Busy all the time, yet still a to-do list a mile and a half long?

I haven't updated in over a month!! How did that happen? 

I feel like I'm working all the time, and getting so little done. My days are all toddler, evenings are dinner, bath, and night-night. That just leaves the night for all things Bootie. And I try to fit some sleep in there too. I think that I was expecting to be able to get a little more done during the day as the kids get older. My expectations are changing constantly as reality trumps my guesses. But, when I stop to really think about it, I am helping two really amazing kids learn and grow, and I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as slacking.

I've been trying to work a bit each night on things for the upcoming (Dec. 6th)  Holiday Craft Fair at Sprout Soup. I'm planning on having a nice selection of green/reusable holiday items and some cute gifty things in all price ranges.  It's a little bit of a departure from my usual products, but I'm feeling the need to help reduce the amount of disposables in my community and offer a more sustainable alternative.

I've also been working on some really fun custom orders, for some of my favorite customers. Which I should get back to. 

Yay for Flowergirls!

The current custom order that I'm working on is another flowergirl dress, made with Amy Butler fabrics. It's got a super spinny skirt, matching bloomers, and loads of ruffles. I'm really excited to finish it and I'll definately post some pictures. 
Tomorrow at K&F (at noon) is the 50's stocking. I made a set of mom & me aprons that look like they stepped out of the pages of Life. I love the cherry fabric, I've been letting it age in my stash waiting for the perfect time to use it. The mama apron converts from a full apron to a half apron and has a detachable towel to wipe your hands on.  The little one is a circle skirt done in the same fabric. I figured that would be easier for a little one to put on, rather than having to worry about tying apron strings.

From Dusk till Dawn

You can now find Pirate Bootie Baby at K&F Shops!
My first stocking with them is Friday 8/8/08 at 8pm, and then again at 8am on Saturday 8/9/08. 
I'm so thrilled to be a member of K&F, and excited for all the themed stockings that we have planned for this year. Come check it out!

Stardust Play Skirt...


Starry Night Dress...


Butterfly Bloomeralls...

Spring Cleaning!

I've been clearing out the clothing that I have in stock at Pirate Bootie Baby to make room for the new summer things that I've been working on. All weekend and today I've been offering a special deal where Hyena Cart shoppers can use up to 50% HyenaCart dollars to purchase any in stock clothing item. Then, this evening from 7-7:30pm, as an extra special day after Mother's Day gift, shoppers can use up to 100% HC$!!

Whales in wool

Here's a pic of the surprise custom that I talked about a few posts back. I love the way it turned out. It also doesn't hurt to have such a cutie wearing it.
I'm hoping to do more customs with wool appliqué. I love the way it looks, and it's a fun technique. It's almost like sketching with wool.
I also made a pair of shorts that match this underwool, as well as the other one with the sun appliqué. They have waves along the bottom hem, and a splashy pocket.

Clothes for Cute Babies

I've been enjoying spending some more time enjoying by family and the beautiful weather now that the Open Market is over. I'll be starting preparations earlier the next time I have a fair or show to do. It's not that I waited until the last minute, I just wanted to make sure that I had enough variety and selection that I could give everyone exactly what they wanted. I think I have a better idea now what types of things to bring with me and I think that will streamline the preparation process a bit.
I recently finished a couple of custom shorts for a friend's son. She told me yesterday that she's going to need a couple more pairs because every morning her son brings them to her to put on him. I love having tiny fans :). These are the shorts that I made for him...













I Dyed the wool to look like denim and Carhartt jeans. I love the color of the Carhartt ones, it's a really good match. Next I'm going to make him a forest green pair, I dyed the wool this evening.
I've also been working on another custom for a mama on HyenaCart. I made a set for her a few weeks ago which was my favorite until now. I can't show pictures yet, because she wants it to be a surprise, but I am so completely in love with this new one. The last custom that I made for her was also a surprise, but now that she has it, I can show it off. It was really fun to watch it evolve from sketch to finished piece. Wool sometimes has a mind of it's own and appliquéing with it is really fun. It's also great to have a customer just give me a few ideas/themes and free reign to run and play and create. I've had such a great time making things for this mama and I hope she'll let me work with her again.

Blog Party, anyone?

