Oh my golly!

It is the last day to use my massive 20% discount in my Etsy shop...

I have also created a lovely treasury list of Valentines related goodies, take a look here.

This is my new 'feature' {Oh how bloggy!} - Studio Sunday. It's a little insight into my studio - what I have been up to last week & what I have to do...

So, well, I really do seem to make things more stressful than I need to! I am awful at leaving things to the last minute & letting projects pile up, but I am trying to turn over a new leaf, I promise.

This is an image I love from 'Print Workshop' a book I got for Christmas, it's my latest addition to my bookshelves & it is full of fun projects & step by step guides on how to create lovely things. Also, it is just so nicely illustrated throughout.

Here is my fabric hanging in the bathroom, we don't have a tumble drier & I am pre-washing all my fabric before making it up to avoid shrinking/colour running. Time consuming, but essential.

This is my Battenberg design - one of the ones I am creating for Conker, as well as Frangipane.

 An old Singer machine I bought to add to my growing collection, I love it, it's so 50s & makes me think of housewives sewing their pinnies.

 (Oh & this is my very messy window - the dumping ground really -

full of scraps & things that I need to sort out... Oh dear... I probably shouldn't admit this)

January has flown by. It's been quite a crazy month & full of plans & excitement, & also quite daunting. Next weekend I will be going up to London to do The Backyard Market, flogging some flirty Valentines goodies & my usual wears. Also, have to finish my dresses for Conker for the first week in February. I really need to get better at managing my time!

Don't forget to check out my shop as time is running out on the January sale.

&&& my first ever giveaway.

Oh & one more thing, a lovely lady Lisa Marie asked if she could feature me on her blog :)

I was of course very flattered, so check out the blog post here.

 {image source - SUCH a lovely picture}

I need your help... you will get a pressie - It's a big push to get more blog 'followers' & Facebook 'likes'.

All you have to do is follow my blog, & comment on this post & I will randomly pick someone to give my lovely I Know goody bag of handmade pretty things made by me (FOR FREE, FREE)! 

Desperate... 'I Know'. So please leave a comment, just to say hello, & follow me it will be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.

(PS: by the 10th Feb '12 - Thank you - Goodnight)
(PPS: If you already follow me well then of course you can comment too - as long as I can see you following me... no stalkers)

Happy Monday one & all. Today I start work on my shop order, plan my stock for coming markets & tidy up my studio (I must, I must!).

But for now here are some pictures from my old SLR that I have only just got developed, as always. I love it though, I think it was my parents when they were young & it takes reliably charmingly slightly wrong photos, or maybe that's just me...

these pictures are from bits of life between October/December '11.

Visting Harry & Wes - Brighton - October.

Winter walks & amazing views - Home -  December

Tidy for my photo shoot - My bed in the window - November

 The recycling centre, where we shop mainly - Chagford - December

Right, with all this stuff to do I seem to have got a silly amount of coughs & sneezes, a lemon & honey & off to work.

I hope everyone else is having a lovely manic Monday.

I have been collecting images of collars on cuffs on my Pinterest. I'm totally obsessed with finding different shapes & styles.

I went to see The Artist last night & it was great. So different but totally captivating, I especially loved all the costumes, as usual.
The lead lady wears this gorgeous drop waistline dress with a big sailor collar:

Last week I decided I was going to start collecting Hornsea pottery. I'd seen some online & was about to buy when ma said she'd seen one just like it in an antique shop. I know they are kind of hideous (but that is why I kind of like them). So, I bought the big Flour one for £10 in an antique shop, then the next day I saw 4 other pieces (actually 6 as there were matching egg cups which I thought would be a little far) in a charity shop at super bargain prices. I just had to buy it - ALL. Well, now I feel I have enough of it. So that is the start & end of my collection I spose... for now anyway.

I bought these lovely vintage heels in an antique shop in Ashburton, I don't need them, but they are cute, & made in England, & they fit me perfectly. So it's probably fate?

 RM & I made a rainbow cake. Just because. Then we had to eat it all.

Wow, it's a little to early for a blog post! Today I am off to Chagfood to help pick leeks & other such things, check out the photo blog I do.
Have a wonderful day :)

Well well well, what can I say, it's been a bit of a week. Things are starting to change, & it's looking pretty exciting. Today I had a meeting with Conker Shoes, in Totnes, they make handmade leather shoes to fit & also stock ethical clothing bits & accessories.

