ever think about what you want to be when you grow up?

N: I think I want to be an architect. So I can be like my dad.

H: Do you want to design things and build things?

N: Yeah, I want to design a house like my dad's going to make.

H: Nico, do you have any pets at home?
N: Yes, a rabbit, named Vivi.
H: Cool! I didn't know you had a rabbit.
[This is where Nico's mom asked " Nico, is Vivi real?"]
N: No.
H: Do you have any favorite animals that you like to see at the zoo?
N: Yeah. (quietly) Vivi. 

H: Here's an easy one; what's your favorite food?

N: Apritada 

H: I don't know what that is. Would you tell me about it?

N: It's like orange rice and orange potatoes and brown pork. I love it. My grandpa makes it. 

I later asked Nico's mom about this tasty sounding dish. She explained that it's a Filipino dish that Nico's grandfather makes. The orange color is from all the tomatoes, and the dish also includes garlic, a bay leaf, and braised pork. 

H: Do you ever cook with your mom and dad?

N: I cook macaroni and cheese.

H: Yum, that's another orange food, isn't it?

N: No, it's yellow. (pause) Do you know how my friend says "yellow?" "Lellow." 

Our conversation turned to superpower options, and he explained that he would have the power to move around things really smoothly, just like his airplane.  Revisiting the topic of trains and airplanes, it was clear that those are his current favorites. However, I knew that Nico also had a soft spot for books so I thought I'd check in there.

H: Do you have any favorite books at home?

N: I have Iggy Peck, Architect. 

H: What kind of things does he build?

N: He builds the empire tower and he built another tower of chalk. And his teacher says "Iggy Peck, we're not building a tower of chalk. You need to put your head down." And then he pulled out just a little piece of chalk and the whole thing went wweerrrrrrroooopp. And tumbled to the ground.
H: If you were going to build a building, what would you make it out of?
N: Macaroni. Or a rocket ship made of macaroni. [long pause] Am I done?
H: Sure, may I ask you just one more question?
N: Yeah.
H: Is there something you've done that you're really proud of? Or something extra special about you?
N: What's special about me is that...I like jumping into the deep, deep end of the swimming pool.

High fives all around! 

Thanks, Nico, for taking time out of your busy day to sit down and chat with me.

Mini Rodini Autumn Winter 2013 Collection!

The first drop of the much-anticipated fall collection from longtime GG favorite, the sustainable Swedish brand Mini Rodini, is on its way! We're pretty psyched to have penguins again (some of you veterans may remember similar prints from way back in the fall of 2010). A little hard to believe autumn deliveries are already arriving, despite the sudden decidedly un-summery weather we've been having...

Mini Rodini in their own words on this fall's collection:

Like a winterland soap opera starring the rich and famous, this Mini Rodini AW13 Collection contains all the necessary ingredients to make the perfect drama. True stars, luxurious ski resorts, jewels, horses, foxes, a Jackie-jacket and lots of love.

 It is comfortable and cozy, soft and sustainable. Organic cotton, recycled polyester and recycled wool from head to toe in the colours glamorous blues, dramatic reds, shocking orange and blushing pink. With a more sustainable collection than ever, Mini Rodini is taking another stepforward to be the obvious choice for the conscientious parent.

Excited? So are we! Expect it in the shop & online very, very soon.

Psst!

In addition to participating in the Andersonville Sidewalk Sale at the end of this month, through Sunday, 7/21, we're running a 30% discount on full-priced clothing in the shop and online to make room for our super! exciting! fall! deliveries! which will start arriving at the end of the month (stay tuned, we'll give you a heads up on those, too).

We've also started markdowns for some clearance items (currently up to 40%), including favorite brands like Atsuyo et Akiko, Maxomorra, Mini Rodini, Mini Mioche, Winter Water Factory, Nohi, & more...! There are tons in the shop, and they're making their way to our site, too.

What else you need to know:
-Online, use code GGSS13.
-Clearance items are final sale.
-Kids' accessories (socks, undies, hats, leg warmers, booties) aren't eligible for the 30% sale, but grownups' are!
-Birthday number shirts and new arrivals (will be clearly marked) are also excluded.

Top of the Pops!

