Trucks

This little video was taken a few days ago. Ben is teaching Jasper about trucks. My little boy is obsessed with trucks. I never knew the difference between a backhoe and a frount end loader before Benjamin came into my life :)

I put a new doll up for sale on Natural Pod. Her name is Eva. I knew an Eva in my childhood and she really liked pink. I don't usually do my dolls in all pink, I think the market is saturated with pink for girls. But, sometimes it's pretty darn cute. Like my boy and trucks..lots of little girls just like pink. Is it us as parents that push it on them? I don't think so. I mean go into any kids shop or toy store and you are bound to see the stereotypes but there is some reasoning behind it. I used to think it was social conditioning that had boys playing trucks and girls wearing pink but I know ,as a parent myself, I certainly didn't encourage it. I make dolls for goodness sake!! It seems to just be something innate, from when Ben was about 9 months old his face would light up when a truck rumbled past. And his first word...truck.

Wool Glorious Wool

This beautiful handspun wool was sent to me from a customer wanting to use it on her daughter's custom doll. I love the result! I am quite the wool collector, perusing wool shops is really one of my top favorite things to do in life. I get so excited when I see a new wool and can immediately imagine the doll I will create with it, or the sweater that my Nonna will knit with it. This wool comes from the Spun Monkey it is very delicious!

Experience

A few days ago John and Ben went into Vancouver leaving me alone with Jasper for the whole day. When Benjamin was this age I remember feeling so proud if I managed to get a load of laundry done. Now, alone with Jasper, I went and did a massive grocery shop (at the bg yellow store..has anybody checked out their kids clothes? Organic baby clothes..at the big yellow store!! who knew?!) did 2 loads of laundry, made cookies, finished up a doll, organised Ben's playroom and my new workroom AND managed a shower. Hmmm, if I knew then what I know now..lol! I'm sure mom's with 3 children say the same thing about mom's that only have 2 children!

This pic is of ben's new playroom that used to be my old workspace. I moved my workroom downstairs to seperate my work from home. I have an lady starting to work for me on Tuesday 3 days a week doing some cutting and sewing, I really like her and hope that this will work out. More about that on my next post, Ben is begging me to make voices for all his trains...again!!

Business

This week has been really interesting. John and I have been looking at the business side of the dolls, material costs, time costs, etc. It's all a huge mathematical equation. I am so impressed with my husband and his business knowledge, I have no idea about this stuff. I'm so lucky to have him.

I should be posting a new 12'' tomorrow, I just have to make her clothing today and I'm working on 2 14" dolls, one for sale and one custom fairy. I look forward to doing the fairy, the customer supplied the hair (yarn) and it's a beautiful handspun cotswald yarn, all twirly and bumpy..it'll look great. This pic is of my new pouchy dolls that I just put up for sale on naturalpod.com, some of them use my new fabric from superbuzzy.

Blanket Dolls

This week I've been working on these blanket dolls. They are really fun to make and so snuggly to hold. I love the simplicity of their design. I decided some time ago to make my blanket dolls using only organic materials. These dolls are meant for babies and we all know how much babies love to 'explore' their toys (ie chew) so it was important for me that these dolls have no chemicals on them. I also made them so they can be washed by making their head extra firm as to not lose shape while washing. I just ordered in a heap of organic velour that I am going to experiment dying so that I can get some different colours. I got a natural dye kit from Maiwa in Vancouver that I'm itching to use. Fun times!

Comfort

I think I have a 'high need baby'. The little man doesn't ever want to be put down, he's fussy and irritable and is constantly wanting to eat! It's a good thing he's so cute I tell you, even his crazy seal pup looks make me melt! Jasper is the total opposite of what Benjamin was as a baby. I could even tell this when he was inside my belly, kicking about, always moving. I've come to really appreciate slings. I am a self confessed sling junky, owning 8 different types of carriers in total. By far my favorite is the Karma baby carrier, you just pop him in and out, it folds up small and best of all it's in organic cotton! I love it, it gives me comfort. I've been able to sew with him in the sling, play with Benjamin, and even make an apple crisp! (not around the oven though..that's bad..) Anyway, Karma slings are available at www.naturalpod.com in the baby section. Not that I'm trying to sell you anything, I just really love this sling and want to spread the joy :)

Oh jeeze, 10 days since my last post... the shame!

