USPTO and Government Business

There was I, counting the hours until the New Year celebration can begin, when all of a sudden, a .gov email pops into my inbox. Who could this be? Somebody is actually working this week? I am not the only one?

Once I summoned the courage to open it, it turns out it was an official notice from the United States Patent and Trademark Office that our trademark application HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!

OMG!!!!

How's that for a surprise?!? Happy New Year to me!

Another Etsy Treasury!

I can't keep count anymore. This is fabulous!

Thanks to Meg from ME2Designs for including me in her picks.

Happy New Year!

Can you tell I am totally enjoying the new photo processing program?


The Christmas was so much fun for the kids. They, of course, are too young to know what happened, except that they could eat all the cookies that they could stomach and they got so many new toys, they are not sure what to do with them.

Nothing new on the Woolly Boo front, though. Very happy even our customers took a little break from shopping. But, don't stay away for too long - the really cold days are coming.

Also, stand by for a special announcement - we are taking part in a very cool charitable event in NYC, courtesy of Martha Stewart. And, yes, I will keep you guessing until the New Year!

Have a happy one!

Merry Christmas to all!

We'll take a little break from the blog over Christmas, unless something so interesting happens that we simply have to tell you about it.

So, Merry Christmas to all, and let's catch up next week!

The Flickr link is not working for some reason

I have to figure that one out. Well, with all this snow and no place to go, I will have plenty of time to do that.

In the mean time, I spent the day downloading, uploading, and backing up thousands of photos. That's how I noticed the glitch in Flickr app for Blogger, in the first place. In the mean time, here is the direct link for the photos from the Handmade in New York craft fair we took part in last Saturday. Enjoy!

When it rains...

craftgawker, a gallery blog, is featuring us in the Children's section. Check it out.

Truly an honor. Thanks guys.

We made it...

... to the Try Handmade(TM) Gallery. How cool is that.

The Try Handmade blog is juried, so this makes it an even bigger honor.

Click here to see our listing and other amazing artists.

New Photos Preview!

Cool, right?



My thanks to Walter for making my products look as good as they are!

Handmade in New York!

Was tons of fun. I'll share the photos just as soon as I create some space on the computer to store them. Long story.

Thanks everyone who came by to say hello. We appreciate the support.

Cheers!

Getting ready for NYC, baby!

Just finished loading up the car for tomorrow. I actually have a little bit of anxiety, strangely enough. Hopefully, everything will be alright. And most importantly, we'll have a good time, meet some cool people, and learn a few things. I'm saying "we", since my sister will be joining me for the day. Yay!

Wish me luck!

P.S. I have actually remembered to pack batteries this time, so you might actually see some images from this show. If I remember to take them.

Happy Hanukkah!

To all my dear friends celebrating this wonderful holiday of lights, have a Happy Hanukkah!

Recovery

I am now officially in recovery. Yesterday's show was a lot of fun, but I have to say, socializing takes out so much out of you. Unbelievable!

It has to be said, the venue was beautiful. The church was old, and Nordic-inspired. The space, and my booth in particular, were in the great spot. Organizers decorated the room nicely, other vendors were so talented, friendly and inspiring... All in all, very happy. And the Woolly Boo logo caused so much stir, that one of the teenage bands that performed wanted to buy my banner. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Well, not that long. Maybe a week.

Thanks for everyone who stopped by. It was great seeing you.

And, yeah, happy first snow of the season.

Wordless Wednesday!

Well, a few words. We made it another Etsy Treasury! Yeah! So, click here and check us out...

FREE Shop-at-Home Service!

Or shop at my home!

With the new office/showroom finished (finally), I have a place to host all those that maybe feel uncomfortable inviting a stranger to their home. Photos will come shortly. I just need to assemble all the IKEA furniture :) I know, we're talking January now, right?

In any event, the Shop-at-Home service will give you an opportunity to see the Woolly Boo products without leaving the comfort of your home. If the kids are napping, I will be extra quiet - I understand. I will come to your house with all the samples and all the fabric swatches, so you get to touch and feel everything before you commit to purchasing.

