Lots of Thoughts!

I know I've been pretty quiet on the blog front recently, I've been going lots of thinking about what I want to do with myself and what my next step will be. Career wise, I'm really interested in becoming a buyer or visual merchandising. Crafting/Etsy/self employment wise, I want to expand more into the vintage clothing side of things.

White Rabbit Threads already has a few vintage pieces (and I have many more to list!) and I had considering opening a second shop but I own the whiterabbitthreads.co.uk domain and have worked hard to spread the name on Twitter etc. Therefore I have come to the decision that my Etsy will become vintage-orientated with the handmade pieces as an additional thing.

My lovely boyfriend is going to help me reshoot the vintage pieces I already have and shoot the new ones to help with the little rebrand. I'm also in the process of sourcing some gorgeous vintage, and also thinking of specialising in dresses, shoes and bags (I'm definitely a shoe collector myself!).
I'm hoping to have all this rolled out in the next couple of weeks and I will keep the blog up to date with all the goings-ons.

For now, here's some of the pieces already available at White Rabbit Threads;

1980s Gold Jumper Dress

1980s Velvet Trousers

1980s Angora Black Jumper

Ammie

x

White Rabbit Threads Promo Video!

Check it out, folks! My awesome boyfriend helped me shoot/edit this wee promo film for my Etsy shop - isn't it so sweet? The song is 'We Are Going To Be Friends' by The White Stripes - it also heavily features in Napoleon Dynamite, I thought it was such a lovely message for my wee shop :)

I've been working away to much on the shop that I've brought my wrist injury back so I'm taking a little day off from crafting and spending it on blog work! Also, I have a couple more items to list so keep an eye out for them later on today.

Ammie

x

New Halloween Brooches Added!

I've been working away this weekend on some Halloween items for my Etsy! I've got a couple more to come in the next few days so keep checking back!

Halloween Swarovski Crystal Ghost Brooch

Halloween Swarovski Crystal Pumpkin Brooch

I'm making some more pieces with 'Boo' as well as planning a new clothing range, busy busy :)

Ammie

x

Autumn Treasury

Check out my latest Etsy treasury, it will surely banish those blues over our rotten summer, just think about beautiful autumn!

Ready For Autumn

Ammie

x

My First Giveaway

My giveaway at Samy In Wonderland ended today and our lovely winner chose this brooch as her prize :) Super exciting - my first giveaway! I'm looking forward to packaging it up all night and sending it off tomorrow...packing up sales is honestly my favourite bit of running my Etsy shop!

Ammie
x

Wednesday Wishlist: Cute Fat Quarters!

From Stefaniexu

From TheHeyDayShop

From HouseOfKawaii

From Hellolittleherbe

My picks for this Wednesday :) Super cute fat quarters, all available from Etsy. I'm a bit fabric mad at the moment, I'm waiting on some samples coming in the post for my summer project - I love post! haha.

Ammie
x

A preview of my latest treasury - you can view the full thing here: The Jane Austen Wishlist.

I can't believe how many views and comments it's had, and it's only my 2nd ever Treasury! Makes me very happy :) I think I might go make another....

Ammie
x

Goals.

For some reason at the moment I can't upload pictures to Photobucket or Flickr for the past couple of days, my computer had a virus so I dunno what's going on :)

Anyway, I've started on some new brooch ideas - you can see the 3 of these below, check out my shop to view them HERE. I'm starting to slow down a little with my shop because I really, really need to get on with my summer project but I'll still be updating as often as I can, 2 or 3 times a week, I'm really aiming to have 60 items for sale in the next few weeks. I'm also off on holiday with my boyfriend in just over a week so I've got all these goals I want to have achieved for then!

I've mentioned my summer project a couple of times but not what it really is. Next year, being my final year, it's all based around my final big collection which has the chance of being shown at London Graduate Fashion Week - this opportunity is the whole reason I choose my university because they've been winning awards at GFW for years now. My summer project is the beginning on my collection research.
I have to come up with 3 really strong concepts with a intense research journal/sketchbook to accompany each concept. This means image research, lots and lots of designs, colours and fabric swatches. As well as this, I need to have 6 mock-up garments completed, a couple of them can be like a pattern 'piece' - a collar, a shoulder piece, but only if its incredible and detailed. For anyone who knows fashion design and pattern cutting, you know just how long it can take to get a decent mock up from block to pattern manipulation to fabric.
Although...I am really excited to finally pattern cut and sew something new! I feel like last year I was just repeating things I had learned in college in Scotland - I'm looking forward to the new challenge!

Sorry for the ramble, felt it would be helpful to fill you guys in since I'll be talking about my concepts and showing some of my work over the next couple of months.

Ammie
x

Etsy Fashion for $30 & Under!

