A coupla things...

I've been on this computer far too long today, but that can only be good news for you, can't it?

Why, you ask, should that make a difference to your life?

Well, first of all I had to clock in to see Christina's Friday Giveaway. Remember Christina? She did the fab piece on my cushion giveaway a couple of weeks ago. Today's is FAB. Go click here to find out all about it.

The second piece of good news (it's all about you, remember) is that I've been shuffling my wares about in the shop, uploading some fab new items (more about that next week) and created some new categories. If you click here, you can see .

I think it makes it easier to find what you are after. What do you reckon? Do you prefer it? Don't care? I'd love to know.

On that note, I'm off. My eyes need a break. I've got a busy (change that - I mean MAD) weekend ahead, so I'm going to switch off now and take 5. xx

Cool Summer Project

I just had to show you these, right here, right now. How cool are they? I mean, really?

I was about to shut down for the night, but had to tell you all about them because they are going to be the hit of the summer.

Click here to read all about them and follow the instructions to make a whole batch.

Don't say I never share! Have fun! x

Pretty as a Picture

In the theme of wanting to show you some of my new acquisitions to Blueberry Park, please give a warm welcome to Samantha Peare. Sam does the most exquisite embroidered items using recycled and vintage fabrics as much as possible.


Sam is inspired by nature and the art of nature illustration and her pieces have beautiful embroidered insects hiding in the patterns.

The fabrics themselves are tactile and rich and then with the added element of the embroidered creature, each item is unique and original.


I love the little purses and can imagine taking one out with a few essentials in on a night out. As for the clutch bags. They are super chic and will definitely be a show stopper.

The lavender birds are so cute and look so pretty hanging in all sorts of little hooks, nooks and crannies.

Sam is one clever lady.

Tag...I'm it...

I've been tagged! By the lovely Jess. Thanks, Jess :-)

Here are the rules:

1. Respond and rework: Answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your invention, add more one question of your own.

2. Tag eight other people.

Here goes...............

What is your current obsession? Screen printed fabrics. I'm desperate to give this a go and really want to produce some of my own fabrics to work alongside what I do at BP.

Coffee or tea? That's a tricky one. Tea first thing in the morning. Coffee - a real one - any time during the day. Preferable as near to 11 as I can manage. Don't be anywhere near me if it's after that time and i haven't had my fix. You have been warned.

What’s for dinner? Ate early tonight with the kids. Pasta pesto, with steamed broccolli (they had cheesy sauce - home made, but blughhh)

What would you eat for your last meal? Something ultra tasty like goat's cheese with roasted veg on a bed of rocket - followed by a BIG creme brulee. Alternatively a big burger and chips :-)

What was the last thing you bought? A dress from White Stuff. Can't wait for it to arrive.

What are you listening to right now? Samuel singing in the shower!

What is your favourite piece of clothing in your own wardrobe? I think it would have to be my previously bought White Stuff dress. It's onto it's 3rd summer and still gets compliments every time I wear it. I know they are on the pricey side for casual everyday clothes, but they wear and wash so well and their prints are fab.

What is your favourite ice cream flavour? Ben & Jerry's Phish Food - or my homemade lemon ice-cream.

What do you think of the person(s) who tagged you? She's great, fun, young and super talented.

If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Hmm, on a beautiful night like this I think I would have to say down the road for a stroll around the lake, followed by a glass of vino in the pub garden on the corner on the way home.

Which language do you want to learn? I'd love to recapture my schoolgirl French. We go to France most out of all the nearby countries and I'd love to be able to converse more readily.

What is your favourite colour? Duck Egg Blue, with a smattering of red :-)

What is your dream job? I'm doing my dream job. Be great when I start to get paid for it :-)

What is your worst habit? Most definitely procrastinating. I work well under pressure. Give me deadlines and I'm your gal. Tell me whenever, well, it just might be.

If you had £100 now, what would you spend it on? Fabric. Well, duh.

Do you admire anyone’s style? My French friend Mani has the most exquisite effortless style, both in her clothing and her home.

Describe your personal style? Relaxed, informal and easy. A little too relaxed and informal if you ask my Ma!

