plump pudding

Request Please

Hi,
this isn't really a post - more a request to all of you in the United Kingdom.

I had a tip off from Sarah  that my washing up liquid aprons were featured in the Daily Express yesterday.



Only I missed it.  Otherwise I would have bought then entire stock of The Daily Express in my village shop.

Does anyone have a copy of yesterday's Daily Express that they would be willing to send me please?  I'll wait with baited breath.

But in the meantime I am off to kick the ass of my overlocker - well, at least try and get it threaded up!  Baby steps.

Step by Step

I am slowly getting through my sewing list.  Yesterday was such a non-starter day, in between refereeing two fighting boys, I managed to a least get out the fabrics etc that I needed to make a start.




The final straw was me giving Ethan a good old telling off (plus I am sure the neighbours got to hear every word) and banning Ethan and his friend from playing in either our garden or house for the rest of the afternoon.  Bad mother that I am, I evicted the two boys and told them they either had to play out in the park or in Ethan's friend's house.  And peace ensued.




Which meant I could get some work done.  Thankfully I managed to do the patchwork lavender sachets yesterday and attach the tags today.  The applique cottages were 80% made up already.  So they lavender was added to them, ribbon to hang them up with and my swing tags attached.  (One) mission accomplished.

They are destined for Love Lily  in Abergavenny, as she has a customer waiting for them.

In between throwing hissy fits and sewing, I have downsized my sewing pattern collection and listed these four patterns in my Etsy Shop



Simplicity Costume # 7785 Ages: 6 months, 1, 2, 3 and 4



Butterick #6356 Misses and Children's Robe: XS, S, M and L



Simplicity Costume #9089 Ages: 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years   SOLD Thanks!



Style # 23914 Boys and Girls Pyjamas Ages 7- 12 years.

Calm Thoughts

I am sitting at the computer trying to think calming thoughts - or as the ex-husband of my rather volatile friend used to tell her: "Positive thoughts Janet.  Positive thoughts".

Actually to worry to much would be to sound like a whinger; so I'm not complaining and putting a positive spin on the fact that I have tons of sewing to do and not a great deal of time to do it all in.




I started some new work this morning.  A friend of mine does some part time work in a local shop and she kept going on how I should get in touch with the owner.  It's a children's shoe shop that also sell some children's items.  I thought I would make some drawstring bags and oil cloth bags (now that I have my industrial machine). 

The idea is to have a few sample to show the owner in the hope of persuading her that she NEEDS to stock plump pudding in her shop.  Hence the oilcloth bags that I have started. 




The other photo is the drawstring bags that have been started (in that the applique has been attached) and need to be sewn together with the overlocker.

I have a florist customer who has sold out of my applique cottages and Crazy Patchwork Lavender Sachets.  She has had a request from a customer who has previously bought them and would like more to take to France with her at the beginning of next week.  Which means I have to make 10 of each. 



I did have about five of them in stock today, but they were taken by a lady who makes jewellry and is starting to sell her items party plan.  She has also taken a small quantity of my items to sell alongside her own.  My stock has been depleted.

Rather than be negative, I am using this as a lesson in keeping a certain level of items in stock.  Which is something I should be doing anyway, rather than making up each order as it comes in.  Positive thoughts, Samantha!



Liberty asked whether I could send the order earlier than originally planned.  We have agreed on half the order early and the remainder on the original date (or sooner if I manage to finish it).

I have blackout linings to add to a friend's daughter's curtains - not a terribly hard job, but one to do this week none the less.



Next on the list: tea cosies.  The shop loved the samples, but would like two more colours and then they should hopefully place an order.  I think they want to photograph the samples for their next mail order catalogue.

Last of all aprons.  I need to make samples of a full length apron and a waist tie apron.

So there we are.  Not much to do is there?  But I'm not complaining.  I would rather be busy and hopefully heading in the right direction business wise, than just sitting without anything to do.

All this sewing perfectly justifies my new purchase: an industrial overlocker



Not new.  I bought it second hand from a lady who makes costumes for the Welsh National Opera.  She is moving house and had an overlocker and an industrial sewing machine.  She just doesn't have the space in her new house.



