plump pudding

Belated Thank Yous

This is an overdue post.  Belated thank yous to people who have been kind enough to help me out etc.

Remember, I asked for a copy of the Daily Express last week, as my Washing Up Liquid Aprons were featured?  Well, Maxine was kind enough to send me a copy of the newspaper as well as one of her beautiful handmade cards.




And look what I received in the post from Claire after making her bunting.




These are even more adorable in real life - and they are for sake in her Etsty shop. 

After Maxine went to the trouble of posting me the Daily Express article, I am going to share it all with you.



I have to admit that I was a little disapointed that there is no mention of plump pudding anywhere.  But I am not very experienced in this field and did wonder whether I should feel disapointed or if it's just one of those things that happen in business.  But musn't grumble.

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.

Thrifty Goodness

After my clearout this week, I am pressing on with the clearing out.  Plus there always seems  to be something going on with the boys and school.


Tuesday and Wednesday evenings were the end of year school play: The Wizard of Oz.  And of course Ethan wore his tree costume.  My parents went the first night and brought the boys back home with them and I did my duty for the second night.




Whilst I do enjoy the plays, there is always an element of missing something as the boys go to a Welsh school and I don't speak Welsh.  My level of proficiency is enough for me to catch the jist of what they are saying - although there are parts that I just miss altogether.  Still that's the price I have to pay for not learning.

Last night was the last Youth Club for this term. Which meant a BBQ and a later finish for the children.  Keanan was in his party pooper mood and we watched How Clean is Your House whilst Ethan went out and enjoyed himself.

I am slowly making inroads into my sorting out of the studio and my lastest purchase is this vintage work basket.



It is a little grubby but the inside is all intact and not too bad.  I bought it with the intention of being able to  put a few sewing bits and bobs inside it when I need to take some sewing out and about with me.

My pear pincushion fits perfectly inside it.




Still on the pincushion theme, a pincushion in progress




Sarah from Pink Petal Designs   Liked my pear pincushion but I didn't have any of the blue wool felt left.  But I did have a large piece of this buttery yellow felt.  Which went perfectly with this vintage 1940s/1950s Sooty and Sweep fabric.

I need to finish this one up and show it to Sarah.  Let's hope she likes it.  Please mail me if you feel the need for a pincushion.  I can always put a few in the shop



This next part is for my friend Theresa who is convinced that the charity shops I go into, keep items back until I go in and then they put all the lovely items out for me!

I have had a beanbag order and needed to go and buy the fabric.  Killing two birds with one stone, I popped into a charity shop that sells furniture and bought myself a wardrobe for the studio - to be customised of course.  And in the charity shop opposite was this shelf.

The lady working explained that so many people had picked up the shelf, but were put off by it's distressed finish.  Which is EXACTLY what drew me to it.  Rather than inflict this on Stephen, it is destined for the studio.  But not before a lick of Laura Ashley's Eau de Nile eggshell paint.

More jobs to add to the To Do list.  Along with my wardrobe that is being delivered tomorrow.  Time to crack  open the paint.

 

  

My car boot sale was limited by the weather again.  No car boot sale on Saturday and a quick visit on Sunday to the handful of brave souls who set up their stalls.  On my list was a shelf for some of my buttons etc. 




It cost me 50p and after a quick sand and a colourwash, is just the right size for those essentials that need to be at hand.  I added a cuphook for these tiny little items




I had to buy a new hole punch for my labels as I couldn't find my old one (which was boring and black anyway).  Threading ribbon through them means that they can hang on the shelf and shouldn't get lost again.




This Cadburys Roses tin was also a car boot sale find which was full of buttons.  Do I really need more buttons?  but you never know what you might find in there.




Whilst on my way to buy some fabric last week, I stopped in a charity shop and found these flying ducks.  I know that they usually come in threes and that there are only two here, but I couldn't leave them in the shop. 




Rather than putting them somewhere conspicous that Stephen would spot, they are flying about the kitchen cupboards.  We are on Day 2 and they still haven't been spotted yet.  I wonder how long it will be before they are noticed and I can casually say that they have been there AGES ..............




As well as sewing for a wholesale order, I have been putting together some new ideas ready for a shop update that will be later this week.  Sneak peek above!

Nothing to show

It has been a funny few days, I just can't seem to get into the sewing groove, although I do need to.  I think I have kick started myself by tidying up the studio - only a small half an hour job, but it does seem to have made a difference.  I have a commission and that has been started and I have a sample to make up for a prospective retailer.

Although Ethan and I succumbed to Jane's  recipe for rock cakes.  They were all eaten by the end of the night and the boys were most dispointed to find that there weren't any left to take in their lunch boxes.



I think we may have to make them again this weekend.  And I really never through of myself as a rock cake person. 

But you know I never thought of myself as a YouTube kind of person either - until I was broswing the internet and came across this

The Sewing Room   How could you get bored of watching this?  Maybe she needs me to go round and tidy up a little!

Return Post

The weekend started with Ethan and the rest of the year sixes being collected after school and taken to the Millenium Centre, in Cardiff Bay for an evening and day with his new schoolmates and teacher.  This led to a very disgruntled and  bored Keanan who was moaning about the fact that there was mothing to do.  Of course I couldn't resist pointing out that he doesn't actually appreciate his brother when he is here, and maybe he ought to!




Bickering and squabbling was back to normal Saturday afternoon.  In the UK it was Father's Day on Sunday and we all went back down to the Millenium Centre in Cardiff Bay where there were graffiti artists and a dance off with breakdancers.  The boys loved it and we spent the afternoon wandering around watching it all.  I think Keanan came away with some moves in his head for later!




