So, who is super stoked? I am super stoked! I got my first shipment from Global Mamas yesterday and it is everything about which I could have ever been excited! The unfortunate part? I want to keep it all for ME! I did order myself a shea butter (in lavender, which smells amazing!), a Sudsy Mutt for the Weasel and a new Pet Mat for the Weasel (In the pretty daisy print!-you'd never know it by the teeth and the manly demeanor, but she IS a girl!) As a tribute and a preview, I will be having a "Barely Marked-up" sale: not quite wholesale, but lower than my future website pricing! This sale will run on Ravelry (PM me), on Facebook (message me), and through my email (email me!). I suppose, if you already have my phone number, that you could call me to reserve your items, too. If youre in the area, pick-up is available, otherwise, I will offer my flat-rate shipping of $5 to the continental US and Canada, and discounted shipping overseas.

Time for a little promotional goodness, before I post a price list. This excerpt is taken from the Global Mamas website, with a little background:

Global Mamas is a non-profit and fair trade organization assisting women in Africa to become economically independent. By purchasing Global Mamas products, you are offering sustainable livelihoods to women and their families living in poverty. All proceeds go directly to the women and to the non-profit programs that assist them with business development.

Time for some personal testimony! I have used the shea butter and the trunk scrub, in the past (and still use the shea butter). It is great for tired skin and anyone who works with fiber on a regular basis knows the dry crackiness that ensues (especially in cold winter climates). The shea butter is a great, all natural moisturizer with some yummy smells (I currently carry lavender, unscented, and vanilla). I also got an apron for the Holidays from my cousin (THE Global Mama, herself!) and I use it for dyeing; it works great! I now carry the "Trashy Aprons", which I think would be even better for dyeing, as they are waterproof! All of the "Trashy" products are made from recycled materials salvaged from the streets of Ghana, in order to reduce pollution and waste. The juice container pouches are so cool!

Current stock and SALE PRICE LIST: (orders will be filled on a first come, first served basis)

• Batik tote bags (various prints, pictured above)-$14 each
• Recycled flour sack totes-$9.50 each
• Batik padded zip purse (chose from two prints, pictured above)-$4.75 each
• Trashy totes (waterproof!)-$12 each
• Mama Africa Trashy tote (yellow or pink medley-1 of each in stock, pictured above)-$15 each
• Trashy zip wallet-$3.50 each
• Trashy juice wallet-$4.25 each
• Trashy coin purse-$3 each
• Sister-to-sister earrings (chose from "United", "Transformation", "Prosperity", or "New Day", pictured above)-$4.25 each
• Hodgepodge Bracelet (styles vary from bracelet to bracelet, picture above is for illustrative purposes only)-$5.50 each
• Batik Aprons (various prints, pictured above)-$11 each
• Trashy Apron (waterproof, great for dyeing)-$11 each
• Trunk Scrub Shea Soap (noni/lemongrass or tea tree)-$3.75 each
• Dandy Lion African Black Soap (shea or exfoliating)-$3.75 each
• Slippery Slope Shea Butter (lavender, vanilla, or unscented)-$8 each
• Sudsy Mutt Shea Butter pet shampoo (citronella/tea tree)-$3.75 each
• Pet Matts (various prints, pictured above-lined with waterproof "trashy" material)-$6 each

Please feel free to browse and let me know if you have any interest or questions! You can also leave comments here!

Strike that; reverse it

Okay, everything I said about barely knowing I was pregnant...yeah, strike that! These past three weeks or so havent been so fun. I have been getting migraines like crazy, so the nausea ensues...I'm awaiting results of a sugar test, as I was tested for gestational diabetes...and I had to have another (unplanned) ultrasound, as the doctor was unable to hear Gibelett's heartbeat at the last appointment. Thankfully, the ultrasound was great...baby's heart is beating at a steady 150 (which everyone assures me is "girly" territory...though I'm convinced it's a boy). Really, as long as the ultrasounds keep coming up gravy, I'm completely okay with going through everything else. Makes my love life a little, well, nonexistant (sp?), but other than that, keep my Zombie baby healthy!

On a more frustrating note, I am in the process of designing my brand new website and it's giving me fits! I think it's simply because I am super overwhelmed with the whole process. I just need to have OBO sit down and walk me through it without killing each other and it will be great! I will be carrying my newly purchased Global Mamas items (awaiting my first order as we speak!), patterns, gift sets, and baby items. Ive been sewing up a storm (made 4 bib/burpee sets last night!) to stock the website when it gets established. Also, Im having a super sale in my etsy store, so if youre in the market for yarn and fiber, include the message COVER MY BUM in the note to seller for 15% off all orders, including shipping. Also, if you custom order something from me, I will refund the purchase price at 30%...hey, Im desperate! Here's your chance...2 faithful readers (hey, at least one that I know of...Love ya, Haley!)

Finally!

So, once again, it has been awhile! I have been very vague and clandestine...and now we know why! Aaron and I are expecting our first baby in November! We finally told the family last weekend. We were trying to wait till Mother's Day, but this year our Mother's Day weekend will be filled with a memorial extravaganza for our dear friend, Marilyn. I am a firm believer in the fact that when God closes one door, somewhere He opens a window. My window is open and breezy, let me tell you!
So far, the pregnancy has been great. I have started feeling a little yucky these past two weeks, which is strange, as I am in the final week of my first trimester. Oh, well, the first 10.5 weeks were pretty okay. Some headaches and nausea, but not too much. We have been trying to get things in order, meaning the house is being "updated", hopefully, and we are getting some fundamental values on the same page. Mostly, that has been the easy part! We are very excited to cloth diaper, breast feed, and baby wear. We have been stalking coupons and cloth diaper forums like mad (I just scored 2 brand new Bum Genius Organic All In One, One Size for $40 total, including shipping! This was a great price!). Etsy and I have always been super-duper friends, but now, it is sort of ridiculous and my "favorites" list is...well...massive! Gifting is always welcome ;)
Wraps and Mei Teis, wet bags and AIOs, fitteds and prefolds...it all sounds awesome, to me!

