say hello to Cyril

This is Cyril the Seagull

He was knitted for me by John's Mum and the plinth was made by John's Dad.  He is the best Christmas present ever!  He has been moved around the workshop whilst I re-arranged everything but he likes it best in his official new home in the office, by the window - I think he's looking for a girlfriend...there's potential girlfriend material on the roof outside and he's been staring out of that window for ages!!

New Year News

The move is off - my offer has been withdrawn  and that lovely big workshop space I showed you just before Christmas is not going to be full of felt!
The past few weeks have been a moving/not moving roller coaster - I've had numerous phone conversations and swapped many emails with my solicitor, the potential landlord, the estate agent, John (John is the best!) and anyone else who would listen to me!!...oh and I even read about some bits in the local paper!
I won't bore you with the (very many) details but the possibility of another flood from the restaurant above involving water and/or maybe not, no one will tell me for sure, sewage and fat deposits, along with the many responsibilities involved in the lease (and the ensuing costs that may, may not incur, but could very well put me out of business) helped me to decide to withdraw.
I have been disappointed but these things happen for a reason so I won't dwell - in fact I have already made some positive changes and now I know I am staying where I am for a good while I decided it was time to make this workshop work better ... cue lots of pictures ::
Office & making room before - 

 - and now it's Office and packing room (look the sun came out specially for these pics!)!

 the Old packing room is now my making room ... it's still in a bit of a jumble but it's workable - and will be finished asap :

 So in the end I got a whole 'new' workshop without moving, and I learnt a lot of lease/estate agent/solicitor stuff which will probably come in handy one day :-)

New Year Sale

Everything is back to normal here after the holidays - after a manic day packing parcels we are all up to date again - if you ordered whilst we were having a break your parcel should be with you tomorrow, or the next day, depending on the postmen (for UK orders, it'll be a little bit longer for overseas). 
I've put some Christmas items in the sale on my website - lots of ribbon gift packs and my Christmas papers and Cards - they have sold well enough , but I think I bought too many (and took too long putting them on the website when they arrived!) so please grab some bargains whilst you can - just click the pictures to see them on the website (or click here to see the entire sale section)::

2012

a whole year in one blog post ::
January
the year started with a workshop move around - and a new dedicated packing room

February
I registered for VAT

and launched two new kits - 

March
I launched my new website

made a LOT of bunting for John Lewis displays

and started selling fabric

April
I cut out trillions of flowers for my new sew your own flower packs

added new colourways to all my handmade items

and bought red drawers to hold all them all

May
saw the launch of The Stitching Sheds' new cross stitch kits containing my felt embellishments

a new tutorial for Jubilee Bunting

and a special order for bird brooches for a hen party

June
was holiday time - a week in Jersey with John
I added polka dot button mix bags to my shop

and moved half my workshop into  a new workshop space round the corner, dedicated to all things Kit making

July
was toothache month - culminating in root canal - OUCH
The RSPB started stocking my Woodland Friends Kit and a new, exclusive to them kit, Garden Friends

 I tidied the stock room (I do that a lot)

and I made a swimming pool for a baby seagull when it was really really hot on the roof

August
saw the launch of many new items & a freebie extravaganza to celebrate
lots of new kits, including the new sized Mini Kits

a new loyalty card was designed & printed & a new free gift was launched

AND after the biggest felt delivery ever my new 40% wool premium felt was launched !

September
said goodbye to the old rattly window and a big hello to the new draught proof easily open-able window

and I bought some new drawers (more drawers!)

October
 started with a mini holiday to Bridport for my birthday

and then it got really busy - many mini rolls were purchased (this is one day of orders worth)

the hand sewing orders were coming in thick and fast

the parcel sacks were getting too big to carry

and I made Christmas bunting for John Lewis!

November
was the busiest month for making kits - this is one order on it's way out

my new polka dot felt was launched

I stopped taking orders for handmade because the kits were taking over

and Royal Mail started to collect my parcels for me

December
the kit making carried on in earnest

I did a mini stock take because the website went a bit wonky

I started making handmade again

and Christmas orders and parcel packing continued to keep me very busy indeed

 

phew-ee, what a year!

goodbye 2012 - and a great big hello to 2013, let's hope it's a good one :-)