Oh what a year!

Ok I am turning in to a very bad blogger, I have issued myself a virtual slap on the wrist, but it has been a pretty hectic year here at HQ, I know I mentioned it on my Facebook page but not on here but on Halloween this year I had to have my first ever operation, I wont go in to the gory details but basically it involved muscles and incisions needing to heal, an organ being removed and not being able to lift, drive and most importantly sew for a few weeks, it was pretty horrible!

Anyway two months on and I'm all better now and have had a bit of time pre Christmas to make a few orders and also to change my little business a bit and make myself a few little creations.

About a month ago Wind the Bobbin officially changed to Bobbins Boutique! Why the change? Well WTB was always about Emma's (aka Baby Bobbins) favourite song, but as it's such a popular nursery rhyme it also seems to be a quite popular business name and I wanted something a little more unique so WTB became BB, same great handmade designs and fantastic quality - just a different name which is a bit more unique and fun new logo, which I absolutely love!

I've also allowed myself a little time to make a few special things for me (something I honestly never do) so I thought I'd share them with you.  Both creations are made using patterns by the lovely Rae from Rae of made by RAE I've made the first creation the Show Off Bag three times before for gifts, but here's mine for me - complete with ribbon loop to hold my keyring, order book pocket, phone pocket and a magnetic heart clasp, I've also lengthened the straps a little so it can be worn messenger style!

I've also made this gorgeous dress using Rae's Washi Dress pattern, I just checked my measurements and made the size which I fell in to (a small) and it fit's absolutely perfectly, so I'm over the moon! I made this dress with the optional pockets, the little U shaped neckline and the pretty flutter sleeves.  I have big plans to make myself another dress, maybe in jersey with a Peter Pan style collar - but need to find a fabric that's perfect for it.  Anyway this is my first Washi Dress in a gorgeous black satin dinky floral print, it's much prettier in real life and with it being satin it is totally wrinkle free which will make it a great dress for packing in a suitcase, happy days.

 

I wont be making these dresses or bags to sell, but I would encourage other sewers to try them out! Rae's instructions are really easy to follow and the finished products are beautiful!

Well as 2012 draws to a close I've been thinking about how lucky I've been to spend the last few years doing what I love (creating and designing) for such lovely customers and I really hope to be able to make lots of special items for lots of you in 2013, I've been upgrading and adding to my equipment, re branding and researching patterns and materials to make my products the best that I can and will be rolling out some new designs in the New Year - so watch this space!  I'd like to wish you all the very best for 2013 and look forward to seeing lots of lovely little customer photos in the New Year!

<3 Nicole aka Bobbins x

Time flies...

Wow time has just been flying past! It's been quite exciting really, I've started supplying my first real life shop - The Gift Box, which has just opened in Warkton (near Kettering), Northamptonshire. It's in a lovely village and I was lucky enough to meet one of the owners when I had a stall at her craft market in Warkton and thankfully she asked me to sell my little dresses, so honoured!

So here are a few photos of my little dresses in the converted stable block that is now The Gift Box, I love that my customers can pop by have a cup of tea and see my little dresses in the flesh - so special!

I was also lucky enough to be asked to have my patterns featured at Word Play House, this is an amazing blog run by a New York Times bestselling author and illustrator - how she gets the time for it all I don't know but her crafty tips for children are amazing.  This is a link to the feature and this is where you can buy my Easy Peasant Dress pattern.

I've also added one more pattern to my shop recently for a beautiful patchwork skirt.

Lastly I'm quite excited about my newest little addition to the Bobbins team (which is arriving tomorrow) - an overlocker (aka serger)! I think it will make an amazing addition to HQ, I just hope my sewing machine doesn't get too jealous!

Feeling the Chevron Love...!

I think I've gone a bit mad for chevrons this week, I am totally head over heels for them - I've decided to make a few special chevron designs as "made to order" garments and stuck them in the shop. They're just so sophisticated and pretty.

This is the Chevron Circe Skirt which is £24 plus p&p and so twiry!



And this is the Chevron Bohemian Belle (with optiona low slung waistline) for £23 plus p&p

Last up is a pretty and classic Chevron Skirt for £15 plus p&p

In other news, I've sent off over 20 items to the new shop I'm suppying - it was quite exciting getting the dresses all packed up and even more exciting when I had a message come through from the shop owners saying they almost "welled up" opening the parcel! I'm really excited about supplying my first shop and think it will be so nice for customers to be able to see what they're buying - I get so many emails saying that photos don't do the dresses justice.  More news on the shop coming soon!





The patterns have hit the shop!

Ok well technically they hit the shop a few days ago, but as usual I'm running a teeny bit behind... But that doesn't stop me from being ecstatic because after a heck of a lot of hard work my first patterns are finished, have been emailed to everyone who has pre-ordered and are ready to purchase in the shop, which I think is a massive achievement.  They are simple designs - but I think simple is what people want when they're starting out. I didn't want to design something that would take 20 hours to make and have a million pattern pieces to print cut and tape.  So here they are! 

