Here’s what you should know about me: I’m a closet interior design freak. I mean, the moment I could form the words, I was asking my Dad to push my dresser from one side of my room to the other, and by the time I was a teenager, I was demanding hot pink on the walls, frilly curtains on the windows, and all manner of dressy pillows and bedspreads to set it off up in my room.
Now that I’m in my own house, I really get to play—and play, I do. I love earthy colors—oranges and browns and greens—and I never pass up an opportunity to add an ethnic touch to a room, whether it’s a beautiful piece of artwork by an artist of color (my latest obsession is THIS ROMARE BEARDEN at one of my favorite galleries, Avisca Fine Arts, which I can not afford but dream about nightly), or a beautiful tribal mask, or a textured vase, mirror, or picture frame to make a tabletop stand out.
I carry on this same philosophy in my daughters’ rooms, which are adorned with hand-crafted pictures of smoochie little brown girls and lots of beautiful brown dolls and pictures of our family—all that stand alongside pretty, kid-friendly pieces that shout out Mari and Lila's funky, girly sides. And I’m always on the look out for great pieces that speak to this aesthetic. In today’s MyBrownBaby Happy For the Holidays Giveaway, I’m hipping you to some awesome artists who specialize in beautiful home décor pieces that’ll make your rooms stand out from the rest. Witness:
KISHA’S KIDS
“See yourself, be yourself” is the guiding philosophy behind this online boutique for décor products featuring African-American babies, children, and moms, and Kisha’s Kids works double time to bring its vision to fruition. The boutique’s founder, Kisha Holt, created her business after she went on an exhaustive-but-unsuccessful search for décor and accessories reflective of her brown babies. Now, she manufactures rugs, growth charts, picture frames and more with images of brown-skinned children; the products are high-quality, vintage-inspired pieces that are all-at-once joyful and inspiring. For the MyBrownBaby Happy For the Holidays Giveaway, Kisha’s Kids is giving away one item of the winner's choice from the boutique's personally manufactured line of original African-American children’s canvas wall art, area rugs, picture frames, growth charts and clocks—the latter of which was featured on Oprah’s “The ‘O’ List!” Value of up to $125.
LUCKY + LOVELY
Go ahead—take a look at the Lucky + Lovely blog and ETSY site try not to drool! I’ve known the proprietor, Melanie, since our days together at Honey magazine, where, as a top designer, she made my words look super fresh. These days, she owns her own custom letterpress and makes all kinds of lovely stationery, invitations, creative prints, and more, plus she designs logos and websites and, when she has time, posts perfectly delicious links to beautiful things she finds in her daily e-travels. For the
MyBrownBaby Happy For the Holidays Giveway, Lucky + Lovely is graciously giving away this whimsical Kid’s Alphabet Print, printed with high-quality inks on artist’s matte non-glare heavyweight stock. A $35 value.
RWANDA PATH TO PEACE BASKET
I can’t say enough about these breath-taking handcrafted baskets! These one-of-a-kind pieces, woven with sisal leaves by Rwandan artisans practicing this ancient craft, are not only beautiful, but changing lives. Indeed, proceeds from every sale of these baskets, available exclusively at Macys.com, go toward life-changing projects in this African country, which is still recovering from the brutal 1994 Rwanda genocide that killed more than 1 million people in just 100 days. The women who weave the baskets use their earnings to set up clean water supplies, purchase mosquito nets, pay school fees for local children, and buy life-saving medication for HIV-infected villagers, plus much more. My red and white fruit bowl is absolutely stunning; it sits in my living room, on a time-worn iron and wood coffee table from India, next to my collection of art books. It’s simply perfect there. Thanks my friends over at The BlogRollers and Macys.com, one lucky reader will get a basket of her/his own through the MyBrownBaby Happy For the Holiday’s Giveaway, a $46 value.
ONE LUCKY READER WILL WIN ONE OF EACH OF THESE BEAUTIFUL GIFTS—A MORE THAN $200 VALUE! Here's how:
MANDATORY
• Visit Kisha's Kids, Lucky + Lovely and the Rwanda Path to Peace sites and leave one comment telling me about your favorite products on each of them.
