Fabric love…
Posted on | July 25, 2010 | 1 Comment
I’m excited because tomorrow I’m visiting my favourite fabric shop again, Patchwork Direct in Darley Dale. I’m going back for some more gorgeous Polly Loves Paris fabric and the pattern for the most gorgeous quilt in the world. It’s been a couple of months since I last went and I’m sure I blogged about it at the time, the lady in the shop was trying to sell me a last minute quilt pattern as I was paying for my fabrics, I made the sensible decision to pay first and look after but since then I’ve been thinking about the beautiful quilt so tomorrow I’m going back to get everything I need. Whilst we are in those neck of the woods I’m also going to pay a visit to my favourite antique shop in Matlock. Fabric and antiques – is there any better way to spend the morning?
This morning we went into the studio again, armed with my dad and the drill! Mission for this morning was to put my fabric rack up, put the last 2 shelves up and build a cupboard for my cups and tea and coffee jars. Hubby has hundreds of random pieces of wood in his studio next door so I described to my dad what I wanted and what the little unit needed to house and he set about making it. We didn’t have time to finish before my dad had to go back for his lunch so pictures to follow later in the week!
Here are the shelves hubby put up for me though – he even rounded the corners of the bottom two because he says I’m ‘the clumsiest person in the world’ and is frightened I’m going to take my eye out on one of them!
The big studio move…
Posted on | July 23, 2010 | No Comments
It’s been over a week since my last post and as you can tell from the title of this one I got the studio! I was terrible in the interview of course but for some crazy reason they seem to really want me in there so I was kindly offered the space and of course I said yes. I must admit I was slightly hesitant as I’m moving from a bigger studio and I do have a real attachment to it so I knew it was going to be hard to leave. I’m sure I’ll settle in the new one though and I’ll just keep crossing my fingers that a larger studio comes up in the near future.
Here is my new studio before we started painting, luckily one wall was already white so that saved us some paint!
Since the interview it’s all happened very quickly as they were keen for me to move as soon as possible. Hubby started painting the walls the day after and finally finished the floor on Monday evening. Then we had to take a break as I went in for my treatment on Tuesday, the less said about that the better to be honest as it was the single most painful experience of my life so far. Apparently I was very brave though as the nurse said they get ‘screamers’! Also because I’ve been waiting for treatment for so long my joint were extra sore so it was more painful than it should have been. Since then it’s been a bit difficult to walk or even stand for any length of time so I took a couple of days off. My treatment involved a steroid and anaesthetic being injected in to the joints of my spine, it’s supposed to free me up to start my physio and should also take away some of my pain which would be great. It can take a while to work though so once the initial extra soreness and stiffness had worn off some yesterday morning I found myself back to the usual level of pain. I kept hoping that I’d wake up and all the pain would have gone but I don’t think it’s that quick to work!
We couldn’t leave the studio move much longer though so yesterday we moved, I use ‘we’ very loosely of course, I sat in the new studio all day and told my hubby and dad where to put things! I spent most of the day playing solitaire on my iPhone and loosing my patience with it, and of course documenting the whole occasion with photos…
Now with the walls all painted white and the floor a lovely blue:
Everything packed up and ready to go in the old studio:
Me in my old studio:
Goodbye Porter Brook Studios:
Everything is now piled up in the new studio – there is a lot of unpacking to do now! We were there for 10 hours yesterday and that was just getting it all in, today I’m going in with the hubby to unpack and try and get it all in some kind of order. Luckily because I can’t do all that much work at the moment I’m not in any massive rush but as my physiotherapy starts next Tuesday I’m hoping that means that I’ll be able to start to get back to normal soon. I think that’s turning in to a bit of a broken record as it’s been nearly 6 months now! I can keep hoping though cant I!
Studios and interviews…
Posted on | July 8, 2010 | 1 Comment
This week I’m celebrating being in my studio for 1 year, hasn’t time flown? What better way to celebrate than to have an interview today for another studio! It’s not a way of celebrating actually as the prospect fills me with complete fear. I was lucky enough to just submit images of my work and an application when I took on my current studio, that was due to the number of studios that were being allocated. This time though there is one studio, it’s at Persistence Works (the proper Yorkshire Artspace studio block!) and I’ve finally reached the top part of the waiting list. It’s a smaller studio than my current one which is not ideal but it’s warmer, in a more secure building and is a permanent space. My studio is temporary for a minimum of 2 years and then after that they could throw us out, my concern though is the heat, printing in fingerless gloves is not easy but somehow last year I managed it! Another plus of this studio is that it’s right next door to my husbands which makes lunch breaks easier than the current situation of him having to walk over to mine!
Here is my lovely studio:
I’d be really sorry to miss it if I got another space but I can see the positives about moving, I just wish a bigger studio would come up. It’s not easy being a fabric printer in a small studio! If I do get the small studio then we’re going to put our heads together to see if there is any way I can make printing easier in a small space – my husband has all sorts of ideas about pulley systems and fabric suspended on rolls from the wall. I’m not thinking about any of that at the moment, I need to actually get through the interview first – wish me luck! x
We have a winner…
Posted on | July 6, 2010 | No Comments
It was very close but Pug number 3 won by one vote! I’ve picked a winner at random using that fab little random number generator and the winner is comment number…..
7 – Gillian from Nottingham
Congratulations Gillian, as soon as pug number 3 gets made I’ll send you one!
I’ve decided to name this one Maddy after a lovely little pug who is friends with my Lola and Ruby, it’s actually another design based on my Lola but we can’t have 2 Lola’s can we?
I think I’ll do some lovely new colour variations for this new pug and if that one does well then I might also put one or two of the other designs in to production seeing as it was such a close call. I also think it’s about time I did some drawings of our little Ruby, she’s almost three years old now and still hasn’t had her portrait drawn. I think it’s time she was turned into a Cuddly Pug too!
