Red Rufus World

We loved Brio in this house when everyone was smaller.  I'd sit on the floor with all three children and together we'd build the most fantastical railways for the little brightly coloured trains to chug along. Of course the SockDogs love it too, especially Barney, the naughty, clumsy puppy and charming Boris, who can't resist either.  The  wooden track and blocks, little engines and trees, wooden people and bridges come tumbling out of the canvas bag with a loud clattering noise.  Alerted, Barney and Boris are right there, noses sniffing, ready to play, tails wagging. Boris helps Barney to construct...

About six months ago, I had an instinctive feeling that I wasn't doing the best for Rufus by feeding him kibble.  He didn't particularly like it and it just felt like I was rearing him on tv dinners.  So I told the family that I was going to start cooking for Rufus - that was received with chuckles, as I don't particularly like cooking.  What they don't realise is, I don't like cooking for them as they moan, want different things and generally take any pleasure out of serving a meal, but with Rufus it's very different....... He LOVES my...

As you know, our products are made here in Ireland, using age old methods of sewing with a needle and thread.  We use pairs of socks as our starting point, some of these socks are made in Ireland, using yarn which is fleeced, dyed and spun in Ireland, from sheep which graze on Ireland's green pastures.........you are getting the picture here! The tools we use are scissors, hand sewing needles, an overlocking machine and a sewing machine, sewing tweezers, a large, thin paint brush (the brush end to clean out the machines and the handle end to turn the skins...

In pursuit of faster production methods I have been scouring the internet to see if I could improve the old, traditional hand sewing techniques at Red Rufus.   I hoped that I might find some ingenious method, or discover a wonder machine that would cut our making time in half!  Oh joy, then we'd actually be able to carry stock - imagine being able to reach into a box and pull out product.  Unfortunately my research led to no such discoveries, but it did open my eyes a little and get me thinking about everything. I love making a product...

There really are no words needed for this blog post! I hear a whining and whimpering coming from the tv room and there was Rufus: Thanks Mum!  !!! Honestly, I give up!