Left to right, top to bottom: Hello Lucky Cool Dad letterpress card, PACT bandanna print men's organic socks, PACT Denim Farm Stripe Boxer briefs, Ethically Engineered Chicago Flag soap, Theo Chocolate Big Daddy (like a s'more + caramel!), La Familia Green new dad card, Ethically Engineered Whisky Sour and Gin and Tonic soap, Areaware Guthrie cubebot, Hello Lucky BBQ Parade letterpress card

Maker Interview: Danielle Reiner

Danielle Reiner designs In Stolen Moments, a range of block-printed clothing, home textiles, and art. She also produces a blog under the same name, and is the co-founder of Crafting Connections, a quarterly creative magazine for little ones and their grownups. A mom of two, she lives and works just a hop, skip, and a jump from our shop. When we met for the first time last year, it soon became clear that our shared experience wasn’t just geographical; with similar work-life balance philosophies (particularly for our Heather, at the time a brand-new mom!), friends in common, and a shared love for the creative goldmine (and occasional time suck) of platforms like Pinterest and Instagram, it seemed natural that Danielle and her work would find a home at Green Genes. In GG’s neighborhood, Andersonville, there is a very strong sense of the importance of buying local and supporting small business; so what could be better than having our onesies bike-delivered by the mama who made them? Maybe it’s the shared location, the shared values, the organic way her designs are generated, but there’s something about Danielle’s work that has a sense of familiarity, at the same time as it’s nothing we’ve really seen anywhere else; it just sort of feels like home.

One of our favorites-- a hard one to keep in stock!

Green Genes: When & why did you start this business?

Danielle Reiner: I planned a homebirth with my youngest and before he came I knew I wanted a t-shirt to help announce his unique arrival. I made one and then waited. Very little went as planned with my labor and my little guy didn't end up being born at home. I had the shirt staring at me. My midwife said I should sell it. I listed it on Etsy, it sold within a handful of days and the rest is history.

That was two years ago and in that time I've expanded to include many designs, art prints, hand-dyed linens.

GG: Where do you work?

DR: As my business name suggests, I work in stolen moments from home with my two young boys. I daydream during breakfast, carve while the kids are playing, and print and do other business-y stuff after they go to bed.

Danielle's home studio-- where the magic happens!

GG: Why do you design for kids? Why design sustainably?

DR: I love the challenge of making something that the kids will love and the adults will love to put on them.

GG: What inspires you; where do you get ideas?
Without a doubt, my two little ones. I absolutely love that they consider me a magician of sorts. Both my guys will let me know what they want on a shirt-- lately, dinosaurs!-- and then they'll squeal with delight when they find a new shirt waiting for them.

GG: What’s missing from your business?

DR: Collaboration. Working on my own means I don't get a chance to bounce ideas off of others and collaborate as much as I'd like. I'd really like it if I could find a way to get a little bit more of that into my business.


GG: What’s your biggest challenge, & what’s your favorite part of the job?

DR: Biggest challenge: Trying to decide what the next step is.
Favorite part: That I am always learning. In setting up and building this small business I've gotten to design a website, hone my photography skills, learn new printmaking techniques, learn the ins and outs of ecommerce. I learn something new everyday and I love it.


GG: Favorite thing you've made?

DR: This will change day to day. Right now it is my work with vintage maps. Digging for just the right one is just so inspiring.

GG: Favorite thing at Green Genes that you didn't make?

DR: Heather's sweater dudes!!! Both my little ones have them and they are their bedtime loveys. So, so sweet!

Snuggly Sweater Friends, made by Green Genes' owner, Heather Muenstermann

GG: Favorite childhood object?

DR: My melamine plates. I drew on one each year when I was young. Now my little guys eat on them. It makes my heart swell.

GG: Who was your childhood best friend?

DR: I was an intensely shy and introverted little one. My best friends were always the characters I'd met in books.

GG: If you had a superpower...?

DR: Time travel. Definitely.

GG: If you were an animal...?

DR: Sheep.

GG: If you were a kids' book character...?

DR: Right now it'd have to be Mo Willems Elephant and Piggie. My husband and I read these aloud to our boys - he is Elephant and I am always Piggie.

(Source)

GG: Three things you’d want with you on a desert island...?
DR: Sketchbook and pencils. Elixir of life (coffee, grinder, french press). A library.

