Jingle Bells!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

see you in 2010

My Baboo
xx

Food Glorious Food

This Saturday (28th Nov) sees the second Annual Food Festival which was held at Glengoyne Distillery last year. This year it will be held at the Edenmill Farm Shop, Stockiemuir Rd just outside Killearn. There will be over 30 stalls with local produce, Christmas trees and makers - including myself.

Last year was a huge success, something for everyone including Santa's Grotto and real reindeer for the children.

Cookery demonstrations will be given throughout the day from TV chef Tom Lewis of Monachyle Mhor and other local infamous chefs.

Well worth a visit and a chance to buy some excellent and unusual Christmas gifts - who needs the high street!?

Hope to see you there.

Lynne

Another Show Down

That's the Country Living Christmas Fair over for another year, a great show, met lots of lovely people - thanks to all of you for your kind comments - it just reminds me I made the right move!

Still lots of events to get organised for so I cant even think about getting myself ready for Christmas yet, all I need is a little flutter of snow to get me in the mood!

Country Living Chriatmas Fair

Dates for your diary...

Being up to my eyes in wool at the moment, it might be easier to come along and see me than expect anything interesting on my Blog!

Here is where I will be over the festive period, hope to see you there:-

November

14th November - Dunkeld PTA Christmas Fair, Duchess Anne Hall, Dunkeld -10am-4pm

14th November p.m - Balfron Nursery Swish Night, McLintock Hall, Balfron 7.30pm-10pm

19th-22nd November - Country Living Christmas Fair, SECC Glasgow

28th November Eden Mill and Glengoyne Distilery Christmas Fair, Eden Mill Farm Shop, Nr Killearn (all day)

DECEMBER
4th-6th December, The Green Gallery Christmas Fair, Buchlyvie (all day)

Country Living

You can now book your Country Living Tickets for the SECC in Glasgow 19th-22nd Nov.

Call 0844 848 0157 and quote promotional code CC2 to buy your tickets at the discounted price of £7.50 each!

Hope to see you there!

Also have a look at my new web site which now has an online shop so you can simply click to buy.

Web and e-mail

just to say my new web site is up and running with simple click to buy buttons on the online shop. The My Baboo e-mail is also still info@my-baboo.co.uk.

Thanks for being patient!

New Web Site

Hi All,

I'm currently changing my web site provider to one that will have an instant click to buy feature. My web site may be down for a few days and e-mails should be sent to lynneseaton1@hotmail.com during this time also.

Thanks for your patience, hopefully it will be a more user friendly site but will no doubt have a few teething problems along the way.

Happy October Holidays!

A quick hello

Hi All,

just a quick update as I know I have been lacking on the blogging front. Will be trying to get my new 'click to buy' web site up and running this week which means a certain degree of uncertainty as to what will happen with my current e-mail address. If you get any e-mails returned you can contact me at lynneseaton1@hotmail.co.uk over the following week or so.

Returned to the Wee Green Market yesterday which was good. Next big gig is at the end of the month at the SECC, I will post more details later.

Then it is heads down for Country Living! It certainly doesn't feel like a year ago the 'fear' had set in about stock levels. Needless to say my knitting panic has well and truly set in for this year.

The next few months will be hectic so I apologise in advance for lack of blogging. I will try and keep you updated with new products etc and I will also be giving away a pair of tickets for Country Living at Glasgow soon, so it's worth keeping an eye on my blog for that. I will hopefully get a promotional code too so you can book tickets at a reduced price and I will let you know when that arrives.

Sorry no pics today, a reflection on how disorganised I am at the moment!

On the news front I am delighted for Alice who has managed to secure a shop in Balfron, hopefully opening soon!

Have a good weekend,

Lynne

Not Coming to A Shop Near You!

When is a Coffee Cosy not a Coffee Cosy?


When it's a door stop of course!


This door stop was commissioned by a lady I met at the Edinburgh Festival. She had just decorated her music room and needed a door stop to match. The shape of my coffee cosies did the trick so I made a simple insert which is full of rice and is ready to be posted.

