Colour My Dreams | Colourful Ramblings

Open for Business

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 14:00:02 GMT

Interesting times...

Life has been somewhat topsy turvy for the past few years. With Covid affecting the whole world and then my own little world being challenged with the tedium that comes with trying to sell my house and move to somewhere new; I've been feeling somewhat overwhelmed. The one constant in my life has been my yarns, hooks and needles. I honestly think they are to thank for getting me through the past four years with a semblance of sanity in tact.

When I recently had some time away, I decided it was best to close my shop, but it's now back up and running again and with many new items. Even when I'm away I always take yarn and my tools with me and one of the first things I seek out is the closest yarn shop (or tissu - as the case has been recently - a little clue to where I've been hiding out). I never stop making, whether it's on a ferry journey across the English Channel, or a cheap hotel on my way through rural France; I will have my essentials with me to keep my hands and mind busy with something creative. All the items below were made on my latest trip to France.

My online shop has so many wonderful ideas for presents, or to treat yourself. Clothes for babies, storage baskets for your home, Winter woollies for those 'blowing away the cobwebs' moments and so much more...

Please have a look and hopefully you'll find something to buy. This little business is my passion, but it's a challenge competing with High Street brands who can pump out cheap handmade items from far flung places (probably not paying their workers what they are truly worth). All my items are made by me, they are all made with materials that I ensure are natural, well sourced and only from companies that I feel share the same environmental ethos as I do. If they are more expensive than the big brands, it's because I care about the quality, not the quantity. It's also because you are paying for the decades of learning and honing my skills.

Far too often we buy things without thinking about where they come from, who made them and how they got to the shop you are buying from. I'd like to think that when you buy from Colour My Dreams, you are buying from someone with a social conscience and not just a big corporation who's really only interested in profit. Please consider my online shop next time you're looking for that special something fo r your special someone, who also includes YOU!

🎄Festive Greetings 🎄

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 23 Dec 2022 14:28:06 GMT

Well laid plans...

If I was to rank 2022 on a scale of 1 - 10, it's a solid 5. Neither wonderful nor disastrous, in school report terms, "could do better". Trying to sell a house and move to another country sounds like a relatively easy challenge, but, a challenge it has been. I know other people have had bigger things to worry about this year, but our worries are relative and all valid.

Dealing with visas, selling a house and generally trying to get it all right, in the right order, doesn’t make for a stressless life. When the “well laid plans” go awol, the only thing to do is take a step back, remind yourself that you don’t have control and relax into accepting it’ll all happen when the time is right.

It’s hard to relinquish control sometimes, but not letting it go can be even more damaging, particularly to one’s health. Stress is not good for any of us and understanding that gives you the opportunity to ease up on yourself. Don’t let things that are out of your control ruin a perfectly good day. Deal with your stuff in your way and be kind to yourself. When other people expect things from you, remind them that you’ve got expectations of your own and at the moment, what they want from you isn’t as important as what you need from yourself.

I’m letting the universe get on with whatever it has to do to make the right things happen. I don’t believe in praying to a fictional god for help or making a wish when I see a shooting star, I believe in the butterfly effect. One action impacts another, if I make the right choices and the right actions, the pieces will eventually fall into place.

A new life and a new start is in reaching distance, I just have to be patient. I’ll keep doing the right things to make it happen and hopefully, before long I’ll be sharing with you my new adventure.

Wishing you all a very Merry Festive time over the coming weeks. Enjoy time with family and friends, be grateful for the good things and the challenges that make us stronger. Best Wishes for 2023 and lots-of-love.

DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!

��

Au Revoir, but not Goodbye

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 17:00:00 GMT

It's time for change...

This day was always going to come, the day I say au revoir to all of you who signed up to my newsletters, visited my website, bought my products and offered kind words of support. Many of you did that regularly and I’m really grateful.

I’ve known for a long time that some major decisions would have to be made at this particular point in my life. It was a pre-determined event that was completely out of my control, so I decided to turn it into a moment that I could enjoy and look forward to. It’s a completely new start, a new adventure and a huge, scary change.

For the time being, I’m selling off my current stock at a massive discount.

30% OFF everything in my shop.

USE CODE: AUREVOIR30 at the checkout for your 30% discount.

My online shop will definitely be closing on the 18th September.

I’d like to thank you for your support, your purchases and your loyalty for the past few years. It’s been lovely chatting to so many of you at the market stalls I attended or over email. I’ve even had some lovely cards in the post from a few of you. It truly has been such a fun and rewarding few years.

As soon as I’m ready to launch Colour My Dreams again, I’ll be back in contact with those of you on my mailing list. Please hang in there if you’d like to keep in touch with what happens next.

I definitely won’t be putting down my tools, there will still be lots of creativity. For now it will mostly be furnishing and decorating my new dream home in the French countryside. Until then, it’s au revoir, but not goodbye!

Lots of love,

I Am Enough

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 08:00:09 GMT

Seeking happiness and contentment

It took a pandemic to make me realise that I am enough. Yes, the me that I am today is more than enough, I don’t need to be anything more. I discovered that I don’t need to wear make-up and wash my hair every day (yes, I used to wash it every day - how ridiculous was that) and my pared back wardrobe was more than enough too.

I’d been decluttering for several years, even before the pandemic hit. Around 6 years ago I gave myself the challenge of not buying anything new. The only clothing I purchased up until recently, was a few new pairs of socks and underwear, everything else in my wardrobe was still going strong so I didn’t ‘need’ to buy more. Admittedly, over the past 12 months I really have needed to make a few purchases. All the jeans that I can actually get on (not necessarily comfortably) had holes in them and I’m afraid some of my clothes simply can’t keep up with an ageing waistline - buying some new jeans was a needs must moment!

It’s funny though, when you get out of the habit of doing something, it almost becomes a luxury. I now feel a bit indulgent if I think about buying myself any new clothes, even if it’s an item that might be deemed as necessary.
My son gave me a voucher for my birthday, for a shop that I used to like buying my clothes from. I used it to buy some new jeans and I love them. They aren’t the usual style that I used to buy, they fit my new style body, the one that’s changed shape due to age and menopause and the one that now doesn’t fit into all the old jeans in my wardrobe.
I also got a pair of fabulous Lucy and Yak dungarees from my daughter for my birthday. If you’re a fan of Mama Mia, you’ll get the dungarees thing. They are comfy and practical - what more do you need.

It’s too easy to buy cheap and cheerful and we have far too much choice. Going forward I’m planning on only buying clothes when I know it’s something I really need and the items I’ll buy are going to last. All the items in my current wardrobe are things that I’ve worn over and over again and some of them are items I’ve been given when friends have been decluttering, they are my classics. They may not be ‘classics’ in the true sense of the word, but they are mine.

The ‘enough me’ has also learnt to appreciate that I have skills that others don’t and I am more than capable of producing beautiful, practical and useful products. My craft work has been my savour over the past few years and I’ve spent a lot of time honing those skills, picking up new idea, learning new techniques and discovering stitches that excite me. I’d like to think that my products might become someone’s classic item one day; that bag, top or wallhanging that becomes part of their story.

Understanding what enough is can be a light bulb moment. Believing that you are enough is a tough thing to come to grips with. There are always moments of doubt that creep in, but when I have those moments I remind myself of what I have achieved, despite others not believing in me or be willing to offer me emotional support.

Acknowledging that we are enough doesn’t mean we have to stop enjoying new experiences or learning new skills. Being enough is all about embracing life and sometimes realising when our enough could do with a boost, to stop us getting bored if nothing else. It’s about what we need to help us stabilise contentment, not what others expect of us. We shouldn’t measure our 'enough' against someone else’s. It’s a very unique thing, it belongs to you.

You don’t need expensive make-up and designer labels to make you happy, all you need are people and things around you that you love; and we don’t need a vast number of either. Likes and Follows on social media aren’t a measure of your success. A smiling face is your biggest measure of happiness and contentment.

Keep smiling and know that you are enough. ��

Why I don't like Etsy

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 08:00:00 GMT

From champion of the crafter to corporate dragon.

Retail is a competitive world, I’m sure I don’t need to tell you that. For anyone who shops as a leisure activity or simply out of necessity, finding a bargain is quite often a major deciding point. Once upon a time Etsy provided a platform for the handmade; a place for crafters working away in their spare room, kitchen tables and back garden sheds. Since its birth in 2005 Etsy has changed immeasurably. It now provides a platform for anyone wanting to compare the cheapest prices, not quality products. I wonder how many people who purchase from an Etsy shop really do some homework about the business they are buying from.

Etsy are constantly telling me that I need to advertise and I need to offer Free Delivery in order to get my products to the top of the list. They ‘reward’ you for these things, but of course, you have to pay for them. Etsy admitted that they would favour those sellers who offer Free Delivery when listing a search term.

In 2019, Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, “announced Etsy's plans to give priority placement in United States search results to sellers who included the price of shipping within the total price of their product”. *

A lot of Etsy sellers were very unhappy about this announcement, including myself. Delivery is an added expense for a small business, it’s not something that comes cheap or free, it’s a necessity when selling online and can be a huge chunk of your profit if you offer it for free.

Free Delivery is something a big department store can afford because they buy their products in bulk at wholesale prices. A lot of Etsy businesses are not able to compete with those practises. Many of us sell products that are handmade from sustainably sourced materials, they are one-offs and unique.

Etsy started out as the place to be for small, independent businesses. But now it’s just another big retailer making money out of the small businesses who list their products, regardless of whether we actually sell anything. They claim to support small businesses, yet they allow big corporate ideas to dictate the terms of our sales.

When Etsy started it was a great place for genuine handmade products. The products were made by the owners of the small businesses that they were listed by. That all changed when Etsy got greedy and saw the potential in allowing businesses to buy-in their products. Since 2013, when the ban on buying in was lifted, Etsy has being flooded with poorly made, mass produced tat! You have to sift through this tat to find the genuine, hand made craft items that were the backbone of the site when it first started.

Unless I’m prepared to spend hours making product videos and offering my products at cheaper prices so they compete with other similar products (that aren’t similar at all), I doubt I’ll ever make any sales on Etsy. Mostly because I'm stubborn and refuse to play by the Etsy 'rules'. I’ve had an Etsy account for years and all I’ve sold is one digital crochet pattern.

All my products are handmade, using sustainable materials and my prices reflect that. Etsy doesn’t allow for that when they offer a selection of products in a search. We all get lumped into one batch and a lot of people will simply go for the cheapest items, without knowing they are probably buying cheap, mass produced, poorly made tat.

I did a search using the term ‘Crochet Top’ and 66,917 items were listed! It was page 15 before I found one of my tops. What chance do any of us have of actually selling anything in this over crowded marketplace. It’s virtually impossible.

When you go shopping to an actual bricks and mortar shop, you may have the choice of three or four of your favourite shops to choose from. You’ll go into these shops with an idea of what you are looking for and as long as you find one that ticks the boxes for you, the chances are you’ll buy it. When you are presented with thousands of choices, how do you choose? Do you even have the energy to sift through them all and actually buy something?

I have a few items on Etsy at the moment, they are set to expire over the next couple of months. When they do I’ll be closing my Etsy shop. It’s a total waste of time for me, it’s another expense that doesn’t pay me anything back.

As a small business I need to invest in marketing that actually works for my business. Etsy doesn’t work for me. I’m sure it works for a lot of people, but I’m also sure those businesses bow down quite a lot to the demands of Etsy in order to make their shops work. They don’t have control of their business, Etsy does. At least I control the shop on my website, I decide if I want to offer free delivery, or add a discount code - when I want to, not because I’ve been made to feel that I have to.

The bottom line is, Etsy started out as a champion for small business but now it is a massive corporate dragon breathing fire over its sellers. It’s lost its soul and its purpose.

* https://www.thelist.com/197941/the-untold-truth-of-etsy/?utm_campaign=clip

Be Proud!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 01 Jun 2022 08:00:06 GMT

Let's celebrate individuality.

Like every piece of crochet , knitting or macrame that I create, every human being is different. How can we ever really say that something is 'normal'. What you consider normal, might be totally weird to me and vice versa. There really is no such thing as normal.

The concept of normality was developed to keep us in line, to stop us from not conforming to a way of living that suits those who think they are in charge. We don’t have to like what other people say, do, wear, eat, pray to, etc… but we can accept and respect that they have the same choices as us. What makes our choices any better or more normal? Nothing does, it’s all about indoctrination.

I’m a privileged individual - I’m a white female, I had a good education and I’m heterosexual - I neatly fit into the ethnicity/sexuality questionnaires. By default, the odds are stacked in my favour, my destiny is more to do with how I manage myself, rather than how society perceives me.

June is Pride Month - a time to celebrate individuality. Being proud of one’s gender and sexuality shouldn’t even be an issue, we shouldn’t feel the need to celebrate this for only one month of the year. If people accepted that we all have a right to be the person we were born as or who we want to be as our life progresses, we wouldn’t need to highlight the issues that mean Pride Month is necessary.

Pride is a joyous celebration but let’s keep it in perspective. The reason we have to celebrate it is because there is so much inequality in this damn world of ours. By all means get out there and party, but remember why the party is happening and be part of the change to make ‘normal’ a rude word.

Celebrate Pride with some Rainbow themed accessories...

Parlez vous français?

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 27 May 2022 16:35:53 GMT

Paris in the Springtime

I've just spent three days in Paris. A little over-due treat that I planned last year, but because of life and stupid pandemics, I've had to cancel it three times. Fourth time lucky and I made it.

I had a wonderful few days. I walked in excess of my daily average of steps on all three days, exploring some ‘off the grid’ treasures courtesy of the wonderful Messy Nessy book “Don’t be a Tourist In Paris” . I was totally knackered at the end of each day, but I soaked up as much as I could of the Parisian ‘live life’ attitude, the beauty of the architecture and the abundance of deliciousness.

We all too often spend time looking down at our phones, I try not to do this when I’m walking around a city (apart from looking at a map when I’m obviously lost). I look up and always see the most amazing gardens, balconies and architecture above the usual eye level. I am a little obsessed with looking up while in Paris, all that intricate cast iron and beautiful stone work, every building has its own attitude and presence. They fascinate and inspire me. What inspires you to get creative?

A couple of years back I made a macrame wall hanging that I called Paris, it was inspired by those stunning balconies. After this short trip, I’m inspired all over again and think I may have to start a new piece this weekend. Maybe I’ll do a whole series of Paris wall hangings…

I took a million photos of the tops of buildings, I’ve certainly got enough material to draw on.

Have a good weekend. Pop over to my online shop to see some of the other macrame wall hangings that I have for sale. One of them might just suit that bare wall in your home.

Big Decisions

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 09 May 2022 07:00:01 GMT

Life wouldn't life without a big decision or two...

For the past eight months I've been decorating my house. It's been a labour of love and one that is rather bittersweet. I started in September 2021 and finished the bulk of it last week, Tuesday 3rd May.
On Wednesday 4th May my house went on the market .

