Shoplifting, PR and Gardening(ish)

Intersting blog title ay?  Its been a very busy few weeks, as always.  Isnt family life just nuts? do you ever look back at your own mum when you were a child and think "oh I get it now", I do, then I find myself sounding exactly like her, sometimes its amusing, sometimes its rather horrifying!! Anyway, shoplifting.....trip to Tesco recently with 4 year old son, as usual he bounced around most of the store, I said his name at least 50 times, forgot lots of things but finally made it to the chekout, the only one free was right opposite a pick n mix.  Whilst destracted packing the shopping, son snuck over to the sweets and stuffed as many into his mouth as possible, I caught him on the second time around, Tesco caught him on the third....he had so many jammed into his mouth the dribble could not be contained, so as he was trying to say sorry, not only did saliva pour from his mouth like a waterfall, he managed to splutter half chewed sweets at the Tesco lady, who had, very nicely come down to his level. 

I hit apon a new idea too, photo transfer. After our little trip to Badbury Rings (see previous blog post) we took a lovely pic, my house is already full of photographs as it is, so I wanted to transfer it to a cushion.

After some failure,(NEVER use the glue stuff!) I finally managed to make myself this gorgeous cushion that now sits very happily on my kitchen barstool chair.  I love it. It was such a funny moment, setting up the auto pic on the camera and running back to squash everyone! 

Then I had another idea...Oh yes im full of 'em. I needed a present for my mums birthday, and whilst sitting on my kitchen chair and looking at the many pictures the children have drawn, I thought 'EUREKA' how about the kids draw a pic for grandma and I transfer to a cushion.  First attempt drawn with pencils was not so good, but second attempt with crayons was this rather lovely item.  My mum adores it! I adore it! Infact its now a range to the business as everyone adores the idea!  I do have a confession tho, I did direct the children in exactly what was required for such a cute pic. But looks great dosent it? £15? bargain!

Having now learnt photo and picture transfer I figured it was time to turn my hand to PR.  I dont want my business to be all about facebook, I dont think it is the direction I want to go. I genuinely feel I can offer something special to people, I WANT to do something special for people. I WANT to be different. Sooooo, PR! I totally and utterly revamped by website.  Have taken a lot of items OFF. redesigned, everything!  I certainly think it feels fresher and so much nicer www.thesewingcroft.co.uk   Then of course there is the blog, which I am still also working on revamping.  I have also sorted out my Folksy shop and listed lots of items on there, sorted out Etsy also.  In case you dont know, Folksy and Etsy are shopping sites for handcrafted, individual items. Stuff you wont find on the high street. Speaking of Not on the High Street.  I applied to there site, was knocked back. I am determined to make them regret that.  Next on my mission has been a press release, so I did one of those too, spent hours researching who to send it too.  I shall now wait for hoards of media moguls clambering to get the first editorial.

At long last I also have sewed all seeds in the vegetable garden - hooray! Roll on summer. Altho looking out the window at the hailstones pouring down, it seems a long way off.

Funny, with a blog, I put it off and put it off and then when I get started I cant stop! BUT I do have some work to do so I will blog off for now.

Zoe

Cushions, Cushions and MORE cushions!!

I suppose the title says it all,  I seem to be making lots of these type of cushions, pink gingham, red gingham. Applique hearts, personalised applique names.  They have been fairly popular on my facebook page, which is rather good. I do enjoy making them, bit of a variety with applique and bonding on, zig zag stitch, patching together.

I really think I need to do craft shows, problem is im not that keen, I just want to sew things for people.  I know what I do is good, im confident about the quality just need to sell much much more. 

First week of the holidays has disappeared so quickly! I did have a rather disasterous shopping trip to an Asda store, son bounced around the WHOLE time we were in there, and then every child he came across, he roared like a 'Dinosaur Mummy!', needless to say it felt like most of the aged population of that small town, was in that shop! tutting and trying to avoid tripping over said son, and of course the other mummies had perfectly lovely children, soooo well behaved!!! What do they do to them??? I spend ages pondering that one, I really do!  Not to mention, that other children always look so well kept!! My son had Ben 10 wellies on, dirty jeans and his pj top and his hair was just sticking up everywhere!  my daughter was wearing bright pink socks with front open shoes and jeans flapping above her ankles, AND her hair had been brushed since yesterday either! Im just naff.  Im a busy woman! thats my excuse and im def sticking to it.

