Mamique Blog

New Color - I need your help

2011-03-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

I have to share something with you guys. In case you haven't noticed I'm not much of a genius with words, lol. One of the things I dread the most when coming up with a new product is writing a product description for my store without it sounding like "this is a hat, please buy this hat, it's pretty, and soft, and has nice texture" though I don't think my final versions are much better than that :-)

The other thing I really don't like, is to come up with meaningful color names. I can't seem to get past the basic pink, blue, red, white, yellow, etc. Which is why you're probably shaking your head when browsing my store trying to figure out what color is "lakeside" supposed to be. Please don't judge me, I like to make pretty things, not name them, lol. Perhaps it's the fact that English is not my first language, or that I have a more technical way of thinking (ever try to explain to a guy the difference between fuchsia and magenta? Yeah, he'll likely tell you they're both pink) It's not that I can't see the difference, it's that I can't seem to find the right words to describe it.

So, this long winded post is about giving you a chance to name one of my latest colors and hopefully win a hat while doing that :-)

What do you need to do?

- Go to my facebook page and find the photo of the hat below (it's shown on a cream background on Facebook).

- Write your suggestion for color name in the comments below the photo on Facebook before 9 pm PST on Thursday, March 10th, 2011, (do not write them here, as they will not count towards an entry for winning the hat). You're welcome to give several suggestions, but you will only be entered once.

I will select 3 finalists and let my daughters choose their favorite. I'll announce the winner on Friday.

I find it so hard to find good "BOY" colors, so I was thrilled when I found this! It will also be available for a Peanut Wrap, and it will be added as soon as the color name is chosen.

Have fun with this and thanks for participating!

2010 Christmas Charity Giveaway

2010-12-22T15:23:00.000-08:00

UPDATE:Congratulations to Kimberly Marie on winning this year's Charity Giveaway hat and to Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep for being the winning charity second year in a row! Thank you to everyone who participated :-)

________________________________________________________

This year has flown by in record time! With Christmas fast approaching, it's time again to say thanks for all the blessings in my life and the wonderful experiences I had over the last 12 months. It never ceases to amaze me how much love and kindness there is in this world. The beautiful emails and notes from my fans and clients are truly cherished and inspire me to share my talents with all of you. Mamique Designs continued to grow this past year and nearly doubled the number of fans it had at this time last year.

It is the season for giving and I'm a true believer in giving back, not only to the people who have helped Mamique Designs grow and prosper, but also to those organizations run by volunteers who selflessly give their time and talents to families and children in need.

Last year, Mamique Designs donated $100 to a charity that had the most entries. It looks like so many of you are doing an amazing job supporting some truly wonderful organizations. Thank you for all that you do! This year, I took the 3 most popular charities from last year's giveaway and the charity with the most votes will receive a $200 donation! And in keeping with the tradition, everyone who votes will be entered into a draw to win this adorable newborn hat.

So, what do I have to do, you ask? Well, it's really quite simple:

- visit the Mamique Designs page on Facebook

- to vote for a charity you MUST be a ‘fan’ (or under the new facebook system ‘like’) Mamique Designs

- click ‘like’ on the image of the charity you are voting for in the Mamique Designs album labeled ‘2010 Christmas Charity Giveaway’

- Charity with the most ‘likes’ will receive a $200 donation from Mamique Designs; comments permitted, but WILL NOT count towards the total number of votes

- voting will close at noon PST on Saturday, December 25th, 2010 and the donation will be made by December 30th, 2010

- all people who voted will be entered into a random draw to win the hat shown above (only 1 entry per person allowed)

- the winner will be chosen at noon PST on Saturday, December 25th, 2010 and will be announced on this blog and on the Mamique Designs page on Facebook and will be asked to contact Mamique Designs for details on how to claim their prize

- in the event the winner declines the prize, the hat will be sold and 100% off the proceeds will be donated to the charity with the most votes.

Don't forget the store will re-open on January 4th, 2011.

Wishing you and your family a very peaceful Christmas and a prosperous New Year!

Smile - I'm still around!

2010-09-19T02:06:00.000-07:00

You may be wondering if I'm still creating and selling knit goodies given how abandoned this blog is. I assure, you can still purchase my creations as always! My time has been completely consumed by gorgeous little munchkins, who enjoy my knits so much, they smile for me every time :-) Don't they just make your heart melt!

I'm so excited about fall and all the gorgeous colors! If you want something more colorful and you don't see it listed in my store, just drop me a line. I'd be happy to make something you'll love.

It's getting really late here, so I better go. I promise to be back ;-)

Happy Birthday!

2010-06-03T12:37:00.000-07:00

Mamique Designs is turning two today! I am so thankful for the wonderful opportunities this venture has given me. It brought tears and laughter, sleepless nights and many, many amazing fans and customers. I want to take this opportunity to thank each and everyone one of you for making the last two years such an incredible experience for me. May the next year be even better!

Look for some exciting celebrations when the store re-opens on June 10th!

Technical Difficulties

2010-04-07T22:52:00.000-07:00

It appears that my store is currently unavailable. I am looking into it and hopefully this problem will be resolved quickly. I apologize for any inconvenience! UPDATE: All seems good again. Let me know if you notice any more problems :-)

In the mean time, here is a quick peak at my 'basics' line. It seems these days designers (and photographers) try to out do each other with more and more elaborate (and at times bizarre) hats. I wanted to bring things down a notch and get back to 'basics', because isn't the photo supposed to show off the baby rather than the hat?