• Be/Become a MyBrownBaby follower.
FOR EXTRA ENTRIES (please leave separate comments for each)
• TWEET “I just entered the @MyBrownBaby Happy for the Holidays giveaway for over $200 in home décor products http://shar.es/aEKsk"
• BLOG about this giveaway
• BUY a product from one of the featured stores in this giveaway, and email a copy of your confirmation order to mybrownbabycontests@gmail.com (2 entries!)
• BECOME a MyBrownBaby email subscriber (you MUST verify your email subscription to qualify) OR get the MyBrownBaby RSS feed HERE (leave a comment letting me know you’ve done so, and include an email address so that I can contact you if you win).
• ADD my button to your blog
• Become a follower on Lucky + Lovely or Kisha's Kids blogs—or both!
THIS CONTEST ENDS AT 11:59 P.M. on MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10th, 2009. It is open to residents in the continental U.S. and Canada. Prize fulfillment will be handled by each individual shop.
Oh.my! All these things are lovely. What do I do first?...
ReplyDeleteI'm very into decorum myself, especially the kids' rooms. And I'm lovin' those letters.
My favorite product on kisha's kid has to be the Cecile doll I would love that for my daughter because my plan is to keep her hair natural and it would be nice for her to have a doll that has curly textured hair. My favorite Rwandan bowl has to be the Rwanda Bark "Pilgrimage" Bowl because I am drawn to earth tones and the green and brown together calls my name. I was unable to see anything on the Luck and Lovely etsy shop but did look at their portfolio and loved their work. I have joined both luckand lovely and kisha's kid blogs and even blogged about the giveaway on http://www.theiamchornicles.com/ and added the my brown baby button to my blog and also become an email subscriber.
ReplyDeleteKisha's Kids
ReplyDeletemy favorite home decor item is the Mermaid Maya Canvas wallart; my little diva has a fascination with mermaids and her name is Maya-how perfect
Lucky+Lovely
In home decor I loved the Aphro-Chic line(specifically the Dreamland Pillow collection). Adding a color palette to every room in my house is my idea of home furnishing.
Macy's
My favorite is the Rawanda True Unity Fruit Bowl I have a lot of artwork that I would like to showcase in one room; these bowls support a great cause and I would love to include its story with existing art
I already follow
ReplyDelete"http://twitter.com/cocoamommy/status/6262222909"
ReplyDeletetweeted
Button on my blog
ReplyDeletehttp://cocoa-mommy.blogspot.com
I was unable to find anything listed on LUCKY + LOVELY etsy shop
ReplyDeleteOn macys my kids would just love the Spode "Christmas Tree" Dinnerware and on Kisha's Kids my son would love the firefighter jayse area rug there is so much to choose from on that site .
angelsspot at hotmail dot com
Hello Denene! I am new an recently subscribed to MBB. Please enter my name for the Home for the Holidays Decor giveaway. I don't want to leave my email address in the comments section, but I'm not sure how I will be contacted if I win.
ReplyDeleteI love all the work you chose. Lucky and Lovely has such light-hearted design work. It brightened my spirit this morning.
ReplyDeleteI love the green and black basket on the front of Macy's. I also love that these are one-of-a kind and that they are going toward a great cause.
I love the storage bins on Kisha's Kids.
I am already a follower.
I added your button to my website, which was a no brainer because what you do here fits with the purpose of my website.
ReplyDelete@Rashida: Check back here on Thursday, Dec. 10 to see if you've won. If you did, you can send me a private email with your contact info at denenemillner [at] gmail dot com. And don't forget to do the extra stuff to earn extra entries!
ReplyDelete@Everyone else: I'm so pleased that you guys are digging the pieces and business owners highlighted here today; they really are incredible women and I'm so proud to be partnering with them.
Wait until you see what I have in store for tomorrow!!!
oh how I Love Love these pieces!!!
ReplyDelete@ Kisha's Kids, I'm loving the tea party board game
ReplyDelete@ Lucky + Lovely, I'm loving the Modern Circles Print
@ the Rwanda Path to Peace site, I'm loving the Rwanda "Umbrella" Bowl
I am a MBB follower!
