when imagination takes flight

When we designed our Companion Blanket, we envisioned many uses: the blanket draping over a baby in her car seat, the blanket laying on the floor as a little guy practices rolling over, the blanket snuggling a toddler at night.

But we never envisioned a cape.  That credit goes to Kellen, an adventurous little boy who is dearly loved by his talented mother Noel.

We couldn’t have been happier to see Kellen take our Companion Blanket to new heights.  Yes, we now offer capes too :).

Kellen’s adventures remind us of our own kids.  Their new favorite game is rowing to Buck’s Harbor in their boats.  In the classic children’s book “One Morning in Maine,” Buck’s Harbor is the town where Sal, her little sister Jane, and their father go to pick up groceries, repair their boat’s outboard motor, and enjoy ice cream.

Now, our kids don’t have boats.  They have white woven baskets that usually hold their stuffed animals and other toys.  When they need to hop in the “boat” to go to Buck’s Harbor, they empty the woven baskets, hop in, and start rowing.  Somehow, this game entertains them for long stretches.  

As parents, we are tempted to buy play boats, capes, and every other toy that could possibly spark their imaginations.  But sometimes, if we over-indulge, then we leave nothing left to be imagined.  

Don’t get us wrong — our children do not live spartan lives.  They have plenty of toys to play with (more than plenty actually).  But we do feel tension as parents between too much and too little.  

But, in the end, isn’t imagination and creativity and joy what we all hope for?  The kind of imagination displayed by Super Kellen flying with his cape and by our kids rowing to Buck’s Harbor to get ice cream.

So thanks, Kellen, for showing us how you adventure.  We are humbled and excited to be a part of your flight.

for love of a real book

We appreciate technology.

We love the fact that we can work from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.  Everything is everywhere in the ever present Cloud.  Our office is anywhere we can imagine, ready to open on our laptops and phones.

But sometimes it's just nice to read a good old-fashioned book.  There’s something comforting about the feel and smell of a real book in hand.  You can get lost in words and paper without the infinite distractions of a screen. A sense of calm and quiet wash over. 

Best of all, books never freeze, never need to update, never fail to download.  They are always there, waiting to be read, with a bookmark ready to continue the journey.

I know the time may come when all information will be digital, and when people will think of libraries and bookshops with a nostalgic smile to a time gone by.

But in the meantime, we're going to cherish our books. We won't let them go.  They will always be there, ready to carry us away.

And we're pretty glad our kiddos are getting lost with us. 

Time to read.

Letting the ordinary be extraordinary

You know what’s tough to do as a parent?  Letting the ordinary be extraordinary.

When our children are born, we become shepherds of their lives, subtly and not-so-subtly directing them to the lands of our hopes and dreams.  It’s a tremendous gift for us and our children.

But the new job comes with pressure.  A lot of it.  Even before birth, we begin to put pressure on ourselves to create an optimal environment that sparks our children’s imaginations, fills them with love and curiosity, and promotes their wellbeing.  

These are all things that we desperately want to do.  And so we ask ourselves constantly, “are we doing enough?  Are we doing this right?  Should we be doing more?  Should we be doing less?”  We find no perfect answers, just more questions.

At times, our quest for the extraordinary saps our energy, shakes our confidence, and threatens the joy of parenthood. 

But we shouldn’t be so hard on ourselves.  We are enough.  We don’t always have to be extraordinary, offer the extraordinary, and demand the extraordinary.  Oftentimes, all we really need is to trust the ordinary.

In the picture above, our kids and their Daddy are “camping” underneath a blanket in our bed. Our kids’ imaginations run wild.  Sometimes they’re snuggling to stay warm as a storm passes outside; other times they hear birds chirping outside the tent.  And sometimes Daddy just tickles everyone because it’s fun!

A few weeks back, we went on our first real camping excursion, not just the make-believe version.  In the foothills of Colorado, we pitched a tent, set up four sleeping pads and bags, and prepared two meals — all with two little campers running around the campground.  

We had a lot of fun, but it took a lot of effort to pack up the family for a night in the woods.  Too much effort to duplicate every weekend or even every month.  It was our Super Mommy and Daddy moment.  We were proud of ourselves and our kids.

But we can’t always be superheroes.  It’s not sustainable.  Sometimes we just have to be ordinary.

And you know what’s amazing?  Incredible love, laughter, and growth come from the ordinary.

Honestly, our kids have as much fun “camping” under a blanket on our bed as they do in a tent under the stars.  We’ll keep doing both because, let’s face it, nothing quite captures the grandeur of nature like nature itself.  