Finally a PATTERN

2010-03-20T00:38:00.000-07:00

I am so excited to finally release one of my patterns! The market has recently been flooded with knock offs attempting to imitate the Newborn Peanut Wrap and I thought you might like the opportunity to make one yourself using a pattern for the original Peanut Wrap designed by me. Don't worry, the finished product is still available if you don't have the time or the urge to knit!

The pattern contains detailed instructions and a list of yarn suppliers for the yummy soft and chunky wool.

Hurry to take advantage of the introductory price of only $10. (The sale has now ended)

This pattern is copy right protected and may not be copied, altered, distributed or changed in any way without written consent from Ewa Chang of Mamique Designs, Ltd.

©2010 Mamique Designs, Ltd. All rights reserved.

Enjoy!

Vegas bound!

2010-03-03T22:58:00.000-08:00

Yes peeps, I'm heading down to Vegas for the WPPI convention. I'll be down there between the 7th and 11th, trying to look like I fit in with all of the amazing photographers attending :-) It will be my first time, so I'm a bit nervous, hoping I don't get too overwhelmed. I'm going as a photographer, not a vendor (in case you were wondering what my booth # is, lol). I'll have my Mamique bag with me, though, so if you see me wondering around the trade show, please stop me to say hello. I'd love to meet you in person, I feel like I know so many of you already, it would be nice to put a face to the name :-)

I'll leave the store open when I'm away, but I don't expect I'll be getting much knitting done. I am bringing my needles though, since I'm an addict, hahaha. Once I'm back, I promise I'll send an email with the new spring collection, so make sure you're on the mailing list.

I think I'll be retiring a few of my designs (possibly forever) so if you had your eye on something don't delay, because it might be gone in a couple of weeks.

The exciting news is I have a lot of brand new yarns in lovely spring colors (as well as my neutral staples!), so you'll have lots of choices to add to your Mamique prop collection.

Oh, and before I start packing, just wanted to share yet another way to use your Rosetta Wrap™ . I had this little cutie in my studio a couple of weeks ago and thought I'd try something different. I put the small opening over her head and tucked the wrap tightly under her. So in total, there are 3 ways to use your wrap. And if you have more ideas, please share with all of us!

Ciao for now! Hope to see you in Vegas!

Spring is Springing!

2010-02-19T19:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, I realize it's only the middle of February, but I'm ready for spring.

Turns out running two businesses in the middle of flu season is not such a good idea. I apologize to all of my faithful clients who have been patiently waiting weeks at a time before their orders ship. I hate to make you wait 3 weeks for just a simple hat, but there are just too many to make. Looks like some of you have saved up all of your Christmas $$$ and spent it on Mamique goodies :-)

I just realized I forgot to update you guys with the Charity that received the most votes (and thus $100 donation) during the Christmas Giveaway. Without much surprise, it was Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep. Please do check them out. If you're a photographer, get in touch with your local coordinator and find out more about volunteering. It is such a special gift you can give to grieving parents and many locations don't have enough volunteers.

Spring designs will be coming out shortly, so make sure you're on the mailing list to get updates on release dates and any specials I might have. Here is a little sneak peek for your enjoyment :-)

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Jenna Braddock of Washington for winning the second annual Christmas Morning Giveaway (see image below). There were over 100 entries this year and I want to thank everyone who participated for suggesting many wonderful charities to receive the $100 donation this year. I will go though each entry to figure out which charity got the most mentions, but so far the names I've seen most often were Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep, Make a Wish, Ronald McDonald House, World Vision, and March of Dimes. I will update this blog once I tally the numbers.

If you were not aware of the contest, I encourage you to subscribe to my MAILING LIST to get occasional notices about contests, sales and new products.

Speaking of new products, here is a quick peek at some new hats coming in January. These will be added together with a few more items to my store.

I hope Santa was good to you this year, and if he didn't get you quite what you wanted, you may just need to get it yourself. My store will be back in full swing on January 4th.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ewa

Back and already burnt out!

2009-11-21T14:35:00.000-08:00

Well, the store has been open since October 1st and I realize that it has been way too long since I updated the blog! I keep expecting to get caught up for a moment to get things organized, but just can't seem to get there.

Thank you to everyone who has subscribed to my mailing list (over 400 of you! WOW!) and for making my return to the world of Handcrafted Newborn Photography Props such an incredible success!

I have to be honest, I am overwhelmed. I am behind schedule and I apologize to everyone still waiting for their order. I am literally working all day everyday and the burn out is starting to catch up to me. The light at the end of the tunnel is starting to shine brighter and I am really hopeful to get caught up and back on track in the next 2 weeks.

Right now there is a 3 week wait list on any new orders and I cannot accept any custom orders until I finish with the current backlog.

Thank you again for your continued support! I have more new ideas already developing, but they will have to wait until I'm caught up. Once that's done, I will send out another newsletter with all the info. If you are on the MAILING LIST but you didn't receive the notice letting you know the store is open, please make sure you check your spam filters. Some filters are really powerful and will remove the newsletter automatically.

I can't believe Christmas is just over a month away! In the spirit of the upcoming holidays, here is the Christmas peanut modeled beautifully by a darling baby girl.

Still Standing

2009-07-17T19:30:00.000-07:00

Phew! What a crazy two weeks this has been! Thanks to all of you who left me encouraging comments, and sent heartfelt emails. I am humbled by your kindness!

I am super proud to say that thanks to amazing friends and family I managed to finish all of the orders I received prior to the closure, the last of which went out on Wednesday, the day before we got the keys to our new home!

We are now in reno mode; gutting the kitchen and bathrooms in the new place and prepping for painting and the arrival of new cabinets and appliances. We have one week to finish all of it before it's move in day. A somewhat scary thought given that we no longer have a nanny!

