Invest- My last aspirational word for the year

My final new year word is "Invest"

This year i will be investing in my business both financially and emotionally. I had some administrative systems set up at the end of 2010, which dramatically improved the amount of time i spent managing the business. I will be continuing to invest in making the business operate more smoothly.
I am developing some interesting new collaborations which will add a new twist to our classes, all with exciting experts in their field..... watch this space.
I'm developing some exciting products to sell alongside the classes too, again i'm afraid that's a watch this space....

I'm going to be investing in my education, i've learnt an awful lot about business in the last 18 months, but there is so much more for me to learn, and i'm going to get stuck into some business training. I may also sign up for a masters in theatre costume, although not sure how i will fit it in.

The Thrifty studio is a great space, a real artisan studio with lots of lovely light. 2011 will see some investment in re-organizing the space, and making it more fluid and cohesive.

2010 saw lots of great new TV shows come to our screens, and i missed most of them. when you work at night there's not much chance to watch TV, and really there's only so much you can record. I will be investing time catching up on Mad Men, and Supernatural. Both are shows i've heard so much about but not really followed. So if you try and get hold of me in january, and can't it's likely i'm watching back to back mad men!

2011 is the year i am seriously thinking about my future- i will be investing in my personal financial security. This is the year i accept that i'm not going to marry a millionaire, and crack on with making my own future secure. Financially it's a year to get my head out of the sand...

Every day-    bit tough this one so i'm gonna take a pass on the daily act!
Every week - Learn something new, watch something new...
Every month - Put my latte habit into some savings...I drink a lot of lattes!
Throughout 2011- I'd like to live more cautiously, become a saver and not keep throwing caution to the wind

So that's it for my new year aspirations. Can't wait to see what this new year brings!

Happy stitching
CL

Love- my second word aspiration for 2011

Love-

Wow this is a big word, and yet it's part of the everyday fabric of life.
This year i'd like more love in my life, i'd like to stop more often and appreciate those that i love, and those that love me. Too often when we're busy we get onto auto-pilot. Life becomes a blur of duty, and obligation. To do lists are great, and i write a lot of them, however i often forget to remember to tell my loved ones how i feel. So this year i aspire to rectify that, sorry to all my friends and family if i become a bit more gushing!!

I'd also like to give myself permission to love me a bit more. Anyone who knows me personally will know that i'm a perfectionist. i work really hard at getting things right, and often i am very self critical. I'd like to see myself more as others see me, and accept all that's good and bad. As with many women, i am a bit sad about how i look phsyically- i struggle with my weight, i constantly wish i could be thinner. Well this year i am going to stop procrastinating and take charge of my body. I don't aspire to be super thin, but i want to get a bit leaner, and fitter. I managed to quit 20 fags a day, so now i need to crack on with my body. I will try to Love the me i am now though, as it's so destructive to only think about the thiner me i could become. To Love myself, i need to be more in the moment.

I have 2 parallel lives- One as a Sewing Teacher, and one as a Theatrical Wardrobe Mistress. My two lives occupy much of my time, and many hours a week. Many of the activities i love have fallen by the wayside, and yes i probably have neglected the love of my life too. So I hope to start cooking again, not because i have to, but because i love it. I hope to start getting out again in 2011, and not always staying in because i'm so exhausted. I hope that i will do these things with my man, and that we can share some laughs together.

Hmmm.... lots to do here..

Every day -  I will tell someone who is special to me, that they are special to me
Every week- I will commit to some pilates/cardio not to be thin, but because i love myself and want to stay alive!
In the next few month- i will have a dinner party, and cook food that i've never cooked before

See you tomorrow for my last word of the year- Invest

Create-Word number one of my new year challenge

So instead of new year's resolutions,I have picked up on picking 3 words that sum up my aspirations for 2011.

The first of my words is "Create"

I would like to get more personal creativity back into my life. My theatre work and my teaching inspires others to be creative,but mine has slipped by the wayside! I'd like to make the following things for myself by Easter-

1- the underbust corset that i bought from sew curvy corset kits last august,and that still languishes in it's box!
2- the hot patterns faux wrap dress-it looks so delicious and I have rediscovered wearing dresses
3- copy my favourite monsoon shift dress and make a few more!

Create for me isn't just about doing things, I'd like to "create" a little more space in my life so I can enjoy doing nothing again,just chilling/reading staring at the sky!