It's been my home of the past 17 years, my comfort zone, the home I brought up my children in and the home I've lived in for the longest period of my life to date. So many memories — happy times, sad times, love, achievements, challenges and silliness. It looks amazing and it feels weird that someone else will now benefit from all my hard work, but I'm over that now. When I first walked into our home nearly 17 years ago, it had been totally refurbished. It's now looking as good (if not better) than it did when I took it over. I'm actually really proud of what I've achieved and how good it looks; I'm happy that whoever buys it will have the same blank canvas that I had.

Sometimes decisions are forced onto us from outside sources, this is one of those times. It's a long story and one that upsets, angers and frustrates me quite a lot, so I won't go into it here. Suffice to say, I've resigned myself to the fact that this decision has to be made and I'm going to make the best of it. Due to the fact that I've been totally engrossed in DIY for the past eight months, Colour My Dreams has been ticking along at a very slow pace. Running an independent business is tough enough by itself, but when your mind is on other things and your time is stretched in so many directions, something always suffers. I'm afraid that something has been my crafting.

After the trigger finger injury in my right thumb last year, I slowly got back to creating at the beginning of the year. My thumb wasn't fully recovered, but was certainly better and I felt that it might actually do it some good to exercise it a bit more. I started crocheting and knitting again, but of late I've had to stop. The decorating has taken it's toll on my poor ol' hands, I'm starting to suffer with arthritis in them and although they are now saying that exercise is good for arthritis, I'm not sure that the amount of use they were getting was really doing them any good. Then, I fell down my stairs and injured my left thumb (again), now I've got two hands that are extremely painful, typing is really the only thing I can do without excruciating pain. I've got x-rays booked at my local hospital in a week's time which will hopefully reveal what's causing the pain and treatment can begin ��.

With all this going on — having to stop crafting again and selling my house — I’ve decided I need to step aside from Colour My Dreams for now. I need to give myself time to concentrate on repairing my aches and pains; physically and mentally. I also need to reassess the direction of my business and start lining up the elements of this new direction so that my business can be relaunched in the not too distant future in a bigger, better and very exciting way.

I’ll be closing the online shop on my website at the end of June so that I work on my new ideas and get a new business plan written. However, you’ll still be able to purchase my products through Facebook and Instagram and my website will still be live. I have so many exciting ideas and I can’t wait to share them with you. I hope that Colour My Dreams will really be the dream that I’ve always wanted it to be.

Sometimes the ‘big decision’ moments are the ones that force us to make the changes that we may have been procrastinating over. I’m absolutely up for that challenge now and no one is going to stop me. No matter how many hurdles they put in place, I’ll leap over them with a huge grin and a smug satisfaction that they can’t stop me realising my dreams. I hope you’ll come with me on my new adventure. I promise it’ll be worth keeping a check on.

For now it’s au revoir, not goodbye! A bientot!

March Meet the Maker - 25th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 25 Mar 2022 17:07:26 GMT

Low Stock

When one of my products is sold, that’s a low stock moment. Basically, they are all one-offs. Some might have different variations on a theme like my string shopping bags, or beanies and scarves, but generally each item is one you’ll never see again.

The nature of handmade products is that they are unique. I don’t worry about items being sold out, because I know I can replace it with another unique item. Of course I can make to order if someone wants something similar or the same as another product I’ve already made, but it will always be a one off.

My online shop has lots of one-offs, in fact it’s full of them. I guess that means I’m never low on stock because I’m always creating something new. What a lovely thought!

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 24th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 24 Mar 2022 16:54:56 GMT

Workspace

Being a home worker, the workspace never really stays in one place. I have a designated ‘studio’ where all my materials are kept and my products stored, but when it comes to actually making my products, the workspace varies.

I have a sofa office for most of my crochet and knitted products and that usually happens in the evenings. My macrame work is mostly standing up at my clothes frame if I’m making a wallhanging.

I love doing macrame in my garden during the warmer months. Creativity blooms when you’re surrounded by mother nature, my little garden is the perfect setting for coming up with lots of new ideas.

In the winter, I move the frame around the house depending on the time of day and the temperature. I’ve been know to set up the frame in front of my fire and watch a bit of Netflix while making a set of hanging pot holders.

I can’t wait for the next stage of my business to start, to set up a new studio and workshop. That milestone is one that I’m very excited about and I can't wait to share it with you!

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 23nd March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 23 Mar 2022 16:48:12 GMT

Milestone

I think 2022 is going to be my milestone year. I haven’t really had the moment that I would consider a turning point just yet, but I know it’s on its way. Lots of decisions to make, changes to embrace and adventures to be excited and scared about in equal measures.

My plans are big, my dreams even bigger. I’m in limbo right now, but change is on the horizon and it’s getting closer every day. For now I’m being patient and strategic, my milestone will come and I know this because I have the determination to create it. When it happens it’ll be very exciting and life-changing. I can’t wait!

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 22nd March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 08:15:03 GMT

Product Range

I’m one of those prolific crafters that always has a WIP (work in progress). In my case this tends to mean I’m constantly trying out new ideas and challenging myself to learn new techniques.

If you read my blogs regularly you’ll know I had an obsession with sock knitting machines last year . I was adamant that I was going to buy an antique sock machine, in reality it was far too expensive for me to consider it a good investment. After having a good long chat with myself (something I do often - first sign of madness so they say), I realised that limiting myself to making endless pairs of socks would be something I’d become bored with very quickly. Variety is the spice of my crafting adventure and I enjoy having lots of products, rather than specialising in a few.

To be honest, the one thing that I like about the products I make is the time they take. I try not to choose things that take 25+ hours , although I do tackle those projects occasionally, particularly with my macrame wall hangings and adult size jumpers. Most of my makes are smaller clothing items and accessories, like scarves, beanies, tops and headbands. I love making jumpers, but they take a long time, a lot of yarn and a lot of sewing; making them very expensive to sell on. When people ask if I could make them a jumper like the ones I’ve made for myself, I happily say yes, but I also explain the time involved and the expensive nature of my materials. You get what you pay for! If you look after any handmade product made of natural materials, they’ll last a life time.

I like variety and I like a challenge, whatever my WIP is, it’s bound to be something unique.

Here’s a quick rundown of my range of products in my online shop…

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 21st March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 22 Mar 2022 08:15:03 GMT

Mistakes/Lessons

Mistakes are great! Really they are. How can we ever learn a new way of doing something unless we have to undo a mistake. My crafting mistakes include dropping a stitch and not realising until 10 rows later or when I think I’ve cut my macrame cords to the ‘right’ length only to discover that the final product is 20cm shorter than I wanted it to be. These things are glitches, they happen to us all. Even the most accomplished crafters make mistakes; mistakes help us discover ways to fix something in a way that we may not have thought, one that makes it easier to do next time.

I have so many ideas for patterns and products and a lot of the time I make them as one-offs. I should write down all the patterns as I go, but I don’t. No excuses, I just don’t. Is this a mistake or is it simply my way of doing something. I like to wing it, sometimes in life in general, not just in my crafting. I quite often start with a pattern to get an idea, I then go off piste and do my own thing. I’ll change the colour scheme, try out a new stitch or use the yarn I’ve got available, not the one in the pattern. I’m not restrained by the ‘rules’ of a pattern, I’m creating my own challenges.

If I considered everything that doesn’t go to plan as a mistake (in the true sense of the word), I think I’d have given up a long time ago. Mistakes shouldn’t be seen as negative, they should be embraced as a learning opportunity. A very long time ago, one of my university tutors used a phrase that has stuck with me all my adult life - “It’s not trial and error, it’s trial and improvement”.

Stay positive, keep making mistakes and keep improving!

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 18th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 18 Mar 2022 08:15:03 GMT

Materials

I could wax lyrical about materials all day long, I love my materials. When that box of brand new yarns is delivered from one of my suppliers, I feel quite ecstatic. As you probably know already, I’m passionate about wool , it’s one of the most sustainable and eco-friendly materials around. I know it’s not vegan and that bothers some people, but for me, it’s the qualities of a sheep’s fluffy coat that makes wool the perfect clothing material.

Sheep and other wool producing animals provide this most fabulous material; it is strong, fire-resistant, insulating, sustainable, renewable and versatile. When you think of all the things that are made from wool it is quite mind-blowing. We generally think of wool being used for clothing, but there’s a huge number of other industries that make products from wool - rugs and carpet, homewares, bedding, insulation, fire-fighters uniforms, fertiliser, soaking up oil spills, natural bricks… it’s a long list! Amazing heh!

Amongst my stash of materials you’ll also fine lots of other natural products and they are vegan. I only use materials that are natural, which obviously includes wool, but plant based materials are also on my radar and I’m always looking out for new options. Currently my stash also includes pure cotton , recycled cotton , eucalyptus and bamboo fibres. All beautifully soft and create stunning products.

I never use acrylics, nylons or polyesters. My reasons for not using these materials are simple - they add to the devastating plastics problem that our world and our oceans are facing and I don’t want to be a part of that. The only time I would consciously use any plastics would be if they were recycled into a new yarn and thankfully these are now becoming very popular. Thanks to successful recycling schemes a lot of plastic bottles are now being used to create amazing yarns. Saying that, my heart will always belongs to natural materials and they will always take centre stage with all of my products.

If you also value how your purchases are made, who makes them and the materials they are made from, then I hope you might consider my online shop for your next purchase. I’ve got lots of products to choose from - clothing , homewares and accessories galore! All made by hand, with lots of love and a dedicated environmental conscience.

If you're interested in reading more about the qualities of wool, head to the Campaign For Wool website.

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 17th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 08:45:03 GMT

Sell Yourself

For many creatives, the worst part is selling. We’re not natural sales people; we are artists, creatives, crafters and makers. ‘Bigging’ ourselves up is not something that comes easily. I know how finely tuned my talents and skills are in my world of craft, but telling you that I’m amazing and better than all the rest would feel like a lie or at the very least, too much of an ego trip.

I’m good at what I do, but I’m also realistic about what I can’t do and that only comes with age and experience. I dread to think how I would have coped as a 20 something trying to make it in this crazy world of social media perfection. I admire other people’s skills and sometimes feel insignificant and not good enough, but then I remind myself that I am the best at what I do and that is enough.

If you like any of my products and might consider buying one , I’d be ecstatic. I simply can’t believe it when people actually purchase something that I’ve made; it feels great. Please ask if you see something you like, but maybe prefer it in a different colour. I’m always happy to buy some new yarn!

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 16th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 11:41:08 GMT

Goals

A creative brain never stops thinking about new ways to do something; solutions to difficult situations, untapped techniques, experimenting with materials… the list goes on.

I guess thinking about trying new things could be considered a goal. These ideas are things I’d like to achieve to make Colour My Dreams something that doesn’t only include me, but welcomes others into a fabulous creative environment.

My dream is to open a craft retreat. It will be a place for anyone and everyone who has a passion for creativity, to spend quality time trying something new that might be outside their comfort zone. It will be a place to relax and work at their own pace so they can embrace a new interest, hobby or even a new business. I want it to be nurturing, friendly and totally inclusive.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 15th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 09:00:07 GMT

Time

Time stood still over the past couple of years, but also flew by far too quickly. I forgot how old I was recently, due to not taking into account that two years had passed. Time flies by when you’re having fun so they say, but I really think it just passes by quickly when you’re busy, whether it’s fun or not. Fun is obviously the preferred option.

The time I take to make some of my products far outweighs the prices I put on them. As a relatively unknown small business, if I was to place a price tag of £600 on a small macrame clutch ba g, people would laugh at me. However, while I was doing a bit of market research earlier this week I found just that item, it was under the name of a designer label, and it was over £600!!

The time it took that business to make that bag would probably be no different to me making it. Because it’s a well know designer label, people consider it better quality and an acceptable price for something that is basically a status symbol.

The question is, are my skills worth less than that designer label? I wonder who made that bag, where it was made, how many air miles its travelled to be sold in a posh London/Paris/New York/Milan boutique.

Time is something we all have, maybe it’s a good idea to consider the time others have invested when making a purchase, instead of the label on the front.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 14th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:00:06 GMT

The Numbers

There was a time in my life when I was actually really good at maths, I was even head of Maths at the primary school I taught at back in the 90’s. My Maths and English teaching days are a lifetime ago, these days the numbers are all about the cost of materials, advertising, marketing and accounting. The first three I can manage myself, but the accounting side of things is a skill I have absolutely no interest in learning. There are people who do that for a living and I’m more than happy to employ them to do that job for me.

I spent the first few years of my freelancing life as a designer doing my own tax self assessment and to be honest it was a case of fill out the form, cross my fingers and hit send. The dread of what happened next was a constant. To cut a long story short, after several attempts to get information out of HMRC and being reduced to tears on more than one occasion I decided to get the professionals in. It was the best decision I ever made.

These days it’s even easier with online banking capable of linking with accounting apps. If there’s one tip I’d offer for any new business, get an accountant! And breathe…

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 11th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 09:30:03 GMT

Seasonal

Our lives are a perpetual adventure of seasonal influences. Every year we pine for the cooler winter days, then after far too many of them, we are desperate for the warmth that summer brings. Every season also brings a subliminal list of decisions that we make without realising. They are habitual, appropriate and sensible, all designed to make our lives a little less chaotic and more comfortable.

For those of us who don’t have the luxury of a walk-in-wardrobe, we do the seasonal clothes switch (SCS, not the furniture store) and we get the chimney swept ready for the cosy open fires during the winter months. There are items of clothes that only ever worn at particular times of the year and for me, I tend to create certain products depending on the weather.

The production of my crochet tops and summer scarves usually don’t happen in Oct - Jan. Likewise I don’t tend to make many beanies and winter scarves in the warmer months. My production is as seasonal as the seasons themselves. Knitting a scarf with lovely chunky wool and size 20 needles in July just doesn’t happen, it almost feels wrong.

There’s something for every time of the year, for everyone and for every occasion in my repertoire. Colour My Dreams is an all year round, seasonal business and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 10th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 09:00:04 GMT

Seasonal

There’s something for every time of the year, for everyone and for every occasion in my repertoire. Colour My Dreams is an all year round, seasonal business and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 9th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 09 Mar 2022 13:12:23 GMT

Hands at Work

Our hands are constantly working, we take them for granted so much. When I injured my left thumb a few years ago and then my right thumb last year, I really became aware of just how much I rely on my hands. For everyday tasks, all of my crafts and something that I didn’t ever really consider - my mental health.

When I can’t crochet, knit or do macrame, I find myself a little bit lost. Keeping my hands busy helps to keep my head busy too. Busy in a way that ensures that life’s worries don’t bombard me and relentlessly pop in and out of my head.

My hands are definitely a part of me that I treasure and despite them being old, worn and rough, they serve me well most of the time, but I really should moisturise more.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 8th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 08 Mar 2022 12:39:13 GMT

Storage

The great thing about working from home is you know you have all you need to do your job all in one place. Not everyone has that luxury, nor do they necessarily want to be bound to their home 24/7. We’ve all experienced that over the past couple of years, needless to say.

