Stabo's early Christmas Gift

As a small family business we thought we'd post the best thing we've ever made. They came early on 19 November and are still getting quite a lot of medical attention. We apologise if orders may have been a bit delayed or we haven't updated the website as much as intended but things were a bit hectic in the run up to and since their arrival. So introducing Poppy and Felix with love from their doting parents.

A Christmas Cracker

Once again Stabo products are available at the Sheffield Millennium Galleries for their Christmas Crackers exhibition. This is a showcase for British Crafts, amongst others our friend the jeweller Hairy Growler has his wares on display. They sent us over loads of photos and the exhibition looks great with lots of variety, so if you're in Sheffield in December or the new year do pop in.

Top Drawer Trade Show

We're doing our first Trade show (Top Drawer) at Olympia in West London. Unfortunately the show actually finishes today. Our stall is pretty much as far away from the front entrance as possible next to a fire hydrant and the disabled loos.

Screen Preparation

We've been sorting out our screen printing screens to make space for some new images.

Putting the images on the screens is a photographic process. Here's Ed looking at our exposure unit where the screens are being exposed. When the time's up they are rushed straight to the bathroom, the unexposed emulsion is rinsed off the screens and the images revealed.

Stabo takes the plunge

Karabiner and Buckle Bag update

We get the leather for our Mens Karabiner and Buckle Bags tanned in Northampton. Yesterday we picked up our latest batch. So for anyone who's been waiting Ed started making those bags again today.

Here are some pictures of Ed grappling with the hides.

North of the Border

Ed's off to the Cuillin Ridge, Skye mountaineering next weekend.

Which reminded me of the two great Scottish boutiques that stock our products. Junction Art and Gifts in Aberdeen is run by Elaine Thomson you can get a flavour of what she sells on her website.

Similarly Kirsteen Stewart has a great website. You'll have to catch a boat or plane to visit her in person though as her boutique is in Kirkwall, Orkney.

Culture in Sheffield

If you find yourself at a loose end in Sheffield over the next few months why not pop into the Watercolour in Britain Tradition and Beyond exhibition at the Millennium Galleries. We've submitted a collection for the exhibition shop. It includes these fabric shoppers which we're really pleased with.

Neighbourhood Watch

Here are some of our neighbours from Sunday Upmarket where we trade each week, just off Brick Lane.Kate creates a Pakistani bazaar each week selling colourful rugs, bags, mirrors, clothing, teapots, and toys.
Rosie of Rosie Wonders designs and makes her own cards, jewellery, shoppers, pictures and anything else she can decorate with her designs. She was very excited this week as she will be selling on ASOS soon.Every year Ken takes his family back home to Malaysia where they all get spoilt by the relatives and he stocks up for the year.
And finally Christine sells scarves and vintage clothing, the scarves at the back of her stall are her own designs which she weaves at home.

workshop update

The new slab is finally done and has been inspected by our builder friend John who popped round to see how we were getting on. He described my work as "looks good from a distance" which I am sure is a ringing endorsement for my DIY skills. Next step is to build some not too wonky walls using featured blocks.

Woodbridge Weekender

We're at the Woodbridge Vintage and Contemporary Market this weekend, it should be lots of fun. We're looking forward to browsing the vintage stalls ourselves.

We'll still be at Cambridge on Saturday and Spitalfields on Sunday.

Big Blue Sky

We recently dropped an order off at Big Blue Sky, Wells, North Norfolk. As Cath the owner said in a Daily Telegraph interview (after winning one of their best independent shop prizes) ‘I suppose I took the idea of a seaside souvenir shop a little bit further.’ She really has the shop is a vast space which you could spend hours browsing in, with all sorts of lovely stuff from Deck chairs to Jewellery to St Judes printed notepads to books on the area.

If travelling eastwards along the coast road it's the last shop on the right before you leave Wells. Wells is worth a look too - Fish and Chips on the front'll keep you going for hours.

Salvage

Yesterday we visited Patrick Bros reclamation yard in North Cambs. It's quite an experience.

We were looking for some windows for our new workshop. We had some joy but customer service is certainly not a priority there.

We're digging our new workshop

Having hand dug our first workshops foundations we swore never to do the same again. So here we are 3 years later toiling in the earth. After many cups of tea and a mitt of blisters - it's done. Next phase, squaring up the base then mixing and pouring the slab.

Costermonger wallets - at last

First mentioned on the Blog last year the Costermonger wallets have finally made it to our website. Ideal for those 500 Euro notes before they're withdrawn from circulation in the UK.

There's the Right way, the Wrong way and the Stabo way

Most people when attaching interfacing use some kind of heat press. We have discovered that standing on a wobbly stool using gravity and Ed's weight is almost as good. Just don't tell Health and Safety.

