The Reall King’s Birthday

I am not very good at keeping these blogs up to date am I. They take a few minutes but seems to take forever and I just keep putting it off (truth is I would rather be sewing)

The June weekend has been and gone (last June long weekend I was about to pop with Audrey and didn’t think I would last the weekend.

This June long weekend I had a 20% off fabric sales, but most people wanted my designs already made up. Thank you to those who braved the weather on the public holiday Monday, it was a cracker of a day

The real Kings birthday (A.K.A Geoffrey is this weekend, he will turn the big 8

I have more Japanese fabric on the way and as usual the sewing machine never stops, and what ever I sew goes directly onto FB and IG straight away

I can’t even tell you what my hot seller has been, a little bit of everything

I write myself a list every night so I can get started straight away in the morning, but it is always changing.

Audrey is doing well, she turned 11 months last week and she likes to say the word “duck” well I hope that is what she is saying

Better go, I have 25kg of wheat bags so sew. I am sitting out the front of the shop typing this blog (doctors orders that I need, more Vitamin D. The screen is hard to see. Geoffrey is laying next to me, sprawled out like a crime scene being told how beautiful he is and cute….o please…

Have a great week

Alie, Audrey and Geoffrey x

Good weather for ducks…

I can’t say I have been lazy; I just haven’t been updating my blog weekly like I said I would (is anybody reading it at all?)

If you live on the East coast of Australia what crazy crazy weather, the grounds are drenched and it is getting worse. The rain killed my Mother’s Day sales, what is normally one of the busiest days of the year, but I have to say, I wouldn’t come out in it either. Great weather for sewing I guess

All new Japanese fabric arrived last week, it is not your bright out there Alie Jane style but more natural, this included some amazing mushroom fabric which is available in two colour ways (I made two cushions up for the front window but they sold straight away)

I had fun with the window, using a some of the old wooden ironing boards I have collected over the years, my Pop’s old wooden boxes, old sewing machines, a ceramic jug, telephone, a wooden mushroom I picked up from a felt shop when I lived in Northcote Melbourne and my collection of old wooden rulers.

Then we have the 3 tartan fabrics that have arrived, I am always being asked for tartan, so after 11 years I decided to get it in. I made a kid’s quilted vest and bloomers on Saturday and got Audrey to model it (see pics on IG and FB) I mixed it with other very cute Japanese fabric that arrived, I also made the shop some singlet and matching bloomers from this.

The new daffodil laminated fabric has been very popular, how can it not be, it is pretty fab

Goffrey and Audrey are doing well, both loving the attention of their fans every day in and out of the store. Audrey is 10 months now, can’t walk but loves to stand. Geoffrey will be 8 next month, loves his ear scratches, leaning on customers, belly rubs and runs like a dickhead doing zoomies outside and away from the shop

Hope everyone is well, thanks for reading if you have made it this far. Don’t forget to tell all your friends and family about the shop and get them to sign up to the socials and if you are in town come visit (it costs nothing to browse)

Until next time, love Alie Jane, Audrey May and Geoffrey x

What a fun week….

The week started with Frock tails on Saturday night. Frock tails is all around Australia and to go to it you have to have made your outfit. This is the 2nd year that it has been held in Newcastle. Most people have their dresses made well in advance with their accessories, shoes etc and know all the details…not me. I had only tried on my dress the day before (it fitted a few months ago, why wouldn’t it fit now…? FAIL) I had to sew a whole new panel in the back, side darts, a new zip and facing. It was just lucky I had more fabric at the shop. Half an hour before I was meant to leave the house, I was still in my swimmers cooking a steak. I got ready in Alie Jane style, baby wiped my shoe clean and was out the door. I rocked up to Noahs on the beach and planned a late-night swim afterwards. The staff at Noahs had no idea what I was talking about. With 13% battery left on my phone I was able to google the location., ahhh Fort Scratchely. So off I walked up the hill (Moon boot filled with sand, scratching me like sandpaper and a high heel, completely the wrong height to the moon boot. I was one of the sponsors and was proud to see the Alie Jane logo on the sign. So many wonderful outfits and it was great to hear the story and struggles behind everyone’s outfits. Did I take any pics ….no

Monday back at work, I started on re stocking glasses cases, they were all patchworked together, quilted and all they needed was their snaps. Tuesday, I finished off my pelican dress (about time I all hear you say) I was not in the mood to sew shop stock so really, I was procrastinating. I really wanted to go home, but I am so strict with myself I just put it down to me being a whinger.

Tuesday night BAM!!! I went to bed shivering, then the sweats. If I didn’t have Audrey or Geoffrey I probably would have called a ambulance. Wednesday Dad called me and said he had just tested positive for Covid. Guess what Audrey and I had….

It was a week in bed, lost appetite and lots of sleep. Audrey was a little trooper and Geoffrey lazed in the house wherever we were. In that time, Audrey gained 2 teeth and learnt to crawl.

Back to work today, I have finished off the glasses cases, worked on orders and taken deliveries of all new gift cards for the shop, they are amaazzing, you need to pop in. It is back to working on my custom orders this afternoon and then it will be a mad rush to get Easter sewn

Until next time, love Alie Jane, Audrey May and Geoffrey x

The week that was.

The week started with Audrey saying her first words, Da da Dad, that was pretty exciting, and she is pretty proud of herself. So now she says that in between blowing bubbles and flirting with customers.

The shop needed restocking. I worked on some rompers including one from vintage Ken Done fabric. I have had this fabric sitting in my pile for way too long (one day it was going to be made into a dress for myself, one day….)

I had lots of customers visiting from Melbourne, they walked away with lots of fabrics to work on their projects back home

I spent a whole day topping up key fobs and luggage tags. We joke that some gangs have patches, but if you are part of the Alie Jane gang you have a key fob hanging brightly from your keys

I have also topped up my clear zip cable/charger/ storage bags, who knew these would sell faster than I can sew

New fabric from Japan and a retro inspired cotton range has arrived in store. I couldn’t wait to sew the retro inspired range and deck out a new window. (even though I am still wearing my fun moon boot from a broken foot) The window now has flashing LED lights so you can see me at night.

This Saturday night I am off to Frock tails at Noahs’s. I am one of the sponsors. To attend, you need to wear a garment you have made. It has come around quicker than I expected and will probably wear the Tiki dress I made

This week I have been sewing satin sleep caps. These are the newest item to the Alie Jane range. I have black, blues, and today I sewed pink and red satin.

Until next time. Alie Jane, Audrey May and Geoffrey x