No purchase necessary.

HOLIDAY SALE!!!

Now through December 26, 2009, with ANY purchase from our shop, Woolly Boo™ is offering:
•FREE shipping in the continental US
•FREE home delivery in New York City (and parts of Tri-State Area)*
•FREE gift wrap
•FREE paper card

*Please contact us for details of this offer.

IF YOU ARE WONDERING WHY WOOL?
•Naturally anti-bacterial
•Temperature regulating and insulating (the continual circulation of air keeps child’s temperature appropriate for the environment)
•Wicks away moisture from the skin (the wool fibers absorb up to 40% of their dry weight in moisture, resulting in reduction of dampness, pressure and friction against your child’s skin)
•Naturally fire-retardant (wool that hasn’t been chemically processed does not burn)
•Naturally dust mite repellent, so it reduces allergies
•Does not give off an electrical charge unlike synthetic fibers
•CPSIA compliant (wool that hasn't been chemically processed is always lead-free and phthalate-free)

Still not sure? Make use of our FREE Shop-at-Home Service. We come to you with all the samples and fabric choices. Very convenient for busy moms and dads.

Is it me, or...

Did these last few weeks just fly by? It's Thanksgiving already! I am not ready for this year to be over, yet it is nice things are moving forward.

Just did some of the prep for tomorrow - made the brine for turkey and am now waiting for it to cool. The turkey is 15 pounds. Let's see how it comes out. Also made one of the deserts and one side. Not bad. Maybe, just maybe, I don't get a panic attack around noon tomorrow :)

As far as Woolly Boo is concerned, not much happening. Preparing for the two shows in December, one on the 5th in Glen Ridge, next door, and one on the 12th in NYC. Looking forward to getting out of the house and away from the computer, and doing this, I have to say.

Have a happy Thanksgiving everyone. Will post photos tomorrow with the spread.

Pillows - The Luxury Woolly Boo Way

Wrapped in lush cotton damask, these pillows are just amazing - you will simply want to wrap yourself in them. That's at least what my kids were doing, until they figured out the pillows are just too small for covers. So, they changed their tactic, piled them in the center of the room, and rolled in them until they were exhausted... It was a fun afternoon.

At 18"x18", the pillows are very versatile. You can use them as decor in any number of rooms in your house, seat cushions, pet pillows, or even pet beds for cats and smaller breed dogs.

Enjoy!

Gift Certificates are HERE!

Just in time for the holidays :) Or the millionth baby shower you've been invited to...


Cute, right?! Might make a bow a little larger...

Apologies

My apologies to everyone for not keeping up. There was so much to do around the house, and getting ready for the Holiday shows, and kids being sick, that I was so exhausted, the last thing I wanted to do is write.

Unfortunately, I was too late to apply for the fair that is happening in town this weekend, so I'll just be an observer. However, I have 2 great shows lined up for December:

Saturday, December 5, Glen Ridge, NJ
Saturday, December 12, Handmade in New York

See you there!

Blogging and WB took a back seat this week...

We have a construction project going on at the House and a teething baby. Will explain when I get some sleep :)

And, so it went...

Would you believe it, I had everything done right, and one, probably the most important thing, that I couldn't control - fell through. My credit card machine didn't come on time. They called three times today to apologize and offer amends. As they should. Thankfully, it didn't make that much of a difference, because people preferred to buy online. Go figure.

It was a great show. I forget how much foot traffic is there in New York, because I mostly drive these days. As with everything else in New York, there were so many different personalities, I am not sure where to begin. There were people with kids, couples without kids, gay couples, lots of young students dressed like Kajgoogoo or A-ha band members... For those of us that lived through the 1980's, it was so much fun to watch. There were a lot of people who asked if my sleep sacks are maybe vests. Probably because it was cold. There was a man in a wheelchair who asked about purchasing a comforter to cover his legs. And there was a woman with an infant who yelled at me because the sleep sack was overpriced in her opinion. As I said, all kinds. Luckily, almost everyone who passed by my tent said the products are beautiful and the logo is cute. And that made me feel great.

