Interior Design · Sewing projects · Soft Furnishings

Promises, promises…

Bunting and beanbag
Ahhh!

I had lots of fun a couple of weeks ago taking photos of my friend’s beautiful little girl sitting on a gilhoolie beanbag and pouffe (with some bunting in the background). Thank you so much Sandi, I may ask again if that’s okay!

I know the model looks gorgeous but I’m also hoping these photos show my products well enough to start selling on-line now. I must admit I did get a bit carried away and didn’t always manage to get the whole of the beanbag in shot, oops! Ah well, I still have lots to learn. Thank you also to James for playing around with the photos in Photoshop; I think they are very professional and just the look and feel I was going for.

It’s taken a bit longer than I expected to set up my folksy shop but I think the photos are incredibly important. I’m going to take some more of my lampshades this week too as I’m not happy with the ones I already have. When you work for yourself it’s easy to not set deadlines and just go with the flow but I promise these will be on folksy by the end of the week, cross my heart and watch this space for details!

pouffe
Just chilling!
Events

Models required!

gilhoolie table
gilhoolie table!

This week I’m putting the finishing touches to things and I thought I’d practice arranging all my creations ready for Thursday evening. I put this display together in half an hour before I rushed off on the school run, but you get the idea! As you can see, I got the bunting bug last week and made some more out of scraps of fabric from our bedroom (Romo Quadra Dahlia and John Lewis chevron in sulphur).

I guess it isn’t a coincidence as I’ve made lots of things from the same fabrics, but it does feel like gilhoolie has some kind of identity now don’t you think?

My next task is to take some more professional looking photos so that I can sell gilhoolie things on-line; I might need some little models to pose on the beanbags and pouffe!

Interior Design · Sewing projects · Soft Furnishings

Two pouffes and a bag…

Two pouffes and gilhoolie label
Two pouffes and gilhoolie label

I’ve been busy making things to fill my stall next Thursday and  I think I’m nearly there, thank goodness. Here are two of the gilhoolie pouffes. The bright one on the left is made from Amy Butler fabric (I have some left over so will probably make a lampshade with that) and the one on the right is made from fabric I already had from our hall curtains and cushions. I’d like to be able to make them from the fabrics I have in stock for lampshades as well as bespoke to match an existing colour scheme, perhaps in a living room or child’s bedroom.

gilhoolie bag
gilhoolie bag

Also, some of you will be pleased to hear…. I made another gilhoolie bag. This time I went back to the simpler design but I incorporated some of the details from the Tabitha bag I made last week with a coloured trim and patterned inside of the handle. I had a play with making flowers and bows to decorate the bag but ended up going back to the covered buttons to keep the look simple. The bows and flowers are always an option though as they did look pretty.

Now that’s all done I’m ready to start putting some things on folksy ready to sell, well almost. I just want to finish off the birds and hearts I started making last week and some bunting to decorate my stall, oh yes and a gilhoolie sign. We had lots of fun at the weekend, James cutting MDF and myself and the boys painting the boards with chalkboard paint; they even have one each for their rooms, one in the shape of a car and one a guitar!

Interior Design · Soft Furnishings

Flower power!

flowerpower lampshades
Flower power lampshades!

As we’re having a second summer this week, I just had to show you these flowery lampshades I made from Amy Butler and Heather Bailey cotton fabric. They measure 20cm in diameter by 18cm high but I’d like to see them on a big drum lampshade, hopefully someone else will too?!

It’s been a lovely week; not just because the sun’s shining; I’ve had so much fun making lovely things. Next on my list are another bag and a pouffe. Hopefully soon I’ll be all stocked up for my stall in three weeks time…

Sewing projects

Tweet tweet…

bird and lampshade
tweet tweet!

No I haven’t started tweeting on Twitter (yet?), but I did make a lovely bird today to fill with lavender. Oh yes, and a matching lampshade all handmade from Amy Butler fabric.

I went to a craft fair on Saturday and decided I need to make some small items as well as lampshades, beanbags, bags and pouffes. I loved making this little chap with an appliqued wing and button eye even though it was a bit fiddly, lampshades are so much easier!!            I think I’ll make some hearts too.

It feels good to be back behind the sewing machine but I think I have a lot of work to do if I’m going to fill a stall at my first event (20th October – mini pamper and shopping evening run by Alwyn and Courthouse PTA), the next few weeks could be very busy!