MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wishing everyone and their families a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season.

CHECK OUT THE SALE

HALF OFF THE ENTIRE STORE UNTIL DEC 27TH! NO EXCEPTIONS! SHOP QUICK AS ITEMS ARE LIMITED.

The Elf Journey

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Done.....and Not Yet Done

Wow am I behind on posting. The first thing on my 'not done' list.

Time is slipping away from me and blogging just hasnt made it to the 'done' list.

We are getting ready to go on our family vacation and I am trying to finish up Christmas orders before then.

I havent even started to pack.

I have finished most of my Christmas cards including having put the stamps on them.

The decorations are out of the attic, but still sitting in their boxes.

Extra furniture is in storage. Carpets have been cleaned.

House is still not on market yet.

Travel documents and reservations all together. Didnt get husbands passport in time though.

Pile of laundry is growing.

Goodwill and Christmas hamper stuff unloaded. (Search your house for new items that you are never going to use and donate them if you can.-it makes Christmas so much better for so many).

Money not converted. Bills not paid for when we are away.

Okay so the list isnt too bad. But I really should attend to all those others on the 'not done yet' list and check this one of the 'done' list.

Christmas

The countdown is on in our house.

We like to break it into smaller sections so it makes the time go by faster.

First we have 5 more days till Dec 1st and the start of out family advent calender. This is a wall quilt that I made for the kids and tie daily presents to. The kids love it and look forward to it going up every year. We alternate days with the kids and since the boys now have a sister they will each get a gift every three days.

We are also at 7 more days of school till Dec break (my kids attend a school with an alternative calender that works 3 months on, one off. Love it.)

Then we have 14 more days till our disneyland vacation-I think I am just as excited as the kids! We are going away for a week and are just doing Anaheim this year. We have 8 days/ 7 nights and only have plans for 5 of those days. I am looking forward to Disneyland but I am also looking forward to the days of non-amusement park fun.

Next we have 23 days till our Christmas with my side of the family. This is a bit chaotic as it is only two days after returning from out vacation and we have to clean form the trip, buy and decorate a tree (yes, I live for real trees still) and do grocery shopping. Not exactly a relaxing time but I am still looking forward to it.

Then the big one. 30 days till Christmas! This year is the first year that my husband is on shift Christmas Eve and will not be home till Christmas morning. It seems a bit strange that I will be getting up with the kids by myself and that he will be missing the look in their eyes as they see the tree and tall the gifts surrounding it. I am not sure how long I can hold them back and can only hope to keep them satisfied with a few stocking gifts till he returns.

Then of course we have four birthdays to celebrate thrown in there. Two on the 19th, one on the 28th and our eldest son's on the 31st.

It is a crazy month but one that I look forward to all year long. Perhaps because it is just so busy that I dont need to come up with extra things to keep me busy all day long-they just appear.

Did I mention that I still cant sleep Christmas Eve because I am just too excited???!!

Canadian Handmade

I thought I would start mentioning some of the lovely Canadian Businesses that I have come across lately. There are so many talented people and companies out there that it is sometimes hard to stay 'seen' in the virtual world. I find myself finding small businesses all the time that I love and would like to help 'throw' a small bit of extra traffic their way.

This week I have decided to choose five Canadian Shops from the ETSY site. In case you are unaware of etsy it is a handmade store site. Crafters set up shop, take photos of items for sale, write sale blobs and buyers can find all stores under one site-ETSY. It is a great site! (It also sells vintage and supplies but that's not my focus.) Since Etsy is composed of different sellers and shops be sure you read policies and shipping details before you purchase anything.

Shop One:



Specializing in funny, cute and nerdy custom printed apparel; these t-shirts, onesies and bibs make fantastic and unique gifts for yourself or others!

I am proud to custom print using professional materials, resulting in a high quality product. As well, all items are created and shipped from a clean air environment. Please take a look at the Shop Policies for more information about shipping and processes!
A couple of my favs:

Shop Two:


Welcome to Potatopatch!

Potatopatch offers unique potato stamped shirts for babies and kids. Each design is made by carving potatoes and stamping onto our shirts to create an original print. No two shirts are alike! Created in the heartland of potato country Alliston, Ontario, Canada our potatoes are supplied by local farmer Dorsey Farms. All of Potatopatch shirts are high quality 100% cotton and are applied with non-toxic fabric paint.

Let your children enjoy our playful clothing!

Some items that I think are delightful:

Shop Three:

I make most of my plushies kid safe. The first time I make something they are tried and tested by my one year old, so I know that they are safe and won't fall apart! However as with anything supervise children under three years of age. If it is NOT kid safe, I will add a note in the item description, so make sure you check!

