Lucky Lulu Handmade
Friday 8 March 2013
For what it is worth
A lady came up to me stall and was interested in buying one of my new birthday brooches. They are super cute. They are made of felt with a fabric applique, with a little picture frame and button detail and a age number to top it off. It was to be a present for her niece's first birthday. She ummm-ed and ahh-ed over it, then decided to buy it. I put in a bag for her and asked her for the £4. "Oh" she said, " I thought they were £1" (To be fair, there was a little bowl of fabric badges that I sell for a pound, next to the birthday brooches on my table). She decided then that she didn't want it.
I was at first disappointed, then angry. I was gobsmacked that she thought my work was worth so little. How do you put value on a maker's time and attention to detail? Apart from the materials, what cost do you assign to the design process and the time it takes to make something handcrafted? If you want something cheap, mass produced and made in China - fine. Come and see me if you want something that is unique, lovingly handmade, and costing a little bit more. £4 please.
Saturday 14 April 2012
Microcosm
Yes, it's a Gruffalo tin! We adore the Gruffalo in our house. Thank heavens the tin has a little clasp on it, it's usually stuffed full and fit to burst. It's like my shed in miniature, a distillation of everything I need in one place.
It feels rather wonderful to reach in there and know I will find whatever I need for my Lulu quick sewing projects and general household repairs.
The Mouse found a nut, and the nut was good! Look what I found at the bottom of the tin :)
Wednesday 21 March 2012
Monday 19 March 2012
Welcome to the world of Lucky Lulu!
The idea for a shed came from my darling friend Gina. She has the most beautiful studio in her house. I love spending time in there. There is so much to look at, it's wonderfully inspiring, just like G! She is ridiculously talented to boot. Gina knew I was desperate for some space to make, do and mend in, and she sent me some links to shed loving blogs. A tiny shed seed was planted....
Gina in her studio.
My shed was a 40th , *cough* I mean, 35th birthday present from my wonderful husband, Mr Lucky. Bloody marvellous man! Shedy is a 5ft by 7ft wooden hut, and lives in our back garden. She ain't much to look at, but I love her! She is where I plan to take over the world from mwuh huh HARRRRRR!
From such humble beginnings Lucky Lulu was born. I think of my shed as an extension of my brain. She houses ideas and inspiration. Full of pattern and colour and beautiful bits and pieces that make me smile. She also more often, than ends up full of junk! Again, very like my brain!
This is Lucille. She is a hand cranked Singer sewing machine. She is named after B.B King's guitar. Shedy has no power, so I thought Lucille was a good investment. I'm still trying to figure out how she works! Most of the things I am making at the moment are all hand sewn, so I have a bit of time before Lucille is needed.
I love spending time in my shed, it is so relaxing. It smells fantasic too! It's a mixture of wood and lavender. I have a big bag of dried lavender that I use to make my little skull and matryoska lavender bags. I use a mixture of french lavender and some that a friend of mine grows for me here in Devon, smells heavenly.
At the moment Shedy is mostly used for storage. I keep my fabrics, trimmings, tools and all my other crafting stuff in there (ooh, I really dislike that word 'craft'! But that's another story for another time). I have a little portable 'Shedy-Lite' sewing basket for the house. It's a bit chilly to work out there in the winter. In the summer though, it is blissful. I love pottering and tidying with the door open, all the garden smells and sounds of paddling pool babies drifting in.
My shed is filled with colour and things I love. It is a sanctuary.