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.