This Sunday, Mother’s Day, also marks the beginning of my 6 week countdown until my due date. It doesn’t feel like a *real* Mother’s Day for me since our baby isn’t even aware of who or what I am and our only interactions to date are morse code kicks and pokes and me trying to coax him off my bladder. But this experience of being pregnant has surely given new meaning to the holiday for me, and a new appreciate for the act of love that is carrying a baby for 9+ months. My grandmother did this 8 times. Eight! Times! Even though I’ve had a relatively easy pregnancy, a second time around is going to take some convincing. And I haven’t even gotten to the hardest part yet…Or then again, the most rewarding, so perhaps I should wait on that sentiment.

Anyway, this is just a quick note to say Happy Mother’s Day to all the Moms and Moms-to-be out there. You are ALL Mom Enough and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

First, I read this week that Pinterest has begun modifying links to products that people post to their ‘affiliates’ in order to get a cut of the transaction if someone ends up buying the product after finding it on Pinterest. I have a real problem with this if it means they are going to alter where the link goes from a small independent boutique to, say, Amazon. It’s unclear how much altering is going on since Pinterest has not disclosed this practice nor commented on it – par for the course considering their lack of response to the uproar over their terms. Remodelista does this in their marketplace, but they tell you, and it’s something I don’t have a problem with because it means it keeps their awesome website going. I know that it’s basically inevitable that if something is popular a way will be found to make money off it- it’s the lack of disclosure over this practice that I find to be a betrayal to the end user.

Secondly, and also related, is this week I was approached by a company called Hardpin, which I can find very little information about online beyond their vague website. They proposed a pretty straightforward cost per click system like many online ads, but on Pinterest. When I expressed surprise that I had seen no ads on Pinterest, they responded that the beauty of it was that NO ONE WILL KNOW you paid to be posted by one of their “influencers” with hundreds or thousands of followers. Now, I’ve worked in marketing and design for years, I have no real objection to advertising itself, my problem again lies with the fact that it’s not disclosed as an ad. It invalidates the entire democratic concept of Pinterest. And is that even legal? Promoted ads on Twitter have to be labeled, and even ads in magazines designed to look like an editorial have to be labeled as an advertisement. if I’m going to be sold to, I want to know about it. And it makes me suspicious of the content being posted by anyone on there with a huge following. Does it make the products they are posting any less cool, per say? No. But if I’m going to be helping you pay your bills by clicking or re-pinning your links, it only seems ethical that you’d let me know the motivations behind the pin. It stops being about love and starts being about money.

I’m just Grossed. Out. I feel like by ignoring the rights of the people who make their website work in the first place they are not only taking advantage but treating us like imbeciles. What we don’t know won’t hurt us, right? This issue is of course small in the current climate of no-accountability in the banking industry, congress and beyond, but it doesn’t make it any less wrong. I’m sick of being outright lied to, or being told half-truths, in the name of commerce. And if you actually made it this far, you get a gold star.

–Lisa

*Beyond the recent studio move, my husband (that’d be Ryan in customer service) and I are welcoming a baby boy to the world in June. Pregnancy has slowed me down a bit but you can still find me throwing and designing, it just takes an awful lot longer. Some of the less crucial details have hence slipped through the cracks, like blogging and saying hi on Twitter and Instagram. Now I just need to figure out how early we can get him behind the wheel to make this a truly family business. That’s a joke. I’m not really into child labor.

Today, the Pigeon Toe + Shanna Murray collaborations that had previously been limited-edition launch as an open-edition product. You can now purchase the Optimist Tumbler or the Good Together Vessels anytime, anywhere, without fear of them selling out.

(Pssst – new markdowns and sale items are now in the shop. Head to the sale section to check it out.)

But there’s even more good news! If you happen to miss your chance to purchase these cups on Friday, never fear. Shanna and I have decided to release this item (and the equally smile-inducing Optimist Tumbler) as an open edition, with NO CAP on the quantity available, beginning February 20th. We are moving studios at then end of the month and just need a few weeks to get settled before we open the floodgates. Never again will the feeling of missing out on these pieces befall anyone again!

And if that weren’t enough, I’m pleased to let everyone know that we are also working on a permanent holiday line for next Christmas season.

On February 1 we will say goodbye to our Morrison Street store/studio + settle into our new, expansive digs in North Portland (address below).

Our shop will temporarily be moving to appointment-only at that time.

In the meantime, help us make moving easier! We’re putting the majority of products in our online shop on sale (anything in stock, NOT made to order/pre-order items) so we have less to pack. Use code CLEANUSOUT for 30% off until Jan 25th.**

**Not valid on custom orders,  previous orders or our ceramics (which are made to order and therefore, don’t take up any space).

NEW ADDRESS : : 424 North Tillamook Street Portland, OR 97227

Meanwhile, I DO have some stock left of the lovely (and oh so tantalizingly scented) Faceted Votives we produced this season with Luminology. They make fabulous (and reusable) gifts and come in a pretty wood box all ready for giving. Find the set of 2 here, the set of 4 here, and the singles here.

As a side note, the last day to order in stock items from our site (pretty much everything except our made-to-order ceramics) and have them guaranteed to arrive by Christmas via ground delivery is the morning of December 16. After that date you may want to contact our wonderful shipping manager Elspeth to discuss expedited options, depending on how far-flung you are from Portland. Our last day shipping is December 21, after which we close for the holidays until December 28th – so if you opt for store pickup, please note that the 21st is the last day to do so. The deadline for made to order ceramics has come and gone, but we will try our very best to get whatever we can out the door for you on time anyways – depending on stock on hand. You can always head over to our Etsy page to see what ceramics we have in stock for immediate shipping. More information on all of this can be found here.

Happy Holidays to all,

Lisa + Everyone at Pigeon Toe

We launched these last weekend at the Sunday Best sale, and this coming weekend I will have them at my booth at the Portland Bazaar (hope to see you there!). Any remaining stock will be listed on my website for sale on Monday morning (Dec 12) 10 am PST for those far flung from Portland with nimble fingers. They will ship out right away in time for holiday delivery. Stock is limited, so apologies but we cannot hold any for you (in the interest of fairness).