Mama May I Shop? : Mama May I review/Giveaway

Mama, Mama, May I explore?
May I dance, may I sing, may I cry?
May I roam, flap my wings, 
Pretend to be king
May I dream, may I play, may I fly?


I loved to play this game when I was younger!  Do any of you remember playing Mother May I?  
You have to ask mother to allow you to do certain things to reacher her and she can either say "yes, you may" or she can say "no, but you can... " And then who ever makes it to "Mom" wins the game!  My kids now play it, and it is so fun to watch them find the same joy in a game.


This shop is just so cute and as I browse through her items I am reminded of my childhood.  The simplicity of life, and finding joy in the little things.  This is why I was so excited when she said she would participate in this event!  


So shall we learn a little more about "Mama May I Shop"?

Who is the mastermind behind your products?  Who is the inspiration?

Everything I make I make because I am inspired by some part of it – the colors, the textures, skill building, and play experiences inspire me to design. I always think; what can I make to help Layla….how can we better learn about this concept…how can we explore….how can we make our lives more interactive…how can this nurture the relationship between us so we are working and learning together…playing, imagining, and creating memories together. The things I create are things I would use, and do use, with the people who are closest to me. Layla is certainly a willing product-tester and we have spent hours experimenting together. If she loves it, I make more of them because I feel there are other little ones out there who would also love them.

Play, imagination, and education all inspire my ideas. Really, everything in my life inspires me. I am always finding things in my world I think can be changed, made easier, more fun. More often than not, parenthood is about finding the little experiences and grasping teachable moments.  I am inspired by the life I live, the songs we sing together; the silly sounds we make; the new dance moves Layla teaches me; the amazing things we accomplish together every day. I am inspired by the walks we take, the people we meet on the playground, at the park, the zoo, the city, and in books. I am inspired by Motherhood and by the child in all of us who can’t wait to dance to the ice cream truck’s merry tune.

How long have you been selling your product?  

I have been interested in creating things for as long as I can remember. I have memories designing things on paper and bringing them to my Mom to help me create them into real life objects. I have so many great memories, staying up past my bedtime just so I could finish a project. I am always designing, creating, and making things. I have forever given my handmade pieces away as gifts or sold them to friends and family. When I found out about Etsy I was so excited to set up shop. I am honored and grateful to be a part of this wonderful collaboration of artists and crafters. I first opened shop on Etsy in September of 2008. I am constantly trying to come up with new designs, concepts, and toy ideas to debut.

How has your product evolved from the fist time you made it?  Has it changed in design or anything?  

My very first product was a ribbon blanket – but the ribbons were looped.  I ran into some patent trouble selling this type of blanket toy so I fine-tuned the design and made a myriad of learning opportunities for little ones within the 12 inch fabric. I had so many people ask me where my loveys had gone and when I would bring them back – I am proud to have persevered. I love that I was able to bring them back – with my own style and my own design. Since then my toy line has expanded incredibly. I love being able to nurture my inner child while engaging my own little one in a world of imagination and creativity through design. I have many ideas and designs in my sketchbook that are waiting to be made...

What do you love most about your product?

I love how playful my work is. I love that I can see the world through imaginative, exploratory eyes and make something inspired by my own life. Just as your little one is full of spunk and spirit, so are these little handmade pieces. Colors, patterns, textures, and experiences inspire my own imagination, and create a unique end product that takes on a character all its own (a character quite like its owner). An added bonus, children are the most grateful recipients! – Children love, cuddle, bite, drag, chew, hold, and hug the my handmade pieces. This is what I love most about my products…bringing smiles, imagination, and exploration to little worlds. I love being able to be a part of a child’s curiosity and growing understanding of the world.

What makes your product stand out from the rest?  *brag about it, it is ok!  :) 

I have a unique background in Education, Psychology, and Art that manifests in each of my creations. Each lovey and toy is thoughtfully designed with your little one’s growth and development in mind – play AND purpose. My work is inspired by my own life, and by my own little growing explorer. I don’t sell anything that doesn’t get Layla’s “Play of Approval” first.

So, what did I choose to review?  
I loved THIS:

Isn't this just cute?  It is a little matching game.  
but...

It also came with this bute little "match-book" of instructions.  She had ideas of other types of games the kiddos can play with the game pieces.  They are some fun creative and imaginative games too.  I really like this because I think now days our kids are given too many things that "think" for them and they don't do enough thinking for themselves.  I love imaginative playing!  I encourage it in my kids.  This game is right up my alley.  It will be played with often in our house.  In fact it already has been well used.  
My son decided he wanted to do wrestling this year again, and it sure is hard to keep the little ones occupied while all the other matches are going on. They get easily bored.  We took this little game with us and they played with it for over an hr.  They had lots of fun and played lots of different games with these pieces.  The big kiddos helped the little kids think of some games to play.  These were a life saver!  
They are made very well too.  Each picture is hand-drawn with care, and the wood pieces are super smooth and feel amazing in your hands.  The bag is the perfect size to stash all the pieces and the instructions.  


So you want to get some fun imaginative toys for you little one?  
You can BUY some over at Mama May I Shop
She has lots of cute toys, loveys, and ... well shoot... just go and take a look and see all that she has!  


You can enter to WIN a $20 Gift Certificate to Mama May I Shop 

IMPORTANT!!!!!!!!! <------

• I can't contact you unless you leave contact info.  So you either need to leave your mail address in each entry , or you have to have contact info on your profile!   If I can't contact you I will pick another winner! 
• Also you must leave a comment for every entry separately.  ex. If you If you comment on my blog you need to leave 3 separate comments saying where you commented!  
• for the tweeting entries leave your URL... don't know how to do that?  After you tweet click on your profile then under you tweet there is a time thingy saying how long ago you tweeted, click on it.  There is your tweet, copy the URL and come back here and leave it in your comment. 
• I will check the winning entry!  If it isn't legit I will pick another winner!  

REQUIRED entries:  
visit Mother May I Shop on etsy and come back here and comment on which item you will pick if you win!  

K, now for the extra entries: if it says 3 entires you need to leave 3 comments!  

2 entries: follow Mama May I Shop blog 
2-entries: because I love comments...comment on Mama May I Shop blog (let me know where)
2-entries: because I love comments too... new comment somewhere on my blog *not a giveaway  (let me know where)
2-entries: let's spread the word...grab the Mama May I Shop button

<br /> <a border="0" href="http://www.MamaMayiShop.com"><img border="0" width="150" alt="Mama May I?" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2727/4415444467_7193a9250e_o.jpg" height="150" /></a>

2-entries: become a fan on Mama May I Shop facebook page 
2-entries: follow on twitter @MamaMayiShop
1-entry: follow me on twitter @myniftynappy
2-entries: 1st Tweet about this giveaway... tweet this   
Win a $20 CG to @MamaMayiShop in the #SPRINGFLINGEVENT by @myniftynappy  What will you choose? http://bit.ly/MayiShop  
1-entry: you can get 1 entry for 2 tweets a day-must be at least 4 hrs apart 
*leave tweet URL!
3-entries: blog about this giveaway and come back and leave a link
1-entries: grab my blog button
1-entry: grab my webpage button
10-entries: Make a purchase from Mama May I Shop!

This giveaway has ended.  Congrats to Alli!

Thanks for entering and good-LUCK!

Happy Diapering

Vilate Thacker
vilate@niftynappy.com
http://niftynappy.com