Just for me

It seems I am rubbish at shopping, at least that's what Mr P says and I hate to admit he has a point. I don't really enjoy shopping, I did as a teen. I loved going out with my allowance or wages and treating myself to clothes and shoes but then I got out of the habit. When the children came along they became the priority and once I became a single Mum anything I bought for myself had to be a real need, usually reduced and often from one of the supermarkets clothing departments.
For my last job I had (ghastly) uniform and would come home from work most days, shower and get into something comfy (also known as pyjamas!) It's fair to say I have gained a little weight and more and more of the clothes I chose to wear were black. I'd slipped back into the old habit of living in jeans or leggings, which to be fair, does very little for my look or my self confidence. When talk turned to the shop, I decided that I wanted to wear dresses, not just any old dresses, but nice dresses that would fit in with the feel of the shop and create a good impression. So I started to look in lots of the high street shops. I spotted a few dresses, but not enough to create a nice working wardrobe.
When we were at a food festival at Walton Gardens in Warrington, we went in to the craft section inside Walton Hall hoping to find some potential suppliers for the shop. We'd like to have a small selection of handmade goods to sell and seemed like a great opportunity to meet people face to face and ask if they'd be interested in putting some of their work in our shop. There were some lovely crafts on offer, but not all of them were the sort of thing we were looking for. There was a very cute little stall selling handmade jewellery all in the shape of teeny weeny sweets and cakes, that seemed like an obvious choice and also a stall full of gorgeous accessories. There were facinators and hair clips, bows and headbands all in really great fabrics, as well as a beautiful deep purple dress on a mannequin. I got chatting to the stall holder, Lindsey James, who was wearing in a fabulous red 50's swing style dress. She was really friendly and explained that like me, she had lost her job before Christmas and was hoping to turn her hobby/sideline into her future career. She explained that she had studied fashion at university and worked in the industry for several years and the dress on the mannequin was one of her own creations. I told her about the shop and how we'd like to have handmade goods on offer and got the contact details for her business Violet Flamingo. As we walked away I was saying to Mr P how much I liked the dress on the mannequin, when he suggested I go back and ask about having a dress made but me being me, I did my usual "oh no, it's fine" and home we went. I would have left it there but Mr P got me to email Lindsey with an enquiry about having a dress made. We exchanged a few emails and the more I thought about it, the more I liked the idea of dresses (yes plural) made to measure and in a style I loved but couldn't seem to find on the High Street.

So on Friday I took a drive over the Lindsey's studio, a lovely old building in Littleborough to discuss all things dressy.

 We had a really long chat, over a cup of coffee, discussed styles, fabrics, likes and dislikes, food, cakes, the shop, the proposal........It was a very sociable morning! Then we got down to business. 
We went through fabric samples

Lindsey took all sorts of measurements and had me trying on some of her creations, she made suggestions and did a little sketches. It was all very enjoyable and very exciting.
I felt very happy leaving a lot of the details to Lindsey, as I felt she had a really clear idea of my tastes. I've sent her some images of some dresses I like and based on those and our discussions she's going to draw up some proper designs and send them back to me with her fabric suggestions.
The great thing about all this is I get to pick and choose different bits from different dresses and I'll end up with some one-off designs. When I put on a dress it really lifts my mood, so I can only imagine how it will feel to wear a dress that I know has been made just for me.

I can't wait to see what Lindsey comes up with, but like my ring I, and you, will have to be patient! Bespoke things don't happen over night, but I'm confident they will be worth the wait!
Why not take a look at the Violet Flamingo site to see some of the lovely accessories available. I was lucky to get a sneaky peak at some of the items that will be coming soon and if you're lucky enough to be local to me, once we're open you'll be able to see them displayed in the shop!

Christmas round up.....

Finally today we took down the decorations and cards and returned the house to some level of normality. I love to have it all packed away ready to start the New Year in a clean and tidy house (not counting the children's bedrooms in that, clearly!)
I love making gifts for people. I think it's so much nicer to give something a little more personal than shopping off a wish list of some kind, although they are handy at times! So I thought I'd do an end of year blog and record the gifts that I made for loved ones this Christmas. There are already plans for things I'd like to make people, more food related gifts next year, so long as I'm organised enough.

This year the gifts were either sewn or assembled with love.

There was of course R's quilt, the first one I've ever made.

I'm pleased to say he loved it and declared it to be this years best present!
The girls got note book covers as they're always jotting things down and making lists.

Last year I made several stationary or make-up rolls. They went to the children and Mr P

Last years 'roll's' piled up and ready to go

This was an extra large one for Mr P to hold all the equipment for his studies.

My Niece, who's a midwife, said how handy she would find one for work and I had intended to make her one through the year, but that didn't happen so I made her one for Christmas, along with one for my nephews wife to keep her make-up brushes in.

I wanted to make something for my sister, but didn't think she'd use a make-up roll or a notebook cover so I decided on a stationary wallet as I know she still likes to write and receive letters. I adapted my note book pattern to accommodate envelopes and stamps ad I was quite pleased with the finished product.

Pockets for envelopes and stamps and a larger section containing writing paper and greetings cards

When closed it looks like a notebook

 I also made and embroidered a cushion for my brother and his wife, who this year returned to the UK to live. I can't find a picture of it but it's similar to the ones in my post mentioned above.

I made some super speedy, thrifty gifts for MB's new baby brother. Baby burping cloths made from Ikea guest towels. Simply take a guest towel and decorate with patchwork or felt shapes for an easy baby gift in no time and at very little cost (The towels were a mere 19p each!!!)

My favourite 3 little felt birdies

Bright patchwork

Baby blues stars

 The towels are the perfect size to pop on your shoulder while bringing up wind and prevent your shoulder from getting covered in sicky dribbles! (I've been there!)

Burping cloths ready to be wrapped

They were so quick to make and I'm hoping they were a welcome gift. I know I would have made good use of them especially with babies 2 & 3!

The children's teachers got sticky ginger cupcakes with tiny little candy canes that I made from icing

And then there were the hampers. We have some special people who are a little tricky to buy for, but for whom we wanted a special gift, so I hand selected little luxuries and filled wooden crates made by my lovely Mr P. 

There was a coffee and sweet treats hamper for Mr P's lovely Mum. Special coffee, black cherries in Kirsch, coffee syrup, nice biscuits and luxury cereal were some of her items.

 Mr P's Dad also had a hamper with nice wines, cheeses, crackers, chutneys and a book about the mapping of steam railways, complete with an engine driver cap! (photo? No, lost in cyber space!)

 The hamper above was for the children's Godparents, who happen to be wonderful friends. The idea behind their hamper was a little box (or crate!) of inspiration for those 'what shall we have for dinner?' moments. sachets, jars and spices and of course those little treat items that don't often make it into the weekly shopping trolley

 And last but not least the Chilli lovers hamper, well that's how it started out. This one was for Mr P's sister Lynsey. I started off finding all manner of chilli items (chocolate, crackers, crisps, jam etc) then I spotted Marmite products and Olives and alcohol and all kinds of things that I thought she'd love. I could barely squeeze them all in but with a bit of jiggling and a lot of patience I somehow managed it!

Stack of Hampers

So there it is, my Christmas round up. I've left you with one last shot of Felix, our cat, gazing longingly at the baked Brie. You'll be pleased to know Mr P and I got a new camera for Christmas, so hopefully better pictures on our blogs from now on!
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and send you all best wishes for the coming year x