Why write about the door stop? I'm sure I have mentioned before that one of the benefits from buying directly from a maker is you can get exactly what you want, not what the High Street thinks you need. You will not find my door stop on the high street - just in a lovely music room!

The gloves are a result of four very cold and wet days spent in Milngavie at the Book Festival. There is a certain degree of satisfaction from knitting these 'on the spot' whilst I was tending my stall. I'm planning to write up the pattern and make them into a knitting kit.

I have also decided to start putting together a monthly e-mail newsletter with some special offers, sneak peaks of new products and the odd hint and tip. If you would like to receive the My Baboo newsletter please e-mail the word 'News' to info@my-baboo.co.uk

I have finally caught up with myself after Edinburgh and Milngavie so it is now full on knitting for all my Christmas shows. I will be at the Logierait Market this Saturday (19th Sept), which will be my last visit there till next year as I will be elsewhere in October, so come along for some good Christmas Present ideas.

See you soon!

Bearsden and Milngavie Book Festival

I will have a stall at the Bearsden and Milngavie Book Festival from 3rd - 6th September. You will find me on the main street between Boots and M & S, next to Alice.

There will be lots of events so please come along (whatever the weather!)

Hope to see you there,

L

Who do you think you are?

Family trees are becoming more and more popular. I am the last of the Mactaggarts in my line, although I am now Seaton by marriage. We have quite a few historical names in the generations immediately above us such as Wallace, Stewart and Brodie - it would be interesting to see where the branches of my Family Tree stretch to, but that is a project for another day.

I get asked often where 'My Baboo' comes from. Its a simple answer so here is the story.

A few years ago I knitted a little bunny for my sister. Our friend Tracey saw it and wanted one. T also happens to be the manager of Homer in Aberfeldy and before I knew it my little bunnies were hopping of their shelves.


When I started selling the handbags I had made I used a different company name which was more relative to handbags. However this just didn't suit a wee bunny. So My Baboo became the name of my bunnies (and chickens and sheep) - here's how:

My first name is Lynne. In the cartoon Charlie Brown there is a little boy called Linus, and my sis used to call me that (and still does). Linus is the object of Charlie Browns sisters affections, and she calls Linus her 'Sweet Baboo'. My Baboo Bunny had a nice ring to it, and has ultimately ended up being my company name.

The picture above is of two Baboo Bunnies that Rene knitted from my pattern. She and her bunnies live in South Africa, where the mountains are currently dusted with snow - hence the scarves. She has knitted them from bamboo and cotton - and I love how they have turned out.

What I like even more is that in her correspondence she doesn't refer to them as bunnies, but as 'Baboo's'. So that's what they are - Baboos - sweet.

I'm off to the Edinburgh Festival West End Fair on Sunday for a weeks trading - Arch 11. I studied, worked and lived in Edinburgh for nearly 15 years so it will be nice to spend a week there, catching up with friends and hopefully meeting some new ones and reliving a little bit of my history.

Hope to see you there.

Lynne

News Update

I haven't abandoned you, if I could knit socks I would be working them off just now in preparation for my week at the Edinburgh Festivals West End Fair where I have an arch stall from the 24th August for a week.

I'm also at Logierait again this Saturday - 10-2pm.

Jnr has lost a tooth (I thought the Tooth Fairy wouldn't be around for another year yet) and he starts school in five sleeps time!

On top of all this I have a secret project to work on which needs to be completed by the first week of September, but I cant tell you about it till the end of October!

Tomorrow some journalists are coming to the house to do a photo shoot for a possible feature about having a rural business.

Oh and we went to Kirkby Lonsdale for a week and stayed in a Wigwam - cool.

Forgive me for not blogging often enough - I'll get back into the swing of it soon.

Have a happy weekend!

Unraveling at the seams...

I have been contacted by Ravelry to take part in the UK Ravelry fair at Stirling Uni next year. Not knowing much about them I had a look at their web site and to cut a long story short I am now selling some knitting patterns through them

I've only been on their web site since Friday but it seems to be a mecca for knitters, well worth having a look and registering as they have loads of useful info. You can list all your own knitting projects, things you'd like to make etc, creating your own on-line knitting community, a sort of Facebook for knitters.

