Sunshine and bunting.

I went out in the sun, the snow and finally the dusk trying to get photographs of bunting. Anyone have some tips on the best way to get pictures that actually show the merry flags looking as lovely as they actually are and I will be one very grateful Pipany!





See my point? A very pretty picture which shows Dave's little writing room, the hens and, oh that's right, the bunting! The problem is there is no real detail. Still, it is pretty - I tried again...





and again...




and again...




The bunting comes in lovely summery colours - a mix of bright spots, red gingham and a little leafy green to provide a calming note, and to finish it off I included some beachy ticking (I do love ticking) as a contrast. I think the whole brings a touch of the festive; sort of reminds me of birthdays and Maydays and seaside breezes. We hang bunting in the house for celebrations and Lucy has some in a different colourway hanging in her bedroom too, but for the moment it is this one which I have named 'Bright & Breezy' which will be available on my website. It comes in lengths of approximately 2 metres (including ties) with 11 flags, but extra lengths can be ordered too.

Roll on summer!

Pipany xx

New things.

I can't believe that the Easter holiday is over here in Cornwall. I know that some places have only just started the holiday, but our children go back to school today. I was against the break being so early initially though now it feels as though we have truly said goodbye to the winter and hello to spring - apart from the light dusting of snow which is frosting the garden in the early morning sunshine today that is!

The Easter proved a good time for the business: bags, bunnies and Babbits were all popular and as such provided me with a little confidence boost, proving to myself that I was judging both my products and the market correctly. Of course the challenge as always is to see whether this can be sustained when there isn't a major event such as Easter or Christmas to cater for. So what new things are emerging from the pipany sewing room? Let's have a little look...

I said there would be a new addition to the family some time soon and now the stork has been - good grief, obviously I don't mean another real baby (what you don't think seven children between us is enough?!!) - may I introduce Baby Babbit to you...




Isn't he sweet? As ever, working with these little creatures is such fun and I played around far longer than I should have to get these photos of Baby with the classic Babbit. The children want me to write a story about them because they look so like they are having a conversation - wonder what they are talking about?




Baby Babbit seems to enjoy a spot of gardening too, though I don't think he realises that sitting on the plants isn't the best way of planting them...





Back to ask for some advice from One Who Knows...





Ok, ok, I'll stop now! The Baby Babbit is also available filled with lavender and chamomile as I thought this would make it a soothing present to sit on a shelf in a baby's nursery (how well I know those nights of pacing the room). On this note, I have also been working on lavender and chamomile cushions for a child or baby's room; here is the first with more to follow later this week...




photographing this cushion has been such a challenge as the light keeps turning dull with such a harshness in between that it bleaches the colour out altogether. Never mind, I did the best I could and tomorrow is another day! This shows the close up detail of the appliqued crib with a touch of course of embroidery just to keep me happy.

I


I have also been replenishing the Lauren tote bag stock during the holiday as they have been selling well - I think people are beginning to get in beach mode (ever-hopeful here!) and these bags do provide plenty of storage with both interior and exterior pockets; why is it then that I still manage to lose my mobile? The most popular options seem to be the Grape and Teal



Lavender and Rose




and for those who like bright and zingy, Tropical Lime




Right, that's me done for now; off to finish the lovely bunting I will be showing tomorrow which is full of gorgeous, summery fabrics. Suppose I had better load the new stock onto the website too!

Bye from me - and Baby Babbit of course





Pipany xx

Babbits once more.

Goodness, who would have thought that something as simple as a soft toy called Babbit would be such a nightmare to photograph? I seem to have spent the last few days taking endless pictures of the little thing in a variety of poses and situations so that I can put it on the website; first there ws not enough sun, then there was too much (can there be such a thing?) and all the colour bleached out to leave it looking like a Babbit who had seen better days. Finally I managed to get the photos I was after - I think - and here is the finished version... you can click on the images to enlarge...

First the original picture





and this one which was also shown on my Poltisko Memoirs post




So far, so good but having initially said I would be making a little bag for Babbit containing a hat, shells, etc I was made to do a re-think based on the fact that so many people - both virtual and local - have expressed an interest in buying one for babies. As those of you who read my other post will know, I was making this for Lucy's tenth birthday and was showing it off online! The reaction was truly lovely and Babbit seems to have stolen a few hearts (I have to admit to being more than a little taken with it myself if that's not too big-headed to say!). However, babies and shells don't go, and so I decided to make Babbit a home of her own (may be a boy Babbit - not too sure) which looks like this...




It is made from calico with a calico lining and features an appliqued house. Of course, there was no chance that it wouldn't have a little embroidery on it somewhere - 'Babbit's House' is what I found myself sewing and then it just needed a few flowers either side of the door, some stitching to highlight the walls and the window frames - you know how it is, too much fun to be had!



So there is Babbit and her bag, now available from my website www.pipany.co.uk (blatant advertising but it
is my business blog after all). In fact, I so enjoyed making this one that I am planning a whole range - a little one called Baby Babbit perhaps; a boy one with a stripey top in the best Cornish tradition carrying a bucket and spade called Beach Babbit; hmm, the list seems endless...

Hopping off now (groan!)

Pipany xx

Well, I don't appear to have written anything on my poor business blog for a while which could suggest that it has all gone down the pan! Thankfully that is definitely not the case, quite the reverse actually, and the reason I have not written for so long is that I have had too many things happening, things started and not able to be completed which makes it a little hard to write about them. I think I am beginning to win through now though and so here I am.

