Kate's big lots of work day.

Both kids at FDC today by sheer luck. Been sewing like the divil!

Taking a lunch break right now... eyes going a bit funny from peering at the needles so thought I'd better blog an updated to do.

DONE

* 4 x customs ready for snapping
* 3 x wool covers ready for snapping and lanolising
* 1 x Goodnight Sweetheart nappy and matching wonderwool ready for snappig (Leah you are gonna DIE when you see these!!!)

STILL TO DO

* 4 x things for mystery
* 1 x celery set if time
* 1 time retro set if time

Bloody exhausted already!! Would kill for some maccas but no $ :(

Ahh well gonna scoff my noodles and get back to it!!

2.30 update

Fading fast. Got no idea how people do this day in day out for a living... my eyes are nearly shot, really blurry, back is aching a headache starting!

Time for another coffee break LOL.

Nearly done with the mystery though... just got one more thing to do on that today. Still have to cut and sew stuffers for the Sweethearts that reminds me.

Think when I finish the mystery stuff will call it a day and leave celery and retro (and knockers) for another time.

Hmm must go in and get wool tomorrow too so we can complete the mystery altogether. Might ring Del and see if she's up for a drive :D

9.30 Update

Mystery done (aside from wool which we don't have yet - tomorrow)

Celery done... not 100% thrilled... will defer to Leah's unbiased eye.

Stuffers for Sweethearts done.

Deadset buggered.

leah's to do

OK, pressure is off a bit, but am going to write a list to relieve pressure for the stocking in 2 weeks :) Will not write packing orders etc, as that's a daily chore and this is not a daily list :)

1. write up transfer tester emails - DONE
2. reorganise stock - Kinda done, for now :D
3. finish banners for NC - done and emailed to ask where they go
4. webpage for come out and play
5. dye (sif's set, bambooshka, silks)
6. create product listing for come out and play sets
7. upload other unlisted stuff
8. buy new transfers from officeworks

This weeks To Do for Kate.

Sooo much to try and get through this week.

Cutting

3 x long overdue wool covers
10 x celestial and hemp (and the extra special stuff for the inners if it gets here!)
6 x knockers


Sewing

3 x long overdue wool covers
1 x swing apron DONE
2 x prints DONE
6 x knockers
2 x nappies for L DONE
3 x cashmere pants for L & S
6 (I think?) things for Mystery Auction
4 x Customs

And IF I get through all of that I might even get to finish the pants I am making for myself!!

Still really need to tidy up the BJ website too *sigh*. One day.

Everybody needs a muse...

Here is mine. I LOVE this fabric... this witchy woman is my inspiration at the moment. Not even sure why... except that I love going out disco dancing and she is clearly having fun and hasn't a care in the world.

Goal for today is to get my house cleaned so I can put this up in my study/sewing room and look upon it daily :D

Meanwhile every time I look at the pics down there of Em's new playset my heart sings... the apron is going to be worn often, and the nappy... ohh the nappy. It is without doubt the most beautiful nappy that I currently own. And it looks so cute on her.

Was STOKED that the apron fit Audrey as well, was hoping for a onesize and was thrilled that it worked!

Got two more instocks to sew today for the next full moon before I get onto cutting the new knockers and some other stuff too.

They are gonna take people's eyes out I think! Have been so impressed with our O/S fabrics... very tempted to go build a new wishlist right now!

No, must clean, that can be my reward later today :D

productive day

Finally got going on our customs and mystery auctions today :) So glad to be recovering my health! And Kate brought over her MOST AMAZING thing ever, that we've alluded to in previous posts. Here's some pics (the real previews coming shortly! this is the preview preview!)

And I am spoilt rotten! Have been coveting this fabric from the moment I saw it and now I have a very spesh little eenie weenie nappy for a new bum one day!! And matching bib!! :)

And Kate brought this wonderful surprise over to decorate my study! Thanks Mate! It looks fabulous. Ah to be in Paris! This fabric is beautiful and now it need never see wee or poo LOL

Things to do TONIGHT!!!

* Sew Sue's skivvy DONE
* Make those things to show L tomorrow... the witches revealed LOL. DONE

Take tomorrow:

* PUL's for pics
* Bag of stuff done today for pics
* Hemp
* Outers to decide for mystery or stocking
* nappies for the kids lol
* Bread rolls okay L? Got some ham and turkey too if we want it?

Forgetting something I know it!

love packages

Our lovely packages all came and it's such fun. Looking forward to tomorrow to do some dyeing.