My tent threatened to fly away twice, but I did a good job anchoring it with water bottles. After the show, I put the bottles back in the car, because I was too lazy to dump the water - and one of them spilled all over the floor on the drive home. I mean, really. Also, the curtains were too long. I'll shorten them after the construction on the new office/studio is done. Oh yes, we have a new office/studio. I should be finished painting it tomorrow or Wednesday, and I'll post photos.

And, yeah, I forgot to take the camera, so no photos. Sorry folks.

One of the customers suggested another NY show for me. I just sent in my application, and I'll keep you posted. Thankfully, this one is indoors.

Show must go on!

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it is about learning to dance in the rain."

Yes, there will be rain. Yes, it might be a tad cold. But, the show is still happening, and Woolly Boo will be there.

All the kids activities will be indoor, so they will certainly have a great time.

So, come on over!

What is everybody doing this Saturday?

How about coming down to Chelsea?

Facebook Success!

I've been trying for weeks, unsuccessfully, to change the page name on Facebook, to something manageable, like say, my business name :)

I finally did it. So, to the world out there, you can find us on Facebook at:

http://www.facebook.com/WoollyBoo

Checklist for Saturday

Time for another roll-call:

• Tent curtains are in. I also managed to get some other materials for dirt cheap. LOVE RoseBrand.
  
• Credit card machine will be here on Tuesday.
• Banners will be here by Wednesday. Thanks Wilson Graphics.
  
• Still waiting for stickers...

Wow, it looks like I actually might have my act together.

Woolly Boo made it to the first Etsy Treasury!

Oh my goodness! Don't know where to begin! So excited about this opportunity!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those little people that made this moment possible [laugh]... just kidding.

Thanks muppetloon for listing us. Also, big thanks to the {NewNew} Etsy team and looking forward to joining your ranks.

See you all next Saturday in New York, baby!

Remembered what I was missing!

That's a good part. I swear, with the fear of sounding like a cliche-throwing wanna-sound-smart journalist, if my head wasn't attached to my body, I would have lost it. These last few days have been challenging, at best. It's bottles, and meals, and diapers, and supermarkets, and classes, and meetings, and car, car, and more car. I have at least one dozen calls to make and still have to send an email to people who signed up for the mailing list... I'm getting tired just writing about it...

Oh, the thing I forgot - credit cards. I have to be able to accept credit cards at the shows. It looks like somebody really likes me up there. Just as I was thinking about it yesterday, an email popped up from my bank offering free credit card machine. Maybe this whole Woolly Boo thing is going somewhere after all.

The stamps are here. Yeah!

I ordered two rubber stamps from a fellow Etsian, since I figured it might be more economical to stamp various promotional items, than to put stickers or some other alternative. And I have to tell you, they look great. I just made a batch of price tags using the stamps... Very happy with the results. Here is the photo:



Rundown for the New York show: table-check, tent-check, rain cloth-check, products-check, price tags-check, bags-check, tissue paper-check, postcards-check, business cars-check, dear customer letters-check...

To do: pick up curtains (yes, they are still at the manufacturer's place, long story), banners-hopefully to be delivered at the beginning of next week, stickers are ordered-waiting for delivery... Is that it? Am I missing something?

Just finished our first show/fundraiser...

It was loads of fun talking to people about Woolly Boo. That, combined with getting up at dawn to bake cookies, a glaring sun, walking around constantly fixing the display, running after kids (mine and other neighbors), it was exhausting. But, we made it a family affair, everyone chipped in, all in all, awesome.

Check out the photos of the event on Flickr. Or click on the photostream on the right of this post. My thanks to Jeanette from Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats. I really hope the event was a success for them.

Now I have to go and order some more stickers, as they were the hot item of the party and all the kids wanted one.

