20% off at the Christmas Shopping Evening - Guess how many Fat Quarters..

Helloooo its Angela here, just a little random blogpost that I think you will like.

So one normal Millie Moon day in Wells I was cutting fat quarters - those who know me know that I'm a fan of cutting fat Quarters,, anyway whilst cutting away I thought to myself  "crikey I do cut a lot of Fat Quarters......I wonder how many I actually cut on a Millie Moon day........" and then I began to have a bit of a brainwave and jumped on the good old text to Becki and Rachel, and they also liked the idea....well actually Rachel's reply was (and I quote) "you are a nutter. Lets work a plan. Keep a count!"

So here I am in the Wells shop with my tally chart and my pile of spotty and plain fabric ready to start cutting and counting fat Quarters. But you're probably asking why am I counting fat Quarters, and this is where you come in.

As you already know (and have pencilled in the diary) the Millie Moon shopping evening is on Tuesday 4th December 6-8pm at the Frome Shop, And as an extra little thank you for all your support and custom this past year, Becki and Rachel and the team at Millie Moon would like to give you a chance to win a fat quarter bundle. All you have to do is to submit a guess with your purchase on the Millie Moon shopping evening, of how many fat quarters I have cut on this particular but regular Millie Moon day. The winner will be announced at the end of the evening. How easy is that, to win yourself some lovely fat quarters.

So where was I........ I started with spottys and plains, and then onto the beautiful Tildas. £18 per mtr or 4 Fat Quarters for £16. A bundle of these would make such a lovely Christmas present, some of my favourite fabrics in the whole shop come from the Tilda range. If I could I would have an envelope cushion in each and everyone of the Tilda fabrics.......it would be like cushion heaven. Sorry getting distracted. Cut, cut, cut.

After filling up on Tilda I decided to tackle the fabric wall and all the Fat Quarters that live here (okay most of the fabrics that live here, we do have an awful lot of fabrics).  There came the Modas: Odds and Evens - Vintage Kids, which is a new range of fabrics......simply sublime. (I love the word sublime!) Cut, cut, cut.
The Moda fabrics are £14 per mtr or four Fat Quarters for £12.

And then the Moda - Simply Colour: some of our newest fabrics. Look how vibrant and lively they are.

And finally the last to cut the Moda - Marmalade Bunches (what a yummy name, I do wonder who comes up with them). Cut, cut ,cut. My favourite colour combination - aquas, reds and whites, I may just have to add some of these to my fabric stash, well I have been really good recently.

So can you guess how many fat Quarters were cut?
I have passed the figure to Becki and Rachel who will put it in the safe ready for the Millie Moon shopping evening, and the reveal. Good luck and I look forward to your guess and seeing you on the shopping evening. Just a bit of fun born from my random curiosity.

 P.S Tell all the other Millie Mooners too, someone has to win the fat quarters!

The christmas shopping evening takes place on TUESDAY 4th DECEMBER 6-8pm at the FROME SHOP. come along for mulled wine, mince pies and 20% all purchases (**excluding handmade, gift vouchers and workshops)

Free postage and new years workshops

Until 31 December 2012  We are offering you 

FREE POSTAGE 

on all orders placed through the website or by phone. 

We try to keep the website as up to date as possible, but if you have seen something in the shop and cant see it on the website then please contact the shop. 

Perfect for getting all those fabrics ready for your christmas projects, gift vouchers and gifts.

www.milliemoonshop.co.uk

The workshops lists for the new year are now available on the website. Do you know someone who would like to learn to sew? Why not book a workshop for a gift? 

Just for fun on Friday

There are a lot of these little statements going around at the moment, but these two tickled all of us at Millie Moon.  I think we are all familiar with them here, how about you? 

Happy weekend everyone!

Dates for your diary

Hows the christmas shopping going so far? Slowly? mine is. Luckily we have a couple of fantastic events coming up in december which I think will help us all. 

Christmas at the Barn, organised by Edamay www.edamay.com is a great weekend event with plenty of interesting handmade, artistic creations worth a visit for that unusual gift in the beautiful setting of Mells Barn, just outside Frome and one of Millie Moons favourite places. Its taking place on the 1st and 2nd December 10-5pm.


We will be there on the Saturday with a little stall of gift ideas along with many talented others including our very own Vickie,  Fromemaid with her amazing kids superhero capes www.fromemaid.com

 On Sunday the lovely Gaynor, will be there selling her unique mixed media creations, including her collages, felt brooches and decorations www.folksy.com/shops/gingergirl


check out the blog for more info http://christmasatthebarn.blogspot.co.uk

      Frome's christmas Supermarket takes place on Sunday 2nd December from 10-4pm. The creative artisans will be lining the streets of Frome, including Catherine Hill, selling unique and fabulous gifts, food, decorations and more. The Flea market at the Cheese and Grain will  be a great place for that special find. 

Shops and cafes are also opening, perfect for christmas shopping. 

We will be open 10-4pm and the very creative Quilt Queen Caroline Frances-Payne will have her colourful stall outside our shop for the day. 