Got a bit of a hodge podge of jobs to do today (not all today, but def the first 4)

• Check payments, print invoices, pack orders, mail DONE
• Pay outstanding bills DONE
• wash orgs
• check i have right sized singlets DONE - need a size 1
• Upload photos from yetserday DONE
• Delete old stock in ozebaby DONE
• finish new NC banner
• Make a logo for the new product

I think that's right.

Can I just say I am SO impressed with Kate's design skills. This new product is gonna rock! I hope it sells well, I know I definetely would have wanted it, wanted lots of them when Audrey was little.

And excited too cause the mystery witch product might be revealed tomorrow LOL Hope you get a chance to sew it today Kate!

I have a blister...

On my finger from so much cutting tonight!!

Just couldn't look at our gorgeous new O/S fabrics any longer though.

Hope I will be as industrious tomorrow... would love to have some sets to bring to your place Thurs Leah... you are gonna LOVE 'em!!

Fingers crossed (ouch! LOL) for a good sewing day tomorrow!

leah's to do

Oh golly gosh, this illness has been my bain marie! Feel like I've still got to start to do things I nearly had finished at the start of the week LOL

Ok, tonight I have sent out a few emails sorely required, transferred monies, and am about to fix us up a banner for NC.

Tomorrow I am doing in the following order

1. checking payments - done
2. printing invoices - done
3. packing items - done
4. printing transfers - done
5. writing instructions - done
6. packaging transfers - not gonna cut these today, am sure to stuff it up since printing them was such a trauma for my foggy brain! Have researched the right enevelope and stamp required - going to test packing with a bit of stiff plastic or cardboard. Not sure which will be most readily available, maybe will end up using both from recycling, whatever is around!
7. posting everything - gonna give them to Mum when she drops off Audrey
8. finishing up the books, nice and neat to show Kate Tuesday morning

Ok, on Tuesday I need to take to kate

1. my camera
2. our US fabric (heheh positive thinking) - it came! :) it's packed
3. our win off ebay (more positive thinking)
4. book reports to show Kate
5. stencils for Kate - packed

If there is anything else Kate, edit it and add it in!

Ok, so I've already booked up Monday through Thursday with stuff to do - will be a productive week it seems :)

Really looking forward to doing some dyeing on Thursday, it's been awhile!

Monday 2pm - ok, got a fair bit done today. Just need to DO THE BOOKS. I really want this done, it's just the last thing on the list all the time LOL

TO DO...

Misc. Stuff

* Invoice TC DONE & Paid thanks!
* Order BsW DONE
* Update BJ website... shocking!! LOL

To dye:

* 4 x name game nappies
* buy cotton for mystery
* mystery nappies and *stuff*
* 2 x HH's for A

To sew:

* 3 x cashmere longies for S & L
* 2 x nappies for L

To do:

* Get Leah to take pics of Em's outfit, plus outer fabrics and PUL's for next months customs
* Figure out what we are gonna do next month! LOL
* Go looking for opportunity to knock up ;) Hm that could easily be misconstrued!


Okay what am I forgetting?


Okay what am I forgetting?

Oh happy day!!!

Wahoo!!! ADSL on new (well new to me!) laptop!!!

Gonna sit on the couch tonight and blog a priority list so can start to feel organised, got lots to do next few weeks!!

The Bain Marie of my Life

Too many ideas, not enough time.

Or maybe too much time spent arsing around here instead of DOING.

Ppl suitably impressed with Em's little outfit today... can't wait to show it to you Leah... have an idea for a combo that could be upsized at checkout. Want fries with that?

Quite excited about the Mystery Prize! Gonna be good fun and a pretty awesome parcel to open IMHO.

Gotta go cut things. Really. Like now. GO ALREADY!

Wednesday To Do for Kate

* Wash and dry hemp twice for customs.

* Maybe sew some *stuff* if I get the time.

* Start figuring out components to go with swish and exciting new fabrics.



Leah - wanna give the custom girls a kick in the pants, and maybe bring some stuff Thurs so we can do their outers?

where's our fabric???

C'mon its been 4-5 business day, I waaaaaaaaaaaaant it!

