Good news today. I found out that 'Shared Vision' ( BC Mag on holistic living) is doing an article on Bamboletta. I'm not sure of the scope or size, but it's exciting none the less. It's funny, I'm ring to slow things down with the 'biz' and interest is just growing and growing. Isn't that always the way?

Next week I am working on an order for mahardrygoods.com. I've created a gnome doll for the site that I'm eager to see posted, I'll put up a pic when I'm done him. There are also a few babies and a mermaid in the mix.

Good Lord, could this baby be ANY bigger? Everything is such an ordeal right now..going up the stairs, picking things up off the floor, you name it it's an event.

BTW my good friend Devon, who I have mentioned before is now officially blogging...http://talltreephotography.blogspot.com/ it's pretty new, but it will be a good one, I promise!

I've posted up 2 new dolls for sale on Natural Pod www.naturalpod.com. I also posted a cozy sherpa banket doll. I'll try to get some more blanket dolls done in the next few weeks. I've decided to only make the blanket dolls in organic fabric since they are for babies.

Nothing else exciting to report. I've spent most the day recovering from staying awake until 4AM! I've been wondering around like a bit of a zombie. Thankfully John was home so I could have a good nap this morning. I'm such a lucky lady.

This is a picture that my friend Devon from http://www.talltreephotography.ca took last week. I think my mom would be horrified I am showing this in public as everyone can see my underwear.

It's 1AM and I can't sleep. The irony of pregnancy, I can't sleep yet I am so, so tired.

Today we went to the Mill Bay Family fair. It was cute. A few of those bouncy castle types of rides and some stalls. The *big* event though was the fire truck..that had it's ladder fully extended! Ben was awe struck. It was hilarious to see all the teenage girls just hanging around all the hunky young firefighters. Lol, I'm glad I'm not 18.

I'm working on 3 large dolls for a customers order right now. It's wonderful, I'm doing an African American, an Asian doll and one to look like their Filipino nanny. Lots of fun with the different types of hair I can do. I've got 2 other 14" in the works as well for sale up on Natural Pod. John was busy tonight making all the heads. He is a master headmaker, ther is no way I have the stregnth to make them that tight. I honestly think that my dolls really progressed once he started making the heads for me. He's even mentioned a few times that he may be up for 'machining'..haha this is his man term for sewing. I am using some scraps of organic fabrics to make the new baby's washclothes and I think I'm going to ask him to serge the ends. Nice and easy and a simple square, just to get him used to the machine. I took a sewing class years ago that a man was one of my classmates. He loved the serger because it was 'like, the power tool of sewing'. I think this will be a good intro for John.

Still obsessing on Lost. We are almost through Season 2, thank God! I just can't stop watching it. I have to admit though, before I came online and blogged, I went and read about 5 episodes worth of spoilers ahead of where we currently are. I'm so lame! I just have to know about the 'Others'!

We headed down to the Farmers Market early this morning for first dibs on some yummy, fresh. local strawberries. Ben and I then spent the morning cleaning and freezing them for the winter. The market here is fantastic, there is everything you could want and more. I found a wonderful lady that sells fresh poultry and veggies from her farm every week. I've learned a lot about organic farming and eating from her the past few weeks. Her products are fantastic.

Those two Babies are my latest venture in jointing with doll joints. Little gal on the left has no hair, I'm waiting to hear back from a customer about what kind of hair she'd like on her. The other little gal will be up for sale either today or tomorrow on Naural Pod ( www.naturalpod.com ) . I'm working on a fairy next, inspired by the srawberry season! Im going to go to the 'Loom' yarn shop and see what kind of strawberry fairy hair I can find for her. I love making the fairies so much, you can just go crazy with them. When I was little I used to be obsessed with them, my mom says that when I was around 4 or 5 I used to think that dragonflies were fairies.

Well, gotta go and wake up Ben from his nap..

This is my new little guy Samson. He's one of the 12" dolls that I just made up. I'm trying to make up more of these smaller dolls, they are such a nice size for little ones. Benji has a 12" doll , Emily, that is just perfect for him. Most of my customers are buying dolls for their 2 and 3 year olds and the 17" dolls are just a tad overwhelming. When I was checking back on the Natural Pod site though I noticed I have a lot of Caucasian dolls..well, they are all Caucasian. I hadn't noticed everything had sold off. So, next week I'm going to work on adding a tad more 'colour' :)

So today we bought a minivan. It's a 2000 Toyota one and it's a pretty goldy/pearl colour. I NEVER thought I'd ever get a minivan..ever, but they really are practical. With the new baby coming and next summer's Farmers Markets, I think I'll get some good use out of it. It just seems like such a mom thing, you know? I should just come to grips with the fact that I am a mom..ha, ha!

