May's Merry go Around...

Our question this month is... Did you think you'd be doing what you re doing now (craft/selling) say 5 years ago? What has surprised you the most?

Five years ago... 2004, I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar... hey no that's not right!... cough, cough... Let's try that again...

Five years ago... 2004, I was working for a British Fashion Designer heading up the design and development of one of his diffusion ranges. While the day job paid the bills and I loved working in Fashion, I had this incredible itch that I just couldn't scratch no matter how many new dresses I designed/sold and I didn't know why. It was a whole year later when I decided to do something about that and switch companies... at that point I had no idea that my creative passion would take me elsewhere... I couldn't see beyond the next season's collection, you see. I was a designer, that's what I did!

If you'd have said to me then, that I would be a fibre artist and supplier to spinners and feltmakers five years from now, I'd have laughed... laughed quite hard... it couldn't have been further from where I was, or what was going through my mind. Back then I was paid to work for someone else and travelling overseas to oversee the collection, drinking London Fashion week cocktails, going on research trips and helping to sell... little time for a social life or family. Now I work from home and I'm my own boss... I work just as hard, in fact harder, but I still have the home life balance I think I was looking for five years ago.

The working for myself part surprised me the most, although some of my closer friends and family disagree... I always thought the security of working for someone else was what afforded me the life I desired... and now I've found that the life I desire isn't in material things, it's in happiness. Don't get me wrong... life isn't blissful all the time and there is a lot more to worry about in running my own business, but that essence of freedom brings happiness... a happiness I've not known before. This I hope I can look back on and still hold close in five years time.

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This post was part of a blog Merry go Around, where I have got together with some friends to talk about a similar subject on the same day... a nice way to meet people!

Jenny at Jenny Karlsson design http://designjennykarlsson.blogspot.com/
Nikki at Beaded Zen http://beadedzen.blogspot.com/
Wendren at Wren http://thewrendesign.com/
Sara at Sara's Texture Crafts http://sarastexturecrafts.blogspot.com/
Marian at Florcita http://florcitasart.blogspot.com/
Agathe at Le Bar du Vent http://lebarduvent.blogspot.com/
Fabienne at Easterya http://easterya.blogspot.com/
Ruth at Birdland Creations http://insidetheartisan.blogspot.com/

Dye Tests for New All-in-One Acid Dye Collection

Managed to get a spot of time on Friday while Mum was over to get out the all-in-one acid dyes I have just bought to sell through the craft shop. Once everything is ready I'm going to start work on selling the individual colours in sample pots, moving onto bigger post and kits thereafter.

Keep a watchful eye... I hope to have some more news soon!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Diary of an Artist in the Field: Yay, I get to start this idea!

Last year, I discussed the idea of bringing inspiration from gardening into my work but didn't get the chance to start anything. Well, with my patch of dirt out the back I hope to change this.

Over the bank holiday weekend, D's family visited and helped us dig up the bind weed and grass that had over taken this small patch of garden.

We managed to get the raised area at the back dug through and planted with brassica and marigold and the right hand side too, with runner beans (French and English), a pumpkin plant (donated by my nephew) and a tomato plant. It was hard work for everyone, especially D and his dad who did most of the heavy digging... it was so hot too!

I'm planting seeds as we speak for beetroot, cress, lettuce, rocket, a sunflower, chili, oh and mini carrots too.

D took me to the garden centre on Monday, so now I also have the Lavender and thyme plants I craved for so long, as well as some pinks (my Grandad's favourites).

Can't wait for things to start growing, as this to me is what Spring is all about!
Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

I'm using this as my belated April Merry go Round blog post.

Book Review: Sew Fabulous Fabric

Title: Sew Fabulous Fabric
By Alice Butcher and Giny Farquhar
Publisher: David and Charles
ISBN 13-978-0-7153-2858-1
ISBN 10-0-7153-2858-1
Price: £12.99

http://www.thetextiledirectory.com/reviewarticle/Sew-Fabulous-Fabric/

Sew Fabulous Fabric: 20 charming ways to sew fabrics into your life is a new title from David and Charles, on the theme of sewing as a home craft. Like the other books in this range the eye-candy filled cover will guarantee to turn a head and the simple approach to sewing makes it a fully accessible project book for any crafter, regardless of skill level.

This particular book has a much more pertinent recycling undertone that makes it a home sewing bible not only for modern sustainable living, but much more than that it harks back to a time where our mothers and grandmothers ‘made do and mend’ skills where not just a craft, but a home budgetary asset. Finances being what they are for most of us now, it is again time where we start to turn to home crafting as a way to reinvigorate our surroundings and in this task this book is of it’s time.

Butcher and Farquhar take us through the very basics of fabric bases, sewing equipment and techniques, as well as mentioning trimming and embellishment concepts. All of which are a great basis to launch yourself into scavenging your stash pile and button boxes before tackling one of the many wonderful projects; for home, celebration and clothing. I feel this book is going to be another big hit, again proving that sustainability can be chic and fun too.

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This review can also be found at as part of my contributions on The Textile Directory.

Sara x
Visit my Main Website here

Sara's Relocation: So how did it all go? (Final Part)

It's all been a bit of a blur to be honest and while I did get a little time to take some photos (I know a few of you wanted some)... I plugged in my camera today to find it's not recorded any of them... pooh! But let's see how I muddle through this post, maybe my camera phone will help give you an idea of where I am living now...