We went to a place called Badbury Rings yesterday for a good friday picnic.  It was soooo lovely there! The children played up and down hills, climbed trees and we had a lovely picnic and some great laughs! Much needed, as husband back to the dreaded extension, trying to finish it! Another veeery long story, but in a nut shell my superDIY superdad husband has built an extension above our single story kitchen, its been hell, and I will NEVER do self build again! My husband on the other hand is already planning the next phase....... We shall see Mr Croft!!

Have a wonderful Easter everyone, we shall be hiding mini eggs all over the house as usual x

Zoe

Cornwall, Sewing and Designs

Hey everyone!! We have just had a wonderful week away in the North of Cornwall, scenery, weather and company were just perfect.  We found an amazing cove, that, when the tide went out revealed a huge hidden beach and caves. Stunning cliff walks too, altho, my poor 4 year old son could barely move without one of us shouting at him to STOP!!!!!  He CAN NOT be trusted, he has NO fear whatsoever! I think next time I shall just tie him to me, much less stressful.  Husband also suggested walking boots, am I really there yet I ask myself? Walking boots? perhaps one of those little sticks?? Please NO! Im not ready.                                                                                                                                    

Was lovely to be home again, started straight on the orders for the Croft, not masses but enough to make me feel happier about the way its going.  I also made up a dress for my daughters fav bear and a present for a good friends son. Very productive.  The website looking good, but NO sales as yet.  Should I admit that? Not sure.  Now it is the Easter holidays, it will be summer before we know it!  I have also been accepted onto a website WOW Thank You. Thought I would give it a try.

 Realised that I cant get away with doing NO marketing at all, no matter how good I think I am                              

Love Zoe                                                                                                    

 

Fairy doors, teeth and Sewing

Its been a week! Most exciting is my little girl who lost her first tooth, she is 7 and a little behind the other children so there was much excitement, and a little tear from me.  The tooth she lost was the first one that came through, I remember it like yesterday, we all do it, constantly pulling the lip down and showing everyone babies first tooth, and now its come out.  The tooth fairy made a visit with fairy dust leading from the fairy door in our house all the way into her room, and a shiny £2 coin was left.  She had written a note asking the tooth fairy if she could keep her tooth, which I was rather pleased about. What on earth we will do with it I dont know.  

At last the weather is lovely! The winter seems so long sometimes.  I should be sowing seeds rather than fabric, but cant seem to get motivated, no doubt I will just chuck aload into the ground and see what happens.  A carrott is a carrott no matter what the shape :-)

I have also started having some of my items on a wonderful new website www.homemadeinbritain.co.uk its fairly new and as a new venture myself, I want to support them fully.  Even tweeting Kirsty Allsopp about it.  Talking of tweeting, im addicted! I love it! my tag thingy is @thesewingcroft.  I have sold a few items, and am working on some union jack things, I know everyone will, but I am proud to be British and that is why I also want to make things. Not to be commercial, not even to make money, just to be part of the British made movement. 

Mothers Day

Its Mothers Day. Its lunchtime and im undressed and still in bed - with the laptop of course!  Husband wanted to go for a nice walk and picnic today, but do you know, all I want to do - is nothing! Have a slight champagne hangover - such a high roller (nah, just the only alcohol in the house last night!).

I have been tidying my blog, checking out other blogs, facebooking, tweeting and have applied to join pinterest, oh and have aded a few items to Folksy. Very productive really. 

Husband taken children out to get something for lunch, which he is going to 'cook', my eyebrows raise at this thought....Cook and my husband are not ever mentioned in the same sentence - EVER! and frankly, im happy with that.  His coffee making skills however, im not happy with :-)

I should be out planting seeds too, I am also a keen gardener, before my sewing obsession I was a cook and gardener.  I love to create with  my own homegrown, the Croft does give me a little allotment all to myself and presently it is looking awful! So, I need to stop sewing and start gardening. hhmmmm Tricky one!

My embroidered cushion - 'And then there were.....' has received lots of praise, which im very pleased about.  Right, I can hear screaming and shouting from my very excitable children so I must blog off!

Obsessed with Embroidary

OK so first im obsesssed with sewing and mending, then making, then fabrics, HUGE obsession with fabrics!  Then embroidery.  I love it.  I love that I can 'write' anything, it always looks so beautiful. I love that I could have my cushions in peoples homes.  I love my new design, ive named it 'and then there were.....' cushion.  Totally my idea, have searched the net and dont think there is anything with this exact concept.  Really pleased and absolutely love it in my old house :-)

Yay!! I CAN embroider

Very very very very pleased with myself, after researching, reading, thinking, rethinking and finally finding some time, I have learnt to embroider and applique.  So today, I made MYSELF a present, I love it, the kids are totally unimpressed, preferring to rub their snotty noses over me instead.

