So who is this Aunty Shabby??!!

   

I am lots of things. A polite way of saying it may be that I am a complicated and highly evolved creative being. Another way may be that I am a high maintenance woman who, amongst other things, likes to knit and sew!

Aunty Shabby may seem an odd name or choice for a blog but Shabby (it was meant to be ironic) has been a nickname for years and with the birth of my first nephew almost 10 years ago now, I became Aunty Shabby. Nearly everyone calls me Shabby. A former boss, a partner at a law firm, used to call me Shabby. My father calls me Shabby. I won't tell you what I call him. I have also been known to answer to Shabster, Shabs or Shabarella. Friends often introduce me as "Shabby", which at times can have funny consequences; someone once misheard and asked later, "Who is this Shaggy girl?" That then spawned its own legend, and in some circles I am known as "Miss Shaggy". (This is also my celebrity pseudonym, but that is a whole other story.)

Anyway, after a lifetime of cutting out pictures from my sister's - yes, greenolive - usually discarded fashion and chicks magazines to cover my school books and folders (now called collage), making dodgy dresses for my androgynous dog teddy called "Willie" (as in Wilhelmina), crocheting an enormous blanket over a 20 year period, made from cast-offs, leftovers and cheap acrylic wool (which my cat now sleeps on) and generally making a pest of myself when my sister was trying to do her art homework or projects (yes, again greenolive), I realised I might be onto something. I wasn't the artist or the athlete of the family (the intellectual perhaps? well, I was a lawyer...) but it seems I got enough of the creative gene to enjoy making things, eventually turning to making handbags as an outlet for my work stress and general feelings of malaise in about 2000. Handbags then became general sewing (clothes for myself and cushions), then knitting and again, crochet! These initial spurts of creativity and energy were enough to sustain me for a few years, but after a while I wondered if this had the potential to be more than just a hobby.

I would get comments and question about my handbags or scarves, making a few gifts or random one-off orders here and there. A shop was even interested and stocked some of my children's bags. However, several attempts to get it off the ground, were just that, attempts. It wasn't blossoming into the mega empire I had envisioned! Why???!! It all seemed too hard. I was working full time, so didn't have the time to dedicate to it. What if no one liked my stuff? And where would I sell it? And wouldn't it be expensive to set up? So I continued on as before, making stuff for myself and random things for others, when in about mid 2007, something changed. My sister and I started discussing getting a craft business going. We had done this before but this time she seemed to really mean it. And so did I. A random, but clearly serendipitous, order for a scarf from a make-up artist (the international make-up director for Stila, as it happens) who was giving us both make-overs one Saturday at MECCA Cosmetica was the final impetus. (I have actually kept his payment in the envelope he gave it to me in as some sort of good luck charm or reminder of what I want to do! Did I mention that I am at times bizarrely superstitious and sentimental?)

Whilst we didn't end up setting up something together and have taken our own paths, I think we are both now committed to trying this and seeing what happens. My sister has wasted no time (and you can read her blog to track her progress) and seems to relish the contact and feedback to her work and ideas. I am constantly amazed at her dedication and her prolific knitting. I have taken the more "slow and steady wins the race" approach. This means that is still early days, with a website and hopefully ETSY shop still to come. Whilst I am still employed primarily in another field (but now only 4 days a week), I have found I need an outlet to provide me with some balance and am enjoying the creative process and possibilities of finally establishing my own "Aunty Shabby" business. Mega empire here we come!!

Comments

[greenolive]

Dedication...don't you mean obsession? And I vote for high maintenance! And I've also come up with the perfect name and logo if we ever end up doing something together.

[Aunty Shabby]

Thanks! What's the name and logo??!

[Stephanie (Spices for Violet)]

I like your story, Shabby lady! I have high hopes for crafty things but I need to get better and devote more time to it. Have you found working 4 days a week gives you more time to devote to your crafting endeavours? This is something I am considering for 2009.
Best wishes,
Steph :)

[Aunty Shabby]

Thanks Stephanie! I think many of us can relate to it - lots of ideas, a bit of talent, but sadly not always enough time or focus! I think the secret is not to underestimate yourself and take it one step at a time.

I have found 4 days a week fantastic and do manage to get more crafty-type stuff done, but also seem to find my day off crammed with other stuff too.

I am also studying part-time, so am finding I need to be more disciplined and make this stuff a priority. For example, I am typing this with a cat lying on my arm (he wants attention but I am ignoring him), Mr S keeps coming in periodically to tell me I am missing some great tennis (I did want to watch the men's Australian Open final) and I am getting hungry - we had a late lunch, but 8:45pm is getting a bit late for dinner!