I am a MBB email subscriber
ReplyDeleteI have the MBB button scrolling on my blog roll
ReplyDeleteKisha's Kids products ~ I love the Renee pink polka dot with bow wastebasket. My girls would love to have this cute wastebasket in their bedrooms. I will fav'd this website, and go back and purchase.
ReplyDeleteLucky + Lovely ~ I like this design elanie Carter Dots Cupcakes! This artist is very creative. I hope I can win! :)
The Rwandan baskets ~ They are all really nice and I love African the Mother Land wares ~ The Rwanda Bark "Pilgrimage" Bowl is my favorite one the colors are beautiful.http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=330870&CategoryID=39173
brownatural at gmail dot com
I'm a MyBrownBaby subscriber via emails. *waving* :)
ReplyDeletebrownatural at gmail dot com
I'm a Google Friend Connect Follower.
ReplyDeleteI added your button to my blog:
ReplyDeletesee right sidebar ~
http://fourgirlsplus1.blogspot.com/
I subscribed to Kisha's newsletters and her RSS feed of her blogs.
ReplyDeletebrownatural at gmail dot com
Kishas kids-I loved the Joy pink chandelier
ReplyDeletelucky and lovely- the beautiful wedding stationary
Rwanda Path to peace-The Rwanda Day Peace basket
thank you for these beautiful giveaways
rally_thade17@hotmail.com
Love the firefighter Area rug on Kisha's Kids, The Big Sky Fruitbowl on Ruwanda, and the Boy's colorway print from lovely by lucky!
ReplyDelete1) the joy pink chandelier is beautiful
ReplyDelete2) i like the wedding stationary
3) the Rwanda "Spring Earth" Large Bowl, 16" is really nice
I tweeted (@unluckymrsmom)
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6293683778
Hello. I've just joined MBB. (My e-mail address is delyma@aol.com).
ReplyDeleteKisha's Kids' "Nina Ballerina" growth chart and clock are too cute; the art is so dainty, whimsical and timeless. I also love Kisha's Kids' "Baby Allyson" and "Baby DeVaughn" canvas wall art, which are fun additions to a nursery.
The Lucky + Lovely Etsy site has a vibrant "Modern kid number poster" that's sure to make counting fun for beginners.
Rwanda Path to Peace: All these baskets are works of art, but my favorite is the "Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket, 12" Harvest Bowl." Its subtle earth tones are lovely and calming.
Tweeted!
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/DMartinOsuagwu/statuses/6298316178
My favorite items from these shops are...
ReplyDeleteKisha's Kids - Once Upon A Time Blue/White Book Storage Bins
Lucky+Lovely - Modern Kid Alphabet print-Boy colorway
Rwanda Path to Peace - Rwanda "Allegory" Knitting Basket, 13 x 19"
danielle78(at)comcast(dot)net
I follow your blog!
ReplyDeletedanielle78(at)comcast(dot)net
I love the Ballerina Growth Chart. Thanks for the chance.
ReplyDeletemogrill@comcast.net
Daily Tweet
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6307480734
From Kishas kids I like the joy pink chandelier.
ReplyDeletemy favorite items from lucky and lovely are the letter press stationary in black and white.
I love the fair wind trading basket rectangular tea tray from rwanda company.
jennifer.lleras@gmail.com
follow google connect
ReplyDeleteKisha Kids- I like the Joy Pink Chandelier
Lucky+ Lovely- I like the Lenox Cupcakes
Rawanda Path to Peace- I like the Rawanda night Peace Basket.
honeybeez80@yahoo.com
the green and black basket and the rawanda nigt pease basket mverno@roadrunner.com
ReplyDeleteI've just subscribed to both the Lucky + Lovely blog and Kisha's Kids blog.
ReplyDeleteI like Nina's Ballerina Wall Clock from Kisha's Kids. the Dots Cupcake design from Lucky & Lovely, and Fairwinds Trading Basket, the Giraffe Footprint Bowl from Rwanda Path to Peace.
