How did your business come about?
When Lilly was a year old a friend of mine (who was a
fantastic sewer) showed me (Amanda) the most adorable dress she made, and fabrics which
she had recently purchased. With a nudge towards the sewing machine, she taught
me how to make it. I couldn't believe how simple it was, and how pretty it
turned out. I was hooked, and started spending quite a bit of my time browsing Fabric & Pattern shops online and started making babies clothes and accessories.
Towards the end of 2011 (after a year of spending far too much money on
fabrics) I saw that Fabric Fixation was for sale.
I needed a bit of a challenge so I made Kelly an offer and on Christmas Day 2011 she sent me an email saying it was mine. Panic then set in as what did I know about running a business? Before having Lilly I was a Primary School Teacher, so the two were complete worlds apart. So with help via email from Kelly and help from my mum (who is an accountant) I hit the ground running and haven't looked back since.
I needed a bit of a challenge so I made Kelly an offer and on Christmas Day 2011 she sent me an email saying it was mine. Panic then set in as what did I know about running a business? Before having Lilly I was a Primary School Teacher, so the two were complete worlds apart. So with help via email from Kelly and help from my mum (who is an accountant) I hit the ground running and haven't looked back since.
Where did the name come from?
I bought the business with the name, but those who love
fabric will understand that fabric is a fixation, it is an addiction, and we
all have mountains of fabric stashed away somewhere for that project we will do
some day.
Where does my inspiration come from?
The joy I get from this business is seeing the beautiful
creations that my fabric gets turned in to. I love it when customers come back
to me and tell me what they have made, or email pictures. I have had quite a
few customers who have never sewn before. I get these lovely emails asking for
all sorts of advice and guidance, then a month or two later the photos are
sitting in my inbox showing off their first projects (which are usually very
ambitious). I love seeing other people's success and joy at completing a
project, and that is why I do what I do.
What do you love about what you do?
Choosing fabric!! Well actually, it is extremely stressful
sometimes as when Reps arrive they come armed with suit cases full of
everything you can imagine. I'm quite lucky because they come and visit me at
home, so I sit with a cuppa (and usually Lilly too, who I have turned into a fabric
addict at the age of 4) and we spend an hour or so looking at fabric
collections, deciding on which ones we like, which ones customers would like,
and which ones we can actually afford. I usually make a yes and maybe pile
which I then go through at least three times until I can bring it all in on
budget. But it's loads of fun and the Reps are just lovely.
Where do you find time to run your business?
I do most of my work at night when the girls are in bed. I
make up the days orders at night and if there is any time left then I will do a
little admin work, otherwise my admin work gets done during the days that Lilly
is at pre-school and Bella is having a nap. Having the Fabric Reps come to my
house is a key factor in making this business work as they come when I'm home
and the kids aren't a problem at all. As for my sewing, well that is pretty non
existent. I do it when I can which is not often enough so I settle for loving
the creations that my customers make and share with me.
What's next for you?
I'm enjoying what I do, and I am enjoying the size of my
business. It's doesn't take me away from being a mum which is important for me.
It's a business which my family can all be part of. I have been tossing around
quite a few future plans. I think if I don't go back to teaching once the girls
are both at school then I will open a fabric shop, but whether that is in
Christchurch or somewhere in North Canterbury where we live, who knows?
So watch this space because you may just see some advertising for weekend craft workshops in the country side, or country Crafternoon Teas. One thing I think for certain is that the fabric will win out over teaching as who doesn't love being surrounded by beautiful fabrics every day?
For the month of May, Amanda is giving readers of justalittlebitcute a gift with each purchase. All you have to do is put in Just a Little Bit Cute in the comments box when purchasing from Fabric Fixation online when checking out. Easy!
You can find Fabric Fixation here...
Shop Online: http://www.fabricfixation.co.nz/
Email: fabricfixation@gmail.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FabricFixation
These are some of my fabric faves I will be purchasing this
week from Fabric Fixation...
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Happy Sewing xx
Images used with
the kind permission of Amanda van Rooy
