split personality

Did you know that I sometimes blog over at the Spiral Garden blog too? I do! And I write regular Spiral Garden newsletters too. I'm finding it a bit tricky and fun keeping up and blending Owlet with Spiral Garden. So far it seems to be working ok...

I've made a return to creating stuff under the Owlet brand. A new line of craft kits is on the way, as well as the old faves like skirts, crowns, capes, bean bags... Lots to do! But it's so nice to have a reason to do it again and a lovely home for all the things I love to make. I'm looking forward to more creativity to come. And hopefully more energy or time to make it all happen. Ha!



Tonight I've blogged over at the Spiral Garden blog about our crayon range and what we've learnt in the process of choosing that range.  I've reviewed each of our crayons to tell you the positive and negative points of each and to tell you why they're there. It's been an interesting process! More interesting than you'd think. Really!

owlets in the spiral garden...

We're on the cusp of exciting new things in our nest... Things that will involve all of us building and growing something together... We are hoping that it'll mean a smidgen more time together...




One of my favourite things to do when I'm thinking up lovely things to strew for the owlets has always been to visit some beautiful online stores for inspiration... and occasionally to buy something. One of my absolute favourite shops has always been Spiral Garden. I've made capes for Spiral Garden to sell before and I've known it's owner Bel as an honest, generous woman with integrity and the beautiful products in her store have always reflected this. By some incredible stroke of luck, Bel has chosen us to take on the gardening gloves when she hangs hers up at the end of this month...

We are all extremely excited. We are excited to bring beautiful new products to the garden and watch it grow. We are excited to share all our favourite things with the world, all in one place and to have a chance to inspire and share the things that inspire us. 




We are excited to work together on something just for us. For a new beginning for our family...


I hope you'll pop over to Spiral Garden and have a look. Bel has a stocktake sale on now before she boxes up her garden to send all the way down to us. It'll take a little while to get here, but when it does, we'll be excitedly unpacking and finding new spots for lovely things on our shelves before adding some new and exciting things to the range. Exciting times. New beginnings. Growth, change, children and gardens... All the things we love best. 

winter :: metamorphosis

One of my earliest cold weather memories... I came home from school, excited to see my little sister. We rugged up and snuggled on the blanket on the lounge room floor. This is my first memory of holding her. It was a big deal. I started seeing her as a person I could interact with that day. It's the first proper memory I have of her and although our paths have brought us together and apart at different times, she still understands me better than almost any other person.

This week brought the Winter. The beginning of huge changes for me and my sister. She's about to become a mama... like, any minute now. The first cousin for the owlets. A new baby to snuggle. It's very exciting and I wish I could be there to hold her through it. For now, the owlets and I are hunkering in for a winter's day with a movie and popcorn while we wait by the phone and look forward to seeing my sister again when her metamorphosis is complete... I'm looking forward to making some new memories.

As for me... I began my own process of metamorphosis today. I began putting aside time just for me. I got up, wandered out into a dark, rainy neighbourhood and put my health first for an hour or so. I'm planning on doing it everyday and finding the energy to keep up with my owlets. All those years of working and parenting meant I put my health last for such a long time... I'm looking forward to spending more time with the healthier version of me. Interestingly, she's much calmer, happier and more clear-headed. I wonder what else she can do?

Winter also heralds change within our nest as we commence something new as a family. We've been making preparations for a while and take our first nervous and excited leap at the end of the month. We're possibly completely out of our depth, and a little crazy for taking it on, but I expect that's how everything looks this side of metamorphosis.

I'm looking forward to the growth we'll be doing this Winter and to seeing just where we are at by the Spring. How about you? Any big plans? Any metamorphosis happening at your nest? xx

boomerang

I was sitting at a cafe table along a walkway to a local children's craft market one Saturday morning when someone wandered past and said "Is this yours?" They were holding up a hairclip and knowing that the owlets were not wearing clips that day, I answered no... but then, YES! I made that clip! That well worn, washed and scrunched hairclip. I made that and someone's owlet wore it lots. There was the evidence in my hand... It's a lovely thing, making things by hand and seeing them wander past you from time to time, as happens on occasion in this small town. If I had some more time, I might like to do more of it. Making stuff. One day.