ReplyDeleteJD
SamneneD@aol.com
Kisha Kids: I LOVE the green and white storage bin.
ReplyDeleteLucky+Lovely: Beautiful Wedding Invitations.
Rowanda Path to Peace: I like the Fairwinds trading basket in the Butterfly Tea Tray.
I follow My Brown Baby
I subscribe to My Brown Baby via email.
ReplyDeleteOk I love the O Magazine "Purple Amethyst with Black Garnet" Bracelet
ReplyDeleteThe good fairy rug
and the pretty Dots cupcake web design
I'm following you!!
I have your button on my blog! (One of the only ones!!)
ReplyDeleteAt Kisha's Kids I absolutely LOVE the firefighter jayse area rug
ReplyDeleteAt Lucky + Lovely, I really adore the Letterpress Wedding Stationery - beautiful!
And lastly, at Rwanda Path to Peace I love the Rwanda "Sunrise" Peace Basket - Gorgeous items here too!
roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow you PUBLICLY with Google Friend Connect!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I follow on Twitter as coolcanucks!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I tweeted this awesome giveaway!!
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/coolcanucks/status/6326945655
roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I now subscribe via email and activated it!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I subscribe to your RSS Feed!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I now follow Lucky + Lovely Blog PUBLICLY with Google Friend Connect!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I now follow Kisha's Kids blog PUBLICLY with Google Friend Connect!
ReplyDeleteroxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
Thanks for this nice giveaway, it ends on my birthday, Dec.7th Wooooot!! :)
roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com
I love the Cecile doll
ReplyDeleteit would be my daughters first
RT again:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6341437906
http://twitter.com/cocoamommy/status/6347204397
ReplyDeletetweeted
RT Again!
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6359547892
tweeted
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/cocoamommy/status/6368994458
Kisha's Kids/Nina Ballerina Wall Clock
ReplyDeleteLucky + Lovely /Letterpress wedding stationery
Rwanda Path to Peace/Rwanda "Day" Peace Basket
letessha@yahoo.com
I am a follower of yourm blog.
ReplyDeleteletessha@yahoo.com
I became a MyBrownBaby email subscriber.
ReplyDeleteletessha@yahoo.com
I follow Kisha Kids blog
ReplyDeleteletessha@yahoo.com
Here are my favorites~
ReplyDeleteAt~Kisha's Kids the flutter pink lounge set
At~Lucky + Lovely the Modern Circles Print
At~Rwanda Path to Peace the "Butterfly" Bowl
Thanks for the chance to win!
deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com
Tweet!
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/Deb55106/status/6395427036
{And~I forgot to mention that I follow you too~sorry}
deb55106(at)gmail(dot)com
I subscribe with Google reader
ReplyDeletedeb55106(at)gmail(dot)com
I like the Kisha's Kids the flutter pink lounge set,Rwanda Path to Peace/Rwanda "Day" Peace Basket and the Lucky+Lovely: Beautiful Wedding Invitations.
ReplyDeleteerma.hurtt@sbcglobal.net
Tweeted
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6401512595
I am now a follower on google....I like the once upon a time storage bins from Kisha's Kids, the alphabet poster in the girl colors,from Lucky an Lovely on Etsy and the Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket, Rectangular Tea Tray 19" x 14"
ReplyDeletesibabe64 at ptd dot net
Kisha's Kids - elizabeth white chandelier
ReplyDeleteLucky + Lovely - Dots Cupcakes
Rwanda Path to Peace - Regina Andrew Segmented Ovals Lamp
lighthousee27(at)gmail.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletetweeted, http://twitter.com/litehouse27/status/6418698964
ReplyDeleteSubscribed!
ReplyDeleteI Became a follower on Lucky + Lovely!
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/cocoamommy/status/6420059203
ReplyDeletetweeted
I love the Firefighter Jayse Area Rug at KishasKids.
ReplyDeleteI love the LetterPress Wedding Stationary at Luck and Lovely.
I also love the Fair Winds Tranding Rwanda Basket, 12" Harvest Bowl from the Rwanda Path to Peace site.
