Mooloo's little tapestry of life, 2016

Savvy_sewing

Said goodnight ages ago, picked up my phone and ended up on line again for about 45 minutes!
Just a note outside of the box for me.
I have hated this house since I was allocated it, but it was a means to an end. Once I thought I would move with BF to oxford so thought it a stop gap. But today I actually caught myself looking at the house and actually smiling. What was a house, is finally starting to be a home. With the money I invested, ( with Mum's help), and my friends help with fittings today, I can actually see the potential in this ugly pebble dashed house.
There is hope for us yet.

pollyanna_26

Mooloo That's exactly what I meant a few days ago when talking about your forever home . I could see you beginning to get excited about what you could do , Don't know about you but today has been a long day I'm off to bed . Sleep well .
polly

Emm-in-a-pickle

Mooloo, I`ve read your thread intermittently, and the sewing room thread too, but haven`t posted. I`m posting now because I have to say how much I admire your efforts and what you`ve achieved.
I have no sewing training at all, just learned at mother`s knee (literally, she had a sore knee and got me using the old treadle when I was 10!) In my teens I made all my own clothes, and then made all the kids` clothes, so many soft toys too, much trial & error, there used to be so many fabric stalls on markets, cheap remnants, etc., and I used to do bits for friends, neighbours, mends, zips, minor alterations, as favours not paid. Then I let it all go, with working full time (nurse) and no time for sewing. I retired last year but still part-time. I started sewing again, but for fun. Folks have said `you should make stuff and sell it`, when they`ve seen some of my makes, but then it wouldn`t be fun. And that`s why I admire you so much.

In the past when I sewed, even just `favours` and not for profit, I found that if someone paid for fabric and pattern for a dress they expected to look like a million dollars, and had unrealistic expectations, yet if I mended or fixed a garment they already loved the reaction was much more satisfactory.
In your situation, I wouldn`t touch wedding or ESPECIALLY prom work with a bargepole! (silk purses & pigs` ears!) and especially not if it means hiring someone in to do it badly. Stick to your guns Mooloo,you`ll be well rid there! It was lovely to read the praise you had for the curtains, too.
You know your strengths, concentrate your efforts there.
And I wish you luck with the home-making. Enjoy.

dktreesea

Mooloo wrote: »

I realise that I was originally just going to pay her off, but my friend pointed out that I shouldn't give her money for nothing, and also she did apologise and offer to finish the jobs she had started. So I did think about it then I did accept her offer to finish the ones started, and I offered to either take them to her home, is she could use my machines ( only Tuesday as staff is in Wednesday.
I can cope for that one day, and must admit that she is good at some things, and has more experience of certain jobs. ( although general work she is not quite so skilled at). I will do the jacket sleeves.

The most valuable thing in my business, more than the money, is peace. Once this is over and you can relax again, you'll see what I mean. Just don't back down. I have a feeling she still wants the work. If I'm right, and I hope I'm not, maybe you could say something along the lines of no, that won't be possible, because you have decided to take the business in a new direction, without going into details? E.g. boat and houseboat refurbishment/interior design.


There's always going to be someone whom you think is better than you at some aspect of sewing. But hey, maybe the actually are, maybe they're not, but at the end of the day, it's your talent you need to nurture.

Savvy_sewing

Morning. Weird dreams and minds off on a tangent again.
I have not only made up her wages, her P45 is ready. So she will be aware that I mean business, and she's already off the payroll. I must not waver.
I suppose I have just taken on most jobs that came through the door as I used to be worried I would not have enough work. But when ever I look at the work and the jobs look near the end there is another influx of work and regulars keep returning. It is less joyful doing alterations and not making. But trying to make made to measure is stressful as you say.
Once the curtains are cut out and ready to be joined together they are less of a problem, and when I don't get interrupted they give me some satisfaction. Finding time to create things has been difficult since opening the shop, but the pile of things I made when I was recovering 3 or 4 years ago, are slowly trickling out of the shop.
My downfall is not getting the energy to learn the technical side of my website and getting my online shop sorted out, enabling the wider audiance to purchase.
Making the boat curtains was a leap of faith on both sides as I chose the fabrics and never saw the boat. So I'm relieved that they are a success.
The campervan things I have done have also never been seen in situation.
I really should contact people and ask for photos for my portfolio.
I think specialising is rather scarey as it could reduce the work load, but I think it will also be a necessity if only for my sanity.
I have told staff that we shouldn't take on anymore proms or weddings this year as we have a lot to do in only three weeks. Less then three weeks now. Certainly until I feel happier about either doing them or employing someone else.
I must monitor staffs hours and bring them back in line with her contracted hours. Meaning I must get to grips with the industrial machine downstairs and be able to work the shop on my own. During the afternoons anyway.
That's the theory anyway. She will be retiring next year (again), planning to go live in Malta, so I will eventually need to train up someone else, or decide whether to renew the shop lease or downsize and return to working from home. ( but I would loose the shop sales and be reduced to people coming to the house), which I didn't like before.
Random thoughts flicker through my mind as its another 15 months before the lease runs out. But it all needs thinking and analysing sooner rather than later.
DGD is back to school with a trip to London today, so I better get her up, sort out her packed lunch and drag out my paperwork for the meeting at 9am.

