Nancy Mills is the Creator of the Spirited Woman Approach to Life, the founder of Spirited Woman, and the publisher of the popular international Spirited Woman Blogger Team. Katy has been featured on her blog numerous times and her support has meant the world to The Leakey Collection.

Known for her inspirational insight and interview style, for many years Nancy moderated the Spirited Woman Circle, an exclusive conversation series with famous women authors, actresses, radio personalities, editors, and more. Presently, she speaks around the world on women’s empowerment issues from letting your voice be heard to her belief that EVERY WOMAN is a VISIONARY, changing the world one Spirited Woman step at a time.

Her recent project, The Spirited Woman Directory 2012, collectively brought together Women Visionaries from six countries and over 25 states, who are on a mission to change the world one Spirited Woman step at a time. The Directory is filled with inspirational stories and an array of uplifting resources. Our very own Spirited Woman, Katy Leakey was chosen to participate in the directory.

It is free for you to download.

In anticipation of the Directory’s launch, Spirited Woman hosted a 12-day Share Fest on their Facebook page  inviting women from around the world to share their creative visionary self. The inspiration shared was so powerful that it inspired us in designing a Zulugrass Collection for the Spirited Woman which will help Nancy attain her dream of getting her Spirited Woman Foundation   off the ground. 5% of sales will go to The Spirited Woman in establishing the foundation.

It is a custom to share strands of Zulugrass, and this Collection designed by Every Woman Visionaries in the spirit of sharing, encourage you to share a strand with a Spirited Woman you know.  Each color represents the different attributes spirited women share.  As Nancy would say “Is that creatively exciting or what?”

It was a stand-off between Eva and Mara.

Mara takes position

Mara Holds her ground

GAME OVER!

If you were to ask me what a Spirited Woman is, I would tell you that where I live they are the most elegant, self-confident, and beautiful women who live in ten foot long oval mud huts. It never seizes to amaze me how well put together these women are and how at home they are in the middle of the East African bush. I remember one punishingly hot day we went out to cut very coarse, thorny reeds and within an hour I was filthy, sweaty, and looking like something my cat would leave behind. By the end of the day I was covered in grime, tattered and torn, simply finished and my women companions were still chatting, laughing, their colorful dresses still perfectly pressed, not a smudge on their flawless faces. Such is the way of the majestic Maasai and these women have taught me more about life style than anyone ever could. Life style, like beauty, emanates from within in all of us. And I am proud to be part of the Spirited Woman Directory, surrounded by the Spirited women who inspire me and news ones I hope to someday meet.

-Katy Leakey

Tangerine Tango is the color of 2012, according to the Pantone Color Institute, and it is one of our favorites. A spirited reddish orange, you can feel the the energy it radiates and we have included it in our collection for 2012. Featured on “The Thread” Tangerine Tango is one of those fun colors you just might want to add to your Collection of Zulugrass!

Kristen is the mom of four children within four years via birth and adoption, and has been  a mommy blogger  at Rage Against the Minivan  since 2004.

Kristen is a Marriage and Family Therapist, a freelance writer, and a musical theater geek.  She is the managing editor of ShePosts, an online news magazine for women in social media, as well as the editor of Mama Manifesto, a collaborative parenting blog.    She is also a columnist at ConversantLife, an online community dedicated to faith and culture, and at the OC Register where she writes a parenting advice column.

Her savvy Gift Guide List for 2011 focuses on Gifts that Give Back. We were excited that she asked us to participate.