So, it's been over a year...

It has been over a year since my last post and even though I have thought about blogging lots since then, I have not been sure whether I wanted to update THIS blog. But I figure it is easier than starting a new blog right at this moment - that can come later.

Tara is now 4. Can you believe it? I can't. Some days I look at her and she is my month old little baby, with chubby cheeks and a deep set dimple. And then I look at her and it is a glimpse through a looking glass to when she is 13 and off to high school. The other days it is her just being 4. Beautiful, glorious 4.

I was talking to mum tonight about how she has lost some of her baby fat through her face and shoulders this last month (thanks to a vicious dose of vomiting gastro), and how she looks so wonderfully energetic, and young, and vibrant.

She has a couple of obsessions. One she is slowly (hopefully) growing out of - and that is Pooh Bear. She has Pooh Bear doonas (yes, plural!), lamps, clocks, toys and lots of books. I am hoping this one is a passing phase, for while I do like Pooh Bear, I am a classicist at heart and wish that the Disneyified crap would go elsewhere.

Dance is still a major part of her life and she is very much a singing and dancing kinda girl. She loves doing dancing anywhere and everywhere, and gate crashing a busker in the street is one of her favourite pasttimes.

Her other major obsession is PONIES! Wow, does she love her ponies. Any pony toy, book, story.. you name it - she loves it. And don't get her started on the real things. She loves horse riding when she gets a chance (she has a ride coming up in a couple of weeks) and would love to do it every week. Not that we can afford to do so in the Sydney CBD.

And she's getting a mighty fine collection of My Little Ponies now - thanks to ebay and the grandparents!

She is going to preschool 2 days a week and has some lovely lovely friends there. And I'm even making some friends through the other mothers which is really nice. Unfortunately one of her Best Friends is going to be leaving in a month and I'll have to deal with that fall out. thank goodness she can't remember that her old best friend at preschool left her too.

We have made a decision where we are going to send her to school, which is a massive load off my mind. I hope to become part of the P and C over the next year to become a bit more familiar with the community and the school. I think it will be a good way for us to get to know the small community.

As for me, I am doing ok As you have probably guessed, I am still no pregnant. Still trying. Still not getting anywhere. I'd love to have another child, but I am beginning to loose faith in the whole process. My mental state is not doing great over it all, but I try no to dwell on it.

My business is going very slow, and I have not made much in the way of sales for a while. I hope with a change of business structure over the next couple of months that things might pick up again and I'll be able to actually make money instead of loosing it. Keep your eyes out though, it's a bit exciting.

I'm also just about to finish my Childbirth Educator Course. OMG. I am so excited that I might actually just finish this! I am on the tail end, hopefully will have it finished within the next month.

Ally is working lots and lots and lots, but that is hopefully going to settle down soon.

We've been to New Zealand, Perth, Victoria, Canberra in the last 6 months or so, which has been a massive dose of excitement. Hopefully we get to do some more travelling soon, it really is refreshing to the system.

Anyways. that's it for now. I'm going to TRY and do more posts. hoping hoping. fingers crossed

Sewing Machines

Well, as many of you know my plans for the business went a little south when I did not get the sewing machine for christmas. Well, I plan to put one on layby this weekend or next.

I am looking at the following machines - yes, they are all Janome. This is important!

Click on the name of the machine to view the brochure!

CS995 <---- has speed control, memory function, alphabet included in stitches, unsure on the superior feed system (7 contact spots where the foot is) $799

DC3050 <----- no speed control, can handle extra fabric depth, no superior feed system, memory function... $699

MC3500 <----- has speed control, superior feed system , not as many stitches, $599

625e <----- speed control, limited stitches, heavy duty, no superior feed system. heavy duty $449

So do any of you have any of these machines?

I really want to put one on layby this weekend somewhere... and I have narrowed it down to those machines.

your wisdom is appreciated!

The generosity is bursting my heart

As many of you know, I am setting up a new business. Due to lack of funds, lack of a sewing machine, and lack of product, my store has been put on hold - yet again! argh. It is gut wrenching to get my hopes up and have them break again.

