Hi, I’m Rachel!
So if you want to learn how to make your own lovely quality keepsakes and soft toys, you are in exactly the right place.
But first I know you want to know – why the crazy business name?
Why is my business called the Messy Stork?
Because back in 2016 I had the idea to make messenger style baby change bags -so Messy for messenger bags, and Stork for new babies. I rushed ahead and secured the domain name and the social media accounts. But within days of starting my first bag I realised that straight lines and right angles don’t float my boat!
What does float my boat is colours, curves, texture and working in 3 dimensions. That’s what gets me rushing to my sewing room as soon as I get home from the school run in the mornings.
I discovered keepsake making and fell in love with it. As I learnt more about keepsake making, I started to write my own sewing patterns and poured all my keepsake making knowledge into them.
So I could change my business name. But the Messy Stork is so original and memorable it’s stuck. And I love it, because it reminds me of the origins of my business and what inspires me.
More about my sewing patterns
A bear made from my Charlie Bear sewing pattern
From 2017 to Spring 2022 I made keepsakes for clients from their precious clothing. I threw myself into doing this finding as much knowledge as I could to make the best quality keepsakes possible.
During this time I started to write sewing patterns to make keepsakes. I used all my knowledge of keepsake making to write clear sewing patterns full of real life ‘in the making’ photos and tips. This means that when you buy one of my patterns you will find it is written by someone who has used a lot of sewing patterns and knows what makes them easy to understand CLICK HERE to see and shop my sewing patterns.
My patterns all come with a blog post with photos of every stage of the process so my customers can make their keepsakes and soft toys look super pro and polished. I also created a Facebook group called the Messy Stork Makers Club to support my makers and give them extra tips so they can make gorgeous quality memory bears and keepsakes CLICK HERE for the Facebook group.
More about me
I live in Swansea with my little family – my husband, my daughter, and my naughty puppy dog. And my bestie – my gorgeous red sewing machine!
My family is little due to infertility. When my daughter was born, I was part of a retail management team. I worked evenings and weekends and missed out on time with my family. I developed my business so I could work during my daughter’s school days and be home when she is home.
My determination to create a better work life balance and spend time with my miracle baby has created the Messy Stork business and I’m so pleased you have found me.