Little Lamb

So, my son has discovered the Halloween costumes - check out the photostream on the right of this post. We had two costumes made, one for him and one for our daughter. They will both be little lambs, as I need all the advertising and marketing exposure I can get. Anyway, he likes his new beanie so much, he wears it around the house, kid you not. I am certain, come winter and cold weather, he will want nothing to do with it. Ah, kids, gotta love them.

A short aside: I've ordered some panels/curtains made for my show tent. And if you are asking why I haven't done this myself, it is quite simple: all these shows have flame-retardation requirement when it comes to the display that includes panels/curtains. Now, these fabrics can only be purchased in bulk. I am talking at least 100 yards. So, the best and the cheapest way is to have one of the supply companies actually make these for you, which is what I did. I used Rosebrand. They came highly recommended and I have to say, they were very nice and helpful. And very fast, to boot. The amazing thing is that they can make you practically anything you can imagine, and your own imagination is the only limit. I though they would laugh me out of the room because of the simplicity of my order, and, well, considering how small it was. Nothing like that. Thanks Rosebrand.

Rained out!

I am very sad to report that the rain decided to spoil our plans for the Block Party, so we have moved it to next Sunday, October 4. I was really looking forward to it, and was up until late last night drawing display designs and thinking of creative ways to present different levels of visualization. Well, won't get to use them until next week. Good thing about this is that my tent drapes are not done, and won't be until next Thursday. Neither are my vinyl signs. This way, I get to practice putting everything together BEFORE I actually have to do it for a real display. Gives me time to work out any kinks.

Anyway, hope the weather cooperates next week. I really like being outdoors in the Fall and seeing all the neighbors.

Trademarks and such

Not sure if I wrote about this before, but earlier this year I applied Woolly Boo for a trademark, and ever since then, I have been using the TM designation. Lots of Etsians have been making fun of me, my company being so small, but I thought it necessary, should this company strike it big one of these days... Better to have all that paperwork out of the way.

Well, today I received an email from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office asking for more information and additional photos. This, I believe, is a great sign that they are actually considering my application, since they haven't flat out rejected it. Hurray!

I know, I know, those that want to rip off the designs will do so anyway. My theory on that is that there will be those that are deterred by the TM, those that think twice about it (and hopefully decide not to do it), and those that don't care. I pray that the third category is very, very small, tiny in fact, or even better, nonexistent. Keep your fingers crossed.

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday to me!

Now, go and buy my stuff. That would be the BESTEST birthday present EVER!

OMG! Is it Wednesday again?

Where does the time fly, seriously?

So, I've decided that this and every other Halloween, until they are old enough to protest and actually get away with it, my two chipmunks are going to go as [insert drum roll]: LAMBS :)

I've had a fellow Etsy artist make these costumes for them. Neat, right?

More chances to see our products! See you in Montclair, NJ

Just heard back from Jeanette of Aunt Jean's Toys and Treats, a specialty toy store located in Montclair, NJ. They are having an annual "block party" this Sunday, September 27, a fundraiser to benefit the Montclair Community Pre-K. It is really an exciting event with lots of games for children of all ages. Woolly Boo will have a display table there, so stop by and say hello, and grab some of our free promo items.

If you decide you would like to buy something, 10% of your purchase will go to the Montclair Community Pre-K Scholarship Fund. Shop away!

Wordless Wednesday

I love it how my kids love their Woolly Boo's :)

Almost time for another Wordless Wednesday!

My apologies for not keeping up, but I have some very exciting news: I've been prompted by some friends to join the Arts and Crafts Show circuit, and I am going to take them up on it. First stop: Crafts in Chelsea on Saturday, October 17. There are so many things that need to be done in preparation for the show, that I am running around like a mad woman. There is the display, banners, curtains, then the stocking up of the items, then promotional items, brochures, literature... I have no idea where to begin and where to end. Being a perfectionist, this might be really, really hard and stressful, but I do want more people to see our products. Anyone who's ever seen them and touched them, bought them. All six of them :) There is something to be said about that.

