Ever notice how much harder it is to get things done when you have a baby?!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
The tortoise vs. the hare
I'm definitely the tortoise in this analogy. Slow and steady. A shop banner is being designed for me and I'm waiting for my business card design as well. Working on cutting out/pinning/pressing some pieces. Hoping to have my initial shop inventory completed by February 1st. Once all the graphics are done the business cards delivered, I'm good to go!
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Shop progress
Slowly, but surely, things are starting to progress as I get ready to open my Etsy shop. I have Shanice from SimpleeStated Designs working on my banner/avatar, etc and I can't wait to see what she comes up with. Check out her work at my other blog and Etsy shop. She does such fabulous work!
Meantime, I've been taking an inventory of my current fabric and deciding which fabric should become which creation! When I opened my previous Etsy shop I did so in a somewhat haphazard and disorganized way, due to the excitement of actually selling my work eclipsing the ever so important preparatory phase! This time, I have vowed to slloooww down and do things right. This week I will press, cut and pin all the fabric I currently have. Sewing starts this weekend, and when my fabulous new Amy Butler prints arrive (ordered on Etsy, of course!) I will get to work on those pieces as well!
My goal is to have both my shops open February 1st. I think I can do it - finger's crossed!
Meantime, I've been taking an inventory of my current fabric and deciding which fabric should become which creation! When I opened my previous Etsy shop I did so in a somewhat haphazard and disorganized way, due to the excitement of actually selling my work eclipsing the ever so important preparatory phase! This time, I have vowed to slloooww down and do things right. This week I will press, cut and pin all the fabric I currently have. Sewing starts this weekend, and when my fabulous new Amy Butler prints arrive (ordered on Etsy, of course!) I will get to work on those pieces as well!
My goal is to have both my shops open February 1st. I think I can do it - finger's crossed!
Saturday, December 26, 2009
But I didn't even like sewing!
And yet, here I am. Born out of a desire to create fashionable baby gear for the hip Momma and babe, comes Chubblers Baby Gear. What is a "Chubblers" you may ask? Well what else would you call the world's cutest baby who just happens to have no less than four thigh rolls? Chubblers is what we affectionately call our son, born in September, who inspired me to start this little business as my little contribution to other Mommas.
It all started with colic. The dreaded "C" word to a new mum. And boy, did we have it in our house. Colic tested our patience, our sanity, and our desire to produce further offspring. Despite sleep deprivation and hours of endless crying (both ours and our Chubblers), we made it through to the other side. Now its all dimples and giggles and cute baby noises. And sleep deprivation. But you can't win 'em all!
Key to my survival as a new mom was the ability to wear my babe. As he would not allow his delicate being to be laid down AT ALL for the first few weeks of his life, and I didn't really like the idea of living amongst piles of dirty dishes with greasy hair and unbrushed teeth, having various abilities to carry my son and have free hands was SO important. He liked his ring sling a bit, and LOVED his wrap, but as my wee man grew into a 16lb porker at 3 months, my back started to ache. I kept reading about Mei Tai's - they were SO comfy, babies LOVED them, and all the fashionable Mommas seemed to have one. But, as with much of what's out there in the world of baby gear, I balked at the price. Begrudgingly, I brought out my sewing machine.
Sewing and I have always had a tumultuous relationship. I first learned (and I use that word loosely) to sew as a child. I come from a long line of seamstresses - my own Momma, aunties, grandmas, great grandmas, etc. It's basically expected that if you have ovaries, you sew. Its just what you do. And I wanted to be the mom that can hem the pants and make the Halloween costumes, I really did. But ooooh I hated sewing. Too excited about the final product, I hated having to get bogged down in the details and the process.
It all started with colic. The dreaded "C" word to a new mum. And boy, did we have it in our house. Colic tested our patience, our sanity, and our desire to produce further offspring. Despite sleep deprivation and hours of endless crying (both ours and our Chubblers), we made it through to the other side. Now its all dimples and giggles and cute baby noises. And sleep deprivation. But you can't win 'em all!
Key to my survival as a new mom was the ability to wear my babe. As he would not allow his delicate being to be laid down AT ALL for the first few weeks of his life, and I didn't really like the idea of living amongst piles of dirty dishes with greasy hair and unbrushed teeth, having various abilities to carry my son and have free hands was SO important. He liked his ring sling a bit, and LOVED his wrap, but as my wee man grew into a 16lb porker at 3 months, my back started to ache. I kept reading about Mei Tai's - they were SO comfy, babies LOVED them, and all the fashionable Mommas seemed to have one. But, as with much of what's out there in the world of baby gear, I balked at the price. Begrudgingly, I brought out my sewing machine.
Sewing and I have always had a tumultuous relationship. I first learned (and I use that word loosely) to sew as a child. I come from a long line of seamstresses - my own Momma, aunties, grandmas, great grandmas, etc. It's basically expected that if you have ovaries, you sew. Its just what you do. And I wanted to be the mom that can hem the pants and make the Halloween costumes, I really did. But ooooh I hated sewing. Too excited about the final product, I hated having to get bogged down in the details and the process.
But my cheap Scottish arse refused to pay big bucks for something I knew I could make myself. So I poured a glass of wine, called my Mommy for help, and set to work. Many hours, a few broken bobbins, numerous swear words and a couple of tears later, I made my first Mei Tai. Best. Thing. Ever. I can carry Chubblers around with perfect posture, no back strain and he loves it! I decided I loved to sew after all and that I had to make more baby gear. Toy straps, soother pouches, tag blankies, wraps and slings. And then I decided to share them. And so, here we are. The beginning of what I hope will be a successful business, that will allow me to stay home with my Chubblers and watch him grow.
All because of colic. Who knew!
All because of colic. Who knew!
Stay tuned for more updates as I prepare inventory and get my Etsy shop set up. I hope to be up and running in the next month or so.
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