An occasional series; Destinations on the A10

I've never been to an Emmaus before but we went to the one just north of Cambridge on the A10 today. In their words 'Emmaus Communities offer homeless people a home, work and the chance to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment', for us it was a great place to potter about and I'm sure we'll get something for our house there another time. The cafe also looked great, home made cakes which you know won't break the bank.

Emmaus shops are charity shops with an emphasis on furniture (often cleaned up by the workers there) as well as other donated items (no clothing) and there are loads of them all over the country. We've driven past it several times and will definitely be calling in again so if you see a mysterious sign to an Emmaus now you know what it's got to offer.

Something new in Wells

We visited Wells next the Sea in Norfolk this week. We once took photos of our Wax Cags for the website there. As we were leaving Ed noticed that the blue, customised, ‘Defra Sucks’ van, a long time fixture on the quayside, was no longer there. In its place was a newer model with a professional paint job.

Marooned

Recently Ed found himself trapped in a garage in the middle of nowhere for 3 hours. In addition to almost losing his mind from boredom he made himself familiar with their administrative systems. We now have a garage inspired 'orders in progress' wall.

We saw In the Land of the Free on Monday. The film tells the true story of Robert King (above), Albert Woodfox and Herman Wallace. Three men who together have spent more than a century in solitary confinement for crimes they did not commit (watch the film and see what you think).

Despite the seriousness of these issues the film is enjoyable and moving. It will be on UK's Yesterday channel, on DVD and some Cinemas. In a Q&A session with the Director and King they wanted everyone to see the film so that Angola Prison and the Louisiana Authorities would know the world was watching.

So, go see.

Bomb discovered at Stabo HQ

Whilst clearing out a ditch at Stabo Central we discovered a 2 " mortar bomb. Not quite recognising the significance of high explosives Ros threw the bomb out of the ditch precisely at head height.

After some investigation on Google we thought it best to call the police who then called the Army.
The mortar was then carried off in what appeared to be a tin can to be detonated in a nearby wood.

The day ended with the bomb disposal squad getting a clearly more important call on the radio and rushing off to a real emergency.

P..P..P..Pensioner Power

We have moved workshop far too frequently in the past two years. Every time the worst bit is moving our Clicker press which weighs a ton.

This time, however, we eschewed the services of a fork lift driver (we couldn't find a local one). Instead we made a ramp out of rubble and recruited the services of two local pensioners (my parents). It's never a quick process but we got it where we wanted, eventually. So thanks Mum and Dad for all your assistance.

We're getting there

We moved workshop and house last week, obviously it snowed that day. We've been sorting ourselves out ever since. Dozens of cardboard boxes later there is a semblance of order amidst the chaos.

Ed even got a chance to sit down at a sewing machine today so I think we're getting there.

New Stabo HQ almost ready

After several weeks of renovation the new Stabo central is almost in a habitable state.

Another workshop move is imminent.

Always a pleasure, never a chore!?

A bit of time wasting

We found this website last night Internet Movie Cars Database. Initially we were quite shocked by how much time people have to waste on weird internet projects, as soon as we inputted a few vehicles we were sucked in ourselves.

Our favourite was the Skoda Felicia (for personal reasons), although the Vauxhall Chevette as a main stay in the Likely Lads film was quite cool.

If you do give it a look make sure you click on a couple of the movies/car images and look at the comments.

Tarpaulin Trousers

We've been making our Tent Trousers for a while. Just before Christmas we found some old tarpaulins made out of an interesting linen/flax type fabric. So made a pair of 'Tent Trousers' out of tarpauling. Here is Ed making a sample pair.

He made the first sample before Christmas, laundered them and has worn them ever since. The fabric gives the trousers a really nice relaxed look. Hopefully we'll get them photographed and up onto the website soon, but if you're interested we're happy to send out 'non-website-standard' photos to give an idea of what they're like.

Pure Ukrainian Fun

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1inuxoid/sets/72157623011461831/

It's a bit convoluted but the above link relates to the Flicker file of photos from the opening of a new shop called Pure in Kyiv, Ukraine. Tanya whose shop it is bought a whole load of stock from us in the summer and finally the shop has opened with goods from across the globe.

So if you're ever passing by it looks a whole lot of fun to drop in on, particularly if you're a fan of oranges.

Everybody needs a Noel

He fixed our keyboard when we lost our 'c' and 'x' keys. For several months we had sort alternatives to words with either letter, you have to be faithful rather than sincere and use a laptop not a computer. Eventually we admitted defeat and ordered a new keyboard. He also kicked our central heating system into action and is our Webmaster. So all in all we think it's very useful to have Noel around.