I've spent a lot of this week making clothes for etsy, for my grandchildren and for my new great nephew.  I do enjoy making small clothes :)

But I really need to get back to my quilts, my Liberty quilt needs handquilting and my eldest son has asked for a  new quilt and so I plan on getting it done by his birthday at the end of August...that's the plan!

                         

                         

The twins love to wear skirts but can be fussy with their fabric choice. The right hand skirt below is made of vintage Laura Ashley fabric, it looks red in the photo but is actually deep pink. My daughter reminded me that I made her a skirt with wide elastic at the waist from the same fabric (I've had it years) and would I make the same for the girls. I only had enough for one skirt and so used a Liberty fabric for the other one. I had some denim and made the bottom two skirts from that...let's see if they are happy with them ;)

My daughter in SA still has baby Lilhe living with them...they are really hoping to adopt him. She asked if I would make some trousers for him, I lined these with some lovely soft vintage winsiette that I had in my stash. The weather is chilly over there at the moment. I also knitted hi. His little jacket and hat and can't wait to see him wearing them all :)

Montessori aprons

I love it when I get a commission order through my etsy shop, these Montessori style aprons are my best sellers. I don't make much money from them as I have to compete with other sellers making similar items...I can't see that they make much either. But they are quick and simple to make. 

On Sunday I had a request from a mum to make an apron for her little boy, she had bought one from etsy for her daughter but had to order from USA as she hadn't seen my shop here in the UK. She was specific about her colours and so ordered these beautiful fabrics and had them sent direct to me. They arrived today and now her little apron is packaged ready to post :)

                 

re brand

The etsy shop that I started last year hasn't been very successful, I have made sales but not as many as I would like. I don't think the problem has been down to the products or the prices. So I am taking my daughters' advice (her husband has a very successful on line shop)and re branding. She is helping me with a new name and logo idea and I have another friend who will help me with the design. I will still make clothes etc for babies and young children and as I have a background in teaching early years I will be focussing on Montessori inspired products too. 

Here is the first of these....

A reversible draw string bag made from original retro fabric and calico

inside are eight little crocheted balls, two of each colour. These will encourage different areas of development....physical and cognitive. The balls are made from fair trade organic cotton and are lovely and soft to touch. They can be used for colour naming, colour matching, sorting and counting as well as squeezing, rolling and throwing! 

Tea Towels

I have decided to make some house wares for the etsy shop. I love sewing with this cotton ticking fabric. I have made these tea towels from cream with black stripes....I would of used the dark blue but the shop has sold out. I had some labels made but they aren't really as big as I would like so I will be on the look out for some more. I would prefer to buy from the UK so if anyone knows of a good supplier please let me have their website. Thanks!

Etsy Store

I have just launched my Etsy Store, having added a few items that I have made. I will be adding more as I make them so please come back and visit it often!

Sunshine

I've been getting on with a few Etsy makes ready for my on line store launch, here is a selection. A couple of baby blankets and Cath Kidston feeding cover and bib.

But now the sun is shining I think I may step outside with a cuppa and my Kindle :) 

Bibs

This is a great book of patterns for children's clothes, I have just used the template for these bibs for my upcoming etsy store. I used fabric left over from a pair of trousers I made for Gilby and backed with towelling. I haven't yet made the fastening and am still considering which way to do this. The press stud gadgets really don't work well and I am not sure about Velcro. I have recently seen some hand made bibs with sew on press studs so may try those.

Breast Feeding Cover

When my daughter had her twins she bought a breast feeding cover which she found invaluable,especially as to begin with she fed them both together. I thought I would have a go at making these covers for my etsy shop and began with this one for a new mum at church. She asked for stripes and I bought 100% cotton ticking fabric in navy. I pre washed it and it didn't shrink. It was a good price and lovely to sew with. I used 'boning' to make the top edge stand away from mum so she can peep down at baby while she is feeding. I made a towelling pocket on the inside corner to store breast pads and used D rings for fastening the straps.  

Etsy Ideas

I am beginning to kick around a few ideas for my etsy shop that I am in the process of setting up. 

 Dummy/pacifier clips made with Cath Kidston fabric

Baby blanket made for my husbands great nephew...when he arrives

Pacifier/Dummy Clip

I will be trying out lots of ideas over the coming weeks of products to consider selling in my Esty shop. Here is one my daughter suggested, a crochet dummy/pacifier clip. I have made this out of organic cotton yarn, adding a button for decoration.

Next Step

For the past three years I have been working two jobs, administrator for the church and one to one support to a school boy. As the boy will be moving up a school in September that job will come to an end in July. My daughter has been telling me to set up an Esty shop and bought me the books below for my birthday, they are great, one all about setting up an Esty shop, one about how to take photo's on on line creations and the third is about how to sell crafts globally and on line. So watch this space, hopefully I will have an Etsy shop set up by September!

While returning from Petersham Nurseries near Richmond I stopped to visit this great patchwork shop, Tikki Patchwork and bought myself a lovely bundle of fat quarters.