The benefit of selling my patterns on their site is you can download them directly once you have paid. Nice and easy.

I would say their site does come across as a little complicated to begin with but it has only taken me a couple of days to get to grips with it, and the Ravelry staff do seem to be very helpful (as you would expect knitters to be!). You do have to register before you can access any of the information but that can be done in a few simple steps.

Have a look here and let me know what you think. To find my patterns for sale simply search for 'Lynne Seaton' or 'My Baboo' under the designer or pattern tabs.

Happy knitting!

Happy Birthday to Me

A year ago today I hung up my hard hat and officially declared My Baboo as my new business. It has been an extremely quick year and I have often been asked if I'm glad that I gave up my career in architecture - most definitely YES!

I have celebrated by putting up some shelves in my workroom to house stock, yarn and the like, giving me more space and also displaying some of my work.

So what have I achieved?

I have learnt loads about running your own business and that there is always somebody who can advise and help
I've made money (thankfully)
I've discovered working for myself isn't as scary as I first thought
I have met some wonderful people
I've had the chance to spend more time with my son and husband
The list could go on and on but most importantly I have enjoyed it immensely.

I'm really looking forward to the coming year, planing ahead and being able to get My Baboo securely fixed to the map.

Thanks to everybody who has supported me over the past year - I really appreciate it.

I wonder if my hubby will think of buying me a birthday cake.......?

For Folk Sake

Just trying out a wee Folksy shop - view here.....



It's the UK version of Etsy, everything is in pounds and pence, let me know what you think.

Venturing out this weekend to Rothiemurchus - hoping for some sunshine.

Will post in length next week about Inver Cottage - suffice to say it was fab!

Have a good weekend!

Craft Fair or Not Craft Fair? - that is the question.....

I don't do a lot of craft fairs. I keep up the local one at Killearn and the rest I am beginning to be a bit choosy about. There is nothing worse than turning up to an event and not even selling enough to cover your table cost - it's soul destroying and always casts the seed of doubt - why does no one want to buy my wares - are they not good enough???! Don't you know how much effort I put into knitting a sheep!!

We (fellow makers) have deliberated numerous times as to what makes a good fair, how to get the right people through the door.

Since taking a stall at the Wee Green Market in Killearn, I have managed to strike up some solid friendships with a bunch of lovely and like minded girls. One question we have asked ourselves is what would be our ideal 'fair', and long have we pondered and wished our crafting time away on what would be our perfect day.

So we have decided to take our Craft Fair Future firmly in our hands. This Saturday sees some of us going West to Inver Cottage near Loch Fyne. I met Jasmine and Joe at the Scottish Trade Fair in January and they are now one of my stockists. I managed to persuade my husband to take a drive to Inver Cottage for a wee day out with the family a couple of months ago, and I was simply delighted with the whole experience.

Firstly the drive is spectacular, the location stunning and the food - well our clean plates said it all. Jasmine and Joe have a huge amount of enthusiasm for their business, and it shows. And as usual I came away thinking 'This would be a good place to have an event'.

As I have mentioned before - if you don't ask, you don't get, so we did and we got. We hope that Saturday will bring a slightly different experience to visitors. Only a few designers who have the time to tell you about their craft, the chance to sit back and enjoy lunch whilst looking out over the castle ruins. And if me and my friends 'happen' to enjoy ourselves into the bargain then all the better. When I think about it, it might just be an elaborate excuse for us all to have a day out...

Come along and meet myself, Caireen, Suzanne and Isobel.

Hope to see you there!

Oh Deer

My Husband caught this on his phone this morning on his walk home from work (6.45am). The deer jumped out in front of him and he managed a few seconds of footage as it bounded away - just thought I'd share!

I really like the colours, the blue sky contrasting with the grass. I also like how quiet and peaceful it is. We are lucky to live where we do :o)

I can see clearly now the rain has gone...

Finally the rain has come (and hopefully gone), the air has cleared and it's all a bit cooler inside and out . I've had a hectic couple of weeks (I seem to write that a lot) so here is a quick summary:-

Attended the Logierait Market which was a good day, very well attended by locals and visitors from further afield. I also caught up with some old school friends (from Aberfeldy). I met Judith and Karen who are readers of my blog and hail from Pitlochry. Turns out they know my in-laws, it's a small world. It was lovely to meet them, it's always interesting to find out who takes the time to read the nonsense I type.

