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 :-)

Introducing Amy

Ruby came home on Friday with the best homework in the world...to make a sock puppet! Ros was a little bit peeved that perhaps Sadie's wouldn't be the best in the class and that maybe Ruby had an unfair advantage, but hey, your child can only work to their (mother's) strengths :-)

This was actually literacy homework (huh?). They are performing plays at school and they each have to make a sock puppet of the character that they are acting out. Ruby is Amy, who according to her is a bit of a naughty girl, so we tried to make Amy look a bit of a tearaway.

Now this homework was obviously met with much enthusiasm by both Ruby and myself. The only problem was establishing whose homework it actually was. Once Ruby had conceded that really it was mine, the fun could begin.

Or so I thought. It transpired rather quickly that it wasn't actually my homework and what I wanted was quite irrelevent and how I wanted Amy to look was immaterial. Despite all this I think Amy has come out looking exactly as her character suggests - a rather dishevilled, non-conformist tearaway. Well done Rubes.

A new obsession

For a while now I have been having a love affair with screen printing. I love the simplicity and ease with which people create stunning fabrics that can be used for all sorts of projects. From tea towels, to cushions, to aprons, or for bags, purses . . . the list is endless.

I keep discovering new (to me) designers and it is making me a little obsessed with this art form. I am becoming desperate to learn it and create some fabric for myself. As you know, I am branching out to stock hand printed fabrics in the shop and i think this search has had a lot to do with feeding my obsession.

Whilst perusing through Etsy recently I have found a couple of designers who do it so well. Their designs are paramount to capturing that simplicity that is so stunning. Less is so much more with this for me. The choice of fresh, natural colours and the simple prints make all these items so beautiful I don't want to take my eyes off them. (Their photography is rather stunning too!)



The first two are by Kalla, a Japanese artist who uses a cotton/linen mix fabric and then screen prints her geometric designs using gorgeous greens and blues. I NEED those table runners. Mmmm.



I am totally in love with Elizabeth Bentz's pieces. I love the hand drawn feel to her designs and again the colours she uses are just stunning.

I feel very inspired by seeing work like this - and also very frustrated because I want to do it myself RIGHT NOW. Only maybe I should just stare at these as there is no way anything I attempt will capture the beauty that these 2 ladies have achieved.

Prints Charming

I was lucky enough to be sent the biggest stash of fantastic samples from Prints Charming this week. As you know I am beginning to offer fabrics at the shop and I am currently looking at being a stockist for Prints Charming.

For those of you that don't know, Cath and Kirsten are the extremely talented duo behind these gorgeous hand printed fabrics. Their designs are bold, fresh and quite simply stunning. They are fantastic for quilting and other craft projects, as well lending themselves beautifully for embroidering around the shapes.

I'm still deciding which ones to stock. I'm obviously being a big kid in a sweet shop and want all of them. maybe you can help me out and let me know which are your faves and which you'd like to see in the shop.

If the cake fits

It's Noah's birthday today. 10 years old. I can't quite believe it. How can my little boy be 10? He was the sweetest little baby and is growing into the sweetest young man. He's quiet and unassuming, extremely at ease with his own company, competent in all that he does, knows his own mind and has a wicked sense of humour. And above all ... loves chocolate!

And if this cake looks rather familiar, that's because my chocoholic ordered the same one as last year!

As the title says...If the cake fits...

Happy Birthday, lovely boy xx

MAY DAY, MAY DAY

MAY DAY, MAY DAY!

10% off in the shop this Bank Holiday weekend. Simply enter MAY01 at checkout.

Have a great weekend and hope the sun is shining wherever you are. xx

Princess and the Pea

I have been a huge fan of Manda's work ever since we first met at a fair we were both at over 3 years ago. I have been delighted to have her beautiful pieces on Blueberry Park from it's beginning. I think we all know how talented she is and for those of you that don't know, she's quite nice with it (but don't tell her. Her head will swell even more)

Recently she had been refining her exquisite Princess & the Pea Set (as if it needed it) and when she showed it to me this week, I just had to have it for BP.

So I am utterly thrilled to have it right here.