Sew sickie, sew sucky
I know some of you are fretting about my absence (y’all better be laughing now), but I’m finally doing okay… Right after my last post the entire family (save Zella, the lucky antibody-drinking baby), came down with a horrible flu that lasted for more than two weeks. It’s probably the sickest I’ve ever been for that length of time. I guess maybe I shouldn’t be posting photos of cemeteries on my blog for no good reason… is it karma?
And right when I started feeling better my husband went on a last minute week-long business trip to Mongolia, leaving me alone with both girls for the first time since… well, ever. He was so sick, too. I almost feel bad for him but then I remind myself that he didn’t have to take care of anyone besides himself! I’m heartless.
So what have I been doing? Some website work, a tiny bit of sewing, a whole lot of mothering, and a ton of fruitless thinking.
Cat from Babyjewels Graphic Design (congratulations on your foster baby, Cat!) created a great custom image for the Fussybutt website. I finally got around to beginning the Fussybutt site update this week and while I still have more work to do, I love the new look. The full graphics are not up yet, but a small part of the image Cat created serves as the new header logo.
She also sent, as a surprise, an avatar and etsy banner for my etsy shop, which was sweet and totally unexpected. And very much needed!
I was able to work on some more cloth feminine pads and I have two new sizes (a petite and an overnight/ppd), so watch for a stocking in the next couple of days. I will list some items on etsy, and the majority will be listed on my hyena cart (or at the Fussybutt site if I can get everything organized over the weekend). I’ve decided that once the Fussybutt website has been tweaked to where I want it to be, I’m going to focus on stocking there instead of stocking at Etsy and HC. I’ll still keep all the stores and list items at each of them, but I miss the organization of my original website and I’m going to concentrate on keeping a line of items in stock there as much as I can.
And in other related news, I will probably be drawing up my diaper patterns and selling them for home use and/or licensing in the next few months. I just don’t have the energy to pursue the sewing contractor route any further – I’m thoroughly exhausted from my experiences with this over the past 6+ months – and I would rather be sewing other items. The options are kind of sorting themselves out in terms of feasibility. It’s not as fun to make diapers when your own children are no longer wearing them… clothing and pads are fun, though. What do you guys think? Bad idea? Good idea? Any interest?
Hey Christy, Stacy from Bottombumpers here… I completely stumbled onto your blog by accident through a blog search…
Were you looking for contractors to sew your diapers/patterns? I hadnt heard anything on it, just wondering!
I completely understand the blah feeling associated with sewing something you no longer use yourself.. I am baking baby #4 right now so will have another in cloth soon but have expanded my business into several businesses just to have creative outlets of other sorts. But it gets crazy trying to manage so many stores/orders/stockings/etc…..
Stacy T
January 31, 2008 at 7:58 pm
Hugs!
We have been sick with strep throat this last two weeks too. YUCK!
I’m glad you are back. Love love the site. Sweet!
No sure if this is helpful but I totally understand where you are on your business righ now. (…ask me how I know..sigh)
I’m so eyeing those gorgeous mama pads!
Maria
January 31, 2008 at 9:18 pm
I live in Houston and EVERYONE seems to be getting this nasty flu bug, even with the flu shots. It does stick around forever (I am living proof) so I totally feel for you and am glad you guys all feel better. It is probably lucky your husband left because you would probably have been stuck taking care of him too, not to mention the kids!
OK, I am a huge cloth diapering fan (I have a son who is just potty training and a little baby boy) and I have always dreamed of having one of your diapers/covers. But since I do sew I could never justify buying something so lovely, especially since it would put my ugly handmade diapers to shame (not to mention the few mass-produced diapers I have purchased over the years like Fuzzibunz, Hautepockets, etc.) So I have to say that if you sell your patterns I would be ecstatic! Your diapers are simply gorgeous and I have read only the best about them at Diaperpin and Mothering. Oh, I would kill to make one of your wool diaper covers.
If you start selling your patterns I will be first in line to buy! I know this will cause a huge buzz in the diapering sewing world (like Diaper Sewing Divas and such). Do it!!! It would be especially great if you could provide serging alternatives and aplix versions.