One thing that makes being a home-worker a good experience is being organised and that usually requires a pretty decent storage system. When you’re a crafter like me, effective storage solutions are a must.

I challenge anyone who does the sort of work that I do to say they don’t have at least one item of flatpack furniture from IKEA . I have several and I love them. They do the job they need to do, they are aesthetically pleasing, simple and easy to assemble (I actually love putting them together as much as enjoying their storage capabilities).

I use IKEA products for storing my yarns. Separating the wools from the cottons, the recycled cotton from the bamboo and eucalyptus fibres. I know where to find them, they are all in their own little homes and to quote Marie Kondo , this bring me joy.

My market stall uses wooden boxes that I’ve customised with my business colours and one of the things that so many people comment about when they see my stall, my little business card holder. Thank you IKEA - you’ve made my storage issues a pleasure to solve.

#MarchMeetTheMaker #Storage #IKEA #March #handmade #crafter #maker #yarn #wool #cotton #cord #string #crochet #knitting #macrame #ColourMyDreams

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 7th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 12:30:31 GMT

Favourite

Asking me what my favourite craft is, is like asking me which is my favourite child. I could never choose one over the other, they all bring me joy, mental stability and a sense of achievement (and most of the time, so do my kids, apart form the mental stability). In general, my favourite craft is the one I’m currently doing. I guess I’m quite lucky really, having three very different options that basically use the same materials, means I can switch from one to another if I get a bit bored.

There are specific things that I love to create with each particular craft. Macrame was my first dive back into crafting in 2016, rekindling my love of this amazing craft was so satisfying. I found a roll of old jute in a box full of bits and pieces and had a go at a plant hanger, something that I learnt to do at school in the 70s/80s. Thankfully I’ve since discovered so many wonderful new materials that are easier to work with and give a much more satisfying finish. My favourite things to make using macramé techniques are plant hangers and wall hanging. Once I'd built that confidence with the macrame techniques again, I dragged out the huge bag of knitting needles, crochet hooks and odd balls of yarn that I'd kept at the back of my loft cupboard for around 25 years.

Contrary to the beliefs of many non-crafters, knitting and crochet are most definitely not the same thing. They create very different looks and textures. When I knit it’s usually to make fashion items , scarves , beanies , jumpers, shorts etc. My crochet items are generally more homewares and bags . Occasionally I’ll mix things up and decide to make a crocheted top , a macrame bag or a knitted blanket . Variety is the spice of life so they say. No favourites here, just all round love for the crafts that make me happy.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 4th March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 04 Mar 2022 08:30:03 GMT

Three Things

What three things could you not live without? I’m not talking abstract or emotional things, I’m talking about the materialistic things. It’s not shallow and selfish to think about this question and even find an answer. It’s about finding out what is important to you. Try searching your soul, your mind and your heart; discover what is so important to you, that you would be less of the person if you didn’t have those inanimate objects. They reflect who you are and inadvertently link back to the emotional side of life. They make you happy, they might show others that you’re passionate about something, they can bring joy and love and sometimes an income.

I’ve discovered over the past few years in particular that I could not live without my knitting needles, crochet hooks and yarns. I returned to macrame, knitting and crochet after many decades of trying to find purpose in other corners of creativity. I found some satisfaction in those other areas, but since making my first macrame hanging plant hanger, knitting my first scarf and crocheting my first bag after far too many years, I realised that these tangible crafts are what make me tick. They have given me a new outlook and a new purpose.

Of course there are many material objects that are important in my life, but most of them are practical, to get me through the day. My laptop allows me to communicate and research, my washing machine means I don’t need to spend hours a week washing clothes - you get the picture. They are important things in my life, but my crafts are far more important.

March Meet the Maker - 3rd March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 03 Mar 2022 14:09:37 GMT

Planning

Life sometimes feels like it’s just one big list of plans. Some are ticked off with ease, others sit in the that list and get further and further down, almost forgotten, a victim of procrastination. When it comes to planning for my business, I have lots of grand ideas, but the reality of some of them actually happening are often hampered by my self confidence.

Planning is one thing, that’s actually quite easy, actioning the plans is the tricky bit. I more than often have a complete mental block about my ability to even start, let alone see them through. Sometimes when I come up with a new idea for bringing in sales, I get all excited and go for it, but when the results are negligible, the doubts creep in and my confidence wanes.

I am learning that planning is something I need to do with my practical and realistic head on. I have a very over-active imagination at times and this can cloud the reality of the situation. As a one-woman show, and being of a certain age, I’ve come to terms with what I can and want to be able to do. I know I can’t do everything and my planning is now starting to reflect that.

If there’s one bit of advice that I would give my 18 year old self, make plans that are achievable. Enjoy the success you feel from that achievement and don’t over complicate your plans by creating a list that is unrealistic to action.

March Meet the Maker - 2nd March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 14:01:50 GMT

Brand Values

I know I bang on about sustainability and being eco-friendly all the time, but that’s only because I feel so strongly about it. I’m no saint, I find it incredibly difficult in my day to day life to avoid buying plastic, but the difference between finding it difficult and not bothering at all is where the value in my brand lies.

Stating your “Brand Values" in writing is all well and good but in practise what does it mean? I’d like to think I’m not just talking the talk, but actually walking the walk; doing something positive and helping to save our planet in my little, but important, ways.

I try my best to only buy materials that are natural and biodegradable . I don’t buy synthetic yarns . I don’t like the feel of them, their production is a destructive to our planet as their use and they don’t provide the high quality final product that I want Colour My Dreams to be known for.

CMD is all about quality and that comes with a price. Quality products cost more because they require quality materials and hours of skill. It’s as simply as that. I value the skills and talents that I have honed over the years and I feel that the products I make reflect the quality of my skills and the materials I use.

If you feel the same, maybe you could pop to my shop a few minutes and consider a purchase. The more like-minded people who support businesses like me, the more change we’ll see in production methods and retail trends.

Make the changes you want to see. It’s starts with you!

March Meet the Maker - 1st March 2022

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 14:04:10 GMT

Me and My Work

Another March has come around and that means another MARCH MEET THE MAKER. I'll be doing my best over the coming month to share as much as I can about my business and about me, hoping that something you see and read, might give you reason to give my products a try. Here goes...

I'm a prolific crafter and maker. I create homewares, fashion items and accessories from yarn, wool, cotton and cord - if it can be knitted or knotted, I'll give it a go. I'm also a graphic designer so am occasionally my own client when working on my Colour My Dreams website and social platforms (Colour My Dreams).

I love a bit of gardening and am pretty much self taught, making lots of mistakes and enjoying success too. I'm currently decorating my house and have found my inner diy-er skills - it's damn hard work, but am loving the results. A beautifully painted room provides immeasurable satisfaction.

I'm currently learning French which is rather challenging for my memory and my confidence, but I'm enjoying the little moments of success.

My musical taste covers so many genres, from classical music to the latest pop and I must admit to being a long standing Take That fan. I can't pass up the opportunity for a bit of TT.

Thanks for reading! Cathie x

#MarchMeetTheMa k er #March1st #handmade #crafter #maker #yarn #wool #cotton #cord #string #crochet #knitting #macrame #ColourMyDreams

Every Mistake is an Opportunity

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:16:38 GMT

Never stop embracing the chance to learn something new.

It's easy to become disillusioned by the mistakes we make. We may be embarrassed, angry with ourselves or feel downright stupid. Whatever the emotions attached to that mistake - move on, embrace the lesson you've learnt and turn the negative into a positive.

Sometimes our biggest mistakes lead to our biggest triumphs. As we set about resolving the errors, we may find a new approach to a routine chore that we’d never thought about before. The old saying, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat” (which is pretty gruesome when you think about it, why would you want to even think about doing that?) basically means you have the opportunity to think about exploring ideas and come up with a better way of doing something.

When you become proficient at a particular skill, you can sometimes get stuck in a rut and don’t tend to think about trying it another way. You can easily stay with what you’re happy with and muddle along, but maybe learning how to do something in a totally new way will actually improve your skills and take you to the next level.

An example of this with my own crafting skill set would be embracing new techniques with my knitting and crochet. When I was a child, I was taught how to knit by my Nana, she showed me the basics; how to cast on and off and the basic knit and purl stitches. For many years, I stuck to those basic skills, but then started played around with them, progressing to cable knits, adding colour work, learning new stitches etc.

One of the biggest things that I discovered and it’s not necessarily a mistake, but maybe not the best choice for the project, was how I cast on. For many years I used the basic cast on method that my Nana taught me for everything I knitted, but actually, for some items, it was not the best method. When I took up knitting again a few years back, the world of knitting was just becoming ‘trendy’ and ‘cool’. There were fabulous businesses like Wool and The Gang and We Are Knitters shouting to the world that knitting isn’t just for old grannies making booties for babies. It was the new thing to do in your spare time and had a huge number of people were embracing the ‘handmade’ revolution (not that that has never been a thing before now, trends come around again and again).

Thanks to all the wonderful tutorials that I found on websites like WATG and WAK, I started to learn so many new techniques. Learning a new way to cast on was a revelation, I was really excited. The Cable Cast on and Long Tail cast on methods were totally alien to me, but how wonderful they are when you need a looser edge to your project.

The opportunity to learn can never be underestimated. If you’re stuck in a rut with your crafting and fancy trying something new, do it! Get onto Pinterest to find some inspiration or search for a new stitch that you’ve never tried before. Whenever you master a new skill, it adds to that feeling of self-satisfaction and there really is no better feeling.

New Year, New Me?

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 16:03:23 GMT

Nope, don’t be silly, still the same ol’ me.

New Year, New me! Nope, don’t be silly, still the same ol’ me.

Just because the year changes one number up the scale, doesn’t mean that I need to make grand gestures to change too.

I’m quite happy as I am thank you very much, I hope you are too. Of course there are things about ourselves that we always feel we could do better, but as I get older I really don’t care much about those things anymore. I’m happy in my own skin, as wrinkled and fragile as it might be getting.

I don’t need to plaster my face with layers of expensive and pointless chemicals to make myself feel good (I can’t even see it).

I don’t need to give my hard earned cash to a fancy pants gym that charges a fortune for me to walk a few miles on the spot with a view of someone who has all the latest gym wear and a face supported by the local beauty therapist. I can exercise by running up and down my stairs a million times a day (mostly because I get up there and forget what I went there for, head back down, then remember and head back up).

What I want for 2022 is my sanity, good health and happiness - I hope you achieve that too. Here’s to a new year full of the stuff that makes us smile.

Stay safe and stay you!

End of Year Verbal Ramblings...

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 30 Dec 2021 13:52:40 GMT

Goodbye 2021! Humanity really is intrinsically good.

2021 has been another strange year for us all. The Covid virus is still terrorising our precious world, war and misery in so many countries and governments that are so inept that it’s actually gone beyond something to laugh at. It’s sometimes hard to sift through all the doom and gloom to find something positive. However, I’ve decided to put the negative to one side and focus on the positive things about 2021. I'd like to share with my top five amazing, beautiful, funny and heart-warming moments of the year. In no particular order, here are some of the things that have made me smile, beam with pride, sob with joy and re-establish my faith in humanity. I hope you enjoy them…

Strictly Come Dancing

What an absolute joy this year’s season was. Dancing like we’ve never seen right from the beginning, John and Johannes, AJ, Rose and Rhys reducing me to tears of joy every single week with their beautiful moves. The whole of this year’s cast were spectacular, but the final four really made my Saturday nights something to look forward to. Rose was definitely a worth winner, to be able to dance the way she did with her disability is truly inspiring. I have hearing loss and tinnitus, only in one ear thankfully, but it certainly changed my life when it happened. Rose really lifted my spirits every week with her remarkable ability to learn and develop as a dancer, in spite of her disability. 2021 Strictly will go down in the history books.

Seeing my children thrive at their chosen routes in life.

After three years of studying Media Studies at university, my son Ed is now training as a chef and is loving every minute of it. He found himself with a job in a sound studio before he’d even finished his degree, but then Covid hit and that was the end of the job for the foreseeable. He got a job with Hermes for a year, then through a friend landed a job as a trainee Commis Chef with a local pub group. Everything happens for a reason, so they say. He’s already getting pay rises in his new role and learning a whole new skill. He always loved cooking and cooked for me the whole way through the lockdowns of 2020. I’m so proud of what he’s achieved in the past few years. A uni degree and a new job that he loves - can’t ask for much more than that.

My daughter Hannah , like many who started their uni experience in 2019 has had such a trying time with her studies over the past two years. She’s studying Contemporary Dance, not an easy subject to do via Zoom. However, she managed to get through the first lockdown with our kitchen or the garden being turned into a studio, depending on the weather (thankfully we had some great weather during that time). He second year had moments of normality but not many and her current third has been back in the studios up until now. She recently had her choreography piece chosen to be showcased in the new year choreography show. A very proud moment for her and me.

The One Big Thank You segment on The One Show.

I can’t think of a more heartwarming few minutes on the TV on a regular basis. Every Thursday, The One Show highlights someone who has done something amazing for other people in their community. We’ve seen some beautiful people over the past year or so and all of them are normal people who have found a space in their heart to help others less fortunate than themselves. After watching the news of an evening, this segment would re-calibrate the doom factor; it reminds us that there are good people out there and that humans are intrinsically kind. It’s such a shame our media feels that the nasty, horribly people deserve more air time than those who do good.

A night out with Gary and Karen.

If there’s one thing that will always put a smile on my face it’s a good ol’ pre show chuckle, Prosecco in hand, with my dear friend and creative sewing genius, Karen . After one cancellation and the last minute jitters about another, we managed to finally get to see Gary Barlow at the beginning of December in Birmingham. A pilgrimage that takes place whenever the wonderful Gary sends out his tour dates. We were two amongst the many women of a certain age, catching up after a long time and there to enjoy one of our fav performers. And enjoy we did; we sang, danced, smiled, laughed and had far too many glasses of Prosecco. It was a fabulous evening, despite the covid jitters, vaccination passports and masks. We got to see our delightful and talented Gary - the perfect pre-Christmas tipple.

As the year closes, I hope that you were all also able to find something that made your year special. Amongst the doom and gloom, it’s always good to find something that brings us back to the beauty that our earth has to offer. Humanity, nature, kindness and respect - all the good things about our wonderful Earth. Happy New Year - may your 2022 be full of hope, opportunity and good health.

Lots of love...

Welcome Karen of Purple Gecko Creations to Colour My Dreams!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 15:27:44 GMT

The genius behind my newly lined bags.

I love making bags and I'm a little bit obsessed with them. Over the past couple of years in particular (needless to say, we've all had a bit more time on our hands over 2020/21), I've made so many of them and I love them all. But! There was one thing that was bothering me, they really would be even more appealing, sturdy and usable if they were lined and to be honest, sewing is really not my thing. My sewing teaching at school made it quite clear that she thought I was useless and despaired of me most of the time. These were times when positive reinforcement wasn't a natural quality in the teaching profession, it was more about teaching what needed to be taught and if you didn't have a natural talent, you were pretty much ignored (or occasionally, shouted at).