I am really hopeful that sometime in early August I will be able to re-open my store on a small scale at least. Once we're done moving, I'll take some time to find a new nanny and open the store for good.

Although I should have been packing, I couldn't resist when my friend Ashleigh told me she was having a newborn shoot today. I just got a shipment of new yarn and I jumped at the prospect of making something new! She's a fantastic photographer so be sure to check out her blog.

A Very Sad Day

2009-06-30T09:21:00.000-07:00

I am incredibly saddened about the latest developments. Due to exceptional personal circumstances, I am forced to close my beloved store for a short while (approximately 1 to 2 months). This was very sudden and unexpected and I'm scrambling to finish the overwhelming number of orders I had received since launching the new store earlier this month. The timing couldn't have been worse, but in life we persevere and come out stronger and better in the end :-)

I was really looking forward to the next contest and had several amazing vendors lined up willing to donate their wonderful products for the contest. I am hopeful that we will still go forward with the contest at a later date.

Due to the sudden nature, I will extend the sale for one more day (until July 1st) and will honor all orders received by the end of that day. Please note that it may take up to 4 weeks before your order ships. If that is not acceptable to you, please do not purchase the products as I cannot promise shipments any sooner than that at this point. The promo code again is 1YRNEW for 10% off your purchase (yes even items already on sale).

Please subscribe to my MAILING LIST if you wish to be notified when the store reopens. I am really hopeful it will not take very long, but at this point everything is very unclear and uncertain.

Rest assured that this is my passion and there is no way I can stay away for too long. I will always find a way to come back :-)

Thanks so much for your understanding! It is your continued compliments and positive feedback that will drive me through this difficult time.

And the winner is.....

2009-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Cindy from Sille Shots by Cindy Photography! Congratulations Cindy!

She is the lucky winner of the Tushie Wrap and Brim Hat set.

Thank you so much everyone for entering the contest and leaving some really great feedback about my new store. I've implemented some of the suggestions already.

Don't forget you still have one more day to enter the contest to win my latest design; the Shaker Hat. All you have to do is subscribe to my MAILING LIST.

The new contest is delayed by a few days due to a HUGE order I just received, plus the overwhelming number of orders I've been getting from all of you. I'm happy you're enjoying the sale, but will you let me sleep? Just kidding, keep it coming :-)

I'm getting some really cool prizes lined up for the next contest (and not just Mamique products, though there will be some included as well!).

Once again, congrats Cindy!

New Designs!

2009-06-08T15:47:00.001-07:00

First of all, I want to thank you guys so much for the overwhelming positive response to my new store and look! So many of you found the entry form for the contest and I'm thrilled with the feedback you've given me. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking! The contest doesn't close until midnight on Saturday. The winner will be announced on Sunday.

I am still working on adding more products to my store, but after getting a staggering number of orders in the first week of the launch, I am really busy knitting so that I don't keep you guys waiting for too long for your Mamique goodies :-)

I am super excited to add a few more new designs to my line of products (because I get tired of the same old, same old, lol).

Some of you have already seen the new peanuts I posted on my Flickr page. Yes, after making you wait since January, two more peanuts from the TEXTURES collection will be available starting next week.

I also decided it was time for my own version of the shaker hat. I've stayed away from this style until now because, besides the basic beanie, this is probably the second easiest thing to make, and I prefer to challenge myself :-) But I continue to get frequent requests for this style (since they are so darn cute!) that I decided to put my own spin on it. I hope you like it.

I'm in the process of making a few more color choices (boy, girl, neutral) and I'll show you photos when they're done. They'll be available for sale next week, but if you want to win one, all you have to do is subscribe to my MAILING LIST before midnight June 15th. Those of you who already subscribed are automatically entered to win. Winner will be announced next Tuesday!

I also have a VERY cool contest beginning Saturday. Start choosing your best photos with mamique products because that's what you'll need to enter the contest.

I'll be in touch soon!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

2009-06-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

Mamique Designs, Ltd. turned one today!

I am humbled and in awe when I look back at the year. Never in a million years did I imagine this much success and so much positive response in such a short time. I am still in disbelief at the continued demand for my products and the incredibly flattering feedback I've received from so many of you. It seems almost surreal that one year has already gone by.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you, my valued customers and followers, for making Mamique Designs, Ltd. the successful business it has become. I would especially like to thank my husband and close family and friends who stood by me as I embarked on this endeavor. Thank you for believing in me and for putting up with my ridiculously long working hours. I promise you, I will try to cut back to spend more time with you guys!

Now onto what you've so patiently been waiting for!

First - THE NEW STORE

It is my pleasure to introduce you to my new store. You can find it at mamique.bigcartel.com. I loved my Etsy shop, but ultimately the limitations grew too large and I found an alternative that, I hope, you will love as much as I do. There are so many things I love about my new store! But rather than list them here, I'll let you have a look and judge for yourself.

Many new products will be added in the next few days so keep checking back if you don't see something you're looking for.

CELEBRATE!

So what's a celebration without a sale!? All month long, many items will be on sale, BUT, readers of this blog can enjoy an additional 10% off (That's right, on top of the sale discount!). Simply enter the code 1YRNEW at checkout time and the discount will be applied to your order.

FEEDBACK

I would love to hear what you think of the new store and of my new look. Please leave your vote in the survey on the right so I know what you think. That is also the theme of the first contest.......

CONTEST

This is what you've been waiting for, isn't it? :-)

Yes, the first contest (of 4 this month) requires a little bit of work on your part. Somewhere in my store there is a link to enter the contest. I'll give you a hint, it's on one of the 'Info' section pages. Once you find it, all you have to do is let me know what you think of the new store and whether there is anything you'd like to see changed. That's it! So what can you win?

