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

|)__)

-”-”-