So, while venting to a friend (who is also a supplier!) last night, an arrangement was made. OMG. How wonderful! This means that I will be able to get the sling side of the business working, which will hopefully fund the new sewing machine! Which will get the nappies working again. The fact I have no money has made it really difficult to buy stock of any sort. Hopefully this will get me off the ground a bit more.

Also, since the store side of things was not going strong, I have put the website up with some custom made Doula and CBE graphics for people to buy. Significantly cheaper than a custom design (but you don't get full perks with a premade), and pretty much ready to go. So if you know someone in the Birth field, http://www.mamaluna.com.au is the place to go. I'll be uploading the proper site in the near future (once the CSS gets unkinked!)



I am just bursting with the generosity of Belinda. Don't forget to check out her store!!

http://www.bearhugbaby.com.au

:D

Happy New Year - Welcome 2008

I was looking forward to doing a really special start of the year post, but instead I am feeling miserable and cranky.

Last night I thought I was pregnant. This morning my Period arrived.

It is amazing the emotions you can go through in such an amount of time. I'd thought for Days I could have been pregnant - I mean, I'd done a test and was sure I could see a line, but knew that others would not be able to see it. I was very late with my period and was clinging onto hope. Well the new year brought me just another Flo'

I'm disappointed, a little sad, a little bit in pain (physical). I guess we'll get there.

So, I thought about new years resolutions. I am not one for making them much. I usually break them. The feeble attempts to wish away my weight, get a degree, do something exciting. yada yada. This year will be simple.

*Visit a Naturopath
*Learn to be a cleaner person
*Clean the backyard
*Get Pregnant
*Have a homebirth
*Do my ABA counselling course
*Resume my CBI course
*Launch Mamaluna
*Be gentler to Tara
*Be deeper with Ally

That's all I need to focus on I think. I think that's a fair bit actually. I hope I have the strength to do it all.

So I'm going to sign off. I promise to do the Christmas blog post soon... I'll back date it so keep an eye out.

In the mean time. Happy New Year. Love to all.

Oh my Gosh!

I just won!

How cool is that going to be for Mamaluna?!


*breathe*

I feel so blessed. Thanks AFW!

The world of a Start Up Business

It's so hard trying to break into the Small Business Market when you have no finances to do so, but really don't want to take out a loan either.

I know I have a good business model. I just need to finalise my business plan and really ham that up a bit. I've looked at some government scheme, but for them, I have to work full time 35 hours a week. So min 7 hours per day, while being a full time parent - I just could not do that. I don't qualify, and I refuse to put Tara in full time day care to do that. It's not fair on her.

If I wanted to set up a shop, and such things, in some respects it would be easier because we would be out of the house, and I could look after her and have her with a play room - and work a full 35 hours a week. But the costs involved with a physical location just would not work. Too much money.

I need to win lotto. Or a grant. Though I would need to apply for them. Argh. Need to finish the business plan.

At least I have come across a few online locations (as well as physical addresses) where I can get some information. Hopefully speak to an advisor (and I have some contacts for that anyway).

It's just a bit of a nightmare.

Does anyone who reads my blog, have information on setting up business and services and any tips that I could use? I would be grateful for any pearls of wisdom!

The end is near - and so is a new beginning

So the end of the year is coming very quickly. I cannot believe how close it is.

There is so much to be done in the lead up to christmas. I wish there was more time (and money!) but it's just speeding along so quickly! I have worked out what I am doing for pressies for most people, but I still need to finalise it - and buy them all!

Today we had a lovely party at the park with our playgroup friends. It was a lovely day, switching between slightly overcast and hot. The afternoon ended with a pretty fierce storm complete with thunder and lightning. We had lots of fun with all of our friends and it was so lovely to sit and just relax. I did nothing much at all (other than eat and talk) but was utterly exhausted when I got home. I even managed to keep Tara away from the playground most of the day without much trouble (no hat, no shade, very hot and it was too far away from the conversation!). I loved catching up with S, M, P and baby A. So much time flies in 6 months.

