The dire year on the allotment

Fashionable Mavis

This gorgeous Liberty print blouse belongs to my number 1 customer crush - 92 year old Mavis.

Quite possibly the coolest lady in Norfolk. A keen seamstress/tailor in her youth, she is now stricken with unbelievably poor eyesight and as such can no longer make herself clothing or fix her clothes herself. She called me early in the summer to help her mend and alter some clothing and soon requested a tailored jacket with some Scottish tweed she had bought many years ago and then this blouse with some Liberty print she bought many many years ago, she knows exactly what she likes, what suits her and what it takes to get it. It's a joy working for her and every time I see her she gives me more trims she has found in drawers and cupboards that she can no longer make use of. Bags of the stuff, hand made lace trim from India, elastics, buttons, canvas, linings, threads, needles - the list goes on and on. Her generosity has no bounds and as such I find myself happily replacing buttons, letting out darts and re-lining tweed skirts for her for no charge and I wouldn't have it any other way. I've become quite attached to her and have to hold myself back from ringing her constantly just to see how she is. Everyone should have a Mavis in their lives - she's a joy,

Vin-Stitch a go-go!

It's been a busy first year at the Vin-Stitch studio, and getting busier all the time. The jobs have been varied - as have the customers. Wedding dresses, ball gowns, tailored suits, liberty print blouses, giant bows, wedding outfits, curtains and PLENTY of alterations have all made their way through the studio or been created at my make-shift pattern table.

My machinery quota grows steadily and as such I've had to move into the largest room in the house to accomodate the work load it brings - so much so I'm on the search for proper studio space!

The next year is pretty much more of the same, but will include some work experience to help shift the work on quicker, it's very time consuming doing every aspect of the process myself and I will need help soon.

Early next year involves more wedding dresses alarmingly - I swore never again after a bad experience a few years back, but apart from one 'glitch' the brides have all been charming, chilled and creative and as such we have made some really beautiful garments together.

There are no words for just how much I love passing the time in my studio - none!