Welcome to the 2nd installment of Portraits of Home Made - Enjoy!
Miriam Dewar is the owner of Waggles and Wool: A Whimsical Bestiary who creates whimsical products; some practical, some not, out of up-cycled materials as well as locally sourced organic fibres. She is Mom to Sophie (9 yrs) & Livia (7 yrs) and lives in Bruce Mines, Ontario.
Q: In 3 words describe your business.
A:Quirky, playful creations.
Q: Did you start your business before or after becoming a Mom?
A:I started my business after moving to Northern
Ontario from Ottawa last April. I was a journalist for years and started a
home-based communications consultancy after our first daughter was born.
Eventually, I ended up back in the 9-5 work world and found it overwhelming. A
move to a new city necessitated leaving my most recent communications job. After
deciding to stay at home with my girls (a luxury I am eternally grateful for –
but with it came monetary sacrifices), I decided that any “job” I took on would
have to be one that provided fulfillment and a sense of satisfaction for me. If
my time was going to be taken away from the kids, it was going to have to be
for something meaningful. We live about 45 minutes from Sault Ste. Marie, where
my husband works, and when our children started back to school this past fall I
knew I had to do something creative to stay sane. Inspired by our domestic
critters, the abundant wildlife on the North Shore, and the readily available
organic fibres from the many sheep and alpaca farms, Waggles and Wool was born!
This little guy, the Studious Owl, is made from locally sourced alpaca and
sheep's wool.
Q:Mixing business & motherhood can be a balancing act! What is your approach to making it through the day accomplishing growth in your business alongside nurturing your little ones?
A:It’s tricky and a balance I suspect I don’t
always achieve! Since they are in school, I do have some “free” time during the
day to do my stuff, but it seems to be constantly encroached on by things like
laundry, whining dogs needing walks or love (we have 4, we are nuts), service
calls, grocery runs, doctor appointments…I have recently instituted a schedule
where I work for the morning and then try to schedule all the other “stuff” in
the afternoon. But it doesn’t always work out and I am often batting eager
little helpful hands away from my felting needles.
Here is a harried momma owl with her babies. Made with raw, but washed, sheep wool.
Q:What do you consider the biggest perk to having your business in your home? What is the biggest challenge?
A:Well, there’s view of Lake Huron. But the
biggest perk is definitely the flexibility it affords. When someone is sick or
someone needs to be home to deal with animals or the furnace guy, I am here.
The biggest challenge is averting my eyes from the tumble weeds of dog hair and
constantly appearing dishes and laundry that need to be dealt with. Also, since
I work in the main, open area of our home, sometimes my craft supplies are
borrowed by little humans and found elsewhere, or even taken and found shredded
by furry four-legged beasts.
View of Lake Huron.
This is the corner that I have carved out for myself. It is an organizing diva's
nightmare, but the light and view are great and it allows me to keep an eye on
both human and canine creatures.
A:I was surprised at how useful Facebook is and I get such a thrill when someone "likes" a photo on the Waggles and Wool page. People seem to be constantly checking their Facebook accounts so it's an ideal way to showcase new products and get almost instant feedback on them.
These little guys will soon find themselves on a mobile. Nothing says spring
like fat little birdies. They are
made from locally sourced and hand-dyed sheep's wool.
Q:If you could add another element/extension to your business what would it be?
A:I would love to add a note card
collection! I think the idea of photographs of felted critters in little
vignettes – hanging out on furniture, having drinks, celebrating at a birthday
party – on cards would be hysterical. I would also like to have a line of
stuffed critters, incorporating embroidery and felting techniques.
These owls, one reading a book, the other enjoying a cup of coffee, are made
from locally sourced hand-dyed sheep and alpaca wool. This kind of vignette
makes me laugh.
Q:Please name a Canadian artisan you would like to collaborate with (if anything was possible) on a creative product/project.
A:I love New Brunswick potter Darren Emaneau’s line of whimsically designed bowls. It would be fun to get him to incorporate some of my crazy critter drawings on them.
I love owls (and acorns too) I use them in any project that I can...including
mobiles. These guys are made from locally-sourced sheep and alpaca wool.