We had the last week of nursery and I managed four nights out! This must be a record for me since becoming a parent. Now that my social life has calmed down I've managed to get a fair bit of making done. The tea cosies hanging on the line are for Homer, which I will be sending up soon along with some knitting kits and sheep. I never thought 20 years ago walking down the main street of Aberfeldy during my school lunch hour that I'd be making sheep to sell in one of the local shops! (Crikey that makes me sound a bit old)

I was also contacted by Alicia this week who I met at the Country Living Fair in November. She is opening a shop with her husband in Aberfoyle - hopefully tomorrow - called Cabin Collectives. It's located next to the Wool Centre in a cabin, hence the name. They will be stocking hand crafted items made in Scotland, including My Baboo and their own glass work. Please pop in and say hello if you are in the area.

I'll write about my impending outing to Inver Cottage over the weekend, but you can also get all the info you need from Is - July 11th, 11-5pm.

Ice Age 3 beckons tomorrow and then maybe a trip to the Botanic Gardens in Glasgow. Have a good weekend!

Oh and I almost forgot to mention, Take That on Sunday night might have just been the greatest day of my life.....

Time for Tea (and coffee)

I've finally had the time to work on some new products - coming your way soon is the new My Baboo Tea Beanie (because it looks like a beanie hat!) and Coffee Cosy in the form of knitting kits... just have to write the instructions and get the boxes sorted, hopefully within the next two weeks. (also available in blue)

The Kippen street fair was a success, even the weather pulled through. I'm annoyed with myself though as I left my knitted bunting attached to the stall, never to be seen again. I'll just have to make some more.

This weekend I'm off to the Logierait Market (10-2pm), coupled with a trip to the in-laws in Pitlcohry. Then on Sunday I'm off to Glasgow to see Take That with my sister. I don't know if my life will ever be the same again.

I met up with a few of my Wee Green Market friends this week - Is, Suzanne and Caireen - we are planning a small fair at Inver Cottage on the 11th July, a bit of an excuse for a nice day out to a fab restaurant and location.

Happy Knitting!

...and...relax

I feel like I've been off the map for the past couple of weeks. Lots of things have been happening, most importantly my boys 5th birthday this weekend. we had a great party at Briarlands Farm, just next to Blairdrummond Safari Park - a great place to take your kids during the impending summer holidays.

Work wise has been a bit odd, I'm starting to find more time to make things for myself as my shop orders are finally calming down. I've discovered I have been putting away lots of half finished items that need labels/ faces etc sewn on, so I have I bit more personal stock than I thought.

I have also been working on a small Baboo Book with all the items I have on my web page listed like a mini catalogue. Last year when visiting family in London it became apparent that the catalogue was not just for us country dwellers. I like the idea of having something lying about coffee tables that you can flick through whilst having a cup of tea. It's also very portable, not everyone has a lap top...

Unfortunately just as I was printing off copy no. 7 my printer decided to go on the blink (I get very angry when technology doesn't co-operate with me). However printing and cutting each page myself is a luxury and totally cost prohibitive so I must find a printer who would be happy to run off a few to get me started - a good lesson in not having to do everything myself.

I have four spare little Baboo Books, if you would like one drop me your name and address to info@my-baboo.co.uk. The first four e-mails will receive one. Don't get too excited - its my first attempt at publishing so no doubt the graphics/ spelling/ quality leaves a lot to be desired so any feedback will be gratefully received.

Hope the sun is still shining where you are!

Lynne

PS I have taken a last minute stall at the Kippen Street Fayre on Saturday 13th June 2009, 10am-4pm. Hope to see you there.

Video Killed the Radio Star...

Last week I attended a workshop by Step to discuss how to use the Internet

You might have noticed the video for my prise draw - using You Tube to get a wider audience was one of Colin and Jane's suggestions to promote and grow more business.



