WAHMlight: Hoot, Hoot, Woot!

Hello, dear friends, for a late-night edition of Bitsy Buzz (fitting really, when you consider the focus of January's WAHMlight). Night Owl Knits is run by a woman who I've known for close to 15 months, maybe more? She is lovely, and I hope you all get to know a bit more about her through the following interview. Also of note, Night Owl is run by IBB's second WOHM, meaning, she works outside the home as well as running a home-based business. Fab! (The first was Nacho Dipes, October's WAHMlight!)

And what is WAHMlight without some accompanying goodies? Stay tuned at the end of the interview.....

Without further adieu (hoot!), I present Night Owl Nights. 

Itsy Bitsy Bums: Tell us about yourself - your family, your likes, your dislikes.
Night Owl Knits: Well, lets see

I live in Seattle, with my husband and 19 month old son.

I lived in New York, Indiana, and Arizona before moving to Washington.

My husband and I never dated. We knew of each other for about a month before getting married. We've been married for three years now.

The summer after we got married, we road our bikes across the country. Yes, bicycles.

I hate bananas. My son Loves them.

I prefer hot chocolate to coffee.

I really like the rain.

IBB: Why wool?

NOK: Wool is an amazing fiber. It's natural, it's renewable (the sheep get sheered once a year), its fire retardant, antibacterial and antimicrobial. It's function, in nature is to help regulate the body temperature of the sheep, and it does the same thing for us when we wear garments made of it.

Wool used as a soaker works through the give and take of the wool. The lanolin (which is naturally occurring in wool, and replaced when you wash and relanolize your woolies) repels moisture back to the diaper. It's ability to breath allows for evaporation to occur and the skin to breath inside the diaper. Wool can also absorb up to 30% its weight in liquid. It's hard for us to wrap our minds around - how a fabric in and of itself can be a moisture barrier and can actually hold moisture into itself without wicking onto outer fabrics. Just try it!

IBB: When did you start knitting? Any other crafty skills up your sleeve?
NOK: I started knitting a little over a year ago. It took me months to actually take on my first real project - and even longer to take on longies. Once I did though, there was no going back. I knit around 4 hours a night now (give or take) pretty much every night. As for other crafty skills, I've dipped my feet in a few, but never got as 'into' them or honed them the same way I have knitting. Both my parents made stained glass goods, so I actually learned that at a young age, though I haven't done so in many years. I've semi-recently taken up dying yarn, but have so far only done so for myself and my own products. I'm not sure if I will ever get to selling my dyed yarn, and if I did, I think each colorway would be OOAK, since I'm not much for writing down exactly how it came to be.

IBB: Where do you get inspiration for the products you offer?

NOK: The sock monkey pattern came from my friend Alison (and if you yourself knit, it can be purchased here). I'm a fan of high contrast, vibrant colors. I knew that I wanted to make some non-traditional monkeys. I don't usually fully decide exactly what I'm going to do with what I'm making until I get there. I enter the project with a general idea, but make the decisions on color layout etc. on the fly.

IBB: What is your favorite part about being a WOHM? And, how do you balance working both from home, and outside the home?

NOK: My favorite part about being a WOHM is having a job that I enjoy and hours that allow me to do other things without feeling overwhelmed. I'm home by 2 most days, and spend then until bedtime with my son, and do all of my knitting after he goes to sleep. I generally balance it by being sleep deprived. =)

IBB: What is your favorite color combination of Funky Monkeys?

NOK: I'm really torn on this. There's still so many combination to try. So far, I think my first pair, the orange newborn pair are still my favorite.

This month's WAHMlight was a bit different, as the items stocked before the interview. Four custom slots went up, and four custom slots quickly sold out. BUT, there is still a chance for you to get your hands on a pair of these amazing funky monkeys!

The swag: The winner gets a $50 credit to Night Owl Knits, to be used towards one custom pair of Funky Monkey longies or shorties (please note, if your custom's total is below $50, you forfeit the balance remaining; if your order is over $50 you are responsible for the balance due). Credit must be used by the end of February 2011. 

To win: For every $10 spent at Itsy Bitsy Bums in the month of January,* your name goes in the hat once. Ie. spend $100 and your name goes in ten times or spend $50 and your name goes in five times. Spend $5 and your name goes in half a time (yes, I get punchy when I'm up late). Just kidding, purchases are rounded down, meaning spend $15 and your name goes in one time. 

*Deposits on rental and trial packages do not count towards entries. All purchases for January will be entered, including those purchases prior to this interview.