Are these not Adorable!!


Shop Four:


First and foremost I'm a full time mother to my three gorgeous girls and wife to my busy musician husband. Life's hectic!, so in whatever spare time I have I enjoy being creative. I'm inspired by colors the way the work together and my kids! Doing these things has always allowed me to take some much needed time for myself, and while I'm at it, make some beautiful things for my friends and family.
After a while everybody told me to start selling this stuff!, so I started selling my items in some boutiques around town, and now I found Etsy, the internet is great! My children inspire most of my items and I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoy making them. Lori :)


I dont think you can get anything cuter than the monkey hat. I am just struggling to decide what colour to order my daughters in!


Shop Five:


Welcome to Boysenberry Lane, where you will find unique and fuzzy fingerless glove/wrist warmers, zipper pouches and coffee cup cozies. I hope you find something you like today.

These would look adorable on any pre-teen girl

Craft Fairs

Well I have completed #2 of the two fairs I decided to attend this year. Today's was not quite what I wanted it to be and was just not the right venue for me. Oh well, I will just not be doing that one again-live and learn I guess.

I do feel a sense of relief now that I am done them for the season. I don't have to focus all my energy on the immediate and I am really looking forward to starting my Spring collection.-Yes Spring collection and winter has not even actually begun.

I am planning a larger 'launch' of my company in the Spring. So I am working on professional photos, my website, new products, pamphlets and advertising right now. There's several things to think about and work on and finding all the time is the main issue.

Ho w Could I Forget

How could I forget to mention one of my other favourite things.
The Starbucks Christmas Cups! I love those red cups! I was counting down the days till I got to use one-they truly brighten my days.
For those of you that dont' spend more money on coffee than they do gas (yes even when gas was unbelievable in the summer)-the cups (and drinks) started this past Thursday (nov 13th). I was in a store on Sat and could see the order of cups sitting in boxes all along the wall. I so wanted to get one then but decided the 5 min conversation I had with the barista the prior Thursday about the cups probably rendered me crazy enough already. So I patiently waited till the Thursday (7am) and got my first red cup of the season. I even used it later that day when I had a normal coffee at work.
I dont know why but the red cup just makes me smile.

I realized the other day that Christmas is near. We are away to Disneyland for a week right before Christmas and that really speeds things up. So I was thinking about a few of my favourite things about this time of year. (I appologize to my friends that read my personal family blog-this is the same post).


1) Getting a Christmas tree. Yes, we still get a real tree. As much as I hate the clean up of needles (although I have found great trees the last few years that dont lose many needles), I find the activity of finding a real tree much more rewarding. We head out to a tree farm (one of the few bonus' of living in a smaller town-we live close to tree farms), find a tree that we all agree on, cut it down, have hot chocolate, head home, let the tree dry out while we pull decorations out, eat a quick dinner and then decorate the tree. I love this day.

2) Our Advent Calender. I made an advent calender for the kids back when J-Man was just nearly two. I find little gists for the kids and tie them on and each day they take turns opening one gift. This year they will have a turn every three days. It's a lot of work but something the kids really love and look forward to. The calender always ends with special ornaments for each of them. We try to find a special ornament that represents something they were interested in that year. One year J-Man had a monster truck and one year Wild had a Pixar Cars. This year I think we are looking at Pokemon for sure.

3) New pajamas. I don't know how this started but we all get new pj's on Christmas Eve. It ends our Christmas Eve night and everyone goes to bed in their new pj's (looks good for morning pics too ;) ).

4) The Vancouver Rogers Santa Clause Parade. This is the 5th year this event is on and we only missed year 3 (I was very sad for weeks). I love this parade. They heave done a phenomenol job on this event and I think everyone should go! The parade is big scale. Police psycho motorbikes (if you are at the curb keep feet back-they go about 80kms an hour), big highschool marching bands (we recruit them mostly from the states), and great cultural floats. This year the parade is later in the year (its always been in Nov) and is on Sun, December 7th at 1pm. Arrive early (12pm at latest) if you want a sidewalk spot. Great tip-if its cold and kids are little I highly suggest you park in Pacific Center underground parking Bay end. Go upstairs to street level, cross street and go into chapters. Go upstairs to south end (windows facing west) and sit by windows. You can get Starbucks (be prepared for 30 min wait), be warm, still hear all music and grab kids books to look at if they are restless. Greatest idea ever when Wild was 1 and 2. This year the kids have said they want to be on Robson closer to the start so we are prepared to be really early and have chairs.

