The Sisterhood of the Traveling Sling

In other Traveling Sling News....

2007-06-28T09:04:00.000-04:00

Read the ongoing saga of Mr. Chocco, who started his journey down under, and is currently touring the most scenic parts of the world!

Inka in Sun City

2007-01-24T10:00:00.000-05:00

INKA: Sun City hasn't been very sunny since I got here. It actually SNOWED, but fortunatly the weather was good the day of the meeting. This was El Paso's first NINO meeting. A lot of moms read about NINO in the paper and decided to come to the meeting. For some of them it was thier first time babywearing and most of them had never seen a wrap like me so after my introduction I just sat around with some other carriers on a table. I heard some people talking about maybe taking me on a short hike or to a park where we could see the mountains.

One new mom got help useing her pouch with her newborn. Thats what NINO meetings are for I guess. (You can see my friend Ulli watching, she lives with one of the NINO leaders here). A lot of people seemed to be getting help with thier carrier, or trying on other carriers they had never tried before.

Eventually I got to be wrapped up around a mom and one of her 15 month old twins. Normally she wears them both in thier own ring slings, one on each side. But today it was my turn. :)

Finally! I got to see El Paso's mountains at McKelligon Canyon.

Wrappin' in Windsor, Ontario, Canada

2006-12-15T20:08:00.000-05:00

November is here and I am receiving this awesome box! I ran to the door, flew it open and almost tear the box out of the post man's hands. He laughs at me "more fluffy?" He grins.
I open up the box and immediately my baby boy Jean-Paul grabs Inka and rubs it on his face. Love at first sight.
I received the package mid week, so I got to play with the wraps all by myself. It was wonderful!
When we first went to the NINO play group (everyone had heard all about it on the local web forum that they all hang out on.)
None of the children wished to be played with and wrapped up, so we thought to wait another week. The next week came and everyone was unwell, so we didn't get to play again.

Inka: exclaimed "Wow I got to surround myself around a two week old baby. YUMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEE." Julie, the mama of the hour, loved the feel of Inka.

NINO Blue- lamenting "Poor me, I am lonely."

Black Pepper-"Yes, me too. No one is playing with me."

Black Pepper-"The very next week everyone is at the play group. All of us are taken again from our cold box and several of the mommies touch us all over and talk about how we feel(no one asked US how we felt.) After much ado, everyone picked who they wanted to wrap themselves in. Tia picked NINO Blue.

NINO Blue-"Oh my this is wonderful. A warm body, and a wonderful friendly lady to touch and pet me! I have been so lonely. What is that wet I feel? OH MY! Her baby boy is tasting me and licking my edges. I must be more yummy than I thought."

Inka-"There is that little newborn again. I see her getting closer to me. Mama is going to nurse with me, keeping her precious bundle cozy in the very noisy room. Why are boys so noisy? Oh, pure bliss, it is such a joy to be draped lovingly over someone's shoulders."

Black Pepper-"Oh look, someone is touching me!! I could squeal with delight! Oh, she is new to wrapping, and is feeling a little hesitant. Oh look, she is getting help - YES! She catches on like she's done it for years. I feel SO comfortable, so secure! I am enjoying how I make a perfect back carry first time. Picture time!!"

Black Pepper-"Hey Inka, NINO, it's picture time...
Oh, would you come over to me...sigh. First I am shoved in a box with you and have to spend every minute with you. NOW you won't come near me? COME HERE FOR PICTURES!!! Oh, I guess I will have to pass on the picture, I am feeling sad, the play group is almost over and my baby has been fussy and not behaving for pictures. We are all being placed from one mama to another. I am loving being loved and cared for.
I hear one lady saying that it's ok, maybe someone will come over to her house this week and take pictures of me before we have to travel again......."

...So we are getting ready to travel again. I can just feel it. We are being checked over for any dirt and Inka is being spot cleaned where she was licked and tasted...

We have been placed in cold plastic bags, and we're being SAT on! I am SO indignant! I hear the nice lady telling her kids that if she sits on us while we are in plastic the air will go out.

Ok, do what you have to do.

Here we are in a package and sitting in a van waiting to be shipped to United States of America. The nice lady has included some post cards of what Windsor looks like. Such a nice friendly town.

Travelling Wraps arrive in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada!

2006-10-16T22:15:00.000-04:00

Nino Blue Jeans: Well we've finally arrived in the "Great White North!" Okay... maybe not so white - at this time of year but I am enjoying the cooler weather!

Black Pepper: I don't know about you - Nino... but I think Kentucky's warm weather is calling me back! I think I'll console myself by carrying this cute little baby!

