Retro Vintage - the de- clutter - a - thon - fabrics, buttons, zips, bias etc etc

My goal for 2011 was to make some more room in my little house, and to do so I just have to declutter the sewing room. So, after careful contemplation I have decided that it is time to say goodbye to all the lovely (and sometimes hideous) vintage retro reclaimed stuff.

So, I have spent one whole day this week sorting, measuring, photographing, packaging and listing my button collection. See www.craftumi.com.au/MakingRoom4U2 for all of the listings, but just one or two photos now to whet your appetite.

Alright, so 5 photo's - how can you choose? they are all so gorgeous!

Now - FABRIC! Sandra came yesterday and helped me through the process of measuring, photographing, identifying and folding just a portion of the fabrics from Evelyn's estate. No disrespect intended to the dear lady, but she was definately the one who died with the most fabric - so she WON! I want Evelyn (Dessy) to retain her title and it not be passed on to me, so I have decided to try to sell off a good deal of what is here.

I need to make room in my home and life for the growing Cathie's Creations business, and I have a goal of buying a new sewing machine. So I have stuck and image of the sewing machine on the wall above my computer and have written on it "YOU WILL BE MINE" and I hope it will give me some purpose.

So, there is around 230 metres of Vintage Retro Fabric. Unbelievable. That is no where near what I collected 3 years ago when Evelyn passed away, because a lot of it went to Vanuatu and was used by the women in the village and girls in the school. Anyway, if I can sell this lot off, it should put me a little further ahead in the sewing machine fund.

I have started to call some vintage retro dealers and antique dealers to make inquiries about selling the whole lot, but I think I will pop it onto Craftumi and perhaps even eBay, and see how I go. Working out the pricings is going to be a nightmare, but will just start and see how it goes.

Here are some photos of my crazy, eclectic Vintage Retro Fabrics:

  

  

  

    

   

   

Well, it is now 4.30 pm on Friday afternoon. The first week of 2011, is coming to an end. Wow, it has been hugely productive for me. Now, i just have to whip out to the shops and get some food, and I'll be back to do some more listings this evening.

Ciao for now

Happy New Year

Well, I think I have rated at the top of the worst bloggers in the world for 2010, but as I am trying very hard to get life back on track in 2011, I am really going to try harder to keep you upto date more regularly with my creations.

So I am finally settled into my new abode, and currently decluttering in the sewing room, among other spaces. Have decided it is time to focus my attention on the craft that I love the most - sewing, so I am saying goodbye to beads, scrapbooking stuff, and loads and loads of my vintage retro fabrics and notions - acquired from a deceased estate 2 years ago, and still taking up too much space. I know, quite realistically now, that I will probably never get to use most of it, so I have decided to sell a bunch of it off and use the money to reinvest into my Cathie's Creations endeavours.

To that end, I have begun to set up a store on www.craftumi.com.au. Here I will list and hopefully sell, prolific amounts!!! I will update you when I open the store, but for now, I am tackling the technology and attempting to get things ready and listed. The store name is "Making Room 4 U 2". Keep an eye out for it.

I am also going to start to list some items in my www.madeit.com.au store.  Cathie's Creations is the store name and I will be listing a number of my market items their.

I have also set up a Facebook page called Cathies Creations (deliberate loss of the apostrophy) and will try to use that as another avenue to keep people informed of the growth of my hobby come business. here is the link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Cathies-Creations/133442383344643 

July to December 2010 was a very success start for Cathie's Creations. I really enjoyed "The Handmade Expo" and just love to get there and chat to people and show off my gorgeous creations. So many wonderful people have complimented me on the fine work I produce and based on my tremendous sales for the 6 months, I really believe them now. I have started going to the Cleveland Farmer's Market on Sundays now. Not sure if I will be able to sustain every Sunday, but I am at least going to do January and Febuary and then re-assess. Based on the first two markets (today and 19 December), I feel it could be a really good way forward. I will also take up opportunities to do other markets around and about town, as they arise, and will certainly keep you posted here.

Most importantly of all Cathie's Creations has been a fantastic avenue for me to express my creativity and has been a very healing and restorative experience. The end of 2009 and start of 2010, was spattered with a few traumatic life events and let's just say, that my sewing and creating, have had an enormous therapeautic effect, realigning mind, body, soul and spirit.

My thanks to all of my family for their tremendous support in 2010. You know what you have done, and I thank you most sincerely for all of it. Special thanks to Mum and Dad and Kevin and Reg, who took me into their homes and cared for me in some pretty crappy times. I dread to think where I would be today, if it were not for your hospitality, generosity and love. Also a big thank you to my dearest friends, who have also supported, encouraged and inspired me (not to mention a good deal of caffiene shared too). I don't normally single people out, but a BIG BIG THANK YOU to my dear friend Denise who accompanies me almost every time I go to the markets. That is a lot of early starts, and Denise, I am so so thankful for your company every time at the markets and on all the other outings as well. 

Now, I had better get to bed and restore the creative juices for tomorrow. I was going to pop some photos of my new designer bibs on, but will need to wait for better light to take the photos. Will do so in a few days.

Cheers for now  .... watch this space in 2011 ... I promise you that Cathie's Creations is going to grow like crazy!!!