Back in my early years in the UK, in what now seems like a past life, I was actually a teacher. I trained in Australia and in 1991 ended up in London working as a nanny. After a year of nannying duties, some wonderful, some not so much, I decided a return to teaching would be a good move. That's when I met my very dear, and very talented friend, Karen. We met on a maths course run by Kings College and have been friends ever since.

Karen took off Manilla in 1993, then again to Hong Kong in 2013 to teach at the International Schools in both locations, returning to the UK in 2020. Because of Covid, we didn't manage to catch up until summer 2021 (during the times when we could actually visit other people's homes) and that is when I discovered her incredible talent for sewing. After knowing Karen for nearly 30 years, I had no idea that she could sew.

Anyway, having seen her gorgeous work (check out her Etsy shop ), I had a lightbulb moment ��- she could help me with my bags. Long story short, Karen is now my master sewing genius, making up my shortfall in sewing skills and now my lovely bags are even lovelier. I gave her free rein with the fabrics and finishes that she felt would be the best fit and I must say, I'm incredibly grateful for her wonderful taste and delighted with the results.

Read on below to for a a bit more about Karen, in her own words...

My lined bags are all available in my sho p. Click on the images above to purchase...

A little hello from Karen...

After many, many years teaching in the UK and overseas and repatriating from 7 years of living in Hong Kong during the height of the pandemic, I decided it was a good time to give some thought to what I wanted to do now I was back ‘home’.

I have always loved sewing but not since being a student have I had the time to do any more than run up the odd pair of curtains, make a blind for my kitchen or repair knees in my boy’s trousers when they were little!

Out came my machine, off I went shopping for material, I began watching Youtube videos and joining Facebook groups about bag making and all of a sudden I had my first bag which I proudly sported on a trip to London earlier this year. I was thrilled when Cathie asked me to sew some linings into her beautiful bags and it gives me lots of joy to choose fabric to complement her fabulous designs.

I was recently brave enough to open my own Etsy store and thrilled when I made my first sales. I’m looking forward to adding more products to it and it becoming more successful. In the meantime you’ll find me watching YouTube tutorials and sewing away at my machine!

Purple Gecko Creations

Black Friday? Nothing to see here!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 12:18:02 GMT

Why I don't buy into the whole Black Friday thing?

Some people love a bargain, I get that. I used to be the same. I used to love buying an item of clothing at a knockdown price, whether I needed it or not.

It was the thrill of getting the bargain that got the happy hormones flooding around the system, making you feel satisfied and rather pleased with yourself. I've changed a lot since those days.

"Black Friday, the biggest shit show ever. When anyone talks about it my heart crunches up into one of those dried-up pickled black walnuts you get in a jar."

Mary Portis
Brand & Retail Expert, Broadcaster and
Author of ‘Work Like a Woman’ and ‘Rebuild’.

Has COP26 got you thinking?

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 08:00:02 GMT

The small changes make a big difference.

What’s your thoughts on COP2 ? I wish I could be optimistic. The ‘words’ coming out of the mouths of politicians from across the world, lead us to believe that we should be. I am however, rather sceptical. In the words of that amazing young woman, Greta Thunberg, it’s all just a bit "...blah, blah, blah". Will we ever see any action ? Time will tell.

In the meantime, I’m going to continue to do my bit by endeavouring to make my little business and my existence on our planet as green as I can. I’ve recently made the very big decision to stop using the yarn suppliers that I’ve loved for the past few years, simply because they are not located in the UK. It’s not because their products aren’t beautiful, sustainable or eco-friendly, I simply want to cut down on the air miles that my materials are travelling before they get to me. From now on I’ll be sourcing my wool from British producers only - keeping it local. Cotton might be a bit trickier, I’ll be keeping my eyes open for solutions for that one.

There are many things that small businesses can do to reduce our carbon footprint. These are a couple of ways that I am ensuring that Colour My Dreams is a greener, more environmentally conscious business:

Packaging : I only use paper and never any plastic bubble wrap or plastic bags. I am slowly changing my tape and stickers over to plastic free, biodegradable options. I already have a lot of conventional tape and stickers and don’t want to waste them so I’ll be using what I have already before I replace my tape and stickers with a compostable/biodegradable options.
Materials : All my materials have been sourced from businesses who share my ethos about the environment and animal husbandry. I will only buy from a business that provides statements and evidence about where they source their raw materials. I need to trust that they have the safety and welfare of the workforce and animals as their main priority. Caring for the people who help produce these beautiful materials means they receive fair payment and the respect they deserve for their hard work; and so do their animals.

I’d love to hear of any tips you have for saving our planet. Sharing our ideas is a great way to make a difference. Please feel free to email me or add a comment in the Facebook comments box below.

Be part of the solution, not part of the problem!

Wild About Wool

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 09:33:55 GMT

Chiltern Open Air Museum

I just have to share a little gem in the Buckinghamshire countryside with you. If you’ve never been to the Chiltern Open Air Museum , go! It’s absolutely delightful. Full of old cottages, sheds, barns, gorgeous gardens and open spaces, a flock of sheep and of course, a spot to grab a coffee and a piece of Victoria sponge.

I visited last weekend for their Wild About Wool event and I was suitably impressed by what was on offer. I fell in love with a circular sock machine, chatted to fellow crocheters and knitters, had a lesson in felt making and got chatting to a fellow Aussie who’s family also worked in the wool industry back in Australia. Small world isn’t it.

The Museum was opened in 1981 as a charity that rescues "threatened historic buildings, which would otherwise be demolished, and rebuilds and preserves them in a traditional Chilterns landscape." (COAM website). And a wonderful job they are doing too!

If you're at a lose end this weekend I definitely suggest you give the Chiltern Open Air Museum a try. Grab your hat and scarf and get out in the fresh air for a nostalgic and enlightening browse around this beautiful corner of Buckinghamshire. The staff are incredibly friendly and knowledgable, the Victoria sponge in the little refreshments hut is delicious and the sheep and Jess the sheep dog are lovely. There's not much you won't love about it. Let me know if you go. I'd love to hear what you think.

My quest for getting you all to embrace the wonders of wool continues. I hope you’ll use my FREEBIEFRIDAY discount code this Friday and every Friday on the run up to Christmas to treat yourself to some new winter woollies. It’s getting cold out there.

The Campaign for Wool

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 13 Oct 2021 10:03:50 GMT

My passion for this amazing, sustainable resource explained.

Sometimes when you’re aimlessly scrolling or searching, you come across an image/logo that makes you stop and take notice. This happened recently when I found a tag on an Instagram post via one of my scrolling sessions [or research as I prefer to call it] and I just had to check it out. It was for The Campaign for Wool.

I’m passionate about wool, it’s the most natural, sustainable and clean resource that any textile artist can use. Beautiful sheep grow it effortlessly and clever humans worked out that it could be put to good use.

“Sheep are required to be shorn of their wool once a year for their own comfort and health. Hence, wool is a naturally occurring by-product.” ( British Wool )

British sheep are all reared outside, in natural pastures so they are not considered as intensively farmed. This makes a difference to the quality of their wool and also means they are happy sheep.

My passion for wool came from a very early age, my Dad was a wool classer by trade. A wool classer’s job in the shearing shed is to assess the fleece for length, strength, colour and fineness of the wool. The aim is to maximise the value of each fleece prior to sale. I have vague memories of small amounts of freshly shorn wool that Dad would bring home and being shown how to check if a fibre is wool or synthetic. Wool has a unique texture that can’t be created in a manmade yarn. The smell and feel of pure wool is something I will never forget - there’s something very special about that.

Just be You!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 05 Oct 2021 10:25:45 GMT

Creativity is my happy place.

If there's one thing I've learnt over the years, and there's been many of them (years that is), it's that YOU have to be YOU; even if that's not what makes others happy. If they're not happy with the real you, they're really not a positive thing in your life.

My crafting is what I’m all about. My creativity is what makes me happy and because of it, I’m never bored. I’ve tried to be something I'm not to other people on and off for all of my life, but in my autumn years, I’ve finally become happy with just being me. I may not be a huge success story with millions of Instagram followers, to be honest I’m not sure that’s a good thing anyway, but I’m happy because some people like what I do and feel they can part with their hard earned cash to buy one of my beanie, bags, scarves or…

I had a great day on my market stall last Sunday and actually had some customers! Yah!! I know that might sound obvious, but standing on a market stall all day and not having customers can be a little soul destroying. I’ve had a few days like that, they’e not great. I know people need to trust who they are buying from, which is why I decided to get out there on a market and actually talk to people. Not everyone who stops for a chat will buy something, but they’ve stopped for a chat and that’s the first step to trusting me and my products.

Freebie Friday is back

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 07:54:19 GMT

Mystery gifts and Macrame lessons - it's all very exciting!

Would someone please tell me where summer went? Today is officially the first day of Autumn and it's as grey today as it has been since the beginning of August. I think Summer went on holiday somewhere warmer and left Autumn to settle in early.

Anyway, lots of exciting news for the end of this crazy year number 2! Firstly, FREEBIE FRIDAY is back! With the usual panic to find unique and sustainable Christmas presents, I'd like you to consider something from my enormous stash of gifts, clothes, homewares and random bits and pieces that I sometimes get the urge to make. Use the code FREEBIEFRIDAY, you'll get 10% off your order and a little FREEBIE.

If you really want to help save our crumbling planet, try buying products that don't contain plastic, are made from materials that are sourced from sustainable producers and manufacturers with an environmental conscience and from a small business that is trying to make a difference in their own little way; you're in the right place.

My other exciting news is I've found a venue for my Macrame Workshops! I'm so excited! It's been a year since I tried to get these off the ground; the dreaded pandemic, my own personal crisis of confidence that I have to deal with occasionally and a stupid thumb injury (that I'm still recovering from, slowly but surely), has set me back somewhat. But I've now found a gorgeous little cafe in a Hertford owned by a lovely lady called Jo, who has space for me and my macrame frames to make this happen.

I have to say a big thank you to one of my lovely followers, Theresa, who was kind enough to suggest Jo's cafe and put me in touch with her. We are both very excited to get this venture off the ground and are aiming to launch the classes in January 22. Unfortunately I'm still out of action with my thumb and Jo has stuff she needs to sort out at the cafe so we thought a New Year launch would be the perfect option.

If you'd like to express interest in these classes, please click on the button below and fill out the form. I'll add you to my list and be in touch with more info closer to the starting date.

Thanks for reading this far - it's been a long one.
Don't forget my FREEBIE FRIDAY's for the next few months.
Get those Christmas lists ticked off early and be that smug one who's not panicking three days before the 25th Dec.

Have a great September! Stay Safe!
�� for some sunshine☀️
Lots of love,

Fast Fashion

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 09:04:38 GMT

The moral dilemma of where and how to spend you hard earned cash.

When you’re a small business that’s trying to be sustainable because you care for the planet, it is really soul destroying to see other, bigger businesses claiming not to be ‘fast fashion’, when they clearly are. I try my hardest to make sure that all my materials are bought from suppliers that fit in with my ethos on the environment, on working standards and fair pay and basically care about our planet and all the animals that populate it.

It’s not easy for a sole trader to keep prices down when you’re starting out because you don’t have the clout that a bigger business does (and neither would I want that clout, but that’s not the point). I recently had a business pointed out to me that produces amazing crochet creations for around the same prices that I sell mine. When I searched their website, there is nothing immediately obvious that explains who they are, how they operate, where they get their materials, who makes their products, etc. You have to scroll down to the very bottom of a very long first page to discover a link to a page on their website that has a very vague explanation of their ‘ethos’ and where their products are made. People don’t bother scrolling in general, why not have your business information top, front and centre to prove who you are and you have nothing to hide. My website has an ‘About’ page in the top navigation, front, centre and easy to find; it’s there for all to see. I've nothing to hide.

This is the production statement from the website of the business I’m referring to. I won’t mention any names - they have money to sue me, I don’t have the money to fight that:

“We work with a number of factories around the world, with most of our garments produced in China, Morocco and Turkey. As a small business, ethical manufacturing is something we feel very strongly about and are working towards full transparency with all of our suppliers. The directors of xxxxxxxx personally visit each of our factories every 2-3 months, and in our key supplier factories we employ independent staff who are trained to recognise the standard of employment and working environment we expect and flag any issues to us immediately.”

This is all well and good, but if you have no issue with your suppliers why are you not transparent from the off. I accept that they might actually visit these factories and that is a good thing, but I don’t know many small businesses that can put independent staff in factories in far flung places or visit every 2-3 month. Is that really a small business?

Working with a number of factories in parts of the world that we all know pumps out ‘fast fashion’ by the ship load (literally), doesn’t inspire confidence in a business that claims they aren’t a fast fashion brand. They describe their brand and supply chain as ‘reactive’. Isn’t that what fast fashion is? Am I wrong about that analysis, please someone, set me straight if I am.

Claiming to be sustainable but then using materials that are up to 40% acrylic/elastane isn’t an honest description of their products. Acrylic is a plastic, it isn’t a sustainable option! It’s destructive, it supports an industry that is killing our oceans and destroying our communities through increased green house gases and plastics being released into our environments. These production processes and manufacturing are happening in some of the poorest parts of the world, in order to satisfy the wealthier nations.

When I set the prices for my products I basically try to cover the costs of my materials and add a little bit of the time it takes for me to make the item. My materials aren’t cheap because I don’t currently qualify for bulk/wholesale orders, so I have to charge more for the item before I even consider the time it takes to make them. If I was to be true to myself and paid myself a ‘living wage’ for each item I make, the price of my products would be at least double what they are. I also make sure all my materials are pure, natural or recycled. I only buy from suppliers that, through my research I am satisfied, match what I am also trying to achieve. I don’t use any acrylic or man made materials unless they have been recycled.

The mark up on an item of clothing in a retail outlet on the High St can be at least two or three times the price that it was originally bought for. If you buy a set of ten knickers for £3 at one of those cheap department stores (you know the one I mean), how much do you think the person who made those items was paid? Was the cotton they were made from grown in a sustainable manner? I could go on, but you get the point I’m sure.

My main point is that it’s tough to compete with businesses who claim to be what you actually are. My products are absolutely not fast fashion, they are made to last, they are made with love. I would like to think that my small business can provide an income for me, I don’t want to be a millionaire with an empire to manage, I just want to make lovely things and sell them to lovely people who appreciate my talents and my genuine interest in looking after our world.

Next time you reach for your laptop for a bit of retail therapy, ask yourself, “Do I want to support an already enormous, faceless corporation or do I want to help out a small business trying to do the right thing and survive in this mad world?”. I hope you choose the later and might stop by my website sometime. Thanks for reading. Rant over.

How to hang your macrame pot plant holders

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 13:56:21 GMT

Coffee cup hooks & 'S' hooks.

When I'm selling at a market, I get lots of people admiring my macrame plant pot holders, but the one thing people are always concerned, is how they can hang them in their house. The two tools that are most useful are coffee cup hooks and 'S' hooks. If you can get hold of either of these items you can hang your pot holders just about anywhere that is safe and secure.

