What do you love about cloth diapering?

I want to hear your hoots and hollers about cloth diapering and why you love it or hate it. Do you love how your baby is swaddled in natural fabrics or do you hate the endless diaper cleaning? Do you envy parents who chuck their one use diapers and never look back or do you pride yourself in your unwavering commitment of rebellion and go old-school cloth.  Just want your opinions!

Website!

Yeah, That's right........I made a website for myself!!!! My blog is still better!!!:) (but you should still check it out!!!!

OOpsy Owl wOOly bibs

Prevention of those nasty snack trails from sabotaging your baby's sense of style.........

OOpsy Owl wOOly bibs are hand-crafted from available 100% up-cycled wool and replicate the silhouette of an owl’s wise face (turned upside-down!) A personalized and unique little owl is sewn into the left-hand corner and adds a simple, yet whimsical detail of hand-made charm. Velcro tabs on the back are sew-in strong and are very convenient during mealtimes. One-of-a-kind, your OOpsy Owl wOOly bib was created from available up-cycled 100% wool. The unique thing about up-cycling is that once the reclaimed wool is made into something, it is almost impossible to recreate the exact same item!

OOpsy Owl wOOly bibs have been pre-soaked in a lanolin bath to restore the natural properties in wool such as stain, moisture and wrinkle resistance.

Visit my Etsy shop to see all of my OOpsy Owl wOOly bib collection!!

From my hands to yours.

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

How to Felt Soap: 10 steps (with pictures) - wikiHow

How to Felt Soap: 10 steps (with pictures) - wikiHow


Did this today with my niece! So much fun!!!

Baby wOOly Owlet skirts ~ Every handmade item has a story

Every handmade item has a story and Baby Owlet skirts are no exception. When I reclaim unwanted sweaters for my wOOly items, there is always a back story to where and who the material belonged to. For example, a sweater that belonged to a lady named Helen was passed along to me to be remade into something useful. This particular lady, who visited a many ashram in her day,  spent four long days this summer explaining to me her whole life story filled with love, mystery and desire ( I was helping her with yard work). While making the Owlet Skirt, I thought of her and the skirt took on an identity of its own.

I think that when an item has a story attached to it, it becomes that much more valued and special, even if some of that story is somewhat embellished:)

I hope you will enjoy the introduction of Baby wOOly Owlet Skirts,

From my hands to yours,

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

Broken Heel = Better success!

What happens when you fall off of a 6 foot high reinforcement wall? You break you heel.

Yes it can be done, your heel can break and I have to warn you it is not a very pleasant feeling.

I remember catching my foot on the edge of the flower box and falling to my heel bone’s demise. I have been off work for a month now and just starting to get back to my sewing table. With Christmas coming I was so disappointed to have had to miss my greatly anticipated Craft fair on the 13^th of November. Days leading up to the event, I tried to accommodate my foot by keeping it above my machine and sewing in an awkward position, yet the disadvantage was that I could not move to and fro and I do in my creative state going from one room to the other to create patterns and fetch buttons, or to find my missing sewing needles. I also have not been able to scavenge the second hand stores for my wOOly gold nor find hidden treasures of reclaimed lace or silks. But from all of the forced relaxation and seemingly house arrest, I have found the pleasure of impractical perfection........

Breaking my heel has forced me to slow down and look at the finer details in my life. Do I really need to clean the house spotless every day? NO, Things can get a bit dusty if it means I rest and elevate my foot for the required 8 months. Do I have need to stress about craft fairs and the ever approaching holidays? NO. To be frank, I am actually thankful that I had to miss the Russel Craft Fair.  

For the last four weeks I have taken this opportunity to start up my new wOOly Owl Etsy shop.   http://www.etsy.com/people/thewOOlyOwl I love it. At first I avoided the whole Etsy community, thinking that everyone sold their things on Etsy, I tried to be the renegade and forgo the online opportunity to reach more potential customers. Then in my haze of stay home injury fever, I sign up and have been loving it ever since. I have even joined a team, Ohcanadateam, which encourages and promotes Canadian-based venders to better sell their items to customers looking for more local products. I have to say that there are so many talented individuals out there doing an amazing job selling their things. If you have the chance, check out a few of my favourites:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/bumbleebuck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/ForStrangeWomen?ref=pr_faveshops

 and http://www.etsy.com/shop/paintedturtlewt

I love how each shop embodies the character of the owner and how even the photography of their items becomes almost more desirable then the items themselves. Brilliant. The hours I have been able to venture into these cyber shops has left me with the knowledge and inspiration on how to make my wOOly things that much more beautiful. Thanks to my broken heel, I now have creatively tagged my wOOly things with a unique little owl, Have packaged them in a fitting wrapper and tied them with the best and most ideal bow I could find......... Bring on the Holidays baby, The wOOly Owl is coming to town!