Have you ever had anything you've made float back into your life in a surprising way?

Is this your owlet's hairclip? If it is, I'd be happy to return it... and make them a fresh one :) xx

my creative space :: put a mushie on it

Moving at snail's pace, but getting there, slowly. Let's face it, my creative space is almost non-existent these days. Blogtober, babies and a super busy social calendar are keeping me from creating. I'm hoping the best summer ever will rectify things. For the patient though, I'll share the link to my new shop. I'm at the point of beginning again. I'll be adding skirts and bits and pieces as I steal moments to make them, but for now, you'll find custom slots for skirts, crowns, mei tais and apron kits. And Huz's music! The owlet shop is now about all things owlet, including papa and our three owlet babies... It'll be an organic space for us to put whatever we feel like sharing. So keep an eye on it... you never know what we'll pop in there when the mood and the time to create strikes.

more creative spaces here.

made with love

I love creating things. First the concept, then the colours and the pattern. I love mixing things up and seeing what works and especially working with things I've found along the way. As I create, I think about who it's for (because it's never for me)... I imagine their reaction when they receive it. I hope they will love it. As I do. And love that it was made for them, with what little time I have, and with love.

Yesterday I received a message from someone who did not like what I made for them. From the outset, the process was difficult. Communication was a major problem. They expected something different to what they received, despite my best efforts to make the process and the end result clear to them, and understand their expectations... Actually what they received wasn't at all what they thought it would be. And they expected it sooner than I, or the postie could get it to the other side of the world... They were unhappy. They were twisting the truth. And this time there as no mistaking what they were trying to say. Funny how the messages we deliver are often clearer when they are written in anger and people are direct. To the point of rudeness. I now have a big black mark against my clear record of happy customers. It just doesn't seem to be in the spirit of handmade.

Yesterday left a bad taste in my mouth. I learnt lots (SO MUCH!), but it never feels nice to be spoken to like that, to be misrepresented, without recourse... And it might be a while before I feel like making something for someone I don't know so well... I'm thinking on it... Actually, I'm super keen to make things for the ones I love best. Including myself. Because I think it's about time...

Ever had a negative response from someone you've made something for? How did it make you feel? How did you move past it? Ever have something made for you that wasn't what you'd hoped? How did you respond? Hope you've had a lovely weekend. xx

my creative space :: two little owlets...

Two garden skirts for two owlets. Made to order with their mama's loving direction. I hope they like them. xx

More spaces here

stylin'

Did you forget that aside from spending my days hanging with my three lovely owlets, I sometimes make things?



I almost did... With the latest bout of illnesses in our nest, and my days consumed with Tiny Owlet Watch (now that she's standing up and rather accident prone), there's been no time to sit behind the machine and sew things. Nights see me flopping on the couch, knitting if I can muster the energy. Catching my breath before the next full on day... Weekends mean catching up with Huz and having adventures. I find it hard to drag myself away just to sew (he's rather handsome, I think)...



And the projects are piling up. A couple of custom orders are sitting, waiting to be sewn. I will get to them. And I'll love sewing them. And feel so excited to pull them off the machine and admire them before mailing them off to their new homes. Imagining other people's owlets loving them...



Maybe you might happen to wander over to my Etsy shop and find something you love? I hope so. Or maybe you can think of something else you'd like? A different colour, a different size? Please feel free to ask... It may take just a little while, but I'm always happy to make things for owlets. xx

for Isla

This skirt was made for a beautiful little one, who I was lucky enough to hold when she was newly earthside. She's so big now! Her family moved away from our little corner of the world a while ago and have been back enjoying a wintry holiday among loved ones who've missed them so. I've been so grateful to be asked to make clothes for most of the children in this family and was especially glad to hand this new skirt over in person today. Makes it all the more special. Hope your Saturday was lovely too. xx

my creative space...

