Our market last week was a great success! We had a really great turn out, it was a really fun day. This weekend is my last Christmas market. It's the Vancouver Farmer's Market at Heritage Hall. I did a market there last year and did well, so I hope this year is the same. I don't have as much stock as I'd like to have, but I have loads of good 'showy' pieces like my big dolls and mermaids. The mermaids turned out so well this time, I used my new embroidery fuction on my new machine. I never thought I'd use it..ever.. but now I'm thinking up ways that I can add embroidery to everything! I've had a really busy order week, almost 2 a day! I'm going to have to ask someone to watch Ben for a day so that I can catch up on my work. It's a hard balance sometimes being at home and working. I try to set aside time for Ben while I'm not sewing, but then an email comes through, or the phone goes. He's such a great little guy, he loves playing with his blocks or trucks on his own. We have sucessfully gone now with out ANY TV. He used to get some at my parents house, but after a long chat, they have not put the TV on while he's there. I'm tempted sometimes, when I just really need to get something done and I'm being asked 'what's this?' for the milllionth time..lol..such is life with a two year old! I am so lucky to be at home though, I really love it. Okay, I'll write again after my market and let you know how it went!

Today is the day before our big market. I'm not sure as to how it will go, I'm sure it will be a huge sucess. With all other markets I'm sure about how much stock to bring, what to sell, etc. Anyway, Ben and John have just gone out to the aquarium, so I have a few hours alone to sort through things and get them packed up and ready. I finally got some pics of the dolls all grouped together, they are up on my flickr site. Next week I have to start some of my orders, they are piling up..waiting to be created :) Johns dad is here from England this week and next, John is so happy to see his dad, it's great. Anyways, I'll write back tommorrow to tell eeveryone how it went. (Everyone,lol, no one reads this except myself! I have to figure out how to ge tthis out there!)

I am in the 'thick of it' for the next 3 weeks with my business. I had a WONDERFUL Saturday selling my dolls at the Vancouver Waldorf School. I sold more than I could have dreamed of. It was so great to be in an environment where your work is appreciated that much and the parents and staff were so supportive, it was amazing. (sniff, sniff!) I had my dolls up on display at Birkeland Bros. this month and have recieved loads of inquirys because of it. Birkeland is where I buy most of my wools and yarns, it's safe to say I must be one of their best customers. I get so much inspiration from going in there..just looking at the yarns gets my mind in overdrive :)
This Saturday is my first attempt at a private show. Luckily for me I am doing it with a marketing genius, my friend Bridgitte. Bridgitte owns Natural Pod, a company that sells treasures from around the world. She has wooden and natural toys, clothing, wooden 'Like a Bikes' and tonnes more..and of couse, my dolls :) I met Bridgitte last year at the 'One of a Kind' show at the Heritage Hall. Anyways, she has been working so hard to get this event going. I hope it goes well.
The following weekend is the Winters Farmers Market at Heritage Hall, that is always a big event. I am looking forward to seeing my customers from the summer time when I did the Farmers Markets at Trout Lake. I will continue to do them next summer even though I will be in Cobble Hill, they are a great event..and there is a wonderful lady who sells these red pepper jelly and chedder scones..mmmm..
I have to get going, we are putting Benji to bed now..

So much can happen in a week. We have decided to move to Vancouver Island in the Cowichan Valley. I am excited and nervous and overwhemled by all of this. Mostly excited though! We have always dreamed of living in a quieter more rural community. We will be sending Benjamin to the Sunrise Waldorf School, a school that I have heard nothing but good things about. This week we are meeting with 2 different Real Estate agents to talk about selling this place. Then we are going to Victoria this Monday for the day with an agent to have alook around at what is available. All of this during my craziest time of year!!

The dolls are going well. I am all full up for Christmas orders and am preparing for the upcoming Waldorf school Christmas Fair and the Winters Farmers Market. I'm a bit worried that I won't have enough stock.. It will all work out, I just have to trust that it will :)

Well, I'm going to get back to sewing..sew much to do!!

