In the Workroom Recap : Week 243

This week was filled with one big restock for Wholly Craft in Ohio. One of my favourite stockists in one of my favourite cities, Columbus, OH.

They have been carrying my Owl Mamas for years but will now be carrying my Littles as well as phone sleeves and crossbody bags! I started with a little batch of kitties, ninjas, and robots.

Then moved on to some phone sleeves:

I had to do up some new packaging for these too. I was happy with how it came out. I never thought I would get so much use out of my vintage pinking shears I use to fancy up the edges.

I then got started on a polka dot crossbody bag to add to the box.

I was able to finish it while hanging out with one of my favourite fellow-sewers, Lisa of Nerdbiskit.com!

Her birthday is coming up so we had cake and I gifted her a Needlings Dormouse print for over her tea shelf.  Another week with a sweet coworker!

My regular coworker didn't do much work but his furry cuteness more than makes up for it!

I finished tagging and pricing everything while Lisa was over and by the time she left the https://www.etsy.com/listing/103792784/owl-mama-crossbody-bag-navy-sailor-polka" target="_blank">new polkadot crossbody bag was available in the shop and everything was ready to pack up!

I'm looking forward to another summer sewing day with Lisa soon!

Everything was packed up and sent out the next day! 

Next on the list is a restock of Owl Mamas and phone sleeves for another one of my favourites in another one of my favourite cities, White Rabbit in Iowa City!  I lived in Iowa City for pretty much all of my teenage years and again in my twenties to go to the University of Iowa. I'm always happy to work on some things for them!

Owls started and underway! I'm looking forward to getting ahead on restocking stores so I can start working on stock for FanExpo in August. This four day show is quite intense and knowing me I'll be working on filling the table right up until the day before it starts!

I hope everyone is enjoying (or avoiding) the hot hot weather we've been having!

I'll see you next week, friends!

In the Workroom Recap : Week 242

Another week over! This week went pretty much as planned on the Needlings front and was otherwise pretty busy!

It started off with a small break from finishing a big restock order for Young Blood to pack up a keychain to send out in the world.



Then I finished up those phone sleeves and everything was ready to head out to Young Blood!



I like to wait until the entire order is finished then I tag everything to get ready to head in to the box. And I got to use my new tags!



Then on to yet some more Owl Mamas for Wholly Craft in Columbus, Ohio.

I took a break from these owls to finish another owl order for a customer in the Netherlands!



I only have one BIG Owl Mama left now so I'll have to do a couple more to have at Fan Expo in August!

I had my friend Lisa of Nerdbiskit over for a sewing date.  She worked on her sewing and I got back to work on my owls for Wholly Craft!


(Lisa hard at work)

 
(Photo by Lisa Bell)

Then I had all my owls ready to be stuffed! A fully successful sewing day and nice to have a coworker for the day! I think we make this a regular/semi-regular event for the summer!



And finished!



And on to some little kitties, ninjas, and robots for next week!

I hope to finish up a few more things for Wholly Craft this week then get working on another restock for White Rabbit in Iowa City.  There always seems to be something to do.  In fact, I also made a few changes on the website which you may or may not notice! 

Well, tomorrow is Canada Day so I hope my fellow Canadians enjoy the holiday and everyone else just have a nice day! See you next week!

In the Workroom Recap : Week 240 & 241

This week's post is a two week recap because last weekend the Needlings computer had a bit of an accident so I was without it while it was getting repaired and unable to blog (oh no!).  It's all healthy and good to go now though so get ready for a long one!

First I had to finish an order for a new store in California:







And finished! I was quite happy with this order. I don't get a chance to make as many bags as I'd like but being that my busy show season is coming up in a couple months, I think I will make some time for more.

So after I boxed and mailed that big order I thought I would give my brain the chance to make something new. So I took the time to make another one of my one of a kind fuzzy haired dolls.



This was the early stages before I made a few colour/design changes.





I was happy with how she turned out, strange thing she is. She has been dubbed Flora F. Fairweather and ishttps://www.etsy.com/listing/102153747/flora-f-fairweather-one-of-a-kind-kawaii" target="_blank">available in the shop.

While I was finishing her up, a few restock requests came in so as soon as I cleared the worktable of any green fuzzies, I started with some keychains for Kid Icarus in Toronto.






Then off they went! I must admit I get a little too pleased when things fit in boxes perfectly...

I then had another little change of pace when a customer asked for a custom Ghostface plush (from the Scream movies).




Then off he went! Or she. I won't spoil any of the movies for you just in case you haven't seen them yet...



