It was the legs that did it!

I'm having real problems configuring my new studio. I just can't seem to 'get it right'. I bought a new chair on a whim and love love love it (it was the legs I think I fell in love with) but sadly it seems to fit better into Mr B's office than the cosy nook for hand sewing I had in mind :( . Methinks his office will have to be said nook from now on!!

This wkend I took every single thing out of the stuido. A sensible person would have organised sorted and planned the event but not me. Everything is in boxes, all jumbled up and outta control and in the midst of it I've got lots of bunting orders to get out in time. Arrrghghghgh.

Time to sit in said lovely chair with a cup of coffee and stick my head in the sand!

make do and mend

I love second hand furniture and have been on the look out for an old sewing box for as long as I've been sewing (about 20 years!!)! A couple of wks ago I found one on line! I nearly wet myself! The only snag was I had to go into the second hand shop to buy it, and, as it was out of town, I had to wait till the wkend (I've only just started driving in France and have yet to drive further than the school and back!). Everyday I checked on line to make sure it hadn't gone!!
It was an agonising wait! I was at the shop door before it opened, first in the queue, drooling! I walked in and there she sat, all dusty and unloved and yet again I nearly wet myself, she was to be mine, all mine!!

I stroked her tenderly, paid the man and took her to her new home.

Then lined her trays with lovely Heather Bailey paper which I have been saving for oh so long!

Bliss....

Now I have no excuse to mend socks and sew buttons. All my hand sewing supplies will live happily ever after in their lovely new home!

Catch up!

Its been a while since I've posted. A lot has happened, but I had a rare moment of clarity today… Since little miss p was born I’ve been playing catch up.

Catching up on sleep, catching up on housework, trying desperately to catch up with friends whilst at the same time catching up with housework!!, chasing, and never catching up with, admin (which always seems out of control). Catching up with orders and customers, catching up with enthusiastically started sewing projects. Trying to catch up with blog posts, which I have swirling around in my head but which never seem to get published. Catching up on little miss p’s blog posts, beautiful pictures which chart her adventures, all neatly uploaded into months with a catchy one liner ready to sum up the mood.

Finally and most painfully catching up with my body which I’ve pushed to the limit, and which no longer wishes to co-operate in my quest to catch up and produce a sibling for little miss p.

I haven’t posted for quite some time. I didn’t want this blog to become about the emotional me..... a self indulgent outpouring of my deepest neuroses. I wanted it to chart my progress as I develop my sewing skills, however the two are interlinked.

So, today I'm sitting in my new studio, on my new old chair looking at a messy, a very messy studio, with my fave mug of coffee and my inspiration note book. I'm going to stop trying to catch up and enjoy the moment.

More orders and a little extra

I have a lovely customer who regularly orders bunting for her freinds and family. I wanted to make something special for her so she knew how much I appreciate her coming back. I made the Amelia bunting in a special colour scheme of pinks and purples,

and then made these very cute little birdy lavender sachets to hang in her new wardrobes! They were such a delight to make and I spent ages photographing them in different positions around the house! (at that point I realised I need to get out more!!).

These were made from an existing pattern from the book last minute quilted gifts. I love the way they came out but I wanted them to have a bigger flatter tail, so I redesigned and made muslin examples (will post more pics soon, honest!!). As soon as I have time I'll make them 'proper' and let them fly into the shop (now I've written this I HAVE to do it!!).

Its been a while...

since I posted! There is a lot going on around here!! Fortunately its all good news! I've had a flurry or bunting orders, including my first Australian comission. The buyer was such a lovely person I pulled out all the stops. I included some of my fave liberty prints and the colour scheme she selected for her daughter's name was perfect. I was really pleased with it!

The buyer left some lovely feedback in the shop so it was worth all the effort. Making stuff to sell can be a real roller coaster. Somedays you feel great, somedays you are convinced your stuff is rubbish and why would anyone want to pay money for it. Making this and the appreciation from the seller makes it all worthwhile and keeps me sewing!

Manic

I'm in a mad panic to try and sort easter in a day. We travel to blighty tomorrow to spend easter with family and I am no way near ready, i still have eggs to buy, birthday presents to send and projects to plan to do while we're away. The reason for this mania I can't complain about though. I've had a flurry of bunting orders this week and I've been beavering away sewing for newborns and birthdays, and coming up with some new colour combinations. I've also been working on graphics for the shop to show custom listings and new photos. I especially love the way the detail for the gift bags came out!

This is a scheme I've put together for custom pink and purple bunting, reminds me of bubblegum!

And this little selection is being put together for a little girl called Florence, lush!

the wheels on the bus go round and round...

Little miss P's fave song at the moment. So I made her a bus to sing about!

Its raw edge applique, machine sewn with a darning foot & free motion. When you get up close and personal you can see I need to practice more!