I follow your blog angelag
ag1414@hotmail.com
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/ag1414/status/6422985131
ReplyDeleteI subscribe by google reader.
ReplyDeleteI follow the Lucky and Lovely Blog. angelag
ReplyDeleteI like the look of the fair wind trading basket rectangular tea tray from Rwanda company.
ReplyDeletesingermagic1(at)yahoo(dot)com
On Keisha's Kids, I really like their book shelf accessories. The Once Upon A Time Pink/White Book Storage Bins are really cute.
ReplyDeleteOn Lucky and Lovely, I like the Letterpress Wedding Stationery. The blue, nautical feeling set is my favorite.
From the Rwanda Path to Peace, I really liked the Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket, Rectangular Tea Tray 19" x 14" in the brown/natural color. This looks like something that would be used all the time and great quality, not to metion supporting a noble cause.
I follow your blog. Thank you!
I subscribe via email.
ReplyDeletekirbycolby at gmail dot com
RT
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6432650497
RT
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/unluckymrsmom/status/6432876168
At Kisha's Kids, I like the "set of 4 construction trucks."
ReplyDeleteAt Lucky & Lovely, I like the Dots cupcakes
At Rwanda Path to Peace, I like the "Rwanda 'Spring Earth' Large Bowl."
I am a follower via Google Friend.
clctaube @ yahoo.com
At Kisha's Kids; I like their cute bookends
ReplyDeleteAt Lucky & Lovely; I like the Dots cupcakes
At Rwanda Path to Peace; I like the Rwanda
Big sky fruit bowl
iamtheluckiest3@yahoo.com
I'm a follower
ReplyDeleteiamtheluckiest3@yahoo.com
tweet http://twitter.com/elbybee/status/6437975287
ReplyDeleteiamtheluckiest3@yahoo.com
I follow w/google reader
ReplyDeleteiamtheluckiest3@yahoo.com
At Kisha's Kids: the firefighter jayse area rug
ReplyDeleteRwanda Path to Peace: Rwanda "Sunrise" Peace Basket
At Lucky + Lovely: the Letterpress Wedding Stationery
I like the Kisha's Kids storage bins. I checked out the Dots Cupackes at Lucky & Lovely. As a basket weaver I especially like the Rwanda Path to Peace - Fair Winds Spirit Bowl Basket! Thanks! senekers@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteI like the Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket, Rectangular Tea Tray and the kevin transportation growth chart.
ReplyDeleteveniceangel@hotmail.com
What a wonderful giveaway!
ReplyDeleteFrom Keisha's Kids - Tea Party Board Game
From Lucky & Lovely - Mondern Circles Print
From Rwanda Path to Peace - Bark "Pilgrimage" bowl.
I am a follower - screen name Tricia31
i like the firefighter jayse area rug
ReplyDelete$125.00, Melanie Carter // Dots Cupcakes, Fair Winds Tranding Rwanda Basket, 12" Harvest Bowl
$46.00
At Kisha's Kids, I like the "set of 4 construction trucks."
ReplyDeleteAt Lucky & Lovely, I like the Dots cupcakes
At Rwanda Path to Peace, I like the "Rwanda 'Spring Earth' Large Bowl."
ktgonyea at gmail.com
My choices:
ReplyDelete1. The kids site has Canvas Wall Art - Mermaid Maya is so beautiful.
2. Fair Winds Tranding Rwanda Basket, 12" Harvest Bowl
is green and red for Christmas.
flyd60 AT go DOT com
I made it on time! OK, been had your link on my blogspot, stalked you after my first visit and became an e-mail subscriber, love the adorable pink bookends from Kisha's Kids, and I'm following Lucky + Lovely. Whew!
ReplyDeleteFirefighter jayse area rug, Melanie Carter // Dots Cupcakes & Fair Winds Trading Rwanda Basket, 12" Contours Bowl :)
ReplyDeleteWho won this??!!
ReplyDeleteHello dude,
ReplyDeleteI love all these work that you choose.Excellent writing about dinner plates, it is actually useful for me. keep writing and happy blogging.