Bank Holiday loveliness

Bank Holidays don't come much better than bathed in the sunshine we all had. I don't think I ventured further than 1 mile from home and spent alot of time right here on my deck, but we had the best time. Friends gathered for Barbeques at times. At others we strolled into the park. Otherwise we chilled.

Hope wherever you were you experienced the same relaxing moments xx

Good enough to eat

Whilst I was at BCTF last month I was multi-tasking as only a good woman can. Not only was I presenting my own work, but I had my buying hat on too. This made me feel quite schizophrenic at first and I was getting a bit manic not sure what I was focussing on. I did eventually manage to calm down and focus on one thing at a time.

In doing so I saw some gorgeous things that are gradually making their way into Blueberry Park. Remember Jane's gorgeous Pocket Mirrors? The latest addition is some amazing soaps by Maria Clark.
I kid you not when I say I could smell these soaps from the other end of the hall. Honestly, they are the most exquisite things you have ever seen. Perfect little fairy cakes.

I really admire Maria's business ethos. Not only does she use all natural products in her amazing range of soaps, but she runs an ethical business, where she supports women in the community who, for one reason and another, can not hold down regular employment. We are all striving to make our mark in this world and running our own little businesses and to be able to do so in a way that helps others too is important.

Preaching over...hope you enjoy the images :-)

Elephantum

It appears that the cushion obsession has lasted another day. I had in my head what I wanted to do for a children's range and for once what has been produced is exactly what I had envisaged. I wanted to use simple imagery and colours. After all this is a children's range. I didn't want it to get over-powering and busy.

I'm very into my linen at the moment (in case you hadn't noticed) and wanted to incorporate the freshness of that. I am producing 3 boys designs and 3 for the girls, all coordinating with each other for those that feel 1 is just not enough. There will also be 2 or 3 colourways within the series. After all, we all like a choice.

Another thing I am loving at the moment is this rectangular shape. It really lends itself to a bit more detail. As does the stitching, that also seems to feature quite heavily in what I am doing at the moment.

Hopefully I'll have the full range to show you very soon.

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 :-)