If you are like me then you like going through Etsy and seeing all the wonderful homemade items that people create from all over the world. I love the fact that there is joy in the art of something handmade and sharing those talents with friends and the public. Instilling this in our children and keeping it active in our lives is definitely a must in our day today. This week I’d like to introduce you to a local mom I know who has opened a shop called Gems From Before, a sweet shop full of sweet wooden toys and vintage finds for your children’s kitchen. Here is a little about the store and the owner of the shop:
Welcome! I hope you enjoy our little world of simplicity and wonder. My shop came to fruition in 2013, soon after my son was born. I started searching for simple and natural toys that were affordable and came up short. When I created Gems From Before it was partly out of necessity when I was on a mission to find simple, natural and affordable pieces for my child’s play. Our wooden learning pieces are inspired by nature and the teachings of Waldorf, Montessori and Reggio Emilia and encourage open ended play so that children can explore their world with creativity and imagination.
Everything in the shop is sealed with my handmade beeswax polish and all the colors are derived from food grade dye. Because nature inspired learning should be affordable and accessible, I offer simple and minimal packaging that is earth friendly and keeps my price affordable for you.
My niche is play kitchens, in fact it makes up almost half of my shop – cherries, acorns, eggs, honey pots, cookies, apples, scoops, bowls, dishes and more. I love creating small pieces that reflect the simplicity of our big kitchen. So you will find lots of wood but also small vintage metal and glass – a wonderful sensory combination.
The pride and joy of my shop is the ‘Swarmlovin” Beeswax Polish.’ It’s made from local raw beeswax from West Grove, PA and all my wooden gems are sealed with it. My goal in the next few months is to incorporate more fabrics and to build upon the purposeful pieces in the ‘Waldorf Child’s Cabinet.’ I am very passionate about repurposing and reusing items and also appreciate the quality ‘From Before’.
What a wonderful story behind Gems From Before. I know my girls have enjoyed the wooden eggs to use in their play kitchen. I like seeing them pretend to eat them and knowing that because these toys are sealed with the beeswax polish that there is nothing toxic that could harm my children. It is true what this mom said, it is hard to find any simple toys for children to use in their everyday play time.
These items and MORE would be great as stocking stuffers and Christmas gifts for your toddlers. The owner of the shop is giving away $15 off a purchase for ONE person. Enter giveaway below. If you simply can’t wait to order something, you can also get 15% off an order using the code SINGER when checking out at Gems From Before. ENJOY!