I put together a little scrap book/portfolio. It's mainly for my own sake, I thought I should start to collect little bits & bobs & put it into a scrap book as a type of business diary.

Right, a deal was made & they are going to stock 2 of my dresses Frangipane & my new design Battenburg, which I am really glad about as these are my favourite! I'll be making 8 dresses to start for the Spring, these 2 dresses sizes 8-14. EXCITING! So lets get sewing...

This week has been rather sunny, it's really beautiful, I've spent a few days outside cutting out patterns, which is nicer than it sounds as the wind blew my paper all over the garden.

Over the last few days I've been making some new shapes, this is a skirt & dress I completed last night. They are all available on my Etsy shop now.

Also, here is the trailer for the new Wes Anderson film, I love his work too much. Can't wait to see it.

Don't forget there is a 20% sale off on ALL items in my Etsy shop, just enter the code 'HAPPYNEWYEAR'

(Pics: style.com)

Carven's collection also reminded me of this fabric I bought about 2 years ago now. When I lived in London I often frequented Shepards Bush & Goldhawk Road to spend time browsing the many fabric shops & market stalls, one thing I really miss about the big city. One of my fav buys was this great African wax printed fabric, it is so similar to the Carven stuff it's crazy - I think he copied me! So now I must make myself something out of it...

Cavern collection video:

Carven Spring/Summer 2012 | Women's Show from Carven Paris on Vimeo.

Postage & Packing: This week I have finally got my first Etsy sale packed up & posted to Australia (there were delays over Christmas time & with silly me/PayPal).

Print: I also received my proper business cards. 250 of them, so everyone I see for the foreseeable future should be expected to get a bundle! I also couldn't resist getting little address stamps & stickers with photos & website on.

Planning & Preparation: Ahhh, also, I have got a meeting with a local shop that sells ethical clothing/shoes/accessories next week. I am scrabbling together a portfolio to show off my pieces & trying to brush up my older designs & perfect my seamstress skills... fingers crossed!

I am doing a little January sale, well not little, I am knocking a massive 20% off everything, that's right, EVERYTHING, in my Etsy shop.

All you have to do is enter the discount code 'HAPPYNEWYEAR' then wait for me to make you something lovely :)

My friendly boy Rob has finally built his studio shed in a field near our house, we ordered the shed way back in October but it is up & running now, & just so lovely.

It still needs a lick of paint on the outside, but I really love the hotch potchness of it, reminds me of all the hours I've spent looking at the Tiny House Blog & dreaming to have one of my own.

We couldn't quite finish painting the interior as the wind at the moment is unbelievable & we started to get a little frightened of falling trees & other goblins & creatures that hide in the woods.

I'm too excited for summer to hang out here & to make tea on the woodburner when it's installed.

A little dream come true.


PS: I am going to start a little feature 'Artist's Studio', featuring an artist (& their studio) about once a month. Please let me know if you are an artist (& have a studio) that I can come & take pictures of.
Thanks :)

Tomorrow is the twelfth day of Christmas which means it is officially over. Although it's sad I am excited & very scared on what this year has to hold so we may as well get cracking with it.

Before all our decorations come down I thought I'd just share a picture of our silly tree that was too big, but shall we say full of character...

Before Christmas I made up some little leather bits for friends.

I think I have finally found the right way to do these wallets but I always forget between making them & totally reinvent a way next time.

Here are two I made with recycled leather from a local cobblers & using my organic cotton for lining.

 I also made a new knife sheath for a friend, it was all a bit of a guessing game but in the end I am rather pleased with the way it came out.

This is his old tatty/broken one:

 For January only, wallets are reduced from £18 to £12! An absolute steal, please drop me a line if you fancy one... other linings & leathers available!

Ahhhhh, can't believe Christmas & New Years is over! It's all been such a blur, so hectic & lovely.

For NYE we had a big party at our family house in Devon, we had a 1920s theme last year & this year was 1950s/Rockabilly, which was the perfect opportunity for me to make some 50s inspired dresses & also make everyone's Christmas presents at the same. Two birds. Lovely.

Here is a little inspirational mood board of 50s bits I've been saving.