Girls night out...

The girls and I had a real treat tonight. The lovely Sarah, who runs our Montmorency store, is part of the community choir - Yirriba - who were performing in Eltham. As community and friends gathered in the mudbrick hall...the children languished on cushions at the front - picnicing on brownies and punch, while friends and strangers chatted over hot cups of Chai.


We laughed at Stephen Taberner's, quirky humour and were enchanted by his double bass - Beatrice. (The girls have decided they too are now naming their instruments.)

We tapped our feet to the funky, jazz, bluesy, sounds of the Teskey Brothers

And finally, we closed eyes, swayed, danced the gumboot dance, clapped and swooned to the soulful passion, purity and sheer joy of these gorgeous human voices joined in harmony...

I had to smile as two more little voices rang out from the back seat all the way home...

Wee, wee, wee, all the way home...

These little piggies found a new home with a four year old girl today - lots of love to her family. They were donated by Suse over at peasoupoftheday.blogspot.com - thanks so much Suse, they are adorable.

Open hearts

This week has been quite emotional as like many people around Victoria we hear of more and more personal stories from the bushfires. Sarah at our Monty store has worked incredibly hard to get all our bags finished and her partner Andy kindly did the delivery runs - we've sent 60 bags out so far. We know we are only a little cog in a big picture of thousands who are helping - but our hands need to reach out in some small way. More big thank-you's to the following people who have given: Bronwyn who whipped up a big bundle of bags for us in an afternoon; Mercurius for big boxes of art supplies; Just Toys for a big box of traditional wooden toys; and the many, many customers who have given so generously.
20 bags and bottles arrive from SIGG (thank you Mal) for the children at Middle Kinglake PS who lost their whole school.

Handmade dolly's and beautiful books arrive in store - much gratitude to our Briar Hill and Montmorency community, Footprint books and the Melbourne Rudolf Steiner School!

This family in particular really touched my heart this week. Two little girls from NSW, 6 and 8 who went through their own toys, that were obviously very much treasured, and chose to share them with other children in need - thank you so much for your beautiful parcel and pictures. I would like to share with you that they are going to a family of 6 who lost their home near Kinglake. I know the four year old girl and a six year old boy, will treasure them dearly. Lots of love and blessings to you for your thoughtfulness.

The way in which Australian's have responded to crisis is truly inspiring. I heard of a woman in Queensland whose home was damaged in the floods who was going to donate her insurance money to the Red Cross; there are so many stories like this one - and of course stories of incredible courage too. As armfuls of toys came into our store, and all the charity warehouses around Melbourne overflowed, it seemed to me that as a people we have all been called to examine what the really important things in life are, and to be able to give up that which is only transitory. I am sure we will look back in time to come and remember that our nation changed deeply because of Black Saturday - and that through enormous sorrow we were able to lift each other up and find that love really is present in our world.

Bushfire Housing

Please spread the word about the Bushfire Housing site. "Bushfire Housing http://www.bushfirehousing.org/ is an online tool to facilitate the pairing of those that are homeless due to the Australian bushfires with those that have room in their house, a vacant rental, newly purchased investment property or holiday home they wish to offer as temporary accomodation."

Sincere thanks

A sincere thank you to all our customers who have donated already. xxx And thank you to our suppliers who have also been incredibly generous in supplying goodies: Russ Australia (for all the little cuddly kittens); Voila toys, Footprint books, Mercurius Art Makes Sense, and Secret Gully Puppets. We have already had our first families in store today collecting their bags - they thank everyone from the bottom of their hearts.

Over the next week we will be delivering personally to the children at Strathewan Primary School and children at Kinglake, so be assured your contributions will go straight into the hands of one of the children or babies to help brighten their day a little.

We haven't been able to secure a donation of cloth bags as yet - sadly the last of our eco silk bags have been used up - so if you are handy with a cotton and thread - libary type bags for the children to keep their treasures in would be very much appreciated.

Bushfire toy appeal - Care bags

Honeybee Toys Montmorency stores has many customers with young children living in the bushfire effected areas of Kinglake, St Andrews and surrounding areas.

Our hearts go out to all our customers who have lost their homes, and especially those with young families. As a small gesture we would like to offer a Care Bag to all those families whose children have lost their much loved toys in the fires.

We have spoken to many of our toy suppliers today for their help in donating items, and we will post details here as goods arrive. YOU may be able to help too, by donating any of the following:

• A handmade felt animal or doll from your family
• By purchasing a toy from Honeybee to put in the bag (all toys sold for this purpose will be at sold at a special discount - we will make NO PROFIT from this venture)
• A book (on good condition) from your families bookshelf that you don't need anymore

Honeybee Toys will also personally donate a toy to every family in need. A note will be included in the bag to let families know that the items have been donated by local families and businesses.

You can deliver your handmade items or purchase toys at either of our stores:
10 Were St, Montmorency 9434 1003
264 Glenferrie Rd, Malvern 9500 8632

We hope to have our first Care Bags available for pick up from our Montmorency store by Saturday 14th February. We will be contacting local schools and kinders in the effected areas to let them know about the appeal and how they can pick up their bag. If you know of families effected by the fires please spread the word.

If you have a blog or want to email people about Honeybee Toys Care Bags please link to us here: http://honeybee-blog.blogspot.com/

Melbourne Fires

Many of our customers from our Montmorency store live in Kinglake, Strathewan and the surrounding areas devastated by the bushfires yesterday and today. We have heard already of people today who have lost their lives. Our thoughts and prayers are with you...there will be no more blogs this week for this reason. We will be lighting a candle and keeping all those in need in our hearts. xxx

Snow White and Rose Red

Santa bought Tara this beautiful book for Christmas which we are just reading today. I think it must have reminded Santa of someone he knew. Devoted sisters and forever friends, Snow White and Rose Red are as lovely and sweet as the delicate flowers that inspired their names. Reminds me of two other devoted sisters and friends that I know - Tara Lily and Erin Rose perhaps!!! Well, they do fight sometimes, but you can fight best with those you love - because they love you no matter what!

People sometimes comment that they worry that fairytales are far too violent for children. I think this is a real shame as fairytales are really a rich portrayal of the inner life of the human being - when a child listens to a fairytale the darker characters become ways to work out the darker aspects of their own life - their fears, their feelings or difficulties that they have no control over. Fairytales can be incredibly healing. Some very good articles are available on this blog: http://www.endicott-studio.com/rdrm/rrtransf.html