The Wedding Couple

Well it's been a very busy few weeks here at MCD HQ!

The bathroom is now completed (post about that to follow)

See how my bathroom looked for before

So what have I been up to I here you asking??   Well I enrolled on a business course via

The Girls Mean Business

I took this leap mainly because I knew I needed to update some of my format for 

Michelle Corbin Design, as I want to be able to provide my customers with the best service that I possibly can.  It really is giving me food for thought, encouraging me to spend more time on my little Cottage Industry, rather than just in it sewing away!!

By doing the course I am achieving more of my short term targets (daily lists) more efficiently.  Focussing on what I need to do first!

I've completed some lovely bespoke commissions, and continued on with a large Keepsake commission.  Little and often for that job, but it's coming along nicely ;)

One job I have been working on, is updating my website and Etsy Shop.  They are both still work in progress, and probably always will be, but this brings me on to: 

The Wedding Couple

This happy couple are my newest design and make, and I have just listed them as a pair.

£70.00 + £5.00 UK postage

Having received the stunning Vintage Upholstery Fabric from 

FabricCentric, I decided that I must make something really special with it.  The quality is wonderful, and instantly I was inspired.

First I made 2 Keepsake Bunnies: one with fixed arms and legs, and one that was button jointed.

Fixed Bunny - Sold

Button Jointed Bunny - Sold

Then came The Wedding Couple 

Having a sweet little kiss xx

The bears have been button jointed and created with the beautiful vintage fabric.  The boy is wearing a little waistcoat and dicky bow, whilst the girl wears a tulle veil, with ribbon and button detail.  She also carries a small bouquet.

I have to say, that this pair is my favourite keepsake to date, and I actually am tempted to keep them, as I am super proud how they turned out.

 However, I think they would make the perfect Keepsake gift for a Bride and Groom on their Wedding Day.

What have you been making lately?  I'd love to see!

Michelle Corbin Design

 And this is me, maker of all things to treasure, from Keepsake items, to Soft Furnishings

Thank you for reading

Happy Stitching

Michelle xx

DIY v Hand Crafted Skills

We've all done it haven't we?  We see something we like, look at the price tag, then think

 "I could do that"!!

But truth be known - can you really??

Take my bathroom for instance, we moved into our house in 2002, and not long after, the bathroom leaked, so we decided to refit the whole thing.  We both had good jobs and were able to afford good fixtures and fittings, so we purchased exactly what we wanted.  

We then had a couple of tradesmen round, to give us quotes on the work.  Mr C, didn't like those quotes and decided to do it himself.  Now to be fair, in our old house he had refitted the bathroom with the help of my dad and it was great, so I was pretty confident.

This time though, Mr C started well, but then as time went by, he lost interest, and things didn't quite go to plan.  I was incredibly disappointed, because I had had a vision, and my vision was of a high standard.  Unfortunately it took 2 years to complete the bathroom, and it was ok 

(yes, good, but not great).

We married in 2004 and received vouchers as gifts to refit our kitchen, during the refit, I found out I was expecting baby no 1.  Then, the bathroom leaked!!  So here we went again!!

Whilst pregnant, we also had the bathroom and kitchen in turmoil!!  Luckily the kitchen turned out well, but the bathroom needed redoing in preparations for baby! 

A couple of years past and another leak occurred, and then in 2010, 2 years after baby no 2 had arrived, DISASTER STRUCK!!

We had just decided to redecorate our lounge (do you see a pattern?) and just as we were getting started, yes, you guessed it, the bathroom leaked yet again!  This time it was worse, and had actually been leaking for some time, unbeknown to us.

It was worse this time, as the tiles needed to come off, but the plaster behind all came off too, and the room got worse.  Mr C did what he could, but his skills were minimal, I had just started my part time business, and we had 2 small children, money was tight, so we had to leave it in dismay until we could afford to finish it.

This is the only photo I dare show you of before :(

As you can see, we were left with Breeze Block walls - so not what you want in the room you use to get clean!!

The room remained like this for 4 whole years, as the economy had changed, and things were tighter than ever.

This year however, things are beginning to brighten up. :)

This is how my bathroom looked yesterday, and today, tiles are being put on the walls - by a Tradesman!!

The moral of the story:

Expensive lesson!!

If we had paid out for a Tradesman in the first place, we would still have the original bathroom, to the standard that we really wanted.  I will update you in my blog of the finished bathroom.

So now, what does this have to do with sewing or crafting?? 

Well, if you sew, or craft, how many times, have you designed something, sourced the highest quality of components, then spent hours creating your design, with such love and care, only for someone to say "That's too expensive, I can't wait that long to have one made, I will make one myself, or get Joe Bloggs to, as they are cheaper"!!?

Hurts doesn't it?

Or

Do you look at lots of hand crafted items and think they are over charged for what they are and that you or a friend can recreate them, for half the cost, only for it to come out, not as great as the one you saw in the first place?

This is because:

Professional

Trades People, Crafts People, Crafters, Artists, Sewists etc

They all spend a lot of time and money learning and perfecting their SKILL.  They do their job day in and day out and gain lots of experience in their field (as with any profession).  

They spend hours designing and preparing ideas, sourcing the best materials to create their vision, and usually they do this because they absolutely love what they do, they have passion, and want to create the best of the best item for the customer to love.  

Please bear the Experienced Skilled Person in mind, next time you see something you think you could make or do yourself.  *Editted to say, I am not against trying something new, but just consider the professional and consider whether you really can make/create something to the spec you see in front of you.  And please also be aware that if you are wanting to make things to sell, please do not copy.

We learned the hard way, that we weren't capable, but tried.  

Trying is good, but getting it right is better.

Michelle Corbin Design

 Maker of all things to treasure, from Keepsakes to Soft Furnishings

Happy Stitching

Michelle xx