Well, except for maybe the imagination of a child.  In their little creative minds, the ordinary transforms itself into the extraordinary. 

So let's allow our children to shepherd us sometimes, and we might just find ourselves in a dreamland too.

Merino Wool: Nature's any-and-every-adventure fabric

We humans are inventors.  But not all manmade inventions improve upon nature.  We like to think that nature got a lot of things right the first time.

Like merino fiber.  It’s nature’s any-and-every-adventure fabric — it keeps you warm in the cold, cool in the heat, fights odor, and wicks away moisture.  Oh, and it’s really super soft.  Thank you, dear Mother Nature.

But in today’s manmade world, manufactured fibers account for the majority of all fiber consumed — or, worn — in the United States.    What’s a manmade fiber?  Polyester, for one, which is made from petroleum.

Environmentally responsible manufacturers will recycle plastic soda bottles (which are, of course, petroleum-based) to make synthetic fibers.  In general, 25 bottles make one garment.  So next time you take a swig from a plastic water bottle, you’ll know that it may become the sleeve of your child’s fleece next time you see it.

We applaud responsible manufacturers that use recycled plastic to create manmade fabrics.  But we believe that there is a better alternative to plastic (recycled or not): merino wool.

For one thing, wool is a natural fiber, which means that it won’t last for centuries like all the plastic floating in our oceans.  It breaks down over time, returning to the Earth.  

Polyester doesn’t break down.  It lasts and lasts and lasts — a long time beyond its expiration.  As Outside Magazine revealed, “washing a single polyester jacket can send 1,900 tiny synthetic micro-fibers into waterways, where they can soak up toxins and get eaten by fish.”  Outside Magazine, “Plastics: Fleeced” (August 2015).

We believe in wool.  It’s the original any-and-every-adventure fabric.  You can wear it, wash it, and love it without reserve.  And to boot, it carries nature’s adventurous spirit.

Nature has a way of providing if we let her.  So let her provide.

Beautiful Simplicity

Bruce Lee, martial arts guru, actor, and former baby, once said: “One does not accumulate but eliminate.  It is not daily increase but daily decrease.  The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.”

We agree, which is why we keep things simple at Chasing Windmills.  No overworked garments; no synthetic blends; no unnecessary bells and whistles.  We aim to provide beautiful simplicity.

Take our little romper.  It’s a one-piece coverall, complete with footies that can double as built-in socks, fold-over mitts for little hands, an easy zip, and 100% merino wool.  It’s simple and that’s why we love it.

We figured you would appreciate its beautiful simplicity as well.  As parents of twins, we know first-hand how much gear we accumulate for our little ones — strollers, carriers, rattles, activity centers, and the list goes on and on.  

Sometimes it feels good to take a deep breath and simplify.  It’s why a sense of calm washes over you when your child plays with, say, a wooden camera from The Twig Co.

It’s timeless, pure, and comforting.   Kind of like merino wool.

Camping

We admit it. Sometimes we like the idea of camping more than the actual camping. Bugs, rain, unnerving nighttime noises from critters in the surrounding woods…it can be a trying experience. But there’s something uplifting about adapting to a new environment and venturing away from the comforts of home.

There’s something special about rising with the sun, stepping out into a serene meadow, and seeing your kids flash their proud smiles for weathering a night in a tent under the stars.

These two have pushed us out of our comfort zones from the moment they were born. So it’s only fitting that they inspired us to take our first family camping trip in the foothills of Colorado. And although their @hazelvillage friends (Lucy Owl and Oliver Mouse) were the only ones who slept well, we were all smiles in the morning.

We might just be a family of campers.

What does "Chasing Windmills" mean?

We’re sometimes asked, “what does Chasing Windmills mean?”  In short, it’s a journey with an open heart.

It’s about chasing an ideal bigger than yourself; it’s about remaining an optimist even in the face of cynicism; it’s about striving to live up to heroic visions of what we can be, what our children can be, and what our world can be.

Chasing your personal windmill isn’t easy.  It takes a belief in impossible dreams and the will to enjoy life’s journey, whatever comes your way.  

But, if you can hold onto a sense of wonder, then you’re on the right track.  If you believe that the universe is friendly, you’ve got a chance.

