2014 will be a year of Thrift.

After my family have had a wonderful Christmas 2013.

We spent lots of time reflecting on the most amazing time we all had at the Festival of thrift, that we decided to really put some thought and effort into our Christmas celebrations.

All gifts had to be charity bought, home made, bought at reduced prices etc. It made each of us realize just how much you can be swept up into panic buying, thinking you "have to buy some thing". 

Each and every item we gave and received was thrifty. 

My favorite were to books, one knitting book from the 80's and a craft book from the 70's. 

My children and husband were more than up for the challenge, sourcing their gifts in the same way and when the opened theirs, they were thrilled. Myson received    play station 1, going 'old skool' with gaming! And my daughter received a vintage sewing machine and everything you need to sew. 

It has been such an amazing experience that we have decided as a family to make 2014 a 'Year of Thrift' with everything being bought in the same way...so if we need a new toaster for example, we will haverk think about how/where to get it! 

Life for Drawn Threads has changed for ever...and I love it!

The last two months since I finally moved into my 'still new' studio have been the most wonderful, crazy, busy and without a doubt, the best business decision I made! 

Not only is it so important for us creative folk to have a base but I feel that one away from home helps with productivity and professionalism. To have a premises shows clients and customers that it is a strong business, moving in the right direction. 

I loved working from home, but the knock on effect the studio has given me is HUGE!

And I now no longer have to take my workshops to different venues, the lovely crafters come to us. The days of taking all the equipment to deliver a workshop can be excusing! And it's means that I can put on as many workshops or course as I can fit it.

Having had the pleasure to have decorated the Festival of Thrift camper can with Becky Sunter was incredible! And doing the Festival of thrift, mind blowing! And all wouldn't have happens without being based at Lingfield Point!

 

And it put the business's firmly in the right direction  

My vintage sewing machine are my 'girls'!

I love my vintage sewing machines-really! I'm in love with them. 

They are my girls (or technically old ladies) and they all have names. 

I was recently given a vintage Singer 'Feather Weight' 221 (1950's) by my mother-in-Law and she is stunningly beautiful, both to look at and use. Her name is Stella, with beautiful black body work and a motor that purrs like a kitten. 

My next favorite is Singer 285 (1957) why was coined as 'Singers worse machine' as it makes an awful banging noise when sewing-but I disagree! She is incredibly powerful, a great work horse and love using her! And her name is Gladys.

I also recently purchase a vintage New Home (1960's) called Daisy-but don't know to much about her yet. She was owned by a lovely old lady who recently went to live in a care home, and I promised to take very good care of her.

She also had  a very old Singer hand crank machine and it was so hard to pass her up-Edith needs some love and attention but will be beautiful again soon and she really is a gem.

There is nothing finer than the sound of a vintage sewing machine, and to make a garment from one is pure heaven! 

Sewing classes at my new workshop

I'm so excited-I've got a new workshop. It's at the vibrant and extremely creative Lingfield point, Darlington. 

I feel I have to keep pinching myself at being so lucky and enjoying my job-my business. 

And as such my creativity has gone through the roof! 

I have moved In to the same building as Tabby Textiles, owned by Becky Sunter and I simple cant can't to bounce creative ideas off her.

Lingfield has a long history with the sewing trade as Patton Baldwins and Coats were based there in yester-year.

And with the new studio will come the  workshops to teach sewing skills from beginner level to advanced sewers.

The first of many workshops is 

Patchwork & Quilting-held at Unit 21f, Lingfield point, Darlington. 

Beginning on Wednesday 11th sept 10.00-12.00 for 5 weeks. 

The course will be £65, with all equipment provided and all you will need to bring is a few fat quarters, yourself and a sewing machine if you have one. 

And of course the all important tea and bikkies will be provided through out. 

Places going fast so book your place early to avoid disappointment. 

To book you can contact me on the DrawnThreads FaceBook page or my email address-DrawnThreads.uk@gmail.com

   

Hope to see you there, Sarah.

https://m.facebook.com/Drawnthreadsdesign?__user=645206636

Research and how the craft kits began

When launching the craft kits both for adult of children I have always done research first. 

Back In the beginning, I spent a good long time looking at both locally and nationally at the gaps in the craft market and what would be possible to achieve. I trained as a designer as this training allowed me to look objectively at every angle, at the positive and the negative, the good idea from the bad and develop something unique.

I surveyed customers and parents asking what sort of craft kits they would like.

Very quickly the answers that were coming back were, they didn't want the 'quick fix' kits that offered the promise of "keeping the kids quiet" they wanted something that their children would learn a skill, a kit that offered value for money, and something they could do it with them-promoting communication skills.

