Friday 8 October 2010

A Catalogue and a Thought or Two.



The Notonthehighstreet winter catalogue is now out



and look what is appearing in it amongst many other gorgeous goodies.



Can you see it? Yes, that's right, it's my Garden Journal Notebook! Fortunately for me NOTHS have photographed it far better than I have photographed this catalogue. I am in a bit of a hurry and thus I have just aimed the camera and clicked with no consideration for light quality, camera focus, etc. Still, I hope you get the gist and can tell how pleased I am.



My little business is forging ahead and coming up to yet another Christmas. It seems strange to think back to when I began it; Isabella was a little - very little - baby and I often could have cried with the difficulties of working and feeding her and so on, BUT the upside was that I knew I loved what I did and knew that time moves on, that things would hopefully become easier. And they have.



Actually, honesty makes me think through that: while some things are easier, other difficulties have arisen. Isabella needs as much time as ever as she grows and while she is now at school in the mornings, it means my time is torn between sewing and racing to pick her up, the afternoons filled with a mix of working and playing with her all at once in the same way as I did when she was tiny. And of course, there are all the other 'children' who still need you sometimes whatever their age (thank goodness).



It is easy to feel guilty when Isabella wants me to stop and play, the orders piling up as she asks for another story, but somehow we manage and I consider myself lucky. I am doing what I want, running my own steadily growing business and working away on my designs, bringing up my children and hopefully instilling a little determination in them by example, for I truly do believe the world is your oyster if you work at it, even if the pearl inside isn't quite the pearl you thought it would be. With a little adapting of mindset it just may be an even better one than the one you started out searching for.



Golly, that really wasn't what I set out planning to put in this post, but I guess it was somewhere in the back of my mind. Perhaps I needed to remind myself that when the next weeks get manic there is such a good reason for it. Anyhoo, forgive my little ramble and look at what my sweet girl has been up to as I type...



A gift of some beads from a friend and she is in seventh heaven.



In fact, she has just told me she is a 'genius' as she held her new make up for me to see!



So, another weekend beckons and I have new wool to play with (though of course I must get The Dratted One finished first - nearly completed second sleeve Davey, but oh how you will owe me treats for this. Fourteen balls of wool indeed!)



And I had better let this poor chap out too before he buzzes himself to death.



Have a lovely weekend x

19 comments:

  1. Lovely picture of your Garden Notebook in NOTHS! It is hard to juggle life and its priorities isn't it? I am sure that if you are happy in what you do then Isabella is happy too. I am glad you saved the bee! x

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  2. I can so understand the struggles and guilt and to make it worse I do not work - though it is one of the reason why I haven't put myself out there - yet.

    Have a fabulous weekend,

    Nina xxx

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  3. YOUR GARDEN NOTEBOOK IS TRULY AMAZING!
    WELL DONE FOR APPEARING IN A MAGAZINE!
    JUST THAT IS A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT IN ITSELF!
    HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO JUGGLE LIFE A BIT BETTER... I`M A STAY AT HOME MUMMY AND DON`T WORK AT HOME LIKE YOU DO... AND I STILL STRUGGLE TO JUGGLE LIFE IN GENERAL! LOL

    DEBBIE MOSS

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  4. I can well imagine your truggle to balance your work life with parenting. It does as you say get less time consuming although easier isn't the word I'd have chosen! Even as adults they still need you - which is good in some ways of course!

    Lovely post as always and love the little philosophical bit too - how true!

    Jane

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  5. Oops - when will I learn to proof read before posting a comment! should read struggle though maybe truggle could be the new verb for trying to get the balance right?!!

    J

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  6. You are doing SO well, I remember the early day very well..
    I'm still here, watching, such wonderful photos, it's well worth it, keep it up!!
    Take care
    Jude

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  7. I haven't received my catalogue yet but will be looking forward to it now. Your feature looks gorgeous, be prepared Pip for I see a stampede on the horizon you clever girl.