The Bohemian Belle - this dress has a smocked neckline, sleeves and waistline and a very boho look - hence the name.

 https://www.etsy.com/listing/101051269/easy-girls-pdf-dress-pattern-bohemian

The Easy Peasant Dress - well this dress is a simple design but so pretty on, it has elasticated sleeves and an elasticated neckline so you don't have to use any special techniques to make it - this pattern is perfect for beginners.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/101729725/peasant-dress-easy-pdf-dress-pattern-for

And here's a photo of the first Bobbins dress made by one of my customers Georgina, she's made her daughter Sophie a size 5-6 Bohemian Belle in a pretty floral print, it just shows that using a different fabric can make this dress look so different. I can't wait to see more of these photos.

Monthly round up?

Just realising how long it's been since my last blog, shocking! Well I do have a few good excuses! We spent a week in sunny Spain, soaking up some much needed sunshine...

And also I've been very busy with making my first pattern! For a gorgeous low slung peasant dress. I'll have the full pattern listed in the shop by 15th June at the latest but there is a pre order listing now. 

I did want to share something very very very special that arrived this week, a few months ago  I asked the lovely Donna at D.A. Gifts if she could make me a hexagon blanket, I'd seen one in Mollie Makes ages ago which I absolutely loved - she very kindly agreed - although I'm not sure either of us realised exactly how much time they would take. Nearly 300 hexagons have been crocheted, then stitched together and a border has been added in two colours - and this is Emma's new blanket! I'm saving it for either a birthday present or for when she moves in to her big girl bed, it seems a shame to have something so special tucked away, but it's also way too special to give on just any day of the week.

Vintage May

This month is Vintage May over at Skirt as a Top and I've decided to take part in my first photo group and uploaded a few of my latest vintage makes.  I am so passionate about using vintage pieces in my work, they are pretty and original - I love that it makes my clothing even more unique but it can be a very sad day when a piece I love has been used up, c'est la vie it's worth it to make something beautiful!

For my submissions to Vintage May I've chosen three pieces that use feedsack as it is one of my favourite vintage materials and one new vintage design circle skirt with vintage fabric as I love the 1950's style.  For those of you that don't know about feedsack it's highly collectible and quite rare.  Feedsacks were used in the early to mid 1900's as cloth bags for storing flour, rice, animal feed, grain and other household items - they were made in pretty patterns to encourage housewives to buy certain brands and the sacks could then be reused to make useful items like clothing and quilts.



This is a picture of a 1940's feedsack from my collection before I cut in to it.....

 

... and this is one of my submissions in to Vintage May, a top made using a pattern by Brownie-Goose using the vintage uncut feedsack pictured above. I've also added jumbo rick rac, gingham and pink polka dot fabric, which kind of mixes modern and vintage - something I love to do.

And here's a quick round up of my other three submissions to the photo pool.

Pattern by Brownie-Goose

A matching Katie Top and Derby Shorts made using vintage feedsack with little Bobbins style extras like a handmade crocheted flower and lace trim.



And I couldn't forget my Jubilee Dress which has vintage feedsack patches as well as vintage reproduction pieces from the Smithsonian institute, I've added a vintage button and smocked the bodice and straps. I've also added lace trim to the straps and bottom of the dress



Thanks so much Naomi for sending in this gorgeous photo!

And lastly but perhaps the most special this 1950's circle skirt which is being modelled by one of my beautiful customers. I have hand embellished the top and added ruffled broderie and a smocked waistline to this skirt. This is my own design which I am 100% proud of!



To see the photo pool and get some fantastic inspiration check out the Vintage May flickr photo pool

<3 Bobbins x

Weekly Roundup

Gosh it's amazing how losing one small thing can completely holt your progress - this week that small thing was my camera battery charger.  For the life of me I don't know where it is, I've turned the house upside down and now ordered a replacement - I'll likely find it now, that's always how these things go - but using my old camera to take photos of my gorgeous new makes just isn't cutting it for me (hence the lack of photos on this post),

So here's an update for this week, firstly I had a very special delivery from the uber talented Brownie-Goose a pair of Summer Sailors and a Blue Tilly - the quality and fit are amazing and I can already think of loads of matching tops the Sailors will look lovely with - so a big thanks to Brownie-Goose! 

I've also been trying out some new Brownie-Goose patterns using highly collectable vintage feedsack and lots of gingham and as usual I'm over the moon with the results.

The Katie top pattern by Brownie-Goose, made by me, modelled by Baby Bobbins

Also, a bit of a decision for me - I've been running two shops and my Facebook page but had a bit of a blunder when I forgot to de-list an item from one of the shops this week - so as a result I've decided to consolidate and start listing my items in only one shop.  There will be  more info on this soon.

I've also placed a massive second order with the lovely Lexi's Place who has been beavering away making lots of gorgeous flower clips, butterfly clips and bobbles for me to continue sending out with all orders.