I'll get some pics up of the new and improved Baby dolls tomorrow. One will be posted on Natural Pod tomorrow for sale. Her name is Stella and she has the most fantastic hair. One of the yarns I used on her is handspun by Lorna, the owner of Westcott Farms where I am getting my wool from. She has these beautiful dark brown sheep that she got the wool for this doll from. So, it hasn't been dyed..just carded and spun..beautiful! It's a bit of a yucky day outside and I can't get a good shot of her so I'll wait until tomorrow.

We've become obsessed with the show 'Lost'. We've been renting the series on DVD and it has taken over my life. Anyone else obsessed with this show?

I can't believe I'm having a baby in a few weeks, it all seems so surreal. This pregnancy has been so much easier then my last one, I keep foorgetting that I'm pregnant. I guess running after a 3 year old all day takes your mind off things. I feel pretty prepared though. I have a doula lined up and I *love* my midwife Jane. We are going to try for a homebirth but I'm open to whatever happens.

I'm tring to finish up some orders and get as much stuff on at Natural Pod as possible. I'm not sure how well new baby and dollmaking will go together. John is going to try to get 3 months off paternity leave which would be just dreamy. I'm fielding wholesale requests weekly and had a huge American company enquiring about the dolls a few weeks ago, but at this moment my focus is to be a mom. After baby is born, I'm going to really look at Bamboletta and where I want it to go. There are a few crafty mamas that I met in Cobble Hill that I think I can get to make my smaller dolls like my Pouchy, Blanket, Toddler and Lavender Cuddlies. Then I can make the Babies and various sized Bamboletta's.

Speaking of my Babies (the cloth kind), I've redone how I joint them. I love the button jointing, but it isn't the most sturdy if you have a rambuntious young child. Kids love to spin the arms round and round and round (because they can!) and the previous jointing would snap. Anyhow, I started looking at how teddy bears were constructed, ones with articulated limbs and wanted to construct the Babies the same way. I ordered in some joints and through some trial and error am really pleased with the results. I dislike that they are plastic, I hate for anything plastic to be in my dolls, but, I figure it's better then a child playing with a doll and it's arm falling off! Not a good scene!

I have to say a big THANKS to my good pal Devon, who gently reminded me of how lame a blog that is updated monthy is.. she is starting a blog soon about her photography and we have decided to become blog buddies and make sure that each other posts regularly. More on her when she get's up and running....

I love where I live! This is what we did this morning.

I can't believe it's been over a month! Spring is defintely here in Cobble Hill. John, Ben and I have been working hard in the garden - planting beds, putting in a veggie patch and endlessly mowing the lawn. John and I were talking today about how absolutely content we feel out here. Our only regret is that we didn't moveout here sooner. We've met some really great people and are starting to feel part of the community. I'm such a 'putter' person and living on some land, in the country raising litle ones is my putter heaven!

The dolls are doing well. I just finished up 6 new dolls for Natural Pod. They aren't posted yet, Bridgitte is at a confrence this weekend and I thought it'd be better to post them after it's done. I go and pick up 20 pounds of wool on Saturday from Westcott Farms. It's a local farm that raises their sheep organically. These sheep have a great life, they are so loved. If I ever come back as a sheep, I want to live here! Anyways, I am happy to have found this place. I am really trying to make a product that is sustainable, natural and local. I've also decided to only make my baby blanket dolls using organic materials. I always thought I was fairly aware and holistic, but living here just amplifies my decisions to be as environmentally consious as possible. The surrounds here are so beautiful, the people here are so aware and having all these farms around, many of which grow organic food really puts awarness in your face. All this and maybe because I'm pregnant, that always seems to put things in perspective.

My parents are coming to visit this weekend. We are all looking forward to seeing them. I'm taking them to something called 'Kids and Apple Pie', it's a fair in Cobble Hill. I'll keep you posted on how that goes, apparently there is a good silent auction.

I took this picture this afternoon in our frount garden. There were 3 deer together munching on new shoots. I'm sure this won't be so cute in a few months when all my veggies are coming up!
I'm in the process of designing the garden right now. Our frount gets loads more light, so I'm putting in our veggie patch there. (with deer fencing!). I'm thinking of hiring a landscape designer to help me map out my space. It was easy with our Vancouver house, our property was about 20 times smaller then this one. We also have a speptic field to deal with and I'm not too sure as to how you plant around that.