What are you going to do after this? Probably go and mooch about in my studio in the attic for a while.

What are your favourite movies? Dirty Dancing for girlie fun, Shawshank Redemption for unrivalled drama and Kung Fu Panda with the kids!

What is your favourite fruit? Blueberries, of course. With Mango a close second.

What inspires you? Fabric, fabric, fabric. The colours, the patterns, the feel.

What's your favourite book? Possession by A S Byatt, with Time Traveller's Wife and Poisonwood Bible pretty close behind.

Do you collect something? Just the usual fabric, ribbons, buttons... Oh and trays. I have a thing for trays. Little ones that you can just fit your cafetiere, mug, jug of warm frothy milk and a little treat on the side :-)

If you could change your name to anything, what would you call yourself? That's a tricky one. I don't particularly like my name but never really thought what I'd like to be called instead. Maybe Rachel, Rebecca, Sarah, Kate. Or something a bit more funky like Mimi, Suki...

What is your favourite smell? Clean fresh sheets, dried outside on the line.

What are you most proud of? My children

How many times do you press the snooze button before you get up? I don't. It's on Matthew's side of the bed. He does maybe once. We set it for as late as possible anyway, so even pressing it once is asking for trouble.

Cats or dogs? Definitely dogs. I'm allergic to cats so that's a no no. I'd love a dog, but him indoors isn't keen and is going to take some winning over.

What’s your biggest fashion mistake? A yellow t-shirt top and matching skirt. Yikes. That even hurts to admit! To make it worse I was about 14lbs overweight

What is your guilty TV pleasure? I don't really watch much TV, but will stop everything for Desperate Housewives.

What are you reading currently? The Great Gatsby - it's for my Book Club. Loving it.

What did you want to be when you grew up? When I was very little a Hairdresser and then for as long as I can remember a PE teacher, which I was, until sense hit in and I discarded it for the love of crafting :-)

What is your biggest regret? Not persuing my love of design and arts earlier. And being brave enough to live in Aus when given the opportunity. Still, no regrets is the name of the game and other amazing things wouldn't have happened if I'd done either of those.

Thanks for reading. Hope it's been fun and look forward to reading about YOU!

Bright Bazaar

I'm a Ginger Monkey

One Flew Over

La Marquise des Anges

Dee Beale

Little Brown Rabbit

Saidos da Concha

Draw, glue, glitter, make

Magpie and Me

I want to show you some gorgeous brooches that I have in Blueberry Park at the moment. They are designed by the talented Sue Maulin, of Magpie & Me. Sue makes delightful products that make lovely presents or treats for yourself. Or with the end of term coming they'd make beautiful thank you gifts for teachers.

I love the way these brooches look in a mulitude of places. Brighten up a cardi, an old bag, hat or even a scarf with one.

The leather that Sue uses is so soft and has that scrummy leather aroma. She makes some in plain colours and then some that have a silver pattern stamped on to one of the layers.

Coupled with the layered shell buttons and coordinating bead in the middle, Sue's brooches are a huge hit with BP customers. Go take a look. I think you'll like them :-)

Saved by the Post

Since I'm still knee deep in Bar Mitzvah mode, weekends are completely taken up with the celebrations and leaving no time for anything else. And whilst this has been fantastic - sharing very special moments with some very close friends - I really wanted to post today, but since I had nothing new to show or tell you, I honestly didn't know what to post about.


And then the post came. The lovely post. The unbelievably gorgeous post. Only a couple of days ago I saw this beautiful fabric scrap pack of exquisite prints from Danielle from Of Paper and Thread. I love Danielle's prints and in true Aussie style are exquisite in design, as well as fresh and striking in colour. So I think there was a nano second between seeing the packs and having them popped in my basket and paid for!
And not much more than a nano second later, they have made their way across from the other side of the world to right here in my hands. As usual they are even better in real life. Let's face it, they are pretty gorgeous on the screen , but go order some, see for yourself, you won't be disappointed, you'll want to sit and stroke them all day. Hmm. I just might...

For the love of chickens

It seems like I've started something here. Ruby wasn't satisfied with just a brooch. Oh no. We needed a keyring as well.

But I think she might be on to something here.