January 2018

The run up to Christmas can be busy in retail but for us Shop keepers perhaps the last thing on our customers minds is making quilts! Shoppers are busy shopping and with the lure of the big bright lights of stores merchandised up to the eyeballs don’t forget your local or online shops as this can be a testing time for us all. Look at the shop window for Wakefield Hospice a local charity shop…we can’t even compete with them, but isn’t it fabulous?

I always try to make the shop as enticing as possible so this year Beverley (my trusty shop manager) and I created our very own Merry Maid Mannequin made with chicken wire, an old Christmas tree, tinsel and of course a nice piece of gold fabric from the shop. You may not believe how excited we were about this. There are lots of interesting takes on this method on Pinterest including making one out of fabric…one for your stash and sewing room perhaps?

 

I know its January and you’re probably thinking why is she harping on about Christmas? But spare a thought for us as did you know for example we start choosing our Christmas fabrics in January ready for July delivery! Believe me by this point we are heartily tired of it too.

So, let’s move onto the main reason why you may be reading this blog! Sexism in the Workplace yes, I must confess the hubby decided he had grounds for complaint against me. I openly admit I did it without even thinking. A customer came in and Jeff was helping in the shop, she asked for advice on choosing some colours for her quilt and off he went to the blenders section to help her. When they returned as I was already serving someone else I said, ‘I will be with you in a moment’ which he felt inferred just hang on let the ‘expert’ see the rabbit! Ooops.

He stood his ground and ‘outed’ me in front of said customer and I did at least have the grace to apologise to him. In his words…’if I worked in a woodworking factory and did that to you, you would not be amused’ thankfully dear readers peace is restored and I did a bit of grovelling…not too much though! Working with your partner can be a challenge but we find having a sense of humour and not taking yourselves too seriously usually helps.

Just to restore Jeff’s faith in equality in the workplace I am posting a picture of him cutting some fabric for an online order which I hasten to add, he does on a regular basis, combined with his own handwritten note. If you would like to receive a handwritten note from Jeff why not pop along to our website www.ohsewsweetshop.co.uk and receive 15% OFF your order with the code SEXISM15.

I think I need to be very careful too as he has taken to wearing the NeedleNanny ‘don’t make me cut you’ LOL!

Next month I have lots to tell you about how we choose all those lovely fabrics, so please call back and see else what we must share with you. TTFN Lorrayne & Jeff XxX

Related posts:

2018 The Year of the Gift January – Idea for a quilt for the males in your life. February already! I’m a BLOGGER!