wanted: crafty sewer assistant

sew print by masacarphotography

Hi!I need an assistant!

My stockists are growing, and I need to step away from the sewing machine to design new ranges. I am looking for a crafty sewer/ sewing machinist to work with me in my sewing studio, mostly sewing but may be some cutting, stuffing and finishing. You need to be pretty quick, and we can chat about payment per piece or per hour. Suitable for a friendly, creative type with just a few hours a week to start (good for mums too).

Please note that you would be hired as a contractor, not an employee, so you may need an abn (but that's pretty easy); and I'm in Brisbane, so you'll need to live close by. If you're on my blog, you probably already know what I do, but you can see more here.

If you have any questions, or would like to meet for a cup of tea and a chat, drop me a line at pepperstitches(at)yahoo(dot)com; and if you know of anyone who might be interested, please pass this along! That would be ace!

Pepper x

today

my creative space- studio

Some photos from my new studio set up, on the unfinished second floor of the house in the country. Hence the exposed beams, uncovered floor and tin roof; which makes it a bit hot, but just a bit more homemade, I think.

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I only got about half of the studio, the other half has not-much-light for photos. You'll have to use your imagination (stacked tubs full of fabric, a bookshelf full of fabric, and more suitcases. Full of.. fabric. Ironing board, shelves of threads, baskets of felt and patterns.)

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I work until about 1pm, when the oven effect gets a bit too much, and I go downstairs to read blogs or outside to plant seeds or read under a tree.

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I'm going to have a giveaway soon. It is in the photo. Can you guess what it is? I'll tell you on Sunday!

EEEK! I made it happen!

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This is my studio! I know! Exciting huh!

This is why I disappeared for a while, between finding a studio, considering it, wishing it, hoping it, doing it, packing, moving, unpacking, sorting, labelling and breathing, I haven't had the time, inclination or a reliable internet connection to keep you updated. Mind you that's probably a good thing. Moving is hard, and you probably didn't want to live through it vicariously anyway.
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I'm all set up now, and it's so quietly creative and industrious it makes me just go into my own little world and not come out for hours. Also in the warehouse space are artists, painters and glass sculpturers (is that a word?). It is quiet and inspiring, and without tv/ laundry/ cats etc. there are no distractions at all. Lovely.
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I've always wanted a studio. So I got one. I'm a grown-up, so I can. I can do whatever I like, I just have to make it happen. Sometimes it's nice to remember that, and act accordingly. I hope you do too.

(ps. Still no internet connected, so bear with me and posts will be flowing soon!)

AWOL

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I have been awol for a little while, sorry. My work cut my hours back unexpectedly, and I have been a bit of a stress pot, filling my head with numbers, budgets, alternative work options. After initial freakin’ out, slight bitterness and a lot of tea, I have decided that it is a good thing. I will get to work with kids again. I’ve missed them. I will have more time to sew, and focus on getting stock for my first markets, and filling the shop. People live off this kind of thing, right?

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Remember when I made more space for sewing, because I decided to take it a bit more seriously? Well I’ve taken that to a whole new level. I’ve dismantled my big bed and stored it in the shed, and bought a single loft bed on ebay. I sleep up high which is a bit like school camps combined with sharing bunk beds with my sister. And if Boy comes over, we’ll share the spare mattress on the floor. But oh the space! The space!

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I have a sewing table, an ironing table, a big table just.for.working.on. Lots of room for cutting out. Lots of room for matching fabrics. Big tubs with works-in-progress. Accessible bookshelf with source and craft books (and kids dvds. Of course.) With the possibility of TWO sewing days, it’s time to get serious, people. I do not want another full-time job. I want to do what I LIKE. So far that has meant..

Starting more cloud mobiles with raindrops, new teddy bears from oh-so-soft woolen blankets. Embroidered drawings on vintage fabric cushions. (In my shop now.) Also ideas for a new custom order for a baby boy, cutting out more cushion covers from sweaters and drawing for a Pepper Stitches range of cards. This is exciting indeed.

I can tighten my belt again (remember way back when?) and I still have work at work, just less. Which gives me more.