It is my great pleasure to introduce you to Beccijo from The Enchanted Cupboard, one of our most recent sponsors on Natural Suburbia.
In Beccijo’s words:
THE ENCHANTED CUPBOARD•.,¸¸,:•:**:•
You enter a quaint gift shop at the street corner. You see the gypsy-like shopkeeper, and she smiles at you as you walk further into the room. You feel like you have just entered into a place timeless, magical, yet familiar all at the same time. The woman raises her finger to her lips as if to silence you. Then she looks around the room and points to the back of the store. You see a large old enchanted cupboard with a vast amount of drawers and doors; you walk to it as sweet, whispered words fill your ears,
“Inside you will find your heart’s desire!”
The Enchanted Cupboard is a wonderful mix of handmade items that are truly part of my soul. You will find it full of wonderful wooden toys, custom wedding cake toppers, and a few enchanting things for the young at heart. I specialize in wooden dolls and playsets that work wonderfully with Waldorf nature tables. I have been developing wonderful educational toys that inspire learning while children are having fun. I make custom family dolls and wedding cake toppers that are lovingly painted to look like the people who will receive them.
Natural Suburbia: Tell us about the beginnings of your business and how it has developed and grown over the years.
Beccijo:
I started out just making items for my own children, then it grew to other children of friends and family. Soon friends of friends started asking me to make them and from that simple hobby a business started to grow. I found Etsy in 2008 as a customer and then started reading all I could about online selling. I traded a few items in the beginning and then sold my first toy online in 2009.
Natural Suburbia:Who or what is your inspiration?
Beccijo:
I have always had a very elaborate imagining. I spent most of my childhood in the woods playing with fairies, trolls, and goblins. I came from a large family with extended family all around and there was always someone to play with. As I grew my Art ability started to blossom and I was able to put my imagination to work on paper and canvas.
As an adult I went to the English Nanny and Governess School to pursue my dream of being a Nanny. I again was able to use my imagination as a source of inspiration for my work. I had a long wonderful career that end a few years after I married and started my own family. Having a lifetime surrounded by children gave me a great opportunity to study how important play was and what was needed to inspire the imagination of a child.
To read more about my life see my website here.
Natural Suburbia: What is your creative process and how long have you been crafting?
Beccijo:
I come from a very creative family and crafting was just part of my life from the beginning. I am a bit of a Mad Hatter when it comes to my creative process. I see something that just sparks something inside me and then like a wildfire it takes off in my brain. In a few moments my brain has connected all the pieces like a puzzle. Not just the what it is but also the why it would work! I get very excited and pace around and start talking to myself. When I think of a toy, it also has a story, a life that goes with it. Sometimes I sketch it out or I might go right to painting and creating. Once I start I can’t stop until I have finished it. After I finish I give it to the children to see what they do and how they react. It is a lovely but wild process!
Natural Suburbia: What do you do to avoid burnout, how do you relax?
Beccijo:
Having balance is the key! Making sure I give to all the parts of myself, the mother, the wife, the toy maker, the daughter, etc. and to ME. I learned very early in life that you need to take care of the ME or there will never be enough of yourself to go around for all the parts that you are to others. When in an airplane for safety you are told in a emergency to put your oxygen on first then take care of others. The same is true in life! Doing things that renew your spirit is like giving your life the oxygen you need for emergencies. Some of my favorite ME things is reading and planning our future mini farm. I love using Pinterest to mark all the really great information that I find and all of the inspiring photos. I also make sure I spend time with friends and family that make me feel good when I am with them.
Natural Suburbia: How do you balance mothering, crafting and homemaking?
I am a very organized person. Everything has a place and with 4 kids, 3 being boys, it can be a challenge. I work best when my life has order and then everything falls into place. I also get help when I need it, if my business has a growth and I can’t get to the housekeeping then I hire someone till I can handle it again. I have an assistant who helps out from time to time and that need grows as my business grows.
~~~***Giveaway***~~~:
Congratulations to:
What a generous giveaway! My kids and I look at her shop all the time, ooing and ahhhing at all her creations. Thanks for the chance!
Gorgeous creations…can you imagine how much fun a bunch of little (and ahem…BIG) kids would have with those bendy dolls and all that food!!! I love it all!!
What absolutely lovely art/toys. I want to be a child again so I can play with these!
What a great way to introduce yourself…I Love the enchanted cupboard- Inside you will find your heart’s desire… Love it and all the beautiful things.
I absolutely love the wooden rainbow bridges! Thanks for introducing us to such a creative and fun designer!
Wonderful giveaway!!!!
Test.
Those are great toys! I too love the rainbow bridges and the little people!
gorgeous colors; lovely things! nancywalters44@hotmail.com
Beccijo’s shop is wonderful! I just love the autummn tree set.
Wow! My daughter got her first set of wooden farm animals at Christmas and I’m amazed at how much she plays with them. Love those trees!
I really like the bright colors and simple designs. They are all great, but I really like the autumn trees, they are so unique and stir up those wonderful and exciting autumn feelings!