I then got to work on a small batch of Littles as part of a restock bunch for Young Blood in Atlanta.  Before I was able to sew them up, my worktable temporarily filled up after an exciting mail day when I got some more felt supplies in, Needlings' new business cards/tags, and our parking pass for the Toronto Convention Centre for Fan Expo in August! So exciting!



I supressed the excitement of course, and cleaned off the work table again to finish up the littles and get started on some cell phone sleeves!



And that's where we leave off for next week! Almost finished with those then they'll be off to Atlanta!

That was a busy one! Next week will take care of Young Blood's restock and I'll get started on two more restock bunches for Wholly Craft in Columbus, Ohio and White Rabbit in Iowa City.

I'll see you next week - barring any more computer disasters.  

Happy summer! ♥

In the Workroom Recap : Week 239

Well, we skipped a week in there but I'm back at home in the workroom now and taking care of business!

During my week away to stay with my dad, I managed to do some handsewing in between appointments, hospital visits, and spending time with him so I was set up this week to work on a large order that came through for a new store in California!  This will be the 16th retailer that carries Needlings - which is very exciting! When I started sewing funny little felt guys almost five years ago, I certainly never thought they would end up in one store let along sixteen! I'm so grateful really. I'm extra grateful it allowed me the freedom to stay with my dad to take care of him during his first week of dialysis. ♥



After I unloaded all my bags of supplies and finished faces, I decided to work on nine Little Owlings first.




I'm always happy to include a couple different than usual colour combinations.
Then on to a couple Owl Mamas and keychains ordered.




After finishing those minty guys up, big owls and keychains both, I got started on a small batch of cell phone sleeves after noting that I'm almost out of mint felt! I'll have to stock up on that again soon. I'm not surprised I go through it quickly - one of my favourites and popular too!



And finished those up along with packaging!  Only a few more things to go and all these goodies will be headed off to California.

I'll leave you with a couple doodles for fun.




I hope everyone is enjoying the nice weather!
See you soon! ♥

In the Workroom Recap : Week 237

Hello friends!

This week was a little different than most in that not too much sewing was done. Here's how it went:

I got my new address labels printed - which was exciting!



Then I finished stuffing all those Owl Mamas!



Then moved on to some Littles!




Then, unfortunately on Tuesday, my dad, who we just not too long ago found out was having kidney problems, had to start emergency dialysis which he'll have to do three days a week from here on out. Since he'll be on his own for a week and I'll be staying with him, I've had to cancel participating in Mayfair in Westdale, the show I mentioned last week. This also means I'll also be "out of the workshop" next week. Sometimes work has to take a backseat so this week and next will be a little slower on the Needlings front.
I think perhaps I will bring some sewing with me next week so I can entertain myself while my dad watches CNN for hours and hours (how can he watch the same news stories over and over?). Luckily those little faces all cut and ready to be sewn travel really well!
I hope everyone has a nice weekend and week! I'll be back with another update once things get a little bit more back to normal. Hug your dads for me!

Thank you for reading!

Love,
Heather

In the Workroom Recap : Week 236

Another week over and another recap post here! I'm only almost a day late with it so hopefully you will forgive me.

This week has been about owls and some design work. It's getting close to that time where I need to make a big business card/tag order which means it's time for a little redesign! I like to fancy myself a graphic designer for Needlings sake and change things around a little whenever I get the chance.


 
(Front) (Back)

I think this is the final edit! (And they will be printed with rounded corners, of course.)

Another reprint and redesign for our address labels and new print stuffs were all taken care of.  It's amazing how long it takes to decide on something so simple. I have all the respect in the world for graphic designers!

So back to sewing for me.





Almost all finished and stuffed! This big batch of Owl Mamas will be on my table at Mayfair, a fun event in Westdale at the Aviary put on by Westdale Children's School, next Saturday.  Lots more to take care of this coming week but a full table should be managed with lots of other Needlings goodies I think.



This is my first Spring event for the school but if it's anything like the Merry Berry Market they put on in November with lots of little ones running around playing music then it should be great fun. And of course my mom will be there with me with her knits! 


So, In the midst of the design and owl work, I snuck in a couple girly little doodles on the Needlings worktable.




The plan is to get a few more of these printed, framed, and up in the shop very shortly.

So that wraps up the week! It has been really beautiful out lately so I'm hoping it holds up for the outdoor Mayfair event on the 26th. And then just in general because I like it. I also like rain though so that will be fine too but on days other than the 26th, thank you very much.

I hope you have a nice week, friends. ♥