Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sorry...
I haven't been very good at keeping up-to-date with my blog! We're in the midst of packing up boxes ready to go (ahhh it's good to see the Sold! sign outside the house -- especially as drivers go slightly nuts -- even more than usual! -- when it rains and we've been treated to several car crashes on this intersection lately).
Another thing that has been heavily taxing on my time is that I'm in the process of doing a four-week course in Small Business Management. I'd forgotten how tiring fulltime Mon-Fri can be. Thankfully mum is home (in Perth) now and able to look after Matilda on some days, and even better she is really enjoying daycare on the other days and actually taking naps too so phew! Only two more weeks to go but HEAPS of homework too. My business plan has never looked so good and I'm learning heaps about marketing and financials etc. When it all gets a bit hard I just think about where I want to go with Jolly Jumbuck, and that is to make it into a serious business capable of generating income so that I never have to leave M (and any future munchkins LOL) with someone else to go to work outside the house. While contributing to the household expenses in some way. You know what I mean?
On another note, as soon as this course finishes me and M will be taking part in an attachment parenting program called "Through The Looking Glass". This is only one day a week though. I can't wait!
Another thing that has been heavily taxing on my time is that I'm in the process of doing a four-week course in Small Business Management. I'd forgotten how tiring fulltime Mon-Fri can be. Thankfully mum is home (in Perth) now and able to look after Matilda on some days, and even better she is really enjoying daycare on the other days and actually taking naps too so phew! Only two more weeks to go but HEAPS of homework too. My business plan has never looked so good and I'm learning heaps about marketing and financials etc. When it all gets a bit hard I just think about where I want to go with Jolly Jumbuck, and that is to make it into a serious business capable of generating income so that I never have to leave M (and any future munchkins LOL) with someone else to go to work outside the house. While contributing to the household expenses in some way. You know what I mean?
On another note, as soon as this course finishes me and M will be taking part in an attachment parenting program called "Through The Looking Glass". This is only one day a week though. I can't wait!
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Homeless artist -- needs dye studio
So I've been relegated to dyeing outside until we move and the much-anticipated dye studio is built.
It's a bit of a PITA actually; today I was meant to do all my custom dyeing (about 1.5kg worth) and ended up only doing three lots of 200g before the rain came. Arrrgh!
Anyway, it'll be nice to have an enclosed, lockable dedicated dyeing area. I'm scouring roadsides and freecycle for a double sink and have the stove all sorted. It will be well-lit so I can dye at night if need be. I can't wait to (a) get out of this house and (b) crack the whip on Roy to get a-building *WEG*
We've accepted an offer to sell the house and so it's all up to financing for the other guys now. Hopefully we'll be settled in the new place by May.
It's a bit of a PITA actually; today I was meant to do all my custom dyeing (about 1.5kg worth) and ended up only doing three lots of 200g before the rain came. Arrrgh!
Anyway, it'll be nice to have an enclosed, lockable dedicated dyeing area. I'm scouring roadsides and freecycle for a double sink and have the stove all sorted. It will be well-lit so I can dye at night if need be. I can't wait to (a) get out of this house and (b) crack the whip on Roy to get a-building *WEG*
We've accepted an offer to sell the house and so it's all up to financing for the other guys now. Hopefully we'll be settled in the new place by May.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
The JJ family is moving! (fingers crossed)
... into much larger new digs that happen to be zoned rural!
Here's the proposed animal head count so far:
Our only immediate neighbour is a horse. I plan on going to meet him when we move in. Maybe he would like an alpaca friend? I think the paddocks next door are for agistment!
Talk about counting my chickens before they hatch! So far our offer has been accepted pending sale of our current house. It was listed on the web yesterday and this morning I went out to get the mail only to find a new for sale sign on our front yard. Reality hits! Much cleaning and decluttering and painting to do. A couple came to see it this evening!
So, please cross all your fingers and toes for us!
The best thing, I finally get my dream dye studio!! WOOHOO! (9 months in the begging/pleading/dyeing messily in the kitchen phase LOL)
Here's the proposed animal head count so far:
- We've got three chooks at the moment, let's just say they will be getting some new friends and having a much bigger space to free-range.
- Both Roy and I also agree on getting some ducks. Oh how I've missed the company of ducks!
- I think we should have one or two sheep. R's grudgingly agreed :)
Our only immediate neighbour is a horse. I plan on going to meet him when we move in. Maybe he would like an alpaca friend? I think the paddocks next door are for agistment!
Talk about counting my chickens before they hatch! So far our offer has been accepted pending sale of our current house. It was listed on the web yesterday and this morning I went out to get the mail only to find a new for sale sign on our front yard. Reality hits! Much cleaning and decluttering and painting to do. A couple came to see it this evening!
So, please cross all your fingers and toes for us!
The best thing, I finally get my dream dye studio!! WOOHOO! (9 months in the begging/pleading/dyeing messily in the kitchen phase LOL)
Friday, March 23, 2007
Year of the Pig
(I know I'm being such a naughty tease not showing pics, but that's half the fun of being my own boss LOL)
These longies have been a long time in the making! I got the inspiration before JJ re-opened on Chinese New Year this year. I'm glad I didn't rush them to have them ready for the re-opening.
"This Little Piggy" will be large/toddler Picky Pants (with long inseam and seeded cuff for those growth spurts). I *may* also make it into a set. The pants are more suited for daytime use (with the cute embellishments, you will want to show them off!)
