Amy is one of those blogging friends who seems to have been part of my "neighborhood" for as long as I can remember. I couldn't put a finger on the point when she and I became blogging pals, but I'm so glad we have. Not only is she a complete sweetheart, she and her husband are the genius team behind one of my favorite shops, Little Alouette.
My children have the privilege of having a set of Little Alouette shakey blocks in our collection. They are one of those toys that are equally fun to play with and look at. There is something about the sweetness and beauty of wooden toys that can never be duplicated in the world of plastic. And LittleAlouette toys have a simplicity and style that I love. They are classics.
A few months ago, Little Alouette was one of etsy's featured sellers. As I was reading the article this morning to be sure I had all my facts straight about Amy :) , I had to share a few words from the write-up because it is a good story:
Over a decade ago a handsome British boy and an Ohio lass met and fell madly in love at first site in a sleepy university town. The boy was a classically trained master carpenter and the girl a writer with a bit of wanderlust. They worked together creatively through the years on many projects involving woodworking as they restored and remodeled homes together. The boy taught his love about trees on their land in the country and how to use power tools and the girl read poems to him while they worked. They started a journey of following their bliss and eventually brought two wee ones into the world and began creating wooden toys for them. They decided to share these wee wooden toys with the world and Little Alouette was born over hot steaming mugs of cocoa in the winter of 2007.
We are Joe and Amy Sharp of Worthington, Ohio.
And I love their words about their creative process:
Each product is made by hand and usually all the wood is surrounded by cups of tea, laughing children, and disco music so each product will come to you infused with love and bliss! We use locally sourced Ohio timber and only finish our products with certified organic flax seed oil.
Seriously. I've been telling my husband that if I can't have a bandsaw, then I'll just settle for a jigsaw. Reading about Joe and Amy's process makes me think I need to put it on my birthday list again this year.
If you haven't been introduced to LittleAlouette be sure to take a few moments to check out their shop. And after my Lotta Jansdotter giveaway last week, I know a lot of you are shopping for baby gifts--for yourself or for people you know. And if you are "people I know" and you're having a baby soon...don't look, unless you want to spoil the surprise.
And guess what? Amy has graciously offered to give one mommycoddle reader one of her Harper the Hippo teethers! yay. You know the drill, leave a comment to be entered in the giveaway. I'll announce the random winner on Sunday!
Happy Weekend, friends!
My nephew would love this!!!
Posted by: grace | 26 June 2009 at 08:24 AM
Hi Molly. Thanks for this post. I have newborn twins next door, and I've been looking for the best of all baby gifts. Think I found it-I'm going over to their shop right now!
Posted by: Tara Thayer | 26 June 2009 at 08:28 AM
I love Little Alouette.
Posted by: Arwen | 26 June 2009 at 08:42 AM
These are beautiful. My little Henry would love that teether-- it's perfect timing!
Posted by: Louise | 26 June 2009 at 09:03 AM
I would love this for my new little one coming in August!
Posted by: Jennifer | 26 June 2009 at 09:05 AM
These are beautiful toys.
Posted by: Jamie W. | 26 June 2009 at 09:09 AM
I would LOVE to win this hippo for my baby boy! Thanks for the chance!
Posted by: jen | 26 June 2009 at 09:13 AM
Would love to win this- I have been coveting their work for a while now.
Posted by: Kate | 26 June 2009 at 09:14 AM
I love finding toys that are both safe and beautiful. What a great alternative to the mounds of plastic toys trying to creep in to my son's life...
He'd love this hippo! Even at 15 months. And it would be great to have for the next one in the not-too-distant future :-)
Posted by: dorothy | 26 June 2009 at 09:34 AM
What great stuff! I'd love to have the hippo for my little girl, too. Thanks to everyone for the giveaway!
Posted by: Shelly | 26 June 2009 at 09:36 AM
so cute! thanks so much! count me in
Posted by: mc | 26 June 2009 at 09:47 AM
would LOVE to win this! thanks for the giveaway!
Posted by: lisa | 26 June 2009 at 09:52 AM
i have been eyeballing their shop for baby gifts for quite some time now... would love to win!
Posted by: kirsten | 26 June 2009 at 09:54 AM
What beautiful works of functional art!
Posted by: Lynn | 26 June 2009 at 09:57 AM
How sweet!
Posted by: Katie | 26 June 2009 at 10:20 AM
Wonderful story and beautiful blocks!
Posted by: Mary-- The Yellow Door Paperie | 26 June 2009 at 10:36 AM
Thank you! My DD would love this. She is teething, and it would definitely give my fingers a break ;)
Posted by: Cee | 26 June 2009 at 10:41 AM
This would be perfect fo my neighbor who just had a baby!
Posted by: Brittany | 26 June 2009 at 10:47 AM
What a sweet little hippo. I love it!
