Toni Haynes - Bespoke Tailor & Dressmaker

My new favorite coat
Just finished my new winter coat last weekend, oooh it's nice!!
It was made with some upholstery wool from The Fabric Barn in Queen Camel, as is the plush velvet, and lined with crepe backed satin from Fabric Land. I love the colours on dull days.
... Next big project for myself is to finish my new Harris Tweed waistcoat. Nice and warm.
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Lots of goodies going free
I have fabric scraps, cotton reels and cardboard tubes going free to a good home, they are ideal for craft groups, nurseries or charity groups that's can make things to raise money.
Please drop me a line if you are interested.

Last minute 🎁 don't have to be thoughtless!!
For those of you who don't have much time to go shopping or make something thoughtful for your nearest and dearest this holiday season, I may just have a few options for you.
English Lavender bags £3 each or 4 for £10... 100% Silk Scarves, two tone £40 each English Lavender Wheat Bags (for heating to sooth aches and pains) £14 each Embroidered Fluffing Bags £38 each Embroidered Tote Bags £50 each 22inch feather padded reading Cushions £45 each.
All of these are one off pieces made with fabrics and materials sourced from within the UK and made in my workshop.
Just get in touch if you would like to purchase anything, I often work late so can be flexible if you need to stop by outside normal business hours.
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A date for your diary
On the 30th November I will be exhibiting at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. This is a lovely venue and I love exhibiting here. There is a great cafe upstairs and it will be a jolly good event.
Look forward to seeing you there.
... https://stur-exchange.co.uk/the-exchange- christmas-fayre-c…/
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Lavender bags
Just made these yesterday with good English lavender, they make ideal Christmas gifts at £3 each or 4 for £10.

Hi All
I'm exhibiting soon at this show, it's a new event and I'm really looking forward to showing off new stock, bags, coats and all sorts of lovely gift ideas for Christmas.
See you there

I've just found something amazing if you are interested in the environmental impact of your clothes
I was listening to the new Mary Portas radion program on Radion 4 this morning on style, featured was this wall planner for 2020 that explores the terrible toll fast fashion takes on communities and the envolironment - and how to mitigate this.
Check it out.
... https://www.fashionrevolution.org/preorde r-fanzine-005-366…/
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Ooooh, this is sooooo amazing!!
I visited the Dior exhibition at the V&A museum last month and am delighted that it has been extended for two months until the start of September - I might go back for another look.
It is the most AMAZING exhibition I have ever seen in my life - and I've seen some great ones. It was completely mind blowing and has completely reframed my work related ambitions - to become as good as the Ateliers at the house of Dior over the next couple of decad...es. I mean, I'm pretty good, but they have skills that leave me speechless.
Right, I'm off to book a ticket!!!
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/dior-de signer-of-dreams
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Mind blowing exhibition at the V&A
A little while ago I was talking about going to visit this exhibition. I went yesterday.
The exhibition is in two halves really, the first highlights fashion from 1600-1900 and reveals how raw materials, insects and animals were exploited, how burgeoning industrial methods caused polution in the environment and the human cost of manufacturing to those who made cloth and clothing.
... The other half looked at scientific innovation in the 20th century and environmental awareness and new ways to produce clothing that harms the planet far less.
I found the use of parts and whole birds particularly disturbing during the Victorian era.
My personal view is that there are a lot of smaller companies that are really innovative, but until there are changes in the wider manufacturing of textile products, that vastly reduces how much is manufactured in the first place, sales will continue to be price led. Who doesn't want a bargain!!
But who really understands that the true cost of textile manufacturing is incomprehensibly massive to the average punter in the shops!
TEXTILES IS THE SECOND MOST POLUTING INDUSTRY ON THE PLANET!!
Without us doing our part in reusing, repurposing, recycling, and most of all reducing how much we buy in the first place, manufacturers will keep making vast quantities of textile products that are NOT needed. And those manufacturers will continue to kill us, the insect and animal life we share our world with and our planet.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashion ed-from-nature
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A new year's resolution
I was listening the other day to a couple of programs on radio 4, those of you who know me well will remember I am an avid listener. These two programs concerned the fashion industry and the environment.
The fashion industry is the second most poluting industry, after only the oil industry, and I have been thinking a lot about my own impact on the environment. In this country we use a lot of resources and our way of life would need the resources of 14 ...earths to sustain it. Makes you think doesn't it.
I am reconsidering how I buy clothes and pass them on as well as the materials they are made of. Firstly I am only going to purchase what I need, I will gradually run down the amount of clothes I have, and will stick to clothes I wear regularly, particularly those I make myself.
It's a small thing to start with but as the saying goes, every little helps.
There is an exhibition on at the V&A that explores this further that I am going to see before it ends on the 27th January.
https://www.vam.ac.uk/exhibitions/fashion ed-from-nature
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Thanks to all
This year has been a bit of an Annus Horriblis to be honest. I would have been in dire straights without the unstinting support of my friends and family. You have all been completely amazing and you have my unceasing gratitude.
Many thanks and much love to all who have called to say hi, texted and messaged, called round to keep me company and/or lend a hand.
... Xxxx
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Baking books and equipment sale.
Dear all
After the recent death of my beloved husband I have to downsize and move. He was an avid baker of all sorts of deliciousness and he bought rather a lot of equipment that I have neither room or time to make use of.
... This coming Saturday I would like to invite you to buy some of this equipment and books, he was very particular and always bought the best quality he could and some of it is professional and prosumer. Many items are brand new and still in their packaging!!
Please come to 22 Mundays Mead, Wincanton BA9 9HP, Saturday 10th November between 12-5pm. You will definitely bag a bargain or 6.
The items for sale include;
KitchenAid mixer with various attachments Kenwood Chefette mixer Kenwood Chefette food processor 100s of baking tins 100s of baking and cooking books Dozens of smaller pieces of equipment including some for sugercraft and cake decorating.
A proportion of the proceeds will be given to the Douglas Macmillan Oncology unit at Yeovil hospital.
I really hope you can come along.
Toni xx
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For those few of you who met my husband you would know he was a colourful chap. Here are some pics of the floral tribute that I started making in January, we already knew his time was limited. After his death I had completed just 480 and my aim was to make 1001, reflecting how much he was loved. My deep gratitude to all those who took time to spend hours with me helping to get me to that 1001 roses, for stemming them all with me and setting them up in the church before his c...elebration.
Many of them were taken by friends and family to remember my husband. Many more I intend to create a picture with and at least 200 will be sold to raise funds for our Brave the Shave appeal for the Douglas Macmillan cancer unit at Yeovil hospital. My friends and I will be organising a Macmillan coffee morning next month too where roses will be available for sale.
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Apologies for being a bit quiet on the posts recently, my beloved husband passed away last month and i'm only just beginning to work again. Business has resumed, i just haven't got round to social media as of yet. Please do not hesitate to contact me about bespoke work/alterations in the meantime.

Hair yesterday, gone now!
Thanks to the AMAZING guys at Diamond Scissor Barber Shop who not only did ALL the haircuts for free, but donated to the cause too! They are arists with a cut throat razor!
Fellas-i really feel for you splashing all that aftershave around as it took my breath away for a second or two! Now my head doesn't know if it feels hot or cold.
... Thank you to everyone who supported us on the day, and to all of you who have made generous donations thus far.
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/to ni-haynes1
xxxx
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