So I decided to give it a go - I've been thinking of making some 'How to Knit' videos for a while now to go hand in hand with my knitting kits. The videos I have done so far are most definitely practice runs, but good fun - even if it's just to make myself cringe when I hear my voice! I think you can see my production values are pretty low, but it's quite nice to think of different ways to show off my work. I can see how with a bit more effort I could put together some decent 'adverts'.

My new video is showing my ever increasing flock of sheep, this lot are trotting off (do sheep trot?) to the Soap Co on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh next week. I've also had a go at making some key rings - these are very tactile and good worry balls too!

I went to the Step workshop with Claudia of 4D Organising - she has just started her blog (again as a result of the workshop) so pop over and have a read - guaranteed to get you organised.

Have a good weekend.

And The Winner Is....

Drum roll please.....



Congratulations to Lesley at Sea Blue Sky & Abstract, and thank you to everyone who left a comment.

Lynne
x

(I sound really Scottish in the video!)

Happy 100 Giveaway

So I've finally made it - my 100th post. I haven't looked back at my first one, all I know is I was very nervous when I started blogging as I didn't know if anyone would read it. SO a big thank you to all of you that have and everybody that has left such lovely comments over the past year.

I mentioned a while ago that I would be giving away one of my Bunting Knitting Kits and a new My Baboo Flower brooch (see below) to celebrate - getting the flags out seems appropriate. If you fancy winning one please leave a comment - just your name, doesn't need to be anything witty. I'll put all your names in a hat and get my boy to choose the winner - deadline is Friday 15th May @ 12noon (GMT).

If you don't fancy knitting yourself then still enter as I'm sure you will know someone who would like it as a gift.

Good Luck!

I have also been tagged by Sarah, who I met at Scotland's Trade Fair in January. I have admired her work from afar for some time so it was very nice of her to think about me.

Here are my questions and answers:-

What are your current obsessions?

Getting fit again, enough said about that the better, and Facebook which is totally wasting my time.

What are you currently reading?

Lamb to the Slaughter - Aline Templeton. 'Death delivered to your door...' I always love a good murder in a book

Where do you plan to travel to next?

Don't have may travel plans at the moment that aren't linked to the daily grind. However I am looking forward to staying here later in the year.

What’s the best thing you ate or drank lately?

I have a new stockist in the west - Inver Cottage. We managed to visit a month or so ago and had a fantastic lunch, the children's food was well appreciated too. Well worth a day trip.

What is your dream career?

I think I've finally found it by taking the leap from architect to My Baboo.

What is your favourite film ever?

There can be only one - Dirty Dancing - every girl needs a Johnny....

Care to share some wisdom?

You can do anything if you really want to.

Where would you rather be right now?

Same place but much warmer.

What is your desert island disc?

Too difficult, but probably some cheesy soft rock hits of the 80's and 90's, and anything by U2

If you could be any animal other than human, what would you be?

Something water related - probably a whale so I can explore the seven seas...

And my new question - if you had super powers what would they be?

Having a four year old boy means I need to answer this question a lot, so in no particular order - instant time travel (so I can nip over to Oz when I want) and the ability to make lots of snow at Christmas - I could go on and on.

The rules are to answer the questions, replacing one and adding another, and then to tag eight other bloggers to do the same.

Here are my eight who have all been very encouraging and people I would never probably have met had it not been for blogging and my career change :

Caireen, Suzanne, Isobelle, Rebecca, Aileen, Caroline, Frances and Pipanny.

Thanks again for taking the time to read my blog.

Lynne

x

Come on down, the price is right....

For a long time I have been asked to sell the flowers I use on my bags separately as brooches. The only thing that has been putting me off is the length of time they take to make, I just couldn't sell them at a reasonable price.

I'm also aware I need to have a good range of designs that will suit most pockets.

I have been 'footering' about (a good Scottish word) with crocheted flowers in a bid to make one that looks good and is value for money and I have designed the above (and below).

These brooches measure about 5cm across and I think they would look good on any jacket or a bag of your own. I also enjoyed thinking of a different way to display and package them that would carry through the My Baboo logo, without being a tie on tag, so I designed these individual cardboard stands - simple and effective.

Its the Wee Green Market in Killearn this weekend so I will try the flowers out on the public to get some feedback on colours and cost, I aim to sell them for £7 each.