I want to continue " creating" a network of thrifty stitchers

Some of my aspirations will take time,and so I'm not disheartened I have a few little things I'd like to get done in snaller chunks

Every day- create half an hour to take time out to daydream
Every week -read a book that's nothing to do with work
Every month-create a space in my life to get together with my girlfriends!

Fingers crossed that it's not too unachievable!

Tomorrow's blog is my second word -"Love"

Happy stitching

Fab suppliers

Today I am truly over the moon,that I can actually blog from my I phone! Something I couldn't do before,which restricted my blogging as I am always away from my computer! Just as well I can use my phone to blog,today I have retreated back to bed with my poorly chest!

At this time of year,many of us are in s reflective mood,and today I'd like to mention a couple of great new suppliers I discovered last year!

Fabric shops-some really yummy ones

http://thefabricloft.co.uk/
http://www.sewbox.co.uk/
http://www.patchfabrics.co.uk/
http://www.backstitch.co.uk/
http://www.seamstar.co.uk/
http://www.raystitch.co.uk/

Some interesting ladies that sew!

http://www.corsetkits.co.uk/
http://suzysewing.blogspot.com/

Scrumptious ribbons,buttons and beads

http://www.josyrose.com/index.aspx?level=cat&cat_id=6
http://www.spoiltrottenbeads.co.uk/buttons-453-c.asp
http://www.craftyribbons.com/shop_value_bags-80.aspx
http://www.vvrouleaux.com/

Millinery supplies

http://www.thetrimmingcompany.com/c/235019/1/fascinator-accessories.html
http://www.millinerwarehouse.co.uk/
http://www.randallribbons.co.uk/feather-mounts.html

So I hope you enjoy discovering some of the products these companies sell as much as I did! If you attend a thrifty stitcher class you receive a bonus little black book of sewing suppliers packed with more links like these.

That's me for the day.

See you tomorrow!

2010- a big year for The Thrifty Stitcher

2010 was a big year for The Thrifty Stitcher. The business only launched late 2009, so last year really was our first year of trading properly. It was a roller coaster ride....

The year started with a bang, so many people wanted to attend our sunday beginners classes that we doubled their frequency.

March saw us launching our first intermediate soft furnishing class- making roman blinds.
April showers accompanied our Fascinator class launch.
In May the business stopped being a partnership, which left just me running it....
We teamed up with a cookery school in june, offering creative crafting and cooking classes for children.
July saw a reduction in class frequency as i began a very heavy theatre job that meant I had to work all over the weekends.
August- Nov were a blur of juggling the business and my theatre job. Made a whole new set of friends though at my networking group and on twitter
December saw us crafting for fairs and running new christmas workshops.

So here i am in 2011- this year I hope to get time to do more personal sewing.
We are launching a few new classes this year- the first being an intermediate cushion class "Beyond Beginners" This class focusses on inserting and using zips, and mastering the box cushion.

Looking forward to a great Thrifty Stitching year....

A fabulous book for new year sewing

Post Christmas often leaves us with lots more time on our hands. Why not fill that spare time with some great new sewing projects....

Stitch by Cath Kidston

Cath Kidston third book "Stitch" is a great successor to her previous books, "Sew", and "Make" Cath Kidston has become a british icon, making florals chic again, and popularising kitsch culture.
Stitch is a fabulous project book for fans of needle-point, or indeed for anyone interested in getting started with needlepoint/cross stitch. There are a great selection of projects from simple pincushions, to elaborate cushion covers, All the designs are classic Cath Kitson, and the book is a real treat for anyone waating to dip into contemporary surface decoration, or for experienced cross stitcher looking for inspiration. Not only is the book full of contemporary ideas, but you get a free zipper purse too! My personal favourite is the stanley dog pencil case- a really iconic Kidston design. Given my schedule, i am foing to start with a stanley dog motif badge.

If you're hoping for some book tokens this christmas, go pick up a copy of Stitch. It's readily available on the high street and is published by Quadrille publishing limited.

New gorgeous girl's dress class

Make a gorgeous girl's dress

Held on mid-week days from 9.30 am till 3.30 pm

• Little girl's slip over dresses are both gorgeous and practical- and often expensive!
• These dresses are really simple to make and are a great project for mums that can use a sewing machine- if you are an absolute beginner try our half day beginner's class first
• Once you've mastered the pattern, the possibilities are endless.
• These dresses can be layered with t shirts and long sleeved jumpers to make them wearable all year round

First class date TBC click for more info

Cost £75