Soft Sole Shoe Testers! UPDATE

Ok ladies, here is the first pair I've made (without applique)



I'm really happy how they came together so now I just need to master the applique process.

Here is the next pair I finished tonight. These are a wide child size.



Here are both of them side by side:



And the bottoms:









The first two pairs are for one of my cousin's kids for Christmas. After Christmas is over I'll be putting the petal to the metal on my tester shoes.

I can't wait!

Another great Cloth Diaper giveaway! HURRY!

I have to say I think I'm going to always post about the Cloth Diaper giveaways I find. I found another great one today and I'm really impressed with the blogger. She's taken a lot of time and care into posting reviews on many popular diapers available. There is an easy to follow rating (or should I say grading?) system and you can enter her giveaway to win a Bumware One Sized Pocket Diaper with Insert!

Check out her blog here and enter! Good luck!

Rolling Through Looneyville

Oh, did I mention it ends tonight!!! So hurry and go check her out!

Today's Great Giveaway!

Dexter's Super Savvy Mommy did a great review for See Kai Run shoes and is also doing a giveaway! Go check out her blog and enter into the contest. You won't regret it!

Holiday Rush!

I have a lot on my plate right now but I have realized that I want to put some time limits on my tester products and custom products I have pre-orders for. My new goal is to complete my tester list for Soft Sole Shoes and complete the custom shopping cart covers (3) that I have by the end of the year!

So here's the breakdown

3 shopping cart covers:

• 2 - fabric is prewashed and ready to be cut
• 1 - fabric is cut and I've started sewing

Soft Soled Leather Baby Shoes:

• 10 tester spots
• 3 for family

Plus I have so much on my 'Want to accomplish/make' list

But now I've made it known to all. I will complete my projects by the end of the year! Then when I get my co-op yarn I won't be so pressed for time to make the longies. (So I guess you can add that to my list too! LOL)

Check out My Sentiment ExactLee for a GREAT giveaway that is close to my heart! There, you'll have a chance to win a $50 gift card for Fuzzibunz Cloth Diapers!!!

Co-Op Addiction!

I think I have an addiction!

I have been introduced to a few co-ops either for fabric of for yarn. I just put in an order for Mosaic Moon Yarn and now they're offering a Purewool co-op. I think I'm forming a dangerous addiction for hand dyed yarn. :)

So in the near future (after the Holidays) my YYMH option might expand to offering size customs on specific colorways for Longies/Other Crochet items.

Here are the colorways I'll be working with, either for myself or a pre-order for longies, from Mosaic Moon (pics from Mosaic Moon's website):

Getting caught up....

So I've had a lot happen since I originally opened my tester slots for soft sole baby shoes. I obtained a license to sell Shopping Cart Covers, Nursing Covers, Wool Longies for Cloth Diapering and I have been on a buying frenzy of various materials to get started.

I am in process of making 3 shopping cart covers. The ladies provided the material and funds to purchase the notions. This worked out great! Each will have a completely custom shopping cart cover unique for their little one and they chose spectacular fabrics!

I have closed my tester slots for the soft sole baby shoes and received the leather! I'm just collecting some last minute details from my testers before I start cutting.

And as of yesterday I submitted my first order for yarn for longies. I have pre-orders for YYMH and can't wait to get the ball rolling on those.

So I'm busy and will be busy until after the Holiday season but I am looking forward to every minute.

I want to thank all of my mamas who are participating in my testing phases or who have made pre-orders. This is a huge step in the right direction for Unreal Baby.

Thank you all!
~Debra

Now Available! YYMH!

Now Available: Your Yarn My Hook Custom Longies!

You send me your yarn, and I'll crochet you a pair of longies! I use the ladybugz pattern which has a rear extension to make room for that cloth diapered bum!

Please allow 2-3 weeks from the time I receive your yarn. You pay the fee, ship the yarn to me, I'll make the longies and you pay shipping back to you - easy!

I can wash and lanolize upon request at no additional charge, but keep in mind it will add about 3 days onto the shipping date to allow for ample time to dry!

"This product has been created under a special cottage industry license granted by Ladybugz Farms. Patterns require a license and written permission from the copyright owner. We thank you for your support of our licensed contractors. While we know that our licensed contractors do their very best to provide you with a quality product, Ladybugz Farms does not assume responsibility or any form of liability for the quality of the item made from their pattern by the licensee. The Designer and Licensed Contractor who constructed this item disclaim all liability for any losses or injuries due to the use or misuse of the item. Please use good judgment and always put safety first."

