WIN a Rachel Rainbow Limited Edition

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What is your job title at Peekaboo Beans?

My job title is the Day Dreamer, aka PB Junior Designer

What is your role at Peekaboo Beans?
As the PB Junior Designer I work alongside Head Designer, Calli, and Production Manager, Michaela, to forecast trends and build a storyboard for the upcoming season, create prints and graphics for the collection, develop measurement specs for production, measure and fit prototypes and samples and create props for the photoshoots. 

When did you start? 
I started at Peekaboo Beans at the beginning of August 2012. 

How long have you been creating? 
I have been creating as long as I can remember. I love working with my hands and experimenting with various materials and projects in my spare time. After much procrastination, I decided in October of 2013 that I should channel this into a collection that could potentially become a second source of income.

What do you specialize in when crafting? 
I love to try new things and take on random projects! I would say my aesthetic is whimsical which translates into the type of projects I'm drawn to. I love to create jewelry, party decorations, working with paint, stamps and 3D objects. 

Where does your inspiration come from? 
It is a balance between; nostalgic girlish whimsy inspired by my childhood combined with clean geometric shapes and a more refined sense of design that I am developing as a creative individual. 

What are you working on now and what next can we see from Rachel Rainbow? 
Currently I am working on incorporating new shapes and sizes of wooden beads in to the necklace line as well as developing a coordinating bracelet line! I have a few other kids decore type projects that might  popup in the next little while as well. I am always playing around with new ideas and side projects that could potentially become a part of the line.  

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So we don't want to keep these just all to ourselves!  So in grand Peekaboo Beans playful fashion we are giving away 2 FABULOUS NECKLACES!!  

To enter, simply LIKE the Rachel Rainbow Facebook page. For an extra entry, share the this contest on your own Facebook page. Our winners will be drawn at random and announced May 10th in the Peekaboo Beans BeansTalk newsletter, on our Facebook page as well as Rachel Rainbow Facebook page.  Contest closes on May 9th at 9pm PST. 

To purchase one of these pretties, shop On-Vine HERE contact your local Peekaboo Beans Play Stylist. 

Find out more about Rachel: 
Website:  www.rachelrainbow.com
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/rachelrainbow
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/RachelRain_Bow
Pinterest:  www.pinterest.com/rachelrainboww

Magic Beans Giveaway... The Numbers Are In!

The numbers are in and we are so proud of our amazing tribe of Play Stylists and VIPB’s! On March 28^th we had launched the Magic Beans Giveaway to help get children across the land playing comfortably as well as a way to help mama’s give back to their communities to causes that are significant to them. During this two-week opportunity, Peekaboo Beans was able to donate 438 boys, girls, baby, and tween pieces to charities in need across the nation! 

Just a few of the charities included Central Alberta Women’s Emergency Shelter, the Malawi Girls School, Mizppah House, Connaught School, Battlefords Boys & Girls Club, and the Big Brother program. That is amazing and we can’t thank all of you who contributed enough!

Below are just a few of the inspiring stories we received from our Play Stylists about the Magic Beans Giveaway Soiree’s that they were able to hold with their Hostesses.

Thank you for the Magic Beans Giveaway! I recently attended a Mile Zero Mercy Roller-Girls fundraiser for Mizpah House. Mizpah house is a local transition house for abused women and children. There was a speaker from the shelter at the fundraiser and she hit a chord with me. I thought, "I'd like to get involved with this organization". When the lovely ladies at Baked Cafe hosted a qualifying Soiree I had asked them their thoughts and they too are big supporters of Mizpah House! What a wonderful opportunity to bring a little comfort to women and children in desperate need! Often these women and their kids arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. I contacted Mizpah House and they have told me they are in need of clothing for girl’s ages 2-5 and boys 3-5 :) 

My second Magic Beans bundle is going to be donated to Malawi Girls School. Every year Arlene Delawsky, a top local realtor and philanthropist, hosts a private party to fundraise for the girls school in Africa. This school provides a safe place and education to girls in Malawi. This year the principal and former student of the school will be joining us for the event. Arlene is the hostess of a Peekaboo Beans fashion show and in addition to the Magic Beans Giveaway, all the Hostess Bean-e-fits are being donated to the school! As well, I will be donating a portion of my commission to the school. Let the love flow!!! - Charlie Jordan

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“My Hostess was looking for a local charity to support and had come across the Battlefords Boys & Girls Club online.  She saw all of the amazing programs that they offer to children in our community and knew instantly they would benefit.  The first line on their home page is "Another School year is up and running!  The Battlefords Boys & Girls Club is OPEN and ready for kids to come play in our brand new building!"  How could we not support a charity that is so aligned with Peekaboo Beans and children playing?!” - Jamie Killoran

