Small Hands, Big Blog

Little Feat, Small Hands

2008-09-11T20:28:00.000-07:00

We're famous! Um sort of.... Check out the great pic of Kenny Gradney doing his thing 'playing' in a Small Hands prototype thermal. I never dreamed that back in the late 70's early 80's listening to Little Feat that one of their very talented ultra cool band members would be wearing one of our shirts!

I still listen to Little Feat and was thrilled to find out from his lovely wife Josje that their new album would include the awesome Jimmy Buffet, incredible Dave Mathews and the unforgettable Emmylou Harris to just name a few. Bob Seger, Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) the list really does go on. There's a great write up on the new album 'Join the Band' in the music magazine 'Elmore.' My first time seeing the magazine but will now look for it every other month when it's offered. Great writing with a real love for real music- it respects music, the musician and the listener more than I've come across lately. When you find the time check it out.

Josje, again married to Kenny (see pic above again of cool musician) owns a great boutique in Studio City, CA, called ScentsAbilities. A place you can find anything for anyone. Not only is it gorgeous with unusual, eclectic gifts and clothes but the prices are right. You leave there finding something wonderful for that person you went to get a gift for and leave with something for yourself as well. If your blessed you will also have a chance to chat with Josje or Coren or both. Interesting women who know their products and really want to get to know you. Coren has been there working with Josje for years and is there nearly everyday. Another place to check out if you live in the Los Angeles area or you are visiting. I was a customer first and then ScentsAbilites became my first official wholesale account. Needless to say it has been a JOY working with them.

It was Josje and Kenny both who made sure that a copy of the Elmore magazine was put aside for me. She even called when I was there with new product checking to see if he had worn the prototype we had made....and yes, he had!

Little Feat will be visiting Conan O'Brien sometime later this month and you can purchase 'Join the Band' now. Per usual for the band they are touring all over the place. Check out their website to find them you never know who may make a 'friendly' appearance.

Small Hands 'Manifest Peace' thermal is no longer a prototype and will be available on our website Oct. 15th in time for the cooler months ahead. We will also be adding baby thermals too! They are so adorable and soft with 2 designs- one being 'Manifest Peace,' so cool and tiny on the thermals. We are offering this on the organic onesie too. Again, all of this within weeks.

In closing- please, please, please VOTE. If you are the legal age than you have a great privilege ahead of you! Don't forget to do this! And if you want to gently or not so gently remind others you can do it our way with Small Hands VOTE tee. I have had a blast wearing them and we do have soooo many options with great colors and sizes. I think it's the positive way myself. Only weeks left. WEEKS! What a great time we live in- let's think that way. We can change what we want to we really can do it.!!!!!!

enjoy this beautiful fabulous time ahead.

all the very best to you as we stride towards

FALL......

2008-03-30T19:38:00.000-07:00

Happy Spring! Can you believe it's nearly April already? Bathing suits have long been out in department stores for us to gawk at or moan over (your choice) and at the apparel shows we are seeing nothing but fall, fall, fall! I feel like we finally got over the winter hurdle. And one other notable fashion statement at the shows- green, green, green! As in of course take care of your earth green. I also noticed this at the ISS show back in January. The yearly screen printers convention that boasts tons of tees, inks, printable art and the machines that make it happen. Nearly every vendor there was proud to show that they were on the green bandwagon which in my opinion is a wonderful thing- thank-you Al Gore. More than ever companies are stepping up, doing the research, making better choices for the earth. Sometimes it may cost a bit more, may not be as convenient but in the big scheme of things everyone benefits down the road. I love that we are all doing this in one way or another. I really think the more we go along the more we will see this happening. If the shows I've been attending are any indication there is a huge positive movement that has no end in sight. Fantastic.

Small Hands has always used organic ink on all of our children's and babies apparel and will now be moving that into our adult line. We've decided to add some more organic pieces to the line for summer and fall that are just fantastic and have some wonderful hues to them. We've also found some cool pieces for men in great colors- many organic, again look for these in the coming months. It's really hard to pick and choose with all choices that are out there in the marketplace right now. And they baby clothes- wow, so much baby stuff out there I had no idea! We are beyond thrilled with what we have coming out for fall but now I'm getting way ahead of myself.