I've been shipping the gals off to different publications for their 'holiday gift guide' issues. I don't want to say which ones, because who knows what can happen between now and then. I'd feel a bit embarrassed if I was talking about them and then for some reason it doesn't happen :) Anyhow, I let you know when it happens.

It's been blanket doll time here at chez Platt. The school store at the VWS starts up soon and I need to stock up on my smaller items, ie blanket and pouchy dolls. (*oh my goodness! I just peeked into my sling and baby Jasper gave me his second ever smile..sniff, sniff!*) I did make a large doll too, Celeste, who is one of my favorite dolls that I've ever made. Next week I start to work on some baby dolls.

We went to Vancouver for a short visit and to stock up on fabrics, thread and such. We stopped into the aquarium for Benjamin and took in the dolphin show. This is a shot from the seal exhibit. The aquarium is one of 3 things I miss about Vancouver (1. ikea, 2. sushi and 3. the aquarium) There are people I miss too, obviously, but these are my three things.

Cute!
My dad came to visit recently. I caught the two boys having a nap on the couch.

New Website

Just a quickie as I am doing this at 1am while typing with one hand, holding baby Jasper. Here is the mock up for my new website! I wanted something fresh and cute and am working with an illustrator and design team at aeolida. I just wanted to add some illustrations to the site but it still operates using a wordpress design. So, soon, I will be shutting down my blogger site and moving things over to my wordpress/ bamboletta.com site blog. This way I'm all in one place. I think I'll still keep my flickr account open though.
I also met up with a mutual friend of my friends (if this makes sence) to start working for me making some clothes and my more simple dolls. She is a really great mama and has the nicest energy about her. I've got a great feeling about this 'relationship'. She went to costume design school in NS and is so full of knowledge about pattern drafting and construction, I'm sure she'll teach me a thing or two! We are going to meet up weekly and work together..lol, while our babies (hopefully) sleep! This week she is constructing some new dresses for my 14" dolls..I'm so excited. I gave her some olive and tangerine coloured organic fabric to work with, we'll see what we can come up with.
I'm posting a new doll this afternoon on www.naturalpod.com, she is very sweet and her name is Bree :) This week I am working on getting some more blanket dolls and pouchy dolls made.

Timing...
I've never been so busy in my life personally with a new baby (who *loves* to eat!) and an active 3 year old, new house, husband and dog (in no particular order!). All this is going on and at the same time I have never been so busy professionally. I've had loads of press lately including this new one http://www.babyvibe.ca/Archives2007/Aug27,2007.cfm , CityTV, Shared Vision and a couple of other things. Store inquiries daily, requests for customs and I just can't seem to make dolls fast enough to put up for sale on NaturalPod. No complaints :) I think it's the universe pushing me to take a jump with the business. John and I are really considering him leaving his job so we can do this together. Our lives are really simple, we aren't looking at making heaps of money, it's never ever been for the money (as any dollmaker can attest to!) but to think that maybe, just maybe we could do this. Stay home and raise our family together doing something that makes us so happy..hmmmm (smiling)

Sweet!

Woke up this morning to an inbox full of emails about a little blurb about me in http://www.sweetspot.ca/sweetmama_vancouver.php So exciting!

What I'm really happy about is that they mentioned me to be a 'husband and wife' team. We've been talking about the possiblity in a few years of John not working anymore and the two of us just being at home taking care of the kids and making dolls. I think he's gotten past the 'girly' aspect of making dolls and has even mentioned he'd like to learn how to 'machine' (man code for sewing). He already helps out so much and makes my heads and cuts fabric and wool for me, but I think we are ready to step it up a notch. I'm also on the look out for some help with making some of my blanket and pouchy dolls.It'll happen.