Green felt crown for a little one soon to celebrate his first birthday! Lots of jewels in shades of green and orange, some brown and green ribbon, a gold star and orange stitching around the outside... Quite Autumnal and not like anything I've done before, so I'm a bit nervous about whether his mama will like it. I always find customs so much harder... but it is lovely to make things with people in mind. Hey, around here it's lovely to be making things full stop!



I'm itching to get to this delicious pile of fabric too...

More creative spaces over here.

almost famous

Huz and I had a few spare moments last week while the bigger owlets were at Mary Poppins with Mum and tiny owlet slept in the sling. It was raining so we wandered into a newsagent. I remembered to look at Country Style magazine because Michelle's beautiful kitchen (and beagle) was featured this month. I was flicking through, Huz peering over my shoulder, when we saw... Elsa wearing that skirt that I made. The one I sold to Michelle on the day that she made Huz cry... I've seen things I've designed in magazines before, but this was just a little more special because my hands made it. And it's so lovely to see it worn. I think I might make another one a little bit like it....

In other owlet news, I've decided to put my market career on hold for now... perhaps for a long while. Yesterday I withdrew from the Autumn Market I had planned to have a stall at. I won't be at the Christmas one either, and that feels ok. I do so love meeting people and chatting to them. Getting personal feedback on the things I've made. But there's so much preparation involved... so many nights spent at the machine or weekends spent cutting and labeling and having everything just so. And really I should be spending time making stuff for them. My owlets. And sometimes me.

So I'll be popping bits and pieces in my shop from time to time and you can always drop me a line and ask if I'll whip up something for you if you see something you like. But it may take a little while and it may not be often... because I'm knee deep in owlet cuddles and giggles and making the most of every minute, while I can.

owlets to the rescue!

I'm here nursing a sore tummy and big owlet has been unwell this long weekend too and I've been lamenting the loss of a beautiful long weekend. There aren't many more weekends before the weather turns cold and the Tasmanian winter grabs hold. It may be the last bunch of warm sunny days where Huz is home for a while. I'm also a bit peeved that we can't afford a real proper holiday again this year, although we will no doubt be craving one before winter's end... but then I glance at a news article and it's just too shocking for words. This year has already been plagued by so many natural disasters, each seemingly with increasing intensity and destruction. It's almost easy to become complacent about it... maybe think of that 30 Rock episode about Operation Righteous Cowboy Lightning and the media beat-up. Or feel helpless, like there's nothing one individual can do... But it's real. The people are real. They have lost communities, families, friends, everything they knew and loved. And here I am tucked up in bed with a snoozing baby and a wheat pack, looking at it all and feeling so grateful...



But I'm painfully aware that feeling grateful isn't enough. We need to do what we can to help. We need to try and make a difference. Last week I was in town with the owlets and we walked past a building ledge where someone had dropped a crushed can. It was at little owlet's eye level. Both girls commented on it and I asked them what they thought. "Well I guess it makes me sad that the street looks messy..." So I suggested we pick it up. The owlets were surprised because we usually tell them not to touch rubbish on the ground (a hangover from toddler days), but I put the can in the bin and we were all pleased that that square metre of street was clean. It wasn't much, but it helped. And the owlets were inspired to pick up more rubbish as we walked and made a tiny difference to their world.



So, I'm going to attempt to make a tiny difference, owlet style. Here's where you come in... Maybe we can be superheroes together? The red silk satin cape in the first picture above is for sale in my owlet shop. I'm donating all proceeds from the sale to the Save the Children Fund who have pledged to provide:

"- psychosocial support to help children overcome the shock and stress.

- set up child-friendly spaces to provide a protective environment where children can spend time with other children and trained teachers, which also would allow parents much-needed time to find food, work, accommodation and other friends and family."

Other ways you can help :

Buy Luisa's beautiful Dragonfly Bunting with all profits raised to be donated.
Download Huz's album before Friday with all proceeds going to the Save the Children Fund.
Donate to the Red Cross, or any of the other charities who are doing brilliant work...