Introducing the addition of bubO buttOns to the wOOly Owl

Just in time for the snowy shawls that will cover the ground this holiday season

~ pin it togeather with a bubo button~

Hand-made from reclaimed items such as a vintage prom dress, reclaimed overall clasps, my mother-in-law's red sewing buttons, and a pink 100% wool blanket from a lady named Helen, bubO buttOns make any shawl, shirt, skirt, suit or sweater look swell.

While making my wedding dress for my upcoming October 2011 fall wedding, (yes I know I have referred to my fiancé John as my husband.......I just like the way husband sounds over fiancé, but I am engaged not yet married – to make it technically correct for those who may have noticed:) I had to create my own bubO buttOns to adorn the cream vintage wedding dress that was given to me by a very dear friend in Victoria. It is an old 1940’s -1950’s wedding dress that fits just above the knee. I am still working on aspects, but overall I love the design and love adding new details.........like the bubO buttOns 

I love the idea that we can make things from things that are just old things to some and new things to others.  These flower buttons and owl pins are just little ways to add a bit of pretty (and/or awesome) to your day and wardrobe.  Just like my vintage wedding dress; the thing about up-cycling, something forgotten becomes something doted upon.

Why bubo you may ask?

Bubo comes from the name of the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo), a widespread resident in India. It is also named after the mechanical replica of the Owl "Bubo" in "Clash of the Titians."

whOOOOOOO ever thought an overall clasp could look so hot?

From my hands to yours,

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

wOOly Nesting Blankets: the straw bale home collection

wOOly Owl's nesting blanket: The straw bale home collection

Inspired by my husband John, this collection is a reflection of our future together. After searching for the past year, John and I found a beautiful piece of land where we intend to build a sustainable existence. I have always wanted to live in a way that if I take something from the earth I can return it as easily as it had been extracted in the first place. 

To achieve this dream, we plan on building a sustainable Straw-bale or cordwood home,  a garden for self-sufficiency,  grow winter vegetables, mushrooms, farm bees, raise chickens and goats, preserve and can our goods, and live as off grid as we can

I am looking forward to that cold winter day when I am sitting in my studio in our hand-built home. I will be sipping my own organic handpicked tea and creating all that is wOOly. 

To this Dream,

       I offer my wOOly Nesting Blankets: The Straw bale Home collection

The Straw bale Home Collection is an amalgamation of every aspect of who I am and what I want to achieve. By taking fragments of up-cycled wool, I have quilted them together and created images of Straw bale homes nestled in Muskoka landscapes. 

100% up-cycled wool, 100% certified organic cotton, and 100% handmade with love from me to you.

Until our next chat,

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

Inspiration

Muskoka, Ontario.
One of the most beautiful places I have ever lived. Such a vivid place which offers plenty of inspiration.

wOOly Soaker

                            Toddler size soaker

                   Corresponding owl and soaker

Pretty tO lOOk at wOOly Owls

                    Reclaimed clay button eyes and Alpaca batting

                            Reclaimed lace collar wings

Craft Affairs

I never realized how hunting for the perfect craft fair was like searching for the perfect partner...

Among sewing up a storm, scheduling to meet with moms for sizing and product trials, fixing broken needles and the regulars of life, I decided it was time to enlist my products into a Winter Craft Fair. I had spent many hours online searching for the right location, a fair that would encompass all that is me and my wOOly things. It was like an online dating service, sifting through the potentials, discarding some because they were too big or too small, some that seemed a bit strange and others too pretentious.

Large Venues: Throughout my searching I began feeling completely overwhelmed with all of the potential opportunities that are out there for artisans such as myself. I landed on the One-of-a-Kind website http://www.oneofakindshow.com/xmas10/index.php. The cost alone to have a booth was startling and a quick decision was made that I will participate in that event next year (probably the spring show?) seeing as that would be an investment too large to invest in at this time......and the sheer size of the whole arrangement was startling.  It was mentioned that over 7000 people pass your booth in JUST ONE DAY!!! The level of inventory needed to supply such a large group of people seriously gave me an ulcer. At the same time however, I see the excitement and possibilities in such a huge event and look forward to the day when I am prepared to take on such a large venue. Like the bad boy of fairs.......exciting, but maybe not yet appropriate.

