Elliemagpie Weeks 2 and 3

Well, so much has been going on the life of Elliemagpie that I have barely had time to stop. Certainly not been able to make enough time to sit and blog. So taking advantage of this Sunday morning and a cancelled meeting this afternoon that I would have been preparing for and getting some updates out to you all.

Elliemagpie - the shop.
So here is the fist pictures of the shop premises I plan to rent in Prestwich.

The shop is the old Prestwich Laundrette and has been one for 40 years or so until 2010. I love the building and the shop front and the heritage there!
The inside has been plastered and spotlighted so just the floor to go and I will be almost ready to start setting up.
The lease is just with the solicitors though and I haven't actually signed, so fingers crossed please everyone that this goes through smoothly as I  really want this place and have some amazing plans for it.
I have also started buying the furniture so if I don't get a place soon I don't know what I am going to do with it all!

So what have been doing these past two weeks? Well just before I finished my last job I tool two days off to do Spring Fair at the NEC and meet all the lovely suppliers I want to work with. I was also placing orders like mad whilst carrying around loads of catalogues and contact cards and things - it was hard going but I loved it. There was so much to see and so much to take in - really hard to choose, I hope I have made some good choices!

Here are some of the lovely companies I will be stocking:

Clayre & Eef, from the Netherlands, have  a complete range of home accessories that make a house a home. The country and nostalgic Clayre & Eef style originated in the Limburg village Haelen, located in the beautiful countryside of Leudal, Netherlands and is characterised by romantic designs. Their products are so gorgeous and they also do a mini me range of aprons and oven gloves so kids can help their mummy bake!

Clementine Creations from Sopafra are a family business founded in 1991 in the South of France. They have beautiful decorative homewares and create all the collections in their textile workshop. Everything has a French country, shabby, feel and is just perfect for Elliemagpie.

A selection of other products from some other fantastic suppliers that I will be using to add interest to the ranges. I have been furiously uploading products onto my website - which is hopefully going to launch in the next couple of  weeks. In the meantime everything I have in stock is available in my ebay store: http://stores.ebay.co.uk/elliemagpieshabbychic

East Of India - created in 1991 by a couple who travelled and discovered local handicrafts. East of India now have some beautiful 'Make do and Mend' kits & notions which are just perfect for the haberdashery side of Elliemagpie. Of course their ribbons are just divine too and all their products are so wonderfully packaged they made gorgeous gifts!

Gisela Graham is one of the leading design companies for seasonal decorations and gifts. I did manage to hold myself back and I haven't bought my Christmas range yet - bit I will need to be doing soon!


The next fair was the Craft, Hobby and Stitch International where I went to source all the haberdashery and fabrics. Ready to set off on the Monday I was thwarted by a missing cat - I thought Belle has escaped and spent 2 hours searching the house and then roaming the streets calling her name. When I returned she was just there is the kitchen! Naughty cat! I had to delay the trip and only ended up going on the Tuesday.
Managed to cram it all in though and also meet my friend Solance from Sparkle Dreams - it was great to see her again after all these years!
http://sparkle-dreams.blogspot.com/
Check out her blog too and if you are in Wiltshire go and visit at the Studley Grange Craft Village
http://www.studleygrange.co.uk/sparkle/

First stop was Tilda for the sweet fabrics designed by Tone Finnanger from Norway. I have long been a fan of her designs and patterns.

Tilda have two new ranges out Sewing Bird and Garden Party - can't wait to see the fabrics in the flesh!

Designer Tanya Whelan was born nostalgic. For Tanya, creative inspiration comes from her passionate love of old houses, historic architecture, antique furniture, vintage objects and artifacts of all kinds, and most especially antique textiles (she's a girl who can literally go weak in the knees at the discovery of the "perfect" rose strewn antique quilt). - sounds like me!
These are some of her fabrics I will be stocking from the Delilah, Darla and New Sugar Hill collections.

 
Then it was over to Stof from Denmark for some of their beautiful basics and pre washed cottons.
I have to admit I did pre order on their Christmas linens too!