Hopefully I will get all my shopping done that weekend. How about you?
                                                                                        
                          
 Shop Local, Shop Frome

The Great Create

Well, we have finally got our breath back and we can now fill you in on the fun we had at our Charity event "The Great Create" at the fabulous Mells Barn.

After months of planning, cutting and excitement, the finally day came. The sun shone and we arrived early at the beautiful Mells Barn to hang the bunting, set up the sewing machines and lay the craft tables ready to welcome all the ladies to the event. Even the Cows came to say hello.

Once everyone had received their Millie Moon bag containing their 'Speed Crafting Makes' and taken a seat at a crafting table, the day started with a welcome talk by Kelly Hall from PAC. She explained the role and importance of the charity and the reason why we were all there. After a brief explanation of the days events, the Mayor of Frome, Pippa Goldfinger, rang the bell and we were off.

"Ready Steady SEW!"

The speed crafting had begun and so off they went, sewing, gluing, folding, pinning, cutting...

As each project finished, the bell would ring and a game of musical chairs began as the ladies moved to the next table to create again. Bows, pincushions, christmas decorations in felt, paper and ceramics, jewellery, yo-yos... 

A total of 80 ladies completed a total of 640 craft projects in one day! Unbelievable.

We had a fantastic lunch provided by the Walled Garden at Mells, a great informative talk by Lyndsey Mayhew from Mollie Makes magazine, more speed crafting and then a talk by local illustrator and designer Carol Tratt had everyone laughing. Afternoon tea and cake was needed to keep sugar levels up as the Jelly roll Race was about to commence. 

Four teams of ladies raced through the Jelly rolls and we had 4 finished quilt tops in under an hour. Incredible but addictive... and maybe a little competitive? 


All fabric for the Jelly roll race was supplied by MODA 

The raffle was by far the best raffle we have ever seen. Prizes donated by so many local businesses, Vita interiors, Bramble and Wild, Marmalade yarns, Edamay, all the tutors and from EQS, COATS and MODA. Fabric, Jelly rolls, Coat, Bags, kits, cushions, subscriptions to mollie makes and simple things magazines and much much more. The raffle raised over £500

From tickets Sales we raised a whopping £2000, with the raffle and the selling of the quilt tops from the Jelly roll race the total is now £2522! 

Millie, Dee and Julie... Superstars in the Kitchen

We cannot thank everyone enough for their help and support. From the tutors and volunteers who gave up their time and expertise, Kelly, The Mayor, the speakers,The Walled Garden, the businesses who sponsored and gave raffle prizes, Sue who supplied the cutlery at very short notice, the speakers and of course to everyone who bought a ticket. Without you the create would not have been so great. 

Thank you and for those of you asking already...

Maybe next year??? Keep your eyes peels and get practising those Jelly Rolls races....


Rachel and Becki xxx

(Finally, apologies if we have missed anyone from the thank you's.  So many of you were part of an amazing day, we have been totally overwhelmed by your support and your generosity and for the fabulous feedback we have received) 


About the Tutors:
Gaynor Ringland - Gingergirl
Vickie Piper - Fromemaid   http://www.fromemaid.com
Angela Lai Yen - Little studio red     http://angelalaiyen.blogspot.co.uk
Emma and Jane - Dufflebobble     http://dufflebobble.blogspot.co.uk
Caroline Frances Payne - Quilter
Jo Luckstead - Ceramicist     http://jolucksted.com
Alexandra and Anna - Make me a Dress     http://makemeadress.blogspot.co.uk
Anne Baillie Smith - Designer and Maker

Please respect the tutors who gave up their time, skills and creativity and  be so kind as to not reproduce the patterns for commercial purposes

Free postage

From Monday 1st October until 31 December 2012, As a little early christmas present to you all, We are offering you FREE POSTAGE on all orders placed through the website or by phone. 

Perfect for getting all those fabrics ready for your christmas projects. 

Black Swan Artisan Shops - Handmade Fayre

Hello, its Angela here,

I'm just popping in to invite you to the Black Swan Artisan Shops - Handmade Fayre.

For those of you who don't already know I have one of the studio/Artisan shops in the Black Swan in Frome.  If you don't find me in either Millie Moon, Frome or Wells, you will generally find me here drawing on my sewing machine, getting creative or with a cup of tea in hand chatting away. 

The Handmade Fayre is an event I have been co-organising (may explain why I've been so scatter-brain recently!) along with Rachael Ann Bird, who has the studio next to me and is a talented Goldsmith. The Handmade Fayre is to be held on the first weekend of September - Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd September 10am - 4.30pm within the Round Tower and Artisan corridor.

It's the first of its kind and will take the form of a mini art exhibition combined with craft stalls 
Ceramicist Jo Lucksted  (some may know her as Jo, ceramic button workshop tutor) will be showing and selling her work along with Ceramicist Julia Davey, Printmaker Kerrie McNeil, Painter Madeleine Town, Papercut Artist Jessica Palmer, Illustrator and Maker Julie Ball, Painter Caroline Walsh Waring, Printmaker David Birks, Printmaker Katherine Care, Textile Maker Suzanne Leather and last but by no means least Glass Artist Stella Wain. Admission is free so do visit and chat with the artists, be enticed. 

