Sea turtle

An artist friend and neighbor, Laura Bruzzese, is trying to start a fabulous new business called Paper Turtle (http://paperturtle.com/).  Here is her overview: I’ve partnered with a group of artisans in Haiti for more than a year, designing paper-mache sculpture that is then hand-crafted there with recycled materials. We’re now trying to expand our partnership into a bigger business, so I “launched” a project on Kickstarter to help raise seed money.

Tropical fish ornaments

So when I heard about this project, of course, I was interested because it is such a fine example of putting your values into action.  Here is someone interested in the world beyond our everyday comfort zone, and who has found a way not only to participate in it, but to create a unique product, out of recycled materials, while working collaboratively with a group of people to help them improve their own lives.

Paper mache goat

So Aaron and I are looking over everything and thinking how great it all is and, sure, we could contribute to a start up….when our newly exercised voice of fiscal restraint kicks in and says: Not so fast! You two are supposed to be saving money to buy all the prerequisite baby stuff! You’re not supposed to be spending money on some start up.   So, with a reluctant sigh, we decided we would hold off.

About 15 minutes later, while making dinner, one of us (the guilty party will remain unnamed) says something like, “those turtles are pretty cool”.  And, we’re big fans of sea turtles.  And, since we got married at a place called Hawk’s Nest Beach, we’ve always had a soft spot for them.  So, we return to look at the turtles and the various products at Paper Turtle.

Possibilities of sea turtle decor

Then, we start looking at the various options to contribute and what do you know? This cool micro-lending concept is such that you don’t have to donate a huge chunk of money to still contribute something to a project you believe in.  AND, you get some of the cool stuff, to boot.

Well, what kind of stuff do we need? Stuff to decorate our baby’s room.  We’d already been talking about a seascape and/or landscape motif with various creatures painted or hung on the walls.  And, we prefer things that are made by hand, possibly out of recycled materials, things that are unique and represent our values….Wait a minute!!! We could support the efforts of Paper Turtle AND acquire exactly the type of stuff we want for our baby’s room!

And that is how we became supporters of Paper Turtle.  Small supporters, but supporters, nevertheless.

If you know of any babies that might like Paper Turtle decor in their nurseries, you too can become a supporter of Paper Turtle: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1584144442/paper-turtle-haiti-new-mexico-usa-partnership Also note that these products are not just for babies but for kids and grownups, alike.  Although their Kickstarter deadline is June 15, so don’t wait too long!

Good luck, Laura and Aly! We’re behind you all the way!