My dream is becoming a reality!

Hi friends,
Well, I have been really busy over the past few months planning for my latest venture, my leap into the unknown, my long term dream.... I have taken the plunge and set up a little shop called Romana-Dawn Creations! I have rented a small business workshop unit in my local area and am currently busy getting the many metres of fabrics and equipment that I have had in my house 'just in case', for many years, transferred to it.
Well, finally the time has come to put all this stuff to good use, and try to make an income out of my sewing and knitting experience of many years. I have set up a facebook page, and so far this has had a good response. I will be making household textiles, bags, bears, babywear and clothing for little un's upto age 10. I aim to use preloved fabrics and turn them into useful items once again. I am very into the green, simple living way of life, and this will fit me down to the ground. Saving the planet piece by piece, making patchwork, quilted, sewn and  knitted goods (think Cath Kitston type stuff, but without the high price tag, and greener!)
more tomorrow, until then
blessings
Rae

Please excuse me whilst I regenerate!!!

Ok, so where have I been? It's a very long story, so I won't bore you with the finer details. I will just do a quick update today to say that everything has changed here, and for the better!
I have made a life changing decision to start something that has been on the back boiler for at least 12 years now, and it is all coming together like a dream.....
Please come back and see me tomorrow for more.....
Until then, take care, and thanks for your patience.
Blessings,
Rae

I promised

Hi everyone,
well, I have been absent for too long and for that I apologise. I have no real excuses, I just had my procrastinators head on and didn't motivate myself enough to write anything here. I had a chat with my eldest son,( and closest confidente) this morning and promised him that I would get off my lazy butt and blog today. I kept my promise, and here I am!

What has been going on here, you may ask? Not much really, life is pretty normal at the moment, save for a bit of  furniture re-arranging, a few days of horrendous gales last month that blew away both of my greenhouses and destroyed them,oh, and a new business idea! (well, not new but re-considered!)

I have definitely decided to start making teddies and rag dolls, stuffed dragons and unicorns (and various other stuffed toys) from recycled fabrics and try to make a bit of income by selling them on Etsy and Ebay. I was going to include household textiles and other bits and pieces, but I'm not sure now, any opinions? We will have a very big reduction in income from May next year when my youngest son reaches 16 and we lose all monies for his care. I need to find a way of replacing at least some of that money so I thought I would give it a go.

Talking of Jack, he recently won the Merseyside Young Sportsperson of the year award to go with his many other awards that he has won this year. He is being kept very busy with trying to combine school and table tennis training, in preparation for the 2012 Paralympics in London. good luck to him!

Meanwhile, Chris, my eldest son is tackling his University studies, and also holding down two jobs! Another busy boy! (shouldn't call him a boy really, he will be 23 next month!)

Myself, well, I have already made three cute teddies (photos to follow), and cut out the pieces for four more, so at least I have made a start and I will make at least one more each day until I have quite a stock ready for sale. Each one is unique and being made from recycled fabrics ( curtains, clothes, linens etc), they are eco friendly too, which is always a good thing. I can but try.

until next time

Blessings

Rae

loft space first phase complete

Hi everyone,
well, today has been another busy day! I had the loft flooring company here and they did a great job of laying some good strong flooring so that I can store most of my craft goodies up there, saving me loads of space down in the craft room. Officially that particular room is the dining room, but, as in many houses in  theUK, it was only used for storage.It will now become the master bedroom, giving my daughter her own room in time for her third birthday on Boxing day. it will be done as a surprise for her, so I'm going to be really busy in the near future trying to swap our current bedroom downstairs to the new room, and setting up her room in its place. i have already got the wallpaper and paint needed, its just a case of getting around to getting it done!
My lovely landlady has sent a handyman round to give me a hand to get this place back on its feet, and he completed quite a few tasks on my to-do list when he came on Tuesday. This included the front garden and drive areas, and making safe the paved path for my son's wheelchair. Just seeing the difference between the before and after he completed it has given me a huge boost and has made me get into action myself, making me start getting the rest of the house in order and maintaining the order when sorted.
I have decide to start making fabric shabby chic style teddy bears and rag dolls to sell on ebay and etsy so I have been collecting sewing patterns and fabric as I come across a bargain, hopefully this new venture will allow us to get some kind of money together to pay the bills and maybe make some savings for future house projects.
Meanwhile, I have managed to get a bargain walk-in plastic greenhouse for my ongoing self suffiency drive. It will need to be put up, maybe next week and it will hold quite a few shelving units to hold my pots of seedling vegetables. I have been saving yoghurt pots and getting some half price gardening items such as packs of mini plant pots from the local shops that are now coming into christmas season and selling off the summer stock. I love a bargain!!
well, its nearly midnight here, so my bed is calling as we are up at 5am for Hubby to get to work for 6am!
until next time,
goodnight, sleeptight and have good dreams
blessings
Rae

I'm back!

Hi everyone,
first of all, many thanks for the comments received after my last post. I have decided to carry on writing this blog, but to include much more info, and photos about what is going on in my life at the moment. I have have had a pretty eventful time recently and I promise to fill you all in tomorrow.....
until then
goodnight and bright blessings
Rae

Is anybody reading my blog?

Hi everyone,
well, i'm becoming very despondant about my blog recently, I do wonder if anyone is actually reading it, as nobody has left any comments for a while. If you think its worth carrying on, please let me know.
Until next time,
bright blessings
Rae

problem sorted

Hi everyone,
I haven't been able to blog recently because my system was playing up, but now it seems to be sorted.
An update...
Jack got a gold medal at the UK school games, and also got himself a job as a peer mentor working with other young people with additional needs, helping them to make their way in life, and learning the ways of dealing with society and its expectations.
He is also about to start working with soldiers who have returned from Afghanistan because they have been injured or disabled. He will be working voluntarily for Help The Heroes,  a charity set up to support injured servicemen and women. He will teaching them to play table tennis and helping them to learn to live life in a wheelchair, as he does. All this at the age of 15!!! I am sooo proud!
On to the rest of the household, I have been researching methods of simplifying living and have been collecting books on the subject (only when they have  been in thrift shops, at bargain prices!)
I have also been scouring the local charity shops (thrift shops) looking for clothes for myself and my daughter ready for the winter season. I got some really good bargains and have been sorting out clothes that are no longer required and passing them on to the charity shops in return.
I have been looking into the vast (600 plus!) collection of sewing patterns that I have accumulated over the years, and have been sorting them into groups ie crafts, costumes etc. I have discussed with my friend and we have decided that it is about time that I got off my lazy backside and started to use them and my many years of sewing experience to make an income. I will use the soon-to-be floored loft as my craft room and will sell my craft and household textiles through the like of Etsy and on various craft fairs throughout the year, as well as through the cheapest form of advertising, word of mouth.
I have found a great site to help with the craft business set up, it is http://www.startacraftbusiness.co.uk/ and it is full of really useful information to help me on my way.
My goal is to have everything set up by this time next year in time for the christmas business and although I fully expect it to be in full swing by the end of this year, any earlier than the goal date will be a bonus.
If anyone has any advice for me on either learning to live simpler, like Down to Earth and similar sites, or has any comments or experiences to share then feel free. I aim to write my blog at least three times a week if not more, so i promise to keep in touch regularly and would appreciate any feedback.
many thanks for now
many blessings
Rae