For Me, Mama?

Since I've been a mother, the majority of my handmade creations have gone to my children....straight from the knitting needles or sewing machine, onto someone's little body. There is something so satisfying in being able to clothe my children in garments made with my own hands. There is something almost sacred in it...putting love into every stitch...seeing them take shape and then bring so much JOY to the receiver.

In December of last year, I started to rack my brain, trying to think of a way I could continue to stay at home with my young children and make some sort of an income. With my husband being off work with an illness (ulcerative colitis), and awaiting major surgery, and I with a little one still at the breast...we had to come up with a plan.

Being a stay at home mom for the past 18 years has been a very rewarding experience...and I'm so grateful I've had the opportunity to be home with my children during these tender years, but I do feel I am a little behind, with very little "work experience" under my belt. Don't get me wrong...I have been WORKING...motherhood is definitely not for the faint of heart, but just not in ways that the world would necessarily recognize as valuable.

So what to do? I decided to start a business from the home. A friend of mine introduced me to the website www.etsy.com and the lightbulb went on!! I could sew, knit, crochet, whatever, and then sell my items online! I opened a shop and called it Handmaiden Canada.

Now, what to sell?

My sister, Shanti, gave me the idea of making Waldorf Dolls. She had been browsing online and seen how cute they were, and had also seen the waiting lists for them. I ordered enough supplies to make 2 dolls, and I was hooked! What fun it was to dream up ideas...eye and hair colours, textures, fabric combinations...oooh the possibilities were endless! I spent just *a few* sleepless nights with visions of dollies dancing through my head. :)
With much patience from my enduring husband, I went on to order supplies for more dolls...and things just continued to take off...more and more dollies were born...and three have been sold to date. ;)

My girls (I have 6 daughters who still love dolls) started to put in orders. I couldn't give them all away though, could I? How would I ever start a business if I did that?

I explained this to them and they are happy to wait for their birthdays, or Christmas...all except little Nadia (one year old). She doesn't know the meaning of the word "wait". :)

She has been watching me with rapt interest as I've been creating these bright, fun dollies and she constantly wants to reach out to hug and touch. I've tried to keep them out of reach...but it's hard. I actually had to start working on them only when she was sleeping in order to avoid frustration on both of our parts!

So....today I finished making her her very OWN dolly!



As I put this little girl in Nadia arms, she had the hugest grin... spread from ear to ear and she started dancing around and around, all the while hugging her new baby. Now THIS is what motherhood and life is all about...being able to share in this pure, unfettered JOY!