WOYWW - Fabric, Phoenix and Friendship

It runs like a dream!

Well, look what's on my workbench today (well dining table actually).  Yes, Whats on your workbench Wednesday has come rushing round, just when I borrowed an overlocker.

I'll try and keep this brief:
Remember I burnt out baby blues foot pedal?
Well, when my heart beat had slowed (about 2 days later), I took the pedal to pieces and realised that although it was very simple inside I would never trust it again.  I couldn't decide what to do, so visited Helen Sutcliffe of Eleanor's Attic for advice.  (Just over 12 months ago, Helen was a one man band making bags for 6 shops, now she supplies around 100 shops and owns one herself!).

introducing ...Boring Brown.

I knew Helen had a replacement motor (and pedal) so borrowed it to see if it fitted, but I also borrowed a broken (but similar) Singer machine to cannibalise.

Well the motor didn't fit, but the Singer used the same motor.  I decided to cannibalise baby blue instead (shame, but much simplier process).
So out of the flames a new boring brown machine has risen.

Anyway, back to the overlocker. I decided I needed an overlocker and I have been trawling ebay for weeks now.  But I couldn't settle on my budget because, well, actually I have never used one before.

Eventually, yesterday morning I phoned Helen and asked if she had one I could borrow.  And so here it is.  But not only did she say I could borrow it (and no rush to return it), but she also told me of one for sale (from another friend).  So I now have a local overlocker waiting for me to go and try out.

oh and for the papercrafters: this is what an overlocker does.

A Sunny Week

It has been a good week for me.  We have had most of the week together as a family.  We decided not to go away, but instead, take trips from home.

To our 4 and 2 year olds, the trips to Fairbourne beach just 6 miles away has been magical.  We camped one night, so that allowed beach, tent, campfire, picnic and ice cream to occur in the same 24 hours - the children were fit to burst!

I attended the Dolgellau Country Market on Thursday and hit my sales target - two weeks ahead of schedule (are you impressed with my business planning or my sales rate?!!).

Copyright William Metcalfe

So I was already feeling very happy, when I was invited to join some of my Country Market Collegues at the Dolgellau Farmers Market.  This is a great honour as craft places are limited.  I will be the only jewellery maker on the market.  Eleanor's Attic - oilcloth bags, who also sells through my website, Polly Polkadot, has had a stall at the Farmers Market for 7 years now, so I shall be following in good footsteps.

My first market will be on 15th May...so watch this space.