I just hope people like us... Don't want to be one of those tents that everybody walks by...

Wordless Wednesday!

The magic of Woolly Boo :)

So, how is Woolly Boo returning us to tradition, part trois

Now that the wool is prepared, it is time to start making our products. Here is an example of how we make a Woolly Boo Mattress Pad:

1. The wool is cut into the appropriate size. For example, our mattress pad is the size of the standard U.S. crib, 53" x 31", and laid out on the working table.



2. The inlet material is sewn and the wool is inserted inside.



3. The wool is arranged so there are no lumps and no bunching. After that has been done, the wool with the inlet is inserted into the cover material, Sunshine Yellow Damask in this case.



4. After the cover is sewn, the entire process is moved to a different, specialized comforter sewing machine. The Mattress Pad is sewn through to ensure there is no fiber migration.



5. The carry bag is finished and the Mattress Pad is folded, inserted and stored.

In case you were wondering, those are Grandma's and Grandpa's hands making the Mattress Pad.

At this time, I would like to thank the good folks at Udruga Ruta Cres or Ruta Association from the Croatian island of Cres for the great photos of hand wool processing. Their photos are much better than what I came up with.

So, how is Woolly Boo returning us to tradition, part deux

Now that your wool is nice and dry, it is time to sort it. Because, let's face it, not everything is always suitable for every use, especially when it comes to children. Sorting is done by hand, so that besides the visual inspection we can also test the "feel" of the wool. The softest fibers are always saved for the pillows.



After the sorting, the wool is combed. This is done so that the short and second cuts of the fleece are removed, leaving us with aligned "sheets" of long fibers. The combing also removes the pieces of grass and other vegetation, as well as any foreign matter, that wasn't shed during the washing. A long time ago, this process used to be done by hand, using these tools:



It was a long process that is still used today for the production of small, handmade batches of yarn. Because we at Woolly Boo are using much larger quantities of wool, we do our combing mechanically, like so:



Once combed, the wool is then stored in rolls in large canvas bags in the attic of Grandma's house.

Woolly Boo™ Back to Pre-School SALE

Come on, you know you want it :)

ANNOUNCING Woolly Boo™ Back to Pre-School SALE

The new school year is around the corner. Treat your little one to a new mattress pad, pillow or a comforter - perfect sleep and play companions for home, daycare, preschool. Also check out our amazing infant sleeping bags.

*FREE Sleeping Bag with a purchase of Sleeping Set
*FREE shipping in continental U.S.
*No Sales Tax
*Friday, August 28 – Monday, August 31

Woolly Boo™ - For Your Child's Healthy and Peaceful Sleep!

http://WoollyBoo.etsy.com


Seriously, have you ever seen the cots kids sleep on in daycare and preschool? Well, here is a photo of one.



Do you really want your child to sleep on this? This cot is made of Sof-Tex® fabric, whatever that is. See how close to the ground it is? This means that your child is breathing in all the dirt from the floor they just spent hours playing on wearing shoes. Yuk.

Anyway, give it a whirl in your head, let me know :)

Tell Me What You Think, Please!

I am considering getting a professional to photograph my products, but am not certain I can recoup the cost. Basically, I am worried that it will not increase the sales as dramatically as I would wish it to.

So, tell me what do you think... You can comment or send me an email.

I would really appreciate it. Thanks.

THEY ARE HERE!!!

My brand spanking new Sleeping Bags in Pretty In Pink and Sunshine Yellow. Check them out!

I am really excited about this line, since the fabrics are much more modern. A lot of comments I received about the Sleeping Bags were that maybe I need to offer other fabric choices, something a little less old-fashioned and not so... well... European.

So, here they are. Shop away!

Martha Stewart's Dreamers

Went on a MS's Dreamers into Doers binge this morning. I think I looked over hundreds of profiles. There are some really creative people out there. I really hope all those people I "friended" "friend" me back...