Gorgeous clips for gorgeous girls by Lexi's Place

Oh and my big highlight for the week that I simply must share was when Sis Boom (aka Jennifer Paganelli) said she loved my Facebook Page! Wow, it's an amazing feeling to know that a designer with amazing taste who's fabrics I use on my designs loves my work!

One of my recent Paganelli dresses

I'll update this post with more pictures for this week when my new battery charger arrives <3 Bobbins x

more

I don't just sell handmade...

I'm one for practicing what you preach and lets face it, it's nice to have something that's original and to buy gifts that you know someone wont already have.

Well last week a new arrival in the family, my little nephew Aaron Lee so I went on the hunt for something different and fun for my new little nephew, I contacted some very talented ladies My Coat of Many Colours and Bright'N'Crafty to make my little nephew something special, here's what they came up with:

Hand knitted booties in navy (left) by Bright'N'Crafty and hand appliqued guitar onsie (right) by My Coat of Many Colours

I'm constantly amazed by the talent I'm surrounded by and wanted to share some of my latest handmade purchases, these little goodies are now making their way to my Sister in Oregon where I'm sure they'll be put to good use. <3 Bobbins x

Paganelli update

As an update to my last post I thought I'd share the fruits of my labour this week - my Funky Flower collection using Jennifer Paganelli prints.

This is the first time I've made circle skirts and I've come up with my own design with a smocked waist line which gives an amazing fit, it also means that the tops can be tucked in and it looks a tshirt dress - very trendy! 

The circle skirts are even bigger and more twirly then I expected, they use roughly a metre of fabric and a whopping three metres of trim - it's a lot of material but the end result is stunning!  I've made them out of quite modern and funky Paganelli prints.  I've also used glittery top stitching, jumbo ric rack and lace to make them even more girly.  I have purchased matching tops and added handmade fabric flowers with vintage and new buttons, to make a nice coordinating outfit.

I've really enjoyed making the circle skirts and they are so twirly and fun - my little girl calls hers her "dancing skirt" so cute!  I feel like I'm finally starting to find my own feet with dressmaking and making designs I really love, the designs look like they are straight out of the Boden catalogue but with a Bobbins twist.

Spotlight on Jennifer Paganelli

I don't know if I'm showing my newness to the dressmaking industry here, but even after a year of sewing every day and spending hours looking for new fabrics I hadn't heard of Jennifer Paganelli before a few weeks ago... I am always on the lookout for bold and beautiful fabrics, things that are a bit different to what other dressmakers are using and one day I stumbled across a fabric from her Crazy Love line called Victoria in Blue - it was love at first sight! I've been working on a lace overlay dress that I know this fabric will be perfect for! 

Victoria in Blue

Well after finding this lush new fabric I spent a few hours looking at Jennifer's different collections - she designs for a few different fabric manufacturers and has several different lines.  I ended up fall ordering six prints from several different collections and they are absolutely striking - big, bold, beautiful and sophisticated, everything I was looking for!

My new Jennifer Paganelli fabrics

I've made one dress so far out of the fabric in the bottom left and this Friday I'll be releasing a size 2-3 Pretty Peasant Dress at www.facebook.com/windthebobbin in the fabric on the bottom right as a little surprise (shhhh!) but I really can't wait to use all the fabric, if you're interested in buying some of this gorgeous fabric for your own creations checkout http://www.sewmamasew.com/ccp0-catshow/dsjpaganelli.html they seem to have quite a comprehensive selection.

My first Paganelli dress, a ruffle pinny with pearl snaps - pattern by Lily Bird Studios

Also, just worth a little mention is Jennifer's book - it seems her talents don't end at designing gorgeous fabrics, she's also just written her first book titled Girl's World her website www.sisboom.com describes the book as including "twenty-one adorable sewing projects to make for little girls—frilly dresses, ruffled pillows, bed canopies, stuffed animals, and more!" - this book has over 50 reviews on www.amazon.com and a 5 star review rating! I think I might just need to add it to my Christmas List!

Girl's World - Twenty-One Sewing Projects to Make for Little Girls by Jennifer Paganelli

Welcome

Welcome! To my all new blog, I never thought I would be a blogger... there are already so many things I try to keep on top of online, but in two weeks time it will be my birthday, well not my birthday but Wind the Bobbins birthday and I'd like to make a second year resolution - to keep better track of my accomplishments, what I'm working on, ideas, etc - I already have my Facebook page www.facebook.com/windthebobbin, but I hope this blog will have a slightly more personal feel and also be a way for me to look back over the entries, so many things seem to get lost in Facebook.  Please feel free to leave comments as I'd love to hear from you!

For those of you that don't know about Wind the Bobbin - I opened shop on 1st May 2011 sewing handmade gifts and selling various items, over the last year I've had to abandon my waiting list due to increasing demand and have been making more ready made items and taking the occasionally custom order slots.  Here are a few pics of the collection I'm working on at the moment Little Red!

Pattern by Brownie-Goose

Pattern by Lily-Bird Studios

An original Wind the Bobbin design

An original Wind the Bobbin Design

Thanks for taking the time to read my lil' blog and for your continued support

<3 as always,

Bobbins

x