I have also ordered fabrics from Michael Miller, Riley Blake, Blend and Robert Kaufmann. I didn't see these at the show, the reps have been kind enough to call on me and show me their wares.
It was during one of these visits that I thought that the cat had escaped actually and I had to call up to ask if they had seemn a small black cat slink past them as they left the house!

New Blend ranges - Feather n' Stitch, Magic Garden & Spring Promise.

So all in all a very busy time with lots of money spent and prices negotiated! I have also decided to stock some vintage inspired cards and wraps for anyone who wants to buy the complete package!

In my next blog I will post about my adventures with photography and how I am getting on with the product shots for the websites!

Thanks for reading

Elliemagpie xx

Week One Elliemagpie go go go

Heya all, today's post is the first of a collection of blogs I am planning following the set up of my new business venture Elliemagpie. I hope you like sharing my adventure with me and if you can offer any support or insider knowledge on the whole - 'setting up shop' front then I will be more than happy to hear from you. Please leave your comments on the blog or on facebook :)

Saturday saw my first purchases for the business both in term of stock and display. Have a peak at these beauties!

Scandinavian prints get revisited in this eclectic collection. Modernology redefines your idea of avant-garde with its bold florals in rich hues of red and blue, mixed with bright lime and chocolate. - sounds exciting to me - can't wait to get mixing from fat quarters from the range. This is by Pat Bravo
http://www.patbravo.com/FabricsMain.html
She has some beautiful ideas for bags and things on her site too - I am feeling very inspired!

Exotic florals and sumptuous medallions in lavish purples, gold and deep teal give a feel of mysterious elegance to this Moroccan- inspired collection. I soooo want to go to Morocco - it's on my list of places to go. Not many places left - this list needs revisiting and revising. Oooooo another idea for a bog - I need to scan in all my (very small) South Africa pictures from 2000 and put that together properly.

 A walk through the streets of Paris on an April afternoon. Dream about a new outfit for kids, a gorgeous quilt for your bedroom or many handbags. A seductive palette of colors with shades of sparkling pink and enchanting purple, mixed with kiwi and chocolate.
Wow, pink and golds - more beauty from Pat Bravo - I love the liveliness of this.
I am going to be stocking most of these three collections, then I will see how they go and look to expanding and moving to the rest of the ranges.

I will also be stocking these beautiful May Arts ribbons from the US. I love this stand aswell and hope to be replicating something similar for my shop - Dad!!!, Can you make one of these please!

Aren't they so beautiful. I am going to have to think of something to make using just ribbon - any ideas?

Then onto the lovelies and pretties I bought for the store. Some of these need some TLC but I have plans for them.

 A lovely corner unit

A square tub - must research what theses were used for but have fallen out with this for today as I backed into it and have given myself a large bruise (picture not included!)

This stool is a gorgeous pink but unfortunately a bit grubby so going to have to see how it scrubs up.

Super Victorian Pine corner cabinet - am a bit loathe to paint this as someone has painstakingly stripped it - we shall see..

Look at the gorgeous shaped shelves inside, so pretty.

A sewing machine - and not a Singer. Lovely gold colours on this model and it was a bargain I couldn't resist. Will have to get it up and running.

Another bargain, an old clothes horse/airer and thought I would use it to show some of the patchwork panels I am working on for cushions

The vintage pinks and lilacs are from the Stof basics collection.

The red hearts and the  cream red stripe cushions match with some of the bunting I have done and is available in my shops.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/elliemagpieshabbychic
http://www.etsy.com/shop/EllieMagpie

And the chair, again needs some care and attention and just trying it out with some of the Stof vintage patchwork ideas but this is going to look really pretty :)x

Tomorrow and Tuesday are Spring Fair for me - the first time going when it's for my own company. I am going to have blast! Plus I get to buy and source some of the stock I want for my store and shop - how exciting is that; but a bit scary too - spending my own money instead of someone else's!
(My previous life was as buyer for a number of store groups)

The website is coming along too - I think I will write about this later. I am torn between giving too much away though! but I value the input - of course my customers are going to have to LOVE the site and find it easy to shop.

If you can't comment on here then please do comment on FB http://www.facebook.com/pages/EllieMagpie/272323092826099

Love
Elliemagpie x