Ahh, once again

My posts keep getting fewer and further between...it's been a long month! In some ways, this has been a good thing, however, in some ways, bad. Our home computer had a massive virus (think: redirection to granny-porn when trying to access google). Good thing I married a smart man-however, we could probaby up the tollerance level a titch, as he was pretty much unbearable throughout the whole thing. I havent helped, really; no lying. Ive been beyond-stressed as I have transitioned in so many ways. I am now one week into a new job that I think I may actually ENJOY, however this did not come without plenty of hell to pay. Transition is often stressful, and even more so now, with both OBO and myself making some serious changes (mostly involving career moves). Mine has been transitioned; his, not so much. In addition to the personal (read: familial) struggles, this has been a pretty stressful month, compounding a pretty stressful new year. We'll live!

Good news, however: I am officially a Global Mama's wholesaler and will be making my first purchase order very soon. Still looking for items to carry, so if you have an opinion, I sure would love to hear it. Im thinking that I will start small; soaps and shea, potholders, purses, and such. Really, though, opinions would be great (and sales would be better!). Im hoping to get a website up and running within the next two months. I wanted to get it done by the end of May, but with the new full-time job, I don't honestly know if that will happen.

In fiber-y goodness: lots of news! The etsy store is still alive and kicking; hopefully I will be able to dedicate more time to this, as well, as my life gets slightly less chaotic and infinitely more structured. Still participating in the Phat Fiber sampler box and still absolutely loving it! Last post, I believe I was brainstorming for April and failing miserably. Well, I just got the samples finished up last night and I love them. I went corny...of course! The theme this month was: All Creatures Great and Small. So, I decided to theme some batts around "great" creatures and "small" creatures; how literal, really! The All Creatures "Great" batts contain merino wool and yak down (great=large) and the All Creatures "Small" batts contain some SW wool (for substance) and various varieties of silk (silkworms=small): tussah silk, silk noil, and sari silk. I think they're pretty fabulous, to be quite honest! Next month's theme is Blossoms and Bark and I was having a rough time with it. I think I have an answer that Im stoked about, so it should be fun!

Also in fibery news, I think I may actually be putting my yarn, fiber, and batts in a brick and mortar store! Im super excited, but as not to jinx the process, Ill hold out on the details for a bit.

Wow, that was longwinded and picture-less. Epic fail. I promise pictures for next time! And I promise that next time will be MUCH sooner!

Brainstorming

Just had to jot down a few ideas for the upcoming themes in the Phat Fiber box...April is "All Creatures Great and Small" and May is "Blossoms and Bark". So far, Im thinking..."all creatures great and small; all things wise and wonderful" So, maybe a "Wise and Wonderful" batt series? hmmm, on paper is just doesnt sound as great. Does anyone read this thing? I'll take any ideas in the comment section that I can get!

Blossoms and Bark: really wanting to do "all bark", and "a little bite" batts. Hmmm...okay, brain is sufficiently smoking!

Also, if anyone cares to comment: I am officially a Global Mamas wholesaler! Take a look at the site and let me know what you would like to see me carry (on a future website...not too far in the future, for sure!) I need ideas!

Oops

Okay, so I realized that I have been on the "epic fail" end of the whole blogging consistently thing! Here I go! Probably very briefly today, but I figure it is better than nothing!

It has been quite a whirlwind here, and I can finally post about it! I was offerred a job at another social service agency here in town: wow. WOW! I literally had between 4 and 6 interviews for this position, so naturally, I didnt think I would get the position. Then, after weeks of deliberation, I get a phone call with a job offer. Okay...so, they wanted an immediate answer, which I was completely unprepared to give. I accepted after some deliberation. After more deliberation and a healthy serving of drama, I am scheduled to start on April 5th. Holy shit.

More news: I am officiallly a registered business in the county of Kent and have received my Michigan tax ID! Huge step. It was definitely something I wanted to do this year and Im really proud of myself and super excited. I am now awaiting approval to become an official Global Mamas retailer. That would be beyond awesome. Working on getting my March samples all finished up and carding up some batts for the shop. Did a major update with fibers last weekend, which was also exciting. It seems to be a year for progress, in some ways, and a year for personal challenges, in many other ways. That leaves something for another post, however...

OBO has been baking bread up a storm and I cant wait to get some pictures here. I thought I had uploaded them to Flickr, but I suppose I will have to wait till I get home! I feel better for making this commitment to blogging (look at me, being all responsible and proactive and shit!)

A post of its own

Finally finished up my samples for the Phat Fiber box this month. It was a rough one, mostly because I really wanted to do my signature stitch markers, but my finger nails had other plans. It hurt. My thumbs were swollen for about three days, but it was well worth it! This month's theme was "Master Painters". I went for inspiration by Warhol. I love Andy; he's a genius with color and inspiration. So, I give you: DK weight wool in "Warhol's Marilyn" and stitch markers inspired by his "Butterflies". I sure hope they get there in time for the box!