Hi there fellow Blog Partiers!
I'm Karma, a Work-at-Home mama of 1 year old boy/girl twins. Whenever I'm not playing with babies or sleeping, I can usually be found at my sewing machine or on the couch knitting. I love making and designing kid's clothing, but even better is seeing my designs in action. I have a gallery of my work (including some action shots) over at my website, Pirate Bootie Baby.
The next 2 months is a really exciting time for me and Pirate Bootie. I'm doing a Pirate-themed guest stocking at Necessitae on March 15th (so excited!!). Then, in April, is the Columbus Attachment Parenting Village's Open Market, a cooperative event organized by local parents supporting and encouraging mama-owned/operated businesses. If you are anywhere within 100 miles of Columbus, Ohio, mark your calenders and come. It's going to be great!


There are great prizes to be had at the Ultimate Blog Party, and some new Blogs to be found.
I'll be poking around over the next couple of days, how about you?
My favorite prizes are;
137 — Go BPA Free Sippy Sampler Kit
Provided by: The Soft Landing

19 — Klean Kanteen Sippy Cup
Provided by: Non Toxic Tots

141 — I make milk. What’s your superpower? t-shirt
Provided by: Crunchy Domestic Goddess

Other Favorites are the $20 Lush GC from After a Cup of Coffee , or two,#114
A pink box of Legos from Lego, #103
A webcam from This Full House, #72
A sweet tutu from LiveLoveDance, #34
Underwear from Karen Neuburger, #109
GC to Uncommonly Cute, #28

There are tons of other really great prizes too, you can see them on the Prize Page.

Valentine's Day treat

I'm so in love (hee hee) with the Valentine Underwool that I just finished. I had a lot of fun making a themed Underwool and I think I'll try to keep it up for the other holidays. I'm usually not a fan of holiday themed clothing, but that will just be a personal challenge. I'm happy with the way this turned out. Cute, but not cutesy of cheesy. We'll see what the Hyenas think tonight at 8pm, when Pirate Bootie Baby restocks customs and adds a few new instock items.
This week has been really busy, but I'm finished the pile of customs that I've been working on. I'm going to be doing a childcare swap/ playgroup with a couple of local moms that I'm friends with. We'll pack up our kids and go to one of the houses and let the mom who's house it is get some work done while the rest of us watch the kids. I'll use the time to work on Pirate Bootie stuff, or catch up on some cleaning. It will be a great way for the kids to get out and play and for the moms to get some much-needed time.

Baby steps

Baby girl took first steps yesterday! Two of them. She's so proud of herself and so are we.
I'm stocking Pirate Bootie Baby again tomorrow, at 8pm EST. I made an adorable pair of corduroy pants, an embellished short-sleeved Underwool, and some wool saver sachets. I'll also be opening up some more custom slots.
I just finished another custom for a friend who loved my skull-n-bones shirt and wanted a bodysuit version for her son.

Apple fairies!

This is what came from my head and hands and some of the new fabric from last week. I'm in love!! I also want to make a pair of corduroy bloomers to match, the fabric is already cut and ready to sew. But, the kidlets are working on a couple of stuffy noses, so they are being a bit clingy.
Apparently my Underwool design is getting talked about at Diaperswappers and on the HyenaCart forums. I love that! I'm starting to take custom orders, and am having so much fun working with my customers to make the exact item that that are wanting.

Oh, and by the way...

I've been walking without any assistance for two days!!!
My doc gave me the all clear today, and all I have to do is build up more strength in my lower leg and I'm good to do anything. I'll probably have some residual pain for up to a year, but the break is almost completely knitted together. So, I won the race to walk, but the babies aren't that far behind.

Pirate Bootie Baby is stocking!

Tomorrow at noon, Pirate Bootie Baby will be stocking Underwool and a super-sweet skull-n-bones t-shirt. I also have re-listed the grand opening Lottery. I had to void the first lottery because someone entered it using multiple email addresses, 5 of them!! Seems that she had been winning lots of lottos that way. I wanted my lotto to have a winner who played fair, so I re-listed it.
I also finished a new weighted Waldorf doll for a friend of mine. She sells baby carriers and uses the dolls to to show customers how the carrier will feel with a baby in it. Check out her store, Sprout Soup. Here's the doll...
I'm really happy with the way it came out. It weighs 11 pounds, but it feels heavier. It looks so cute when it's diapered and dressed.