Tag Archives: organic baby

Cath Young has always liked making things. Her career with fabric began with haute couture ….. for her barbies at age 6. Her passion for design unravelled at age 13, due to a menacing Home Economics teacher wielding a seam ripper who put her off sewing for years! Thankfully, many many years later, Cath’s mum gave her a sewing machine as a gift. After staring at it for a few months, she took a look at the instruction manual and the brand Chunky Chooky was born.   

Chunky Chooky’s current focus is on quirky children’s rattles that have been made from recycled and organic materials.  When you see Cath’s environs, it is not difficult to see how committed she is to treading lightly on the environment.  Living on a few acres on the edge of Bellingen NSW with her partner and young daughter, she grows her vegies organically, collects rainwater and uses only a composting toilet.

Such a smart composting throne!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cath’s creativity and eye for style is evident throughout her house. Cath designed the double loft bed (above) herself – Complete with vintage linen. 

Stitched poem by Bruce Williamson – Love the lined notebook look fabric

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

The images above look like they have been plucked from the pages of a glossy magazine … but no …. Cath’s talented partner (a chef) designed and built this outdoor wood fired oven on their property with his own hands ….  And then of course whipped up this wonderful looking feast!  

  

Cath and her muse (daughter)

Between working her day job, creating at Chunky Chooky and launching a new business (read on!) Cath found time to share with us a bit more……

 1) What inspired you to start Chunky Chooky & how did your business name come about ?  As soon as I found out I was pregnant the creative juices were awakened. I set to work almost immediately making a mobile as I couldn’t find one that was not in pastel colours or plastic or Disney. All the really interesting ones were SO expensive. It kind of went from there… I started making fisherman pants for babies and toddlers, then softies, then rattles…. the name Chunky Chooky came about at a friends place one morning, I had a list of animals and a list of attributes and I liked the chunky chooky sound.

 2) What are the essential ingredients/aesthetics of your business?    Essential ingredients: 100% certified organic denim, remnants, and off cuts and a lot of speed sewing. Lots of bright colours and no pastels. I also try to make most things unisex. My business is committed to making affordable and original softies that are eco friendly. I always want my wares to remain affordable.

3) What does a typical day involve running Chunky Chooky?    I work three days a week in a job that I love. People often say “you will be able to give up work soon” but I couldn’t- I get so much satisfaction from it.  Initially chunky chooky was just a little thing on the side….but now I am at the point where I may have to hire someone to help me – problem is I am a bit of a control freak…so I keep putting it off . There is no typical day running chunky chooky, I snatch time whenever I can and work at night a lot. I am trying some new designs at the moment and I am also in the process of starting up a new label called My Bearded Pigeon (clearly a bird theme happening) because I really just had all this spare time!!??!  Most days involve blogging and reading blogs which are a constant source of inspiration. I also spend way to much time on etsy and flickr. Lots of tea is also involved. Cake too.  

 4) What are your biggest challenges running your business?     Time, Time, Time ( like the Bangles once sang) and trying to juggle my work with my home life. A cliche I know. Keeping rattle making from becoming boring- it isn’t yet but I worry I will get sick of it one day….trying to find the time to get all the ideas out of my head and into reality. I have notebooks full of ideas… just need more time. (maybe if I spent less time reading blogs, etsy, flickr…etc etc).

5) How does Chunky Chooky endeavour to tread a little lighter on the planet?     I only use 100% organic cotton certified by Global Organic Textile Standards. I am passionate about reducing landfill, as textile waste in landfill contributes to the formation of leachate as it decomposes, which can potentially contaminate groundwater. The decomposition of landfill causes methane gas, which as you are aware, is a major cause of greenhouse gases, significantly contributing to global warming.
 
I often have to weigh up is it better to get organic cotton that has travelled thousands of air miles, or to reuse fabric I can get locally. I have an Australian supplier now of certified organic denim.   A neighbour of mine , has just given up his furniture upholstery business he has a huge amount of stuffing and wadding left over, so I use that, again with a focus on reducing landfill.
 
I don’t just use organic cottons because they sell. I use them because I want to help save the earth. This may sound a bit pollyanna- ish but it is important to how we live our lives.

I also set aside a percentage of each sale ( roughly $1) into an account and when it reaches $25 I choose someone to lend it to on kiva.org which supports microlending in developing countries. When the money is paid back I lend it to someone else via Kiva.
 
6) Where can we find your designs?         Just click on over to chunkychooky.com. Did you know on Etsy now you can now get prices shown in your choice of currencies?  Well you can.   
 
7) What are your dreams for Chunky Chooky in the future?    World domination.  Bah har har har!!!!! ( JOKING!)

 8)  Share with us your easy eco friendly living tip!       If it’s yellow let it mellow, if it’s brown flush it down.  Even better rip out your toilet and put in a composting/waterless one.  Trust me- they do not smell.