And here it is...............

Illness, marketing and sewing

Been ages since I blogged. Been actually feeling guilty, no idea why, not as if I have hundreds of followers :-)

Both kids been off one day or another with a nasty cold virus, mainly a high temp but its been hard going. Funny how you would happily give them a kidney but when it comes to being a personal slave, it all gets a bit much.  Today for instance, daughter home with a temp. son not at nursery, he had only been in once this week as it is.  Daughter is calling me into the living room just to look at her lip which is chapped, go back to kitchen, son calls me in to look at his thumb which is sore, back to kitchen, daughter calls me in, she is thirsty, son calls me in, he is hungry, and so it went on all day, inbetween me changing the sheets and making 2 headbands and a ballet bag.  Oh and 'networking' on facebook. 

I was very down in the dumps at the begining of the week, with little sales I was thinking that perhaps, altho I can def sew, and sew well, perhaps my style was just too 'old' or out of date.  I live so rurally and am very much a home body that knowing what goes on in the wider world becomes tricky. Weeks could go by before I even catch the news, let alone knowing what is going on in the world of fashion or furnishings.  I think leaving the city does that too.  Not much point in fashion when your knee high in mud and theres a tractor at every corner (damn them!).  I got myself out of the dumps by applying to go onto a new website - homemade in britain and they liked my things, made me feel much better.  I then sorted out the website, got my rear on Twitter and printed my leaflets, determined to thrust them at everyone who so much as glanced at me.  Then came the cold bug!!! So all I managed was a quick trip to the village shop, leaflet in hand, feeling like a total idiot. The post office lady (who is a little scary) pointed at a very small corkboard in a corner and I then had to put it up myself, trying not to cover anyone elses, whilst the p/o lady was glaring at me, I now understand what the expression 'eyes burning into your back' or whatever it is, means.  She pointed me in the direction of the village outside noticeboard, by the park she says, which happened to be a glass display cabinet type thing, I was convinced it would be locked.  Then I notice some woman watching me, I  prayed with all my might it would open, and thankfully - it did - phew!  I managed to escape my marketing campaign, without making a total idiot of myself and have barely left the house all week. Thankfully a couple of friends have dropped by. 

Decided I would offer a 10% discount on my website for all local peeps, after all, im hoping to get out to craft fairs and it raises my profile. Did anyone buy anything? Not saying!!!

Then theres Twitter, but thats another long story :-)

Zoe x

Yay its Friday!

Like everyone, im soooo glad its Friday.  Been such a long week this week. Altho I have had some rather major triumphs, the first was - I cleaned my kitchen....not the floor, that would be more than a triumph, that would be a miracle.    The second was my makes.  I have made 2 ipad cases and 3 cosmetic bags, really getting quick now at everything.  No sales as such.  Determined not to let this daunt me, I have been watching other crafters items on Ebay for a while now and they often have to relist several times before things sell.  I have only listed one item on Etsy and nothing on Folksy, just testing the various waters at the moment to see what works and what dosent.   Husband text to say he would be late, not an unusual occurence, so sneakily put the kids to bed for some alone time. Yesterday was World Book Day. Daughter went to school as an Indian Princess, she made up a book about an Indian Princess cause she just wanted to do the dress up, bless her.  Darling son stuck a pencil in my printer this mornng so I have to get that out somehow, was hoping to make some flyers for local places once I have a stock of things.  Anyway, here are a couple of things I made...

Have a great weekend all, lots a love Zoe p.s doing a giveaway on my FB page - go visit! x

A business woman

Im a business woman! Not making any money as such, but hey, im getting there.  Ive opened a new ebay account for the Sewing Croft http://myworld.ebay.co.uk/thesewingcroft and listed my items on there.  I am also mastering zips, not as difficult as I first thought and made this little bag

Im rather pleased that a good friend of mine, who is also a crafter - www.greenheartgifts.co.uk would like it so its all hers. Def going to make some more, they are very useful.  Ive also just finished this heart and keyring package

The Shoe Lovers heart & keyring on Ebay NOW!

Really want to get back to some other making rather than just hearts, but with  mothers day looming im hoping people will want my gifts.