08-22-07


Hello, Dolly

Our first love? No, it wasn’t Tony in grade school. It was our first doll, Tina. She was more than a doll, she was our baby. We'd like to give our daughter the same memories, but finding a worthy faux-friend hasn't been easy.

Our search finally ended with Bamboletta, an all-natural, handmade doll company located on Vancouver Island. These one-of-a-kind gems ($80+) are made with the purest materials available (think organic cotton for the skin, lambs wool stuffing, and a mixture of non-synthetic yarns for hair).

Made with love by a husband and wife team, Nonna herself is busy handknitting the gorgeous sweaters (too bad they didn’t come in adult sizes). And this family is only getting bigger. Since the creator has a baby on the way, she is limiting the amount of custom orders she’ll be taking this year for Christmas (Note to self: Order it now!).

The dolls come in an endless variety of sizes and types (babies, toddlers, mermaids and faeries), making it impossible not to find any child's first love. (Unless, of course, she’s already met Tony in grade school.)

Bamboletta
www.bamboletta.com

Yummy!


I found this new lopi yesterday while exploring a new yarn store at the 'Whipletree Junction'. The store is called 'The Loom' and it is an absolute treasure trove of wools, fleece, spinning and weaving supplies. My heart was racing and I was a bit breathless as I explored all the nooks and crannies of this store. Products were lined up and down, floor to ceiling with barely any room to move around in. I love these old school type of yarn shops. In Vancouver there is a new breed of yarn stores..ultra organized, house music playing, amazing Japanese Noru yarns and not a verigated baby acrylic in site. I love these kinds of shops too, they appeal to my aesthetic. But, the older shops are where I find my treasures. I'm so inspired by this delicious colour (in the pic it's mixed with a chestnut mohair) I'm working on a doll right now with this colour hair. I should be done by tomorrow night.

Kids are good, Jasper is fully taking advantage of the 'breast buffet' right now and is growing like a weed.

The Beauty of Handcrafted

Just look at this quilt! I was privliged enough to have Berrie from Moondchild Studio make this glorious creation for me. I am so happy with it. I have such admiration for quilters, it's always been something that I've wanted to do, just at the moment there just isn't enough time. Handcrafted goods hold a different feel to them. I always treat them a little better and they give me such pleasure one can feel the amount of love and care that goes into something handmade.

On the work front, I'm trying to get back at it. I had Jasper in the sling while I was sewing today, I think the noise helped him sleep longer. I'm making 2 dolls for a potentially large promotion, I can't talk about it because it's not a sure thing yet, but it's very exciting! So tonight is a night of breastfeeding, Nip/Tuck and John making heads..lol.

What a Week!

I feel as though I'm coming out of the abyss of birth. It's been a crazy, sleep deprived, love drunk, time warp of a week. My little Jasper is such an angel - I think I have chapped lips from kissing him so much! Thanks so much for all the emails, calls and pressies - we all feel really loved right now. I owe a huge thanks to my wonderful midwife Jane from Cowichan Midwifery Group, she went above and beyond for us. She's a Super Trouper ( I'm listening to Abba right now).

On the work frount (well, there is no work for a while..until I figure out how to sew while holding a baby, which I will, just give me time ;) ) Natural Pod had a legnthy segment on Breakfast Television on CityTV this morning. Bridgitte was a *star*, she was so great on TV, a total natural! Bamboletta got a great plug. I had my Baby doll, Mermaid, Large Bamboletta and blanket doll talked about..very exciting! Bridgitte even mentioned my Nonna (who does all my knitting). My parents taped the segment and are showing Nonna tonight. She'll be so excited.

Jasper has Arrived

He's finally here! I can't write much as I am very, very tired... but, here is Jasper, born July 31st. I'll write back soon it's been a crazy few days.

