Sunday - Day Dreams of Summer

Sunday’s are, in my opinion, best reserved for pottering about. I seem to have picked up and put down half a dozen tasks today but have made at least a little progress with each. I spent a fair part of the day looking out of the window at a seriously grey day and hoping that thinking hard enough about summer might somehow bring it about. I worked a little more on my summer designs and, although the colours are purely for decoration and will not represent the fabrics that I will eventually use, I felt drawn to bright, summer colours. 

I’m currently working on several new knitting and crochet patterns which I am loving.  Yet again I am being drawn back to this super chunky cable jumper as it both serves to ward off the cold and brings a sunny flash of colour. I hope to have the first draft ready for some friendly pattern testers within a week or two. 

I have added a few things to my to do list and have a batch of post it note ideas to mull over. I have two new projects in the works which should be finalised in the next week so I feel all set for Monday morning! 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your weekends, SJ  

Tuesday Morning - The Average Morning Workspace

Something that surprised me a little about opening my little shop was the time that is eaten up my admin and social media. I worked for many years in an intense office-based job yet somehow in my dreams of a creative business all those emails, invoices, and paper chains were mystically missing.

In an effort to keep organised and focused on creating I devote my early mornings to admin, a little social media, and keeping my shop up to date. I start with a coffee and, when possible !, a clear work space. I work through my listings and I check my emails and shop enquiries.

I love to hear from shoppers, sometimes its a new order, sometimes a request to make something new just for them. The best messages of all are those thanking me for the items that I made for them. Often when an order is sent off I don’t hear much in response, sometimes just some stars in a review but no comment so its extra special to receive a comment of thanks and a photo of the finished item in its new home.

Today, I am updating the shop with the new products that I made yesterday. My Duvet Cover Set that I worked on yesterday is ready for the virtual shelves so that means some set-dressing and a mini photo-shoot. I am so happy with the way that it turned out and I now have the template pattern ready I can work on some matching new designs.

The rest of today will be working on my bedroom designs and finishing a new knitting pattern - I am in the trial phase and am close to finishing my last trial piece so I hope to have the new Chunky Cable Hat pattern posted this week.

I’d love to hear from you, how do you start your day? Any tips for a small business owner trying to get to grips with working from home? SJ