Fingers crossed

Love Zoe x

A Website :-)

I have a website! Blow me down this sewing thing has really got out of control

www.thesewingcroft.co.uk

Love Zoe x

Sunshine, Sickness and Hangovers!

Its been a week since I last blogged and I have been so conscious about it.  I have been very busy with facebook.  I have been 'hiking' my likes.  Up until a week ago I had absolutely no idea what that was and im still trying to get to grips but whatever im doing must be ok as I now have 147 likes - woooooo! ;-)

Had a really good weekend, friends for dinner on saturday night, childless friends - soooo nice! I do love my parent friends but the problem with that is a house full of kids at 9 oclock at night, not always ideal. My friend thought it hilarious that to this day, I still am not exactly sure what time to pick up my daughter from school, I know its between 3.15 and 3.20 so I aim for 3.15 and cant go wrong, she thinks im the most scatty mum ever.  The night was full of much needed merriment....I then spent the whole of sunday with a rather awful hangover.  The weather in Wiltshire this weekend has been lush.  The children have played their hearts out in the garden, getting covered in mud, climbing the trees and shouting and screeching as much as possible.  Luckily, we dont really have any neighbours so they are very LOUD children! Rather useful not being overheard tho, I can shout as loud as I want too ;-)    Oh, just remembered, Sunday morning, up at 7am, stonking hangover, husband up at 9am (my choice to get up) within half an hour he was sick all over the passageway floor and had to be ushered off with a migraine.  Now, for those who dont know me, I really CAN NOT under ANY circumstances, 'do' sick.  I cleaned it up, after heaving so much the children thought I was ill, I cried, made the most peculiar noises to stop myself from heaving, something akin to child birth, not to mention what the wretching was doing to my bladder.  Anyway, I survived, the kids are in doubt how I feel about sickness and husband was fine by the afternoon. Today, is the usual housework day, which I skipped and sewed a new heart keyring and then  networking my FB page.  Come Dine with Me is now starting so time for me to be off. Lots a love, Zoe

A long day sewing!

I have been waiting for today for 2 weeks! Son was at nursery until half 3 so I had 6 hours - bliss! By 9 oclock this morning I was already feeling shattered with him.  Boisterous is just not the word! For instance... I am ashamed to admit that we were evicted from a childs soft play centre last weekend, I mean really! A childs soft play centre? Darling son was on a hitting frenzy of every boy he could try and get the attention off! He was play fighting, it just didnt occur to him they A, thought he was a baby B, was busy playing with their friends and C, didnt like being hit, no matter how playful.  The manager said very politely we should call it a day, mind you, we had been there over 3 hours.

Anyway!  Did all the usual boring household stuff yesterday so today was a solid sewing day.  I finished off the ipad case a friend asked me to do, then packaged and even could peel off a stamp from another envelope - thrifty ay? Promptly forgot to take a pic of the completed item, Sugar Honey Ice Tea!!! Altho not perfect, I was so pleased with the finished result, could kick myself. Def going to make up some more with a view to adding to the crofts stock.  Anyway, im sure she will send some pics when its received, I even handsewed her name into the inside front band, and used velcro - woooooo! lol 

Anyway, I then completed a childs high chair seat recover, was an interesting project as had ties to the sides and bottom and was a seat and back piece so shapes were odd, managed to do ok, have to wait and see what the 'customer' thinks (who is actually is a friend of a friend).  Just finished some fabric letters to hang on the wall as well.  Have had a few messages via facebook for the hanging hearts, which im pleased about. 

mothers day!

Went over to my mum today and showed her the hearts id just finished, she was impressed! No mean feat for my mother, she is a very veeeery good seamstress and my grandfather a Tailor. ANYWAY! She cam up with making up some items for mothers day. So, im off on a sewing marathon again. Took some much better pics of the hearts, opinions would be appreciated.

just finished and its half 12 at night!

Well, this sewing lark is completely and totally rediculous! Its half 12 at night and I have stayed up sewing! I started a project at 5 oclock and just completed, I couldnt put it down, bit like a good book. This is def def going to be sold, the whole thing is handsewn, and Im really very pleased with the stitching, I have then used copper wire to secure together with small beads inbetween the hearts, ive strung clear beads for the loop at the top.  I love this material, its a real kitchen heart, reminds me of my own actually.... Im off to bed soooo tired, but was so excited and pleased with this wanted to blog it to all the hundreds reading it :-)

cats, ipad cases and kids!