I've posted a few more dolls on www.naturalpod.com for sale. Now I'm working on finishing up 3 dolls for orders, then I'm starting on a 'family' of five African American dolls for another order..so cute. I can't wait to see them all together. After this I will be doing a series of 6 dolls in a 12" size. I love this size of doll to make. These dolls will be for sale through Natural Pod and I should have them done in about 3 weeks or so. I'm waiting for a shipment of new clothing to come in from my friend Lenna in Nova Scotia. New dresses, pants, skirts and tshirts for my larger 17" Bamboletta. Once it's in I'll be sure to post a picture up. I'm in Vancouver next week and will be sure to make it to Fabricana (the cutest fabrics!). I'm going to stock up and ship some fabric off to Lenna to make up some new clothing for my mid size Bamboletta's.

Mahar Dry Goods has posted 2 new dolls up on the site www.mahardrygoods.com There is a blonde baby and an Asian baby on there. Robert has such fantastic products, a super fun way to waste an hour!

It's been a little over a week in our new home, but it feels as though we've been here forever. I am so in love with this place. John and I haven't been able to wipe the grins off our faces since we arrived. I've met so many lovely people here, everyone is so welcoming. Yesterday we went into Duncan to see the Farmers Market and I was so impressed with the size and caliber of crafts, baking, soaps, etc. It was easily double the size of the Vancouver one and there weren't any produce farmers there yet. Anyhow, I will try to attend one in the next month or so.

I've just finished 4 dolls. 2 are already on www.naturalpod.com for sale and the other 2 will most likely be up tomorrow ( my dig camera ran out of batteries!). I've made 2 large Bamboletta's, one with curly red hair and one blonde, and 2 medium Bamboletta's, one Asian girl and one brunette. I'm working on more blanket dolls this week, so I should have those up soon. The picture here is of the red headed large Bamboletta.

What a NOB!!

Thanks for all the sympathy emails over the whole oil tank debacle. Turns out, to make a long story short, we don't even have an oil tank! I always assumed that we had one and that we had it filled and drained, but three different oil men have found no traces of a tank. I'm not sure what we paid someone 5 years ago to drain and fill, but it certainly wasn't a tank. We are too relieved now to feel upset over what happened 5 years ago. Phew! Now I just can't believe I'm moving in a week, I'm actually getting excited now.

I'm sending off 2 dolls today to Robert for his website, a cute little Asian baby and a blonde one. I'll take a picture before I send them off and post them up. I'm trying to get a little work done, but things are so hectic around here right now I'm having a hard time. I'm getting a large order in of 'hair' in the next few weeks and have just commisioned someone to spin me some merino in some beautiful hair shades. I'm able to get so many variations for blondes, but not so many for my other hair colours - mainly browns. We'll see how it all turns out.

What a wonderful day I had yesterday. I attended the first ever Vancouver Birth Fest. This space had local midwives, doulas, sling makers, mama businesses..all things wonderful, natural and empowering about birth. I felt like I knew almost all the mama's there either attending or 'working. I feel so sad that I won't have this wonderful support network around me when I am going to have my baby, but I'm sure that the Cowichan Midwives and birth support people are fantastic too. I had so many of my customers from the markets and fairs over the summer and winter come back and tell me how much their little one's love their dolls. What an enormous difference this was to another commercialized baby fair I attended before I had Benji. Formula samples, disposable diapers and educational videos was all that I really remember from that. The women in Vancouver are so fortunate to have such a strong voice for alternative childbearing and child rearing behind them.

So, I move in 10 days. We have had a major setback with the house (Van house) though. To make a long story short, even though we had our oil tank drained and filled 5 years ago, had environmental testing which came back clean, and was just about to get what is called an abandonment certificate we have to get our tank removed. I have never felt so much stress in my life over anything before. Endless phonecalls from realtors, oil men, visits from the city, environmental protection. All this while being pregnant, which is kinda like being awake and having your mind spinning at 4am - all the time! I had about 4 days of intense panic that the seller would pull out, we would be stuck with two houses, we'd get sued, etc. Jeez, and we thought we were doing the right thing by having it dealt with all those years ago. The oil tank people have to rip off our frount steps, shore up our porch and possible remove half of it, take out about 20 feet of our paving stones and dig the sucker out. If they have to bring in an excavator then we have to take down our fence (this fence , my picket fence, had hours of thought put into it...lol, oh how luxurious is life before children!) Anyways, it has to be done - there is nothing we can do about it, it's just a pity that the new owner is going to lose so much garden.

