Gotta love a to do list..

Hello, 

 Well I've been slowly cracking on with things I need to do for 'May I Design'. To be honest, I've just been writing a million 'To do' lists and slowly, one buy one,ticking them off. I love a list, I love even more ticking things off. 

For this reason the first point on my lists are usually 'write a to do list' just so I can immediately tick something off! With my love of lists in mind I have created a free printable download for you, so you can write yours on a jazzy print out to make it seem less hard work. 

You can find yours here! Hope you like it :) 

 Have a good weekend, hope you get things ticked off your list! 

 See you soon xx

May I do business?

Hello there and a very happy (rather chilly) Monday to you.

This weekend I went back home to Lichfield and had a lovely time with my parents. On Saturday I went through the plans I have for 'May I Design' and bless my folks they listened while I babbled on and then chatted through different ideas with me. (Thanks Mum and Dad you're both ace).

What I have decided to do is blog my way through the processes of setting up a small craft business. I am by no means an expert, and I know I'm going to make mistakes and experience challenges along the way. But I have dreamt of making and selling my designs since I was VERY young and have decided now is the time to really focus on doing just that. 

Ever since I can remember I have been doodling and decorating whatever surface I could lay my tiny mitts on, paper plates, school exercise books, drinking glasses and even kitchen roll. This has never left me and now I would LOVE to turn this into a small business. I don't plan to make millions (although that would be nice!) but if i can do it part-time I would be super proud!

I found this on pinterest, so true!

The problem, I'm finding out, is, to run your own business it's not as simple as creating beautifully decorated things, you have to be in charge of the finance, the marketing, the making, and every other bit in between.

 I am planning to launch 'May I Design' properly in the early parts of next year. And instead of being a secret squirrel and  doing everything behind the scenes it might be nice for both me (and hopefully) you to track the progress of a small craft business starting out. And if I can help and inspire any other designer/ makers along the way, then all the better.

So I'm going to do a series of blog posts called 'May I do business?' and bring my findings to you. 

If anyone out there is reading this and is just starting out too or has a more accomplished business and would like to give any advice of their own, please drop me an email here. I'd love to hear from you and possibly feature your advice in my blog too.

The crafting community is such a friendly one, I look forward to being a part of it.

Have a happy week,

see you soon xx

I'm getting brave..

Hi, Happy Friday eve :)

I've been having a week of more experimentation and trying out new things. As I've mentioned I'm learning how to sew, I'm really enjoying it and learning about all the things that are possible to do with the humble (pink) sewing machine.

Yesterday I received two new books I had ordered from Poppy Treffry. I LOVE her work and her quirky style. I am keen to learn how to embroider on my machine (to be honest I didn't realize there was a difference between just sewing and machine embroidery but hey there is!!). 

So with Poppy's gorgeous books in tow, an embroidery hoop (also completely new to me) an embroidery foot (who knew?) and the darning plate on (I know, I cant believe I managed it either) I was armed and ready to get embroidering. 

Well let me tell you, It's a whole new kettle of fish. It's so free, and flowy and FUN! Now my first attempts are a bit (VERY) wobbly but I'm proud of every stitch. Even the ones that look as if I drank a bottle of gin before starting (I didn't, it was just tea I promise).

The possibilities are endless. I definitely need to practice, practice, practice. But I'm so proud of how far I've come, especially from this post. 

Right back to it, now where's the gin, I mean tea!

See you soon

xx

Tunisia

Happy Monday,

I have just returned from a lovely week in Tunisia. My partner has family over there, so we try and visit as often as we can. I love it, the way of life, the beaches, (the cakes) but mostly all the wonderful colours and patterns. 

We usually stay in Hammamet, it's beautiful. In the Medina there, there are so many gift shops each filled with decorative souvenirs. All the door are adorned with gorgeous decoration too.

 I took a sketchbook away with me and have been busily sketching and working on 'May I Design'. I'm in the process of doing a bit of a re-brand, which now I'm back, is all go, go, go!

I'm like a little duck at the moment; all calm on the surface but furiously paddling underneath the water, or in my case, I'm busily getting fabric samples and working out, what, when and how I'm going to launch 'May I Design' properly. 

I best get back to it...

Have a good week,

See you soon

xx

Creative Weekend

Hello,

Happy Monday, hope you have all had a lovely weekend. I've had a very creative weekend, it's been wonderful.

I started on Saturday with my screen printing kit. I thought I'd begin gradually and use the stencil method rather than using the screen block solution.

I am really happy with the results, the print is so crisp. It's so exciting doing the print and waiting to see the results. Each one is sightly different with it's own quirks. Love it.

 I can't wait to do an actual run where I can begin printing my design on real life products! I'm hoping to get some finished and out there by Christmas (hopefully). 

Hope you have a good week, 

See you soon 

xx

Planning my new collection..

Evening,

Hope everyone's Monday hasn't been too bad.. one step closer to Friday though.. WOO!

This weekend I received a little present I had ordered myself.. a screen printing set(yipee!). I have had my eye on this set since last year but never been brave enough to part with my cash and start experimenting. Well with a little bit of spare birthday money I thought now would be the perfect time.

I have purchased a book about screen printing at home too and am now all ready to go. I planned to get cracking on Saturday but after reading the instructions realized I had to wash the fabric first (woops) so I had to wait a little bit longer! In the mean time I have been busily sketching ideas in my sketchbook and doing some trials, printing on fabric with a stamp I made. Later I used my sewing machine (by myself... how brave am I???) to stitch around my motif. I am super pleased with the result and am keen to get screen printing and make my first proper collection.

Sneak peak of what I've been doing

 

Isn't it funny that as soon as you start being creative your brain just goes into overdrive and comes up with more and more ideas. I have now popped a little notebook in my bag so if inspiration strikes I am ready to note it all down.

Saw this on pinterest, so true..

I hope you have a wonderful week and will update you when I do my first run of screen printing at home!

See you soon 

xx

A few bits and bobs..

Evening,

Well just a little update with what has been going on. Although the blog has been quiet, I have been being very creative, I promise.

I completed the final brief a couple of weeks ago for the Make It in Design Summer School. The brief was Jewels. I was really happy with my final design. I think It's the colours that I feel makes it work.

 

 

Once the Summer school was over a needed a new challenge, I certainly had one of those lined up. A couple of months ago you may remember that I signed up to a sewing machine course at New College in Swindon. Well the course came around quickly and I attended on Saturday with my brand new (pink) sewing machine. I hadn't got it out the box since my birthday so I was keen (and a little frightened) to get sewing. I just prayed I didn't sew my hair/sleeve/hand to the cushion cover we were making..

 

Luckily a lot of the class had, had their sewing machine for a while and theirs hadn't made it out the box either. So we were all in the same terrified boat. I shouldn't have been so scared. The day flew by and by the end of it I had my very own cushion cover with concealed zip and I am happy to say nothing got sewn on that shouldn't be there and no trips to A&E were needed to get a sewing machine removed from my hand!  AND I only had to unpick one line of stitches... YEAY GO ME!

 

 

I am very pleased with my cushion!

 

Unfortunately the other course I signed up to 'Using Textiles' got cancelled , So instead I have signed up to learn how to make curtains and other soft furnishings (I am a glutton for punishment!).

 

Hopefully by the end of the 8 weeks course I will be a dab hand with my sewing machine or at the very least a little less frightened of it!

 

Have a good evening,

 

See you soon

xx