Little Easter Bunnies

The Easter Holidays (early I know) are nearly upon us,
fancy giving something other than chocolate?

Have a look at my web site for some inspiration.
If you e-mail me your order at info@my-baboo.co.uk I'll give you free postage!

Lynne

The Travelling Adventures of the My Baboo Highland Coo

Want to take part in the Travel Adventures of the My Baboo Highland Coo? I'm looking for my first destination....

I noted the other day that I love sending My Baboo goodies all over the world. This got me thinking - to celebrate the launch of the My Baboo Highland Coo why not pack it off on its travels round the world?

The deal:- I will pick someone far flung from my list of Followers and post the Highland Coo to them. In return I would love a picture of the Coo at his new travel destination which I will post on FB. The new owner then has to send it on to someone in a far away land, and so on till the wee coo has hopefully travelled the world. (he is very light so cheap to post!)

In return I will send a little My Baboo goodie to all who send the Coo on his journey.

What do you think?

Lynne

I Like It!

just realised I'm nearing my first 100 'likes' on Facebook so must be time for a giveaway - a sheep me thinks for the 100th person to like My Baboo - spread the word!

Lets Knit!

I was delighted to receive this months copy of Lets Knit! magazine in the post today (available at all major retailers!!) Especially as the last page is a feature on myself and My Baboo. It's a good article and I think conveys how I feel about changing careers and how satisfying knitting for a living has become for me.

On a personal note, I'm biding my time till Jnr arrives, only a matter of weeks now so I'm trying to put my feet up and enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts. I remember waiting for my first child to be born, sitting in the garden with my feet in a cool basin of water (the same time of year) and thinking about the long work free months ahead of me on maternity leave.

This time round I seem to have a million ideas swirling around my head, I'm already planning next years shows and wondering how I will strike that work/ baby balance. However I manage it I know that working for myself will allow me to get it right for all my family.

Will keep you informed of any baby news - promise!

Lynne
x

SPECIAL EASTER OFFER

Get organised for Easter and knit these adorable Bunny Egg Cosies, usual price £12.95 but now £10 till the end of April 2010 (p&p £2.00)

There is enough wool to knit four cosies, either two red and two blue or two red and two pink.

click HERE to buy!

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

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!

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

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)

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!

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.

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!

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!!

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!

Do It Youself

Here is a picture of 'Wussell Wabbit' by Pennie from Horam, East Sussex knitted last week from a My Baboo Baby Bunny Knitting Kit. I love the way she has him sitting.

I put together some kits last year and they have proved very popular so I am going to expand my range, and have two new kits to launch at the end of the month.

I've also been busy with a few other new designs and am just waiting for some decent weather and light so I can photograph them properly (or as best as I can). I mentioned many posts ago about my Sheep tea and coffee cosies. I have made lots, but they sold before I had the chance to take any photographs. So now I have two sitting looking up at me ready for some action - come back soon for some pics.

I received some beautiful 4ply Shetland wool from my husbands great aunt who has just celebrated her 65th wedding anniversary! She was having a clear out and though of me - so kind. The wool is beautiful shades of light green, grey and a dark blue. I'm racking my brains what to make with it but I think it will be probably be a garment for myself.

Having Scotland's Trade Fair at the end of this month has really made me focus on my business. It's good to feel sort of organised so early on in the year. Here's hoping the orders roll in.....

Technology and tatties

I'm being a thoroughly modern mum and typing this on the lap top as I watch over the dinner bubbling away on the cooker - thank goodness for modern technology.

This week has been a bit quiet on the making front as husband is on day shift and I am on child duties. So it has been a few grabbed hours of work here and there.


I managed to deliver my order of Baboo bears, sheep and knitting kits to the PostHouse Gallery on Tuesday. They are starting to put their Christmas stock out and I couldn't resist an old fashioned box of Tiddly Winks for the boy. They had also just received an order of biscuit jewellery - custard cream necklaces and Jammie Dodger cuff links - fab.


Today I spent helping Luci decrypt her sewing machine (without instructions). It has a digital display which threw me immediately, but we were delighted when the correct button was pressed and a chain of flowers was produced. Much more technical than my machine which you could drop from a high bridge and it would still work.

I allowed myself ten minutes of sitting in the sunshine (at present its chucking down hail stones) this afternoon after the nursery run.

The tatties are boiling so I'm off to give my four year old eating machine his dinner, don't you feel all the better for knowing that? - The joys of blogging.