Closed Venues: So just as I set my eyes on the prize candidate, The Muskoka 2010 Arts and Crafts Christmas show and sale http://www.muskokaartsandcrafts.com/Christmas_Show/christmas_show.htm  (Saturday, November 27, 2010 10am-5pm and Sunday, November 28, 2010 11am-4pm), I was informed that those who were interested had already been selected and JURIED. Juried!! (The stand-up)

Side note: I commend those who have had their prized pieces of craft rejected from any Craft show and continue to work and better their products, because I have to say, that would require major dedication and determination for one’s true passion and craft.  (Rejection)

Closed Venues Part Two: So then, here I am faced with disappointment, the one I wanted was unavailable...It’s like after a bad break-up and you think you will never love again and then you get your hair cut and you meet the perfect man ......

Raymond:  That is what I felt about Raymond. November 13. Craft Sale at the Raymond Community Hall 9:00a.m. - 2:00p.m. November 13^th Expect Jams, jellies, baking, honey, sewing, jewellery, folk art and much, much more. (And YES the wOOly Owl)

I knew when I set eyes on the advert that it was the right one for me. I called and the sweetest lady answered the phone with a warming "hello" and a comfortable how do "you do?" She offered me a booth for a reasonable amount along with tips and advice for my first (ever) craft fair and then together we set the date.

Side note #2 (I now live happily with my fiancé John (Husband for short), best friend and best ever hairstylist)

Good Goals: My intention for entering into a fair is to inspire me to create more and to be directed into the arms of handmade fanfare; to keep the stakes high and to encourage new and innovative ideas. I have downsized all of my glorious ideas into seven amazing products of which I will pour my heart and soul into each and every piece. I even tailored my organic supplier into two potential sources (a serious accomplishment).  This week I have focused on creating my logo and designing a sense of who I am and what the wOOly Owl stands for. Likened to the reflection of your choice of partner in life, so is the choice of Christmas craft fairs.....and I think I found the perfect date:  Raymond. 

Until our next chat,

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

100% Up-cycled wOOl sOakers

 

The wOOly Owl is proud to present,

                                       100% up cycled wOOly sOakers

                Remember in my last blog how I mention that "One of the most important facts about wool is its natural tendency to wick away and resist water...... oh yeah and that it is temperature regulating. My wOOly diaper cOvers hold in your baby's urine while keeping it at body temperature to ensure a uninterrupted sleep, (which means you sleep more and the whole family is happy again!!)"

$23.00/ soaker......


{o,o}  The wOOly Owl
|)__)
-”-”-

The Best Thing My Boss Taught Me

I have to say that these last few days have been a bit inspiramidating. This is my word to guiltlessly say that I have been feeling a bit intimidated by all of those sewers out there who have just as many great ideas as I yet are a year ahead of me in their practice.....all of their pretty postings on Etsy (check out my shop @ http://www.etsy.com/people/thewOOlyOwl ) and knithack force me to have something to compare my work with......but that should inspire me right?

The more I jumped into the rabbit hole that is organic sewing and the whole natural movement in general, the more I felt like here I am at the beginning, a newbie, that young girl who walks into the sewing store looking for lanolin and gets that timeless look from the other ladies who say...oh well so and so are already doing that.......... well made me feel like, "Damn, I have bitten off a really big chunk to swallow!" Starting a business and following my passion had one small catch....

Competition.

Okay...so the words of wisdom.....
 As a BC girl I had the privilege of working with a woman who impacted me in more ways than one.

                                                                       Mary

Mary Lucas is the owner of the Victoria artery of Hip Baby. I worked with Mary for a few character building months before my adventures brought me to Muskoka. One thing that placed Mary on my Top Ten List of Strong Woman in My Life was her attitude about competition, or in her words, partners.

 From the beginning, Mary made a strong conviction that there will always be other business that will sell the same products as you. Instead of looking at these businesses as competition or intimidation, Mary takes the professional and positive approach that, not only are other individuals in the same field as you valuable connections, they set the level of standards by which each business can inspire the other to become better, to deliver higher customer service and products and to have an all around, more positive and lasting enterprise.

