I've just had a birthday.

It wasn't the best, but wasn't the worst.

I've been feeling a tad strange recently, which is hardly surprising with all the goings on lately and my birthday seemed to come and go without me getting overly excited.

Or maybe that's just age.

It hardly seems a year ago that I bought this book with my birthday book money. I always ask my In Laws for an Amazon voucher (it's safer that way), so I can purchase all those books (well some of them anyway) that have made their way onto the wish-list over the year.

Seeing as though this book has been in my possession for a year now, I thought I'd better dip into it before the new batch arrive.

There are quite a few patterns in here that I've marked that I want to make, but it's this fab Everything Tote that I most wanted to do.

I'm in holiday mode at the moment, having just booked our summer holiday last night, so this seemed perfect for that.

I love this bag already. The handles are very comfortable and it's so roomy - it will no doubt be filled with everything-but-the-kitchen-sink all summer long.

Ok, summer is still a long way off, but at least I'm prepared, hey?

Spring is in the air.

Isn't it?

Have you noticed the days getting longer?

I just love it when it starts to stay light in the evenings for longer. We've had our fill of cosying up in the dark winter nights and yes, there is definitely something magical about that, but compared to the feeling of awakening in the spring, winter just doesn't cut it.

And with the departure of winter, it's farewell to the woollens and out with the fresh spring fabrics. The springlike days make me look at fabrics differently and consequently this week's purchases from M is for Make look like this.

I actually think I have found a new contender for my All Time Top 10 Favourite Fabrics EVER with this latest delivery. This top fabric is Kaffe Fassett's design for Liberty Art fabric and is just divine. The colours are so crisp and clear, with the cold blue on stark white, being a winner through spring and way into summer. I'm thinking, as well as using for summertime accessories, I am hoping Ruby feels as passionate about it as I do and will allow me to make a skirt or summer dress, or hopefully both - particularly as I've just ordered this book from Kate too.

More springlike fabrics in the delivery were these gorgeous latest prints from Cloud 9. Again, striking fresh blues with crisp white. I love this latest collection. Michelle is such a talented designer and her prints just do it for me every time. I can not wait for her Cut Out & Keep Collection that she has done with Heather Moore of Skinny Laminx, to come out. Not long now as it's due out in April.

To tie all these together I am in need of some fresh plain cottons. Backstitch are stocking the new range of incredibly affordable Klona cottons. Not being sure of the colours I needed I opted for the fantastically valued Swatch Card, which is going to be invaluable for matching up to fabrics.

So, I'm all set for spring now...are you?

I've been playing around with a new pouch design. I love the versatile stand-up variety that I have been making in all sorts of shapes and sizes, but they don't suit all needs.

This new design has come about by the need to lay some things flat, whether it be hankies, jewellery whilst on ones travels, or even somewhere to store ones smalls.

I love this crisp linen and it feels like such a little luxury item.

They will be available in varying sizes and also a coordinating one for the boys. After all they need somewhere to store their smalls too...

This size is currently available here.

I recently bought this gorgeous Folklore Kokka fabric on Etsy. Don't you just love it? I really like Kokka fabrics. This is another of my faves that I intend to buy very soon.

Today I had my first sewing day for quite some time and this was waiting patiently at the top of the making pile (there is a serious making pile backlog going on right now).

As well as making these flat-bottomed pouches to gay abandon in varying shapes, sizes and fabrics, I have a new zipper pouch design that I have been working on, but I need to get that more perfected before I use precious fabrics like this. I am dying to use this fabric on my new design, but in the meantime you are just going to have to manage with this style.

And it's available right here.

Yesterday Manda and I ran a Grey Circles Workshop on making children's clothes. We had 4 lovely ladies join us - Justine, Debs, Julie and Alice. Julie had made the trip down from Scotland and Alice joined us from London. Justine and Julie had a much easier journey being based in Yorkshire too.

Normally the workshops are held at my house, but due to the crazy time I'd been having and still having the house-guests, we decided to relocate to Manda's, which worked out more than just fine.

The aim of the workshop was for everyone to make a top/dress, followed by a pair of trousers for any size from 6 months to age 6. We got off to a great start with everyone choosing fabrics and discussing their worries and concerns, the major one being sewing curves.

Alice kept us all entertained with her desire for precision measurement and concerns for achieving such. Alice was also quite scared of sewing curves but is demonstrating here how she has achieved the perfect curve.

Everyone chose fabric combinations and made great tops, but even going an hour over we had to leave with the trousers needing to be finished off at home. With 2 of our party having trains to catch and a long journey ahead I didn't manage to get photos of all their beautiful finished wares, but hopefully I'll get photos sent through and be able to show you then.

In the meantime here's the one I made - a dress for my almost 5 year old niece. The wonderful thing about this pattern is that you really can customise it to your own desires. I used a crisp plain linen for the body and sleeves and appliqued some Liberty print circles along the hem to add a little detail.

This really was a fun workshop and lovely to produce a garment. So, if you missed it this time, but would like to join us at the next one on May 7th, click away here and join us then. We'd love to see you.

Wow, how did it get to be Friday again so quickly? I am seriously concerned with how life is passing by. I have had a productive week, but as usual the week ends much sooner than I anticipate, leaving a longer To Do List each week.

It's Half Term in England this coming week, so we are taking a jaunt to London for a few days to see some friends. We haven't been to visit for a while for one reason and another and I'm really excited to be heading down to stay with our buddies.

Heading down to stay with them meant I had to make time today to take a hostess gift to take with us. They have had huge renovations to the house since we were last there (translate that to mean walls ripped down and rooms created) so I am even more excited than usual to head down.

I've been through the renovations every step of the way with Jo, so I can't wait to see if they look anything like what is in my head! One thing they have done is create a massive kitchen living area. I'm not really sure what they need to accessorise the new place, so I figured I'd take a little something this time and once I've seen it be able to do something bigger.

All I could get at this stage from Jo is it's all very grey and since they haven't set on any accent colours, I decided it wasn't my place to dictate it (although I'm obviously pushing for some yellow), so I'm taking down a couple of grey based tea towels that I hope they'll enjoy and will fit in with whatever else they decide to add.

Happy weekend to you and look forward to catching up on our return x

My new Organic Range has been borne.

I had had interest in the new Pencil Pouch range from various Eco friendly peeps, but as soon as I said the fabric wasn't organic, it was a thumbs down.

It was only when I was using some of my collection of beautiful Cloud 9 fabrics, that the penny dropped. These were organic and would work fantastically. The cotton is so crisp and holds it's shape so well, that it's a dream to work with and looks good. And on top of that the designs are just scrummy too.

So with reinforcements received and swatch of the options to hand, I got going on a collection to offer.

I'm using the dotties as linings for all, which I'm loving the look of. Obviously you can't see them when they are closed and all together. But I know they are there and that gives me a lovely feeling to know how well coordinated they are. Sad I know.

Because they are heading out to an eco friendly stockist, not only are the fabrics organic but the trimmings are the vintage ones I have been using, adhering to the recycled element of green living.

The first of my Organic Range pouches are now heading out to the lovely Eco Eco. Eco Eco is a stylish boutique that promotes green living through it's lovely collection of ethical and environmentally produced products. Eco Eco is based in the beautiful Peak District, but if you aren't lucky enough to be able to visit in person, you can peruse their collection online.

I am really excited and proud to be able to produce more ethical products and am looking forward to doing a lot more in the future.

If you are an environmentally aware stockist and are interested in my Organic Range, I'd love to hear from you.