Savvy_sewing

What a scorcher of a day!
Alas until now I hadn't seen much of it.
DGD was seen off, I went back home to wait for the Social assesser. We now wait to see if funding is forthecoming or not.
Walked to work.
I've had a day full of dropsy!
It started this morning when I managed to tip a tub of meatballs and gravy on my head!
I have seemed to have lost all coordination so it took forever to do simple jobs. I managed to only do £92 worth today!
Luckily tomorrow is another day.

Savvy_Sue

Mooloo wrote: »

Talking to him tonight, he just made a valid point. I have a skill, that I could move to Portugal and rent and still work. I don't have to wait till I have saved enough etc. We gave freedom of movement etc in the EU.
I may look into it for sooner rather than later.
Let's sleep on it.

It's true we have freedom of movement, and renting in the first place is, I think, always a good idea. However, if you're thinking of doing that, I'd suggest talking to any expats you meet while you're out there on holiday, and ask them what the employment / self-employment situation is like.

I know nothing about Portugal, but I know in Spain your level of income has to be quite high before you can 'go legal', because the equivalent of National Insurance is much higher than over here. It means a lot of people end up working 'under the radar' initially, and that means that they're not covered for any health cover.

Savvy_sewing

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

It's true we have freedom of movement, and renting in the first place is, I think, always a good idea. However, if you're thinking of doing that, I'd suggest talking to any expats you meet while you're out there on holiday, and ask them what the employment / self-employment situation is like.

I know nothing about Portugal, but I know in Spain your level of income has to be quite high before you can 'go legal', because the equivalent of National Insurance is much higher than over here. It means a lot of people end up working 'under the radar' initially, and that means that they're not covered for any health cover.

I think it is pipe dream chatter really. As legally I can't take DGD out of the country without court rulings. Now that I have allowed access for weeks st a time and regularly I fear that Twin 1 and her partner's family would kick up a stink. Remember last year or year before they wanted to challenge my custody of her.
If I go to Portugal before she is 18 I think I'd have a court battle on my hands.
Yes I could drop out of here and set up in rented etc but it's just S thought that went through my mind.
I wouldn't just up sticks on a whim no matter how tempting the idea is.
Before I loose my home (and business), I would need to have a plan first, that gave me better options.
Maybe I'm still just a dreamer.

Savvy_sewing

Morning.
Not looking forward to today. Working with the seamstress to finish the jobs she had on the go.
Staff has the day off to keep the peace. I'm hoping that I can avoid long chatter or any malice. But doubt I will be that lucky.
My toothe ache is worse, eating is getting difficult so I need to go back to the dentist. Looks like I am going to have to loose my bottom front tooth and have to eventually get a denture in the gap! Scared that I am going to look a mess with a gap at the front, but the fact the tooth is twisting every time I bite, that it's wobbling more and more means my tongue keeps going to it and I'm clamping my jaw too much.
Tonight it's back to babysitting for Biggests two monsters, and feeding them etc. I have mentioned to Biggest that I think she may need a babysitter as I'm rather busy and it will get worse before it gets better with Seamstress leaving. Let's hope she starts looking.

dktreesea

Hi Mooloo, sending you good thoughts and peace for today. I hope it all goes alright. I know it's nice to see grandchildren, but for a while at least, maybe you could tell your daughter that weekdays are out due to the business and you will only be available to babysit on Saturday evenings IF you aren't doing anything.