Stephen finished work early today and we all went to Caerphilly to collect it.  It's about 2 years old and is SO quiet compared to my monster of a 1960s industrial machine.

The really odd part was chatting with the seller.  She asked me what I did in terms of sewing.  I told her I have a small business making items of loveliness (actually I made that last phrase up).  But I did tell her I ran my own small business.  And when I replayed the conversation in my head, I thought, do you know I do.  I do have a small business.  It's only small, but it's a business nonetheless.  As opposed to sewing because I love it. 

So no grumbling for me!

Back in the swing of things

Last week the boys and I with my parents went to Cullompton in Devon.  We were staying in a static caravan on a campsite in woodlands. 

The boys loved it and had a whale of a time in and out of the swimming pool and then dividing their time between the adventure playground and the games room.  We also managed to fit in a few visits to nearby town and of course some forays into the charity shops.

It was the first time I had stayed on a campsite - this was a mixture of static caravans, tents and touring caravans and I discovered that my choice of outfits were far from the norm.  White ballet pumps, dresses and little cardigans and not the outfit of choice for the die hard campers.  But thankfully the rain stayed at bay, so the pumps stayed white. 

We arrived back Friday and things soon returned to normal.  The boys were back to roaming around the village and their friends are back in our garden.




Which meant that I had some time to tidy up my studio which looked as though a bomb had exploded in it.  I also need to get my fabrics out for the Liberty order and also projects that I need to complete.

So what do you do, when you have a big order for Liberty of London and various samples for other customers to make up?  Yes, that's right, make cushions.




A few weeks ago I bought some fabric samples from the car boot sale.  The lady selling them said that her father used to have an upholstery shop.  Two of the pieces were vintage Sanderson.  I ended up taking our old cushion cover apart and using the plain linen from that.  One of the cushions is fancy with my favourite chocolate broen polka dot ribbon and a vintage button.




The other is plain with just the vintage Sanderson on the front and linen reverse - which is just as well as this is the cushion Stephen uses as his tray to eat his dinner off!  Despite several trays in the kitchen.

Winding Down

The school holidays seem to have flown by and in the process the boys have turned feral.  We have had school friends over and I think at some point every child in the village has been in our garden.  But apart from the fact that they have had to have a shower everynight due to necessity (Boys + Rain = Mud) they have had a whale of a time.
I have been yting to do some work through the holidays, but next week is going to be devoted to the boys.  So I shan't be posting next week.  Just so you don't all miss me too much, I am going to show you some of my thrifty finds.

This little hanger is just crying out for some embellishments and ribbons.



It was bought together with all these pretty vintage children's hangers.  Not for keeping, but they will be for sale soon.



Vintage sheeting:  oodles of it



Old copies of Country Living, perfect for inspiration



This knitting magazine, was bought so that I could teach myself to knit.  All though with all the projects I have on the go, whether I get round to it, I just don't know.



And just so that you don't think that all I've been doing is wandering round charity shops, tea cosies that are going to be sent a samples to Chandlers



Hope you all have a good week and see you all soon.  x

Piles of Fabric and Projects

I have now calmed down slightly after the news of my Liberty order - thanks for all the Liberty love - and decided that I need to be a little more organised in sorting out the projects/orders I have on the go.

The first is for Claire.  She commissioned bunting using her own fabrics.

A beautiful mix of Cath Kidston, Greengate and embroidered vintage linen. They are all sewn and pressed and I am waiting for the red binding for the top, to drop through my letterbox and I can finish the bunting and post it back to Claire.

The next project is two tea cosies for a customer.  Both in spotty blue fabric

They should be ready to post out tomorrow.

And lastly and certainly not least, my fabrics for the Liberty order.  You do know you are all going to live through this with me?  Just like the Country Living Fair.

When I was sorting out all my fabrics during my studio re-vamp, I took the time to sort out all the fabrics into types: ginghams/vintage/florals etc.  Am I am so glad I did.  I just opened the box and there were all my quilting cottons sat there waiting for me.

And the best part is that I have enough fabric to complete the Liberty order without ordering any more.  Which means that I can complete the order sooner.   But them of course I will not have any quilting cottons in my stash - I can feel a fabric order coming on! 

Ripples

In advance. please excuse my incoherent, excited ramblings.  OK.  Here goes.