The artisan shops Villa Rosie, Rachael Ann Bird Goldsmiths, myself of Little Studio Red, and Anja of Knopf Designs will also be open. Do come by and see what I get up to besides teaching workshops - I'm the one with the blue door.

http://www.blackswan.org.uk/news_events_Detail.php?Black-Swan-Artisan-Shops---Handmade-Fayre-46

Minotaur, Jo Lucksted

The Great Create, Charity event

Please contact us if you need any further information. Book tickets online www.milliemoonshop.co.uk, by phone or pop into either shop.

Millie Moon charity craft event 2012

We are very excited to announce our Charity event 

 'Make with Millie Moon' craft day. 

and we are really pleased to be supporting and raising money for the 

A local charity that is close to our hearts and has touched so many local people.

http://www.positiveactiononcancer.co.uk/

The event is being held on

Sunday 7th October

at

 Mells Barn, Between Frome and Wells. 

10-5pm

Tickets are £40 

(to include all the activities and refreshments)

So far plans for the day include ,

Speed crafting 

Jelly Roll Racing

A Guest Speaker (tbc)

A raffle

Lunch and refreshments

Fabric suppliers MODA are going to sponsor the event,  

How exciting is that!

And amazing crafters and tutors have agreed to give their time to be involved. 

So far, We have the Fromemaid, Paper Artist - Gaynor Ringland, Textile Artist -Angela Lay-Yen, Dufflebobble crafts, Alexandra and Anna from 'Make me a dress', Quilter -Caroline Francis-Payne, Dressmaker-Anne Baillie-Smith and local Ceramicist Jo Luckstead

We hope you will come along and support the event. Tickets available from Millie Moon shops in Frome and Wells.

Please contact us if you need any further information 

Its our birthday!

This week we celebrate our  Birthday at Millie Moon.  It has been 4 years since we opened the doors to our little fabric heaven to share with the world. Looking back at early pictures we had very little stock but a lot of enthusiasm and ideas. Although I don't think either of us realised quite how much the business would grow in such a short space of time. After opening in 2008 we started the Sewing school in 2009. In 2010 we moved to bigger premises and in 2011 we opened our 2nd shop in Wells. What will 2012 bring...?

Millie Moon in Frome

Millie Moon Wells

  

We have seen our range of stock grow to include, Moda, Riley Blake, Michael Miller to name but a few and of course kept the original favourites of Kaffe Fassett, Amy Butler, Tilda and Tanya Whelan, beautiful wool felt, pompom trims and rows of ribbons. Jelly rolls, charm packs and Layer cakes fill the shelves with their stunning mix of colours. Waddings, vilenes and a huge selection of basic haberdashery, may not be so pretty, but a real necessity for all crafts.

   The Millie Moon Sewing School has gone from strength to strength. There was a whole generation that didn't sew and struggled to sew on a button. We set up the sewing school not just to cover the basics but to really inspire and create confidence in people's abilities and choices. Workshops in a wide range of crafts, not just sewing.

We also offer 1-1 tuition, birthday parties, baby showers and hen dos.


Also, our lovely little Sewing club on 1st tuesday of every month, brings together a group of ladies with similar interests to share, inspire and chat about their projects. This club has been going for over 3 years. Come along and join in.

Kids are so creative and keen to learn, that kids workshops were soon added to the schedule, as well as birthday parties. We want to inspire our children to have fun with craft and colour.  So that there isn't a generation that misses out again. (All our kids tutors are CRB checked)

All our Tutors and employees are artists in their own right. Between them their creativity covers a wide range of areas from quilting, dressmaking, ceramics to textile artists. They are bloggers, authors, run etsy/ folksy shops, have studio spaces, websites and are established businesses in their own right. All with a passion for arts crafts and textiles. All truly inspirational people. We are honoured to support them and other local designers by stocking their work in our shops.

Freemotion machine embroidery with Angela Lai Yen

Teach me to sew with Angela

Ceramic button making with Jo Luckstead

Dressmaking workshops with Anne Baillie-Smith

Patchwork and Quilting with Caroline Frances-Payne

"make me a dress" By Alexandra King

Collage with Gaynor Ringland

 

Millie Moon is our love and our passion. We have worked tirelessly together as business partners and believed in each other as sisters to create a business and a brand we adore and are very proud of.


Juggling our young families (5 children between 2-12 years) keeping house and in the beginning with full time jobs, this has been a true labour of love. Working late nights and weekends we couldn't have done it without the support and love of families and friends. 

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big

" THANK YOU"

 to our families, the team, the tutors, our lovely customers, our followers on twitter, facebook and the blog, thank you for all being so enthusiastic, inspirational and supportive.

Here's to another exciting year ahead... what will it bring? 

Watch this space.............

Big love

Rachel and Becki x

Please take a look at our website for products and workshops. The new season schedule for workshops will be available soon.  www.milliemoonshop.co.uk