So these are just a few of my top favourite things about the season. Tomorrow I am pulling out some decorations and think we need way more. I love how festive the house looks when its all decorated. Oh and on Friday we counted eight house with Christmas lights already.


5)Okay one more. Driving around and looking at all the really decorated houses in the lower mainland. Love doing this. I think when we have our own house I will slowly grow into one of these crazy people that go all out.

6)Just one more (I truly love the season). The Stanley park Christmas train. We do this with great friends of ours each year. You get to see the lights and the animals and eat roasted chestnuts (gross-do not like that tradition). Buy tickets now if you want to know.

New Soother Clip Style Directions

Sorry I said I'd post these last week and never did. Here are the photo instructions on how to use the new soother clips. Just in case you need some help.

Step One:
Hold soother clip by loop end.


Step Two:
Thread the loop end through the handle of the soother. (will look best if print side is facing you)

Step Three:
Pull the clip end through the loop of soother clip ribbon

Step Four:
Pull tightly so loop closes around handle.


I am also going to post a few photos of how to use the clip on the soother clips.

Step One:
Pull up on tab at back end of clip.

Step Two:
Insert piece of clothing between clip jaws.
Step Three:
Push down on back part of clip tab.

Step Four:
To remove copy step one.

Craft Fairs

So I decided to try a couple of craft fairs this season. My first one is next weekend (Nov 8 and 9) and the larger of the two. It all seemed like a great idea at first but now I am having second thoughts. Mostly because I forgot how much work they are.

Since I make the items myself at my home I have a very quick turn around time. Very often I have a couple packaged items of one style but most items are only partially completed until I get an order for that item. This saves me both money and time by not packaging items that dont end up selling.

This system doesnt work for craft fairs. Everything needs to be completed and ready to sell. And you need a lot of everything-about four times what you'd like to sell. People like to see a big variety and more than one of an item. Everyone wants to feel that they 'chose' their item. (I won't get into the entire psychology of purchasing but a customer that wants a black sweater and already knows they want the black sweater will still look at the sweater in red and blue only to buy the black sweater. That way they 'choose' the black sweater.)

So here I am trying to get a great stock of items to fill my tables and offer variety and choice. I am also feeling flustered about table layout and presentation. Just planning the set-up is taking hours.

My second craft fair is two weeks after the first (Nov 22). I dont know if I'm hoping I have lots of stock left from the first one so I dont have to work like a sweatshop worker for two weeks. No I am not hoping that. I would like to sell lots at the first one (of course) and hopefully the boost in spirit of sales will make the extra work those two weeks seem easier.

If you'd like to visit me and see how it all works out (and get great deals) here's the info:

Carney Stars Craft Fair
Arch Bishop Carney HighSchool
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
(behind costco)-good signage on streets already

Sat Nov 8 and Sun Nov 10
9-4 10-3


Riverside Craft Fair
Port Coquitlam, B.C.
Pitt River Road (west of shaugnessy)

Sat Nov 22
10-4

Hope to see you there!

A Soothing Idea

I was waiting and waiting for my snap order to arrive so I could complete the piles of projects that are overtaking my sewing studio. They finally arrived yesterday and I ran upstairs to start attaching them to all that needed them.

I was working on some of the pacifier clips when I started to think that maybe I didnt need snaps on them. I know there are a lot of parents that don't like snaps on baby products and won't buy items with snaps. I started to think about this. (I always take extra care when putting on my snaps and feel they are safe and use all my products with my own baby). But I do understand the fear of small items around babies and toddlers.

So I thought 'why don't I make a loop at top just like my happy straps?' So I tried it on a few and it works great. No small pieces at top end that attaches to soother and just a clip at other end that is double stitched on. My problem is this-will others know how to use a pacifier clip like this? Does the general public know how to use a loop when they want to attach things? I will have to write instructions on packaging and I am thinking an online visual demonstration might be usefull-actually an online visual for the happy strap might be a good idea as well.


I am still going to keep my other style with the snaps but perhaps offer both kinds and see what sells better. What's your opinion?

(I will post some pics later today so you can have a better idea of what I mean)

It's Getting Cold Out Here

There's been a major shift in weather here the past few weeks. It wasnt long ago that we were all still wearing our shorts and leaving the house with short sleeve shirts on. Not anymore. It is officially cold out.

The heat has been on in the house for a week now and the vehicles are all frosty in the morning. I hate the mornings now (okay I never really like mornings). I never want to get out of my nice warm covers and I really never want to go out and warm the truck up before we head to school.