Ways you can help out in your local community:

Pick up some rubbish! Clean-up Australia Day may have passed, but there's always more to clean up, unfortunately.
If you're a breastfeeding mama, like me, you might consider donating any surplus. Human Milk for Human Babies is an organisation assisting families to access breastmilk for their babies if they need it. A simple and valuable gift indeed.
Consider making an extra meal up for a friend or acquaintance who may be having a bad week, or just hold their hand, make a cuppa or lend an ear.

xx

autumn shop update... clearing the decks

Good morning all! I'm back to work this long weekend. In amongst owlet adventures and fungi fossicks, I'll be filling a new order for the Wilderness Society shop - more onesies and hairclips. It seems the mushie onesies are flying out the door! Yay for fungi!

I'll also be pottering around with some new fabric combinations and new styles to sell at the Autumn Market I'm aiming to be at in May. So... in order to rebuild my fabric stash so I can re-stock (eep! out of fabric!!), I'm clearing a bunch of things in the owlet shop. Baby organic cotton long sleeved tees were $22 but you can pick one up for only $16 now! Garden skirts are on sale for $32 instead of their regular $35 market price... actually everything is just a little bit cheaper than usual. Go look! Lots there for new baby gifts and trans-seasonal attire for the owlets in your life. :)

decade :: building the owlet nest

I've read a few friends' posts during the last week that reflected on the events, ups and downs of the previous decade. One sleepless hour or two during the week led me to do the same in my head, so I thought I'd share our decade with you for a bit of fun. It was all about building and finding home...

2000
I turned 25.
We lived in Newport in the weatherboard house with a dog, a cat and a garden. Our first proper house together.
I worked. Hard. I went from junior designer to only designer as workmates left to have babies.
O proposed over fish & chips in the car, in the rain. I said yes. The rain stopped and a rainbow appeared.
Went on a camping holiday to Narooma. Discovered we weren't cut out for camping. Relaxed.



2001
Was made design manager. Worked hard.
Katherine threw us a surprise engagement party. Discovered O doesn't like surprise parties.
O got his first full time ecology job.
Travelled overseas for the first time. On my own. For work.
Tokyo, Seoul, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Was in a hotel room in Seoul when the twin towers collapsed.
Felt quite alone with US airforce planes circling the city as I watched the TV.
Married Huz.
Honeymooned in Tasmania. Loved it, wanted to live there.



2002
Worked hard.
Did a brief stint as brand manager. Decided I really didn't want to work in sales.
Got tired of commuting for hours. Moved to Heidelberg.
Met Cammo (uncle Cam).
Travelled to Asia again.
Decided to have a baby. Saved and planned. Became pregnant.
Huz went diving in Cairns. He nearly drowned.
Visited Nanna for her birthday. Told her about the baby.
Went on holidays to Narooma.
Nanna died. Came home.



2003
Worked hard.
Enjoyed pregnancy.
Finished work. Relaxed.
Gave birth to big owlet.
Enjoyed life.
Began working from home. Decided full time work was overrated.



2004
Watched big owlet grow.
Huz applied for a job in Hobart. Didn't get the job... came close though.
Bought a house in Heidelberg West. Decided it was a dodgy suburb that might come good.
Renovated the kitchen, polished the floors, painted the walls, landscaped the garden.
Adopted a beagle puppy.
Continued working from home and freelancing.



2005
Went back to work in the office part time.
Big owlet went to Nanny's for one day each week and Huz and I juggled work on the other days.
Worked hard.
Missed big owlet dreadfully.
Felt a tad unsafe in new neighbourhood.
Huz applied for a job in Hobart. Got the job.
Finished renovating and packed up the house.
Moved to Hobart. Lived in a huge house on the water.
Rainbows everyday.
Felt like we were on holidays.
Went back to working from home.
Became pregnant.



2006
I turned 30.
Worked from home. Lots.
Commuted to Melbourne for work every month.
Felt tired.
Huz got really sick with salmonella poisoning. Took a ride in an ambulance.
Found some new friends.
Huz started writing music more serioulsy.
Gave birth to little owlet. At home.



