A new start for Mooloo

Savvy_Sue

Mooloo wrote: »

I cannot seem to find out if I have to have any qualifications to teach sewing on a one to one basis, or at a nightschool type of situation. Looking on Gov direct sites, and tried the local council sites too.? Maybe I am not looking in the correct place>
I know its different to teach adults then it is children. So more research needed!.

Mooloo wrote: »

Apparantly I need a degree to teach? Even sewing.? Not sure that that is right. I thought that you could teach some subjects if you were knowledgeable.

It's not that you have to have a degree to start teaching at this level, but you will be 'encouraged' to obtain one 'on the job', and since this 'encouragement' started a few years ago you will be up against those who have already obtained formal qualifications.

Plus, at the moment (and I don't want to be depressing about this!) I don't know how easy you'd find it to hold down a job which required you to be in a particular place at a particular time, pretty much without fail. You might end up putting yourself under too much pressure.

However, maybe there is some mileage in starting an informal craft club / knitting circle / handiwork group in the village? I don't know if there's a way of making money out of it, but it could be fun!

oystercatcher

I would have thought it could be worthwhile letting it know that you could do clothes alterations and similar work for people. I know my Mum who is tiny is often happy to pay someone £4-5 to shorten sleeves and trousers of garments. It might not make you a fortune but it all helps especially if you are allowed to earn a small amount and still claim the benefits.

Other things to research making from recycled fabric are shopping bags and also cloth nappies, washable baby wipes and other baby things. There's quite a market for cloth nappies, people either love or hate them and those that love them seem to have an addiction to trying new ones !!
They can be made using towels and covered in all sorts of pretty fabric.

Just my thoughts. I love following your story and think you are managing really well.

Savvy_sewing

I just spent 25 minutes on here, updating etc and then when I went to post it, lost it.
Havent got time to do it all again. Infuture I am going to copy long post before I post them!
Am at BF's until tomorrow, so cant hang around on the computer anylonger.
Had a lovely weekend. Tell you about it (again) when I get home.

shaz_mum_of__2

Hi mooloo loving the pictures of your handiwork

had you though of sewing menstrual pads there are lots of patterns on the net and they are apparently very popular , as are clothes for those dolls that are like real babies that adults have i forget the name but something like baby reborn the clothes favoured seem to be frilly check out sales on ebay !

http://completed.shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?MA2ShowItems&_trksid=p3286.c0.m283&_rdc=1&_fln=1&_nkw=baby+reborn+clothes&LH_Complete=1&guest=1


http://health-beauty.shop.ebay.co.uk/Health-Care-/67588/i.html?_nkw=cloth+pads&_catref=1&_fln=1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m282
Shaz

minimoneysaver

I didn't know that you could get washable pads! Not quite sure how I feel about that?! I think I'll stick to Tampax for now.

oystercatcher

minimoneysaver wrote: »

I didn't know that you could get washable pads! Not quite sure how I feel about that?! I think I'll stick to Tampax for now.

There's long threads about them somewhere and mooncups. Not for everyone but those who like them think they are wonderful , and save lots of money!

Savvy_sewing

I did get asked to make menstrual pads earlier in the year, however to source the fabrics, it would have not been cost effective for me. (Its ok if you dont factor in a wage!). I could look again, but at the moment, I want to base my sewing on Recycling things, and using up remenants of fabrics. I would be happy to make comissioned items, that may not be recycled, and also take in alterations, as I used to do that for a Dry Cleaners and a Wedding Shop many years ago. (When the children were very little and I needed to survive, as thier Dad left me with the four of them).
But I do not want to end up in the slave labour situation that I was in then.
A lot of people wanted something for nothing, and my hours were horrendous just too survive. Its not that I am lazy, its just that I cannot do it all.
I am up early as our plans changed and BF brought me back last night, and he had to get up at 6 to go to work. As I was already awake I decided I might as well get up.
Time to have a quick catch up on whats been going on on some of the other threads Ihave followed, my emails, and then re-plan my day!.

shaz_mum_of__2

I understand about the slave labour element someone asked me to knit some baby clothes and just wanted to pay the price of the wool!

You can make the pads from recyled sheets/towels(cotton ) and the PUL fabric some have in as a waterproof liner is the stuff that posh shower curtains are made of so if you could pick one up it would make a lot.I think considering there size and the simplicity of them it must be possible to make a profit.

Sounds like your inspiration is taking you a different direction though and wish you luck ,the cushion was fab and can't wait to see more

Shaz

Savvy_sewing

HI Shaz,
I will look into the pads again. I am open to making all sorts of things, rather then just making the same thing day after day. I would loose the love of creating.
jThanks for the good luck wishes.
I have sent the "disney shirt" cushion to a new home. Hopefully it has now arrived there and they like it. I will be keeping my eyes peeled for more shirts of the same sort of ilk.BF's daughter was throwing out some clothes the other day. They had them bagged up in a black sack. So BF suggested that I went through it first, to see if there was anything I could use. So I brought back a carrier bag full of things that will either do one or other of me, or my girls as they were still new!.The rest I am going to use for either bags or cushions. Including a England shirt and a Portuguese shirt. (She was Football and Ronaldo mad at one time).
I also want to use up some of the fabrics I have lurking to make myself some clothes, as I am fed up of my wardrobe at the moment.!
I have decided to try and sew for 4 hours a day. See how my arm copes with that.

Savvy_sewing

Yesterday I went into my old shop (the first one in Oxford) and volunteered to help for a few hours. I had offered to go back and help for a couple of hours today, but as I am back home a day earlier, I just telephoned to say I would not be able to go in. I offered to go back when I was in oxford next, but I am gutted as they just said that "She had had a chat with the volenteers and they were uncomfortable with me there, so thanks, but no thanks. It was very good of you but we dont want to upset the volunteers". I am gutted. I suppose I should have expected it. But I really feel pretty rejected now. Most of those volunteers that were in there yesterday were chatty, and pleased to see me. So I really am pretty floored.

It just proves, that you should never go back in life. Its time for me to stop feeling I have a chance of "going back to my old job" and move my craft business on.
There will be no "two faced" people working with me, as I will be working on my own. Customers will be remote.
sorry but I have got to nip away as I need a bl**dy good cry.!