I think I'm being a bit too optimistic. If it gets here this week I'll be ecstatic.

pink Eiffel towers and etc and asterisks
ladies in cafes and sushi on platters
retro patterns that make my heart sing
these are a few of my favourite things!

sing it Mama K!! :D

leah's to do

• check payments - done
• pack orders - invoices printed, next job is to pack
• mail orders
• pay S.D - need to dbl check details
• refund wool - done
• pay ebay auction - done
• pack up gear for L's store
• check "cockpit" for all orders on ozebaby from start
• create new pages in "cockpit" for incomings and outgoings
• once the cockpit is in order, delete obsolete products from back of store (check what happens to images as this occurs, check gallery, check images page)

leah's to do

1. lanolised the unlanolised - DONE, hands smell beautiful and feel oh so soft :)
2. invoice and update "cauldron cocokpit"- done, finnaly, hours later! wish this was automatic, takes forever, groan, moan.
3. send emails to name game auctions with choices questions - done :)
4. pack orders - half done, waiting on lanolised things to get a bit dryer, nearly there. Ok, 5 of 6 packed and posted -left the last order as it was a bit damp. Must now email others to explain the piece of paper towel in their order LOL (concerned things might get steamy despite them feeling dry to me after day under the ducted heating and in front of a full blast fan!)
5. pay S.D
6. refund wool
7. pay ebay auction
8. email L re wed - done
9. pack up gear for L's store
10. fix up ozebaby back of store ** (have depoluated store was a bit of a mindless job plus after my advertising post felt i needed to get the stuff down lol)
11. complete "cauldron cockpit books"

Big day, but Audrey is going to Mum's so hopefully will get through a lot of it - at least to no. 7 complete and as much of no. 8 as possible :)

** kate, going to depopulate the store today, this ok?

4pm update - got my sick girl back an hour ago :( Poor little duck is coughing and drinking everything in sight! Oh well, no PG for us tomorrow, but will get thru all this work no worries now, since she'll be a couch potato.

7:50pm update - ok, have emailed ppl to explain paper towels. just updating the back of store with shipped orders now, answering one outstanding email from today, and then that's it :) Oh and will write a new detailed to do list for tomorrow.

sacriledge

Bidded on ebay on the stuff that's still low - tho it feels a bit sacrilegous to be buying this stuff to cut up!! Like cutting up history ... oh the delimmas! I really like Kate's idea of vintage tees as nappies, but they go for the big bucks, I think our only luck would be finding them in op shops if the person sorting doesn't realise they are trendy :)

we made 100 :)

48 shoppers atm.

i feel nervous - dunno why! I mean the worse that could happen is we list something wrong, then we send a few emails and fix it up LOL As long as I dont relist anything like I did the first time, we're sweet! :)

Raising my (non-existant) glass - here's to a successful stocking (*clink clink*)

Now off to see what I can really drink - we have too much beer in this house, I need wine! :)

Killing time...

About an hour and a half to go... bit nervous TBH... always am at this stage though.

Leah.... why aren't you on msn??

Ho hum what to do... nothing new happening on NC at the moment and have caught up on reading blogs I think.

Hope I have my laptop and broadband for our next restock! This room drives me nutso.

So putting it out there... my secret hope is to hit 100 shoppers online tonight. Got up to the mid 80's with our new moon restock so it is possible...

last minute dash :)

Not quite sure why I have left so much to the last minute :) Oh well, sure it'll all get done :)

AP tattoos

Ive got a real bee in my bonnet about creating some tattoo style images of women breastfeeding and pregnant and baby wearing .... what will we do with these if I make them Kate???

googling googling

Spruiking for this full moon

Mama K (wat's my cool handle??? :)), when you are out spruiking over the next few days, perhaps we should mention that the lotions and balms and wraps and prefolds are going to Libby's bricks and mortar store next week so if anyone's had their eye on anything, time to buy is now?

Bouncing Ideas

Toddler raincoats... talk to Lu

Fleece dressing gowns with matching PJ pants/nappy covers... already got a robe pattern easy to adjust for sizes... might brave Spotlight this arvo if the kids aren't too feral and try some for E?

PUL or fleece coverall bibs/aprons?

Inspired by Leah's hysterical Wonderwool cleverness...

Today is gonna be the day
That we're gonna show you something new
By now you should've somehow
Realized what we love to do
We don't believe that anybody
Feels the way we do about wool now

Backbeat the word was on the street
That the fire in your heart is out
You think you've seen it all before
But you may not have seen this! No doubt!
We don't believe that anybody feels
The way we do about wool now

And all thoughts that led us here were winding
And Cauldron fire can be so bright and blinding
There are many things that I would
Like to show to you
I don't know how*

Because maybe
It's gonna be the one that saves me ?
And after all
You're my wonderwool

Because maybe
It's gonna be the one that saves me ?
It is so cool!
It's our wonderwool!


*Good thing Leah does!!!