Testing Phase 1

Tester Information:
Prices for Testers based on size:
Infant $12.50, Toddler $14.50, Child $16.50

Soft Sole Shoes

1. virginia+3
2. nosweetangel
3. curious_one
4. Living4Him

Soft Sole Mary Jane

1. Kristen & Ava
2. ITZALLFORME
3. Babies
4. vanessaj

Tester Requirements:

• One product for each tester
• Must be willing to provide detailed feedback (I will be sending a questionnaire to each tester)
• Must be willing to pay for a portion of the materials (ex: If you're testing a nursing cover I'll ask you pay for the material being used but not for the notions) Prices will vary depending on what you're testing. If I know the cost of basic materials they will be listed above.
• Must be willing to send me a photo of you using the product

Addt'l Info:

• I will cover shipping to you
• I work full time and go to school so I'll be working on one tester at a time so this might take some time. I ask that you be patient with me while I get the supplies/make the items.
• I'll be post updates of what I'm working on. It will show who's tester product I'm making, when I'll ship it out, who's next, etc.

Please welcome.....

Soft-Sole Shoes, boots and Mary Janes for children!

As well as:

• Shopping Cart Cover
• Nursing Cover

I will be starting my testing phase in the next few weeks once I receive my patterns. And after I get a few volunteers to test them for me I will start to make them available.

I can't wait to get started.

Longies in progress

Here is a little pic of how the longies are shaping up. I just started but I love the color of this yarn so I wanted to share.



Here's the updated pic from today (10/23/08)



I love how the color is turning out! So pretty!

If the shoe fits....

I've been researching different product ideas and I've come across a great website.

Make Them Yourself

This is a great opportunity and I'm hoping to get a license for some of her patterns. Which brings me to my title. I have realized that there aren't a lot of homemade soft sole shoes being offered. (made by mommies anyway) So I'm really eyeing her shoe patterns.

These are moving to the top of my wish list for Unreal Baby.

In the meantime I will be getting a pattern for the shopping cart cover. I LOVE her design from what I've seen on her site and will be offering those within the next couple months. These will be made to order. These are extremely versatile. Here is the description from her website:

The shopping cart cover pattern's special features include:

• Fully reversible so you can flip over easily during outings
• Toy rings you can attach your child's favorite toys to
• Secret pockets for your glasses, wallet, keys, etc.
• Leg flaps to protect against pinching
• Large button holes for seat belts
• Security pillows to help support young ones

Are You Ready For Winter?

I have some great patterns for Winter Crocheted Items that I'll be working on this weekend. So here's a list of what to keep an eye out for:

Wool Leg Warmers

• Children sizes: small, medium, large (small 3-6 yrs, med 6-8 yrs, lg 8-10 yrs)
• Infant tester sizes: contact me for more information

Earflap Hat and Matching Scarf

• Infant/Children sizes

Ribbed Scarf and Brimmed Hat

• Adult sizes: one size fits all

Hooded Children's Vest

I'm going to see how much I can get accomplished this weekend. I'll probably start on the Earflap Hat and Matching Scarf so I can test it out on Isla. It's getting pretty crisp in the mornings so it will be put to use.

I bought a new pattern....

Well in my quest to create products that a lot of other mamas would want and need I went over to Ladybugz Farm and purchased the Morning Glory Longie pattern. I am in the process of obtaining a cottage license for this pattern and hope to offer it as one of my first products for Unreal Baby very soon! I'll probably do a tester phase and then once I work out any kinks I'll look into signing up with Hyena Cart or Etsy for a storefront.

This is a peak of the yummy yarn I'll be working with first. I think I might need to buy more to do longies but it's a beautiful colorway.



It's from The Calico Sheep by itty bitty knitties.

I can't wait to post pictures.

Learning how to knit!

Ok, so here's the history behind the urge to learn how to knit. I have wanted to use wool for cloth diapering for so long but I just can't bring myself to spend $60+ on something I could make myself. So I got a great pattern for a crochet skirty. I love it! But I really like the look of the knitted soakers/shorties/longies. So I put an ad up on the site at work looking for someone to teach me how to knit.

I've looked online for my area and there are a few places that have classes but, again, I don't have up to $75 to blow to learn how to knit. I've been waiting patiently for someone to offer their services and I was pleasantly surprised to find out a sweet woman (Verna) at my work knits. She said she'd love to teach me how to knit on lunch breaks and she'd bring me in some needles/yarn to borrow and she wouldn't charge me anything.

So I had my first little lesson from Verna today. I've learned how to cast on and do a continental stitch. So I just need to practice. I will try to take some pictures of my progression shortly.

It's easier then I expected. But I haven't done much or made anything so I'm sure I'll be eating my words.

So, wish me luck. Pictures to come soon!

And it begins......

So after months of thinking about blogging, reading others' blogs and browsing sites that reference blogs, I've taken the plunge!

I have decided I would start blogging. Why not, right?

A while back my husband and I came up with a name for my future side project. Unreal Baby. It wasn't a hit with my sister but it was unique and catchy so it stuck. I want to create items for babies and families. I have so many ideas bouncing around in my head. Anything from original silk screen onesies and tees, to sewing crafts, crocheting, knitting. So this blog will keep track of my trials and errors, successes and progress.

This all came about after we had our little girl Isla. She was born on Feb 18, 2008. She is the best thing my husband and I have done. She is the center of our world and you'll be seeing a lot of her when I get things rolling. She's quite the model.

So stay tuned, this is going to be a ride for sure.