 

With this gap in the market and the 'quick fix' kits being 10-a-penny, I began developing something that would teach a skill, so that children and adults would be able to use in other projects but also offered quality and value for money.

I was keen not to develop something that contained pre-printed sheets for colouring, they not only didn't stretch the children & doesn't give anything developmentally but don't allow children and adult to  develop on them selves, with their own individuality and flair.

Having done extensive training over the last 10 years in child development, I was able to use those skills in producing something that would stand the test of time as well as the discerning eye of parent. 

Drawn Threads most popular kits are the mice, pin cushion and vintage apron (mums love to make these!) and they offer all that parents wanted and as such I have many returning customer, many new customers from recommendations and reviews that I'm very proud of and shows a proof positive that what I'm doing....I'm doing right. 

And I'm very pleased to say-its not just for the good of the business, it's for the good of a quality product that kids and adults will take away with them.

 

A place for everything and everything in its place.

I can't help it, I make no apology...I'm super tidy! 

I was like it as a kid to my parents joy. 

Years of design training and working in design studios taught me, a tidy space is a productive space and messy work area doesn't look professional to the prospective customer. 

It's rare I find a messy designer, we are inherently tidy-even down to how we put designs on a page and produces a successful designer. And this is why a lot of us chose this profession in the first place, liking a clean way of working over clutter & clean design on a page. Go into any design studio even today and you'll be lucky to find any mess at all. 

Everything in my work room has a 'place' including the smallest things such as a thread box.

 At the end of the working day I always ALWAYS tidy up, write my post it notes for the next day and leave the room how I want to see it when I walk back in. It's one of my hard and fast rule and is definitely works for me as far as productivity and efficiency.

If my work space was messy, I would be completely distracted.

I do have to confess that I am the same in the rest if my house too! 

It is tidied every evening, kitchen scrubbed and 'ready' for what ever is thrown at it the next day.

New products for the Festival of Thrift.

In September Darlington are hosting the Festival of Thrift and I'm so excited to be going, and as such have re-launched some of the more popular Eco-kits that were big sellers last summer. 

The most popular was the table mat kit but this time I have sourced some super Eco-cotton 'yarn'. 

Having these Eco credentials is hugely important to me from the raw material to the packaging and everything is always sustainably sourced. 

The 'Plait a mat' kit lends it self perfectly to many types of fabric and is good to teach differ t skills for children such as hand eye coordination for the playing as well as teaching skill like sewing to all. 

Everything is in the kit to begin and have lots of fun making....and best of all, you can continue enjoying the when it is made, with every drink that it put upon them.

Look out for them, along with the relaunched Eco-bag kit on Etsy and at the Festival of Thrift where I'll also be doing mini workshops in making. 

Making new stock items

I've been to quite a number of fayres and market a over the last 6 weeks and now the busy summer season of events is here, my work load is full on to say the least! 

Why with commissions and re-making stock, I never seam to have enough hours In the day. But during my coffee break yesterday I whipped up a couple if box cushions for me breakfast room in the most delightful Cath kidston fabric

Once made, I then resumed to make a new line for summer, floral wallets and purses for little girls (and big girls too!) and camouflage for the boy (and big boys if they so fancy too!) They come in both right or left handed zips (to have the zip the other way around can really makes a difference to young left handed children).

I was asked a few week back to make one and the customer was so happy she asked for another...so hence the new line.

More items going into shops in the North East.

I'm off to Stockton tomorrow to deliver stock to an established north east business that is flinging open their doors to the public on Saturday. This will be their second shop that Make Scents have and the gossip about the wonderful bath products they sell, is gathering speed.

I have a number of items to be placed on their shelves-The ever popular Mice Kits, Corsage Flower Kits and the Rainy Day kits. 

As always you can purchase Drawn Threads items on Etsy. http://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawnThreads

 

You can follow Make Scents on facebook https://m.facebook.com/#!/events/281597811986811?__user=645206636

I've been receiving lots if commissions

I have missed blogging but over the last few months I have been inundated with craft commission for weddings, birthdays and very special people and just didn't have the time. 

I am currently working on a wedding cushion commission that tells the story of how they met etc. 

I've recently made a felt bride and groom, the lovely lady is pregnant so this is reflected and the groom went through a few reconstructions as he has shorter hair than I originally made.

It's so lovely to receive commissions for such personal days, and I'm very aware that I have a huge responsibility to make them 'just right' for them. 

Some new kits on the etsy shelves

Oh dear I've had no time to write any blog over the last month. What with a number if commission, fayres and work on my plate, some thing had I give and that was blogging.
I have been developing a number if old kits from last year and also new kits.

