Mooloo's "Making my future, one stitch at a time"?

geminilady

Mooloo Your daughter should be able to claim bus fare for the course it may be worth ringing them

minimoneysaver

Sorry I've not posted on here in ages! Just scan read through to catch up. I've got a couple of thoughts on what I've read. Has the 'Sewing Bee' not helped to pick up interest and sales in the shop? When does this series finish? Maybe you could make up some 'Sewing Bee' signeage and advertise lessons on how to make one of their easier makes?

I was also thinking about the profits and costs from January. It's not at all surprising that things have tailed off. I'm sure when Spring is around the corner you'll be busy. Next year it may be worth only opening one or two days a week during January. Obviously you'll have to advertise it well enough in advance, but it'll save on heating, lighting and other overheads. It also means that you have a lovely break and can rest up after Christmas etc.

Savvy_sewing

minimoneysaver wrote: »

Sorry I've not posted on here in ages! Just scan read through to catch up. I've got a couple of thoughts on what I've read. Has the 'Sewing Bee' not helped to pick up interest and sales in the shop? When does this series finish? Maybe you could make up some 'Sewing Bee' signeage and advertise lessons on how to make one of their easier makes?

I was also thinking about the profits and costs from January. It's not at all surprising that things have tailed off. I'm sure when Spring is around the corner you'll be busy. Next year it may be worth only opening one or two days a week during January. Obviously you'll have to advertise it well enough in advance, but it'll save on heating, lighting and other overheads. It also means that you have a lovely break and can rest up after Christmas etc.

some good points there!
I have no doubt things will improve, it's people getting to know I am there really. Even the Local Bobby on the best popped his head in today, and hadn't realised I was there. It was a minion's Teeshirt that caught his eye in the window. He organises the Bikers event in August, and said if I get my number/leaflets out and could do leather repairs then I'd get a lot of work. Funnily I had just done a repair to a bikers jacket, and he had taken some of my cards up to the Biker Cafe here, called Skins.
Who know.
I had a call at 5pm asking about Embroidering on some towels. Although I think the woman meant Napkins. She wanted some initials, and happy 60th birthday on 100 of them!
So I quoted, but she may be a bit too far away as she's in Milton Keynes. But apparantly I was recommended.?
Finally people started to come in and collect their jobs, so I have about £85 to bank tomorrow. Banked £80 today. So a bit of a relief.

Savvy_sewing

Morning already. Well I have been awake for nearly an hour, checking Emails, bank balances, and reading newsfeeds. Etc
I have put a few things on EBay that I had new with tags, on a 3 day sale. One item has a 99p starting bid. So that's sold. Now I just need a few people bidding to raise the price to a few £ towards my takings.
Although I only spent £2 on the items each last year when I brought from another shop. Fingers crossed.
Today Biggest of Mooloo's and DGD2 are due to come for tea. Hope they like vegetable something or other as I have a glut of onions, leeks, and cabbage to use up.
Last night I made Chicken Soup for the soul. It was yummy. I shall be having the left overs for lunch today.
I have some requests for some fabrics etc so I am going to have to crack on and find a way of displaying and storing my remnants.
I am due to meet with a lady from an animal charity today, who has offered me items from her stash, to create with, as she is now too old to use all her stuff. In return I will overlock some scarves for her that she sells on a market stall. Could be interesting. ( could be a waste of time). But it is not going to cost me money.

Savvy_sewing

Oh the smell! Ammonia from cats at that ladies house was so strong it stung my eyes and got me at the back of the throat. So much so that I now have a stinking headache.
I also gave a car full of wool and wicker baskets.
May need to get my thinking cap on as to who/what/where this stuff is going. For today it's still in the car.
The threads I may be able to use. Some of the wool can be used at Nursery etc, and I think I will need to get my friends from Memory girls knitting ladies to have some!
Meanwhile I gave postponed going to see Dad as I have a headache. So I've lit some scented candles. I've a cup of tea, and I've come to my bedroom for a lie down. See if I can shift the headache before I collect DGD from school today.

trix-a-belle

Mooloo, wondering if you can give me any tips suggestions, I'm replacing the zip in a coat for a colleague & on the side with the tongue its a little too thick for my domestic machine, is it worth trying to hunt out an industrial machine, do it by hand or another option?
Thank you

Savvy_sewing

trix-a-belle wrote: »

Mooloo, wondering if you can give me any tips suggestions, I'm replacing the zip in a coat for a colleague & on the side with the tongue its a little too thick for my domestic machine, is it worth trying to hunt out an industrial machine, do it by hand or another option?
Thank you

I take it in steps when this happens. I sew it by machine into the underside of the top layer. Then I top stitch it, and turn it over and slip stitch the lining, or lower levels. I have never used an industrial machine. ( I wish).
Just look at the layers, and secure the first ones that you can by machine, to anchor the zip, then I suppose the rest is to " dress" the rest of the layers.
If all else fails, and it's a leather etc then I use plyers to push and pull the needle through all the layers! But it's a slow process then, and hard on the hands.

Now if a miracle happened and I could get a suitable industrial machine, well I wouldn't say no, ( if it comes with a tutorial!)

Good luck. You can do it!

Savvy_sewing

Morning.
I woke at 4am! What's that all about! Mind you I also had very weird dreams, this time I appeared to be back stage on a rock concert!! Never been to a concert in my life, never wanted to go either, as I'm claustrophobic in crowds!

Today I needto get my skates on, there are quite a few jobs in to tackle, and I'm hoping the orders of thread, elastic etcetera actually arrive!
They are holding me back a bit.
Tonight is the evening class, 5 out of 6.
I am expecting one of my older pupils to return as she has a project that was still outstanding, and I'm going to sort out courses that are advertised much further in advance then the two months I had done so far. See if longer notice will help with numbers.
I'm also considering visiting some local B & B's to see if a deal could be struck for people coming from further afield, if I advertise on my website. Etc, or a Sewing a Magazine.
Biggest of Mooloo's came to see me, with one very spotty dgd2. Bless her.
They are looking for another rental property to move before the new baby has arrived. She has told me that I should request a refund for my advert as it still hasn't been published, and I was expecting it to go out in December/early January. When she goes on Maternity leave she is going to come and help me at the shop for stock taking, display, photography etc
Could help.
I am hopeful that things will start to pick up as the weather improves. The alterations are still coming in, etc it is the second hand section and the courses that are not as predicted!

Savvy_Sue

Biggest needs to be careful helping out: if she does any paid work while on maternity leave then her leave from her employer is deemed to have ended. I don't know if Mooloos is anywhere near where her colleagues might see her 'working'?

Savvy_sewing

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Biggest needs to be careful helping out: if she does any paid work while on maternity leave then her leave from her employer is deemed to have ended. I don't know if Mooloos is anywhere near where her colleagues might see her 'working'?

No she won't be on the payroll. I can't afford to pay her at the moment, she's just going to help me as I am Mum, and I don't have enough hours in the day to do everything, and my staff lady is not with me long enough to do the things we want to do to improve the business, keep it on track, set up proper systems etc
She is in a lucky position that her partner earns enough at the moment that she doesn't have to work. She works because she likes to do something!