JESSICA PEDERSEN FROM BABYNELL

Please meet Jessica Pedersen – talented mother of 5 (!) from Minnesota, owner of BabyNell boutique (www.etsy.com/shop/BabyNell) and a very sweet person who was so fun to collaborate with! Leonardo has been wearing Jessica’s designs since he was little – they are comfy and stylish, and not like everyone else’s. Her trademark clouds romper has been our favorite, and now Leo’s lovie, hand-made doll Tutsi, is wearing it too. It was only natural that Dreaming of Leonardo and BabyNell teamed up to produce a limited edition of clothing made exclusively for DOL shop. Our first “baby”, Kandinsky onesie, has launched the DOL collection. As Humphrey Bogart once said in the famous Casablanca movie: “I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

– How did you start your business? What was the idea behind it?
I started my business a few years ago as a hobby. I loved the idea of being able to create something totally unique from everything else. When I first started sewing, I never dreamed I would be selling my garments, but as time went on, and I got better and better, my husband (Tim) encouraged me to open up a shop! Tim was in school at the time and we had 5 children, so opening a shop was a scary yet exciting endeavor. As time has gone on, my shop has started to grow, and designing sweet little outfits and sewing has turned into my passion.

– What’s your moving force in life?
My moving force in life is my faith and my family. I believe in a strong God who has blessed our family in so many ways and given us the strength to get through the hard times. Our God comes first in all things and keeps me humble. Also, my family is what keeps me going. No matter what the circumstances, they always love and support me. From my oldest child’s silly (bad) 🙂 little jokes to my baby’s sweet giggles, and my husband by my side, I have so much to live for.

– How would you describe your aesthetics?
My aesthetics for my brand has shifted from what I thought would sell, which was a more boutique look with ruffles, but as time went on, I found my true passion for style is a more modern look. I like clean lines and a minimalist look, but with pops of color! I love black and white, but I also love bold colors. I try to take current trends and put my own twist on them to make them a little bit unique.

– What is the most challenging in being a parent?
The most challenging part of being a parent would have to be that I always feel like I’m doing it wrong! Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook and I’m always scared I’m screwing it up somehow. Especially with everything in the media these days about how we should or shouldn’t parent our children. It gets overwhelming!! I have learned though that no matter what you do, if you love your children then you are the best parent for them.

I would have to say the most challenging part of being a parent is when the children test the boundaries. You have this idea in your mind of how they should behave and what they should or shouldn’t do, but when they start to become independent and have their own ideas, there can be friction. As a parent all you can do is teach them with love the reasons why we do things the way we do, and let the rest follow. Punishing the children is also challenging because there are so many different opinions on how it should be done. I believe that whatever form of punishment you use, if you are doing it to teach them how to grow into a responsible adult and because you love them, then they will thank you for it when they are older.

– What is the most rewarding in being a parent?
The most rewarding part of being a parent is a whole lot of things!!! One in particular for me is when I catch my kids being polite and respectful to others. It makes me feel like maybe I’m doing something right!! 🙂 Another is when no matter how terrible of a day it has been or how mean I feel that I have been to the kids, they always have such a forgiving heart and are quick to forgive their momma and truly forget the monster I was a few minutes ago! They wrap their little arms around me and say ” I love you mom, you’re the best.” There is no better feeling in the world. That unconditional love!

– One must-have baby item you can recommend?
The one baby item that I have always packed in my hospital bag, which has been 5 times, is a muslin swaddle blanket. They are thin and lightweight, airy, and so cozy. They only get more soft and worn in with every wash!! I love them!

– Your favorite childhood memory?
One of my favorite childhood memories is when I was 13 years old. I was having a bad day at school and was in that awkward stage in life where I didn’t know if I was a teenager or still a little kid. I was full of hormones and emotional and didn’t really know what I was feeling. My dad came home from work and noticed that I was sad. Without saying anything about where we were going, he told me to get in the car. He took me to the local Perkins restaurant and told me we were on a father-daughter date! We just ate and talked about random things, but to me it was so special. I grew up with 8 kids in our family so time alone with dad was a very special thing. I never felt so loved!