What's in a name?

In the early 90’s, my husband and I traveled to Israel, where I met a lovely lady name Lira. We were exchanging information about our family when she asked “and what does your daughter’s name mean?” I told I really didn’t know, I had never really thought about it. She was aghast. In her culture, great care is given to name a new baby. The name’s meaning is most important as it will become part of who this person will become.

Huh, I just thought “Stefanie” was cute.

Since then, however, I have been interested in the meanings of names. One of ideas for screen printing at Rubi J’s has been suggesting instead of just the name printed on an onesie or t-shirt; also put the origin and the meaning. That’s now our most popular screen printing we do for baby gifts.

I’ve had more common names like:
MICHAEL
Origin: Hebrew
“Who is like God”

Or an unusual name like:
SHAYNAH
Origin: Yiddish
“Beautiful”

I’ve had one grandmother order 8 t-shirts in different colors with the same name/meaning on it for her first grandchild. (We grandparents are like that.)

I do my research and then have it preapproved before making the print. There has only been one time it wasn’t accepted. My friend wanted this done for her little grandnephew’s first birthday. The only meaning I could find for Brock was “Badger”. The aunt didn’t want the mother to think she thought little Brock looked like a badger; and since the parents didn’t attend the University of Wisconsin, we drop the name/meaning thing and went with the look of a football jersey.

One of the prettiest ones I did was:
MARISA
Origin: Latin
“Of the sea”
Doesn’t the name Marisa flow like water? Perfect.

By the way, the name Stefanie means “crowned one”. Very appropriate.

Organic Cotton

Rubi J's first line of clothing will feature organic cotton pieces for babies and toddlers. Why organic?

• Conventionally grown cotton is the 2nd most pesticide-laden crop in the world; after corn.
• Conventionally grown cotton consumes 25% of insecticides and more than 10% of pesticides used worldwide.
• Organic cotton is grown in soil that has been certified from pesticides, herbicides and other cytotoxins for at least three years.
• Organic farming uses 50% less fossil fuels than conventional farming.
• Certified organic cotton farming also prohibits use of genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, toxic and persistent synthetic pesticides and fertilizers.
• As a baby's skin has a natural sensitivity and an undeveloped derma, the health risk is especially high.
  

Those are some of the reasons we have decided to offer only organic cotton in our baby line. We have set our standards high. We have been researching and researching; and then researching some more. Therefore, when we open our online store, we will be offering only onesies at first. We found a company that meets our criteria: Certified organic cotton using only low impact dyes (azo-free).

The colors are vibrant and we will be offering custom printing: "Future fireman", "I have my father's eyes", "Grandma's favorite", etc.....

We are avid readers and realize how books can inspire (Books saved my life). We will have some onesies with "reading to your child" references imprinted on them. We will be donating part of the sales from those to a very special charity. More on that charity later.

Stef & Sandy