That's right! This gorgeous Tushie Wrap & Brim Hat set. One of my most popular designs. Contest ends June 13th at midnight. The winner will be announced the following day.

GOOD LUCK and a BIG, BIG THANK YOU!

Exciting News!

2009-05-31T17:04:00.000-07:00

Keep an eye out for a BIG announcement this Wednesday evening!

It will have something to do with my brand new store, an anniversary celebration and some cool contests!

I'm excited, are you?

Kerianne Wrap

2009-04-18T21:10:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get inspired by another artist's work? Have you ever created something, be it a painting, a photo, a song, that you cannot exactly explain why, but you knew instantly that it was inspired by that person? Well, several months ago it happened to me.

One of the most talented photographers I know, who not only creates beautiful images but is also a beautiful person inside and out, inspired my latest creation and was kind enough to allow me to name it after her. Her images are light and airy, delicate and full of emotion and many, many seasoned pros wish they could have some of her magic. I'm talking, of course, about none other than Kerianne Brown.

Here is a peek:

Made from incredibly soft mohair and silk blend with a few strands of ultra fine Australian merino for added texture, it is something I am truly proud of.

And here is a little something from the master herself!

Thank you Kerianne for being my muse :-)

'Kerianne Wrap™' is copyright protected - (c)2009 Mamique Designs, Ltd. Any unauthorised reproduction of this design for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited and punishable by law.

So much to do, so little time......

2009-04-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

I hope I'm not the only one who feels that way all the time :-)

Thank you all for patiently checking my Etsy and blog for new product listings. The last few weeks have been busier than ever and I promised myself not to list anything new until all my orders have been caught up. Of course, it's not helping that I keep accepting custom orders ;-)

I'm going to break my promise for one particular item, though. So many of you love the moss peanut, but sadly that yarn will be out of stock until at least early Fall. I found 3 skeins of another GORGEOUS wool with very similar colors. That one, sadly, is discontinued (the story of my life, it seems). I'm letting you know here that I will be listing those peanuts tomorrow at noon PST. There will only be 3, so if you love this color, don't wait. Once they're gone, they're gone!

I'm keeping my fingers crossed that sometime next week the day will come when I'm finally caught up, and I'll list more choices in my store then.

Here is a sneek peak at new ideas I've been working on:

FURRY HAT

I've had this yarn for a very long time, but couldn't find inspiration to bring it to life. It wasn't until fluffy Easter bunnies started showing up everywhere that I knew what it was meant to be :-)

In addition to the girl colors shown here, I also have periwinkle, moss, and bronze.

PEANUT

Inspired by the incredibly talented Tracy Raver, this particular style has been requested so many times that I finally obliged :-). Cost is $95 plus shipping. MANY color combinations will be available in this style. Let me know if there are particular colors you're looking for, and I'll help you find some suitable options.

What I love about this particular design, besides the trim, is that it fits babies of many sizes. The little girl shown was only about 7 lbs, but this peanut has enough stretch to fit a baby nearly twice that size!

BAUBLES TUSHIE WRAPS AND HATS

The baubles yarn is definitelly one of my favorite yarns to date. Brilliant silk and wool blend gives vibrant colors and a slight sheen that shows up beautifully in photos. And it has the wonderful thick and thin texture that has, apparently, become my signature look (who knew!)

The hat can be made in different styles, too, to suit your taste.

The Earflap:

The Stocking:

The Pompom:

Here is another look at the bloom peanut:

And last, but definitely not least, the Original Tushie Wrap is getting a makeover!

Tired of the same old, same old, I found a beautiful wool/mohair blend yarn that is available in a rainbow of colors:

In addition to color changes, the Tushie Wrap will also get a design uplift. To date, I have only seen a handful of photographers take advantage of the fact that the Tushie Wrap is reversible. At the same time, I have seen countless photos where the front sides are sliding out. I've been debating for a long time whether I should make changes and make it a pull-up type of cover, and I've decided to go ahead with it. It will look exactly like the original, but I believe it will be more functional. If you like the original and the flexibility it affords you, just let me know at the time of purchase.

Sorry for the super long post and thank you for your continued interest in my products!

Little Princess

2009-03-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

I got to photograph the most adorable little girl thanks to my good friend Jillian Kirby of Lucy Lime Studios who allowed me to snap some shots during her photoshoot. She was the perfect little model and slept for us pretty much the whole time :-)

Is she just not the cutest?

Jillian also got to try out my (now her's, lol!) creame weave wrap.

I played around with the dimensions to make it more versatile. It measures 2.5ft by 1.5ft so that it is easier to wrap the baby in and can be used as a hammock. Jillian's stunning image illustrates this wonderfully!

A Word of Caution

2009-03-12T23:00:00.001-07:00

I have received several requests for the sling I made for my personal use that I think it's important to have a post about it.

My decision to not sell these was based on several factors; however, the most important being safety of the child. My sling is designed with baby's safety in mind. I took great care choosing the right type of yarn and stitch that would support a 10 lb baby with ease. I played with the pattern to ensure the baby would not fling forward (remember, newborns are top heavy and could easily topple out if their head fell forward and the sling was not designed to "catch" them). Most importatnly, I am also the one who designed it, so I know exactly how to use it safely. Although I am certain that many of you would use it properly without any issues, I am afraid that too many photographers have become careless in the quest of getting THE shot. It is a liability I am not prepared to deal with.

I did a quick search on Etsy today and found several slings that are so poorly designed that I am afraid it's only a matter of time before something goes wrong. If you have purchased a sling, please PLEASE at the very least put a 10lb weight in it and have someone tug on it while you're holding it. This will not ensure the safety of it, but at least you will have given it the basic test.