For all of you, enjoy the longer warmer days...I know that I am. Happy, happy spring!

Seasons Greetings from Small Hands

2007-12-19T16:17:00.000-08:00

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday and a happy new year!

Love, love, love

Dara

Multi Designer Holiday Sale!

2007-11-27T19:48:00.000-08:00

As a proud member of Ladies Who Launch, Small Hands is participating in this years Multi Designer Holiday Sale! The sale takes place this Sunday December 2, 2007 from 10AM to 3PM at Temple Emanuel's Hoffman Hall at 300 N. Clark Drive in Beverly Hills, CA 90211. Click here for a map. The sale features apparel of course, as well as jewelery, handbags, candles, shoes, toys, you name it, all exclusively from women owned business here southern California. We're very excited to be a part of it, and we'll be offering all of our lines at extraordinary discounted prices that you can't get anywhere else! We're also helping another lady launch her custom hand-made jewelery line at the show, so it's really not to be missed. As there is no way to process credit cards from the event it will be cash and carry only, and we apologize for any inconvenience.

Small Hands Inspired Kids Collection

2007-11-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

I'm so happy to announce that the our Toddler line has arrived and is gorgeous! It arrived on time for our first anniversary trunk sale to a very warm reception. We have opened up this line with three designs in four different colors which includes our organic t-shirt. It is all made with 100% cotton here in the USA. The ink used is organic and we're proud to say eco-friendly. We had such a blast with our baby line- the onesies are so darn cute and the toddler tees are just as adorable. As a matter of fact there have been numerous requests from adults to have the children's designs moved to the adult line! We tested out one at the trunk show and it was a winner! It just goes to show that positive messages can show up in any form and they are always needed and desirable. So look for new vintage washed t-shirts for women before the holidays with our Peace and Love Forever design in some really beautiful colors. The violet and sage are out of this world! So when you have a moment check out our new designs for our babies and toddlers- lots of sparkly shiny stuff!

New Inspired Babes Designs

2007-10-15T22:34:00.000-07:00

This is our one of our new baby designs- check out our bee! I cannot wait to see our gorgeous little model Olivia in it...that is if she has the time. She may be solidly booked these days with other modeling gigs who knows! If you haven't seen her yet she is soooo beautiful and is the sweetheart that has added a little something more to our baby line. I say 'our' she is our dear friends daughter and was a wonderful happy model for us as well as her gorgeous mother. She was so much fun to work with! Small Hands is introducing 3 new designs before Thanksgiving for our baby onesies AND we will also introduce toddler tees- finally! So hopefully this will give us another chance to work with Ms. Olivia. We also have plans for bibs and little knit hats!
We've added another adult design and because of requests we will be using one of the baby designs for the adult line too. We love getting feedback from you and we're always open to suggestions, so we'll be offering the Peace and Love Forever design on some girls tees very soon. Again, we're open to any other requests.

We'd also love to get photos from you wearing a Small Hands Rags inspired tee- send it on over to us via email, snail mail we don't care! We are working on dedicating a page to all of you- should be cool.

I hope all is well in your world, at least here in sunny California it's been a gorgeous long summer/fall season so far! We are really, really blessed. Take care always.
Dara

Practicing Compassion with the shirt off his back

2007-08-15T20:05:00.001-07:00

My friend Chris, who has been my pilates instructor for over a year had a wonderful story to tell me just this morning. While I winced through my workout paying dearly for the 10 days of banquet style eating on my vacation, he shared with me his tale.
As usual he was doing charity work in his spare time (he does this all time) at a church in downtown Los Angeles. He was wearing one of our men's Small Hands 'Practice Compassion' t-shirts. While serving food he was asked by a teenage boy in line, "what does compassion mean?" Chris proceeded to get out of the serving line, sat down with the young man and in his words told him what compassion meant to him. I never did ask Chris what he told him and there's a reason; he said quickly, "so I just gave him my shirt and I need another one in navy please- small." I was stunned, he literally just gave the boy the shirt off his back. He remembered the young man's name, Russ, and said he was there with his family and then Chris went on to talk about something else entirely. We do this- I talk during the stretches and he talks while I try to breath during the stomach lashings. They're not called lashings I call them lashings. It's a system we have that works.

