I’ve always made things, , mostly out of other things, and mostly using my sewing machine. I went to Plymouth College of Art and Design to study Btec Diploma in Craft and Design, working in metal, glass, ceramics and textiles, and then I trained as a florist. I worked in Floristry until I had children and then, for many years my creative whims were fulfilled by sticking, painting and playing with
my kids. We renovated a house on an absolute shoestring which meant being extremely creative when it came to decorating and furnishing our home. I took up silk painting and sold everything I made. Gradually as the kids got older I ended up working in business management, initially for a local business that had just started and needed organisation and procedural systems and then for my husbands’ construction business. Accounts and administration did not provide much in the way of creative outlet and after 10 years I increasingly felt the need for change. The one thing I have never stopped doing was sewing. I made clothes, curtains, cushions, toys, I covered chairs, did up the inside of a campervan ….anything that we or my friends needed. I mended things, altered things ( my husband still does not understand why I buy something only to bring it home and chop it up !!), I designed things , some with more success than others! I did a City & Guilds course in Dressmaking for Fashion as a way of updating my skills which I passed with a Distinction. In December 2008 a night out with a friend sowed the seed of Make New & Mend. The shop unit was empty, I had just finished my dining room curtains as well as some for a friends nursery and was saying how much I had enjoyed spending a whole week just sewing. She said “why don’t you.....” and I could not think of a good enough reason not to try. My wonderful husband helped me fit out the shop with cutting table, shelving and rails and on January 10th 2009 I opened the door to Make New & Mend. I honestly thought that I would spend most of my time making bits and pieces to sell. I love making curtain panels from lots of different remnants and trims sewn together, I have collected a remnant mountain that I
was looking forward to working my way through..... In fact I am still looking forward to making my way through it !!! Creative Sewing Services……
In the 3 years that I have been open I have worked on an enormous range of jobs, from shortening a collection of silk ties to making an entire outfit for the mother of the groom to relining a tea cosy. I have replaced zips in coats, jeans, suit trousers, dresses, sleeping bags, buggy covers and a rucksack. I have repaired split seams, torn hems and patched numerous knees. I have relined a 1930's coat, altered the fit of an Ozwald Boateng suit ( possibly the most beautiful suit I have ever seen!) and made a cushion from a very old fur cape.I have re-covered lampshades, made curtains out of old wool rugs and made cushions covers out of too many different things to mention!! I have made loose covers for sofas, chairs and footstools. I continued to be challenged, delighted and, at times, surprised at the things I am asked to work on. I love that people trust me to use my creativity on something they will have to live with, I love it when someone leaves the shop with something that fits, works or is useable once again, they are always so pleased......I absolutely love my job!!! In January 2011 Tanya joined me part time and she is proving to be a valuable addition to what is now a team!! Tanya loves all things sewing and is a keen crafter. She has an excellent eye for detail, always strives for a good finish and is especially good at the soft furnishing work we do; she can whip up a piped box cushion in a flash and she does an excellent Roman blind !
50/50 Clothes sales.....
In January 2011 I opened the shop opposite to make room for more sewing but also to start selling secondhand clothes. Selling clothes on a 50/50 basis is an old idea and I thought it would fit quite well with what I am doing already. There was some concern locally that everyone in the village would end up wearing each others clothes but it was soon realised that as my existing customers travel far and wide to come and see me that there was always going to be a wide selection to choose from. I have had consistently positive comments from customers about this bit of my business, I try very hard to keep everything looking good, all items are hung according to size and there is no limit to how many items you can take into the fitting room!! Lucy joined us in April 2011 and comes in every Saturday to take charge of the secondhand clothes sales. This is a job that requires refined organisational skills, an eye for quality and endless patience.... I am often guilty of mucking up the carefully maintained stock system !! Lucy puts out all the new stock on a Saturday and clears unsold items as needed. We work hard to keep our work of the best quality we can and our customers happiness with their experience at Make New & Mend is of the greatest importance to us. We regularly look at how we do things and what improvements we can make. We hope to see you soon!