Posted by: Louisa | 26 June 2009 at 10:47 AM
A harper the hippo teether would be perfect as I have a very cranky teething baby at the moment! Those poor little gums!
Posted by: Amy | 26 June 2009 at 10:47 AM
oh, how we need one of those divine hippos for baby ezra, who at just three months is already teething. love it.
Posted by: jennifer | 26 June 2009 at 10:49 AM
Oh, lovely! I too am going over to check out the shop now!
Posted by: Annwen | 26 June 2009 at 11:07 AM
harper the hippo...how delightful!
Posted by: nicole | 26 June 2009 at 11:24 AM
I love the shape of this guy! He would be super cool to have for my little one on the way.
Posted by: Gabriel | 26 June 2009 at 11:37 AM
Eek! Cranky teething baby over here too. Harper the Hippo is awfully cute.
Posted by: Brandi | 26 June 2009 at 11:49 AM
Sweet sweet sweet. count me in.
Posted by: Darcy | 26 June 2009 at 11:51 AM
So cute! Thanks.
Posted by: Andrea | 26 June 2009 at 11:53 AM
I got goosebumps when I read their story. It sounds like a fairy tale! Who can't feel good about buying something (especially these particular somethings) when it comes from a place like theirs? My friend just had a baby last week and I've been wondering what to get for her. This little hippo would just be perfect. Thanks for the opportunity!
Posted by: Brittany Noel | 26 June 2009 at 12:08 PM
I'm not even entering because I never win anything, but I just got the rattle/teether pictured to the left in your top photo and my 5 month old absolutely loves it! He can hold onto it so easily and his teeth sink in a bit easier than the hard varnished Haba toys we have so he really holds onto it and chews for a long while. He's had teeth since 4 months, and this has been a wonderful, wonderful toy! So well made ;o) Okay, I will stop gushing now... back to the contest!
Posted by: Jessica | 26 June 2009 at 12:13 PM
I'm expecting my 3rd baby in August and this looks like a beautiful toy to add to our arsenal of plastic.
Posted by: Lisa | 26 June 2009 at 12:22 PM
this would be perfect for my little piper! i was just looking at her butterfly teether...thanks for the extra info on this little company!
Posted by: natalie | 26 June 2009 at 12:25 PM
I do just love these toys. So beautiful! Thanks for opportunity to win the hippo teether.
Posted by: Andrea | 26 June 2009 at 12:28 PM
These are adorable & would make lovely baby gifts!
Posted by: Chara Michele | 26 June 2009 at 12:35 PM
That is just the most adorable teether I have ever seen.
Posted by: Lara | 26 June 2009 at 12:43 PM
Oh wow! This would be perfect for our little one arriving in a couple of weeks!!
Posted by: Sachi | 26 June 2009 at 12:49 PM
I am slowly working on transitioning over to natural baby toys. This would be a lovely teething toy for my little man.
Posted by: Megan | 26 June 2009 at 12:55 PM
lovely teether!
Posted by: Wylie | 26 June 2009 at 01:02 PM
What an excellent post, what a sweet story of true love...and a give away to boot! I'm totally in, if I win I'll save it for our future papoose. ;o)
Posted by: Karen | 26 June 2009 at 01:14 PM
Oh their things are lovely. I have a egg shaker and keys that I ordered not too long ago - would love Harper to round out the collection for my kiddos. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Posted by: Lindsay F | 26 June 2009 at 01:20 PM
I have a new great nephew that this would be awesome for!
Posted by: Paula | 26 June 2009 at 01:32 PM
How precious! My teething little boy would love one of these!
Posted by: cindy walsh | 26 June 2009 at 01:37 PM
Wonderful! I have a friend having a baby in a few weeks.
It is so cool these days to hear about folks following their passions and being successful at it! Gives me hope.
Posted by: Jennifer | 26 June 2009 at 01:58 PM
One of my best friends is having a baby. I would love love love to give this to her. I am going to check out the website now, just in case I don't win!
Posted by: Farrah | 26 June 2009 at 02:03 PM
Oooh Baby showers GALORE comming up, this "wood" be fantastic.... Yes, I know im corny ;)
Posted by: Bailey | 26 June 2009 at 02:17 PM
Very cute! I have a baby who's gonna be teething soon :)
Posted by: meghanlou | 26 June 2009 at 02:26 PM
absolutely love these!!
Posted by: Kelly | 26 June 2009 at 02:50 PM
My lil man would love to play with this Hippo, I have checked out their products and have been thinking about buying somethings.
Posted by: Alina | 26 June 2009 at 03:14 PM
I have so many friends with little ones on the way that would love love love this!
Posted by: Liz | 26 June 2009 at 03:37 PM
That is gorgeous - count me in! Jennifer
Posted by: Jennifer | 26 June 2009 at 03:58 PM
Oh this would be perfect, since Natalie is in the mist of teething.
Posted by: Valerie | 26 June 2009 at 04:14 PM