We are all chasing windmills, every day.  To quote Sarah’s Dad:

"I like to read biography not because I worship the person, nor that I want to seek him [or her] as my model for my life, but because it offers a sense of inspiration to see men and women trying to live up to their ideals, struggling through crisis and remaining steadfast in tribulation.  Sometimes they come out triumphant, yet sometimes not too well.  But the outcome is not essential; instead, it is the courage and the process of struggle which induce inspiration and give the feeling that we are not alone in this world.”

And so, Chasing Windmills is part of our biography.  It’s deeply personal to us, as is your decision to share the natural goodness of merino wool with your little one.  You have welcomed us into your home — made us a part of your biography — and for that we are forever grateful.

Here’s to your biography, your chase, and the windmills that await.

Our Kids Make Us Think

Like many families, we have two trash cans: one for trash that goes to the landfill and another for trash that gets recycled.

So, the other day, our little girl threw her wrapper from a bean snack into the recycling.  I told her, “That goes into the trash.”  She looked at me and said, “No, recycling.  Make a new bean snack.”

I didn’t have the heart to tell her that the wrapper was not recyclable, so I discretely moved it into the trash when she wasn’t looking.

Having kids makes you think. 

Makes you think about your place in the world.

Makes you think about the values you act upon.

Makes you think about little things like whether a wrapper from a bean snack is recyclable.

So, you can credit our kids for our minimalist packaging approach at Chasing Windmills.  They made us think.  We’re not perfect, but we’re trying.

Take our crib sheet box.  It’s made from lightweight 100% post-consumer fiber, sized perfectly to fit just one crib sheet.  We also think it’s pretty darn cute too!  And, rest assured if your little one asks you, you can recycle it- again.

Take our poly mailer (the industry lingo for our lightweight mailer).  It’s made from 100% recycled content, all post-consumer material.   And, once again, your little one will be happy to know that it’s re-recyclable too.

Take our cotton ribbon that wraps up our swaddles and companion blankets.  It’s approximately two feet of premium Italian cotton ribbon, equal parts timeless beauty and simplicity.  We didn’t skimp on the ribbon quality because it too can have a second life — perhaps as a hair tie for Mom.

You see, we owe a big thanks to our kids for making us think.  

Let us know what you and your kids think.  We’re listening…

Explore Days

I love my explore days.

What’s an explore day?  Once a week or so, I take a morning, afternoon, or an entire day away from my usual Monday through Friday routine.  It’s not so much an escape from my day-to-day but rather a rejuvenation.

We work, live, and play in Denver, Colorado.  Within 45 minutes of our home, we can hike the Flatirons of Boulder, explore the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, or find peace in the rolling hills of pristine ranch land.  Within 1.5 to 6 hours?  We’re square in the heart of the Rocky and San Juan mountain ranges.

In short, there’s a lot to see and do.  But we need to take the time.

Hence, our explore days.  It’s a time to get lost, if only for a few hours.  It’s a time to reset our internal compasses.  It’s a time to cut out the hum of day-to-day life.  It’s a time to think, reflect, and just be.

It’s also where a lot of our design ideas, blog posts, and creative impulses are unearthed.  It’s not so much that we force a thought — “I need a good blog post about merino wool’s greatness today” — as we let thoughts wash over us.

Don’t get us wrong.  We spend plenty of time sitting in front of a laptop.  But we can’t depend on a computer to give us an original idea.

For those, we need to explore.  It’s amazing what occurs to you when your mind is set free.

We’ll keep exploring.  Hopefully we’ll see you on the trail too.

Yes

Kids are explorers.  From their very first moments on Earth, they explore.

They start small, exploring the crevices of their toes, the little lines on their hands, the smooth cheeks of Mommy and the rougher stubble on Daddy’s face.

With surprising speed, their exploration broadens — to the wooden knot in hardwood floor, the curious objects dangled overhead by a loving big sister.  

And soon, they’re moving.  Rocking and rolling over onto their tummies; squirming to crawl; and finally taking those first unsteady steps.

Everyday is exploration — of themselves, their family, and their environment.

Exploration starts with a powerful impulse: to say “yes” to new experiences with enthusiasm and free of hesitation.

The impulse to say “yes” persists throughout childhood.  When we ask our kids if they’d like to, say, go to Santa Fe with us, they say, “yes!”  They have no idea what Santa Fe is, but it’s something new and that’s good enough for them.

Over time, we adults start saying “no” or “maybe” with increasing frequency.  We explore less, keeping our worlds smaller and more insular.

Let’s expand our bubbles.  Let’s be explorers again.  Let’s say “yes” to new experiences.

Let us explore, dream, and discover too.

