Monkey Beanz at Kripalu Yoga Center

Okay, one market down - now onto the next! To celebrate the 4th of July, we will be participating in the Cultural Survival Bazaar at the Kripalu Yoga Institute in Stockbridge, MA. To learn more about the great work that Cutural Survival does to support fair trade and work with indigneous people, go to http://www.culturalsurvival.org/events/bazaar/index.cfm. This is a wonderful chance to get some truly unique gifts and support businesses who care about where their products are coming from as much as the product itself. 40% of proceeds from all purchases go directly to Cultural Survival.

Another Monkey Beanz interview hits the blog world! Read all about us on this business blog http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2008/06/20/mom-brings-thailand-home-with-her-business/. Check it out before June 30th, leave a comment and you'll get a chance to win this featured dress from the Monkey Beanz new summer collection - oh my!!

Monkey Beanz features

Well, the word is spreading about Monkey Beanz. This last month, we've been interviewed for features on two WAHM/small business blogs. Check them out at http://www.thewahmspot.com/2008/06/spot-light-is-on-monkey-beanz.html and http://www.business-opportunities.biz/2008/06/20/mom-brings-thailand-home-with-her-business/

We're participating in the Bayside International Fair & Market here in Portland, ME tomorrow which is a wonderful mix of the international flavor in our little corner of the world. We're pleased to be able to bring Thailand into the mix.

Lucky for us, Sasha rocks the boy look great as well! Here she shows off the outfit Bee has been planning for the last year - he is devoted to building up a good collection of super cool clothes for all the rock star boys out there. This 100% linen outfit sports blue thread trim to make the pockets really pop. Summer wedding, anyone? Your son will surely steal the spolight away from the bride and groom in this one.

This is one of my favorites for this summer: our Thai cowgirl outfit! The skirt and front shirt trim are a traditional Thai cotton fabric - about as unique as you can get!! During one of our many fabric choosing outings, we were able to meet the man who makes this fabric himself and hear him talk about the process. I love working directly with people, seeing the amazing things that they create, having the opportunity to help them continue doing what they love and sharing their creations with families halfway across the world.
Oh, and for those of you with boys, have no fear! We also have the Thai cowboy version of this outift with matching shorts. Summer birthday parties, here we come - yee haw!!

Can you tell how much Sasha enjoys the new Monkey Beanz line?! Here she is in two of the dresses that will be available this summer. She would definitely agree that Monkey Beanz clothes are super comfy and easy to play in and I'll keep putting up previews so you can see how great they look as well!

Back in Maine

Well, we made it back to Maine though not without several bumps along the way! Both girls ended up getting sick during the trip, we spent a week in the hospital and extended our stay for two weeks in order to finish up samples of all the new pieces for the 2008 summer clothing line. We did it though and the clothes are being made as we speak and I am trying to get everything in order on this end for a Monkey Beanz Grand Opening.

Here is a picture of Bee, my husband, working with Nuung, our super talented and amazingly dedicated seamstess in Southern Thailand. We had many, many all day work sessions trying to get the patterns right and testing different stitches and fabrics and everything else. Fortunately for Monkey Beanz, Nuung takes great pride in her work and is not satisfied until she too approves of the final design. Also to our benefit, she has a 6 year old daughter so she and our older daughter were able to entertain themselves for hours despite the lanuage barrier.