One that I've been think of for quite a while was a four leaf clover kit-where you can purchase it for a gift, make it for some one to bring them good luck or for them to make it them self.

You can get any of the kits from the Darlington Sunday People's Market on the first Sunday of every month, or you can purchase from my Etsy shop

http://www.etsy.com/shop/DrawnThreads

Get creative and enjoy!

Photo dying fabric

Today I've been 'playing' with photo dye liquid.
It's called Inkodye and transfers an image from a cut out or negative on to a surface such as fabrics.
I unfortunately ran out of acetate so decided to use a stencil.
This proved effective and for a first try I'm very happy. Tomorrow I'll be printing photo images on to th said acetate and making photo images for the kids...And customers next, wishing to have a photo image printed on to fabric!
Let the fun continue!

Keeping fingers busy

Over the past few weeks I've had an awful flu bug-the worst thing for me when Im poorly is feeling frustrated from doing nothing or lying in bed! I dislike doing nothing and I'm not a big TV watcher so decided to get out crochet hooks and some lovely merino wool yarn .
But what to do....? Something I haven't made in many many years are granny squares!
I decided to make a blanket with them, to snoodle up with on those chilly spring evenings that I hope won't be to far round the corner.

Re-use, re-make and recycle

Today I wanted to do some sewing that wasn't 'work' but would be relaxing.
As I'll soon be doing a 'make do & mend' workshop-I have been playing with ideas of what to re-make, re-use or recycle.

I needed some new cleaning cloths for thekitchen so decided to re-cycle an old towel in to them.

I cut into the right size, sewed ribbon all the way around the edge then turned it over and secured it in place. I could have done it by hand but decided to do it on the sewing machine as the stitches wouldn't show in the toweling material.

I'm so pleased with my sewing today and hope the people attending all the make do and mend workshops will enjoy too.

Other workshops will be making bags from trousers. Recycling sweaters and up styling old clothes.

Blogging and some pointers to get it right

I have been blogging for a number of years, this is my second blog and I have another I keep purely for my personal use. My family and friends follow it as its sometimes difficult for us to get together, living in different parts of the country and its nice to keep in touch-this is my business blog for -Drawn Threads-and all that transpires in my life as a crafter!
I also read many different blogs and have had many a conversation with other bloggers over what makes a 'good blog'.
Hopefully some of these pointers will be of some interest to you.

*The first rule of blogging is to think of to whom you are blogging to- 'your audience' if you will and why they have come to your blog.
If you are a crafter like me, I read craft blogs about the same subjects that I like and many are in business-small or large and comment on subjects I am working on and will give suggestions and ask questions.

*Blogging about interesting things is a must!
Following current trends in the subject you like can help with this and if you have a particular skill, there will be people out there that will love to read about just how you go about your 'skill'.

*Dont keep saying you are busy and have 'so much on'. This will annoy blog readers, they too have a very busy life with work, kids, shopping at the supermarket, in between the plumber coming.When they read blogs, they want it to take them out of their daily lives and in to a world where they can relax and enjoy some well earned 'me' time, they don't need to be reminded that life can be busy, busy, busy.
It's never advisable to blog that you haven't had five minutes to your self and you are so busy. Even the big business entrepreneurs take a day off and would likely spend the weekend with their families.

*NEVER blog about an argument with you partner-spouse.
It is very important to you, but not at all what blog readers want to spend their time entertaining them selves with-thats what they have the 'soaps' for.
This should be left or a personal blog, and not a business blog and personaly to me shows, if there is chaos in their life, their business may be chaotic too and doesn't give that professional image that every business needs to project to survive.

*Lastly-enjoy blogging. If it becomes a chore, it will show. I read many blogs and most don't update their blog daily. Some only add photo in what they call wordless Wednesdays.
I love this-it reflects the bloggers mood and lifestyle and transports you in to a different world for a while.
Some of the blogs I read and love:-
Vicky Trainor-Local crafter & business woman
http://vickytrainor.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Haidee-Jo Summers-an old school friend and painter
http://www.haideejo.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

Sharon, her dog Buzz and artist partner Glock.
http://grannysbuttonbox.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

There are many more I love to read over a cup of tea-and I'm sure you too have your favourites. I would love to hear what they are and look forward to you sharing you own blog!

January give away

The drawn threads January give away is still on going and will be drawn on the 31st January for the three lucky winners.
There are three bundles to win

To be entered in to it all you need to do is RT on twitter or share on Facebook and join my blog.

The names will be added to 'the hat' and drawn out by my son and I'll tweet the winners and send your goodies.

Good Luck!

