Where's my squid?

I for one have been really pleased that it's rained on and off all weekend (sorry!). We were going to go for a family day out on Saturday but decided we couldn't face dodging the rain clouds.

Consequently, I got plenty of time to make the other 2 cushions I wanted to. Having made the first, I had a feeling it was going to be case of one of those jobs that never got done, as far as the other 2 were concerned. On this occasion, I was well off the mark and got not one, but 2 completed. The secret was to do Matthew's first and then still wanting one for myself, I'd have no trouble to be motivated to do that!


I included Matthew in the decision process (or so I'd like hime to think) and let him choose fabrics to be included (within the design frame of course) I think he is pleased with it. But his first (and continued) reaction was 'Where's my squid?' I think we all know that the squid was never going to make it.

As for the fishies he was so desperate to include... there really was only one place for these...

Mine obviously had to include Social Climber. I'm now waiting anxiously for my aunt to come over from USA in a couple of weeks, with reinforcements of this that I've ordered from Cia's Palette as I'm now all out. It also had to include the fabulous paisley from Prints Charming (next project is to use the gorgeous blue and red version)


Having completed our bedroom cushion project I am on a mission to redo ALL the cushions in the house! (Ruby has already put her orders in) I've also been rather preoccupied with thinking up children's designs for the shop. So watch this space...this is just the beginning...

Etsy Treasury

A big thank you to Toofabulous for including my Flower Brooch Kits in her jewel of an Etsy Treasury
And if I knew how to copy the whole page I would add it here too! But you'll have to click on the link to see the lovely selection. (If anyone can help me with this, please let me know)

Amendment... Here's the treasury... Thanks Tara x

Deer, deer

I've been wanting to make some cushions for our bedroom for ages. We are waiting to redecorate, but until we can manage it, I want to detract from the decor we inherited (yes, Manda, we didn't do this ourselves!)


I've been gathering a pile of fantastic fabrics recently and I wanted to use some of these. Not being able to decide between several of them I thought I'd see which ones went together. I am absolutely in love with the Social Climber fabric I bought from Saints and Pinners and also have been a bit obsessed with the Oh Deer sample I had been sent through from Shannon of Aunty Cookie. Fortunately, with a bit of coordinating blue stiching around the deers, I think these 2 compliment each other well.



Another favourite on the pile was pulled in as well. My delicious Icy Blue Honeycomb from Kei fabrics just finishes it all of nicely. (Or so I think!)

I decided to run the Social Climber round the back too. Maybe this was a bit extravagant, but for me it keeps it all alive, rather than just a plain linen. I used my gorgeous new linen to make the binding for the envelope opening.


I'm really pleased with the outcome of the cushion and can't wait to do something matching with the very tired large cushions it leans up against.

A star is born

I don't seem to have alot of time at the moment for playing in my studio creating new things. I've been full on compiling lots of kits to send to my lovely new stockists. At times it doesn't bother me when I don't have creative time. I'm just too busy to notice. My head is too full of everything that needs doing for it to even register. The regular orders for my pictures and cards give me some creative and playing time.

And then something external drives me to make up a new kit or produce a new item. This happened this week. Someone mentioned Father's Day and did I have any kits their child could make a present for daddy with. They felt the hearts were a bit more girlie and perhaps the daddy in question wasn't likely to dangle a heart from anywhere.

Hence the new Star kits are born. I'm really pleased with them and think they will bridge that gap for something for the boys. I find it difficult to find kits suitable for the boys to do, as well as presents to give to boys - such awkward buggers! The Mum in question has already bought a couple, so I guess I've delivered on what the customer brief was. And, of course, they are available here now :-)

Introducing Amy

Ruby came home on Friday with the best homework in the world...to make a sock puppet! Ros was a little bit peeved that perhaps Sadie's wouldn't be the best in the class and that maybe Ruby had an unfair advantage, but hey, your child can only work to their (mother's) strengths :-)

This was actually literacy homework (huh?). They are performing plays at school and they each have to make a sock puppet of the character that they are acting out. Ruby is Amy, who according to her is a bit of a naughty girl, so we tried to make Amy look a bit of a tearaway.

Now this homework was obviously met with much enthusiasm by both Ruby and myself. The only problem was establishing whose homework it actually was. Once Ruby had conceded that really it was mine, the fun could begin.

Or so I thought. It transpired rather quickly that it wasn't actually my homework and what I wanted was quite irrelevent and how I wanted Amy to look was immaterial. Despite all this I think Amy has come out looking exactly as her character suggests - a rather dishevilled, non-conformist tearaway. Well done Rubes.

A new obsession

For a while now I have been having a love affair with screen printing. I love the simplicity and ease with which people create stunning fabrics that can be used for all sorts of projects. From tea towels, to cushions, to aprons, or for bags, purses . . . the list is endless.

I keep discovering new (to me) designers and it is making me a little obsessed with this art form. I am becoming desperate to learn it and create some fabric for myself. As you know, I am branching out to stock hand printed fabrics in the shop and i think this search has had a lot to do with feeding my obsession.

Whilst perusing through Etsy recently I have found a couple of designers who do it so well. Their designs are paramount to capturing that simplicity that is so stunning. Less is so much more with this for me. The choice of fresh, natural colours and the simple prints make all these items so beautiful I don't want to take my eyes off them. (Their photography is rather stunning too!)



The first two are by Kalla, a Japanese artist who uses a cotton/linen mix fabric and then screen prints her geometric designs using gorgeous greens and blues. I NEED those table runners. Mmmm.



I am totally in love with Elizabeth Bentz's pieces. I love the hand drawn feel to her designs and again the colours she uses are just stunning.

I feel very inspired by seeing work like this - and also very frustrated because I want to do it myself RIGHT NOW. Only maybe I should just stare at these as there is no way anything I attempt will capture the beauty that these 2 ladies have achieved.

Prints Charming

I was lucky enough to be sent the biggest stash of fantastic samples from Prints Charming this week. As you know I am beginning to offer fabrics at the shop and I am currently looking at being a stockist for Prints Charming.

For those of you that don't know, Cath and Kirsten are the extremely talented duo behind these gorgeous hand printed fabrics. Their designs are bold, fresh and quite simply stunning. They are fantastic for quilting and other craft projects, as well lending themselves beautifully for embroidering around the shapes.

I'm still deciding which ones to stock. I'm obviously being a big kid in a sweet shop and want all of them. maybe you can help me out and let me know which are your faves and which you'd like to see in the shop.