goodbyes.

after much heavy lifting the old workshop now looks like this ::
by 9.30am the van looked like this ::

Goodbye lovely old workshop and even lovelier old door ::

A lot of time was spent today carrying way too many heavy things today...John was a superstar removal guy and I truly couldn't have done it with out him...we're both absolutely knackered and enjoying a lazy evening with beer (john) and wine (me) and in a mo I'm about to crack open a wickedly chocolatey Waitrose Mississippi Mud Pie, well, we deserve it!

The fabric?

that's what I bought whilst shopping with my sister and niece...check out what they got on my sister's blog.

IKEA!

Today was Ikea day...the big yellow truck arrived at 11am and after a little light *ahem* carrying I had a very familiar pile of brown boxes
I made a Billy and then started my own little Ikea production line ::
which fairly quickly turned into this row of shelves ::

next up was a matching pair for a unit I have already ::
the biggest task was a unit which will be storage for felt squares...I can't wait to fill it!
oh, and fabric shopping yesterday was FAB, photos of purchases tomorrow!
The van is booked for tomorrow and we're making a start at 8.30am so I should get a lot done ...I'll keep you updated ;-)

phew!

almost everything is moved!

all the shelves are emptied

the machines have had the cottons removed and are all ready to go

that box is full of empty boxes (for packing orders) the blue bag has 'kitchen' items and on the table is my box of DIY items...for last minute necessities

the only bit of colour left is this box of felt bolts...it wouldn't fit in the car so it's waiting for a lift tomorrow.....

Today was the first of 5 days off work, and I've got a lot planned ::

Tonight John is cooking a roast and we've decided to spend Valentine's evening at home relaxing.

(I'm sure they'll be a little hand sewing too!)

Tomorrow I'm off to see my sister and go fabric shopping

Tuesday the Ikea truck is coming so I'll be making furniture

Wednesday the hire van will be moving all the furniture and machines from the old workshop (but John and I will be carrying them up the stairs!!)

Thursday I will be unpacking and arranging my new workshop :-)

halfway

it's looking rather empty and sad!

there's still quite a bit to move....the packing table hasn't been packed yet and is still fully operational ::

as is the 'shop' ... they'll be the last things to pack and the first to set up

after work I'm going to the new workshop, armed with a hoover, so the Move In will start tonight!

listed

the big move is in the Limbo stage......the old workshop is looking VERY empty (it looks so sad) but so is the new workshop!...all my lovingly packed boxes are in the hallway outside my new workshop because I want to hoover & clean before I move in properly, but more importantly I want to move everything whilst the weather is dry....I'm still working the day job today & tomorrow but then I have loads of days off to get this move finished (plus a day off to visit my sister and go fabric shopping!)....I am so looking forward to the stage where I get to arrange everything on shelves!

I did manage to list all the sewing thread yesterday...I've added it to the felt page

and this morning I'm ordering a whole new load of felt, hopefully it'll be timed perfectly to arrive when there are shelves to put it on!!

3d swatches!

the sun was out today so I thought I'd make the most of it and photograph my sewing threads

it was great fun ... possibly it seemed like more fun that it was because I was putting off packing & moving boxes!

but by 1.30pm I had wrapped and packed all my orders (and freebies too!) taken loads of photos and been to the Post Office...

...but once I'd started packing and moving it wasn't too bad....I've moved three car loads so far, only the furniture, stock & sewing machines to go!! (John's helping me with that!)

The thread will be on the website tomorrow...I'll let you know when!

By the way if I ever mention moving workshops again can someone remember to tell me not to get one with a flight of 20 steep stairs please?

oooohhhhhh

Remember a while ago I was telling you about lots of lovely new goodies I had ordered for the shop? Well that swatch card up there (which is only a photo of half of it!) helped me with my next stock mission ::

reels of cotton...45 different colours...one in every single colour of felt that I sell & use

I've labelled the boxes & hopefully I'll get the chance to photograph & list them in the shop tomorrow...I'll be sure to let you know when they are there...first of all though I have to tackle my email mountain!

I got the keys!

I was up bright and early this morning so I could get the keys and go to my new workshop and take some photos, I managed it and was even a teeny tiny bit early for work at the day job!

So.....here we are.....this is looking through the door into the right hand room ::

(the stuff isn't mine, it'll be gone by Wednesday)

this is a fancy landscape photo ::

this room measures about 6m x 3.5m....see those windows on the left hand side???

they look through into my left hand room :-)

with BIG windows to let the sunshine in

both of the rooms are really really bright and airy...even though today was a very grey day full of sleet and snow!

the left hand room is going to be my making room, and the right hand room will be my stock room and picking & packing area....