Happy Wednesday! I'm starting a new (and my first!) weekly feature today - Etsy on a budget! I don't have a fancy name yet, I'm leaning towards'Wednesday Wishlist' but I'm open to suggestions :)

& to begin the new weekly feature - gorgeous Etsy fashion for $30 or less!


Pink Trench Coat by gooseEatFox
I can't believe this gorgeous trench coat is only $25 - it's perfect for those rainy summer days!


 
New Coral Summer Flowers Ruffles Laces Dress S to M to L by Gloriagape
Doesn't this just scream summer, summer summer? I love the chiffon detailing!


2-in1, High Waisted Light Pink Skirt or Top by earnestmarie
I love this versatile item, such a lovely soft colour and 2-in-1, you can't argue with that bargain!


New Woman Fire Ballon T-Shirt with Vest Pink by mustbuyitem
This is just too cute and perfect for a relaxed summery day.


Flora Sundress Cotton Dress by kolonclothes
So pretty and floaty, just imagine that warm sun on your skin :)


Heart Applique Tee Shirt by imyourpresent
And lastly, this super cute little tee! I love hearts, bows and polka dots - how could I resist?

Ammie
x

Looking Forward...

I'm so super duper excited and happy at the moment :)
I'm going away for the week with my boyfriend on the 2nd of August, starting my planning of the week just now so we can make use of every minute!

We really need to get some recent pictures - we've both had major hair chops since this was taken at my 21st birthday!

Also, I feel like things are going quite well with my Etsy shop, obviously I'd love more exposure because I work so hard on my items but it'll come in time and I'm feeling really positive about this giveaway with Samy (www.samyinwonderland.blogspot.com). Although I am literally spending every moment of every day working on my shop!

In product related news - I'm stopping production of my Christmas items just now because I have too many other ideas bouncing around in my head! So stay tuned for Alice In Wonderland, sewing and vintage robot related items including brooches, keychains, hair accessories and more home decor items. I plan on being very busy :)

Ammie
x

This Is Why It Is Essential To Google Oneself

So today I was doing a very innocent google for 'whiterabbitthreads', I do this every so often, and today I found that myself & Samy's giveaway has been mentioned a couple of times, which is always nice, but the best thing I found was this...



My chrismas wreath tree decorations! I really, really wish that they had told me as they sold that day and I would've made more immediately. Luckily, I did recieve a convo from a buyer asking if I was making more so I had decided to make some anyway, but I would've done it immediately if I had known the exposure!

Anyway - the newly made wreaths will be relisted today!

Ammie
x

Giveaway!

Want the chance to win one of my brooches?

I've gotten together with Samy from Samy In Wonderland to offer her readers the chance to win one of my handmade, felt brooches. Interested? Just click the image below to take you over to Samy's blog and check out the post!

It's open to anyone in any country and ends on the 16th of August.



Thanks for taking the time to look!

Ammie
x

Felt, Felt, Felt!

I felt (hehe, no pun intended!) that since I'm getting into crafting with felt that I would do a feature on some of the great felt items I've found on Etsy. Also, it's been a while since I featured anyone but myself on here and I wanted to share some love :)


Mushroom Love Brooch Pin by FeltCreations
Super cute - the stitching in unbelievably neat!


Emery Pincushion - Felt Cup of Coffee / Hot Chocolate Personalized Monogram by dottyral
Gorgeous, practical and very handy!


Whale of a Love by TwigAndBird
I absolutely love, love, love the idea of using the embroidery hoop as a frame! I highly recommend checking out TwigAndBird's shop, it's bursting with cuteness!


Mokenstein by TheifJamie
I can't say much more that - awesomely cute!


Ice Cream Cone Brooch Mint Single Scoop With Lemon Drops by ShabbyDollBoutique
I must confess that ShabbyDollBoutique and I are very good friends (she's awesome and cool and you should most definititly check out her full shop), so I happen to know firsthand how much time and love goes in to all the yummy items she makes!

Short but sweet, I could've listed 50 felt goodies but I had to cut the list down for practical reasons hehe

Ammie
x

The Lovebot Factory & The Dainty Squid Giveaway

The wonderful Dainty Squid is doing another giveaway...a super awesome giveaway involving the cute wee guy below!



If you click him it will take you to The Dainty Squid's blog where you can enter the giveaway!

I really, really want to win this one - my boyfriend loves vintage robots, he'd FLIP for this!

Ammie
x

I'm A Terrible Model But It's Ok 'Cause I'm A Brilliant Person

You gotta looove Chritmas In July! Actually, I love any excuse to do festive things :) Here's a couple of things I've been up to -







Got lots more coming :)

Christmas In July sale begins TOMORROW!

