Gah! So... my hubby and I spent all of yesterday afternoon and evening literally manning the pumps to try and stay ahead of the flood of water coming into the downstairs part of the house which, sadly, is where my sewing room resides. Even with two pumps going it was coming in faster than we could get rid of it. I managed to get all the perishable items off the floor in time and we've had this happen to a lesser degree before so I already had most of the beloved fabric and yarn stash in (many) plastic storage containers. Sadly there are a few nice pieces of vintage furniture that were too heavy to move in time so I am waiting to see if the wood (mostly cedar) dries out effectively.
So while downstairs is drying out I have carried the stash and whatever I could shift up the stairs and Teapot and Snail is camping out in the sun room upstairs. There isn't much space for making things up here so I am using this opportunity to write a pattern for my 2 cup version of the Espresso Express coffee carrier. With any luck I'll have that out and ready to purchase by the middle of next week. Providing the heavens don't open up again and keep me down in the basement on pump duty. ;)
Thursday, 20 February 2014
Wednesday, 19 February 2014
Tying up loose ends
Hi there everyone!
Goodness, it's been awfully quiet from me over the last five years. My main focus has been on my daughter and sewing and creating patterns has had to take a back seat for that time. But my big grownup girl (as she is now) has recently started school, and Mum is back in business!
We've just had a couple of weeks breaking ourselves in to the new routine. I'm so impressed at how confidently she's taking on her new role and that's really allowed me to free up my mind to focus on my own work. I've come downstairs to the dungeon of my poor neglected sewing room to begin afresh and the first things I've noticed are that:
a) this poor room needs a major makeover and
b) the shop itself could do with a makeover too.
So out with the paintbrush and off to the local fabric store for some fab new curtains. That will sort out a). I am not brave enough to show you the before picture just yet - it's that bad. Wait till I have finished the room and then I will share the before and after shots together. I am so inspired by people like Anna from Noodlehead. She has just made her sewing space over and it looks so organised and clean and clear. Just what I need.
Sorting out b) may take a bit more doing! First of all I want to sell a few of the handmade items I have finished but haven't had time to put up - so they are up now.
When that's done I will be doing a bit of rebranding. I don't feel like the current shopfront really represents my shop or me at all. It does have a history though. Originally, back in '07 I had the intention of selling handmade children's clothes and somewhere along the line that shifted - first I found myself making women's bags, and then the sewing patterns came along. That's really where I find myself now. I love the challenge of pattern making and I love that it means I am always making something new. I find it so hard to be making the same thing over and over with all these new ideas piling up in my head. Time to set them free I think. And once those loose ends are sorted I will be onto some of the new patterns I am currently writing.
Just as I finish writing this I am starting to panic the teensiest bit. We are having a huge flash storm and the sewing room has started to flood. I can literally hear the water bubbling up under the carpet. I think nature might be doing the job of redecorating for me. Wish me luck :(
Goodness, it's been awfully quiet from me over the last five years. My main focus has been on my daughter and sewing and creating patterns has had to take a back seat for that time. But my big grownup girl (as she is now) has recently started school, and Mum is back in business!
We've just had a couple of weeks breaking ourselves in to the new routine. I'm so impressed at how confidently she's taking on her new role and that's really allowed me to free up my mind to focus on my own work. I've come downstairs to the dungeon of my poor neglected sewing room to begin afresh and the first things I've noticed are that:
a) this poor room needs a major makeover and
b) the shop itself could do with a makeover too.
So out with the paintbrush and off to the local fabric store for some fab new curtains. That will sort out a). I am not brave enough to show you the before picture just yet - it's that bad. Wait till I have finished the room and then I will share the before and after shots together. I am so inspired by people like Anna from Noodlehead. She has just made her sewing space over and it looks so organised and clean and clear. Just what I need.
Sorting out b) may take a bit more doing! First of all I want to sell a few of the handmade items I have finished but haven't had time to put up - so they are up now.
When that's done I will be doing a bit of rebranding. I don't feel like the current shopfront really represents my shop or me at all. It does have a history though. Originally, back in '07 I had the intention of selling handmade children's clothes and somewhere along the line that shifted - first I found myself making women's bags, and then the sewing patterns came along. That's really where I find myself now. I love the challenge of pattern making and I love that it means I am always making something new. I find it so hard to be making the same thing over and over with all these new ideas piling up in my head. Time to set them free I think. And once those loose ends are sorted I will be onto some of the new patterns I am currently writing.
Just as I finish writing this I am starting to panic the teensiest bit. We are having a huge flash storm and the sewing room has started to flood. I can literally hear the water bubbling up under the carpet. I think nature might be doing the job of redecorating for me. Wish me luck :(
Wednesday, 26 June 2013
Pattern making
Loving this blog. So inspiring - wish I could go back to sewing school and learn how to grade patterns for clothing. http://sampleroom.wordpress.com/
Sunday, 26 May 2013
It's a knit in!
...and quite an impromptu one. Dropped into a cafe in Bungendore on a Sunday drive to Braid wood and a bunch of locals were having a stitch n bitch sesh. The dress I'm knitting for my daughter is sitting in the car at the ready...
Thursday, 23 May 2013
Local treasures
I've just made my first treasury list on Etsy. Beautiful things are being made in Canberra Australia and here are just a few.
Thursday, 16 May 2013
The one thing I can't do
...in terms of craft that is! Why is it I can turn my hand to any craft but crochet? I just can't do it after years of trying over and over I have given up. And then I find this most awesome pattern. Gah!!!
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Upload complete!
Teapot and Snail has gone digital! All patterns are now available for instant digital download on Etsy. That means if you have a sudden urge to sew something new in the middle of the night, you can!
As soon as you have clicked Add to Cart and your payment has gone through, Etsy gives you a button to click. You can get your pattern instructions and pieces to print out right then and there. It's going to be great for my overseas customers (no more waiting for the Aussie working day to start) and for anyone who's been caught out and remembered a birthday the night before!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)