BTW, I just found your blog the other day and I love it. I also LOVE the look of your gorgeous pads (yep, I do cloth pads too, but again, I make my own ugly little ones, have to justify the new sewing machine purchase!). And I loved that B&W picture you had in the last post. Did you do that???
It is so cool you actually live in my town. I feel that you are a diapering celebrity, strange as that sounds!
Rita in Houston
January 31, 2008 at 11:34 pm
Ugh, sorry you have been sick, that flu is certainly making the rounds internationally!
You could just make diapers for my future children
….but I will take a copy of your pattern anytime! Just for my home use, my franken-diapers can only be given away to friends with whom I have a secure relationship.
I have studied your diapers many times, occasionally exclaiming to my husband “I think I know how she does that! That’s genius.” and I would love to see if my hypothesis is correct.
Strong and speedy recoveries!
GothamMom
February 1, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Oh Christy, I’m so sorry! I swear everyone under the sun has been sick lately. I am sending you an email now, so feel free to ignore it for awhile if you are still under the weather.
Take care, sweet mama!
Amy T
Amy
February 3, 2008 at 1:01 am
Christy, I totally understand where you are coming from with the diapers. It isn’t so fun to buy them anymore when the last one starts potty-learning either!
I love your mama pads and the embroidered clothing, so I definitely think you can continue to find a market for that. Plus the wool pants/shorts are awesome!
You could continue to do a few special diapers/sets a year with fluff factory etc, but I think that licensing your pattern is definitely the best way to continue to spread the fussybutt love without having to continue to handcraft them yourself!
Janet
February 3, 2008 at 9:45 am
I’m glad you’re back :smooch: .
I feel ya on the contracting part…I tried too and it wasn’t worth it, so, I wish you luck on the diaper pattern! It will be a hit! Truly
I love Fussy’s new look :heart:
Get better completely soon
Tif
February 4, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Hi Tif! Thanks for the compliment on the site! I still have a little “category tree” and clothesline that needs to go on the main page but it’s almost there. I think it’s going to be really cute.
Tif and Stacy, re: the contractor thing… ugh. Let’s just say that while I did find at least one contractor who would be able to make them in extremely limited quantities, my current design is not really conducive to anything besides “handmade” sewing. I felt like changing it to make it suitable for mass production really took the Fussiness out of it and I wasn’t motivated to really pursue design modifications any further. Tif, you’ll have to tell me your story sometime ;D
Janet, congratulations on the PLing (I assume that’s current, right? lol!) I’m pretty sure I would still sew the occasional diaper/set now and then… who knows? The fluff factory auctions are coming up in a couple of months now and I’m definitely contributing some things this round!
Thank you for the encouragement, everybody. :I
Oh, if I didn’t reply here specifically to anybody who commented, I replied via email!
sewfussy
February 5, 2008 at 7:57 am
Well, I am eagerly awaiting to see what you do about your pattern!!! I still have a few years before my baby is PTed, so I will wait patiently. I think you will make many people’s dreams come true (yeah, some diaper sewers like me are WEIRD) if you make it available. Keep us posted on your final decision!
On a side note, it seems that a huge amount of my email lately has been going to spam, so if you did email me and I did not respond, please resend!!! What is up with my Yahoo account I can’t tell you. I get spam in my inbox with completely unwanted and unwarranted sick adult content, but my friends emails get thrown out (and I forget to check bulk and then delete them…). Yahoo, how you have betrayed me!
Rita in Houston
February 5, 2008 at 9:15 am
Hi Rita – I did email you a reply so I went ahead and sent it again (sent yesterday – it might be in spam again! lol) Check your spam folder… gmail is a great free mail service, my favorite of all the big ones.
sewfussy
February 6, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Hey girl, I havent talked to you in a while and was checking your blog to see how things were going. Sorry to hear you guys were sick and totally feel ya on being with children when a husband goes on week long business trips. Your site is rocking btw!!
Britton
February 10, 2008 at 10:33 pm
If I try to buy a diaper license from you shun me.
We got that shitty flu too, it was rancid and long.
Amy
March 1, 2008 at 8:29 pm
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