Whoo, haven't written in this for quite some time. Things are very busy here, I am gearing up for Christmas. I think that I will not accept anymore custom work and just concentrate on filling orders and getting my stock up for Markets. I just sent off a big shipment to Robert at www.mahardrygoods.com , some really cute babies. There is one little doll that looks just like baby Suri, I'd love to get it to TomKat. I posted some more dolls on my flickr site www.flickr.com/photos/bamboletta .
I'm currently searching for some help for the holidays, if anyone knows someone who's crafty and lives in Vancouver, please email me :) My lady that I normally use for sewing has fallen very ill, I hope that she gets better.
I've developed another type of doll, a pouch doll. This came about from going to the Waldorf school and talking to some of the people there about what kinds of dolls are age appropriate. I should get going though, have to make dinner.

I had my market today. It was great and went really well. It's a little bit hit and miss on long weekends, but I think most people were in town because of kids going back to school. Now I am just at home relaxing and winding down.
I'm so happy to find out that we got into the Parent and Tot program at the Waldorf school in North Vancouver. I'm really excited about this. It runs for a few hours once a week and starts next Saturday.
This week I'm going to get started on all my custom orders, I have so many to do! I'm also going to get my lists organized for Christmas. I think that I'm only going to do the Christmas Market at Heritage Hall on Dec.9th and 10th and the Fair at the Waldorf School which I believe is on the last weekend of November. I think I'm going to be really busy with internet orders over Christmas so I don't want to over do things.
I'm going to go take a nap.
No one actually reads this, but if someone does you can see what I do at www.bamboletta.com or see my pic's at www.flikr.com/bamboletta/photos.

today is my birthday. i'm 31. hmmm, don't know how I feel about this :)
I'm all ready for the market tommorrow. I'm quite excited about this one as it is my last one of the season. I used to get so nervous about doing them, staying up all night worried about this and that. now, I truly enjoy them. there is a lady there who makes the most AMAZING scones, they are still warm when you buy them in the morning and are made with chedder cheese and red pepper jelly..oh, my mouth is just watering thinking about them. I had Asha and Jenny from the Waldorf school come by a few dolls from me. they are both such nice ladies. I donated a few of my older dolls to the school's after care program. It was just such perfect timing, Johna nd myself were just discussing what to do with my old dolls. I have a few that were made a few years ago and don't really meet my selfimposed standards. They are cute, but look way different then my new ones. I also meet with Lori, the sweetest grannie that is going to start sewing for me. I am so glad to have found her!! She used to be a seamstress in China making, get this, doll clothing!

So, this is my busy week. I'm a little overwhelmed right now as Benji isn't sleeping very well right now. He seems to be dropping his nap and is now petrified of going to his room. Poor little man, we are going to buy him a new bed and make some changes to his room to maybe get him excited about his room again. We'll see if it works.
I've had quite a few orders roll in this week. I'm excited to get started on them. So many cute colour combo's.. I have a tonne of ideas for their clothing. I just finished a 12" boy. I don't make many boys, just because they don't sell..or isn't because I don't make many? Hmmm, anywyas, I think I'll be making more of these little guys. I'll post a pic soon.

I had a fairly productive day today. My great friend Iris came over and watched my little guy for a few hours while I got some work done. I have my last summer markdet on September 3rd that I have to prepare for. The markets are so much fun, I've met so many great pwople. When I do markets I have to prep many 'little' things, such as my pocket elves, and a new doll that I'm going to be trying out this market which is a blanket doll. It's for newborns, basically a head with a little blanket body, it's really cute. I think one of the best things about it is that parents can throw this doll in the wash.
I got a call today from a film studio about making some more dolls. I'm not sure of the details but I'll keep everyone up to date on what happens.
Well, I should get go, I have to put the little one to sleep.

This is my real life doll and one of my Bamboletta Dolls. Ben is about 2 in this picture!

I've never done one of these before. Well, that's a lie, I tried to make a blog somewhere but can't remember the site that I started it on. Does this happen to anyone else. I swear there are at least 30 sites that I'm registered on that I don't even remember registering for. Once in a while I'll try to register on something and realize that my username is taken..hey, wait, is that me? then I'll type in all my passwords to try to get in. So annoying!
Anyways, I wanted to start a blog about starting a business, my dollmaking business. I also would like a place where I can communicate with my clients to evolve and brainstorm on new ideas. I've been making dolls for a few years now but have only started selling them for 8 months. I LOVE making dolls for children. I do custom work, working with parents to create a doll that is unique and special for their child. I use natural materials..wool, cotton, etc to create these dolls. I follow the Waldorf philosophy making them.
I should get going, I'm supposed to be making dinner for my family, but thought I'd grab a few minutes to try this out!