It's always a good Saturday when you can get a bit of sewing time in as well as hanging out with the family.

I'd had this cushion commission for a new baby that I was supposed to have had done all week but it didn't quite happen.

I bribed Ruby with choosing some of my fabric and having a play on my machine while I was working on it so I didn't feel quite as guilty working on the weekend.

I've done a fair few of these cushions but this one is a little different. 

It's made entirely from my own fabrics.

I feel I've come a long way in a relatively short time being able to use just my own designs in my work.

I'm going to have to rethink things a little for the boys' version however as looking at this made me realise that most of my designs are definitely geared towards being more suitable for girls.

The Kite Strings would work well, but a couple more neutral designs are needed I think. Perhaps miniaturising my Euro Wonders and using that would be good.

Another new little detail is putting my screen printed name as a label on the back. 

At the moment I have just printed these as a selvedge strip on my fabric pieces but I'm definitely going to print up a whole load of them.

So a fun Saturday was had by all...well by Ruby and me anyway ;-)

I got back into the screen printing workshop yesterday, having missed a week and boy was I chomping at the bit to get there.

One of the wonderful things about study of any description is the fantastic new possibilities that arise as a consequence. It sounds obvious, but having not formally studied for many years I had forgotten that and started the Screen Printing Course thinking I knew what the sole end result of doing it would be - to be able to print fabric.

But by the end of Lesson 1 this thought had been shattered and so many more possibilities had already started filling up space in my head.

I knew that screen printing was widely done on paper, it just hadn't entered my psyche that that would be something I would be doing with it.

I think I have mentioned before (just the once or twice) the excitement of discovering new skills and the potential of what to do with them, so when I went in yesterday I wanted to spend some time seeing where this would take me.

I was playing around with my Tweet design on paper and am really pleased with the end result. As I said, this has really taken me by surprise, the fact that I'm interested in doing this, and am thoroughly enjoying trying new things and taking skills I have learnt to a different place.

The trouble is, life often feels too short and it's hard enough to fit in all that we need and want to do without adding to it. But, let's face it, I've never been one to put ideas and projects to one side.

This will consequently mean that my shop will have a new section to it...paper goods...of which there is one item currently in it, but hopefully it won't be too long being it is filling up nicely. In the meantime, this sole item can be found right here...

Thank you all for your positive and encouraging comments yesterday. I didn't mean to be all moany yesterday, it's just with the thought of worse to come this week got the better of me. I'm feeling a lot better today, thanks to a little Ikea jaunt with Manda and Lily. Thanks ladies...the distraction was just what the doctor ordered. (So was the tray that you can see featured in these photos!)

In celebration of remaining cheerful I thought I'd post some pretty, beloved objects that make me happy.

I have a bit of a thing for jugs. I don't know what it is about them, but I just can't have enough. Here is a little collection of my favourite ones that either sit prettily on shelves in full view, or get used nearly every day. Some do both.

Starting from the left, this is my latest vintage pick up, which I blogged about a few weeks ago. it's rapidly become a firm milk favourite to accompany my morning tea.

This next one is one Matthew bought for me whilst at The Edinburgh Festival one year. I love the drip marks sliding down the side. It's my favourite one for heating milk up in the microwave for my morning coffee ritual. It's the perfect size for 2, so please pop in and share a cafetiere with me.

This next one is probably my most expensive jug and thus is never used. It sits on my beautiful cake stand in the kitchen alcoves where I can see it every day. It is exquisite and delicate and I could stare at it for eternity.

This porcelain dimpled jug is very special to me. Not only is it unbelievably tactile and sits just oh so comfortably in your hand, but it was my very first item sourced for Blueberry Park. I have used mine every single day for 4 years ever since and have never stopped getting that breathless feel when I pick it up out of the fridge. I know - it's a jug, goddammit! But simple pleasures 'n' all that...

And now for my latest addition to my all time favourite jugs... It was my birthday last week and the gorgeous Kristy, quite rightly, decided that this would be the perfect gift for me (along with this fab bowl too). Not only do I absolutely love it, not only is it just perfect in my home, but the fact that Kristy has come to know me so well, despite us never actually having met. The wonders of the internet that our paths can cross so.

Definitely a day for cheery thoughts...

Imbetween the hecticness of work at this time of year, I've been trying to make a few of my presents. I'm not doing too badly, surprisingly, but no doubt there will be the last minute franticness. I'm still planning on making all the children their own initial keyring. There aren't too many of them so it shouldn't be too much of a challenge.

I made a friend this purse. I was playing around with some of my new stash of Mikodesign fabrics. I think she'll be pleased with it.

Then the in-laws. My in-laws are very hard to buy/make for but I'm quite pleased with what I've come up with. My father-in-law is taking us all away next summer for his 80th so I've made them both a Passport Holder...useful and appropriate! I even spoilt them by cutting into my precious Liberty stash.

Hopefully they like it enough to at least use it next summer...if they don't lose it/wear it out before then.

Life is somewhat running away with itself at the moment and I am not blogging as often as I would like. There is so much going on around here at the mo. Some the mundane, some the pre-Christmas madness and some very exciting stuff that I am desperate to share with you.

But I can't. Not yet anyway.

Hopefully by next week I'll be able to spurt it all out!

In the meantime I wanted to show you how well I had got on with my Sashiko cushion. I absolutely loved doing it and am really pleased with the result. I think there'll be plenty more of this going on.