I use the coffee cup hooks in my windows, I have wooden windows so it's easy for me to screw them into the sills at the top for my plants to hang from. If you don't have wooden windows them you can maybe get some hooks that can be attached by drilling into the brickwork. Just make sure you secure them properly so they hold the weight of the plant holder.

'S' hooks are great for hanging plant holders just about anywhere you can find - on the end of curtain pole or a piece of random pipework (particularly in old houses). Let me know where you found a place to hang your plant hanger.

Head to my shop to buy one now and use the code PLANT10 to get 10% off any macrame plant hanger, even if it's on sale!

My First Pop-UP

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 10 May 2021 09:26:28 GMT

My First Pop Up!

I'm so excited about the next two weeks. My first Pop-Up shop appearance has started today, at the wonderful Maggie J & Co in Tring, Hertfordshire.

When I first discovered Maggie J & Co, there was no doubt in my mind that it was definitely the right sort of shop that I'd love to be a part of. Unlike some other similar shops, the creatives who Pop-Up in Maggie J's are truly local. That was the biggest selling point for me. Being amongst other locals who I might actually have the pleasure of meeting with at some point, comparing creative notes and supporting one another - it's what shopping local is all about.

There's no point calling yourself a local collective if your contributors come from far and wide. Local people who believe in supporting other local people want to know that the products they are buying came from a 10-20 mile radius. That's pretty much the ethos of Maggie J's - it's a very special little shop.

For the next two weeks I've got a small selection of storage baskets, macrame hanging pot holders and string shopping bags available to purchase from Maggie J's (that's why they've disappeared from my website for now). I'm excited that people will be able to actually see what I create in 'real life', not just on a computer screen.

If you're looking for a treat for yourself, or a special someone, pop into Maggie J and have a look. Of course I'd love it if you bought one of my products, but there's also so many other creatives who offer a wide range of items. It's a gorgeous little shop and Jess who runs it will make you feel very welcome. (Thanks Jess for offering me this opportunity! ��)

Let me know what you think if you happen to pop in for a look or a bit of retail therapy. I challenge you to not find something you'll love.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 31st March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 31 Mar 2021 10:32:11 GMT

LOOKING FORWARD

There’s really no other way to look, it’s forward all the way. Colour My Dreams is still an infant, crawling around trying to find it’s feet. It falls over from time to time as it learns that those first steps, as easy as they look, take quite a lot of time to master.

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I’ve learnt so much over the past few years. Not only have my business skills taken a step forward, so have my craft skills. The basics that I learnt as a child are now more refined and adventurous. I know my strengths and weaknesses and intend on building more on my strengths when it comes to the projects I tackle. I’ve certainly become more accepting of myself and my own abilities.

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Appreciating that other people have skills that I don’t or I’m not very good at, is one step closer to applauding what I can do and being prepared to refine those skills even further. I’m not going to beat myself up for not being as good at a certain stitch, knot or technique as another crafter.

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I’m looking forward to an exciting future, for more colour and sunshine in my life, for more opportunities to share my skills with people who want to learn and to love what I do even more than I do now.

That’s my looking forward, there’s no looking back!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 30th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 30 Mar 2021 11:31:22 GMT

RANGE

My range has changed considerably since I first launched CMD. I’m really much happier with what I offer these days as I’m in control of where the products are made and what materials are used.

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The one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of colour. There’s something for everyone amongst my products and if you can’t find the colour you want, then I can get it for you. Just ask!

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My most popular offerings are my beanies , scarves and bags . I love making all these items in various styles and textures. I’m also enjoying the next stage of this process, writing my own patterns for all of the above. I’m on a writing mission at the moment and hope to launch a load of new patterns by the end of April.

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All my patterns will be for beginners or for someone who just wants a quick and easy make to try. Along side the patterns will be a range of tutorials too, so you can check up on the techniques in my YouTube channel to make sure you’re doing it right.

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It’s all so exciting. I love my range and am loving the challenge of diversifying my offerings with patterns . Hope you enjoy them too!

#MarchMeetTheMaker #March30 #Range #products #patterns #bags #beanies #scarves #headbands #tops #yogamatstraps #wallhangings #potholders #homewares #maker #crafter #patterns #patternwriting #knitting #crochet #macrame #ShopLocal #SupportSmall #ColourMyDreams

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 29th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:39:07 GMT

REELS

Reaching into the depths of my confidence to do this one. I’ve embraced social media in most of its forms over the years, but I’m not one for doing live chatty stuff or being in front of the camera. I guess it’s a generation thing, I didn’t grow up with that thin, rectangular communication box attached to my hand and face. Even if I do use it a lot, I’m not using it like those who don’t remember a time when it didn’t exist.

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So here goes, I’m going to embrace the unknown and do my first Reel. I’ve been making a new bag recently and I absolutely love it, so I think I’ll make it the star of my first reel.

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To be honest, I intended on uploading my a really professional looking and completed reel in this post, but I’m still getting my head around it all. When I manage to work it all out and successfully create my first one without making myself look like a total technophobe, I’ll get it out there.

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To the right you'll see my first attempt. Please feel free to have a giggle at my expense. Cringe!��‍♀️

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 26th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 26 Mar 2021 09:00:04 GMT

FAVOURITE

Oh my, this is a tough one. Asking me to choose my favourite make is like asking who is my favourite child! I wouldn’t dare go down that alley. Not only are there three genres of craft that I regularly indulge in for me to choose from, there are makes from each one that I love making for very different reasons.

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To keep this brief (because you know I can waffle on like it’s an Olympic sport), I think I’ll have to go for one of my favourite things to make, the one that give me so much satisfaction when it’s finished, not just because they look good, but they are so useful.

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My crocheted String Shopping Bags.

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I’d never claim that the pattern I use is my own, I use one that I found on the WeAreKnitters website. They are one of my main yarn suppliers and I simply love using their cotton to make these bags. I do however, play around with the pattern occasionally and change the way I make them depending on the colours or the materials. (I write my own patterns too, and am adding them to my website all the time. Check back occasionally to see what’s new!)

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I love making things that are useful. Colour My Dreams is all about being eco-friendly and doing it with style. I hope you agree that my String Shopping Bags have oodles of both. You can find them in a variety of colours and materials. I use 100% cotton and bamboo fibre - both sustainable and decomposable. No nasty plastic!

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Now I’ve admitted I have a fav crochet make, I’ll have to think about my favourite knit and macramé project. A post for another time.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 25th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 09:00:04 GMT

STARTING POINT

I must admit, I’m not the most strategic or methodic of crafters. However, when it comes to my macrame wall hanging projects, the first thing I think about is the size of it. This is usually determined by the size of the stick or dowel that I have in my collection of wood.

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I buy the dowel from my locally owned DIY shop and I also collect some on the occasional walks in the local forests. Sometimes I paint the dowel and I tend to give the natural sticks a good old clean with soapy water then sand them to get rid of any sharp bits.

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Once I’ve chosen my stick I then decide the length of the piece according to the size of the stick. It has to be a length and width that will suit the length. Getting the proportions right can make all the difference to the final piece.

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There’s so many starting points to my work because of all the different processes that I use. Whether it be knitting, crochet or macrame, it’s all just one big adventure through experimentation and exploration of techniques.

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As a crafter, you never stop learning new methods, everyone has a different way of doing something. The starting points are sometimes the most exciting!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 24th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 24 Mar 2021 13:32:06 GMT

WRAPPED & PACKAGED

The most exciting thing about wrapping and packaging a product ready to send out is the knowledge that someone actually wants to own something that I’ve made. That means so much to me and I want them to know how much I appreciate their purchase, hopefully that is reflected in how I wrap my orders. I want it to be something special for them to open when they receive it.

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I’ve got some gorgeous bright pink and lime green tissue paper and I don’t use any sticky tape unless I absolutely need to. It’s hard to avoid sticky stuff completely, so I have to use some sticky labels with my branding on them to fasten my parcels securely. They are then wrapped in double of triple layers of thick brown paper ready to have the address attached.

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Depending on the product that you purchase from me, you’ll also have a card included that has all my washing instructions on it and I always put a little star next to the instructions that match the materials used in your purchased product.

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I’ve had some lovely feedback about my packaging, the plastic-free thing is always something that people comment on.

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I’m also looking into non-plastic alternatives for some of my larger products. It’ll be good to go totally plastic free eventually.

If anyone has any tips about non-plastic coated stickers or any other plastic free options, I’d love to know where you get yours from. I’m always on the look out for new ways to be eco-friendly!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 23rd March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 23 Mar 2021 09:00:05 GMT

JOB/S

I’m sure every crafter, freelancer, self employed individual will agree that they don’t just do one job. Many of us choose to be self employed so we can do the jobs we’re good at in our own way. We also do the jobs we’re not good at in our own way. Eventually some of those jobs become less tedious as we work out the best to do them that works for us (and our accountant!).

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Here’s my list of jobs:

Chief Crafter - knitting, crocheting and macrame
Website Designer
Graphic Designer
Social Media content writer
Marketing & PR
Pattern creator/writer
Buyer (Materials)
Research & development
Customer Service
Secretary/Administrator
Photographer & Model
General dog’s body, coffee maker, sandwich buyer…
Etc.

The list is inconclusive, every day throws up a new or different challenge, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

“A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one."

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 22nd March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 09:00:07 GMT

HANDS ON

My job couldn’t be done without my hands, everything I do is ‘hands-on’. From the making of the products, the designs of my social media posts, building my website to writing blog posts and keeping the accountant happy with a reasonably organised filing system.

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My favourite of that list (and there’s so much more I could add) has to be the actual crafting. Knitting, crocheting and macrame are my life - a day doesn’t pass without me creating something using one or the other, or possibly all three.

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Sometimes I even make something for myself and it’s usually something that I know is going to cost far too much to sell at a retail price because the quantity of materials and the time it takes to make just isn’t commercially viable.

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The cardigan in this post is one of those items. If I was to sell it I’d have to charge at least £150 and that’s only if I pay myself around £5/hour or less. The amount of work that goes into something handmade really is undervalued these days. We’ve all become so used to Fast Fashion, the true value of a hands-on/handmade product very rarely enters the mind when you’re on a retail therapy mission around a shopping mall.

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When I’m making items for my online shop, I keep in mind the value of the product to me as the seller as well as what my customers might consider a quality product at a fair price. It has to reflect the time it takes to make and the quality of the materials. It’s a tough call sometimes, but then my choice to only use the highest of quality materials is something that I feel strongly about and is the basic ethos of my business.

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Quality over quantity all the way!

“There is no beauty in the finest cloth if it makes hunger and unhappiness.” Mahatma Gandhi

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 19th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 19 Mar 2021 09:00:02 GMT

SILVER LININGS

If nothing else, one of the biggest silver linings for me is when I get a sale. It’s not about the money, it’s having the reassurance that my hard work, my skills, experience and talent for what I love doing has been appreciated enough for someone to part with their hard earned cash. Of course the money helps, I won’t deny that I need that too, but feeling appreciated is far more important to me.

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Day after day I put in the hours, making unique products, managing a website that constantly needs updating, posting on social media to try to get some attention, trying to find new ways to make my business work for me, creating, designing, imagining…

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It’s a never ending circle of events that hopefully one day mean I can say I did it! I survived as a small business, I made a success of it and it continues to be something that people actually like and buy into.

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My silver linings are few and far between at the moment, but once our world is able to operate in a more ‘normal' way and I can get back to my markets, pop-ups etc, I hope that more of you will love what I’m doing and support me.

Every sale is a silver lining on the sometimes grey clouds of survival.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 18th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:00:03 GMT

COLOUR

What can I say - it’s all about colour, the clue is in the name - Colour My Dreams. I simply love colourful things. When I started CMD and was looking for a name, it made so much sense to me that it had to be linked closely with colour. All my illustrations and patterns at the time were full of brights, pastels, tones and hues. There was nothing much that was monochromatic about my work.

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A world without colour would be such a dull, sad place. Us creatives take inspiration from our natural world in so many ways, whether it be recreating images of flowers, landscapes, animals etc or using colour to accentuate an idea or highlight a mood.

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I take so much pleasure in combining colours in pleasing ways. When you put colours together that you may not consider to be a good match and it works, there’s so much joy and satisfaction. I know it’s probably not something new, nature combines colours all the time, but to see the results of a great mix within a crochet blanket or a summer top makes me smile.

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One thing I love about using lots of colour is that my work can appeal to so many different people. I’m always happy to make something for someone in a different colour if they can’t find their perfect choice from the ones already in my online shop. There’s nothing I love more than scrolling through my suppliers websites looking for a new colour or something I haven’t used before. Pure joy!

It’s the small things in life that give the most pleasure and a little bit of colour does it for me!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 17th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 17 Mar 2021 13:29:27 GMT

PROCESS

I must admit, this topic has been a difficult one to write about. Not in an emotional way or anything like that, but in a brain testing way. It’s made me realise that I’m not a great one for process. I have my own way of working, that is my ‘process’, but it’s certainly not very organised or structured.

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When I’m working on a macrame wall hanging, I tend to decide on the size of it by the length of the stick/dowel. My go-to method for measuring my cord is then four times the length of what I envisage my end piece to be. That is, if I decide the wall hanging will be around a metre in length, each cord that I attach to the stick or dowel will be 4m long. Starting with a larks head knot, that makes the starting length of my cords 2m long.

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Using the 4x rule has always worked for me. I very rarely need to add any extra cord unless it’s part of the design. I tend to make up my macrame wall hangings as I go along, so there’s really not much process involved after the initial decision about how long it might be.

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If you check out my online shop , you’ll see the complex designs of some of my pieces. I really wouldn’t want to try to replicate some of them, they truly are one-offs. I guess that's the beauty of my process - it produces unique works of art that come out of my imagination as I work on them.

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The best way to get to the stage that I’m at with my macrame journey is to start start simple and practise and never be afraid to ask for help! My macrame patterns are a great way to get going if you fancy giving it a try. Once you’ve mastered the basics you can develop your own ‘process’ too.

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Feel free to pick my brains if you have any questions or you get stuck with a particular knot.

You can also check out my simple videos that help you with the basics.

Whatever process you use or develop - remember to enjoy it. You'll have days when it will be endlessly frustrating and days of pure joy!

Learning experiences, that's what it's all about!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 16th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 16 Mar 2021 09:00:02 GMT

FROM THE ARCHIVE

I set up Colour My Dreams in November 2017 and it’s certainly changed over the past few years. Initially I was using my design skills to create patterns and illustrations to print onto products like t-shirts & mugs. I soon realised that the lack of transparency with regard to the products I was having printed didn’t sit well with me. I really had no idea where these products were coming from, where they were being made and whether the people making them were treated and paid fairly for their employment.

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This crisis of conscience and my need to have confidence in my suppliers meant that what I was producing could not continue as it was. I decided to ditch the printed products and concentrate on my own crafting skills, rather than my illustrative design skills.