Perhaps it is the fact that I have an engineering degree that has me paranoid about safety, but it is also that education that allows me to understand the forces involved when baby is in the sling. A sling that does not take all of these forces into account essentially puts the baby in danger.

There is no governing body watching over these suppliers ensuring that their products are safe until someone complains about them, so please be very careful when you decide to attempt this shot with any sling. Don't get me wrong, there are people who make slings that are perfectly fine, but the onus should be on you, the user, to ensure that all safety precautions are in place.

Phew..... I'm done preaching now. Here is another photo of the sling being used in a VERY safe manner; like a peanut, lol!

A Treat for Me

2009-03-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

I've been so busy making beautiful items for all of you, that I forgot about myself for a while. When a friend invited me to join her on a newborn photoshoot, I knew it was a perfect opportunity to make something special for myself. A design from scratch, ensuring perfect balance and safety for baby, I was up until 2 am finishing it, but it was so worth it! The tiny guy we got to photograph was a bit too small for it, but nonetheless, I am super pleased with the result.

Here are a couple more from the session. More will be posted on my Flickr page (search for Mamique)

It's all in the details....

2009-03-04T15:32:00.000-08:00

Sometimes a luscious yarn and some imagination is enough to give rise to a gorgeous item. Other times, though, adding a small detail can transform that piece into something truly special.

Perhaps I should organize my arts and crafts storage more often :-). Way back when (and I'm ageing myself here) when "invisible" necklesses (single bead or string of beads on invisible fishing line) were in style, I made my own and stocked up on all sorts of beads. They've been largely ignored for the last 10 years until last Monday when I finally got organized. I was too attached to just throw them out, so instead they'll be incorporated into some of my designs until they run out.

Trying on for size

2009-02-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

I am so grateful to my wonderful friend Jillian Kirby or Lucy Lime Studios for allowing me to come along on one of her newborn shoot and watch her do her magic. She made the impossible poses seem like a piece of cake. She's my hero!

She also let me try out some of my spring collection items and let me snap a couple of shots. I'm just beside myself with glee! It's been so long since my last session so today was a real treat for me!

Thank you Jillian!

I also got a chance to try out the Nappy Disguise™ with my new Textures Peanut. I had every confidence in my product before I tried it on a newborn, but I was really pleased to see the proof! You have to really look for it to see it. No more baby mess on your precious props :-)

Baubles, Baubles Everywhere!

2009-02-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the colors for the Baubles line. They are so vibrant! I just love them. I only have a few of each color so don't wait too long. Feel free to contact me directly if you want a particular item made out of your favorite color. Otherwise I will just randomly make pieces that I think will look good and list them in my store as they are made.

Here is a little pompom hat I made last night. It's not listed yet, but will be soon!

I'm off to knit!

Springtime hats and other goodies

2009-02-20T21:44:00.000-08:00

I have been busy getting things organized and listing several items in my store. A few more will be added tomorrow and some more the following week. Flecks and Baubles (spring collections) will be available for a limited time only and I only have enough yarn for a few items in each color. That mean you'll be getting some unique items, but if you wait too long, you may not get your first choice.

I love the way the flecks line looks. It's a little bit outside of my personal style, but spring is just around the corner and delicate pastels are what I think of when I think of spring. 3 hat styles have been added for the spring collection. The stocking and pompom (shown in flecks) and the earflap (shown in baubles).

Spring Collection

2009-02-17T23:10:00.000-08:00

You guys are keeping me so busy that I barely had time to make samples for the spring collection. I have some beautiful colors to keep your springtime photos vibrant and fresh. Here is a sneak peek. Some items will be listed this weekend, the rest will follow the next weekend.

BAUBLES

I LOVE this yarn. The colors are truly this vivid (no color/saturation adjustment done here!) It comes in 5 interesting shades that I will post in the next couple of days. The texture it creates is just to die for. Hopefully soon I'll get some images with a baby.

FLECKS

This is beautiful if pastels are more your style. Gentle hint of color in this peanut will give a delicate feeling to an image. It comes in 3 shades as seen below. The peanut above is made with 'petals'.

Only a limited number of Peanut Wraps will be made with the spring colors, so make sure you don't wait too long to get yours as you may not get your first choice.

TEXTURES

I didn't forget about my textures line! I am working on a few pieces, but really wanted to have a newborn to showcase them on. But, since my last session got cancelled and there are no new ones on the horizon, I'll show you a little peek at a finished Peanut. I hope you like it :-)

Please let me know what you think of the new product lines. I aim to create unique pieces that will stand out from the sea of props available on the market. And I love to get feedback so I can improve on the products I offer you.

Celebration Sale

2009-02-09T23:45:00.000-08:00

As promised here, on Tuesday, February 10th I will be holding a sale to celebrate the fact that I can continue to offer my products to my US customers without having to spend ridiculous amounts of money on testing each individual batch. I keep my promises so here it is.

All items listed in my Etsy Store will be 10% off that day. A refund equal to 10% off the purchase price will be issued on all payments completed that day. Please allow up to 24 hours for the refund to be issued, if you have any questions, feel free to email me at mamiquedesigns@gmail.com or send me a convo through etsy.

I've stocked the store with as many items as I can complete within a week. All items purchased during the sale will ship after February 17th.

Below are the colors I have available for the Nappy Disguise™. You can purchase the whole set, a set of 3 colors (latte, mocha, and date), or single (latte).

Here is what the buff color looks like on a baby:

And the whole set against a baby's skin:

Hats, hats, and more hats!