Hey all, have been sooo busy the last few days.  My facebook page has started to take off and have had some great project suggestions from it.   The entire weekend has been taken up with friends and their children and has been just the nicest weekend we have had in ages, and for the fkrst time we had people for dinner and I didnt cook from scratch!   Now its half term, and I must say not having to get up from the school run is just fantastic, I currently have kids running all over the croft, love it!
I have completed these projects.. an ipad case, a cat cushion, a drawstring bag and another dog bed recover! I love to handsew, I use templates to make things as perfect as possible, but my goodness, my fingers get sore!  I have lots of business ideas, ive been looking at Ebay and Etsy to see what sells, and some of my ideas are not being made by anyone, so desperate to get started and show you. in the meantime, these are the latest

Not enough hours...

There really are not enough hours in the day, not for the enjoyable stuff anyway, there are far, far too many for the boring and dreary stuff!  My mind is spinning with ideas for projects and making money.  My addiction is turning into a business, which I am sooo excited about.  Have also sourced my own labels!!! now from reading this you will have no idea how truly exciting I am finding this idea, put it this way, my already weakened bladder can hardly contain itself.
My  husband is bringing home some fabrics from an indian dressmaker, lovely fabric, but very thin and slippery and todate, have no idea what to do with it.  Ive also sorted out a facebook page, my little cottage business is turning into something real!  So, go find The Sewing Croft on facebook.  Love Zoe

Monday...Again!

Been really busy on the sewing front the last few days. Finished Sams swim bag and we took the children swimming on Friday, they were so happy with their little bags.  I have to admit I hate swimming these days! I think 7 years of crawling around on my knees in luke warm water with other screaming and splashing children, has finally got too much! Why is it, that every time a child swims away they make the biggest splash? I hasten to add this is usually in the direction of my face.   I have splashing in face issues at the best of times. I finished this over the weekend too, love it.

Anyway, I brought a easy peasy childs dress pattern, like major simple, any idiot could do it..... cutting out was ok, no problems there, then it all went a bit 'south'.  Didnt realise had to cut the pattern on the fold, so redid that. Then came mention of fusable interface, whats the hell is that? Basically, the iron on wonderweb stuff, to stop the fabric from warping, I have since discovered. So, project has been left for the time being. Altho, I now know how to put in zips - woohoo! Oh and the other problem? Cut out pattern for a 7 year old and its sooooo short! I then flitted to some curtains a friend gave me and am much more impressed with the final results, cushions and a hanging decorative thingy. These def going to the sell pile. What do you think?

Oh no its Thursday!

Thursday is my least fav day of the week. Both kids go to gym club, so I pick one up from school and go straight there. Were there for 2 hours because they have an hour each but one does 4-5 and the other 5-6pm. Keeping the boy out of mischeif is the usual stress. The last few weeks I have been taking sewing. At least that way I can avod talking to people I dont want to!

I have also just completed my first 'commission', had to recover a huge dogs bed, not very exciting but actually turned out very well, I think.  Wasnt sure when I gave it back if they were pleased or horrified! So instead of payment, this time at least, I just charged a good bottle of wine. Altho, took me several hours of unpicking, repairing and double sewing so the dog cant destroy it. Trust me, forgot to take a picture!  My daugters birthday tomorrow and we are taking her to her fav swimming place, its an hour away so always feels like a treat.  Im also having to quickly make a swim bag for son as made one for my daughter and not him! So, better get my rear in gear and get sewing.  Love Zoe

todays make

I have just finished these gorgeous cushions.  Really love them and def my best yet. Im thinking of selling them and can make more. Makes me nervous, what if they dont sell? What if no one likes them? What if they do sell and then the buyer isnt happy?

Anyway,  I brought the fabric 2 days ago and am also making a tote bag as well. My aim is to recoup the cost of the fabric and Im going to let my facebook friends on The Sewing Crofts group page tell me what they are willing to pay.  Mondays I usually always have a good tidy up after the weekend, but today all I have done is sew. The sewing croft is looking mighty messy these days, do me the world of good, im always sooooo  obsessed with tidying! I did however do the shopping and I brougt myself an indulgent treat - a pot noodle!! I love them but tend to not have much processed food in the house, im an everything from scratch cook, and rather good at it, altho again, sewing has taken over! Anyhow, im off for my processed food treat, if you do read this. Leave a comment, would love to hear from people, Zoe x