Behind the seams
Welcome to Behind the Seams where we celebrate entrepreneurship, art, design, nature, culture, and the thrill of discovery. Today, we share our story as co-founders of Timo & Violet.
We are Erin and Ronit. We were born with a curiosity and passion for nature and exploration. With our diverse backgrounds in technology, fashion, and entrepreneurship, we seamlessly blend our desire to innovate, passion for style, and zeal for discovering the world's beauty. Together, we bring a unique perspective to our children’s lifestyle brand
Surrounded by the natural beauty of Grace Farms in New Canaan, CT, we crafted the vision for Timo & Violet and completed our business plan. The inspirational art and design of the Timo & Violet brand spark adventure and play. The name “Timo & Violet” actually means to honor nature (Timo means “to honor” and Violet represents the familiar purple flower that connotes “strength.”)
Sustainability is at the core of everything we do. All our designs are made from the softest certified organic fibers, ensuring both comfort and eco-friendliness. Even our packaging is compostable and made from recycled materials, reflecting our commitment to reducing our environmental footprint.
Each piece in our collection features handcrafted watercolor artwork, created exclusively for Timo & Violet. Drawing from nature's diversity and beauty, our aim is to respect and protect the world around us. With every order placed, we plant a tree, laying down roots for generations to come.
Follow us as we share our adventures, creative processes, and the stories behind our products and collaborations. We aim to inspire our readers and dreamers to follow their business aspirations and embark on their own journeys of discovery.
Join the Timo & Violet community where we will create a caravan of stories that reflect our passion to wonder and wander. Each journal entry will include profiles of some of our creative friends from around the globe, our top picks on places to stay, shop and dine, along with under-the-radar experiences and glimpses of our lives as mothers and founders.
The Art of Gifting with Joy
Years ago, I embarked on a quest for a beautiful baby gift for a dear friend and colleague. I was immersed in my career at the time, consulting for various fashion brands, so my go-to was online shopping. It was even what I was doing at the time—helping brands launch e-com sites—so I didn’t think it would be challenging to be the customer this time. And yet… it was.
I was looking for a gift that was useful and exquisitely made, and I wanted it also to be joyful and pretty. As a lover of color and artful prints, I was hoping to find a blanket so beautiful that my friend would carry it with her everywhere she went, along with a soft, comforting playsuit that could one day become a keepsake. Being a baby gift, organic fabric was also important. And yet I had no idea then how difficult it was to find textiles that were both organic and unique. Generally, they were white or beige, aptly dubbed “the sad beige” by the Wall Street Journal.
When I couldn’t find what I was looking for, I pivoted and found a few different items on a popular children’s online marketplace. I ordered a knit playsuit, a cashmere bonnet, and a snuggly pair of socks. I was feeling pretty good about this gift, anticipating what my friend might feel when she unwrapped it and felt the softness of the hat and saw the absolute cuteness of those tiny socks in the palm of her hand.
Unfortunately, she didn’t have that experience.
Roughly ten days later, I received a thank you note (gah - I forgot to tell her “no notes necessary”!) that read more or less, “Dear Ro, Thank you for the adorable socks for Kaia. I can’t wait to put them on her.” I couldn’t believe she received only the socks and thought that was all I was sending her.
Please don’t get me wrong: great baby gifts come in all shapes, sizes and price points (I feel pretty good about our own gorgeous $24 “perfect” bib). But this friend, whose desk was next to mine and was witness to my online shopping, would have been surprised if that was all I was giving her. Guilty as charged!
At the time, online marketplaces fulfilled orders with dropship partners, meaning unless you purchase all items from one single brand, you receive different items, in different packages, at different times. The vision of one single, beautifully wrapped gift—certainly my vision at the time—is not possible.
Fast forward a couple years after this incident, when my co-founder, Erin, had her third son, Timo. That’s when the idea for Timo & Violet was born. I’ll let her share her side of the story in the next post, but for me, it was all about solving the problem of gift-giving.
Today, I’m proud that Timo & Violet offers a curated selection of baby gifts that embody luxury, beauty and thoughtful design. And just as important, we provide a seamless end-to-end experience for our customers, wrapping every gift—whether a single bib or multiple items—in our signature gift box and ribbon, with a handwritten enclosure card.
From our handpainted Tropical Chinoiserie shawl blanket to monogrammed robes, rompers, burp cloths and other necessities that add a touch of individuality, Timo & Violet's gifts are more than just objects; they are expressions of love, care, and impeccable taste.
Here's to the joy of finding, giving and relishing in the perfect gift.
💜💜💜Ronit
Aurélie
Aurélie Baudry Palmer is a French artist based in London, UK. After a career in academia and the museum sector, Aurelie set up her studio in 2018. Her warm and whimsical illustrations are painted by hand, using ink and watercolour. With a keen eye for observation, many of her paintings capture the joy and poetry of everyday life. Continuously inspired by her love for the arts, architecture as well as the natural world, Aurélie translates her observations in light-hearted and delicate drawings. She has designed collections for stationery products, luxury hotel groups and has collaborated with various brands and institutions in the UK, France and USA. Most recently, Aurélie designed and illustrated the 2022 Westminster Abbey Christmas Carol invitation for HRH The Princess of Wales. Her illustrations have been used in branding, pattern design and editorial and can be seen @homedrawn21
Tropical Chinoiserie: In The Artist's Words...
The inspiration for this illustration comes from our love for the natural world and its incredible beauty. To conjure up this sense of wonder, we thought of revisiting the delicate and evocative 'Chinoiserie' landscapes that were so fashionable in interior decor in Europe from the 17th century. Whilst incorporating some key features of these beautiful oriental designs, I reinterpreted them in a fun and lighthearted way. I kept some of the codes of the Chinoiseries with their birds, peacocks, ornate foliage and really wanted to convey a sense of life and richness to the scene as the eye wanders from one detail to the next. The idea was to depict a world bringing in deep colours as well as whimsical but elegant designs, something a little bit different from the motifs and pastel palette often used in baby clothes and accessories.
Under the Sea: In The Artist's Words...
This illustration was born out of a desire to capture another element of the natural world and dive into our blue planet's oceans. We wanted to keep this marine reef really calming and soothing and to that effect chose a beautiful palette of blues and greens with just a hint of deep Burnt Sienna. The fish play hide and seek amongst the kelp and the corals. No two details are the same and are painted in such a way that they can capture the eye and imagination of a child. It's an invitation to storytelling and exploration.