2007
Big owlet started kindergarten.
Went for a drive. Bought a house.
Stressed out about owning two houses and paying enormous mortgage.
Huz developed a twitch.
Sold house in Melbourne.
Started a blog.
Moved into new house, with help from new friends.
Planted trees and little owlet's placenta in the garden.
Worked from home. Lots.



2008
Big owlet went to big kinder, three days per week.
Missed her.
Found a new home for our unhappy beagle.
Adopted guinea pigs and chooks.
Renovated the bathroom.
Huz released his first album.
Made some kids clothes and sold them at a market.
Quit job. Finally.
Decided to home educate after reading about unschooling.



2009
Became pregnant.
Unschooling everyday. Freedom.
Opened the owlet shop and sold at lots of markets.
Miscarried Pippin. Buried him in the garden.
Went to Canberra to rally for homebirth.
Miscarried again.
Painted part of the house.
Went camping on the east coast.
Decided we like camping after all.
Worked on feeling healthy.



2010
Became pregnant.
Felt well.
Floated through the days.
Huz recorded his second album.
Gave birth to tiny owlet. In my own house.
Made it a home.

last minute shop business!

I've just muddled my way through making and delivering this lot of skirts, onesies and clips to the Wilderness Society Shop at Salamanca Place. If you happen to be in Hobart and just happen to need something for an owlet you know, be sure to pop down there and have a look at their beautiful range of children's clothes, accessories, toys and books. My own owlets will be receiving some beautiful bits and pieces this year, mostly organic or fair trade... not so much hand made this time and purchased mostly online in between naps and nappy changes. I must say I'm rather chuffed that the postie brought the last of the presents today and we're good to go. I'll still put a couple of last minute handmade things together... For big owlet, a sewing kit. For little owlet a peg doll decorating kit. Tiny owlet will be receiving an owlet baby clothing bumper pack! I''m so excited to finally have my own tiny person to dress in owlet onesies an pants and kimono tops and...



So the owlet shop will most likely be a little quiet for the next few months as I enjoy the summer with the family and catch up on making long requested things for my little ones and my nest. If there's something you need, that's not available in the shop, let me know. I'm always happy to do custom orders.

I'll be doing even fewer markets in 2011. I am hoping to make the owlet online shop even better, with some new stock and a bit of tweaking. I have a few ideas for some new lovely pieces which I'm hoping to launch in Autumn. I'm rather excited about it really! I was feeling a bit uninspired a few weeks ago, but a little break has done wonders, so I'm hoping to return to the sewing machine with a little inspiration some time in the new year. x

just a reminder...

The dollar is still good and I'm still offering free postage... Unless your little owlets wear these, mine will!! I'm looking forward to having a little squishy person to put in a kimono top and a stripy suit :) There's still plenty of skirts and a few extras there too. The owlet shop will most likely still be open during the hole impending birth and post baby period, but postage may be a tad slow. If you'd like something by the end of spring, or early for christmas, get in quick!!

on its way...

A custom mini mei tai complete and on the way to a little owlet named Iris. Hope she loves it!!

If you'd like one too, just let me know and I'll whip one up :) Also, just a reminder that there's free shipping on everything in the owlet shop for the time being. x

The shop is full!!

Well as full as its gonna get before our new owlet joins us... You'll find new stuff for babies like organic cotton kimono tops and hats...


Also plenty of fun stuff like crowns, silk capes and mini mei tais made to order! I'm offering free shipping for the next few weeks in celebration of sunnier spring days. Perhaps you'd like to get in early for christmas and pick up a little something for your owlets?

New in the shop today...

I'm finally getting around to listing some of those things I made a couple of weeks ago... You can find them all in my etsy store :)









Stay tuned because there's more to come!

thing #7

Bean bag sets!! These are made with a mix of textured and coloured fabrics and each bean bag has something different inside (lentils, beans, chick peas etc), so they all feel different - some bumpy, some smooth. So much fun to throw around the house on a chilly day and great for gross motor skills.

If you've seen something you've liked in the past week, just let me know and you are welcome to have it before market day... otherwise you can find it there or on etsy later if it doesn't find a home before.