It has also been a week of sheep and every where I turn there are some flocks in varying stages of completion, a bit like Hitchcock's 'The Birds'

Hope to see you tomorrow at the Market!

Old Bags and Beans....

My good deed for last week was making a new bean bag cover for the Balfron Nursery outdoor classroom, or the 'Jolly Coup' as it was officially named (by my son!)

The previous couple of years have been focused on raising funds to build the shed and to develop the Nursery Garden. Last year saw the fruition of all the hard work when the children were able to make their own tattie soup and eat plums of their new fruit trees, the flowers survived the odd football and scooter rolling over them.
As the main layout of the garden has now been achieved, instead of raising funds for more plants we are having a Plant Donation Day on Friday 24th April (all day). So if like most people I have spoken with, you have spent the last few days enjoying the sunshine in your garden, and have noticed a few plants that could do with dividing, or some stray seedlings please feel free to pop them into the Nursery ( if you live locally!).

They will be very much appreciated and the children will no doubt enjoy getting their hands dirty.

The fabric for the bean bag was a pair of curtains donated by Alice. The old bean bag contained three smaller 'bags' so rather than making another round bag I made a rectangular one which is much bigger and will accommodate a few more little people.

I simply folded it in three and sewed down either side and slipped the bean bags in - like a giant pillow case - then closed it with a red ribbon. This means the bean bags will be easy to remove so the cover can be washed. I also made a pair of curtains for the shed and some bunting with the left overs.

I couldn't resist hanging them in my garden yesterday to celebrate our first barbecue of the year!

As my 100th post will be due soon I will be giving away a My Baboo Bunting Kit to knit - watch this space...

Sand , sea and sunshine

We've just returned from spending five fabulous days in Firdhorn on the Moray Coast. It will be nearly twenty years ago that I first visited with my boyfriend - who is now my husband - and every time we stay it seems as if the sun shines just for us.

This Easter was no exception, it was so warm our boy managed a few dips in the sea - the above picture was before he threw caution - and his shorts - to the wind whilst shouting 'This is totally awesome - woohoo'. Very cute and funny for a four year old - but it summed it up what we were thinking too.

Have a look at Karons blog for some lovely pictures of the village itself.

If you ever have a weekend to spare it is certainly worth the visit.

My Baboo on Facebook

I have created a My Baboo Facebook page for those of you that are interested.....just do a search for My Baboo on your Facebook page and become a fan!

A Wedding Bag for Kirsty

The Finished Bag

Last year at the Country Living Fair I met Brenda who enthused about my Cup Cake Tea Cosies. She mentioned her daughter Kirsty was getting married in 2009 and that her wedding cake was being made up of lots of little fairy cakes. Brenda asked if I would consider making a wedding bag for Kirsty with a Fairy cake on the front, of course I said yes.

The Happy Couple - look at those fab shoes!

Brenda contacted me in February this year and confirmed that Kirsty wanted me to make her a handbag for her wedding. She sent me a picture of Kirsty from the waist down with her dress and amazing red shoes on and a picture of one of the Butterfly cakes she was going to use as the wedding cake, sitting in a little red polka dot cake case.

I could see right away this wasn't to be a traditional white wedding so after some discussion about colours I set to work.

Kirsty

Once I had the bag made - which was the easy part - I spent a while trying to create a knitted fairy cake - the kind with the 'butterfly' wings, which was not as easy as it looks! A cup cake is simple - put a cherry on top and every one knows instantly what it is to be. Kirstys cakes had butter icing so I knitted a tube and layered it to look like it had been squeezed out of an icing bag. The little butterfly wings were simple enough as was the cake case. I finished it of with lots of little clear glass beads to represent a dusting of icing sugar, and the polka dots to the case were red sequins.

I then put a brooch clasp on the back so that Kirsty could take it off the bag as she wanted to be able to use the handbag after the wedding - although I think the cake is sightly abstract so wouldn't look too out of place as a daytime brooch.

Kirsty also bought some of my Bunnies as favours and made them all little handbags from some of the material she had left over from her bunting then put Thank you notes in them - so sweet and such a good idea.I really enjoyed making the handbag, even more so because it was for Kirstys wedding. It's so nice to think I have been part of such a special day.