Inka: I love it here at this time of year! All the beautiful maple leaves are turning shades of red and yellow! So delicious... kind of
like my colours! It's a shame that it's raining! I love being out doors!

Black Pepper: Well I certainly am enjoying the love we're getting from the mothers! It certainly is nice to get some use after our long journey here!

Nino Blue Jeans: Some of us get more love than others!

Inka: Well we've enjoyed getting to know everyone here! We're now headed to the south to see our friends in Windsor, Ontario! We're looking forward to getting to play with some mamas and babies there!
We're on our way - Diane!

Traveling wraps have traveled to Paducah, KY

2006-09-26T16:22:00.000-04:00

Inka: Woohoo! We made it to Paducah, KY!! I must say it was quite a trip. Being packed in a box with you two for a few days wasn't too bad but it's nice to be able to stretch out.

NINO Blue Jeans: I agree. You two are great company but I really enjoyed hanging out with all those adorable babies at the Western KY NINO meeting.

Black Pepper: While I didn't get a chance to get worn at the meeting, I did enjoy meeting some new friends, like Didymos and Hot Mama.

NINO Blue Jeans: The meeting was great. I got to carry 15 month old Colin in a back wrap cross carry. Let me tell you, Colin's mama, Danielle, made the whole thing look effortless. Of course, I think I had something to do with that also.

Inka: Oh, enough bragging out of you. It's my turn. I had fun helping Jill and 13 month old Nolan practice their back wrap cross carry also. Jill has been a little leery of doing them in public and without a mirror but having the use of my stripes helped her out a lot. She was able to distinguish which rail she was pulling on and now she's practically a pro.

Black Pepper: Since I didn't get to make the trip around Paducah, I'm eager to hear about it. I was sorry to miss out but I got to make a few grocery store trips with Nolan. It was his first time riding in a Bara Barn so I'm glad I got to experience that with him. I think he really enjoyed it. It wasn't 5 minutes before he was snuggled down and fast asleep.

Inka: Awww. I love it when we're able to put babies to sleep.

NINO Blue Jeans: Me too. When we were walking around the city, 15 month old Colin was on the verge of falling asleep but he fought it well.

Inka: Paducah is such a pretty town. I loved the view of the Ohio and Mississippi river. It was very serene and beautiful.

Black Pepper: Well, from what I saw from inside the van, I agree. The river area was pretty.

NINO Blue Jeans: My favorite place we visited was the flood wall murals. It had so many interesting pictures depicting the history of western Kentucky.

Inka: Not to mention, the colorful wall matched my stripes.

Black Pepper: (rolls eyes) Go on...

Inka: Ok, fine. I loved looking at the old historic steam engine!

NINO Blue Jeans: Oh, you only liked it because the black train showed off your bright colors.

Inka: Can I help it if I look great in all situations?

NINO Blue Jeans: Anyway, I had a lot of fun in Kentucky but I'm so eager to travel to Canada!

Black Pepper: Me too! I've never been out of the country before.

Inka: We better get some sleep now. I hear we're leaving really early in the morning. Goodbye, Kentucky!

Traveling Wraps in Pittsburgh!

2006-09-14T01:46:00.000-04:00

Setting: airport lounge. NINO Blue Jeans, Black Pepper and Inka are on their way to Kentucky, after a short and action-packed visit to the Steel City, Pittsburgh.

NINO Blue Jeans: Hey Inka! Quit trying to entice that baby over there with your rich, vibrant colors, and get over here! We want to debrief about our visit before we head on to Kentucky.

Inka: Sorry, I can't help it! My gold undertones are so luscious. Everyone says so. In fact, yesterday, at the Pittsburgh NINO meeting, I heard one mom say "I've never wanted to wrap before, but looking at that one" (meaning me, mind you) "makes me want to start after all!"

NINO Blue Jeans: Yeah, well, one of the moms that tried me on said how comfortable I was, and that she might have to get one just like me.

Black Pepper: Enough you two! Guess I have to play the straight one, eh? Why don't we talk about what we did this weekend?

NINO Blue Jeans: Fine, fine , fine. I have to say, I was pretty excited at the monthly NINO meeting yesterday -

Inka: - which was very well-attended, don't you think? They must have heard there would be a really pretty wrap there -

NINO Blue Jeans: (rolls eyes) right, right, whatever... I mean, I do agree that there were a nice number of babywearers there. Whether it was because of you or not... well, moving on. After the leader, Christy, talked for a while and everyone introduced themselves, I was quite excited when we got to the hands-on part, and I got to help a mom, Allison, with her first-ever rucksack carry of her 16-month-old
little boy, Emmitt.