That story is typical of my friend Chris. He has all the compassion in the world and it's just part of who he is like drinking a glass of water, he doesn't think about it. He has an extremely busy life working, going to school, spending time with his son. His 'free time' is filled organizing charity events and raising money for the national breast cancer foundation and cancer kids. I don't know when he sleeps. He has helped me as well get our line out into the world and then tells me the different responses he gets. He loves wearing 'Manifest Peace' when he does his banking for some reason. People strike up conversations with him in the bank frequently. "And who wants to go to the bank anyways?" he says. "So it's just fun for me to wear it there."

My husband and I just returned home from a much needed vacation (okay, we all need vacations!) He wore a Small Hands shirt nearly everyday. I wanted to wear some new summer shirts I had brought but there was a day that I wore my brown Practice Compassion tee and subtle reactions began coming to me. Smiles. This soft energy coming from people- it was cool. Everyone seemed happy and at ease. At first I had forgotten that I had it on, and was simply enjoying it all. Maybe it was just that day and the people I encountered, but I know that when I put on my 'We are all extraordinary' tee people are very vocal in a great, positive way. So to me people are always wonderful but a positive message will just bring that to the surface sometimes. This of course is the entire theory behind our line. I put those summer shirts away quickly and found another Small Hands tee to wear. I like the reactions and I love how they feel. This is what drives me to design more images/messages, something new to wear with perhaps a new style shirt!

Before I leave I must finish the end of Chris' tale at the church. He told me that the young man left that evening with his family of 6 proudly wearing his shirt. He gave Chris a hug before leaving. Apparently the shirt fit fine. "He's tall, a big boy but it fits," and again Chris reminded me that he needed to purchase another one.

Love, Love, Love.

Fire the Grid

2007-07-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

Over a year ago, my dear friend Marie sent me the story of Shelley Yates and her young son. Their story is amazing. It's a tragedy wrapped in a miracle. An honest to God biblical miracle, not a Chris Angel "Mindfreak" illusion. As with many "miracles" told there are skeptics lined up ready to pounce. God Bless America. To check out her story go to You Tube or www.firethegrid.org to read about her, what happened to her son, and how it changed her life. Now she wants to change yours.

What she is asking us to do is give one hour of our time tomorrow at 4:11 AM PST (I'll let you do the math for your own time zone, sorry!) to send out good loving thoughts into the universe. Yates, previously a professed non believer has now changed her tune. She has been guided to encourage as many of us as possible at this day July 17th, 2007 and time 4:11 am for a mass meditation/prayer. There are no donations to be sent, no place for you to go, just be wherever that early hour finds you where you can send your good vibes out to the world.

The planet needs us more than ever. Can you imagine thousands, millions of people sending out beautiful, wonderful thoughts/images all at the same time? What an incredible hit for mother earth. Think about how you feel when someone smiles at you at a time when you need it most. It gives you this little lift. Now imagine that little lift becoming really, really HUGE!!!! That's what we can do! I for one am excited about getting up tomorrow. Okay, my cat gets me up at 2ish every freaking morning anyhow so whats the difference. As long as we remember how powerful love is and how strong we are we can do anything.

If you get up with your cat tomorrow in the wee hours and put on your favorite Small Hands shirt to share your energy with the world I'd love to hear about it, sleep tight.

Blessings,

Dara

Welcome to our new site and very first blog!

2007-07-09T19:13:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Small Hands. As you may have noticed, we've overhauled the website, and recently partnered with Yahoo! Shopping so we could add lots of new products and features.

So this is my first blog post, ever. I was encouraged to create one by many people, particularly my husband. Maybe he thinks it will keep me off the phone… doubtful.

Anyway, through this blog I will be writing about our products (obviously), but also about the state of the world, my spiritual musings, our charitable efforts, and what other like minded folks are doing. I'll also periodically be writing a segment called, "Friends of Small Hands," profiling some extraordinary people doing extraordinary things while wearing Small Hands Apparel.

So please check back often, and feel free to subscribe to the postings by clicking that Atom, Rss feed thingy button to the right.

Namaste,

Dara