Sumptuosity's blog

This feels rather like a confessional...forgive me fellow FlyingStartup people but it has been several months since I last wrote a blog.

Happy New Year!

O.k. so I am a bit late with my greetings for all on this site but better late than never...

I was amazed that it was October that I last posted an entry, well actually I shouldn't be amazed as after this the fairs really started to pick up and the B2B sales (Trade & SoR) really began to take off.

Well, it is Monday morning and before I get back on the ol'sewing machine (I don't mean literally, I'm not actually sitting on top of the machine)I thought I should write another blog. It can be part of my plan to be super organised as to my time management...

Well, it has definitely been busy since I gave up the day job - I still can't quite believe it! However, I have thrown a lot of accumulated rubbish away and sold a number of books that I purchased for teaching and never want to look at again, e.g. graphic designer David Carson (no offence intended David if you ever read this).

Well, it is Sunday Morning and I am back at the computer, although the ironing board (mostly used for ironing fabric for the business rather than clothes) and the sewing scissors are out and have already been in use.

Well, it is nearly 10.00p.m. and I have only now got around to writing my log. Not that I'm complaining, I like to work in the evenings and it is good to have had such a busy day.

My friend Steve called to discuss photography of our wares and prices for designing and printing a small brochure. This is something that we (John and myself) should have got around to earlier but at least we are doing it now. We were really caught by surprise by how people have requested a brochure when we already have a website. I am not sure if it is because people still like to have a hard copy of information or whether not everyone likes to spend ages on t'internet like me. - Incidently if my husband John is reading this, I'm not really always looking for fabric, etc on ebay....honest.

First, I shall start with a confession, it has been two months since I last wrote in my Pilot's Log.

However, there are are good reasons for this. I have got married - June 24th and I have finally handed in my resignation at the day-job. Are these two connected? You bet they are. My husband (it still feels strange to write that) suggested that not only did our business really require far more input than it was getting but that I would also be a lot more happier. Anyway, I was still dithering, when I received an email from him (his is currently working in Sweden) which said J.F.D.I. - the politer version of this acronym is Just 'flipping' do it!

Hi There,

Well I back after a period away from the site. My current 'day-job' has been / is a complete pain and so it has been difficult keeping up with everything...

However, I have just posted a new article on our Sumptuosity website. It is called 'Creating Selvedge' and is about the founding and finacing of a magazine called 'Selvedge' by Polly Leonard. I am referring to her in the title of this blog when I mention 'Remortaging the house' not me! I heard her give a talk at an event over Easter and was inpsired to write about her. You can find the article plus links to the Selvedge website on our website www.sheersumptuosity.co.uk

I am busy sewing. For a start we have got two fairs over the Easter Holidays to attend and on one of the days we will actually be at both fairs. No, I haven't managed to clone myself like Dolly the Sheep, although I do think that sometimes this would be very useful! I am asking my family to give a hand (namely my Big Sister and Niece) - where would we be without friends and family?

The other reason the I am locked in the garrett sewing away is that we have got a big order from York Tourist Information Office. We are going to have some of our wares in their two centres! I was at a Craft Fair in York a couple of weeks ago (it was awful as the weather was freezing and the snow was coming down thick and fast) and there was a distinct lack of visitors.... However, there was one...a very nice lady from the York Information Centre who was looking for Craftspeople who made items within the City of York. I am so glad I didn't just stay in bed that day, although I must admit to wanting to.

I have just written a new article on my own website. I am trying to keep it up but it amazing how much work it takes keeping a website up to date and trying to make it interesting for the visitors (and hopefully customers!) but I am enjoying it. What I am finding somewhat surprizing is the difficulty with which I am having trying to get family and friends to go on the Sumptuosity website's own blog site. I thought that it would be good for a few people that I know (and love) to get on the site and blog away in order to get it going. However, they all seem reluctant, quite techno-phobic in fact! I get personal emails, giving me feedback on the site but they won't blog, why? Are we 'bloggers' a breed apart?