As usual I get the most creative when I am meant to be doing something else.

Are you like that?

I have so much to do at the moment, fulfilling orders, being busy personally, but somehow I have an idea burning from within that has to be actioned immediately.

It isn't even a discussion that goes on in my head. Do I have time? Should I be doing this?

It appears subconsciously from nowhere and before I know it I'm at my machine making something new.

As I say, I have no idea where the seed of idea came from, but this afternoon before I knew it I was playing about with stitches on the machine and making pouches and needle/pin sets.

I am quite limited with stitches on this machine, but am quite smitten with this cross stitch lookilikey.

And I love how it works with the linen.

Obviously now, having less than an hour ago no idea that I would be designing these, I am obsessed with making more things with stitched designs and can't actually think of anything else.

I was rather sad today as screen printing class was cancelled due to a technical hitch.

The plus side of this is that class will last a week longer.

The downside is it will be a week longer before I can get into the workshop and get creating and producing.

Not that I think I'm ready for that...far from it. But what I am ready for is being able to be let lose and try out all the things on my ever-growing list of ideas that I have.

I was however a very good student and spent some time today sketching for the 2 colour design we were supposed to be doing and will now (hopefully) be doing next week.

This isn't a completed design. It may not even make it to printing stages, but it was fun playing around with patterns and seeing it grow.

You may see this one printed next week...you may see something along these lines...knowing me, you will most probably see something completely different.

As you have probably noticed, I have a split personality where my work is concerned.

Blueberry Park originally started as an online showcase for British Artists, but as the months, years have gone on I have been doing more and more of my own creating.

I really love sourcing the talent that we have here in the UK and providing a platform to make the work accessible for everyone. I get a real buzz from seeking out and meeting wonderful artists at Trade Fairs and the like.

As time has gone on and I have been spending more and more time on my own work, I have found this harder and harder to do and after a year of soul searching and trying desperately to do both sides of Blueberry Park, I have come to the decision that if I am to continue on my own personal creative journey then something has to give.

Whilst I am desperately disappointed that I can no longer devote time to sourcing wonderful new work and continue working relationships with existing Artists, I am very excited about where I am personally heading. As you know, I have fallen in love with Screen Printing and this is going to allow me to go in a new and exciting direction with my work.

So Blueberry Park as we know it is due for quite a change. The good news for you is that in order for this to happen Blueberry Park is offering a Sale Extravaganza!

For you, dear readers, enter KL50 at the checkout to receive 50% off your entire order of remaining Blueberry Park goodies.

So put your feet up, the kettle on, and continue with me and see where my journey takes me next.

I've been enjoying some sketching this weekend in preparation for next week's Screen Printing class.

Last week we started on colour alignment - printing a 2 colour design and aligning up the second colour on top of the first. We used a design that Gina brought and next week we are to bring a 2 layer design of our own.

My sketchbook is full to brimming of all sorts of doodles and designs and I'm trying to narrow down which I will do next week. I think I'm down to one of these 2.

Again, I'm trying to not get too caught up in getting the perfect design, but using something that will allow me to experiment with the process.

I've drawn the second layer on tracing paper and I actually love seeing the design split in two. I am excited about next week's class and experimenting with a 2 layer print and looking forward to experimenting with more of the designs in my sketchbook.

Fun, fun, fun...

I know I'm a bit of a fabricaholic - I'll be the first to admit I have a teensy problem - but really, who could resist buying these wonderful scrap bags from Skinny Laminx?

Like the majority of my fabric purchases I had no specific project in mind, but when Heather listed them, it was more a question of "I want those, I NEED them!"

I had no idea whether there would be large enough pieces to make something in it's entirety, but quite frankly, even a little patch of Heather's fab designs would shine in a project. The next question was "Grey? Or Red?"

Ok, so I'm rubbish at decisions.

When they arrived yesterday, I was overcome by how gorgeous they were. Not that I doubted they wouldn't be, but like all hand-printed fabrics they look and feel even better in the flesh.

Not only that, these sure were not scraps...with pieces measuring over 25 x 50cm, I was able to rustle up a couple of wash-bags toute suite...

...perfect for the guys, hey?

(they are available here now...)

We are very lucky to have The Bowery in Leeds. The Bowery is that great combination of gallery, workshop, gifts and cafe.

It's a great place to meet friends for a coffee and it's always nice to have beautiful contemporary Artists' work on display to have a little peruse at after.

I have bought quite a few cards and gifts from here and currently have my eye on a lampshade that I keep seeing. One day soon I think I'll not be able to resist any longer...

As well as being lucky enough to live close by to The Bowery, I am also lucky enough to call them a Stockist. They came to see me at BCTF last month and it seems that other people must be as fond of the place as I am as things are selling really well and today I delivered my second box of goodies.

I haven't been in since delivering the first pieces and so hadn't seen the display. I have to say I was chuffed to bits to see all my things looking so bright and eye-catching. I am so pleased my things are doing so well here.

The only thing that isn't going too well, however, is my camera...the lead to my Mac is playing up and so am having to take photos on my iphone and as you can tell, it isn't quite cutting it. It was a pretty grey day too which didn't help much.

If you live near to The Bowery (it's in Headingley, Leeds) and haven't yet managed a trip, you won't be disappointed. And bear in mind it looks more tempting than it does in my dreary photos...

I think I must be becoming extremely transparent. I must be becoming very predictable with my likes.

Courtney of Seamstar sent me the following samples of some new linens she has just started stocking...

Do they have my name written all over them or what??

And just to illustrate the point further (just in case you aren't quite convinced) here they are with my pencil case and purse, both of which I carry about with me at all times.

I'm going to have to start being more creative with my colour palette. Who knows, I may surprise you one day with my choices...