Restructure

Firstly, many thanks to the many wonderful people who left comments here or on Facebook or who sent lovely emails after my last post.  I've been quite fragile lately but you've made me feel stronger and a little bit protected from the blows of future criticism.

It has been mentioned before, that I can't leave well enough alone, once I gets me an idea..... 

So now, not only am I restructuring my business and lots of real-life stuff, but I can't seem to stop turning last year's knitting machine wraps into twisty-drapey winter woollies....

The few scarfy-shruggy rectangle-based things I made a little while ago got me thinking about other wrap-and-sew structures for knitted rectangles.  I decided to try this idea on last year's rectangles before I knitted up any new ones. 

I've been felting them a bit, too.  The blue one felted up nicely, but I think the red one might need a few spins in the dreaded front-loader to disguise all the little pulls and holes in the knit.

These two are based on a spiral wrap.   The back is lovely and snuggly-warm and the neck can be cowled and draped in a lot of different configurations.  I'm now thinking of other wraps and other shapes to wrap.....

Other restructuring activities include the revamping of a few of my smaller projects: converting them into digital downloads.  You can find them over at Pink Chalk Farics.

So far, we have the Pyramid Purse, the Lavender Handbag (which also makes a cute little pincushion) and the Fabulous 50's Bib.  These are all my go-to "quick gift" projects.

The patterns have nice spiffy-new colour photographs and re-vamped pattern pieces.

There is still a lot to do here... organising the path ahead while bringing the tail end of the good ship YOU SEW GIRL around.  You can expect to see more revampings and restructurings.... and you can definitely expect to see more knitty wrappy things.

You might have noticed...

I've been somewhat absent from the social media scene (and any other scene you care to mention) for a few weeks.  I have also been somewhat absent minded. 

I've been busy... very, VERY busy. 

You might have also noticed a new look about this little bloggy space.  Around about the real-life place, there is similar evidence of a very talented graphic designer/art-director type having had a hand in things. 

Yes.  New logo.  A proper grown-up one.  (Clever girl, that graphic designer).  And I'm rebranding the whole bizzo.  Goodbye "Nicole Mallalieu Design" (as if anyone could ever say it, anyway*...) and hello "You SEW Girl!"

What you may not have noticed is that a new layout on ALL of my pattern instructions and covers is underway, to rebrand, streamline the printing process and bring early work up-to-date.   While I'm about it, I'm also improving instructions, making bag samples, taking photos and drawing diagrams.  A complete overhaul.  An ENORMOUS. CAN. OF. WORMS.  I'm trying to remember why I thought that I could do it all in the given timeframe.

"Timeframe?" (I hear you ask).

I've booked a stand at the Australian Quilt Market - the WHOLESALE show - in a couple of weeks (trying not to think too much about the number of days).  I've also made the decision to wind down the retail side of my business and focus on design and wholesale.

To suceed in a niche retail business requires a pro-active, interactive approach.  While I've been busy, pro-actively interacting, I've managed to keep my little business going.  BUT.... it's seen me working six days (and nights) a week with no time to work on new patterns.  And I've got to thinking....

What is it that I actually DO...?  
Am I a craft retailer or a designer-patternmaker-teacher-thingamie?  (I still haven't worked out the job description, but I like the second option best). 

Oh, and wasn't there a home, child and bloke to think about...?  Perhaps spend some time with...?

So far, there's no timeframe for the end of the online store, but that is indeed the plan.  We'll continue to sell my patterns, interfacings and a selected range of hardware WHOLESALE while winding down retail.

We'll keep the showroom-shop going at the studio. If you're in the neighbourhood, you'll still be able to drop in and stock up. If you're doing classes with me, you'll be able to buy all the bits you need. But the online shop is not going to be the focus of the business anymore, at it appears to have become over the last few years.

If you want access to my patterns, hardware and interfacings, perhaps you could have a brief word to your favourite local or online fabric/craft store and suggest they stock "You SEW Girl!" products. (And please don't just ask them to get the goodies in  - you need to actually BUY them!).  

• You'll be happy to be able to get the new and improved patterns and bits when you need them - with no postage or handling.
• The stores will be happy to have another stream of income that also helps to sell more fabric. 
• I'll be happy, because I can focus on finishing  a few of the kazillion pattern ideas I have.
• ...which will also make you happy (again) because you'll have more patterns to play with and more new tricks to learn from them.

It's win, win...errr...win, win, win, win.....  in theory, at least.  Who knows how it'll all pan out, but sometimes we have to take big jumps in order to evolve, non?  I've never shied away from radical leaps into the unknown and my crisis-management and survival skills are finely honed from a lifetime of doing just that.

If you're a retail store or a producer of  handcrafted goods, you'll be able to buy from us at a wholesale level.  If you haven't contacted us before about this, feel free to drop us a line at sales@nicolemdesign.com.au .

When I get through the next few weeks, I'll be able to think about a class schedule for next year. I love teaching and will continue to do that as often as I can.

Phew.  It feels better to just put it out there.  I'm not sure what the future holds, but I hope that you'll stay with me.  I need all the support I can get.

xxxnikki

PS. I'm still trying to figure my way through the blog-button and HTML jungle, and can't seem to get the buttons to display clearly on a sidebar.  If anyone is expert-ish in the area (or even if you have half a clue), I'd appreciate your help.

*To get the flat Australian tongue around the name "Mallalieu", try saying this three times, quickly...
"Mal - al - yoo"  (the "al's" rhyming with "pal").