Ammie
x

This Is Scotland...We COULD Have Snow In July :)

I'm just back from an awesome weekend at my boyfriend's house, quite a trek - about 5 hours, 2 trains & one taxi - but it was worth it :) He totally spoiled me (as usual) and got me some goooorgeous red polka dot wedge heels & an adorable green candy stripe sundress among lots of other bits & pieces - will definitely need to a do an update! Can't explain how adorable these wedge heels are!

Now that I'm home all my focus is on my Etsy shop and the amazing Christmas In July promotion. I've started joining the forums and taking on board any advice offered, so I've spent the entire day re-working descriptions, re-taking photographs and re-tagging my items. Hopefully this will pay off. I don't think I've mentioned before, but all my money from my Etsy shop is going towards my final year collection which is going to cost me around £1000 (if I'm super strict and make sure I get all the best deals), so I'm really pinning a lot of hitting success.

I thought my blog would be the place to announce exactly what promotions I will have on during the Christmas In July promotion being the 15th of July and running through to the 25th of July (I will consider running it longer if it's successful).

• FREE shipping. Yup, all shipping on all items absolutely free.
• a FREE gift with all purchases of $30 and over. This will be either a Strawberry Brooch or one of my yet-to-be-listed Christmas brooches.
• PLUS every purchase will include one of my adorable business cards...which will bear a UNIQUE CODE to get either you OR a friends some kind of fancy discount on your next purchase.
• Sound good?

Remember...this begins on the 15th of July through to the 25th of July.

& to finish - my latest listing, Alice In Wonderland 'Queen Of Hearts' felt brooch! Just $7 :)



Ammie
x

Fabric High!

I went for a wee fabric shop the other day, I was in need to some cute co-ordinating fabric to get my Etsy shop started! These are my gorgeous buys. Mostly, remnants which were super cheap but actually really big pieces, especially great for doing long strips.
I reorganised my fabric boxes when I got home & discovered I've got lots of pieces which all go well together, got some pretty ideas on what I'm going to do over the next few weeks - my mum's gotten very enthusastic & has also given me some ideas :)
Yesterday, I also started on a couple of 'Baby Boy' cushions, all hand-embroidered and possibly going to feature hand-covered/embroidered buttons. So a rather productive day overall!



& this is just a wee peek at another one of the stunning vintage pieces I have on Etsy just now. It's a 1980s black velvet prom-style dress which belonged to my mum so I know it's in amazing condition & she's only wore it a couple of times!

Ammie
x

Vintage Stock Up!

The first shop stock is up!

Since returning home I've been clearing out my room and I found a lot of vintage clothes my mum gave me which I've been saving up - but with my final year of University approaching, it's money I need to be saving up not clothes, so I'm selling a lot of it.

Just now, I have this gorgeous angora wool tank top/jumper for sale, a long gold jumper, a black (with gold sparkle) keyhole jumper and this cute dogtooth skirt up. Check them out here.
There's more to come, including a very, very beautiful full skirt, velvet prom-style dress.

Apart from the vintage pieces from my wardrobe, I am also selling some newer pieces (including lots of brand new, never worn clothes), however these will be on my Ebay account.

Ammie
x

A New Beginning!

Website is up!

As an early 21st present, my sister bought me my domain name! For as long as I can remember I have always wanted to call my boutique/clothing label 'White Rabbit Threads', and since I decided that to support myself this summer I am going to make and sell my own designs, she decided to buy the name for me!

Currently, it is linked up to my Etsy page, this is to save my the cost and time to building and maintaining a website aswell as the cost of webspace, however I'm hoping in the next year or so to create my own website.

Right now, I only have a few cushions up which I made but I'm working on some designs which I hope will be up in the next week.

Ammie
x

AIW Name Chain!

I think I have found an item that I will never take off. My one purchase of the day: an Alice In Wonderland name chain! The rest of the shop, FatallyFeminine, could be fatal on my bank account!



You can choose between Alice with the flamingo or holding a crown. It was a tough decision, especially since they also do one with the white rabbit!!



It might be silly, but I plan on getting the White Rabbit necklace (and matching ring!) when I get paid. Even though it's pretty the same necklace, but it's just soo perfect that I can't resist.

I am however having a bit of a problem with Etsy at the moment, I ordered a necklace on the 3rd of July which still isn't here. The seller posted saying they had been away and would reply to mails and send items on the 29th of July. No reply to either of my mails, and no necklace. I've now had to mail for the third time which I personally think is ridiculous and I hate chasing people but I want my damn necklace that I paid for with my hard-earned wages, pah!

Rant over.

I'm thinking of getting a skin for my blog, I do like it quite minimal but it's not very homely. If I was more computer-literate I would try myself lol :-)

Ammie
x