I've booked four days off work next week and will be all moved in by Thursday 18th February ... I am being *super* organised and have written lots of lists and drawn sketches of the layout so I can move in without too much disruption....hopefully it'll all go to plan :-)

winners announced

thank you to everyone who entered the freebie draw....it is truly lovely to read all your comments.
As always I have used the random number generator gadget to pick my winners ::


1. comment number 158
Vintage-colours who said :: I love to look at your blog! So much inspiration...And at the last moment I want to join to the wonderful give-away. greetz,Jedidja (Belgium)vintage-colours@hotmail.com
2. comment number 17
ClaireP who said ::
LOVE-ly prizes as usual Sarah! ;)xx
3. comment number 105
smilernpb who said :: Oooh lovely.Please enter me too.Best wishes x
4. comment number 107
Rachael who said ::
The heart magnets are lovely!
5. comment number 55
trasha who said :: Think the world could do with a bit more love - these hearts are perfct.

I will send an email to the winners with details on how to claim their prizes :-)

I've been busy sewing today, finishing an order for 24 cupcakes which I have packed into some of my new packaging ::

gloriously glossy white boxes



I've ordered loads of new packaging items but haven't unpacked them yet because (drum roll please!) I am moving workshops!!

I've now completed the paperwork and handed in my notice to my current landlord so it's time to spill the beans here!....I've been busting to tell you but didn't want to jinx it :-)
I've been in my current workshop for 9 months and I still love it, but this new workshop is a nice price and it's twice the size of the current place...plus it's closer to home, work & the Post Office ...I'll be able to go there before AND after work at the day job and it will mean lots more time freed up so I can sew, sew, sew!!
I'm picking up the keys tomorrow so will take some photos to show you...at the moment it's being used for storage so the photos won't be pretty!
I told you it was exciting news didn't I????


EDITED MONDAY 8th FEBRUARY
I have emailed 3 winners, the other 2 are not contactable...Rachael and Trasha (sorry Trash, don't think it's you ) if you click the names in the winners list it links to their profiles, so if anyone knows them and can tell them they have won please pass on the news...if I haven't made contact with them by Wednesday I will pick 2 new winners...watch this space!

February Freebie 2010

It's freebie day...hurrah!

.....since February 2007 I have held a Freebie Day on my blog.
The freebie is announced on the first Thursday of every month and prizes differ every time, sometimes they are handmade goodies, sometimes supplies for making your own.

This month is my two-year-freebie-anniversary.... I have split my celebration into two BIG freebies (one happened in January...this is part two). Last month I included freebie gifts in packages I sent out from my shops, and this month winners will be picked from comments left on this blog ... and there are 5 packages of handmade-by-me freebies up for grabs!

1st name picked from the hat will win ::

a big pink squishy heart cushion and a pack of iron on fabric hearts

the next 4 names drawn will win a hand sewn heart magnet and a pack of heart iron ons ::

heart magnets...

fabric heart iron-ons...

To enter

:: simply leave a comment on this post and on Sunday 7th February I will close the draw and pick the winners out of the hat...

rules

:: only ONE comment per person...I will delete any extra comments
:: I MUST be able to contact you via your comment

:: free worldwide postage so everyone from everywhere can enter

I hope you like the valentine inspired prizes and enjoy my freebie-extravaganza-part II

keeping busy

as you may have guessed from yesterdays cryptic post things are changing round here (it's all good so far!) and I should be able to spill the beans this weekend...so today to keep my mind off the new and exciting things I kept very busy...

printing, cutting & folding thank you cards

counting and checking my latest delivery of findings....2000 each of small & large brooch bars and 2000 more split rings (I didn't count every single one!)....split rings are now available in packs of 10 (for 50p) and packs of 50...packs of 50 cost just £2.25 which is an even better bargain!

I've also been sewing up a storm ready for tomorrows freebie so maybe I'll see you here tomorrow?

whirlwind

ooooooh exciting things are happening around here, but nothing that I can actually talk about because they are all maybe-nearly things and it feels like if I talk about them then they won't happen SO I'll show you my owls in the making instead.

Whenever all the maybe-nearly things get a bit too exciting I have to sit and sew and I can think better then....it doesn't matter what the sewing is but the more I do the less whirlwind-y I feel!
.......don't forget to come back for Freebie day on Thursday...I've been drawing and planning and chopping...I'm hoping you'll enjoy it as much as me :-)