Ampersand for Wunderkin Co (again!)

Our Ampersand x Wunderkin Co rainbow-themed collection was seriously a dream come true for us! As we were designing the patterns for this group (there are 5 - yay!), we kept thinking about where all these super special handmade bows would land and hoped they would put huge smiles on the faces of your little ones.

In addition to the 5 patterns we designed, Wunderkin Co offers SO MANY STYLES to choose from. From mini knots to oversized pinwheels and everything in between, they have the perfect option for your little lady!

Before the launch, our friends at Wunderkin Co asked us a few questions about the collection and we thought we'd share our answers with you too!

WHAT INSPIRED THE COLLECTION? WELL, THIS IS BASICALLY THE COLLECTION OF OUR COMBINED DREAMS. WE HAVE NEVER STOPPED OUR CHILDHOOD OBSESSIONS WITH RAINBOWS. WE'RE BOTH CHILDREN OF THE 80S AND EACH HAD A RAINBOW COLLECTION, RAINBOW BACKPACKS, SWIMSUITS, YOU NAME IT. WE'RE PROUD TO SAY THAT OUR OWN KIDS HAVE INHERITED OUR LOVE OF ALL THINGS COLORFUL SO THIS IS RIGHT UP THEIR ALLEY AS WELL.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BOW IN THE COLLECTION? OH GOSH. HOW CAN WE POSSIBLY CHOOSE?! IF PRESSED, CARRIE WOULD GO WITH THE JUMBO RAINBOW MINI PINWHEELS AND MORGAN WOULD CHOOSE THE RAINBOW STRIPE OVERSIZED PINWHEEL.

HOW WOULD YOU PERSONALLY STYLE THESE BOWS? MORGAN HAS BEEN FIGURING OUT HOW TO CONVINCE HER BOYS TO WEAR THEM AS BOW TIES WITH BOTTON DOWN SHIRTS AND CARRIE WOULD LOVE TO DO TWO LITTLE BUNS WITH THE MINI PINWHEELS FOR HER DAUGHTER.

WHAT THREE WORDS WOULD YOU USE TO DESCRIBE THIS COLLECTION? HAPPY, BOLD & COLORFUL

WHAT ARE A FEW ESSENTIAL PIECES IN YOUR KIDS' WARDROBE? FOR MORGAN'S TWO BOYS, HAIR ACCESSORIES ARE NOT AT THE TOP OF THEIR LIST BUT HER 7-YEAR-OLD IS OBSESSED WITH COLORFUL SOCKS (INCLUDING LOTS OF NEON) AND HER 3-YEAR-OLD LOVES TO ROCK ALL KINDS OF HATS. CARRIE'S DAUGHTER LIVES IN SUNDRESSES AND LITTLE BIKE SHORTS (GREAT FOR IMPROMPTU CARTWHEELING) ALONG WITH ALL DIFFERENT KINDS OF ADDED ACCESSORIES, FOR HER 7-YEAR-OLD, IT'S A COTTON TEE AND COMFY SHORTS ALONG WITH GLOW-IN-THE-DARK NATIVES. HER 17 MONTH OLD IS THE ONLY ONE WITHOUT AN OPINION ABOUT HIS OUTFITS SO HE MOSTLY GETS CUTE HAND-ME-DOWN OUTFITS FROM HIS BIG BROTHER. LUCKILY, ALL FIVE OF OUR KIDS LOVE WEARING THE T-SHIRTS WE'VE DESIGNED, AND THAT NEVER GETS OLD!

WHAT ARE SOME ADVENTURES YOU LOVE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS ON? WE BOTH LOVE TO GO TO THE KANSAS CITY ZOO AND SPEND HOURS WITH THE ANIMALS, TAKE A STROLL THROUGH THE NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART (LOVE TO GET THAT ART APPRECIATION STARTED YOUNG), AND THE LIBRARY AND LOCAL PARKS ARE ALSO FAVORITES.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART ABOUT MOTHERHOOD? CARRIE: WATCHING THEM BECOME THE PEOPLE THEY'RE MEANT TO BE. SOME PARTS OF THEIR PERSONALITIES HAVE BEEN OBVIOUS FROM THE START AND THEN OTHER THINGS COME ALONG AND SURPRISE ME. EVERY DAY IS EXCITING AS I SEE THEM MAKE DISCOVERIES AND FIND THEIR OWN PATHS, LITTLE BY LITTLE. I'M ALSO DELIGHTED TO SEE IN WHAT WAYS THEY'RE SIMILAR TO EACH OTHER AND HOW THEY'RE DIFFERENT. I LOVE THAT THEY ALSO CELEBRATE EACH OTHER AS THEY ACCOMPLISH SOMETHING OR TRY SOMETHING NEW (MOST DAYS).

MORGAN: THE WAY MY BOYS BRING SO MUCH LAUGHTER INTO OUR HOME AND OUR LIVES. THEY CAN SEE THE SILLINESS IN THINGS THAT I WOULD’VE OVERLOOKED. THEY HAVE SECRET JOKES TOGETHER THAT MAKE THEM GIGGLE. EVEN WHEN THEY ARE WRESTLING, THEY ARE CRACKING UP LAUGHING. SOMETIMES WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A HAD A LONG DAY AND ARE FEELING TIRED OR STRESSED, THE KIDS WILL DO SOMETHING AT THE DINNER TABLE THAT GETS US ALL IN HYSTERICS AND REMINDS US OF WHAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT. IT’S FUNNY HOW SOMETIMES THEY TEACH US JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE, THAN WE TEACH THEM!

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVORITE INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW? @TAZA FOR FUN FAMILY GOALS, @CATANDNAT FOR GREAT MOM HUMOR AND TRUTHS, @JENGOTCH FOR ALL THE GIRL BOSS REALITY, @AMBERINTERIORS FOR OUR HOME RENOVATION GOALS, @CUPOFJO FOR A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING

WHAT PROJECTS OR ADVENTURES ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS YEAR? WE'RE BOUNCING OFF THE WALLS WITH EXCITEMENT BECAUSE WE'RE ABOUT TO OPEN OUR FIRST TRUE RETAIL LOCATION IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. IT WILL BE A SMALL SHOP HERE IN KANSAS CITY AS A PART OF A LARGER MARKETPLACE OF AMAZING ARTISTS AND MAKERS. IT WILL BE LOCATED ON THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA (WHICH IS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PLACES TO SHOP), AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO EXPAND OUR PRODUCT OFFERING INTO MORE TEXTILES AND STATIONERY TO FILL OUR SHELVES! THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING ON OUR BUCKET LIST SINCE WE STARTED AMPERSAND SO IT FEELS LIKE A DREAM-COME-TRUE.

DO YOU HAVE AN IDEAL COLOR PALETTE IN WHICH YOU LIKE TO WORK? WE DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE A FAVORITE PALETTE, BUT WE DO TEND TO GRAVITATE TO A FEW FAVES HERE AND THERE. WE OFTEN LIKE TO MIX IT UP WITH SOME LESS SATURATED COLORS AND A FEW BRIGHTER ONES. WE ALSO LOVE TO THROW A GOOD PINK IN THERE FOR GOOD MEASURE. WE COULD REALLY CREATE PALETTES ALL DAY, EVERY DAY IF WE HAD THE CHANCE.