I often make on-off handbags (look out for a bag for Tracey soon) as commissions, they are such good fun to make as it's nice to deviate from my main range. And when the bag is made, you know there wont be another like it. Being the designer and maker allows me to offer this service, something you wont find on the high street.

We are off up to Findhorn tomorrow for the Easter break - back on Wednesday. Hope you enjoy the Easter weekend!

Is there anybody there?

not a very crafty photograph, but special none the less - Centy the Centipede, my boys 'first real pet'

I feel like I am out of touch from my blogging world it's been so long since I last posted. Thankfully it has been because I have been so busy getting orders out the door. I am delighted with the response I received from Scotland's Trade Fair and I am even seeing some stockists re-order already. You can get an updated list of my stockists here.

I have lots to write about but I think I will do it in bite sized pieces to get me back into the swing of blogging.

The most recent being My Baboo's trip to London (although my feet have stayed firmly in Balfron). I will be stocking Inver Cottage soon and Jasmine passed my information onto Carole who does a wonderful job in prompting the West of Scotland with her Seafood Trail.

Carole has just been down to London to promote Scotland at the Best of Britain and Ireland tourism show. She kindly took a selection of my work to exhibit along side other treasures you can find on her trail. I haven't quite had the full 'debriefing' from Carole but all in all the show was very successful. Although as it was held at ExCel, and all the undergrounds were closed over the weekend due to the security for the G20 summit that is now being held there. I wonder if all the world leaders had a chance to visit to see what we have to offer?

What struck me the most is the fact that someone thought enough of my work to want to use it in a show case for Scotland. Very flattering indeed.

Next will be the wedding bag......

Word of mouth

Pictured above are My Baboo Bottle Bags - big enough to carry a baby's 8oz bottle and can be strapped onto a buggy by thier ears!

The past few weeks have been a bit strange - definitely a time of change. We have had the decorators in so the inside of my house now looks great (to me at least). I resigned myself to the fact I would never have the time to do all the painting myself - many years ago it would have been a pass time I relished - now its a necessary evil to be fitted in between every day life.

It has resulted in a major decluttering and reshuffle of the spaces in our home, I love moving furniture about as it can really change the way we live. I now feel that my house it starting to reflect me and my family - such an important thing for an architect!!

The decorators we used were great, and did a top job even under my beady eye. They were recommended to us - word of mouth is so important.

This week has seen me finish a bag for a bride, I met her mother at the Country Living Fair. A great project for me to work on and such a nice feeling I will be part of her big day. No pictures till after the event - wouldn't want to spoil the surprise.

I've had even more enquiries from people wanting to stock my goods - a lot of which has been word of mouth. I always find it amazing that people think enough of My Baboo to recommend me - long may it continue.

I've also had an odd request from an company in London - I think I need to keep it under my hat just now as it may not amount to anything, but again such a thrill to be approached.

Tomorrow sees the kick off of the Wee Green Market's monthly sale of goods in Killearn. I haven't a clue what stock I have to sell, some new knitting kits and a few other new items. If you are in the area please pop in and say hello. 10am-1pm.

I'm watching Comic Relief just now and realising how lucky I am - if you do one thing this weekend donate some money to the cause - and ask your friends to. Word of mouth can make such a difference.

Spring is in the air...

This weekend sees the preview of the Spring Exhibition at the Green Gallery in Buchlyvie - 7th & 8th March 2-5pm. I am showing and hopefully selling some new bags and home wear, please pop in if you have a chance.

Also some new stockists are:

Gifts and Gardens, Braemar
Gallery 1, Bathgate
Seahorse, Port Appin

Please click on their names to be redirected to their websites and shop information.

I continue to be a busy girl but tomorrow I am travelling North to Dunkeld to meet my sister and friend Julie for morning coffee at the Birnam Institute, then further north still for a spot of lunch. Who knows where the day will take us as we will all be without children for the first time in what seems like years - all I know is we will put the world to rights. We may just sit and stare at each other and enjoy the silence!

Have a good weekend.

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!!