Something for the ladies

Today has been another exciting day at Blueberry Park. We've had a delivery of these beautiful felt corsages.

Anna Johnson is the talented designer of the A Alicia label. She makes beautiful corsages from the most exquisite felt. This range of colours is so autumnal and stunning.

From Winter White to Burnt Sienna, Anna has produced a range that is already proving to be a big hit.

Anna cuts and sews every felt petal by hand so each brooch is utterly unique. The sculptured shape of the flowers makes them little works of art.

Whether you are accessorising a sweater, dress, coat, bag, hat these will be firm favourites on any outfit.

All in the packaging?

Normally I package my Craft Kits like this...

That's where they got their name 'Take Away...' from. I couldn't, or wouldn't want to, call them that if I was packaging them a different way. However something always comes along to change how you view things.

My friend Jo (a separate post about her to come) and her family came to visit over half-term last week. As usual, bless her, the first thing she wanted to do was go shopping. By that I mean, take our coffees up to my studio and rummage through all my things! She is Blueberry Park's number one fan and always gives me a big boost of confidence by oohing excessively over everything. And the fact that she goes back home with a shed load of gifts confirms her feelings.

This time it was a Christmas shop she was doing. She wanted to order 3 Apron Kits for her 3 children. Jo being Jo - and only my bestest buddy can get away with this - she painstakingly worked her way through my fabric stash and selected the ones she wanted in the kit. Oh, and the ones she wanted the needle/pin sets made out of too! As I say, only Jo can get away with this...Just in case you were wondering...

The point of all this rambling is that these weren't quite ready for her to take back home with her and in an attempt tocut down the packaging through the mail, we decided that they would work all folded up in a cello and wrapped in tissue. Whilst I wouldn't recommend this design for my stockists, as I think the piles of the Take Away Boxes has an eye-catching appeal, I think this really works for a personal order. Particularly when there a few presented together.

What do you reckon?

Little treats

It's half-term this week. No sooner do I feel that we have got back into some routine after juggling through the summer, then the children are off again. Honestly, the life of a WAHM! My lovely Mum actually gave me a long work day today and took the children out.

Actually, not only did she take them out but she also went to Hebden Bridge to do my errands. She popped some kits into Amy at Ribbon Circus and picked up some jewellery from Rachel Lucie for some orders; mixing my business with the children's pleasure. Win, win ... for me ;-)

I got on with making up orders for a couple of new stockists that have come in this week and ordering some stock that I've been running low on. I was reordering some jewellery from Handmade by Hayley and I realised that I haven't even told you about it yet. Been too busy selling it! This jewellery is fab. It's perfectly priced for little treats for yourself, as well as making a great little gift for girlfriends, when you just need a little something.

It's all been equally popular, but my personal must haves are the Blue Double Strand and the Grey Shell. I guess they are the colours I wear the most this autumn. I'm sorry for keeping it a secret from you, but go check it all out and see what you think. It's all right here.

100 Followers Giveaway

Today I woke up to find that 100 of you lovely people out there publicly follow my blog. The fact that you like what I do enough to even bother to click that little button so you can keep track of me, means the world to me.

A blog is a funny thing. I like to look back at my own blog and see what we've been up to. I like to see how my creative journey has been changing and developing.

And I love reading all your blogs. They are an inspiration. They are interesting and funny. They allow me to 'meet' like-minded lovely people all over the world.

So to celebrate receiving my 100th follower and to thank you for being such loyal readers, I am having a giveaway. The winner will receive a Pincushion and Needlecase Set, along with a matching keyring (just let me know the initial you want). All you need to do is leave a comment as to why you follow my blog. If you don't yet follow, please feel free to now do so and then you can enter!

I'll announce the winner on Sunday 18 October, which gives you 5 days to think of something lovely to say! Good luck!

Singing the Blues

My day started exceptionally well when I woke up to an order from a new customer, courtesy of her spotting one of my Blueberry Park products in October's issue of Country Living Magazine.

It's been one of my ambitions to have a product featured in the Emporium section of Country Living. It's such a great showcase of, normally, handcrafted pieces. And to see my website address in this salubrious magazine is a real thrill.

Hopefully it will be the first of many...

For the ladies

A couple of my friends are having birthdays this week, so I've enjoyed a brief interlude from compiling kits and have rustled up a couple of purses.

I normally hate cutting into my stashes of favoured fabrics, but when it's for a gift I think it's worth it.

My little pieces of Of Paper & Thread designs , by the uber talented Danielle, are rapidly diminishing. But I love using them as they are so utterly divine that just a touch gives an item a huge lift (as you noticed in my sister's cushions).

The Kei dots are another fave - I know, you must be getting sick of them! Again, a little goes a long way.Another must have is Anna Maria Horner's Social Climber in Ice. At least I can get that easily from my lovely British supplier.

I've had fun making these purses. There has been little creativity going on around here of late, so it was great to have an excuse to play with my fabric. I just hope that the girls concerned will be pleased with their gifts.

A little girl called...

Have to post and run today, I'm afraid. No loitering in the blogosphere. This is a commission for one of my stockists. I normally use pink for the letter background but fancied a change, so opted for green. I think it's all systems go on the green front from now on.

oooooooooooo

I wanted to post today to thank you all for your support in all the things I am doing at the moment. Honestly, your comments and support here, via Twitter, email, Flickr, mean so much to me and encourage me to continue, even when it's all so frantic and feels too overwhelming. If I don't personally manage to get back to you, I just want to say a big THANKS. Your support gets me through xxx