2009-02-07T22:33:00.000-08:00

When I first started my business..... scratch that, way, WAY, before I even thought about having a business, people would ask me to make hats and my answer usually was NO! I always said hats were boring. As I bring to you yet another hat design today, I'm starting to think that I was WRONG! So very wrong. There is nothing boring about hats, and I think my collection speaks for itself.

I wish I could say that those are all the hats I've done, I just didn't have enough room on he collage to show them all. Even as I write this, I have 6 ideas that I can list off the top of my head that I haven't tried before and as far as I know no one else has either. Don't worry, you'll get to see them soon :-)

Alright, without further ado, here is the latest design: the cable hat!

It will beautifully match a Tushie Wrap™ and sets will be offered shortly. It joins a family of coordinating hats; the Brim Hat and the basic Beanie:

Special thanks to Kerianne Brown for the photo of the sweet little baby modeling the cable hat.

Don't forget about the sale on Tuesday! It will be one day only and after that, I don't forsee any sales in the near future. I also plan on taking a little break soon, so if you need things soon, don't wait too long.

Nappy Disguise™

2009-02-02T09:39:00.000-08:00

When I made the first few Newborn Peanut Wraps and had a chance to use them, I realized that unless I have the baby in the buff, the diaper sometimes can peek through, especially in the more holey designs. Now some of you know I am not a fan of messes which is why I created the Tushie Wrap™ :-)

I've used the Tushie Wrap™ with the Peanut Wrap but it was creating too much bulk for me and I've been trying to figure out the best way to hide the diaper. Well, here it is, the Nappy Disguise™:

It is so simple yet I think will fill an important role. The one shown is just a prototype. I think I will use special velcro instead of a snap, but I had to make this one for my next photoshoot! I'm so excited to use it. I have several colors to match the baby's skin perfectly ranging from pale to a rich brown. All colors are specifically chosen to match a baby's skin.

Here is an example of what a diaper versus Nappy Disguise™ looks like:

Can't wait to hear what you think of this idea!

CPSIS

2009-01-30T21:26:00.001-08:00

You've probably heard lots about it in the last few weeks, with virtually every etsy seller and maker of children's toys and apparel worrying about the future of their business. Well, we have some good news! For now at least. Read the minute details here.

If you haven't heard about it, here is the very bare bones explanation:

The US Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (``CPSIA'') states that products intended for use by children under 12 must not contain more than 600 ppm lead and 1000 ppm phthalates. The original ruling forced manufacturers of children's items to test each product line they offer for lead and phthalates content as of Feb 10, 2009, or face fines and possible criminal prosecution.

The ruling on January 30, 2009 (in the link above) delays the testing requirements by one year. Hopefully during that time, the law can be reviewed and amended so that some items we KNOW are safe can be exempt. This does not mean that the coast is clear and everything can get back to normal. Manufacturers and sellers MUST NOT sell items that do not fall within the limits for lead and phthalates content. And if the items they sell are found to exceed those limits they will face fines and/or prosecution.

As a Mamique Designs' client, you can rest assured that I will not sell any products that do not meet industry and legal safety standards. I am in talks with a local lab to test several of my items (including buttons) just to confirm that they are in fact safe, but I am thankful that I do not have to test every batch of yarn and colorway I receive. My intention was to suspend sales to US customers as of February 10th if no changes or exceptions were made. I am thrilled that I can continue offering my products to customers from the US!

I think I will offer a sale on Feb 10th, just to celebrate :-)

TEXTURES

2009-01-24T20:37:00.000-08:00

I wanted to say thank you to everyone who participated in the Newborn Peanut Wrap group buy last week. I'm pleased to announce that Joy Harmon of Wildflowers Photography was the lucky entry in the Peanut giveaway. Congratulations Joy!

Two batches went out already and there are two more scheduled for next week. Here is a photo of yesterday's shipment:

I also wanted to give you a little taste of what's brewing at Mamique Designs. When I'm working on your orders my mind seldom stays idle. As you may have noticed, the last couple of months have been creatively prolific and there is so much more in store.

I am very excited to launch my TEXTURES line in the next few weeks. As a budding newborn photographer, I am always on the lookout for interesting fibres and textures to best showcase the tiny individual being photographed. I am not kidding when I say I have a closet full of blankets, throws, wraps and other items to be used as backdrops/props during my sessions. The problem I found, however, is that buying such items at big box stores means half of the other photographers have the same ones as me.

TEXTURES, I hope, will offer you some truly unique pieces. The goal is to create limited edition items using various fibres, stitching, colors and shapes. You already know that different yarns and colors will create beautiful props, but you also know how quickly these can be recreated by others making what you thought was a one of a kind item, now one of many. Creative stitching will, in my view, add another dimention to the world of knit/crochet photography props.

Don't worry, the original designs you've been saving for will still be around, this is just an addition to the Mamique Designs family of designs ;-)

Newborn Peanut Group Buy

2009-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Okay, Ladies (and Gents!), the day is finally here :-)

DETAILS

***Edited: Thank you very much for participating in the group buy! It is now closed. Joy Harmon of Wildflower Photography was the winning entry in Peanut giveawy. Congratulations Joy!***

First 20 people to leave a comment on this post with their Newborn Peanut Wrap order, will get their Newborn Peanut Wrap at $50 each (max 2 per person) plus $5 shipping to North America ($10 everywhere else).

After the first 20 spots have been filled, the Newborn Peanut Wrap will be available for $67.50 (10% off regular price). Shipping charges apply as above. All orders that did not qualify for the extra special deal (i.e. orders placed after the first 20 comments) will be entered into a random draw to win their Newborn Peanut Wrap for free (regular shipping charges will apply).

