Thursday 31 March 2011

Open All Hours

It is actually true, we are officially Open All Hours.  I have just bought the most beautiful piece of fabric from here   http://www.folksy.com/shops/plainjanetextiles and I can't wait for it to arrive.

You can also visit my shop here http://www.folksy.com/shops/lindysloops

Please keep coming back I will try to add some new things every week, if you don't see something you like, contact me and tell me what you would like to see.

I will try and keep the shop tidy.... 'fetch your cloth Granville'

Shop Front

Exciting times business advisor is happy with the business plans and more importantly the banner for my shop is almost ready so my shop will be coming to a lap top near you very soon.

My design has been developed by http://www.folksy.com/shops/bonnitagraphics

go over to folksy and take a look at the designs, very good and very reasonable prices too.

Well a weekend of crafting awaits, maybe you will be shopping with me very soon.

Monday 28 March 2011

Cross Stitch Cash Flow

I like the idea of a cross stitch sampler instead of a cash flow.  I could stab the little squares with my needle and make pretty patterns with £ signs.

My other idea is to use the excel spreadsheet as a knitting pattern and pick a colour for every number and symbol and knit this into a bag.

Do you think my business advisor will approve?  Oh well guess I will just get on with the cash flow.

Comments on a postcard please readers.....

Sunday 27 March 2011

Work in progress

Week 3 and the list of tasks involved in setting up Lindy's Loops is getting smaller and smaller.

Thankfully, at the same time the pile of stock is getting bigger and bigger.

So far I have made some bags, some dresses and little brooches.


The bags are big enough to take an A4 size note book and lap top.  Each bag comes with a little brooch, which can be detached if that isn't your style.  Here is a selection.





Here is one of my dresses, it is a fifties style summer dress.  The fabric has a black stripe with little rosebuds on it.  It has a button placket on the front with three little flower buttons.  There is a lace trim to the hem giving the effect of a petticoat, making it a dress pretty enough for summer parties.  It has a matching brooch to pin on your cardigan.  I have finally got the cut of the armholes right in my sleeveless dresses.  Some of my earlier ones were too deep and were more suitable for a tunic or pinafore.  This design will leave your modesty intact.



I have added to my stock of little brooches too.






Setting up a photography studio in the dining room was good fun and Steven was exasperated by my lack of understanding of light and shadow, so if the photographs have the wrong light, that will be my fault.

This week I have been enjoying listening to the Trojan Reggae Sampler here are the tracks.


1. Guns Of Navarone - Skatalites
2. Train To Skaville - Ethiopians
3. Israelites - Dekker, Desmond & The Aces
4. Wonderful World Beautiful People - Cliff, Jimmy
5. Liquidator - Harry J & The All Stars
6. Return Of Django - Upsetters (1)
7. Sweet Sensation - Melodians
8. Young Gifted And Black - Bob & Marcia
9. Monkey Man - Maytals
10. Love Of The Common People - Thomas, Nicky
11. Double Barrel - Collins, Dave & Ansel
12. Rain - Ruffin, Bruce
13. Small Axe - Marley, Bob & The Wailers
14. Let Your Yeah Be Yeah - Pioneers (1)
15. Everything I Own - Boothe, Ken
16. Help Me Make It Through The Night - Holt, John
17. Ire Feelings (Skanga) - Edwards, Rupie
18. Hurt So Good - Cadogan, Susan
19. Money In My Pocket - Brown, Dennis
20. Uptown Top Ranking - Althea & Donna

Saturday 12 March 2011

Week 2 of the Self Employment Journey

Well the week continued with the dull stuff the business advisor was helpful and I am now surrounded by business planning templates, cash flows and all that jazz.  I attended a seminar for new business start ups which was the longest two hours of my life and I have booked on to the Inland Revenue course which I am sure will be even more delightful.  Still it all seems to make sense so that boring degree paid off.

On the interesting side I bought some beautiful vintage buttons and two vintage patterns in Heaton, one of my favourite places in Newcastle, sadly no time for coffee at Heaton Perk.

Crafting activity has been sparse but four bags cut out and ready to sew and some lovely floral fabric to cover my ironing board awaits.  The bags will be in the style of this one but in different fabrics. Alice Hubley has the prototype and I realised I made an error on the handles which has been corrected in the subsequent model.

The music to accompany my crafting has been supplied largely by
Milky WimpshakeMoira Stewart and The Icicles  oh yes and I have to admit to a little Belle and Sebastian but they don't need any promoting you all know who they are.

The online shop is nearly ready and my main focus will be ensuring that I have enough lovely items to take to the craft fair on 17th April at The Pullman Lodge Hotel in Seaburn which is put on by local promotors Makers Markets.

Eeek it is all getting real folks.

Friday 4 March 2011

Official Day 1 of the journey

At last I am taking the plunge, for years I have tinkered around with making and designing things, now I am going to start my journey towards making this more of my life.

I started sewing and knitting as a child, taught by my clever mother who made lovely dresses for herself, for me and for my Sindy doll.  In those days it was the way that we could afford beautiful new things, but it was always a pleasure and never a chore.

I remember the pleasure of finding a piece of lovely fabric, cutting carefully around her home made brown paper patterns and the sound of the treadle on the singer sewing machine.  I loved the beauty of that sewing machine, it was black and gold and the thread in the shuttle was like a butterfly cocoon that would help my mother make us lovely dresses.

Over the years I have made lots of things and I lost the pleasure of that for a while, now I have found it again and I intend to start doing something I enjoy for a living. 

So official day 1 is the boring stuff business planning and all that but I will do these things surrounded by lovely fabrics and trimmings and wool and buttons and listening to music.

I hope you will enjoy reading about my journey.