Selling & Stitching!

We packed our bags and headed up to Glasgow last weekend to take part in the first Supermercado. Taking place in the city's most famous marketplace, The Barras, Supermercado is the only weekly indie market in Glasgow offering the best pick of thrift, vintage, craft, homestyle, design, fashion, food, art, music, books & lifestyle and more!

Having found our way and at last got ourselves parked we started to unload my wares from the car. Then disaster.........Mr P managed to lose control of the sack bearer and my vintage finds tumbled to the ground, falling out their boxes and spread out across the car park. To make matters worse it had been raining so they landed in puddles too. I lost loads of my stock..... now all smashed and broken. As you can imagine I was rather upset and devastated to be honest, and didn't feel up to taking part.

Still can't believe what pretty things I have lost. I feel a little connection with all my vintage wares and still get a thrill when finding something I can sell. So the day could only get better, it couldn't get any bloomin worse! I decided to soldier on, wipe away the tears and set up shop.

Its was a great day, eventually, the cake and hot chocolate helped. I think this new venture by the MITS gals, Carrie and Clare, can only get better and better. Head on over to their Flickr and take a peek at some photos taken on the day. The market is on every Saturday in the undercover courtyard of the newly refurbished Barras Centre, 54 Calton Entry, Glasgow, G40 2SB. Take a trip out east and discover the market and what it has to offer, their is an ever-changing selection of vendors. We shall be back on the 6th November then the 4th and the 11th December. Keep your peepers peeled for news of their official launch too.

I headed back up to Glasgow on Monday to teach my very first Oh Sew Basic Workshop at the Made in the Shade HQ. I was nervous and excited all at the same time and chuffed to bits that my first class had sold out in a couple of days. I had been up early getting everything prepared, hand stamping notebooks and sewing my crafty aprons for the guests. With my fabric stash packed, all the tools of the trade and supplies in the bag, I was good to go.

I had a wonderful night and all our happy stitcher's were as pleased as punch with their handmade cushions. The MITS gals have written a rather lovely post on their Blog. You can take a look at some other photos from the night on Flickr.

We are pleased to announce that due to popular demand, we will be re-running our Oh-Sew-Basic beginners workshop at the MITS HQ, Glasgow on Monday 18th October.

You too could make a pretty handmade cushion and learn to love the sewing machine! For more info and booking details email: madeintheshadebookings@gmail.com.

Happy stitching!

Leahx

Itching to get stitching!

Well it's been a busy week playing catch up since I returned from my travels in London town, I promise to share my adventures in a future post and what I got up to. While I was away I was thrilled to announce news of my brand new venture, So Sew Pretty.
I shall be passing on my skills as both a designer and crafter, teaching you how fun it can be to make your own. From cushions to frocks, bags to bunting there will be laods of lovely things to make and take home while learning a new skill at the same time. Why not come on over to our facebook page and like us. We have details of our new classes, things you can make and lots more sewing treats. We will also be adding lots of crafty goodies, tools of the trade, ribbons & trims to our online shop in the coming months.

So excited as I shall be hosting my first class at the Made in the Shade HQ, Glasgow. We have had a great response so far and Oh Sew Basic, a beginners sewing machine class has now been fully subscribed, I am chuffed to bits and really excited. So I have now put my thinking cap on, so I can put together some other sewing classes to pass on loads of other sewing skills. You'll also make some handmade lovelies while you practice along the way.I would love to know if you took a class what you would like to make and take home at the end of the class.



I am also hosting a Make a Frock class at the MITS HQ, this is a great introduction to dressmaking. I have chosen a rather lovely 50's inspired dress, that's perfect for the party season and just in time for Christmas! The great thing is it would make a perfect day dress too, and it has pockets. During class we will be using a Vogue commercial pattern that has two variations with sizes from 8 to 22.


If like me you probably have piles of fabric sitting at home waiting to be used. You couldn't resist it at the time and knew it would be perfect one day for that certain project! Well why not make it into a dress. For more information and booking details head on over to the Made in the Shade Blog.

With classes in Glasgow confirmed I am making final tweaks to plans closer to home. Sewing classes will be available in Dumfries too, so keep your peepers peeled for more news soon.

Let's get stitching!
Leahx

Springtime Jamboree!

We were out and about last weekend to take part in the Made in the Shade Springtime Jamboree. We got up bright and early to pack all my handmade lovelies and vintage finds into the car. Here are some photos of my stall. I didn't get a chance to snap some photo's of the other stalls, but if you head over to Made in the Shades flickr page you'll see some more photos from the day. It was a great event and lovely to meet some facebook fans, familiar faces and some new customers face to face.

I was trying so hard to save my pennies, which is always so so hard as there are such lovely things for sale. I was tempted by a lovely fabric rose brooch by Angharad Jefferson. I also bought my mum this lovely book mark by Susie Maroon. It's a little something for her birthday next month. If you were there on the day would love to hear what tempted you???

I also managed to sneak off, P watched the stall, to pop into the new Cath Kidston pop in shop which is now in Glasgow. No P&P to pay, whoop whoop. I was trying to contain myself as we had to be quick and get back to my stall, I was suppose to be working after all. I had been lusting after the pretty flower plimsolls, and what luck the last pair in stock were a size 5, it was meant to be, my size. Also bought Lauren, my daughter, another bag to add to her collection, she takes after her mother!!!!. It was a thank you for helping me on the stall all day.

We then had to get back as we had an hour left till the end of the day. After our drive back down the road, we cycled round to tesco for rose wine and some ice cream, a perfect end to the day!!!!

Spring is in the air!

Great news, I have just heard we have been accepted for the Made in the Shade Springtime Jamboree. Whoop Whoop!!!


The Made In The Shade Springtime Jamboree will showcase the work of over 30 local designer makers and creative businesses. Organised by the owners of all-new handmade gloryhole, The Maisonette in De Courcy's Arcade, Glasgow. Business partners Carrie Maclennan and Clare Nicolson are devoted to promoting and nurturing craft and design talent.

Photo credit: Prpl Hayes for Made in the Shade.

On the day, visitors can expect to be transported to a land of retro rebel housewives in hand-made aprons as they are treated to the sounds of rock'n'roll cool cats, honkytonkers and vintage drag on the decks.

As they explore the pick of over thirty stallholders selling products designed and handcrafted with love, customers can take part in the enhanced shopping experience by contributing to public crafting project, The Bunting Bonanza or by spending some time with the Made In The Shade stylist in the Not Now Cato! Vintage Dressing Room.

There will even be a DIY vintage-style photo booth set up for visitors to capture a snap of their day out! Very special goody bags containing handmade treats from designer makers, miniature art and other special gifts will be presented to early birds!

So why not come on by and say hello, its such a great event and love taking part. I always try my best not to spend my pennies, but it never quite happens.

I will be posting more info on the Springtime Jamboree and sneaky peeks at what will be on offer at our stall in the coming weeks. But will hopefully see you there! Lx