Our Story: The Co-Founders of Chasing Windmills

You could say that the story of Chasing Windmills began when we were 18.  We met at Bowdoin College in Maine, two young idealistic kids with creative impulses and socially minded goals. 

Breathing the fresh Maine air for four years really makes one appreciate the goodness of the outdoors.   And with JP’s Colorado childhood spent in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains, we’ve always had a deep appreciation for the awesome beauty of Mother Nature.  So it might seem like it has been a clear path for us in creating a merino wool apparel line. 

But before we set out to capture the adventurous spirit of childhood through the natural goodness of merino wool, we went on a journey.  We’d love to say that our journey led us past the sea cliffs of the Faroe Islands or through the Chilean peaks and valleys of Patagonia.  

Those journeys still await us.  The journey we’re talking about was much more modest.  It includes missteps, grasping for answers, and learning our way to be freely us.

You see, we stumbled upon merino wool almost by accident.  At a time when we both held corporate gigs, Sarah gave JP an orange merino wool t-shirt.  

On weekdays, JP wore a suit and tie to work.  On weekends, he wore his orange t-shirt.  He felt at home, at ease, and at peace in merino.  Whether hiking in the mountains or running errands around town, JP just felt better wearing the natural merino fiber.

At a time when JP was falling in love with his merino weekends, Sarah was turning to the art of photography.  Soon it was time for Sarah to bid farewell to her corporate gig and seek a new path with her camera.

Inspired by Sarah’s creative leap, JP knew that his weekdays wearing a suit and tie were numbered.  Everyday would be a merino wool day soon enough.  It was just a matter of when.

The “when” became clear on a perfect November night when we welcomed twins into our lives.  We knew that merino wool would be the perfect natural fabric for our precious babies because nothing else feels so soft, wicks away moisture, regulates body temperature, and resists odor quite like it. 

Enter Chasing Windmills, our dream of bringing the natural goodness of merino wool to precious little ones far and near.  Mother Nature knows best, and so we trust her.

Our journey helped us create Chasing Windmills. “Explore, Dream, Discover” is not just a corporate tagline for us.  It’s the embodiment of our story, our journey, our joy in sharing this adventurous spirit.

This is only the beginning of our journey.  We are grateful to take the next steps with you.

Our family: Sarah, JP, and kiddos. (Photograph by Jonathan Canlas)

Philip Rive, Merino Rancher

He possesses quick wit, a mischievous smile that he freely shares with his wife Kate, and a knack for storytelling.  His name is Philip Rive, manager of the Cecil Peak merino ranch outside of Queenstown, New Zealand.

Although a lifetime of farming shows in his sun-baked skin, he still exudes a boyish charm.  Perhaps that charm springs from a life well-lived in one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  Rolling mountainside meadows, majestic merino sheep, and bubbling brooks and slender waterfalls speckle the land as if stroked by an artist’s paintbrush.  This is home, always has been home, for Philip.

On a drive deep into Cecil Peak, he captures you with longing eyes surveying the land, much the same way that you look at a photo album, memories washing over you.  He hooks you with a story’s opening line, in his Kiwi accent, “When I was a wee boy…,” and then he takes you away.

Away to a childhood exploring this mountainous ranch land by pony with friends.  A vivid picture emerges of an 8-year-old Philip Rive on horseback with that same mischievous smile and boyish charm.  

You see him as the Kiwi Tom Sawyer, breaking into a hunting cabin miles from home with his friends and feasting on rations stored by his and his friends' fathers.  Young Philip and his friends, in that moment, don’t ponder the consequences of their pilfering.  Instead, the boys share the rations, basking in friendship, exploration, and the unmistakable bond forged by adventure.

That boy who explored the mountainous ranch land by pony is now a merino rancher himself, overseeing Cecil Peak Station for almost two decades.  The land nurtured him as a boy and, as a man, he now repays the favor.  Although aged by sun and seasons, Philip remains the quintessential adventurous boy at heart. 

You see, Philip Rive is not just a rancher.  He is a guardian of hallowed land — land that nourished his soul, imagination, and sense of adventure as a boy.  

Philip, the land, and the merino sheep have grown together.  The Cecil Peak merino sheep are not mere commodities.  Instead, they represent a way of life or, better yet, a way of living.

So, when people ask me, “where does merino wool come from?”, my answer is that it comes from people like Philip: a purveyor of land, of sheep, of living a life with deep roots and purpose.  It comes from a rancher who grew up without losing the best of his childhood.