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I started looking for reputable suppliers of wool and yarn that are natural or recycled. I didn’t want to use manmade yarns that would only add to the problem of plastic pollution. If the materials were recycled plastics and I could give them another purpose, that was ok, but using acrylics that had been manufactured from scratch wasn’t the direct I wanted to take.

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As you can imagine, the transformation from 2017 to today has been the result of much soul searching, addressing personal values and decisions that might not always be the cheapest option (in fact, pretty much never), but are the ones that sit well with me and the direction my business needed to take.

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Hope you agree that my decision to be more conscious of my carbon footprint is more important than being able to offer cheap, throw away products.

#MarchMeetTheMaker #March16 #FromTheArchive #products #print #illustration #wool yarn #maker #crafter #knitting #crochet #macrame #ecofriendly #suppliers #ShopLocal #SupportSmall #ColourMyDreams

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 15th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 09:00:04 GMT

FOCUS & PRIORITIES

Since the first lockdown almost a year ago, I started focusing on Colour My Dreams a lot more. I guess with the lack of mobility that we found ourselves facing, it was a case of having to find ways to keep busy at home. I basically upped my game with the amount of products that I was making and experimenting a lot more.

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I’ve not quite decided on my product niche yet, basically because I love to try new things. However, I think I’ve got a few products that have proven to be the most popular and I’m concentrating on them a lot more - beanies , scarves , string shopping bags , phone bags and hanging pot holders are all my best sellers.

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My main priority at the moment is to get on with making video instructions to complement my patterns with the aim to give beginners all the visual tools they need to get started on their chosen craft. You can check out my YouTube Channel - Colour My Dreams for the macrame videos I’ve made so far. There’ll be some knitting and crochet ones are on their way soon.

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I must admit, focussing on one thing at a time is not one of my strengths. I’m a bit of a multi-tasker. I get distracted by something that I really want to do and the stuff that really needs doing gets pushed aside. Saying that, I tend to get it all done in the end, it’s just not in a very linear order.

#MarchMeetTheMaker #March15 #FocusAndPriorities #products #videotutorials #YouTube #maker #crafter #knitting #crochet #macrame #beanies #scarves #stringbags #phonebags ##hangingpotholders #ShopLocal #SupportSmall #ColourMyDreams

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 12th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 12 Mar 2021 09:30:03 GMT

In Use

There’s lots of things that social media is good for, but one of the best things is when a customer shares a photo of one of my products in use. Whether it be them wearing one of my beanies or scarves, using one of my string bags as a beach bag (when you live in a hot country, of course that’s what you use it for), or one of my baskets as a storage solution in a small space like the canal boat in my post.

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I love seeing how people use my products in ways I’ve never even thought of. It makes me realise that what I’m doing on a daily basis is valued and most of all, useful. As William Morris said, “Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.

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I love that quote. One of my aims in life is to achieve that goal. If there is ‘stuff’ in my life that doesn’t fit into one or both of those categories, then I find a new home for it - give it away on Freegl or sell it on any number of second hand/pre-loved sites like Vinted, Depop or Facebook Marketplace.

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I’d like to think that if people consider my work beautiful and useful, I have achieved what I set out to do. We don’t need much really, just the stuff that helps us on a daily basis and sometimes that is simply a beautiful piece of art - something that makes us smile and feel proud to be its owner.

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I’m always open to suggestions, so please feel free to offer me your ideas for a new product that will help make your life easier. There are so many wonderful ideas out there, I can’t possibly try them all, but I can give it a damn good try.

“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful”.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 11th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 11 Mar 2021 09:30:01 GMT

Portrait

Well, here I am. You’ve probably seen pics of me before now but I guess it always helps to put a face to the business name. I’m the face of Colour My Dreams and have been since it was born back in November 2017. I will continue to be so until such time that I can’t manage to use a pair of knitting needles, crochet hook or be able to stand at my macrame frame.

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I’m passionate about my craft work, I absolutely love making all the products that I do on a daily basis and all I want is for others to as well. I’d like people to not just buy one of my products because they like the look of it or they ‘need’ it, but because they appreciate the ethos of my businesses.

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As I mentioned in my post about Beliefs and Values, I’m all about looking after our environment, being plastic free and ensuring that I source my materials from trusted, responsible suppliers. If these things aren’t important to you, then I guess my business isn’t for you.

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I don’t and never will apologise for my prices being higher than Primark, Asos, Amazon etc… I’m not competing with them. I know my materials are ethically sourced I know how my one employee is treated, because that is me! I make all my products. I don’t pretend to be something I’m not, I’ve got nothing to hide.

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There you go, a portrait of me and my business. Take me or leave me. I won’t be everyone’s beanie, but I will be someones.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 10th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 10 Mar 2021 10:32:11 GMT

Small Details

Sometimes the small details are the ones that make the most impact.

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My little wooden tags, buttons and cork labels are a small detail that I’m really proud of. They are made by the lovely guys at JSLasercraft and add that finishing touch to all my pieces. When I sew one of their handcrafted tags onto one of my pieces, I get that satisfied feeling that only comes with being proud of my finished product.

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That small detail makes such a difference to how I see my work and I hope that my customers will appreciate that too. Colour My Dreams is more than ‘just a hobby’, it’s my business and my passion.

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The small stuff is just as important as the big ideas that move a business forward. Don’t be scared to give the small details some big attention. I spent a lot of time searching for the right business and product for my labels and buttons. I needed to know that the wood they use was sustainably and ethically sourced and I really wanted to support another small business.

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My wooden labels and buttons might be the small details that finish off my work, but the story behind them, why I use them, why I purchase them from the guys a JSLasercraft and why it matters that they are handmade and sustainable; are the big things that help my business stay true to my beliefs and values .

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 9th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 10:07:19 GMT

Leaning Curve

Every day is a new day of learning. When I sit down at my desk to start writing, to browse through Pinterest for inspiration or sort out the virtual paperwork, I will inevitably find something that I didn’t know five minutes before.

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It might be a news article about a new plastic free packaging alternative or a new wool supplier that I find while scrolling through Instagram. I also have the radio on all day, starting with Virgin for a bit of Chris Evans, which I must say is a constant source of wonderment (even if Chris does pick on Vassos a bit too much), then I head over to Radio 2. Needless to say, there’s not much silence in my house on a daily basis.

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My main, recent learning curve is definitely my pattern writing, but I won’t bang on about that again. I think you’ve got the idea that I’m quite excited about that.

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Another challenge I’m taking on is video tutorials. I’ve done a few so far, they are short and to the point and hopefully will help you learn the methods that I use on a daily basis. You will also find the videos via links in my patterns because I know from experience that having a visual guide as well as the written instructions can make or break the success of any project.

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On my to-do list for this week is to create some new video tutorials. I’ve not done any crochet ones yet and I’m keen to try out my new audio and video equipment. This is definitely on the agenda for today.

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Head to my YouTube channel - Colour My Dreams - to find the mini macrame lessons that I’ve added so far.

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Signing off now to get my video-making-learning head on. Have a great day. Hope you learn something new today too!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 8th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 15:12:14 GMT

Work In Progress

The big question is… “Is there ever not a work in progress?” Any serious crafter will recognise that concept. I honestly can’t say that I’ve only got one WIP on the go. Some of them might be physically on the knitting needles, crochet hook or hanging from my macrame stand; others are progressing in my head.

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The less tangible WIPs are just as important as the ones that have are a recognisable item. Sometimes the ones in my head can determine how I finish the ones already started. I’ve got one of those brains that is constantly trying to solve a problem, tackle a challenge or find a solution to a task that is baffling me when I know there’s a better way to do it.

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I guess my main WIP at the moment is writing up my patterns (as I mentioned in my last post). I’ve decided after tackling the first few that I actually really enjoy it. It’s a new challenge and one that is making me look at my work in a totally different way. I’m becoming a lot more methodical when jotting down the particulars of the patterns I’m designing.

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Thankfully I also have my graphic design skills to rely on for the actual publication of the pattern. It's fun being my own client, but also a challenge in itself - seeing the wood from the trees in your own work can be difficult. That's where testers come in and I've now got a couple lined up.

When you have knowledge of a subject or skill, you can take it for granted that others will know what you’re talking about. Hence, I'm trying to avoid the assumption of knowledge; I’m stripping it back to the very basics, including descriptions in written, illustrative and video form. We all learn in different ways, I aim to cover all bases for all people who want to learn a new craft.

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If you’ve tried one of my patterns or would like to, you can find them in my online shop and on Ravelry . I’m in the process of writing a pattern for a really simple Granny Square Crochet Bag and it’s going to be a freebie! Keep an eye out for it on my website really soon. If you like my style of pattern writing, you may like to try out some of my others.

That would make me a very happy crafter! ��

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 5th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Fri, 05 Mar 2021 09:30:03 GMT

Newest Make

Being a prolific and somewhat obsessive crafter, there’s always a project on the go. I finish one and start another immediately. Sometimes there’s a few on the go using different materials and techniques. It’s not unusual for me to have a macrame project in progress for day time work, then my evening work is either knitting or crochet. The latter two being easier to do while watching telly on my sofa most nights.

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One of my latest makes that I’m most proud of is a very simply macrame wall hanging. It’s not my most ambitious of designs nor was it very time consuming and that was the point of it. It was the first macrame pattern that I’ve put down on paper with the intention of selling it to those starting out on their macrame journey.
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Getting to the end of this process, designing the printed version then getting it to the printer was a rather tedious task, but so satisfying.

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One thing I’ve discovered over the years of reading other people’s patterns, is that a lot of the time the pattern writer assumes that the recipient of that pattern has a level of experience and knowledge. Usually that level is quite high. I’m fortunate enough to have that experience and knowledge but for someone who doesn’t, the complicated instructions could be the end of their crafting journey before it even begins.

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My mission is to write my patterns as if the person reading it has never done any of that particular craft before. You may think that sounds a bit patronising, but believe me that's certainly not my intention. The number of times I’ve read poorly written patterns and only because of my experience have I been able to wing it and achieve the desired result. I want my patterns to be easy to read, follow and finish! A satisfying end result is what we all want.
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Check out the patterns on my patterns page, there’s only a few there so far. As I said, they are time consuming to write, but I know I’ll get quicker the more I write. Lots more to come!

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 4th March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 09:30:02 GMT

On My Desk

I'm not one to have too much stuff on my desk, particularly since I bought this fab desk from the lovely guys at @wearedeskmate. I just love being able to fold it away when I’m not using it. (Btw, they haven’t paid me to say that, it’s just a nice thing to big up another small business.)
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Anyway, back to what’s on my desk:

My laptop, can’t do any work without it. Besides the actual creating of my products with hooks, needles etc. I do all my own design work - for social media, my website and email marketing - my graphic design days might be behind me, but they are still very useful. I’m my own client - Yah!
A bottle of water to keep the brain refreshed throughout the day - definitely a necessary item!
My Alessi glasses rest. I’m constantly switching glasses and blind as a bat without them. Knowing where they are is a must and I love this little fella. He’s been with me a for years and is my little desk buddy (I’ve been working from home a long time! Long before Covid.)
Notepad, post-it notes, pens, tissues (I regularly have sneezing fits - nothing like a good sneeze - just wish I didn’t have to do 6-7 of them in a row.)
A lamp for when the sun goes down and I’m working late, or it’s the middle of winter and it’s getting dark at 3pm.
My phone. Who doesn’t have their phone within easy reach?
Random bits that might make an appearance and then go back where they belong once they’ve been dealt with.

That’s about it. I occasionally switch my desk for my standing desk thingy (also from the guys at Deskmate), it’s good to work standing up occasionally. I’ve been doing far too much sitting down over the past year and felt the need to get off my bum a bit more. I certainly notice the difference after a day of lots of standing, it must be doing me good.

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The only thing I’d change about my desk is my chair, I really need a proper desk chair. The next thing on my list to buy myself when I’ve sold a few more products maybe. If you fancy helping to finance this happy crafter’s new desk chair fund, head over to my website for a bit of retail therapy. Hopefully you’ll find something you like.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 3rd March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 09:30:01 GMT

Beliefs & Values

Believing in something or someone can change over time. Sometimes you believe in something because it’s what’s expected of you or you feel you need to to be accepted. What I believe in these days is certainly a lot different to what was important to me when I was younger. In fact, if I’m totally honest with myself, the stuff I believed in back then was mostly forced upon me. I’ll spare you the details, too much angst and misplaced loyalty.

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My beliefs and values are totally stripped back these day. On a daily basis I try to value the positive things in my life and not dwell on the negative, I put aside the stuff that I can’t change and do my bit to make a difference with the things I can. This carries over into Colour My Dreams and is the basis for what I want to achieve.

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CMD is rooted in being conscious of the impact we all make on our environment. It’s difficult to be totally green these days, but the more we do to avoid practises that damage our physical environment and actively protest against these practises, the easier it will get.

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I do my best to source my materials from companies who share the same beliefs and values that I do. I make sure that the workers who harvest and prepare the raw materials are treated well and paid fairly. I care deeply that the animal husbandry is of the highest of standards, the animals are well looked after and enjoy a good life in large open spaces.

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In essence, my business ethos reflects my life. If you care about the environment as much as I do then I hope you’ll appreciate the difference between my business and one that pumps out throw away fashion, who doesn’t care about who is making their products or how much they pay them to do it.

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I believe in using the highest quality materials, sustainably & ethically sourced, to make my products by hand and leave as little impact on the environment as I can. That’s what I believe in and that’s what I value. I have nothing to hide, ask me anything about my business, I'm happy to share.

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 2nd March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 10:23:21 GMT

Style

Style is a something that I really had to think about, it’s not something you have to describe to someone every day. Colour My Dreams is relaxed, easy to wear or use, good quality and colourful. But how do you put a label on a style like that?

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Colour is a major part of my business, hence the name. When I started CMD, I wanted it to be fun, with lots of colour, texture and purpose. I don’t want my products to be seen as a quick, cheap purchase, that can be shoved into the back of a cupboard after one use. I want anyone who enjoys the style of my work to add it to their style and to invest in pieces that they know will last and last. It’s definitely not fast fashion; I couldn’t make the things I do with the attention to detail and quality materials if they were cheap and cheerful.

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I want CMD products to be something that you want to own and be proud of owning. Of course you want beautiful things, but it’s not just about how it looks, it’s also about where it comes from. From the wool on a sheep’s back to the people who shear the sheep, spin the wool and get it to me to make something beautiful.

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The style of CMD is reflected in my ethos - it’s about genuine care and responsibility. It’s not fussy and full of bling, it’s simple and not trying to be something it’s not. I’m not one to pile on the make-up and stumble around in killer heels - my products don’t fit into that scene either. I struggle to find a category for my style. It’s my style and I’m not sure I want it pigeon holed, but maybe a clever name for my style is in order. Any suggestions?

#MarchMeetTheMaker - 1st March, 2021

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 10:16:47 GMT

Brand Introduction

I’m not quite a newbie on the craft scene, I’ve been making stuff for a long time, but not doing it for a living for very long. My name is Cathie George and my business is called Colour My Dreams. I’m a crafter - macrame, knitting and crochet are my thing.

