To Florida and Back!!

Well I've been jet setting of to Florida so I haven't updated in a while! Lots happening in my little world including plans to open a bricks and mortar store in Invergordon, so it's all very exciting. Myself and hubby have just gotten back from a fabulous holiday in Florida, and I'm shocked at how brave I was!! I went on everything apart from Summit Plummet!!! So Pretty proud of myself. :) 

There was this water ride called Breakway falls!! and basically you stand in a capsule/torpedo tube and it drops you vertically! It's terrifying!! The worst part is the capsule closes with you in it and the heartbeating in the back ground. Plus you watch other people drop and then suddenly the floor opens below you and you feel like your falling to your death! Robby (My big strong 6ft 4 man chickened out :P but then he did do summit plummet, which there was no way on earth I had the nerve to push myself of what felt like a vertical drop. which do you think is scarier?

Breakway Falls!

Summit Plummet

I even went on this, it's called Sheikra and is at Busch Gardens, fair to say it was actually amazing. Still I screamed like no other!!  

We visited Clear Water beach was lovely :) Myself & Rob are getting pretty good at this Selfy thing!

I thoroughly enjoyed the food in America but who doesn't!!! Dare say I'm sure I put on a pound or two and poor Rob put on a stone! Back to the manual day job will sort him out in no time I'm sure.

. Disney Epcot was lovely, the gardens really are pretty! I even sneaked a cheeky kiss with Flower!! 

Hey ho! that was Florida and now it's back to work at Patchwork Paradise headquarters. Lots of love, Jenny xxx

About Little Oh! Me!

If you haven't spoken to me, I'm Jennifer and I have been running Patchwork Paradise since August 2012. It's been quite a journey to get Patchwork Paradise where it is today. Even though it's been a short period of time relatively. I have fantastic support from so many of you lovely followers on Facebook. I'm hoping to offer you a better service than ever before, making my tutorials even more accessible so you can learn to be a happy and confident sewer! Yay.

So a little bit about me. I actually only really picked up the passion of the needle and sewing in 2009. I spent the past couple of years before Patchwork Paradise, working as a Community Care working and a Support worker for Young People with Severe Learning Disabilities. I use to work nights like many people do these days and had to find a way to keep my mind alert during the quiet periods at night. So I picked up Cross Stitcher magazine and began my journey learning to sew. I was immediately sewn into the world of threads and fabric, I found a lot of pleasure making items for everyone. One moment I was cross stitching the next I was making little fabric houses and even Fimo jewellery. Of which I had one entered into Crafts Beautiful magazine (even if it was only a little peek) it still inspired me to try more crafts. Finally after dabbling in a bit of everything I found my I adored fabric which meant sewing home products was what I fell in love with. I will give you a peek at some of my very first and early makes, most of these where made during my long and arduous night shifts.

After several years in care, my life came to a halt as my hubby lost a job. I was already working 60 hour weeks to help pay the bills and panic struck, how on earth where we going to manage with only me working. I had very little money! Just £20.00 in fact! The only thing I thought to do at the time, was like everyone when pennies are short you ebay your possessions. So on went my lovely collection of fabric, magazines and other sewing lovelies. Sacrifices had to be made. The thing that surprised me was the fabric I chose where ever so popular and I was making a more than what I paid for them at RRP. So with my £20.00 I scrawled the net to find fabric bargains and managed to double my money at ebay auctions! Yippee. Sometimes I won and sometimes I lost! Still this was not enough to pay the bills. A break through came when I was at my favorite fabric shops! perusing and I found an entire bolt of Cath Kidston!! Cotton Duck Floral Spray White at just £10.00 a metre. I had to buy the entire roll, it was do it and hope for the best. I suppose some may think of it as a gamble with their money, however, I thoroughly understood the market demands at the time and knew I would make enough to cover the extras for that month.

I went home that night and got it right on to auction starting with just small pieces. I couldn't believe it when a Fat Quarter was selling for between £5.00 and £10.00! Over the moon I had to reinvest! and that is what I have been doing ever since. Amazingly me & hubby scraped by until he got a job, thanks to Patchwork Paradise. However, for me it was just the beginning!! So that's how Patchwork Paradise got started. There are so many more things in between but their isn't enough time to tell! :)

Ultimately, it is my firm belief anyone can make a living from home if they are truly passionate about a product, understand the market needs and willing to at times take small risks to advance their business. If you are a Crafter, don't think about what if I can do, just do it! Try it and work out what works and what doesn't. The full purpose of Patchwork Paradise, is not only to sell amazing value for money fabrics, but to teach people to have the skills they need to start there own businesses and to help them iron out any problems they find on the way. I have a small advantage as I went to The University of Plymouth to study Administration Management & a Business Management Degree, which helps me stay organised and on top of tax/financial information, however, you do not need any higher education to succeed. Just the willingness to learn. I will pass on whatever knowledge I can to help you.

Enough chit chat from me! :) I'm Jennifer, the pictures below is me last year in Tenerife, Hubby and our gorgeous mischievious munchkin Timmy (Yes he's A Cat)  :)

Jennifer xx