Did I say that I hate the mornings now?

But the colder weather has sparked a few new ideas for projects. I made some winter warmer bandanas yesterday-a cozy fleece version of the dribble bandana. It's great for little ones to wear under or over their jackets in place of a scarf. I always loved (and still do) scarves on kids but I am always fearful of them getting caught on something. They run a risk of strangulation and that I dont like. So the Winter Warmer Bandana is a great alternative. Unfortunately I havent found a 'boy' fabric that I like yet so I only have a girls version. It is 100% polyester fleece and will fit 0-5 year olds.

I also am working on some other seasonal products. I hope to have them up in the next week or so but my kids are hounding me to finish their Halloween costumes so I will be doing those first.

The Blog World

I will admit I am relatively new to this whole blog world. I know friends who have had them for years but I never followed anyone till recently. I thought it was a bunch of garble and not worth reading.

Then I actually started reading some blogs this past year. And I was amazed at how much I learned about the people that surround me on a regular basis. I could see someone every week and talk on the phone with them for hours a day and still learn new stuff via their blog. It was then that I realized that its sort of like looking into someone's diary. Personal thoughts that you can't/might not say but can write.

So I joined the blog world. I must admit I have not been all that committed as of yet. Yes, I have the excuse of three kids but so do a lot of other people. I started a personal blog and then a business blog trying to keep both separate. Then I realized a business blog without a personal side is, well, boring. Who wants to just see my products and nothing else? A big part of small business today is buying the business owner. Why would someone want to buy a $7 bib when they can go to Walmart and get 10 for $8??? Well hopefully the quality is one aspect and the originality another, but I know that people buy things from those they like/ feel a similarity to. you can't feel a closeness to someone that doesnt show you any of their personal side.

So I am going to try and do both here. I started my company because I wanted to make products that both parents and babies will love. I wanted to have items that you cant find at the big stores and I wanted to have items that made others ask you where you found it. I hope to always be improving my products and to always find ways to make parenting more stylish and more functional. I am that person that loves a challenge and if you tell me you want an item that is waterproof, folds up, is machine washable and tolerates your child's torment-I will try to make it!

I hope to write something of interest to others and hope that you keep on reading.

No Peek-a-Boobies

Nursing Covers
$28

Made of a lightweight fabric that keeps yourself and little one cool when its nursing time. There is plenty of coverage and the neckline has a sit-away feature that allows you to view baby while they are feeding. Neck strap is adjustable and secures with double d-rings.

Small pocket on the front is handy for soothers, breast pads, keys etc.

My Thumb is Numb

Okay so I've learned one thing form my latest project-your thumb gets pretty sore after pressing on metal for hours.

Anyways, here are some pictures of the hair clips that I've been making. They are all on a double prong clip that will hold the tiniest piece of hair. They hold on in my daughter's hair (not much of it) but do look a little bit big on her head still.

They are sold as either singles or doubles starting at $1.50 ea up to $5.00 set.

Bibs and Burp Cloths

BIBS -$7EA

Tired of bibs that you little one can pull off by themselves? Try one of our bibs that secure with a snap in the back. Most designs are reversible and made of two co-ordinating fabrics.

Made of 100% cotton and they are washable.

BURP CLOTHS-$6EA OR 2 FOR $10
A perfect peanut shape that fits perfectly over your shoulder to catch any messes that your little one makes. Small enough to tuck into diaper bag or purse. Most designs are reversible and made of two co-ordinating fabrics.

Made of 100% cotton and they are washable.

PERFECT NEW BABY GIFT-$20

Includes two burp cloths, one bib and one dribble bandana of co-ordinating fabrics. All wrapped up and ready to give as a gift.

Dribble Bandana Bibs

A creative and unique alternative to the traditional bib! Keep your little one dry while being stylish at the same time. The Great Bandana Bib!

They are perfect for when your little one is drooling, spitting-up or just eating. The bandanas absorb the moisture and keep outfits dry. Keep several dribble bandanas close by so you can just change the bandana and not your cute outfits. These are not only a practical item but very fashionable as well. Co-ordinate them to all your outfits for an added sense of style!

The dribble bandanas are made of 100% cotton with an absorbent white or black flannel back (also 100% cotton). They secure together in the back with a metal snap not with noisy, scratchy Velcro. They are made to fit newborn to three year olds and the one size fits all will work with most petite as well as heavier babies.

Machine washable.

retail for $7ea

PARENTAL SUPERVISION ADVISED. PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE A CHILD UNATTENDED WITH ANYTHING AROUND THEIR NECK.