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I only make things that are useful and beautiful. Useful meaning that the item manages to tick the box for someone trying to solve a problem. Beautiful is simply a need for us to have lovely things in our lives. For every piece I make, my aim is to tick both boxes. Not always an easy thing to do, but I always give it my best shot

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The ethos of my business is all about my love of natural materials, the respect I have for our precious and amazing planet and the support of other human beings in the manufacturing process. When I research new materials and suppliers, I need to know that they hold the same values as me. I won’t compromise on quality, nor will I buy materials just because they are cheap.

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If the materials I buy are expensive it’s because the process that is involved in taking that raw product and turning it into something useful for me and other crafters to use, is time consuming, hard work and requires a level of expertise. I respect that and acknowledge that that process can be costly. My skills, knowledge and the time that goes into everything I make, is also reflected in the cost of my products to purchase.

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I hope you’ll join me on this #MarchMeetTheMaker mission and continue to learn about what I do and how I do it. I welcome every bit of feedback. Hopefully all good, but please let me know if I’ve not fulfilled my own standards at any time. There’s always lots of room for improvement and I’ve got lots of passion to learn. Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow for the next instalment.

My list of four

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 12:54:07 GMT

I write lists, I lose lists, I ignore lists - time for change!

During the first week of 2021 I decided I was going to be a proper list writer. Not just the ones that appear in my head and are mostly forgotten, the ones that you actually write down and stick to. Last week I created my first list and I ticked off all 4 items on it, this week I've made my new list of four things and so far have ticked off one item. Feeling very proud of myself.

Physically writing a list is like creating a contract with myself. It’s tangible and not just a jumbled mess of things in my head that might or might not get done. Actually seeing them written down on paper makes me feel more accountable and makes the tasks feel worthwhile. Whatever works heh!

I’m going to try to do this every week and I'm going to do it in an achievable and realistic way. My first task on a Monday morning will be my list. It will only have four items on it and for the rest of the week, Monday to Friday, I’ll do my best to tick off all the items on it. I think four is a nice round number that isn't too much, nor too little. Some tasks might be incredibly simple and only take a few minutes, but some could be very time consuming, requiring much thought, physical activity or mental resilience. I know I will have to account for life throwing things at me sometimes and that might make it impossible for me to complete my list. I won’t beat myself up for that. As the saying goes, "shit happens".

What I'm aiming for is do-able tasks, tasks that will benefit me and my business now and in the future; that I 'need' to do for personal and professional improvement and ones that can be achieved. That way I’m not causing myself any stress, I'm not putting undue pressure on myself, nor will I shame myself if things don't go the way I hope they might. I want my list to be my challenge in a good way, not something that will make me feel a failure if I don't tick off all tasks within my allotted timescale. If I carry over from one week to the next, so be it. Some things take longer than anticipated, specially when that shit happens.

Lists are a good way to find a bit of order in one's life. I hope during these difficult times, that my lists will help me prioritise and give me a sense of achievement. We all love being able to finish something, whether it be a housekeeping task, a good book or a marathon (the latter will definitely never be on any list I write - running is not for me). My completed lists will be my little way of patting myself on the back every week. Whether it be a fully or partly ticked list, I know I will have achieved something worthwhile. And how do I know it's worthwhile? Because I wrote the list and I set my own challenge.

Achieving success comes in many ways, but the best way comes from being honest with ourselves and being realistic. I'm enjoying my list writing session at the beginning of each new week, it's inspiring me to be more productive in a more ordered fashion. It's keeping me on track for the week ahead. That can only be a good thing.

Are you a list writer too? What rules do you set for yourself when you write a list? Please feel free to share your successful list writing routine, we can all learn something from each other. During these tough times, it's good to share our successes - even if they have to be socially distanced, virtual celebrations.

Stay safe and happy list writing!

Bring on 2021!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 05 Jan 2021 16:18:17 GMT

New Year, same little ol' me!

Welcome to a new year of Colour My Dreams. I’m determined to make this year the best yet, which shouldn’t be too difficult considering the last one. 2020 was pretty much a disaster for so many people, and I know it was more of a disaster for some than it was for others, my condolences go out to anyone who lost a loved one to this horrible virus. 2020 ruined successful businesses, doors were closed, people lost jobs and kids missed out on being educated. For others their daily work was doubled and time for leisure became a distant memory .

It’s tough trying to stay positive during times like this and I must admit, I’ve had the odd moment where I’ve felt it would be better to give it all up. But I love Colour My Dreams and have put a lot to time and effort into it; to walk away would mean this damn virus has beaten me and I’m not great at letting the negative things in my life defeat me. I’ve walked away from negative situations and people in the past and it’s always been for the best. Colour My Dreams isn’t a bad situation, it’s great, it couldn’t be more positive - I love it !

This year is going to be full of new challenges for me, things that I hope you’ll want to join in with. Online classes (let’s face it, the Zoom calls and classes are going to continue for some time yet), YouTube tutorials that you can dip in and out of, more competitions , more pattern writing and I’m hoping for some collaborations with some of my suppliers and other crafters.

Whatever your goals are for 2021, I’d love it if you’d add my little business to your list of things to check out. My mission to provide unique, sustainable fashion and homewares is only a success if others share my ethos. I also want to be able to educate and share my love of the crafts that I enjoy so much . I know there are a lot of people out there who would rather buy local , or at the very least, from an independent, environmentally conscious retailer - that’s what Colour My Dreams is all about.

Please join me on my home based journey! Let’s all stay home and make a difference to this world of ours. There’s so much we can do when we think outside the box, get creative and care for our world and each other. Stay safe!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Help me get it right!

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 11:37:08 GMT

Your feedback is important...

A lot of small craft type businesses are struggling at the moment, that includes me and my Colour My Dreams adventure. When I got back into knitting, crocheting and macrame, after far too many years, I really hoped that the things I knew I was reasonably good at, might actually be things that people would buy.

I was so thrilled when my macrame pot hangers, beanies and scarves started attracting some attention and I actually started selling a few.

It gave me the confidence boost I needed to think this thing might work and I could make a business out of it.

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Lockdown has been tough for all of us - mentally, physically and emotionally. When we all found ourselves stuck at home, online sales went through the roof for a lot of businesses, particularly the supermarkets - all that essential stuff that we need and not just want. Sales were also up for me for the first couple of months of lockdown, but since the shops were allowed to reopen again, it has waned somewhat.

Funny thing is, so many of you have been checking out my website and following my social media, but that’s where it stops. The feedback I'm getting has been nothing but positive, I'm so grateful for your kind words of encouragement. Without sounding needy, I'd like to know what I need to do to get you to part with your hard earned cash and buy something from Colour My Dreams, rather than go to a High Street chain.

What am I doing wrong?

If you like my stuff and even got to the point of considering a purchase, what stopped you?

I really want to know, tell me!

I want to make it right for you.

As Kermit said, "It's not easy being green."

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 14:29:44 GMT

But if feels so good when you get to grips with it!

When I started Colour My Dreams , I was all gung-ho about getting my products out there for all to see. I started in a very different way to how I’m running Colour My Dreams today and considering I only started this just under three years ago, there’s been so many dramatic changes. The first thing that changed was to stop randomly producing products using drop-shipping. Let me explain what that is in case you’re not aware of how that works.

Drop-shipping is a great way to be able to produce an item of clothing, a mug or a cushion (or millions of other products) with a particular design without having to fork out hundreds or thousands of ££ on stock. You attach a drop-shipping provider to your website, create your designs and upload it to you drop-shipping providers website. When someone buys that item from your website, the order goes straight to the drop-shipper. They print your design onto the product, package it, post it out for delivery, keep some of the cost for themselves and give you a bit of the profit too.

It works well for those of us who simply want to make money from any random product with your design printed on them. At first that’s what I thought I wanted to do, but it didn’t take me long to realise that’s not what I first had in mind for the market that I wanted Colour My Dreams to be in.

What made me realise this? Well, my conscience did. My heart was telling me that I cared more for my environment and the people I wanted to sell to, to simply pump out loads of the same design that will eventually end up in landfill when they become bored of wearing my t-shirt. I didn’t want to be part of the “fast fashion” world. It was totally against everything I try to do on a daily basis.

Yes, it was exciting to see my designs printed onto nice mugs, cushions, canvases and a few t-shirts that I got made up as samples, but the excitement was short lived when I considered the potential consequences of producing those items. It wasn’t very satisfying. I created the design but I didn’t make the product and nor did I have any control over who did, how they were treated and paid, or where and how the basic materials were produced. That was important to me.

I wanted to make my products, I wanted to feel the materials, to see how they are made, to know that they are produced by people who are treated fairly and paid a decent wage. I didn’t have that control with drop-shipping. It scared me to think I might be supporting some sweat-shop in a third world nation. If my t-shirts were a part of something like that, I simply couldn’t do it any longer.

My hand drawn designs started to dwindle, I’d lost the passion for it. I’m not a natural illustrator, but I am a natural crafter. I love creating tangible stuff, not just one dimensional pretty pictures. To be honest, I’m simply not good enough at that sort of stuff, particularly when there are people out there who are so damn good at it. I can’t compete with them and I realised I really didn’t want to.

It’s a case of not feeling good enough when you see other people’s amazing work on social media and you wish you could be that amazing too. It was time to stop torturing myself and putting myself down and focus on what I am good at and that was going back to my crafting days of my youth - macrame, knitting and crochet.

That’s when Colour My Dreams took a really natural turn down a completely different road that was full of my dreams of a creative space, made by me!

Since that moment I’ve been madly making every sort of handmade product that I can, trying to work out what people actually want to buy and concentrating on adding colour and happiness to every creation.

One thing that worries me and the question I am constantly asking myself, “Am I getting it right?” The only way I can work that out is from my customers and for that to happen, I need to have customers. I must admit I’d love a few more, but I’m also happy to say that those who have bought some of my products have been so kind and positive about the quality, service and packaging that I provide. It’s such a wonderful thing to have positive feedback, particularly for someone who constantly doubts herself. “Am I kidding myself to even consider having a business like this?”, that’s the question on my mind most days.

-- Happy Customers --

The trouble with a business like this, particularly when you first start off, is finding the right materials and then the right customers who share your ethos. When I took that turn, (which was always going to happen by the way, it was the sort of business that I’d always wanted Colour My Dreams to be, it just took me a few mistakes to realise that what I was doing wasn’t my dream), I knew that I had to be very particular about where my materials come from, who produced them and how they are produced . And, yes that all comes with a price.

Good quality is costly, it generally means more care and attention has gone into producing the end product. Once I found my current suppliers ( Wool and the Gang , We are Knitters , Hoooked ) I knew that where I was getting my materials from were not the cheapest, but I loved the quality, I loved the stories of the small businesses that had made a success of doing what they love and in an Earth friendly manner. I also love to support those people as it proves I’m serious about what I want Colour My Dreams to be.

I can’t have that on my conscience and I simply can’t get my head around the throw-away society that we live in today. I’m not saying I’ve never loved a good shopping splurge in the past, those of you who know me, know I used to love a good bit of retail therapy. But these days, it’s certainly not for me, I’ve change my ways and definitely for the better.

I’ve actually not been clothes shopping for nearly four years and you know what, I don’t miss it at all. I realised the clothes in my wardrobe that I love are the ones that I constantly wear and the others are surplus to requirement. What followed was any hours of decluttering!

The Colour My Dreams idea then evolved so that I am now making products that I hope mean you have things you love, that make you happy and provide ‘joy’ (thank you Marie Kondo!).

I wanted to provide that feeling of joy for my customers. I want you to look at my work and think it’s lovely and that’s why you need it in your life; that it does what you need it to do, it’s beautifully made and you know that it has been made with our planet in mind.

The bottom line is, Colour My Dreams aims to be an earth friendly business. One that you can rely on when you need something new in your life but don’t want to compromise on quality and your eco-ethics . I’m not going to be the cheapest option and I am not going to apologise for that. My products cost what they do because I care about where I get my materials , I also make every one of them myself - that’s hours and hours of work. For example, one of my chunky knit scarves can take between 4-5 hours work, the wool can cost as much as £10/ball if not more. No way is that a £3 Primark type product. It’s quality, it’s handmade by me in my little house in Hertfordshire and it’s made with love, care and attention to detail.

I really hope that this helps explain what Colour My Dreams is all about and what I’m all about as a creative person in this saturated world of consumerism.

I’d love your feedback, your ideas about how I can improve or what I’m already doing well and of course I’d love you to head to my website and buy something. I know it’s a cliche to say supporting a small business means a small business owner does a little dance of joy every time they receive a ping from the online shopping app to say someone loves one of your products so much that they just bought something; but the reality is very true. I won’t torture you with any of my dance moves of the early 80’s, suffice to say, the years have taken their toll, but I seriously do a little jeté for joy when one of you makes a purchase.

It means I have a reason to keep this thing going and to keep it going means I’ve succeeded in something I love.

Thanks to you all who’ve purchased from me in the past, please help me share the Colour My Dreams love!

I hope to see you back soon.

Keep dreaming!

Cathie xx

AUGUST NEWS - 2020

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 12:30:02 GMT

Lots of exciting things going on at Colour My Dreams...

We're told to stay alert, and stay home; you can go to the pub and visit a restaurant,

but can't have a facial or go to the theatre.

Are you as confused as I am about this whole damn thing? ��‍♀️ For now I'm continuing to stay home, wear a mask when I have to go to the farm shop or supermarket and basically keeping busy with creating lovely things .

I'm certainly a good customer to my suppliers during these times - thanks to Bobbiny , We Are Knitters, Wool and the Gang and Hoooked I'm well stocked and have plenty of yarn, wool etc to keep me busy .

All my suppliers fit with my ethos of sustainability and are eco-friendly - we're all doing our bit to keep our world clean and healthy. Check out their websites if you want to check - they're impressive.

Some EXCITING NEWS!! I'm starting up some online macrame lessons in September . If you're interested, please use this link to add your name to my list. I'll get news about how it's going to work, costs and times as soon as I'm all organised. There'll be a discount for the first 10 people who actually sign up for my first batch of classes. I can't wait to get going, but am incredibly nervous too - that standing in front of a camera thing! You'll have to excuse me if I stumble a bit - I'm sure it'll get easier with practise.

And watch out for some new knitting, crochet and macrame patterns that I'll be creating for you to purchase and try at home. All will be downloadable or I can post them out to you too if you prefer. Exciting times ahead for Colour My Dreams!

I hope you'll continue to support my little business and stay with me to enjoy all these new ideas.

Please email me if you have any questions about my new macrame lessons or anything else.

Continue to stay safe and well, wear those masks and use that common sense.

Stay Home, Stay Safe!

Cathie xx

"Just a Card"

cathiedesigns@me.com (Cathie George) — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 13:19:22 GMT

That one small purchase can make a huge difference to a small business.

During these difficult times, so many small businesses like me really need help from all consumers - just normal people, who enjoy shopping - there's a lot of you out there. One thing that would make a huge difference to us is for you to make just one purchase that you would normally head to Amazon, or Asos, or any other big name online retailer for.