Do you remember my lavender sachet give away last week?  Sarah from Pink Petal Designs  won and promised a gift in return.  She was so quick off the mark and a parcel arrived Saturday.  In it were the little booties in the top photo and card and fabrics hearts with the handmade card.  As well as this delightful rolling pin



It now has pride of place in the kitchen.  Thanks Sarah!



I mentioned on Friday that Iam sorting through stock and having a clearance sale on some items.  There are still a few sets of dolls bedding left - although they are selling quickly.  Don't forget to pop over to the shop  and have a look as once they're gone, I shan't be making any more.



Still on a sorting mission, I am putting pencil rolls in the shop



They come in three colourways: fish print, chocolate brown cowboy print and Indian print which is in a lilac colourway and more suitable for a girl.



Like the dolls bedding these are limited in numbers and at a bargain price.  So please help me clear out some space and take a peek .

Gift

Look what I received in the post.  A beautiful brooch from Lisa at Primrose Hill Interiors . 




She was so helpful and generous with her hints on attending a CL Fair. Amd as these things happen, we have struck up a friendship. Such a lovely lady.



So what a lovely treat to receive this.  Thank you so much Lisa.  I shall be adding it to my outfit.

Another little treasure that dropped through my letter box is this pattern for sock monkeys.  I have wanted to make one for a while and won this on e-Bay at the weekend.  Maybe it'll spur me to to actually making one rather than just thinking about it.



Last night we all went up to Ethan's new secondary school to get him kitted out with his new uniform.  The school is very strict with the uniform which I totally agree with, but they have the monopoly on selling the uniform, as it isn't available at any of the uniform shops.  And the school will not allow any shops to stock it.




So there you have it.  £150 worth of school uniform.  And what exactly is in that pile?  Three polo shirts, a fleece, a sweat shirt, a games rugby shirt, a games t-shirt, games shorts and two pairs of sports socks.  No school shoes, games trainers or trousers.  Absolute extortion.  At this price, he had better not lose any of this and I wil be spending an evening sewing labels into every item of clothing.

Anyway, time for me to get down off my soap box and announce the prize draw winner.  The prize is one of my crazy patchwork lavender sachets



And the winner is



Sarah from Pink Petal Designs   Hope you like it!

Playing Hookey

After being so busy with my Open House and wholesale orders, I made en executive decision and had a day off yesterday.  Bliss.  First on my list was to take my sewing machine for a service as the poor thing has been working overtime lately and I wanted to pre-empt any problems. A quick visit to the bank and then I hit the charity shops.




And yes, it was all fabric.  So here is all it.  The above photograph is some vintage Laura Ashley fabric that is destined for shower caps.  Do people still wear shower caps?  Or am I barking up the wrong tree with this one?

The next lot is just for me.  A skirt I think:




And how could I resist this pile of vintage sheeting.  More clothing I think and after reading some of your comments, I am going to try my hand at making some smock tops for ladies




Here is is blowing on the washing line.  It came straight from the shop and straight onto the washing line.  I love clothes that have been dried on the line, they have that smell of fresh air about them




With some of the proceeds from my Open House I decided to invest in some storage boxes for all my products.




They are usually stored in boxes - just two large boxes rather than sorted into smaller ones.  The idea behind this thinking is that it should be easier to find items rather than looking through a big box, I can see straight away what is in each box. 




And of course, being slightly obssessive about these things mean that I have stored similar products in with each other.

And whilst I was in one of the charity shops I found these silver Ikea boxes which will be perfect for my ribbons and trims




And just in case you get the wrong impression of me sweeping about the charity shops all day. scooping up large amounts of fabric, I did have two specific items in mind




Ethan's year are putting on The Wizard of Oz for their end of year play.  And he is one of the tree that grabs Dorothy et al as they walk through the woods.  I am going to keep this as simple as possible and make leaves to sew on the polo neck.

Do you know I am sure that they keep the more challenging costumes for my boys as the teachers know I can sew!

Going Green

Sometime last week I write about the uproar about the Anya Hindmarch bags that were not quite as "green" as they were portrayed.  Which got me thinking.  And here is the result



How about this for stylish and green?  In terms of colour and for the environment.  This dishcloth is far more superior to those for sale in the supermarket and will last a lot longer too.




The  dishcloth has been handknitted and in the spirit of being kinder to the environment, the cotton although new and unused was thrifted.  A little bit of recycling going on there. 




And of course, just to complete the package, a pretty scrubbing brush wrapped up into a little parcel with red gingham ribbon.

Who says practical can't be pretty? 

So if you fancy being kinder to the environment and looking pretty damn good whilst doing it, pop over to here

A bit of this and a bit of that

This is going to be random post as that just about sums up my day today. 

Yesterday started with a list of things to do as long as your arm.  Thankfully they all ticked off.  The main bulk of the list involves me trying to organise an Open Day at my house within the next few weeks.  The plan is to deliver flyers all round the village, and then invite everyone and his wife!  Nothing too grand then!

I have mocked up my flyer.  The only thing holding me back is the terrifying thought that I might organise everything and no one will come!  That I will have opened my house, made cakes and tea for nothing.  This is your cue as readers to massage my ego and tell me all your (succesful) tales of open houses, hints and tips.




On a more positive note, these needlecases and pincushions were packed up and now sit ready to be posted to Lapin and Me  tomorrow.

If you haven't read Cherry's post and also  post, why not pop over and have a read.  They are about the Anya Hindmarch alternative to the carrier bag that was all over national TV etc.  It turns out that they are made in China where the worker's conditions are more than a little dubious.  Now why isn't that a surprise?

It also ties in with Claire's   rant about people not valuing handcrafted items and being seduced by so called "designer" items.  I for one, am definitely all for buying British.

And the best thing is that when you buy a plump pudding item, you can be sure that the worker (me) enjoyed making it and has fabulous working conditions with all mod cons!