I will not be contacting you to finalize your order until some time Monday or Tuesday (January 19-20, 2009), but I will be around to answer questions regarding this offer via mamiquedesigns@gmail.com.

The Group Buy will close one week from start date. The winner of the free peanut will be announced within 24 hours of the close.

This offer is on a first come first serve basis and is only available through this blog.

I reserve the right to remove erroneous comments.

HOW TO ORDER

To place your order, please click on the "comment" link below. You will need to specify the quantity and color(s) you want and provide me with a means to contact you to finalize the details, be it your email address, your flickr name or a private email sent to me stating which comment is yours. I will contact you sometime on Monday or Tuesday to finalize the details of your order and give you an estimated ship date.

Orders placed by any other means (flickr, etsy, email) will NOT qualify for this special.

Now, go and place your order, before all the spots for the extra special deal are filled!

A Little Bit of Luxury

2009-01-11T11:50:00.000-08:00

We all need it from time to time, and I like to offer unique pieces in limited edition for such occasions. I also like to do custom items for clients that want something extra special. I select finest quality fibres for these creations so that it is an all around experience in look, texture and feel. Here are a few examples:

Getting organized

2009-01-09T15:55:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that my store is temporarily fully stocked and majority of the items listed are ready to ship the next business day after payment clears.

I am hoping to get ahead so that there will be no delays during the group buy.

I have several one of a kind peanuts made from gorgeous hand spun/dyed yarns I aquired on Etsy. I haven't had a chance to photograph them yet, but once I do, they will be listed in my store. Since they're One-Of-A-Kind, if you like one, get it, because I won't be able to make another one :-).

I am very excited about new plans for Mamique Designs. There are many new designs just waiting to be created. The Tushie Wrap pattern will be available for purchase in the next few weeks. I will also be working on a pattern book, which may happen sooner than intended in light of the new US legislation going into effect in February, and many other ideas I don't have time to list :-)

Valentines is fast approaching and you betcha there will be something sweet for that holiday!

Peanut Group Buy Details

2009-01-04T22:49:00.000-08:00

As promised, here are the details for the Group Buy I will be offering on the Newborn Peanut Wraps. Above are the colors you will be able to choose from.

The group buy will open on Saturday, January 17th at noon EST (9 am PST) and end after one week.

The first 20 people to place their order after the group buy opens will be able to purchase up to 2 Newborn Peanut wraps for the price of $50 each (plus $5 shipping to North America). In order to qualify for this sale price, you have to place your order on this blog. You will need to specify the color(s) you want and provide me with a means to contact you to finalize the details, be it your email address, your flickr name or a private email sent to me stating which comment is yours.

This offer is on a first come, first serve basis. After the first 20 spots have been filled, the Newborn Peanut wraps in the colors shown above will be available for purchase at 10% off. This sale is only available through this blog.

To make things interesting, all the orders that did not qualify for the $50 price (i.e. after the first 20 people) will be entered into a random draw for a free Newborn Peanut.

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T13:08:00.000-08:00

Come check out my Flickr page to get more details on how to win it!

Thank you everyone for a great year! May the next one be even better. I wish you and your families a very merry Christmas and a joyous new year!

Peace!

More Peanut pictures

2008-10-31T14:26:00.001-07:00

I'm working on finding more affordable yarn so that I can make the Newborn Peanut available to anyone who wished they had one :-) I have a few samples made and will be testing them in the next few weeks.

In the meantime, I finally managed to track down a cream coloured yarn that I believe is quite suitable for this design, only problems is, they didn't have much in stock. I'll let you know if I can get more of it. The ones I had, have already been claimed :-)

I am thrilled to hear that my clients love the Newborn Peanut. Stephanie Robin got hers recently and was kind enough to share her photos. They are absolutely stunning! Thank you Stephanie :-)

The Newborn Peanut is here!

2008-10-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to announce the Newborn Peanut based on Tracy Raver's wonderful design. Thank you Tracy for allowing me to make this beautiful design available to others. I was able to take her idea and knit the peanut in one piece with NO seams so that it is more versatile! You can find more details about it in my Etsy store.

I'm grateful to my friend Jillian Kirby for sending these photos to me. This is what she said after using it the first time: "I used the Peanut today and MY GOSH I love it!!!! It was easy to get on, easy to mold him in and he loved it!"

The little guy in these photos was very small (only 6lbs) so the peanut wasn't as snug as it would be on an average sized baby. Still super adorable though!

I found the most luxurious wool for this product and below are the colors available in that yarn. It feels like a cloud and the texture is to die for, but, unfortunately, it is rather pricey which is reflected in the price of the Peanut. I will be making a few samples out of cheaper yarns to make this design available to those who cannot justify spending that much.

Here is what the reverse side looks like. So much fun can be had with it :-)

Doing what I love!

2008-09-16T14:38:00.000-07:00

So what started out as product promotion, turned into a passion. I got a chance to photograph my friend's newborn girl this past weekend. Although I'm grateful to be able to showcase my knit goodies, I am truly grateful for being able to capture the newness of a tiny individual. I love photography! I have a very long road ahead of me and may never make the plunge into the pro world, but as long as the babies keep coming I will make sure I can sneak in a photo session :-)

Here is a sample image where the sweet little baby doll is modeling several of my products. Many of you asked to see the Tushie Wrap in use, so here she is wearing lighter toned Nature Tushie Wrap. She's also modeling a crochet beanie in suede and she's lying on a baby wrap.

These are not yet listed on Etsy, but if you really want one, plase send me an email and I'll reserve it for you.