Meet 'Tofu'

So this is my son's new doll. I made him last night and put him on the bed for my little guy to wake up with this morning. I thought we were going to name him 'Toby' but Ben decided this morning that his name is 'Tofu'. Tofu went everywhere with us today, to the midwife, grocery shopping and played with Ben in the backyard. It was so sweet to see this little bond grow between them. As a dollmaker, I make the dolls for children but I don't get to see the interaction later on. Occasionally a parent and child will come by an event that I'm at with a previously purchaced doll and I get to see my dolls a few months ,perhaps a year later, loved and worn in. These times were always my favorite parts of the day. But to see Ben playing with and interacting with tofu was really something special.

Tomorrow I will post a pic of the fruits of my work 'week'. I have one more doll to sew a half a head of hair on and then I'm done..and on to my next 'week'.

Still no bebe. Midwife Jane says this baby is already measuring 8 pounds (give or take).

My Little Secret

I've never made Ben a doll. He has a few dolls, but they are ones that just didn't turn out quite right, never sold at markets or are an older style that I'm not wanting to sell. He's never taken to any of them prefering to play with his trucks or trains, playing farm, kitchen or store..but never, ever with his dolls. I used to think that boys played trucks and girls played dolls due to social conditioning and I was convinced that my son would play with dolls and his trucks..ha, ha..how many of us thought that?

Anyways, the past few weeks I've noticed an increase in his imaginative play. He's making voices for his different trains and using some of his gnomes to retell stories that I've told him. I asked him today if he'd like me to make him a doll and rather then the 'no mama, it's okay' he responded with an enthusiastic 'YES!'. My heart sang, it is the right time for Benjamin to have a doll. His name will be Toby, he has tan skin, brown eyes and red hair (interesting combo..but he picked it) I already had the body made so Ben's doll will be made for when my sweetheart wakes up, I will work hard tonight to get the hair sewn on and face embroidered.

I'll post a pic tomorrow.

Still no baby, but I guess you probably figured that out by now :)

New Style Doll

I've made a new style of doll. Well, it's not really a new style, it's my large baby doll. I took the body and made a doll that , what I think, look like a toddler. Her limbs are all jointed which means they all move independently. I just posted her on www.naturalpod.com for sale. I love this tan skin tone with the brown hair.

I had such a lovely evening last night with a few good friends at this wonderful restaurant in Shawnigan Lake called Steeples (it used to be a church). It was so nice to have a long conversation not interupted with children. Sitting on the deck in the evening sun, I felt like just me..not a mom or a wife, but me - it was long overdue. This is one thing that I really miss about Vancouver. It was so easy to just meet up for coffee or grab a bite to eat with a pal. Here, you tend to stay home (really because it is such a nice place to be!). Anyways with my great new friends I've made and some more old friends moving to the 'hood - I think evening teas will become more frequent.

Still no baby. I'm thinking it's not coming until Christmas now. I had an acupuncture treatment yesterday to try to speed things along. No luck today.

About Half Way Through...

I made some great progress yesterday. John was off work and took care of Ben yesterday for long periods of time. I'll get the same today, the boys are headed to the trains for the afternoon.

I got 4 bodies assembled, 1 complete and I'm starting the large Babies hair. I'm going to try to post the doll that Ben is holding today on www.naturalpod.com . I'm going to try something a tad different with my large baby doll and dress him/her in clothing rather then a sleeper, so like a little toddler and not so much a baby. I've done this for customers before and I've always got feedback when I've done it.

I've always wanted to document how my dolls progress. What a better way then with a blog! So this is 2 days worth of work. It's quite a bit this time because I've done NO housework in 2 days and we haven't gone out much due to the gloomy rain. I'm making 3 babies and all their limbs are done and assembled to the bodies, the heads are made and it's all ready for assembly. Last night I actually finished a doll..I'll take a picture and post her tomorrow. John was in my workshop on the computer entranced by You Tube (he's only just discovered it) while I sew. It's a nice way to spend an evening..lol, aside from being interrupted every 10 minutes with "Hey, love, look at this goal that Liverpool scored - this was back in '84.. I remember this goal, whoa what a cracker that was, blah, blah, blah".