Pandora's Box

More and more of my old friends are joining Facebook, I love catching up with them but the one thing I'm not too keen on is all the free 'tests' that get passed about like 'Find your true name' all geared to revealing your true personality, which either leaves you elated or deflated.

This morning I have been lining some handbags and tea cosies. Standard kit required: sewing machine, scissors and sewing box.

So here is my Personality Test - What does your sewing box say about you?

. To start with my box is actually a tool box, lots of handy compartments to keep me organised.
. The picture above is a small selection of the more bizarre things I keep in my box:
. Thread colours - I have no idea what I have used some of those colours for over the years. The bright orange was for a holiday dress I hand sewed, which would no doubt look more like a hankie now. The green thread was for a new cover I made for the sofa that was left in my first flat in Edinburgh. The other colours - well?!
. Spare light bulbs for my Disco Ball
. A plectrum - one day I will strum away again on my guitars...
. An odd earring from a pair I used to wear constantly - probably now about 20 years old.
. Little ruby beads that I tied into my hair for my wedding reception.
. An eraser shield, for precisely correcting all the little mistakes I made when drafting architectural drawings by hand - again nearing 20 years old.

Make up your own mind what my personality is like. My sewing box is an every day time capsule of my past. Every time I use it the little things inside make me smile.

What's in your box?

Happy Valentines Day!

OK, this post isn't about Valentines day, but why ignore it?

This week saw the first of my orders being delivered to Hammerton Store in Aberdeen. I met Susan at the Trade Fair and she is lovely, so enthusiastic. Hammertons is a deli on Great Western Road, if you are in the area please pop in and say hello. They are stocking my knitting kits; egg cosies and baby bootees. Susan has bought some vintage Vogue knitting books for the display so I assume you can pop in and be inspired - what a nice idea - my perfect deli - food and knitting!

I'm also exhibiting at an arts and craft evening at Dobbies Garden Centre in Stirling on Thursday 19th, 6-8pm. Please call the store for further information - 01786 458860

I have been busy putting together two new knitting kits. Baboo Sheep and Baboo Bunting.

I've been asked a lot if my sheep come in kit form so I thought why not give it a go. The pattern is pretty simple, I've made the legs etc for you, so its just a bit of basic garter stitch ans stocking stitch.

The Bunting kit gives you enough wool to knit 9 flags, with a 2m length of cord for hanging, the perfect pattern for using up all those oddments of wool you have lying around, the more colours the merrier.

Hope the postman brings you a surprise!

Patience is a virtue

This week has been a week of waiting.

Waiting for my test results for my bunnies and sheep to say they meet all the toy safety standards, certificates were received yesterday.

Waiting for my husband to finish his day shifts so I can get some much needed work done - I've had three glorious uninterrupted hours this morning so far, not a Spiderman or Batman in sight.

Waiting for a quotation to get our house decorated, cause I've finally realised I'm not going to get it done myself.

Waiting for some decent snow to sledge in - hasn't happened.

Waiting for our new baby niece to be born - yesterday at last, Ellie made a long awaited appearance.
Pictured are my Little Feet, felted slippers to keep toes toasty, I know who will be getting a pair shortly.....

2B or not 2B.....

So, here it is, the My Baboo 2B collection

A selection of home wares

Designed 2B stylish

Designed 2B practical

I decided after Christmas to make a core group of items that can be mixed and matched and free from too much embellishment. The idea being I am more efficient at making them which is reflected in their price.

The 5 colours I have used also appear in the rest of my designs, making them a collection you can build from.

This week saw me exhibiting at Scotland's Trade Fair at the SECC in Glasgow. Its the first time I have sold wholesale to retailers and all I can say is it was certainly worth it.

I met some lovely people, both exhibitors and new stockists and you will shortly be able to find My Baboo across Scotland and into the North of England.

I have lots of lovely new photographs so please be patient whilst I get them onto my web site with prices etc (photos courtesy of Michael ferns)

Cant type for too long as I now have loads of orders to fulfill!!

Read All About it!

Oh how exciting, I've just picked up a copy of the Stirling Observer and the Milngavie and Bearsden Herald only to see my face and products staring out at me - I've made the news (for the right reasons)!

Out with the old and in with the new...

I'm starting to get really excited about the Trade Fair this weekend, our neighbours son Michael was over last night with his professional camera and we got lots of nice shots of my new products - even some action ones! I cant wait to see them so I can start to tinker and get them on my web site.

Above is a wee play with one of my own pictures of my new Baby Bootees, I must admit I quite like my photos to be 'clean' and almost graphical - it suits my style.

The next few days will be spent finishing off a couple of samples and getting price lists etc printed out. Being so focused has really helped my collection of work become more refined, the 'one offs' I used to make have been put on the back burner just now, I'll reserve them for special occasions and commissions.

I met Caireen last week for a coffee and it was great to just indulge ourselves in craft chat, what we were hoping to achieve this year and so on. I think it will be a good year for a lot of people I know. The sense of the unknown coupled with the freedom of being in charge of your own destiny should make for some interesting reading over the next 11 months.

This year seems to be one for trying new things, and having the confidence to do it.


I've just added this pic to the post, can you see what it is? I sent it to Caireen as it remided me of her love of patchwork.

Two sheep walk into a baaaaar....

The barman says "What would ewe like"

Here's the Baboo Sheep tea and coffee cosy. The best word I can find to describe them is 'glaikit' - a good Scottish word meaning 'silly' and 'vacant'. One on-line dictionary also lists 'glazed expression' as a meaning. I defy anyone who gets up on the wrong side of the bed not to smile when they see these faces in the morning.

Here's a good tip for those of you who worry about copyright and how to prove a design is yours. Once you have completed your design, take a photograph of it and write a brief description, including what materials you have used, date and sign it etc. Pop it in an envelope and send it to yourself. When you get the letter, don't open it - keep it on file. If you ever have a dispute you will have a franked sealed envelope which can prove the date you designed that particular item. A simple, cheap method that can help to prove a design is yours!

I'm just about sorted with all my samples, only a few bits and bobs to finish off. Next week I will be focusing on price lists and paper work for the trade show. What I really need to get my head round is how much I can physically make. What if I have to turn orders down?

One range I have developed has made me focus on how I am making things, how I can make products that are affordable to the buyer and profitable to the seller. It will be interesting to see how well it does. (don't worry, pictures soon!)

I've taken the view that if I don't get orders for things because of cost, at least I can sell them myself at a more affordable price as you aren't having to pay for the 'middle man'. It will be interesting to see what the trading public will consider to be my best sellers.

Crikey, its amazing how you change your attitude to business when you have to make a living from it!

I'm off to do a bit of hand knitting from the comfort of my sofa.

Have a good weekend!