With apologies to Oasis who we're sure never intended that their most brilliant song make any reference to wool at all! "Wonderwall" can be found on the album "(What's the Story) Morning Glory?" released in October 1995 by Creation Records (a division of Sony Music).

some of tonight's efforts

This first image was created to be shown along side out "Cashmere if you can" items that are being stocked this Saturday at 9pm. The pants are a "tight" fit, we really want people to measure before hand and so hoping that this gives them time to do it before the stocking! :) Plus, we just like making up poems and graphics it seems :)

And this is our new wonderwool logo, done as a tribute to oasis' song wonderwall :) you can see the original cover here > http://digilander.libero.it/lovejoyit/img/uk_wonderwall_lg.jpg

Really enjoying the photoshop stuff, lots of thanks to the other Kate (formerly kate, kate with twins, soon to be Kate, picklehead Kate I imagine :D)

Addendum to Rainbow Longies auctions... WDYT?

Okay so thinking we could call the rainbow set "Rainbow Warriors"

And if you think this is not too silly, add this in a box at the bottom:

Message from Mama K:

These rainbows are warriors, because they declared war on my machines! The sensible response to this would have been to handsew them. But let's face it I am not reknowned for my sensibility at the best of times! This is a very heavy weight wool... it was an unusual looking men's jumper (well our men wouldn't wear it!) but it makes some pretty spectacular pants! So if you find areas where you think the sewing is not 100% pretty to the eye, please think of my poor machines and take pity. They have been triple stitched along the seams so will be sturdy enough for the most rambunctious toddler, and maybe I am just being a perfectionist. Either way no-one will see those bits aside from you anyway, but we like to be upfront at The Cauldron :D


Okay really gotta go sew the last knocker so I can give them to you tomorrow. Will do the bobbles at PD tomorrow maybe LOL.

Getting v. excited about the full moon!

Ebay Stuff

brown floral apron - yes please!

mod skirt - hmmm not married to this one WDYT?

boho dress - oh yes yes yes!!!

hot pants - meh, not really a fan LOL

wool jumper - yeah why not :D

mens paisley - oh yes absolutely!!

another wool for dying - hmm don't know if I would bother with this one... easy enough to find cable knits around the place, think I prefer the flat knits anyways LOL.

virtual op shopping

hey kate, had a look thru the cheap auction in the vintage shopping section. if you like any of these let me know and i'll bid - cheaper than fabric!

brown floral apron

mod skirt

boho dress

hot pants

wool jumper

mens paisley

another wool for dying

ok coffee break over now :)

Hey Kate, have been having a play with the colours cause I cannot easily see the gray text! My eyes are dim, or my monitor is set wrong, whatever :) Anyway, it's a WIP, not finished yet :)

first big fabric order :)

Well I just did my first big fabric order, and a OS one at that :) Got lots of bits I'd been hankering over for awhile .... we are gonna have some MAD collections in a month or two :)

for the cauldron's poet

Spamming

Gathering thoughts. Third attempts... two blackouts so far!

Bubble, boil Cauldron black,
A restock's due, no turning back.
What mysteries does the Cauldron hold?
At 9pm they will unfold.
Some useful things to have nearby:
(For missing out may make you cry!)
* Some measurements for your dear heart:
waist, rise and leg length for a start.
* For those whose nerves are prone to shatter,
A stiff drink may make you feel better!
What may you find at this full moon?
We're not telling! But you'll see soon!
Are you willing? Do you dare?
The Cauldron calls, will you be there?

9pm Saturday 13th May. The Cauldron.



Hey Leah, how do I do that thing to add a direct link to the store where it says The Cauldron? Clueless with machines that don't have needles LOL.

Oh and is there any way you could cut out the twirling short haired red head from that pic down there so we could put her in as well?

This okay for NC and AB you think?

I loike it

I want hair like the redhead on the far right. Legs too!

That's what I'm talking about!!!

Kate's To Do

1. Have a great day out with old friends we haven't seen in ages today, and try not to think about the sewing that awaits me when I get home!

 

2. Sew 5 x knockers. These ones are so ace, can't wait to see them finished... where did that magic wand go again??

 

3. Sew Sam's pants for tomorrow.

 

4. Sew trade bambooholic ASAP!!!

 

5. Count down until full moon... looking forward to this restock some pretty exciting stuff going up in my humble opinion LOL.

 

 

Leah's to do list

1. pack orders
2. dye inner and out
3. dye "bent"
4. photograph for next restocking
5. create logo for CC
6. upload stock
7. redo banner for NP, send, pay
8. transfers
9. transform blog into spectacular site for the eyes!

email test post 2

test the ability to post via email

the cauldron test page 1

testing this as well