A: .... they both feature in v.2.0 of the BIRCHseed organic fabric APPLE softie baby rattle.
this rattle is now 100% unique to any other baby rattle sporting a timber teething ring.... how? because the rings are hand-turned by a local wood-turner near my home town in northern nsw.
wood-turning is one of those forgotten crafts of high skill (and bravery).... a block of of timber is cut and centred into a super fast spinning machine called a lathe.
the wood-turner then uses various sharpened carving chisels, held down hard with two hands, to progressively carve away the timber until the desired shape of the item being made is achieved.
depending on the item being made, this process can take days/weeks/months. to give you an idea..... it takes roughly 1 week of production time to source the timber and turn out 10 rings for my rattles. its a slow process (kind of like my blockprinting really...) & whilst they cost 7 x's more than a curtain ring made in China, i think its worth it!
... and what is the timber he uses?
it comes from the native Australian tree .... Grevillea robusta, commonly known as Silky-oak.
it is the largest species in the genus Grevillea.... its a massive version of those common bird attracting native shrubs often found in most gardens around Australia. it is found in eastern coastal, subtropical environments..... and lucky for me it is found in my local area, making this a sustainable choice for the BIRCHseed rattles.
it is the largest species in the genus Grevillea.... its a massive version of those common bird attracting native shrubs often found in most gardens around Australia. it is found in eastern coastal, subtropical environments..... and lucky for me it is found in my local area, making this a sustainable choice for the BIRCHseed rattles.
it produces a stunning bloom of golden flowers in spring that last for many many months....
not only is the tree beautiful... but the timber is equally stunning, with a unique grain that is only seen in this species of tree. it is prized timber for fine furniture making, and wood turning of course!
not only is the tree beautiful... but the timber is equally stunning, with a unique grain that is only seen in this species of tree. it is prized timber for fine furniture making, and wood turning of course!
its fine grain is a perfect match for using with the rattles.
oh and they still feature organic fabric, that sweet sounding bell and compostable corn fibre stuffing inside and double all stitched for added safety.
so there we have it....the BIRCHseed baby rattle is a totally unique, more sustainable and eco friendly product than before.
perfect gift as for baby showers, new baby arrivals or just a tad irresistible not to get for you own bubba.
:: available in red and green... do you think other colours could be popular too?
more over at our creative spaces today