The 'B' word (busy)

This is a contentious word for me-I have a an adorable old school friend pf my husband, who loves to tell us just how 'busy' he is-With out realizing that the rest of the world also has a lot on their plate.

The conversation came up again last week and we were talking about how he used to feel over busy and over stretched at times.

The 'busy' word for me is dull and never mentioned...after all if you run your own business you will have a lot on your plate but to keep telling everyone is redundant.

For him the word busy equated to his success. He used to say just how busy he was, the work he had taken on. That in turn made him feel his business was successful. But now takes a much more relaxed and stressless approach and taking time off on a weekend a is priority, as such has become more productive.

I my self have, at times had a lot on my plate, working 7days a week.
Now I've got a great system in place and leave work in the office.
It was important for not only my family but for me to relax and switch off.
I don't look at emails, i shut the office door and have an 'out if office' email system set up.
I allow my self to tweet but not to tweet business and if I do have something pop in my head, I write it on sticky notes and put them on the office door-so when I reopened it on Monday, I have my memos ready and waiting.
For most people its so important to have clear defined lines between your work/family time and helps to be more productive and for me it is a must, I run a business, my business doesn't run me!

Good design

I trained as a designer lots if years ago and had some great jobs-designing soaps with dinosaurs animals inside, packaging for food and all the usual design jobs like letter heads etc.
My husband would say I'm a bit of a design geek-'form over function' is some thing he can't understand.
It took many years for me to train and understand 'what is good design'.
I still pay close attention to design awards, read design magazines such and love a good design exhibition!

I'm so lucky that after a number of years pursuing a different career path I made me way back to design and how natural that was.
There are many wonderful designers out there...and equally a few horrific ones too. And I'm never one to judge but having trained for so long and continue to do so, I feel I have a certain knowledge of what is considered good or bad design.
Not everyone can 'do it'! It takes training, a design eye and the knowledge of what make a good design.
With computers these day, everyone can design what ever they need...but in all honestly it takes a little more than a good graphics package to call your self a designer...and as we can all see sometimes left best to left to the professionals.

Branding is so important

For a craft business, branding is as important as it is for big business's and the huge part of a businesses success is through recognizing the brand, no matter how big or small the business.

I need the public to recognize my business just like the next man, on a continual basis or we the just look like "yet another" crafts person.

I studied design 20 yrs ago so this come second nature to me.
My signage matches the prices, advertising and even my compliment slips sent out to customers.

It's not only keep the business in the public eye but also adds to the overall profetional and visual look and how it looks to the out sides world.

As I'm very much a sustainable, recycle and reuse business, my signage, packaging and letters are all on brown Manila paper/card.
It gives a vintage and reused look as well as a friendly perception to the public.

I'm a massive letter/type buff.
I have type and different sized letters all over my house.
And spent many a long evening as children with my artist friend Haidee-Jo Summers drawing out different letters and type.
It's still important to me today too. I recently too part in a design challenge, along with many others to find different unusual type around the country that were vintage, stimulating and exciting.

Moved on so much

In a past life I was a play worker-I qualified and begun working for the Northgate community Play Project and also the Skernepark Play Project as their project co-ordinator.
I Iove my job, everyday was different and always kept you on your toes. A huge part if the job was developing each workshops and scheme delivered.

The children loved craft activities and I was able to draw on all the idea resources I had built up in the precious 20 yrs of selling as a crafter and working out in the community.

I have been able to use these skill In the business now, as I develop the kids 'bits and piece it' kits and craft kits.
I remember what they loved to do best and what they always asked we could have at the next workshop.
These kits are very popular especially the fabric painting puppets.
And I have received some fantastic reviews from customers and their children enjoying the crafts.
I'm anyone would like to purchase these you can purchase them on etsy or alternatively by contacting me via email

Strawberry jam Jar covers.

I have been making jam jar covers for a Mother's Day market after someone asked if I stocked them.
I have also put some kits together so that they can be made by you, giving that special someone a gift of a hand made jam jar cover, by your fair hands.
Each one has felt strawberries on and can be tied around the lid and will fit on any jars.

Now you will have to learn how to make jam!

These will be added to my etsy shop very soon but if you wish to purchase one before hand, just contact me and I can help you.

Re-use, recycle and re-make

I have had some time to potter over the Christmas and New Year holidays to do some very needed projects.
One was painting my bedroom for the first time after living here 15yrs and the other was 'doing' up two old chairs that I bought at a local junk shop for only £5.00!

One is in the process if being upholstered and the other has been spray painted pink with some old but unused spray paint.
I'm SO pleased with the colour and I now have four chairs in my breakfast room that are all painted in Cath Kidston colours-all ready to match my vintage coloured cutlery.