Plus I've just had another piggy idea! I think I will do a lot of little pigs this year, spaced throughout the Year of the Pig.
These longies have been a long time in the making! I got the inspiration before JJ re-opened on Chinese New Year this year. I'm glad I didn't rush them to have them ready for the re-opening.
"This Little Piggy" will be large/toddler Picky Pants (with long inseam and seeded cuff for those growth spurts). I *may* also make it into a set. The pants are more suited for daytime use (with the cute embellishments, you will want to show them off!)
Plus I've just had another piggy idea! I think I will do a lot of little pigs this year, spaced throughout the Year of the Pig.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
WIP: Fairy Curly Pants
(I told Susan not to look in my blog until these were finished LOL!)
I was sent 100g of lovely aran BFL dyed by another WAHM with a mission to make something for winter that was "girly" but not too "girly"! I needed more wool for the longies, so for the waistband and ruffles I chose the 12ply Pandora (Pear Tree Merino) as it is creamily soft and heaven to knit with. I love knitting with BFL too (that's why I accepted the custom in the first place LOL) , so I thought the two luxe wools would make a nice knitting experience for the custom.
It was a challenge to find the perfect match for Ali's wool! Different dyers = different wool, different dyes and different techniques! I found some other colourways (and future projects) in getting there, but finally managed to get a nice match in lilac. The two yarns took dye very differently, here they are side-by-side.
I knit 2" of a Curly Purly waistband in Pandora then switched to the BFL for the pleats and body. I wanted a wide leg look so I'm very gently flaring out the legs. I'm knitting both legs at the same time. A very timely package from Canada has just arrived with three pairs of 5.5mm 30cm Addi's -- two for me and one for Lucretia.
I'm not convinced that there will be enough BFL to knit to longies length but TBH the ruffles I'm planning on finishing them off in look better on capris anyway. Put them on longies and they might fit great for a while but as we know kids grow up and taller. I think an obvious and ruffly hem might look a bit odd when the legs are just a bit too short for longies but too long for capris. Does that make sense?
The progress so far...(front):
(back):
There are some darker flecks in there that I'm not sure what to do with. I might try to enhance them by embroidering a row of lavenders by the creek??? I'm not sure. My other idea was a fairy theme.
The idea is to have a set with a long-sleeve Bonds dyed and felt appliqued raglan tee, with a pair of Huggalugs if they end up being capris.
UPDATE: Well it took a while for me to get completed project pic up here (I was so eager to send these off that I forgot to take pics!) Here are the capris on the adorable Sabrina:
I had enough wool to make a matching "Minies" keychain:
I was sent 100g of lovely aran BFL dyed by another WAHM with a mission to make something for winter that was "girly" but not too "girly"! I needed more wool for the longies, so for the waistband and ruffles I chose the 12ply Pandora (Pear Tree Merino) as it is creamily soft and heaven to knit with. I love knitting with BFL too (that's why I accepted the custom in the first place LOL) , so I thought the two luxe wools would make a nice knitting experience for the custom.
It was a challenge to find the perfect match for Ali's wool! Different dyers = different wool, different dyes and different techniques! I found some other colourways (and future projects) in getting there, but finally managed to get a nice match in lilac. The two yarns took dye very differently, here they are side-by-side.
I knit 2" of a Curly Purly waistband in Pandora then switched to the BFL for the pleats and body. I wanted a wide leg look so I'm very gently flaring out the legs. I'm knitting both legs at the same time. A very timely package from Canada has just arrived with three pairs of 5.5mm 30cm Addi's -- two for me and one for Lucretia.
I'm not convinced that there will be enough BFL to knit to longies length but TBH the ruffles I'm planning on finishing them off in look better on capris anyway. Put them on longies and they might fit great for a while but as we know kids grow up and taller. I think an obvious and ruffly hem might look a bit odd when the legs are just a bit too short for longies but too long for capris. Does that make sense?
The progress so far...(front):
(back):
There are some darker flecks in there that I'm not sure what to do with. I might try to enhance them by embroidering a row of lavenders by the creek??? I'm not sure. My other idea was a fairy theme.
The idea is to have a set with a long-sleeve Bonds dyed and felt appliqued raglan tee, with a pair of Huggalugs if they end up being capris.
UPDATE: Well it took a while for me to get completed project pic up here (I was so eager to send these off that I forgot to take pics!) Here are the capris on the adorable Sabrina:
I had enough wool to make a matching "Minies" keychain:
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Which Huggalugs organic cotton tee-shirts do you like?
(I know there's a way I can properly set up a poll, but I can't work it out at nearly 4am LOL!)
There are some really cool Huggalugs organic cotton tee-shirt and leg/arm warmer sets available!
Sizes available are 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6.
Which t-shirts would you like to see on Ozebaby in April?
Here are the designs -- droolworthy, no? I want one of each!!!
Cool Spirit
Pop Diva
Anna
There are some really cool Huggalugs organic cotton tee-shirt and leg/arm warmer sets available!
All Huggalugs t-shirts are designed and made in Australia from 100% Australian grown organic cotton which is comfortable to wear in any weather and will not irritate sensitive skin. The cotton in our t-shirts is grown in Australia organically on a dry land (non-irrigated) farm.
Sizes available are 000, 00, 0, 1, 2, 4, and 6.
Which t-shirts would you like to see on Ozebaby in April?
Here are the designs -- droolworthy, no? I want one of each!!!
Cool Spirit
Pop Diva
Anna
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
RSS Feed (xml)