summer bunting

I've been in my sewing room, making lengths of spotty bunting for a garden party we are having for my grandparents. It's their 70th wedding anniversary and to celebrate we have arranged a vintage tea party for them. 
My mum and I have quite a selection of pretty vintage teacups, plates, teapots and handmade tablecloths which we are planning to use on the day.
If you have visited my artweeks open studio, you will know what I mean..

I love looking through old black and white family photos and I found this tinted photo of them both on their wedding day back in 1944. My Grampy Fred looks very dapper and my Nanny Winnie looks so happy! Such a lovely photo. 

Well, I still have more bunting to make before the party, so I had better get sewing...you can never have too much bunting!

the colour of summer

I just love these lighter summer evenings. I seem to have a lot more motivation and energy to take photos, finish projects, go for a run and having dinner outside surrounded by our pots of herbs and flowers makes me so happy.

I hope everyone is having a lovely week and enjoying the weather. 

I've been gathering together inspiration for some new designs, which are now scattered across my work desk. I just love the lilac flower hair garland and I'm always inspired by the work of Alphonse Mucha. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Take care x

my sewing room

What a beautiful Sunday morning it is! I hope it's sunny where you are too. I can't wait to get outside for a run across the park, all the birds are tweeting away...it definitely feels like spring.

Here's a few photos from my sewing room which is now nice and tidy, I want it to be a practical space but also look lovely too. It would be great to have a complete change but as we are only renting our little cottage, it's difficult to change things too much.

These glass jars are perfect for storing bits of vintage lace and trims. The pinking sheers and china lady belonged to my great Aunt Lily who used to be a seamstress in London.



I love working in this room, it gets all the afternoon sun. From my desk window I can see apple & blossom trees, farm buildings, fields of horses and one donkey. It really is lovely!

to do lists

How's your January going so far? I know it's not most peoples favourite month, but I always think it's a good time to make plans, sort things out, make lists and look forward to the nicer months ahead.

I love buying new stationary and I've just bought a diary for 2014, I have so many notebooks it's ridiculous but I find I'm always jotting down ideas, places to visit, wish lists, new designs and general 'to do' lists, whether this makes me more productive, I'm not so sure...

I have just opened up a Folksy shop, have a look here. I'll be stocking it with lots more handmade items soon and I would love to sell more work online this year. Do you have an online shop, where you sell your own work? If you have any tips or advice, that would be great!

 

winter blooms

I've been sifting through magazine cuttings, sketchbooks, fabrics and accessories for my winter inspiration. These are my chosen pieces which are now pinned up in my sewing room. I've always loved patterns on inky dark backgrounds like an old oil painting with careful brushwork. It's really helpful to have this inspiration board to glance at while I'm coming up with new designs.  I'm currently working on a new collection of vintage lace pins, clutch and envelope purses which will be on sale for Christmas.

sunday bits

What a gorgeous day it's been today! One of those perfect sunny autumnal days that you want to last forever....
This post is a bit of a catch up, as finding time to take photos seems difficult at the moment, but I'm hoping to get back on track soon. It's been interesting reading how people find time for their blogs and I've been getting some tips here. I'd love to know how you all fit it into your day?

I'm reading this lovely Cath Kidston book, which also looks pretty on my sewing room shelf amongst the jam jars of buttons.
I've been busy sewing away and my desk is currently covered in floral fabrics, ribbons and sketch books.



Blue stripy bunting that I made for a new shop opening... (more on that soon)



...Cup of tea with my mum in her sunny kitchen, don't you love this pale blue teapot. And finally picking lots and lots of cooking apples. We are storing some for the winter and I've been making quite a few apple crumbles. x

liberty love

You may have already guessed but I do love Liberty prints, they are dotted around my house in the form of cushions, lampshades, covered notepads and even pincushion mice. There are some great ideas in this Liberty book of home sewing.

Today I painted this wooden chair in cornflower blue for my sewing room and then made an envelope cushion cover using this Liberty print. I love little projects like this, in no time you can make a big difference to a room.

Well I'm feeling pretty chuffed with myself, so I'm off to make a cup of tea.

Have you been making any home improvements recently? I'd love to know.