    Have a wonderful weekend xx

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  8. congratulations, well done

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  9. Pipany, do not be surprised by your spot on the NOTHS pages. Your creations are beautiful and true, and inspired by a beautiful place.

    Hoping that your embroidering fingers will meet the coming challenges of customer demands. Of course they will.

    It is funny to think back to your posts when you were first setting forth into commerce, with that lovely baby held on your hip.

    Congratulations to you on every success, and best wishes for many more to come!

    xo

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  10. I am so glad you have made it all work - it can't always be easy and I'm sure you burn the midnight oil but if you are content most of the time taht is what counts

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  11. Wonderful that your pretty embroidered notebook is in the NOTHS catalogue! Your struggles combining motherhood and designing sound very familiar to me. It is quite a tangle of logistics, juggling, guilt, joy, happiness, frustration....and so on! But somehow we manage to muddle through, each one of us in our own way according to our individual circumstances. Good luck with your work, I'm sure you will be kept very busy but will find a way to do it all.
    I thought the photos of Isabella's beads were gorgeous, by the way!
    Enjoy your weekend.
    Helen x

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  12. Hi Pipany
    I love how your post changed and became something different, as it seems sometimes posts write themselves, don't they?
    There's always some kind of struggle / conflict between the differing demands on our time. And I'm certain life is a seesaw of activities whether we go out to work or not, whether we have children or not. The main thing is just knowing that you are doing what's right for you and your loved ones, which clearly you are :-)
    I think your journal will do very well in NOTHS !
    Have a fab weekend,
    Denise x

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  13. It is always refreshing to be reminded of the hard work that goes into building, growing and sustaining a small business. The juggling that is done between our lives, loves and families. It is also inspiring to be reminded not to give up on your own dreams and goals whatever they may be x

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  14. hi Pipany,
    This all sounds so familiar to me too, especially the manic working and then playschool pick up. in the early days i felt like i was chasing my tail much of the time. Both alice and i have always put family first but the danger is of running yourself rugged fitting in all the rest. it is wonderful that your business is doing so well but never be scared to turn down opportunities if they seem too big at the time. we turned down many in the early days. new opportunities came again and we were in the right place to go with them and to enjoy them fully. i do think building a business slowly helps keep ones's integrity, pace and sanity.
    congratulations on getting your notebook in the catalogue. your work is beautiful, your identity pure unique gorgeous 'Pipany' and your small business is very strong and i look forward to seeing it grow and blossom further over the next few years.
    ...and yay for such supportive partners and family who encourage and cheer us on x

    warmest wishes dear friend
    ginny xxx

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  15. Well, I just had my scrumptious Garden Notebook back (Alison's Notebook) and a garden hangy, ordered through NOTHS and they are completely scrumptious! Thank you.

    I don't envy you Pip. I remember the ridiculous hours I used to work on Christmas orders. But you look well organised, and at least you still have time to (just about) plan for it. Agree with Simone - if you are happy, Isabella will be happy. Don't beat yourself up. Kids are amazing. And she will understand, like my boys used to that this time of year is very busy for mummy.

    xx

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  16. Just found you from Harmony and Rosey's blog. Love your photography and gorgeous makes!

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  17. Your garden notebook looks fab. I remember when you started your business and it is great to see it flourishing. I admire you hugely for all you have done. I am sure you will go from strength to strength!

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  18. Hear hear to all that. Love the philosophy. So sound. X

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  19. Well done for being picked to be in their catalogue. Lovely lovely post. I've just read back from your others and ended up here to comment by the way. You sum it up so perfectly with your point about whatever the pearl may be like we keep on because it all will be worth it in the end. My husband set up a social enterprise to teach and support homeless and vunerable adults six years ago now and at times with struggles to get funding it would be easier to walk, but when you know what you're doing is good and right you keep on. Belief and passion are good motivators. Here's to you having lots of orders.

    X

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