Black Pepper: Emmitt looked quite cozy in there! Inka: He sure did. Likewise, I was pretty excited to be the first woven wrap used by mom Theresa with her 9-month-old daughter Lowenna. Did you hear her talking about how comfortable she felt? She was definitely converted to the wonders of wrapping.

NINO Blue Jeans: Yep, the fine moms of Pittsburgh were quite open to the cause.

Black Pepper: While you two were busy converting newbies, I hung out with slipknot expert Bridget and her 16-month-oldLizzie.

Inka: I'll admit it: that WAS an impressive slipknot. Bridget really made it look easy. But what about at our next stop, when we went to that breathtaking view of the Pittsburgh skyline, up on Mount Washington? Her next trick was even more
impressive.

NINO Blue Jeans: At first I wasn't sure what she was doing, but when I realized what she was up to, I was awestruck. Supermom Bridget pretied a front cross carry, put Sean on her back, and then popped Lizzie into the front cross carry in front. All this on a busy city overlook, with lots of tourists gawking! And never missed a beat.

Inka: It was quite a view. You could see Pittsburgh's three rivers off to one side, and then numerous bridges off to the other side. Black Pepper, why are you suddenly a little pale? Hey, Black Pepper, I see you eyeing up that toddler over there... stay focused, please!

Black Pepper: Who, me? I don't... know... what... oh, all right. I'm scared of heights. I'm glad that Heather and Taryn had me tied on so snug in a rebozo carry so I knew I wasn't going anywhere, but I did feel a little tense. And then our next stop was to visit a big dinosaur! Boy was I relieved when we got there and discovered that it wasn't a real dinosaur. But it truly was big,
especially next to Kristie and Christy. And Kristie had never used a rebozo before, so that was fun for me.

Inka: Black Pepper, you didn't really think the dinosaur would be real, did you? Did you miss the memo about dinosaurs being extinct? Of course with me around, no one is likely to notice a dinosaur, real or not, what with my colors to look at
-

NINO
Blue Jeans: Uh-huh. Well, they're certain to notice the towering Cathedral of Learning that we took a quick pass by next. And Inka, I'm sure you must have enjoyed the opportunity to be worn by a babywearing dad, Matt.

Inka: I did indeed! I look good on him.

NINO Blue Jeans: And Kristie raved about how comfortable it was to carry Seamus in a front wrap cross carry with me, her first long woven wrap.

Black Pepper: But let's get to the really fun part - riding the carousel!

NINO Blue Jeans: Yes, that was fun! There were a lot of strange animals on the carousel - whatever happened to good old horses, I don't know...

Inka: I thought it was fun to ride the giraffe. Seamus, thought so, too.

Black Pepper: All in all, it was a great trip! I think I can speak for all of us that we really enjoyed meeting the fine babywearers of Pittsburgh and seeing as many of the sights as we had time for. On to Kentucky!

Inka, Blue & Black Pepper: Back in Portland!

2006-08-21T16:02:00.000-04:00

After the Babywearing Conference, we didn't know where to go so we headed to Virgina for a quick stay and then we, Inka, Blue and myself, decided to visit with the mamas of Portland again.

The weather was still perfect when we arrived. We called the Portland NINO group to see if they could meet us for coffee. I think about 20 mamas and papas showed up to greet us! They were all so nice to meet! I did meet some of the mamas from the conference but most of them were for the first time. Oh the mamas and papas are friendly and so nice here.

After a little bit of talking, they all got up and swarmed the table where we were sitting with Mei Tai, Ring-o Sling, and "Pouch-y". They started touching us and some of us were given really big hugs from the mamas and papas, oh and the babies! There was only a couple of other wraps there, Inka's twin sister, who suprised all of us by being there, Easy Care, and I can't forget that Hot Mama herself, was there too.

You might be wondering, Why are there pictures of bellies on the wall?!?! The coffee shop had an artist's display there. There was so many pictures of belly buttons on the wall! We tried to take a picture of some of the mamas with their carriers showing a little belly but the camera's batteries died and no one else had a camera or batteries so we only have a few pictures of our time here.

After a wonderful time, Inka, Blue, and myself decided to hop a plane and head to Utah!

TTFN

Black Pepper

Off to the Big Apple!!

2006-07-20T00:22:00.000-04:00

Hi again, Black Pepper here!

Just a short note before I get packed away. I am off on a car ride from Delaware to New York City, U.S.A.!!! The New York City NINO Group Slings in the City is holding their First Annual Babywearing Bonanza at the NYC Public Library this Saturday and I get to go!! I am told I will get to meet my fellow traveling sling, Didymos NINO there, as well as MANY other carriers.