Here's a picture from the park across the street of where I used to live... you can see our Sepia coloured flats from there...

Not the worst spot in the world you might thing, but remember this is quiet a well looked after park (D and I spent a lot of time there over the years). I'm glad I don't have a close up shot of those blocks of flats though... awful they were, just awful (very dirty and unloved by the local community)!

Still as I say the park was always well kept and the flowers looked beautiful in bloom as we left.

Ok... where to start... it seems like an age since we started packing... Ok, I know from moving day!

5:30am D got me up... man I'm not good in the mornings! So between the 3 of us, D, D's dad and little old tired me(!) we began to start moving boxes. About 8am we had a couple of friend's turn up to help us move the really heavy stuff, which was a big, big help... amazing the 'stuff' you gather in almost 13 years of living together... or the weight of that sofa we just 'had to have!' Fortunately the lift was working, so from fourth floor flat to van wasn't too bad.

Trip 1 to Devon (yes I did say trip number 1!), was rather fun... D's dad regaled us with stories on route... some things I'd not heard before... made the drive a bit more interesting. You can always rely on D's dad for that! When we got down to Devon, I picked up the keys and signed my life away (!), while mum turned up to put the kettle on for us. Bless her, I was grateful for her being there. We unpacked as quickly as we could so that D could get back on the road with his dad for trip number 2. Mum and I stayed put, carefully unloading and moving what we could get to.

By about 8pm the next night D and dad were back... and just as we'd cleared enough room for the place to look reasonably tidy, they unloaded a second batch of boxes. At this point I promptly burst into tears on mum's shoulder... 'How can there be this much more?' I think I'd been holding all of the stress of moving inside, because by the time a few family helpers turned up I was really quite ill... ('I'll never move again... I swear!', whimper, whimper!!). I'm not normally that bad, usually quiet organised and together (well, at least I think I am!), but what with D being away the week before already having started work in Devon... I guess I got a bit wound up dealing with the paperwork, packing and the day job. Maybe a little overtired too.

D and I then headed back to London on day 3, because we had to hand in the keys and take back the van... a one way drop tariff on the van was more than the diesel cost for another trip! I think by then we were both a bit exhausted, so we spent some time listing the things we really hated about living in a big city like London to make ourselves feel a bit better about Devon. Not that we really needed the list to concrete our new life choice... more of a fun poke at the things we really hope to get away from. You know what I mean... the cramped trains in rush hour, the unlicensed drivers who nearly cause you an accident, the sullen faced people who always seem to moan about queuing in the post office... usually when they are behind me with my bags of post (even if they are only there too claim their benefits!) Sorry guys... I didn't mean to cause you a delay... honestly! Tired and aching, we arrived home and avoided the unpacked boxes until the next day, promptly falling asleep.

Since then, it's been a case of getting Sara's Texture Crafts back up and running and taking a few trips into town (http://www.crediton.co.uk/).

All in all, it wasn't too bad... a lot of hard work, but we're in now... just unpacking the last few things before I get my hands on that small patch of dirt I'm calling a garden out the back.

I've noticed a real difference in me already... like a weight has been lifted. From the new place you can hear the Church bells and see the steeple from my bathroom.

I even see fields of green on my way home from the post office...

And the vicar says 'Morning' to me every time he passes me in the street! No sullen faces in the post office, in fact people smile (!), our family is close by and I'm back on-line chatting to all of my friends with a new found passion for getting things done. I'm invigorated with a new lease of life... still shattered, granted, but enthused my friends, enthused!

I won't be back to regular blogging just yet, as I have lots of things to catch up on and a whole list of new things I want to start... but do pop back, as I will write when I can. Until, then I'd just like to thank everyone for their support and warm wishes for us during our move... we really appreciated your words and love you all for keeping us smiling!

Sara x
http://www.sarastexturecrafts.com/

Sara's relocation: We're in!

Hi! I'm all into the new home now… just unpacking the boxes around me! Thank you so much for buying and for reading my blog while I was away. I will be hard at work shipping over the next few days to catch up where I can. I also promise to get some news of the move up here too!

 

You will be pleased to hear that everything is back open… Here are the links!

Crafts Supply Store Ebay

Etsy Boutique

DaWanda Boutique

 

Sara x

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Relocation Holiday.

I am relocating from London to Devon from Saturday the 9^th of May to Saturday the 16^th of May, in between this time I have actioned the following services from each of my stores.

 

Crafts Supply Store – 9^th May – 16^th May… HOLIDAY ONLY. Purchases can be made and paid for. These will be processed and shipped on my return. If you wish to send payment via post during this time, please can I ask you to hold of until my return to save accidental postal losses.

Etsy Boutique – 8^th May 2009 – 16^th of May… CLOSED and purchases cannot be made.

DaWanda Boutique – 6^th May 2009 – 16^th of May… HOLIDAY ONLY. Purchases can be made, but can only be processed and paid for on my return.

Not on the High Street Boutique – 6^th May 2009 – 16^th of May…CLOSED and purchases cannot be made.

 

Please note that each store has slightly different dates. Unfortunately this is unavoidable due to the way each of the order processing systems work.

 

My aim is to try and be up and running before the 16^th, if this is possible I will let you know.

 

Wish me luck!

Sara x

 
Addicted to Fibre, Feltmaking and Spinning? Or want to learn more? Visit my www.sarastexturecrafts.com for everything your addiction needs!

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