Sunday 29 April 2012

nice and tidy


My work room doesn't actually look this tidy now, this was taken before I started work on a new design, now the jars of lace have been emptied out, sketch books open and buttons everywhere. It's hard to keep the space tidy when you are in the middle of making, but I hate to start work in a mess. I find the best way is to have jars, boxes and tins to pack it all neatly away afterwards. 

I bought some great fabrics yesterday, I really love the red flower piece, very 1940's, I'm going to make some little lace and fabric lavender bags with them later.

Wednesday 25 April 2012

time out



 Our little garden is coming alive, these tulips I planted ages ago have just opened up, they are so pretty, I check on them every morning, very sad I know. There are also bluebells and forget-me-nots that have appeared, I picked just a few for a little photo shoot. I love how the colours fade in to each other, they are so inspiring.

I've been busy getting ready for my show, it's nice to take a bit of time out for other things... I've wrapped a special birthday present for my niece, made a lamb and squash curry to warm up in this weather and thinking about holidays.... 




Friday 20 April 2012

le petit echo de la mode


When I went to the flea market at Malvern a few weeks ago I bought this french magazine dated 1928
I love the illustrations and the colours used on the front cover. Inside there are a selection of lace patterns to follow....



I also bought some beautiful pieces of handmade lace and broderie anglaise collars, and then spent the day happily sewing on vintage seed beads to decorate two new drawstring bags, for a new collection at Waterperry Gallery, which opens on May 5th.

Have a lovely weekend whatever you are up to.



Monday 16 April 2012

petersham nurseries



Sorry about the lack of posts recently, last week just flew by! I hope you all had a lovely Easter.
I wanted to show you some photos of our trip to Petersham Nurseries in London, it really is an amazing place. We had lunch in the beautiful greenhouse restaurant, which was filled with ferns, lemon trees, tulips, roses and blossom flowers. I loved the whole feel of the place and have been inspired by their displays for my own open studio exhibition, where I  exhibit my textiles in a garden summer house. I have already bought a few ferns. We walked around the nursery getting lots of ideas, buying herbs and taking photos, then walked across the meadow back into Richmond and dreamed of living in one of the big houses overlooking the river....





Friday 6 April 2012

Happy Easter


Here's a sneak peek at something I've been working on for my open studio exhibition. A drawstring bag made with vintage floral fabric and a handmade linen pocket. I'm making a range to sell at my show.

I'm looking forward to the next few days of the Easter holiday, on Monday we're off to the Malvern flea market and on Tuesday a trip to Petersham Nurseries in Richmond and a birthday lunch for my boyfriend at Skye Gyngells famous cafe.

I was so pleased to be featured as 'Friday photographer' on my friends lovely blog today.
Natasha aka Candy Pop has a beautifully inspiring blog of which I am an avid reader and she was the person that got me into blogging! take a look ....



Monday 2 April 2012

simple florals



I've been house sitting, looking after my mum's cat for a few days and took these photos of the little garden 'beach hut' yesterday,  it's had a spring clean ready for the summer and looks lovely at the moment...we use it to serve tea and cakes in during my open studio exhibition which is coming up in May. I think secretly we both love the idea of having our own little cafe, if only to have an excuse to buy more vintage china.