Danielle then & now!

Many thanks to Danielle for her great answers! We like a gal who cheats on the desert island question. ;)

Photos in this post courtesy of Danielle Reiner, unless otherwise indicated.

Maker Interview: Kaz Shiomi of Kukkia

A note about this interview: We thought it would be fun to interview some of the folks whose lovely things grace our shop. We think the people who make our stuff are a big part of what makes the stuff great, and we want to give our customers a chance to get to know them better. We plan on making this a regular feature, so stay tuned!

At Green Genes, while environmental friendliness and safety are our first and most important criteria in choosing what to stock, it’s also crucial that our products meet our design standards; we have always considered it a priority that our products be beautiful and a joy to interact with. Imagine our delight in discovering the super-magical Kukkia in 2011! When we first saw the Machi playset, an open-ended playset with which kids can map out a town and draw in the roads (or ponds, or dino footprints, or…) wherever they choose, we were immediately smitten.

The original Machi playset-- the one that stole our hearts!

Kaz Shiomi is the director of Kukkia. There is something very special about her perspective; she really understands the minds of children and their powers of imagination, and the wonder of special treasures. Kukkia’s gg* and kiko+ toy ranges are designed to encourage creative play and a love for the tactile experience of wooden toys. From the combination of bright colors and natural wood grain, to the charm and whimsy of magnetic mountains and French fry maracas, right down to the minimal, chic packaging, these objects are truly a feast for the senses of children-- and their parents.

Kukkia Toys

Green Genes: When & why did you start this business?

Kaz Shiomi: My grandfather was a carpenter and so as a child I spent a lot of time playing in his workshop. The smell of wood shavings still brings back fond memories. As an adult, I was reminded of this connection when I visited a factory years ago. That's when I decided to start up my own wooden toy business—a sort of homage to my grandfather.

GG: Where do you work?

KS: Kukkia’s head office is based in Osaka Japan, next to a lovely little park called Utsubo. We are very lucky to have a wonderful studio where my pet rabbit Goma is also allowed free range!

Rose garden at Utsubo Park, Osaka city, Japan, by inoue-hiro via Wikipedia

GG: Why do you design for kids? Why design sustainably?

KS: I think I am still a big kid. I love them and want my own very soon. I love the way they look at things in such a clear and unbiased way. Of course we want to make everything as sustainable as possible as I think there is too much waste in the world these days. We hope that wooden toys will last a long time and be passed on to all the family.


GG: What inspires you; where do you get ideas?

KS: I look at my environment and especially nature around me (I love stars and the night sky). I try to think about what makes kids smile and how they play (often totally different to the way we would use items!).


GG: What’s missing from your business?

KS: We are currently looking for someone to do our accounts! I am not a fan of maths or numbers!
I would love to have a business that didn't involve filing or any type of paperwork!



GG: What’s your biggest challenge, & what’s your favorite part of the job?

KS: Trying to discover new and edgy small independent businesses to stock out products, and also the manufacturing process can be long and complicated.
It is all worth it to see kids smile and play with our toys when we hold workshops at our studio, though. ; )


GG: Favorite thing you've made?

KS: I love Tanabata star dominoes because they are so versatile and can be used in many ways.

Tanabato Star Dominoes

GG: Favorite thing at Green Genes that you didn't make?

KS: Kidsonroof Casa Cabana is great, as are the rock crayons.

Kidsonroof's Casa Cabana, Crayon Rocks

GG: Favorite childhood object:

KS: Some wooden roller skates my grandpa made me with leather straps.

GG: Who was your childhood best friend?

KS: Tomoe chan from my kindergarten.

GG: If you had a superpower...?

KS: To make everyone laugh and smile all the time.

GG: If you were an animal...?

KS: A rabbit so I can play with my pet Goma.

GG: If you were a kids' book character...?

KS: It's more from an animation I used to love but I'd would be Jiji from Miyazaki Hayao's “Kiki's Delivery Service”.

Jiji the cat (source)

GG: Three things you’d want with you on a desert island...?

KS: Goma (pet rabbit), piano, and chocolate.

We'd like to thank the lovely Kaz Shiomi for participating, and for her super awesome answers-- we hope you had as much fun reading them as we did!