Thursday 26 December 2013

New Year Sale

I am offering 20% off all sales over £15.00 purchased form my Etsy shop until 31 January 2014 by using the code newyearsale2014

Perfect for an early Valentine's Day purchase.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThreadSquirrel


Saturday 28 September 2013

Christmas sacks

My large Christmas sacks are now listed on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/164088472/large-christmas-sack-with-photograph

These come with 5 cabochon buttons so your favourite family pictures can be sewn on the tree to represent baubles.





Wednesday 7 August 2013

Teaching.

I had a lovely day teaching my niece how to use a sewing machine and an overlocker.  Here is her finished item.  It has an envelope back so no button holes were needed.

Thursday 1 August 2013

Baby Charlie

I made this cushion and framed pictures for Carrie.  Her baby Charlie had Potter's Syndrome and died after nineteen minutes in December 2012.  Carrie and her family are fundraising to help bereaved families.  Their website is  http://www.charlies-angel-centre.org.uk/


Hand and foot prints with a few paws!

I have been experimenting with digitising hand, foot and paw prints so they can be made into personalised cushions.

These are made from 100% natural cotton which has been woven in Bradford.  They are 14 inch square and fasten with 2 buttons on the back.

I have been experimenting on the best way to obtain the prints.  I have used inkless wipes and taken photos of the hand, foot or paw.

I think taking photos is the easiest way.  I am also going to try drawing round hands; this will only work for older children though.

Once I have got the method perfected I will start selling the cushions.

Yorkshire Day

Happy Yorkshire Day.  My Yorkshire tote bags have been listed on Etsy.  Any county can be embroidered.


Friday 26 July 2013

Wholesale cushion pads. Made in Britain!

Today I visit www.furnishnk.co.uk in Bradford who make duck feather cushion pads.  I am really pleased to have found some which are Made in Britain and they are great quality and price.

I ordered 12 inch by 24 inch pads and some 14 inch square pads.  They have a white cambric cotton cover.

Very happy!

Tuesday 23 July 2013

Baby Foot Prints Cushion

I am shortly going to start selling personalised baby cushions.

They will be digitised using a print of the child's hand or foot.  This will then be embroidered to make a cushion along with their name.

The foot print was obtained using an inkless print kit.

Here is a prototype I have been working on in the last few day.  Big thanks to Lydia for her co-operation!




Friday 5 July 2013

Isle of Wight cushion

This cushion cover was a special commission for  www.isleofwightinformation.co.uk
Their logo is the Isle of Wight map and a red squirrel.
the Isle of Wight is one of the few places in Britain where red squirrels can be seen.

Saturday 1 June 2013

Wedding ring pillow


I was asked to make a wedding ring pillow for friends who are getting married soon.  The flower is made from individual pink felt petals with ribbon in the centre to hold the rings securely.  The reverse has a band for the pageboy to slip their hand in and has been embroidered with the couple's names.  It measures 6 inch square.

New Zealand and Australia map cushion

I love making cushions with 2 countries on.  Each one has a story.  This New Zealand and Australia map cushion is now on its way to Australia.

Thursday 30 May 2013

Custom order for a British Isles map bag


I received a request for a British Isles bag with love hearts on Leeds, Manchester, Kelso, The Lake District and London.  It is for a gift for their friend who has been visiting Britain from Argentina.  The reverse has a map of Argentina,

Saturday 25 May 2013

Two Countries Embroidered Bags



I received a message from a customer last week asking if I could embroider a country on each side of a bag; they were travelling to India and also wanted their home country on. (Wales)
I now have listings for these bags and they are proving more popular than my love cushions.

Sunday 19 May 2013

More cushions



A busy few days after our holiday.  Two new countries digitised; China (with United States) and Zimbabwe (with British Isles)

Five British Isles cushions and ten bags taken to the pop up shop on Albion Street, Leeds which has been organised by Retail Ready People.  It opened on 18 May 2013 for four weeks.


Cornwall

We had a great few days in Cornwall last week visiting the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan.  Both are beautiful and worth visiting.  We took our Cornwall bag with us which we made especially for our trip; our first county.


Thursday 25 April 2013

Modelling at Middleton Park



My latest photos of map aprons.  Cameron is my nephew's son and I am really pleased with how they came out.  Taken at Middleton Park in Leeds this morning.

Tuesday 23 April 2013

New additions






My latest additions are a Canada & Philippines love cushion and a custom order of a set of four natural canvas covers with teal coloured outlines; Cyprus, Australia, British Isles & France.

Monday 15 April 2013

York Craft fair

 A fantastic day at Merchant Adventurers' Hall in York yesterday.

Again my love cushions were the most popular items. Today I am sewing British Isles with Italy, USA with British Isles and British Isles with Australia.

The shoulder bags were also very popular; especially the British Isles.


We spoke to people from Iceland, New Zealand, Sweden, South Africa and Canada.



Wednesday 3 April 2013

Love cushions

The newest addition to my range is the love cushions.

I took them to the Selby Abbey craft fair on 1st April 2013 and they were admired by many.  They make a perfect wedding gift when the bride and groom are from different countries or an emigrating gift.




Thursday 7 March 2013

Craft fair

I have booked my next craft fair at the Merchant Adventurers' Hall in York on 14 April 2013.  It is organised by From Yorkshire with Love and runs from 10:30 until 16:30.

Globe photo holders


I purchased some globe picture holders to display my information and prices when I attend craft fairs.  They are exactly what I wanted and so appropriate.

Ladybirds


I have purchased ladybird pins to sell with my notice boards.  One of my favourite ice skaters, Stephane Lambiel, collects ladybirds.  If I go see him I will make him a Switzerland notice board with some on!

Thursday 28 February 2013

Which country?




The machine in action!  How many pictures does it to to work out which country it is embroidering at 90 degrees?
It is the United States.



Monday 25 February 2013

British Isles, France, Greece & Portugal coral map cushions




I was asked to make 4 cushions for a conservatory in a bright colour.  Each country is special to the client for different reasons. I am going to buy more of the fabric as they look great.

Tuesday 19 February 2013

South Africa map

I was asked for a South Africa notice board last week a few days before the Oscar Pistorius shooting.  Surprisingly there have been a lot of views on Etsy.  No sales though.

Friday 8 February 2013

Leeds

First British Isles cushion with a loveheart on Leeds!


I can pretend it's Bradford...

Friday 1 February 2013

Reetsweet Designer/Maker Fair


Thread Squirrel is at the Reetsweet Designer/Maker Fair at Leeds Corn Exchange tomorrow.  It will be the first chance to buy some of our new designs featuring France, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Cyprus.


Don't worry, there's several spotty baskets of bags featuring our existing map designs too.   And spotty baskets full of pinboards and wheatbags.  Spotty baskets are the answer to everything.