Imagine, a babywearing event in the heart of Manhattan! Maybe someday people will use "mainstream" and "babywearing" in the same sentence.

Didymos NINO and I will then get to travel together to Portland, Oregon for the Babywearing Conference 2006 in August!! Boy what a great summer!!

I will be sure to have lots of pictures taken of me. So, come back soon and learn about my travels and the great babywearing events going on on both the East and West coasts of the U.S.A.!!

Yours in Babywearing,
Black Pepper

Storch wrap, anyone?

2006-06-20T17:12:00.000-04:00

Here I am... a new storchenwiege Inka Wrap. Portugal is nice and sunny this time of the year, but I can't wait to go travel and carry babies from all over the world.

These are the mothers who came to say good-bye. One of these girls is actually not even a mother yet (in the pink dress - Sofia), but can you believe it? She stayed in Moçambique and learned "live" the benefits of babywearing, and is always helping to spread the news! In the photos you can also see baby Alex and Rafa.

Thanks Lidia, Sofia, Paulo, Cesar (taking the photo) and Zelia (butterfly) for being there with me in Lisbon, Portugal and for saying ciao. I still have no idea where I will go next so stay tuned and I will let you all know soon!

-Inka - making babies happy!

Marvelous Maryland, USA

2006-06-20T09:25:00.000-04:00

What a fun weekend! Hey, there I am, second from the left. I must be very comfortable, because baby Bell is fast asleep in there!!

I spent Saturday at the pavilion in Frederick Maryland, USA. The Birthing Circle event was so much fun. There was a walk to promote breastfeeding, lots of raffles and prizes, and even music. It was a very HOT day, but the people kept cool with lots of cold water.
I got to share the day with other wraps, ring slings, Mei Tai's, and even an Onbuhimo!

There were even dads carrying their babies around!! I love to get used by dads as well as moms, even grandparents and caregivers. It was so fun to see so many babywearing parents in one place.

There were parents and babies from the local NINO group there to see me and try me on. And some moms-to-be came to learn about their birthing options, and got to try on some carriers from the vendors who were there as well!

It's hard for me to understand, but some people actually like to carry their babies in carriers other than wraps!! If you want to learn more about different types of baby carriers, you can see information about me and others at The Babywearer.

Well, I'm told I have to go back into the stuffy plastic bag again now, ugh!! Karen tells me it will not be for too long, and when I get out again I will be at a new home with more babies to carry, yeah!!!
So long for now, come back to find out where I go next...
Keep on carrying,
Black Pepper

Out of the Box

2006-06-14T17:07:00.000-04:00

Finally I am Out of the Box!!

On July first I was folded, put into a plastic bag, and then a dark box. From the queasy feelings I have been having, I was either on a boat or plane for a long time. Today I stopped moving and all of a sudden I could see light!!

Oh, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Black Pepper. I am a Bara Barn knot shawl (otherwise known as a short wrap or Rebozo) from Sweden. I am black with a beautiful purple stripe running down one side, and I am 2.75 meters long (that is 9 feet for you Americans!).

I am told that I will get to travel the world, going to different babywearing and NINO groups to help promote the art of babywearing. What better life could a sling ask for, I was made to carry babies!! I feel so honored to be able to get to carry so many.

Karen (the nice lady who let me out of the box) says this weekend I will make my debut by traveling to Frederick, Maryland, USA to attend the Birthing Circle festival. I hope to see many other types of slings there too!! I snuck a quick carry in with baby Bell and her big brother Austin before going (they are so cute).

I hope you come back and read about my adventures in Maryland and all over the world, and maybe we will get to meet in person someday soon.

Keep on Babywearing,

Black Pepper

And so it begins!

2006-05-09T17:49:00.000-04:00

Welcome to our adventure! We have been brainstorming about how this is going to work for awhile and are ready to begin!

To start, we have NINO a Didymos sling (starting her travels in NYC), Inka a Storchenweige sling (making her debut in Portugal) and Black Pepper a Bara Barn sling (who will adventure to Maryland first), each donated by the manufacturer. They travel around the world to our local NINO babywearing meetings.

As each group gets one of the carriers, they will document the meeting here on the Sisterhood of the Traveling Sling BLOG. Each sling will also in some way be enhanced with a scrapbook for pictures, or travel bag for patches, so as to document the travels of the slings through the sisterhood.

If we get more carriers we may have them travel, or auction them off to raise money for NINO. Come back often to read of their adventures, and be sure to post your comments as well!!