New Colors for Fall

2008-09-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to add new colors to my Tushie Wrap collection. Don't get me wrong, I love the Nature color, but it was time to add a little something something to break up the monotony. Introducing Surf and Berry, beautiful rich colors that will look amazing in Autumn themed shoots.

'Tushie Wrap' is copyright protected - (c)2008 Mamique Designs. Any unauthorised reproduction of this design for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Tushie Wrap - ORDERS

2008-08-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Wow, it's only been a week and the Tushie Wrap became an instant hit. I am sooooo grateful that people love this design. Of course, I only have 2 hands and can only do so many in a day with 2 small kids and a full-time job.

The Tushie Wrap is sold out for now, but if you want to reserve yours, please email me at mamiquedesigns(at)gmail.com. The price is $35 (plus $5 shipping to North America). The waiting list right now is about 3 weeks long. If you want a rush order for next day shipping there is an additional charge of $5 per Tushie Wrap.

My wonderful friend Jillian of Jillian Kirby Photography, took these spectacular promo shots for me and I just wanted to say "Thank You!"

'Tushie Wrap' is copyright protected - (c)2008 Mamique Designs. Any unauthorised reproduction of this design for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

Tushie Wrap

2008-08-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! Finally a new and original design! I've been wanting to make something special for a while, but have been too busy. But the wait is over. Introducing 'Tushie Wrap (c)'. The idea came to me when I was wrapping my client in the baby peapod on a hot summer day. He did not want to stay in it for too long because of the heat. I think this will be a fantastic photography prop and I can't wait to use it. I have to wait 5 weeks before my friend's baby arrives!

'Tushie Wrap' is copyright protected - (c)2008 Mamique Designs. Any unauthorised reproduction of this design for commercial purposes is strictly prohibited.

A variation on the 'classic'

2008-07-30T21:21:00.000-07:00

I still remember when I made the very first 'Baby Hoodie'. It will be 6 years this fall. My cousin's wife just had the first baby in the family and I wanted to make something special (that wasn't a blanket, lol). I stayed up all night knitting that hoodie. My cousin loved it! So did everybody else. In fact, her sister who had a baby a month later, insisted that I make one for her newborn. I've only met her once at that point, and I don't like being told what to do, so I made her something else, ha!

As time went on, I had kids, my friends had kids, and many more hoodies were made. Then, when my second one was born, I joined a mommy group with kids the same age, and they all wanted one! That's when I said, "sorry ladies, but I've got a newborn, no time for knitting free stuff for everyone". Some of the moms offered to pay (I'm game with that, lol) and suggested that, when I have more free time, I start selling them. So, nearly one and a half years later, here I am with my very own business. The hoodie is my favorite thing to make, but I love knitting in general, so I like to try different things from time to time.

Now, the original hoodie has a very specific look to it (and is copyright protected, so don't bother stealing it!), but I thought I'd try a different look. Here is the 'Simplicity Collection':

Photography Props

2008-07-26T10:25:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on doing much of promoting my products to photographers, but turns out I love photography myself :-), so it's a natural fit.

I've been doing some hat and wrap combos, as well as a couple of baby peapods.

I've had a wonderful opportunity to photograph my friends newborn and wanted something special. I think the peapod turned out quite nicely, wouldn't you agree?

I've got more ideas in the works and will hopefully be finished by the time my next friend has her baby! I'll be sure to post some photos :-)

Another color!

2008-06-22T23:28:00.001-07:00

I like my chunky scarf so much, I've decided to try a different color. What I really like about it is how versatile it is (for a photorapher, for regular folk it's just a scarf, lol). So many people have recently been selling baby wraps (baby blankets that are small an predominantly used by photographers). What I like about my scarf is that it can still be used like a baby wrap, but is not limited to infants or photography. Here are a couple of images.

First Customers!

2008-06-18T22:07:00.000-07:00

I'm happy to announce that I've had 3 sales! I was getting worried at first, but it looks like it's all OK. :-)

Here are a couple more hoodies that were listed recently. It brings me so much joy to make them. They are so cozy and look so adorable when finished. I can't wait to see some photos of real babies wearing them.

Need more exposure

2008-06-13T22:49:00.000-07:00

So the store has been open for over a week now, but still no sales. My guess is I probably need to advertise more. Also, the fact that all of my items are seasonal is not helping. I will be listing some lighter weight/summer wear soon. Well, as soon as I find time to make them :-)

Here are a couple of items I made recently.

2008-06-03T21:46:00.000-07:00

Today is the big day. We are Live! Come visit the store.

Textures

2008-05-18T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've been experimenting with textures in the last couple of days. I really like the crochet scarf. It makes a great prop for photography and feels so incredibly soft and cozy.

In the works

2008-05-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

I have been quite busy knitting up samples for the Etsy Store. I'm quite pleased with how they turned out and can't wait to get things listed.

Also, mamiquedesigns.com is now active; however, meaningful content will have to wait a while.

I've been MIA lately because I'm still trying to get things sorted out with the other Etsy seller. I'm starting to think that a partnership may not work after all, which is too bad. She's got a very large client base that is willing to pay for the true value of a hand crafted design, since they're using the items as props. My thinking was that we would both profit and I'd have the benefit of starting out in an already established market. We'll se how that goes.

I also got a new job recently, so knitting will have to wait for a month or so until I get settled.

I hope to start listing items by the beginning of June, perhaps as a birthday present to myself :-)

The Beginning

2008-04-23T08:58:00.000-07:00

Well, I think I'm finally going to pursue my dream. It has been in my thoughts for several years now and now it's time to bring it to fruition.

Over the next several weeks I will post here about my endeavours trying to set up shop, evaluate partnerships and coming up with new designs.

Please come visit again, and while you here, let me know how you like the designs.