I need to do some hefty work on Mamaluna in the next week. I need to sew and send out my tester nappies. This is a lot more possible now that I have official branding cloth tags! whoo hoo. very exciting. Mental note: need to call the printers about my business cards! The website is almost done - kind of. I need to get some photos and start making some of the other merchandise. Oh, and I need to get my tins, fleece and PUL. Soooo busy. I would love to get a lot more done however 'cause I am really feeling the need to bring in some extra money. Hopefully it is not too unrealistic to want to sew and make around 150 nappies over a 4 week break. Scrap the week of christmas, so that is 50 nappies a week... I might be pushing it, but hopefully it can be done!!!

Tara is doing wonderfully. For her birthday she received some money from Granddad and Nanna-Yvonne and some money from some friends. We got her a new doll and a necklace from Nanna and Granddad, and from our friends we used the money to get a book. Well, the book is by far the favourite pressie out of everything. It is called "My Little Word Book" and is wonderful!! She carries it around and reads it over and over again. She can point out about 60% of the photos in the book. She can say "s-ooooos" and "bay-bee" and "mummy" and "tar" very easily. We just need to get her to start pronouncing some other words. She talks non-stop, and most of the time we know what she is talking about. The fact she uses her hand signals so much is a big help too!

All in all, everything is going pretty great.

Now to just remember to update this blog some more!

It's terrible!

It is so terrible. How much I have neglected this blog. I just have been busy and tired and then feeling horrible for not blogging and so I don't blog LOL.

I thought I had better just break the ice and jump in again.

So many things I need to blog about that have gone on, but I can't think of any of them right now!

Tara has her birthday party on Sunday. Am very excited. Butterflies and fairies.

Ally and I have been both working hard on our respective new businesses. I ordered brand labels today for my nappies.

I've got the money to order my microfleece - I wish I could pay for it now LOL. but the shipment of fabric has not come in yet. I should have just told the lady to keep her money when she paid for some work - I'm just going to spend it going back to her!

I have submitted my artwork for my business cards. I hope I get the celloglazed ones, but if not, I will be happy with the value cards. Can't complain about freebie cards.

Sunburn sux. My back is itchy and starting to peel.

I now own a snap press.

Tara is still not really talking - I think she may actually have a tongue tie. But as I have said elsewhere, maybe I am just projecting my fears - though having done some research it seems more likely she does have one. would explain a lot of issues in the beginning.

Not long until christmas. I am looking forward to it - though it's going to be me sewing a lot!

I miss Ruby and Alice tonnes. I miss the closeness we had during the wedding phase.

Um. can't think of much right now - but at least I have broken the blogging drought.

xx

Home Business

Today I registered the business name
Bought some products
bought some oils for the massage balm
celebrated with buying a frame for my certificate...

Very excited.

so what is the business name?













MAMALUNA

*jumps for joy*

Market Research

Ok mama's (and papas!)

I am doing some market research.... :)

if you would not mind could you please take some measurements of your children in nappies?

You can either comment here, or email me direct (info at designsbykristie dot com)


*Age,
*Weight,
*Rise (back to navel),
*Half rise (crotch to waist line),
*Waist,
*top of thigh/base of hip to waist,
*circ of top of thigh (where nappies/undies would sit - high sitting though - not boyleg style),
*width from middle of buttock to the other buttock.
*And if you wish to include your fav crotch width from any other nappy you have that would be great...

I am finalising the design of my nappy (it's only taken 12 months!)

And suggestions for names of said nappy greatfully accepted! They are going to be a simple basic no-frills style pocket to start with.... I think!

Blasted Overlocker

It does not like me at the moment.

But when it does, I'll have some cloth pads available for testing....!

I'll have regular size and a post partum size - both with and without pul....

And I'll have some liners too (with no PUL)

Anyone as excited as me yet?