Shared on facebook!
I love her work. Got some beautiful wooden unicorns for my daughter for Valentine’s Day.
justsuzie_s at hotmail dot com
Wonderful giveaway. I love these toys.
Just beautiful! It’s easy to imagine how much fun my duaghter would have playing with such beautiful toys. Thanks for the chance.
We’ve been fans of The Enchanted Cupboard for a long time now. My oldest is forever pointing out the things he wants for future birthdays. (:
Thanks for the giveaway! I love the shapes and design.
Soooooo beautiful !
What a lovely giveaway! My kids would love to win this!
oh how wonderful! i love her imagination and her lovely toys!
thank you linda and beccijo!
Great giveaway! Some unique and adorable items!
Wonderful giveaway! My boys would LOVE it!
Oh wow! This is fantastic. Such talent! I love that Beccijo likes to make her toys specific for individuals and families.
What a wonderful world we live in where so many are willing to share their God given talents with each other!
I love those autumn trees! My three little ones would love those for sure. Thanks for offering such a great giveaway and introducing me to such a fab shop!
I shared this on FB as http://www.facebook.com/HuggermuggerHandmade
What a generous giveaway! My kids and I look at her shop all the time, ooing and ahhhing at all her creations. Thanks for the chance!
Wow, this is such a super give-away!!!! Lovely! (my sons would love this)
Absolutely wonder-filled! Where were you when I was a little girl?
Now I have only grandchildren and great grands of friends for such extraordinary gifts.
I picture your work on the covers of magazines!
Marny CA
I love Beccijo’s creations, and it’s great to learn more about her as a person through this interview. Thanks!
Such a wonderful giveaway, thanks, would love to win!!!
Such lovely things. I really am in awe of the beautiful colors on the wood. They are just gorgeous.
Nancye (withanecreates at gmail dot com
Wow, those pieces are beautiful! I love love love these handmade (and lovingly so) toys!
Thanks for a great giveaway!
lamamarcoATgmailDOTcome
I see some things that I just NEED for my gnomes. I have a seasonal set-up and new items are always great. Super give-away and I would so
love to win.
Learned a lot about the artist who makes these lovely pieces; thanks for the interview. and the exquisite pictures.
Thank you so much for the introduction Linda and the giveaway Beccijo, it’s smashing!
What a lovely rainbow of colours in Beccijo’s shop!
What a wonderful collection of toys. The vibrant colours and smooth shapes are really lovely and apprealing. Your commnets on managing a business and your personal life are also thought provoking and encouraging too. Many thanks, Kind Regards Rachael.
Thank you for this giveaway, these toys are beautiful!
lola@pabloylola.com
Wooden toys have enchanted me from the time I was old enough to choose for myself. I would love to have some of these heirloom creations. I’m particularly smitten with the bendy dolls. I know a certain abandoned dollhouse… thanks for the opportunity!
Blessings, Debbie
what lovely toys!
These handmade toys are so lovely, with lots of bright colours. I’m sure children would love them. Thanks for the chance to win some. Thank you too to Beccijo for offering it.
lyn.robyn.smith@gmail.com
What beautiful toys. My son would love to play with them… so would I!
Beautiful toys ! would love to win! alaskan(dot)hippie(dot)mama(at)gmail(dot)com
So very very pretty. I am left in awe.
Such an awesome giveaway! I love her toys. She is so talented!
Count me in please. Great giveaway thanks!! cokelush at gmail
very beautiful! thank you for the chance to win.
sellcrystal2 (at) yahoo dot com
FB share: https://www.facebook.com/robinphillipsknotts/posts/102445563217814
Thanks! cokelush at gamil
i love the rainbow stackers!
Wow such beautiful work, and an ispiring story of following your passions! Thanks for sharing
Such a magical world we just entered! Thanks for the introduction : )
These items are beautiful! I will have to check out more! Thank you for sharing!
Oh, what a wonderful giveaway! You are awesome!
so beautiful!
Just gorgeous! My favourites are the rainbows. Have shared link on fb.
cate.mackie@gmail.com
Love these things! Thank you!
tewaldorf@aol.com
I just blogged about this giveaway.
http://tasik77.livejournal.com/13826.html
I just posted about this gieaway on FB.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100002307101821&sk=notes#!/note.php?note_id=231589750261260
Thank you for such a lovely giveaway. Crossing my fingers.
i love the rainbow stackers! thanks for the giveaway
ive given you an award. pick it up at my blog.
http://bitsandbobszone.blogspot.com/2012/02/versatile-blogger-award.html#comment-form
These are so adorable! I shared on Facebook and I am looking this up on etsy! Lovely!
These toys are so cute! I admit, I have stalked this shop on Etsy for a while.
I’ve also been a return Etsy shop stalker! These toys are just so imaginative; I wish I’d had some when I was a child. Thanks for the giveaway; fingers crossed!
What beautiful toys!
thefankells@mesanetworks.net