 I had to compare my insecurities with her attitude and realized that my intimidation came from the desire that I want to be successful in this area of my life. Sewing to me is what makes me happy. It is what makes me lose track of time and it is what makes me feel independent from others around me. To realize that others out there are jumping onto the green dragon made me want to jump on as well which in turn stressed me out that I would somehow (in the matter of a week) miss my great opportunity to ride to my own green success. STOP Alissa, realize that with time the hands become wiser and so does the spirit.

So as I sat there is my sewing room inspecting my work, ensuring that my seams were right and that I needed to focus on craftsmanship and that extra handmade touch, I realized that there is a huge source out there of inspiration if you only chose to see it that way. Yes, there are others out there who are up-cycling and creating beautiful hand made things....I will take their efforts, work harder, pay attention to detail, slow down, and dammit, Love every minute of it.

To all of those out there creating beauty with their hands, you are my inspiration.


{o,o}  The wOOly Owl
|)__)
-”-”-

The Lack of wool

Visiting some of the local second hand stores in search of my media, I have come across the startling fact that the majority of sweaters are made with synthetic fibres such as acrylic, Rayon, and polyester. While these fibres have their own pros, in terms of sustainability,  fire repelling and moisture properties, Wool as a natural fibre far surpasses them all. 

"Natural fibre, any hairlike raw material directly obtainable from an animal, vegetable, or mineral source and convertible into nonwoven fabrics such as felt or paper or, after spinning into yarns, into woven cloth,*  vs a synthetic fibre born from the result of a chemical process.

If you compare the impact on the environment, although synthetic fibres last longer, when placed in a landfill, synthetic fibres take longer to breakdown as their bases are not that of a natural foundation. Wool however can be added to your compost pile for later use in your garden. To think that something which came from the soil, into the  grass, into a sheep (or lamb), became the sheep's clothing in winter and into spun wool come summer, became your sweater and then will break down into the soil that it came from at the very start. Full circle.

In terms of safety, wool is again being used as type of insulation (bonded with natural rubber) with a potential r-value of 23. Wool is considered to be fire-resistant as it burns slower than synthetic fibers and will usually quit burning once the flame is removed. (Important when you and your baby are wearing and playing with wooly things such as my wOOly pretty to lOOk at Owl, or my mOmmies washable wOOly breast pads.

One of the most important facts about wool is its natural tendency to wick away and resist water...... oh yeah and that it is temperature regulating. My wOOly diaper cOvers hold in your baby's urine while keeping it at body temperature to ensure a uninterrupted sleep, (which means you sleep more and the whole family is happy again!!)

So I love wool. Hopefully my findings are a result that people realize wool's audacious characteristics and thats why acrylic teems within the second hand world as people clutch lovingly to their %100 Wool Sweaters.

{o,o}  The wOOly Owl

|)__)

-”-”-

*http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/406148/natural-fibre

All those golden autumn days the sky was full of wings

When I was younger I was enchanted by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  Her stories of living in the woods and hearing the wolves, bee keeping and the sort, how the winters were quiet and the summers were spent growing veggies and such and all in preparation for the upcoming winter. "Fall is a very busy time, because the harvest from the garden and fields must be brought in as well".

To me, Fall is the beginning of great abundance. Today, September 22 is the 2010 Autumn Equinox and is also the beginning of my new buisness The wOOly Owl.

I have been searching for my trade. A craft that I could use my hands and work as hard as I decided too. A hobby that would get me by and allow me to follow my own dreams of living in a small house in the big woods.

As I started sewing, I realized that I wanted to move forward in a practical and sustainable way. Working at Hip baby in Victoria, BC, I was exposed to all things mom and baby and the importance that Wool has to play in the grand old world of cloth diapering. Wool is temperature regulating, water resistant, natural and sustainable. It comes from gentle creatures and or from Good Will...... I decided to gather and reuse 100% wool sweaters (called up-cycling) to help further reduce waste of existing wool. From there I began designing different goodies for mom and baby that I know are going to ruffle your feathers IN A gOOd WAY!!

Moving out from British Columbia to beautiful Gravenhurst, I noticed that there was a huge need for all things organic and good and decided that yes, my calling is to create, and thus The wOOly Owl was born.

With Autumn comes time for abundance, and today I continue to gather and sew goodies so that, come christmas and spring, I will have a good supply of goodies to offer.

In the meantime, I hope your Autumn brings you the opportunities and experiences needed for great change and abundance in your life

Until my next blog,

Let All those golden autumn days be a crisp sky full of wings.



{o,o}  The wOOly Owl
|)__)
-”-”-