I've been following and supporting the 'Just A Card ' campaign for the past year or so. They are doing a great job highlighting how easy it is to help small businesses by simply buying 'just a card' , because every one of those cards (or in my case - plant holder, crocheted top, beanie, headband, scarf... you get the idea) , WILL make a huge difference .

I'd love it if anyone who has liked, shared or taken part in one of my competitions would then maybe consider buying one of my products next time you're looking for a special present for a friend or a treat for yourself , instead of going to a big name High St retailer.

The more purchases I receive, the more products I can make for you and the more discounts and competitions I can afford to offer you on a regular basis.Please consider giving me a try next time you fancy a bit of online shopping or visit me when the Hemel Hempstead Old Town Market starts up again (hopefully soon��).

Wouldn't it be great if our High Streets were unique , with different shops and run by mostly local businesses .

The world is changing in a major way, let’s see some positives from this global catastrophe. Let's go back to supporting each other's small enterprises, ideas and hobbies - there's a world of great talent out there that should be celebrated.

Take the " Just a Card" challenge and make a change to your shopping habits - you never know what or who you might find.

Ditch the Plastic

Thu, 02 Apr 2020 09:44:18 GMT

Look after our planet

If there's one thing that this current situation has highlighted it's how our actions or inactions directly affect our lives on this planet; and looking after our planet is crucial for our continued existence.

•

We might not have a cure for all disease nor an answer to every climate change issue, but we can certainly do our bit by trying to eliminate plastic from our lives. It's a tough one, we've come to depend on it so much, far too much. It requires us to retune our actions and routines, but it can be done.

•

I'm doing my little bit to help with this by keeping my business free of plastic. It's early days and I'll freely admit there are a few things I still need to find alternatives for, but I'm getting there.

•

I hope that my string shopping bags might be the start of a new routine for you, or maybe a addition to your current one. They're strong, soft, colourful and hopefully you'll agree, do a great job when you're out and about getting your groceries.

•

If you'd like one in a particular colour, please let me know, otherwise, these newbies are now in my shop .

Stay Home, Stay Safe!

Thu, 26 Mar 2020 10:04:32 GMT

The times they are a changin'...

Where do you start with something like this? Unprecedented times, weird times, crazy times...

It's all about change. I think this is a wake up call for us all. We need to change our ways, we need to think about each other a lot more and start to appreciate who we are and the wonderful things we are capable of. It's not all about stuff, having stuff, looking for more stuff, feeling like we need stuff to be accepted or stay up-to-date.

We need to start looking at how we shop and what we shop for, what our expectations are and how we assess what is necessary and what is nice to have. The necessary stuff is what keeps are alive, keeps us functioning, happy and healthy. The other stuff are luxuries, it's all just stuff that clutters our lives and makes us feel that we need to have in order to fit in with trends and the false hopes of acceptance.

I make the things I make because I love making. I'd quite happily make these things and simply give them away if I didn't need to make a living in order to keep making. It's a vicious circle, I make in order to satisfy my own personal need to be creative, but the underlying need is that my makes are necessary for me to earn a living. I wish I could just give my lovely things away to people, to see them smile when they receives something that they don't necessarily need but it's nice to have and they know it's been made with passion, care and attention.

What a wonderful world we would have if after all of this, we start to appreciate what's really important in our lives on this amazing planet. Wouldn't it be great if we really didn't care what the latest hot celebrity was wearing or where she/he got her outfit. They didn't buy it, it was given to them by a huge fashion brand who has basically paid them to wear it. It's advertising that we all get sucked into and made to believe it's what we need. We don't!

Wouldn't it be refreshing if our governments started caring about all the people in their respective countries, instead of only those who make the big corporations tick over and basically line the pockets of the already wealthy. Everyone contributes to making our world function, why are so many overlooked and literally left to rot on the street.

I'm tired of this world as it is, I don't go out much these days (even less at the moment obviously) because I feel so disenfranchised from what the world has become. People don't care for each other anymore, they don't appreciate creativity, they don't accept that other people work hard for them to have the luxuries and pleasures that they take for granted on a daily basis.

I recently set up a new Facebook group and Instagram accoun t called 'I created this'. It's all about sharing your creativity with the world. Those of us who sit on our sofas at night in front of the telly with knitting needles or a crochet hook, bent over a bench in a garage crafting something from a piece of wood, sitting at a sewing machine in a box room - wherever and whatever you're making, let's start to applaud the people who really make this world of ours go around.

I created this is a place to share and be appreciated for your talents, hidden or out there already. We've all got something special about us. Tag I created this on Facebook and @icreatedthis2020 on Instagram and I'll share your work. This is for all ages, all abilities. We need to start to look at the people behind the work and the products, we need to connect with each other so much more. Please get involved, share the hell out of this and hopefully all of us who are feeling hopeless might actually find new found followers and supporters of our work once this crazy time is over. We all might start to appreciate that stuff is good and special when we know where it comes from, who made it, where it was made and what it was made from.

Please stay safe, stay home and get creative!

Stop - Get Ready - Go!

Mon, 05 Feb 2018 00:00:00 GMT

Stop!

It’s that lightbulb moment, when you admit to yourself that something needs to change. It’s that moment that allows us to feel free of the restraints of a bad, negative or disheartening situation. Time to move on, time to free yourself of the worry of trying to fix something you can’t fix. Time to take the leap to make a change. That leap could be changing a job, getting out of a damaging relationship or removing yourself from a situation that you know will only continue to make you unhappy.

Making life changing decisions isn’t easy, the thought of it could be excruciating. It may be fear of the unknown that holds us back. What if the unknown was actually going to prove to be the best decision you’ve ever made, is it worth not trusting your instincts and giving it a go? Of course it is - what’s the worse that can happen? You end up back at square one and you simply search for another solution and take another direction. Eventually that stopping and searching moment may prove to be the thing that leads you to a happier and healthier life .

Get ready:

You’ve made that leap and you’re now in that limbo stage. That part of a challenge that is full of preparation and questions . What if I make the wrong choice, what if I fail, what if I don’t achieve what I set out to do?

The whole reason for this stage is to set our mind straight about our plan of attack . Now that you’ve actually made the decision to make a change, start a list - jot everything down that you want to achieve. From the sublime to the ridiculous . Don’t worry if some of those challenges seem silly, no one will need to even know about them. It’s your list, it’s personal, keep it to yourself. Once you have your list, it’s time to get serious. Be ruthless about the things you know you can achieve and those that will only prove to be a struggle and hold you back. Prioritise your way forward. What’s most important to you and are these things achievable ? Once you establish this list of priorities , you’re ready for the next challenge.

Go!

Now you can go for it. You’ve recognised the problems in your life, you’ve had a good chat with yourself and sorted out the things you really want to achieve . Now you have to put all that soul searching into action - happiness and satisfaction will follow; all that is left is to do it!

Stick to your realistic list (the one that you sifted out the ridiculous and were left with the achievable), maybe even set yourself a timeline for prioritising all the things you want to change about your life. Don’t get hung up on this though, you never know what might leap out in front of you. Every opportunity , even the ones you never thought possible, are worth considering and your hold timeline could go out the window. Just keep your eyes and mind open , be realistic and stay on task . Seek help and advice - don’t be afraid of needing someone to point you in the right direction, mentor you or simply be there as a sounding board.

Don’t get distracted by procrastination - focus and get stuck in. Once you bite the bullet, you’ll wonder why it took you so long to make those changes.

Lightbulb moments only come along every now and then, don't ignore them! Listen to your instincts and intuition - it might just be the moment that changes the course of your life for the better.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 2018 - HERE WE COME!

Sun, 31 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

It's that time of year when we all feel compelled to make changes - eat better, drink less, exercise more - same ol', same ol'.

At Colour My Dreams we may not necessarily embrace the virtuous resolutions such as those above, but we do want to keep improving . We're only human and know only too well that life's too short not to make the most of enjoying every minute of it. Our self-indulgent side simply wants to make sure we have lots to smile about and that means occasionally treating ourselves and not getting overly worried about the healthy stuff. A little treat every now and then - whether it be food, your fav tipple, or that purchase you've resisted for ages - definitely activates those happy hormones. So go on, indulge and be happy. Maybe a new mug for your morning coffee, a crazy patterned pair of leggings to brighten up your new exercise regime or a canvas to fill that empty space you've been staring at for years wondering what to do with - whatever makes you smile can only be a good thing.

We're really excited about what the New Year will bring and endeavour to continue to provide you with as much colour in your world as we can through our many new and exciting, patterns and designs. We can't wait to embrace new trends, listen to what all our lovely customers want from our products and do our best to make sure we deliver .

Please get in touch and let us know if you'd like something bespoke to you - whether it be a corporate gift to promote you business , a special something for that special person in your life or simply something to add a bit of humour and colour to your living space . We want you to love our products and make them part of your world.

May you all have a wonderful New Year's Eve and a prosperous, healthy and exciting 2018.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Apple App of the Year 2017 - Affinity Photo for iPad!

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

It's always a rather geeky, techie moment when you get really excited about an App.

In this case the excitement for this year's Apple App of the Year 2017 - Affinity Photo for iPad , developed by Serif (Europe) - is becoming widely appreciated in the design and photography industries. It's also giving some of the options that have dominated the market for a long time, a run for their money (we all know who I mean) and not before time.

For those of us using our lovely iPadPro's on a daily basis to create beautiful things, this is a tool that will open up so many wonderful opportunities for creatives - it will inspire our imaginations and enhance our design/photographic creations.

I've just downloaded this App (which I meant to do many months ago, but got distracted and forgot about it - story of my life) and I simply can't wait to get stuck into using it.

Great work Serif - can't wait to see what else you come up with over the next few years - I'll be watching with anticipation of great things!

If this is your thing too, head over to their website now as they've got the App on sale for £9.99 - HALF PRICE! Even at full price it is worth every penny, so this is a no brainer!
This great offer only lasts til 12pm on Saturday 9th November.
Don't miss out!

Thinking Outside the [T-Shirt] Box

Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

There's always room in your wardrobe for another t-shirt!

Who doesn't love a colourful, quirky and sometimes cheeky little t-shirt with a message that says something about you or an image that gets people talking. Our 'Look Outside the Box' tee is one that says so much without any words. You'll see the smile appear on the faces of those admiring it when they work out what it actually means.

There's something really satisfying about that light bulb moment (oh! there's another idea for a graphic). Check out all our t-shirts here or go to our Products menu option.

We'll continue to add to our collection and will be bringing some men's tee's to you very soon. Keep checking back for more designs - we add new products on a weekly basis.

Welcome to Colour My Dreams

Sun, 05 Nov 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Sitting on my sofa after work most evenings for the past 12 months since I bought my iPadPro, has been spent relaxing in front of the telly, usually with my daughter and/or son and doodling on said iPad. Some of these doodles started to look quite good, even if I do say so myself. I could see they had potential for printing onto products, fabric, wallpaper, giftware, greeting cards, etc...

An ever increasing frustration with battling against free or cheap online design services, saw my graphic design business proving to be a bit of a chore (long story). So, I decided that it was time to try a different approach and venture into the retail sector with my designs. Hence Colour My Dreams was born. I'm wearing two hats now - and actually, it's working quite well.

Why the name? It's really tricky coming up with a name for a new business, but I had a vague idea about what I wanted and knew that it had to include the word 'colour' somewhere. All my drawings and patterns tend to use lots of bright colours so it was an obvious choice. I guess the 'dream' bit was a reference to me thinking about starting something new, something that I'd only dreamt about before now. Will anyone else actually like my designs? Will anyone buy them? I'd never know unless I tried. Unbelievably, the domain name was available! It was a sign maybe.

So, I'm giving it a try. Feel free to comment, leave feedback on any of my social media platforms or simply say 'hi'. Criticism is fine and suggestions are always welcome. I'll respond as soon as I can. Thanks for visiting - hope you like what you see.

Colour My Dreams | Colourful Ramblings

Open for Business

Interesting times...

🎄Festive Greetings 🎄

Well laid plans...

DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN!!

Au Revoir, but not Goodbye

It's time for change...

For the time being, I’m selling off my current stock at a massive discount.

30% OFF everything in my shop.

USE CODE: AUREVOIR30 at the checkout for your 30% discount.

My online shop will definitely be closing on the 18th September.

I Am Enough

Seeking happiness and contentment

Keep smiling and know that you are enough. ��

Why I don't like Etsy

From champion of the crafter to corporate dragon.

In 2019, Etsy CEO Josh Silverman, “announced Etsy's plans to give priority placement in United States search results to sellers who included the price of shipping within the total price of their product”. *

A lot of Etsy sellers were very unhappy about this announcement, including myself. Delivery is an added expense for a small business, it’s not something that comes cheap or free, it’s a necessity when selling online and can be a huge chunk of your profit if you offer it for free.

Be Proud!

Let's celebrate individuality.

Celebrate Pride with some Rainbow themed accessories...

Parlez vous français?

Paris in the Springtime

I've just spent three days in Paris. A little over-due treat that I planned last year, but because of life and stupid pandemics, I've had to cancel it three times. Fourth time lucky and I made it.

Have a good weekend. Pop over to my online shop to see some of the other macrame wall hangings that I have for sale. One of them might just suit that bare wall in your home.

Big Decisions

Life wouldn't life without a big decision or two...

For the past eight months I've been decorating my house. It's been a labour of love and one that is rather bittersweet. I started in September 2021 and finished the bulk of it last week, Tuesday 3rd May. On Wednesday 4th May my house went on the market .

For now it’s au revoir, not goodbye! A bientot!

March Meet the Maker - 25th March 2022

Low Stock

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 24th March 2022

Workspace

I love doing macrame in my garden during the warmer months. Creativity blooms when you’re surrounded by mother nature, my little garden is the perfect setting for coming up with lots of new ideas.

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 23nd March 2022

Milestone

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 22nd March 2022

Product Range

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 21st March 2022

Mistakes/Lessons

Stay positive, keep making mistakes and keep improving!

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 18th March 2022

Materials

If you're interested in reading more about the qualities of wool, head to the Campaign For Wool website.

Have you had your 20% OFF discount code yet? Fill in my newsletter form and you'll get a code to use on your first order. You'll also receive regular newsletters with discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 17th March 2022

Sell Yourself

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 16th March 2022

Goals

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 15th March 2022

Time

Time is something we all have, maybe it’s a good idea to consider the time others have invested when making a purchase, instead of the label on the front.

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 14th March 2022

The Numbers

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 11th March 2022

Seasonal

If you haven't signed up to my newsletter yet, please do . You'll get 20% OFF your first order, regular discounts, new product announcements and news of events I'll be attending so you can see me and my products in real life.

Call me old fashioned, but there's nothing quite like a good ol' face-to-face natter.

March Meet the Maker - 10th March 2022

Seasonal

For the past eight months I've been decorating my house. It's been a labour of love and one that is rather bittersweet. I started in September 2021 and finished the bulk of it last week, Tuesday 3rd May.
On Wednesday 4th May my house went on the market .