I love learning about our merchants. It is so cool to know who we are buying from so our purchases have more meaning. It is so important to us at Franklin Goose to make sure the merchants we work with believe in what they are producing, that they aren’t just jumping on the “green” marketing bandwagon but that they live what they do.

Maple Shade Kids is one of the companies we carry and definitely one of the companies who “walk the walk”.  Wanda’s creativity and design has captured my heart, and made me wish we had a nursery to decorate, her products are affordable, beautiful, heartfelt and eco-friendly. She is a WAHM who has the support and input from her family in her growing business.

Here is an interview we did with Wanda:

1. How did you get started making your shelves collages and pegs?
My first products were created for my own children.  Since my family and I live in a New England farmhouse with limited closet space, I handcrafted fun peg racks and shelves to help organize our items.   This past time has grown into a passion of designing and creating eco friendly products for retail.

2. Did you find it difficult to start your own business?
I get so much pleasure from creating products for my customers that the enjoyment far exceeds the challenges of running a business.

3. Why do you choose eco friendly materials for your products?
Just as you, I want my children to live in a healthy environment, breathing clean air and surrounded by serene land that can be treasured for generations to come.  I believe if we all do our part, we can maintain an environment that is safe, sustainable and beautiful.

4. Tell us about you. As a child, I grew up in Maine climbing apple trees, skipping stones, balancing on old rock walls and creating lots of gifts for family members.  These gifts ranged from paintings, collages, wood boxes, baskets – you name it, I created it.  In college, I studied nutrition and worked several years as a Register Dietitian.  First teaching low-income inner city moms and children then working on a breast cancer research study.  It was in 2002 that I rekindled my passion for designing and creating when my family and I moved into our New England farmhouse.  With much excitement, I created a room for my daughter and nursery for my twin boys.  I am very fortunate to be able to continue with this passion in my current Maple Shade Kids’ designs.

Tell us about your products as well. At Maple Shade Kids, you will find an array of unique, earth-friendly children’s decor and art.  Each product is lovingly designed and crafted by hand with a combination of earth friendly wood and vivid colors.  This combination of wood grain and color creates a fun, natural, organic feel that frees the imagination.

5. How do you come up with new design ideas? I am continually inspired by my surroundings whether it is the beautiful 200 year old maple trees surrounding our home, the stillness of nature, textures, bonds of love or the desire to bring good into the world.  These are things that move me to create my art.

6. If you could do anything at Maple Shade Kids what would it be?
I see Maple Shade Kids eco product line growing to incorporate new and exciting eco items and designs.  As importantly, while Maple Shade Kids continues to grow, I look forward to finding additional ways to benefit workers, customers, communities and the environment.

Visit them on our site here.

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