Back in March of this year, I exhibited at the Country Living Spring Fair in London.  As well as making sales and meeting new customers, I was there to network and introduce people to plump pudding.

I did make sales and as a result of exhibiting, I also made a few wholesale orders.  Mission accomplished.

Last week I had a phone call from the Haberdashery department buyer at Liberty of London. She had seen my needle cases and liked them.

After putting the phone down and running through the house singing "Liberty of London" (to this  advert's tune - much to the amusement of my son's friend who was there AND the great embarrassment of Keanan), I managed to calm down enough to send some information through to the buyer.

And yesterday I received confirmation of their order.  A real life order.  For Liberty. Of. London. 

They have ordered needle cases, pincushions and knitting needle rolls.  Thank You!

Now today, I have to calculate how long it will take me to fulfill this order, complete a supplier form, order some fabrics and generally get my ass into gear!

Sitting Pretty

  I had a whole day to myself Saturday as Stephen  took the boys to his mother's house - and they stayed overnight.

Which gave me the opportunity to call the charity shop and get them to hold an office chair which I had spotted on Thursday and decided against buying on the day.  You know how it is, you dither, don't buy and then get home and wish you had.

Luckily it was still at the shop.  You can see why is wasn't snapped up can't you?

The chair cost me £4 and apart from having to buy replacement foam for the seat (at a cost of £1.50), I managed to re-upholster the chair using fabric my from my stash.

I used vintage Sanderson linen fabric for the chair back.  I've had this fabric for about 3 years and finally some of it.

I also used linen to cover the seat.  This one is a Laura Ashley print I have also had for a few years - bought at £5 per metre in the sale. 

It wasn't too hard choosing the fabrics.  Although I have boxes of fabric, it needed to be something heavyweight and durable as it's going to have my backside sat on it for several hours every day.  Which meant that 99% of my fabrics were ruled out immediately.

The seat was quick and simple to do, but the seat back took longer as I was unable to remove a screw which kept the mechanism for adjusting the back on. It was pretty fiddly to have to cut the fabric and work round that.  I did manage to sort it all out so that it looked tidy, but then realised that there was a cover over the mechanism which hid it all anyway!

Never mind.  So, here is the unveiling of my office chair.  A bargain at a total cost of £5.50

Now all I need to do is master the new industrial sewing machine!

This next part has nothing to do with re-vamping office chairs, but I thought I would ask and see whether anyone could give me some information.

I have been trying to contact a shop called MIMI INTERIORS (which is a cabinet maker and also a small shop) located in Potter Street, Derby.  I just can't seem to get an answer when I telephone.  I know it is a long shot, but if anyone who reads the blogs knows whether they are still in business etc, please could you let me know.

Thanks!

 

A Day at the Beach

Today was Stephen's birthday and he had a rare day off work - which meant a day out for all of us.

I hadn't been to Tenby for so many years and we had never taken the boys there.  So in the name of reminiscing, that was our destination.

And it didn't disapoint.

From the pretty painted houses to the ones perched just above the beach.

 

After buying some new buckets and spades, there was no stopping them.

Plus some obligatory rock climbing

The only downside was that the tide came in rather quickly at about 4pm.

So we left the beach and headed into the town for blue (yes, blue) Mr Whippy ice creams and sticks of rock to take home.

You just can't beat a day at the beach can you?

Seduced

A chance comment by a friend led to the discovery of a Borders not too far from me.  With a Paperchase thrown in for good measure.  How could I resist?

Well, I couldn't.  Although I did err on the side of caution and ended up bringing this book home

I spent well over an hour in the shop, thumbing through all the craft/home books.  The photographs were beautifully staged, but there didn't seem to be anything fresh and innovative in them. 

What clinched this for me was a combination of the beautiful photographs and styling and the fact that there were ideas plus instructions on how to carry them out.

So instead of keeping it all to myself, I'll show you some of the highlights.

Such a simple but effective idea - and great ideas on how to use smaller scraps of fabrics.

Maybe a good idea for school fairs etc?

I have oilcloth on my table - but when your children doodle on it, it's not so wipe clean then!

 

My favourite: scanning in vintage fabric and then printing it to use for wrapping paper.