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“This is a back story for my Magic Beans. It's a recommendation from one of my VIPB. Here is the msg she provided me:

The Magic Beans Soiree that I held was with a VIPB who knew the perfect family to help out during a hard time. Below is the message she had originally sent me:

“Hi Laura, as I mentioned, Leigh was one of the mom's that we sponsored through the Christmas Fairies this past Christmas. She is a single mom with 2 children.  Jack, who is in Grade 1, and Leighla, who is 3 1/2.  She home schools Jack and is currently trying to figure out a source of income because her soon to be ex husband will not be able to support the family.

Leigh is one of the most beautiful people that I have ever met.  Her heart is just so generous, open and honest.  We all got together close to Christmas time  and she brought some food and a bottle of wine (probably with her last few dollars).  As I mentioned before, she is the type to give her last few dollars.

Both of her children are amazing.  Jack is an incredible artist and is very bright.  Leighla is a little fireball full of energy but just so sweet and loving like her mom.

I was out with a girlfriend last night and we were both trying to figure out a way to try and support Leigh during this time. When I saw your message, I immediately thought of her and how deserving she is of some special treats for her children.  She would NEVER be able to afford PBB.” - Laura Webb

Easter Weekend Crafternoon

We hear the bunny coming!  The Easter Bunny is right around the corner and it's the last weekend before Easter is upon us, therefore it's your last chance to get organized for your Easter Weekend activities, crafts, baking, games... and FUN!  So let us help you with our Pinterest Easter FAVES!  Find all the links to these and many more fun pins on our Easter Weekend Pinterest board HERE.

Have a wonderful crafternoon and feel free to share your creations with us!

** BONUS - download our printable Easter coloring page HERE for your beans (or yourself!)

Pj's, Pancakes, & Play!

Last Saturday Peekaboo Beans and Bobs & Lolo teamed up for a super fun morning of pj's, a pancake breakfast, & playtime with Bobs & Lolo in support of Playground Builders, the Canadian charity building playgrounds in war-torn areas.

We had an incredibly fun time playing with all of you and are so thankful for everyone who came out! Peekaboo Beans' mission is to help all kids get back to play & together we raised an amazing $2,300 towards building a new safe place for children to play! See our last blog post for a breakdown of the playground equipment that the funds we raised will be used towards here.

Check out pictures of all the fun we had at the Pj's, Pancakes, & Play event below!

Learn more about Playground Builders or donate now on their website here.

Spring Break Play it Forward... the results are in and we are AMAZED!

Exciting news - we exceeded our goal of raising $500 for Playground Builders during Spring Break by a long shot!  Between March 15th and March 31st for every $75 spent by our customers, the Peekaboo Beans Playground donated $2 to our friends, Playground Builders.  

And with your help, we raised...  $3,128.  Happy Dance!!  A big kudos to all of you for Playing It Forward during spring break!  Here's a breakdown of the playground equipment the funds raised can be used towards.   

Super Beans - Jacob's Story

When we read the story of what Jacob and his family went through, we knew right away that he was a true Super Bean.  His spirit of play never stopped through his diagnosis of a brain tumor the size of a tennis ball.  He played hockey and soccer, and pushed through his symptoms everyday just to do what he loved doing.  The undiagnosed tumor was taking up a quarter of this six year olds brain causing severe headaches, which had been passed off as migraines by many experienced doctors.  He even had troubles pushing and lifting his right leg while playing hockey, depending on his stick for support; but nevertheless, Jacob kept playing!

Finally, after the whirlwind diagnosis, Jacob had to undergo an emergency surgery the following day to remove the tumor.  This is any parent’s worst nightmares come true.  Watching your child getting wheeled into brain surgery is not something that any parent, or child, should have to go through.

Over the next couple of days, a team of doctors and nurses monitored his progress and were given the positive news that the tumor was benign!  Even with this optimism, the recovery was still a windy road full of frustration, courage, tears, laughter, anger, but mostly determination.  There were days when Jacob could not walk and felt like he would never walk again, but once he made up his mind, he went for it.  He was rearing to go, so much where his first day of walking on his own two feet he took it upon himself to battle his father in a backyard water fight!

Jacob’s spirit of play was only growing in the following weeks.  He quickly returned to camping, sports, school, and of course, playing with family and friends.  Throughout the struggles Jacob had to go through, he had a special light that kept shining and kept inspiring.

This is a real life hero. This is one amazing Bean!