I Got My Studio Legs Now

There has been much activity in this here neck of the woods the past week or so. There's been a studio move, the hiring of new sewers (hallelujah!), a good friend returning home, finalizing the wholesale catalogue, working on the website ... and trying to secure childcare for Little R. I've got a call into a couple of pre-schools and my fingers are crossed for available space. Is there a patron saint of pre-schools?



Anyhoo, it's a quick post tonight to highlight a crafty studio tip that was passed onto me by the great and wise Johnson-Brotsky duo that are my parents: save my back by using equal lengths of PCV pipe to jack up my banquet-come-cutting-tables to a decent height. It's simple, quick and effective. I cut my 'stilts' 10 inches long, jammed the banquet table legs into one end of the pipe (with the occassional assistance of a hammer) and, voila!, my table is now the perfect height for drafting and cutting. Happy, happy back.

Big Sheep

I recently ordered 20 pounds of eco-wool from the US, and it came in a giant roll! The parcel arrived while we were still on holiday, and seeing as no one was home, it was left off for me at a nearby postal outlet. One of the voice mails that I came home to was from the outlet staff asking for me to collect the parcel as soon as I could, and to be sure to bring a "suitable vehicle as the parcel is quite large" ... Fortunately my sister and her beau (my amazing cutter) recently bought a nifty blue hatchback, complete with leopard print seat covers and American political bumper stickers (the car was a transplant, a few years back, from a lefty in California). My first trip in Lil' Blue was squished up against the passenger door, holding back 20 pounds of brown-paper encased wool from the gear shift as my sister drove us home.


And here it is, rolled out on the floor being cut into more manageable pieces!

Here's more information on the wool that I use, so far I've been loving it:

"Eco-Wool stuffing is from healthy sheep raised on sustainably managed lands. Eco-Wool is exceptionally free of chemicals and has been washed with a natural, bio-degradeable detergent. It is whiter and brighter with a longer staple for more resiliency, memory and longevity. There will be less waste and virtually no dust when using this wool.

^{1. PROPER GRAZING METHODS: Adequate field rotation to decrease soil erosion and to reduce the risk of sheep acquiring internal parasites.}

^{2. PREDATOR FRIENDLY: We encourage our growers to use trained sheep guardian dogs (not trapping or shooting) and the inclusion of other larger animals, such as llamas, to guard the flock.}

^{3. HEALTHY VETERINARY PRACTICES: Only certain kinds of medications and supplements can be used to treat the sheep. We suggest alternative caring methods to keep sheep healthy with fewer chemicals.}

^{4. CHEMICAL CONTROL: We oppose the use of herbicides and pesticides on fields that the sheep will be grazing in. We are able to determine if growers use these chemicals in our routine wool chemical testing."}

Squishy Baby

Since getting home from holiday, my main Dress Me Up focus has been my new product wholesale catalogue for Retailers. I've been working with my friend, Jacob - who I've mentioned before, and it has been reeeeeeeally, really exciting. And a lot of hard work. Thankfully, the man in patient and willing to make change after change after change even when I have said "No, really, this is the last one.". I had my zillionth 'last one' just this morning. But now I think it really is finished and I'm waiting for the final copy to be emailed to me. Then, dear Retailers, you'll have my catalogue in your hot little happy hands.


One of my catalogue models (watch out, runway!) playing with soft blocks.

Now, I'm off to meet with Neil of Breakwater Media to get the final game plan down for my reeeeeeeally, really exciting website updates. It's all happening. Woot, woot!


A stack of my new fabric, organic, handscreen printed, and ready for transformation.

Thanks A Lot

In the past weeks Little R. has become a *huge* Raffi fan. This morning we've listened to Baby Beluga I don't know how many times, and now another of her favourite tracks, Thanks A Lot, is on repeat. It's fitting, though, as I write to say "Hey! We're home!" and what a great trip we had. I'm full of gratitude and joy for our time away with family and friends. Tell it like it is, Raffi.


Sipping tea, looking out over the garden in Naramata


Pumping our drinking water at Grandpa Pete's


Playing and scooting at Baby Eats in North Vancouver.

Friends, Baby Eats is everything - and I mean everything - that it promises to be. It was my first time there and I was wonderfully impressed. If you can, go. Drink latte's, enjoy conversation at a normal level, and relax knowing that your child is safely and delightfully engaged with beautiful and natural toys. Also, you can shop - Baby Eats carries a few of my goodies - as well as a wide range of Natural Pod's best sellers.

Hot Hot Hot

We're currently in Vernon with my folks and spent the day today out at the lake, at our dear family friend's cabin. We ate jellied salad and smoked salmon sandwiches and delighted in Little R. getting used to being in the water. Our holiday is going swimmingly!

We started last Sunday in Naramata where Nathaniel and I met up with Nancy from Kai Kids for lattes and sour cherry muffins at the Naramata Coffee Shop. It was a fantastic meeting. We talked lots of shop - I brought my new organic soft toys and other products to show Nancy in person - compared trade show experiences and offered tips, and shared touching family stories too. I absolutely loved meeting Nancy and am thrilled to be working with her.


New product shot for my upcoming catalogue!

Tomorrow we hop back in the car and hit some logging road action to camp out at Nathaniel's dad's place for a few nights before heading to Vancouver for some big city action (and visiting Dress Me Up retailers, new and upcoming). It's supposed to rain tomorrow which will make the drive more bearable ... +38 degree heat is a tad more than this coastal gal is used to.

Some great news before signing off for the night - I got into the One Of A Kind Show Vancouver!! This is so super cool. I'll tell you more about it when I get back from holiday - just mark your calendar now so you won't miss it.

A Rolling Block Gathers No Moss

Oooo, it's a doozey of a late night! Nathaniel and I are just packing it in after packing up 2 weeks worth of gear for our family holiday that is starting .... tomorrow! (Well, technically today - it is 1am.) I am sooo looking forward to time away. Two boxes are making the first leg of our journey with us - an order to Hatched in Boston and to NaturalPod will be getting a little Naramata TLC before transferring to Canada Post.


A sneak preview of 2 of my new prints - hand screen printed with water-based inks onto organic cottons. Sweet!

I'll be returning emails and calls the week of August 18th. Happy Summer, All!