Cats...Assemble!

I've been busy making up new cats after the torture process of CE testing (see previous post). So have been making a few each of the cats and bunnies groups in order to photograph. Once I've got some beautiful photographs then I can add them to my website very soon!

 Hand stitching the features on Wayne Cat.

Flat cat!

 Wayne Cat all assembled & ready to be stuffed. He has an empty feeling...

He's made up & not amused...

A long process....but there's the light!

It may not be commonly known that any product that may appeal to children, whether intentional, has to be CE marked. What this means is any soft toy has to be tested in order for it to be legally sold to the public or risk a hefty fine or imprisonment (gulp! yes it's that serious). It all seems rather too much for the small independent business (lab testing a complete toy is £350+) but there is help out there from a great Facebook group about the CE testing of products. 

To cut a lengthy process short, every material used to make an item (fabric, button, thread etc) has to be chemically tested so it does not contain any harmful chemicals that may come out when, as children do, put it in their mouths! Also the design has to pass a tension test, involves hanging weights off the seams, and a flammability test (no explanation needed!). A technical file has to be kept and every item has to have batch number so I know when each item was made. 

I designed these specially made soft toys, the Cats and the Bunnies, way back in January and after prototypes and testing, they will finally be available to sell. Hurrah!  So, they are suitable for all ages and I mean all ages as I know that even adults like me can't help being drawn to little animal soft toys!

Millicent Cat been set alight & passed with flying colours!

From the beginning...

Vintage quilt Swallow cushion.

Well hello! This is my first blog post so I'll try not to waffle on. What shall I talk about? I guess a good place to start is who am I and what I'm about!
My name is Caroline and I live in South London, though originally from Fife in Scotland. I came to London a good 16 years ago(!) to go to college and study costume making at the London College of Fashion. So one degree later, I became a costume maker and also worked and still do in theatre in the "West End".

My main job is as designer/maker for retropoodle which I started in 2011 out of a desire to channel my creative skills into things I like making. I've got a thing for old things, love scouring junk/ vintage and charity shops for quirky bits and bobs for my home. 
I've got quite a little collection of vintage textiles amassed which are crying out to be repurposed into a lovely new item to be enjoyed again.

I have fabrics, buttons and quilts from the 30s to the 70s which have been sourced to create home accessories and shopper bags with a bit of a modern twist. Some of the products made are one of a kind, some limited edition but all are unique and a bit quirky. I want to appeal to like minded people who need something different, a statement piece with a bit of history and don't want bland furnishings you can get anywhere. This is not for the "beige brigade"!

Hope that was a shortish introduction, if you read this far, thank you!☺