The first task which seems to have taken me an age to sort has been the updating of my pipany website. Dave and I first put this site together throughout last August and I have continued to work on it ever since, uploading photographs, writing copy, etc. During the Christmas period I realised the layout would need changing to allow for an expanding stockline in the New Year. Finally I have managed to complete it - now we are into March! Why did it take so long? Partly because I tried to do it in the evenings when I would be too tired to sew, partly because I am a bit of a fussy so-and-so and spent a lifetime playing with different colours, fonts, layouts...the list is endless. No sooner would I sort on bit and the rest would look tired and off I would go again. Fortunately dear Sam has a great eye for things and would tell me to change things when I was clearly too tired to see the faults (mind you, he was really waiting for me to get off the computer!). Anyhow, it is done and has a much better layout which I am pleased with while still retaining the overall feel of the original including what seems to be a very popular photograph on the welcome page judging by all the comments.

As well as all the work on the site I have been working on things for Easter including these little bags and bunny...



In fact, the bunnies (I did consider calling them Easter Babbits to please Isabella!) are taking over the house - I think the children are taking them off when my back is turned which I suppose confirms I am on the right track in thinking that kids like little things such as this. Each bag has a flowered lining...



...and embroidered front panel and comes complete with one of the bunnies; so far so good as they are already selling well, but oh lor, it has taken an age to get a photograph of them what with bad weather, flat light, too much sun...arghh!!!!

As an alternative to all this Easter activity I have been in touch with several shops who have shown interest in the Ship, ship sailing game and am waiting to hear back from them in regards to possibly placing wholesale orders. Weddings are on the horizon and one or two lovely projects have come up as a result involving dragonflies, lavender and lace, though not all together I might add!

Yes, overall things are going well and I am thoroughly enjoying myself. Now off to take some more pictures and load up some more stock onto the website...I wish it would stop raining though!

Pipany xx

Posing problems.

Lauren bag in Lavender and Rose


I am actually on my way to the sewing room; can't you tell? The trouble is I just briefly checked emails, blogs and er, blogs. Reading through one of my favourites by Jane of Snapdragon's Garden I felt inspired to write my own. Jane talks today of the difficult problem of pricing handmade goods, something I personally find very difficult, and it made me think of the various things I have 'issues' with in getting this business off the ground. Time for a bit of honesty then I feel, so here are on or two of the things I grapple with:

1. Pricing - needs to be a business not a charity and therefore needs to
make a profit.

2. Packaging - what is the best form of packaging? I use a variety of tissue
papers and trimmings to make the whole experience what I would
enjoy (of course!), but what boxes work best? Don't like
envelopes, so where is the cheapest place for boxes of all sizes? I
suspect ebay is the answer to that one.

3. Postage - I had this one to think about for my wholesale order (still a bit
proud of my first little order!). Ordinary orders have posed no
problem, but suddenly I had a large box and couldn't work out the
best way to post it - this meant I wasn't sure what to charge for
postage on the quote I sent and as the order obviously wasn't made
up - or even placed at this point - I couldn't really weigh it in
anticipation....very tricky and I had the feeling I was missing
something here. What does everybody else do?


Well, there are a few to be going on with. So far I have not come unstuck, quite the reverse in fact and I seem to have hit the mark with all I have done, but I get the feeling that it is guesswork - albeit an educated guess - and this goes against the grain. I like to know what I am doing and sometimes wish there was a handbook especially for me.

It's all a learning curve I guess, but all suggestions from those dealing with the same issues will be gratefully received!

Pipany xx

And it's gone....

Hurrah! Hooray! It's all over for today! Hmm, poetry not my thing it seems. Why the cheers? My wholesale order has been posted and is winging its way to Dorset. Oh the relief and yet now the panic really sets in ... what if the order isn't what they thought it would be, after all it's hard to see much from a little photo on a website isn't it? What if my faith in my work is misplaced? What if..... Ah well, we shall see! In the meantime here are some pics of the little dears packaged off for their journey.


First the wallhangings nestled in tissue paper that was actually a very pretty shade of sea blue (flipping light is awful here today!) ...






Next came the Ship, ship sailing games with all the little pebbles and shells tucked safely inside....






And finally here's Fatty Arbuckle. No, we're not posting him off to Dorset - he's far too gorgeous for that - but he just wouldn't budge and so I thought he should be included in the photocall. Isn't he lovely?





Right oh, I'm off for a cuppa before I start the Easter bags - more about those later!



Pipany xx

Progress....I think!

Well, despite a very thorough search (HUH!) the camera cable is still missing in action and I am having to post the frankly poor pictures I had already uploaded before Dear Davey swiped the camera last week. I know the lighting is bad and I know the positioning of the bags is a bit odd, but I was only planning to take these intitial pics to see how they well they photographed. Ah well, best laid plans - it also means the other version of my snail bag which has less flowers and some script instead isn't shown here because I hadn't finished it at the time...oh, let's move on. Here they are for now and I will post better ones when I can:





Lots has been happening over the last week or so: the shop in Dorset has been in regular communication and has confirmed the order - Hurrah! My First Wholesale Order!!! This has meant Many Hours in my sweatshop - sewing room - and much hand embroidery resulting in a slightly bruised thumb due to the fairly tough canvas used in the wallhangings, but I am so pleased with the mounting pile of goodies; I will pop a link on to the shop once they have received the order.

On top of all this excitement I have been having loads of ideas for new products and paths for the business, and can't wait to start working on them. What are they? Well, let's just say for now that they involve rosemary, gardening (which was where I started out years ago), beaches and a collaboration with a friend who is a VERY talented ceramacist (sp?). Am I fired up (ho, ho excuse the pun)? You bet I am.

Oh and the downside to the last few weeks? My poor websited are so neglected that I wake at night worrying about them; new ranges not on, new layouts and a spring clean needed, and generally somw love and care much required. If only each day had 48 hours instead of 24!


Pipany xx