Enough about that, I'm getting a tummy ache thinking about it. I'm thinking I'll have about 2 dolls posted by the end of the week a mid size bamboletta and perhaps another baby. I am finishing up an order for Mahar which I am trying to get sent out before I leave. I am looking forward to settling down over there and getting into some serious doll making, I'm really wanting to make up some mermaids, I haven't made those up in a while.

Well, John and I are off to have some breakfast at White Spot. Benji is a Grandmas so we have a few hours to ourselves.

We signed off on the house yesterday, so it is all legal and done with now..I have an address! Yesterday John and I went on a date, my mother was kind enough to take Ben for the day. We went to Red Robin, it's funny..we had a choice of any restaurant in the city and we go to Red Robin. But, when a pregnant lady is craving gooey cheese sticks, well, she's got to have them! That afternoon I treated myself to a facial at Skoah, which was hands down the best facial I've ever had, really. I recommmend the 'Facialious'.

I've finished up an order for Quiet Hour Toys. I'll post a pic as soon as I take one. Those 5 dolls that are in the picture are for Natural Pod. Natural Pod will be at the Vancouver Waldorf School on Thursday March 1st from 11 to 4 selling all kinds of wonderful things. Next week I hope to finish up a large baby, small baby and another 14" Bamboletta for NP, so those should be posted up on her site soon. Bridgitte has been working day and night to get the site up and running and it should be happening within the next few weeks. If you are interested in a doll though, you can email her and she has prepared a 'collage' of what dolls she has available for sale, there is quite a good assortment.

Just as a side note, I can't stop listening to Amy Winehouse. What an incredible voice and style. Download her song 'Rehab' (no, not about Britney!) and you will know why she is #1 in England..fantastic!!

It looks as though we may have bought a house. It isn't the one with the chicken coop, but it does have 1/2 an acre, so I'm sure I can swing a couple of chickens in there :).When we find out for sure, I'll put up a picture of it. I've been busy organising things for the move and getting ready for everything that is upcoming. Thankfully John's work is pitching in for the move so I'm getting people to come and pack up for us, that will save us a huge headache.
I have just finished an order of dolls for Molly at 'Twirl' a new store in Taos, New Mexico..so, if you are in the area, you should check it out. I'm about to start on a new order of dolls for Mayhardrygoods.com .Robert has asked me to create a gnome doll especially for his store, a project that I am really excited about! I will let you know how it all goes. There are a few events in and around Vancouver coming up with Natural Pod, I'll get the dates soon and post them up here. Bridgitte has a good selection of my dolls and am trying to replenish her stock weekly.

Phew, that was a stressful week. Our home had multiple offers on the day of our Open House last Saturday and today all the subjects came off. We did pretty well and got above our asking price. Hubby has already spent the extra $$ (in his mind) on new gardening and greenhouse equipment and I’ve spent it (again in my mind) on getting tonnes of dollmaking supplies. Lol, we are so lame!

We are off to Vancouver Island to look for a new home tomorrow. I am eyeing one on the internet that has a chicken coop. This is very appealing. I’ll let everyone now how things are progressing.

I’ve finished making up a Daffodile Fairy this week, she is inspired by all the lovely green nubbins that are poking through the soil in my garden. I’ll post a pic as soon as I can find my camera. I’ve also made up 5 new blanket dolls. As soon as I find the camera I’ll post all these pics and have them up for sale on Natural Waldorf Toys. I also finished up a doll for a little girl in California today, she turned out really well. I’m trying out some new yarns that I had custom made for doing the dolls. I’ve found a wonderful spinner that is spinning different types of wools with mohair to make a slub yarn in ‘hair’ colours.

I really have to post on here more often. Well things haven't seemed to slow down here in doll making dining room. I'm fielding wholesale requests weekly now and the orders haven't seemed to slow down at all. This is GREAT, I am so excited but I think I need some help. I've just talked to my Aunt Maria, the very woman who started my love affair with crafting and she is very willing to help me out making the doll bodies. I really want to keep this business in the family. I am so conscious of what kind of energy is around these dolls, our little ones are just so sensitive. It looks as though the move is happening in April..we finally got some kind of date from John's work. I've enrolled the little guy at the Waldorf school in Duncan. I am so excited to become part of that community. I'll miss my parents dearly, but I'm convinced that they will move to the Island with us..they just don't know it yet!! This picture is of a doll that I have up for sale on etsy.. www.etsy.com/bambolettadolls

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!)