But, what struck me was the importance of logo design - if the avatar wasn't appealing, I simply wouldn't bother. Which makes me feel really lucky for having the logo I do :)

http://www.alexposure.com/

Thanks Alex!

Check out my NEW photos!

They are not only new, as in "I've just downloaded them from my camera" new, but they are also photos of some NEW PRODUCTS I am really excited to introduce to you!!!

Enjoy!

P.S. Click on the Flickr Photostream link on the right to view the photos.

So, how is Woolly Boo returning us to tradition?

Very simply. We are going back to the age old production process our grandparents, or at least my grandparents, used to make their bedding.

The sheep is sheared, like so:


The wool is gathered and washed with cold water and white distilled vinegar. Check out this page for more info about cleaning with vinegar and its benefits: http://www.vinegartips.com/Scripts/

Wool is then air dried in a shade, like so:




To be continued tomorrow...

I Have New Photos

Yes, I do. I promise. They are all still stuck on my camera. But, with the weather being so yucky, I think today is the photo day... I think, because Julie and Julia area calling my name... By the way, if you haven't read Julia's memoir, you absolutely must. What an amazing story!

Return To Tradition

Originally, this was to be our business tag line. Why you ask? Well, let me enlighten you.

Back in a day, women used to bring dowry with them into marriage. The idea was that a single man cannot be expected to have these things available, so the new wife would bring things they need for the household: pots, pans, dishes, utensils, bedding, mattresses, pillows, rugs, curtains, shams, tablecloths, etc. She would start making and decorating these items when she was really young, as early as 8-years-old. Dowry was a way to show how well to do was the girl's family, and also to show off her household skills, a very important "selling" point.

The mattresses were the last ones to make. The wool would be collected, washed and stored for years. The reason for this was following: for a 5 inch twin size mattress you would need about 40-50 pounds of wool. Oh, yeah, these things were heavy. 50 pounds of cleaned wool takes up almost 100 cubic feet - no kidding. This wool was stuffed into the damask covers. The reason damask was used was simple: it has a very sturdy, tight weave, so the wool would not escape and shed. Over the course of time, and due to use, the wool would obviously lose some of its volume, but it was enough for it to be aired for a day or so, and it would spring back up.

Maintenance: Every 25 years or so, the wool would be taken out of the cover and washed again.

How do I know this? I used to sleep on one of those things. Yes, my Mom brought some with her when she got married. And she made them from her Mother's, my Grandmother's, mattresses. Of course, in the 1970's they really didn't need to hand-make wool mattresses, but my Grandmother is Albanian, and very much stickler for a tradition.

It also appears that this dowry tradition was lost in America, several generations ago, or it has simply transferred into exchange of money, since with money, you could simply buy or have made all these things. With the invention and cheapness of springs and plastic, the wool was forgotten.

P.S.

I have some new products that were just finished. Today was a beautiful day for a photo shoot. Hot and sunny, but beautiful. And before you all get bent out of shape about how I can write "but", let me explain: the sun was very strong, which sometimes makes it very hard to take photos because of glare and light distribution. But, it was also humid, which helped with glare. However, I am still sticky from melting while trying to take these photos :)

So, they are done. I just need to download them from the camera, watermark them for protection, and post on the website, Etsy, Flickr, Facebook, MySpace, and gazillion other places I have an account with in my attempt to "spread the word". "Spreading the word" is spreading me real thin...

Where does one start?

... When writing a blog? From the beginning? Or is this the media where my very short attention span can actually benefit me? Hm...

Random Splashes of Thought: A "Onesie" by any other name....

Random Splashes of Thought: A "Onesie" by any other name....

Here is the article I wrote about business aspect of owning a small business. I'll re-run it again in it's full length on this blog, but I wanted to share it with you together with the "Gerber" "Onesie' controversy. Your comments are welcome.

Welcome!

I resisted starting this blog, because, honestly, I had no idea what I would write about.

And then it hit me - Woolly Boo products are soooooo great, I'll just write about them ALL THE TIME. Kind of like free ad pages.

So, blog world, here I come :)