My girls say a big thank you for voting! x
Cuddly Pug competition…
Posted on | June 28, 2010 | 17 Comments
I’ve decided it’s about time I did another Cuddly pug design, don’t you think? All the designs are based on drawings I did for my pug jewellery back in 2006, I turned them in to Cuddly Pugs in 2008 as a cute little extra for my shop but they proved so popular I’ve been selling them ever since. I drew 5 pug designs originally but the remaining 3 have only been used for my jewellery and not turned into cute Cuddly Pugs – this is their chance though!
Vote for your favourite design and the most popular will be turned in to the next cute Cuddly Pug, I’ll then pick out one person at random from all the entries and that person wins the winning design!
Just leave a comment on this blog to enter and choose one number, don’t forget to leave your name and add your email address to the appropriate box so I can get in touch with you (don’t worry that wont be displayed!)
Good luck – the competition ends next Monday 5th July!
Etsy front page – lucky me!
Posted on | June 27, 2010 | 1 Comment
I’ve been lucky enough to be featured in three treasuries this week then today one of them made it to the front page which is fantastic! It’s only the second time I’ve been featured on Etsy’s front page and this time it’s with my fabric so that makes me super happy, here is the screen shot:
Can you spot my bird brolly fabric in yellow down at the bottom? I’m well chuffed, in fact that has made my day and cheered my up considerably! I’m a bit stressed as I have a busy month ahead, I’m due to go back to the library soon and I’m also throwing myself in trying to get things back on track with the business including ordering some new screens. Things have been super quiet the last few months as you know. I’ve kept things ticking over by listing lots of bits and bobs and also printing up a few small items but I really need to get back in to the swing of things.
I’m also coming up to my anniversary of my studio – I moved in almost a year ago, how that has flown by! To make things a bit more complicated I’m looking at moving to another studio block! I’ve registered my interest in a studio at Persistence Works which means no frozen fingers in winter but it also means a smaller studio. Don’t think I’ve got much chance of getting it though as I am too far down the list but I can try can’t I!?!?! I’ll keep you posted.
New notebooks…
Posted on | June 18, 2010 | No Comments
I’m finally getting in gear for the summer fair season but I still need things that are nice and easy (and pain free!) to print so I’ve started with some notebooks. I thought it was time for some new colours and also time to print some of my designs that haven’t been on the cute little moleskines before so here they are – Birdcage in green, TV print in White (previously only seen on my hankies) and English Insults in Black!
Back again…
Posted on | June 15, 2010 | No Comments
Naughty me, I disappeared again. When you’re off work the days and weeks just merge and I’ve now got to the point when I’m not sure what day it is sometimes! Things have been bubbling along, I’ve been in the studio when I can, just trying to keep doing things. Printing anything that requires lifting large frames or leaning across the table is still difficult so instead I’ve been sorting out what’s left of my stock, doing lots of admin jobs and cutting up some fabric. Sounds boring eh? Well it’s not, I have to keep ticking over or I’d miss it all a bit too much! Lucky for me I was extremely efficient before Christmas and made lots of stock which has kept me going, it’s now starting to run out though and so I’ll have to start making a few small items so I have enough stock for upcoming fairs this Summer. The first of which I had on Saturday at the June Craft Candy Mini which was back at Bungalows and Bears.
I always enjoyed the minis, I’ve never had a stall before but I used to go down and help Lucia set up. It was always good to meet all the stall holders, most of them often apply for the big fairs later on so it’s great to meet them and see their work first hand before then.
This time I took everything I had left and managed to fill the 4 foot table nicely, it was a fairly quiet day but the weather was gorgeous and I had a lovely afternoon chatting with everyone. This one was arranged a bit last minute but there are another 2 fairs booked in for July and August – go here for more information.
I’ve not been very well for the last few days so I’m having a couple of days off from the studio – it’s those pesky pain killers I’ve been on since February have finally pushed my stomach over the edge and I’ve been suffering from bad stomach cramps and feeling sick for the last week. I’m off them now but I’m still not eating much at the moment and food seems to bring back the stomach ache! At least my stomach can have a rest though and try and recover itself. So I’m at home doing some embroidery and catching up with some Etsy and Folksy listing, if only the weather was a little nicer and I could take my laptop out in the back garden and sit in the sunshine!
New mirrors…
Posted on | May 17, 2010 | 1 Comment
It’s been a while since I made some mirrors so I thought what better than to make some out of my new English Insults fabric. Whilst I was at it I also made some out of my Birdcage and new Bees in the Hive prints! Then I had a happy photo session to finish the morning off, here are the results.
The mirrors are now available in both my Etsy and Folksy shops.
Then my fancy new toy arrived in the post – a light tent for taking photos – so I took some shots of the new notebooks as they are the hardest to photograph (there is always something in the background that gets in the way!) What do you think? I don’t think it’s bad for a first attempt!
Dress phase…
Posted on | May 15, 2010 | No Comments
Summer isn’t here yet (in fact it’s really really cold) but I’m determined to not let that dampen my search for the perfect dress. After I completed my Rooibos this week I’ve decided that I can’t wait any longer before making another dress so I’ve ordered the pattern for the Eclair dress.
I’m hoping to make this dress for a wedding later in the year but I’m still searching for the perfect fabric, here is the dress – it has a lovely sash detail round the waist.
The next dress after that will be another gorgeous Colette pattern, here is Ceylon and this lovely version is made in Blue linen:
(and yes that’s Teegs for those of you who know Ink and Spindle!)
This particular pattern looks very 40′s which is why I’d like to make it, I wish I could find a lovely linen fabric but I’ve struggled in find any in the shops. I think I’ll probably make it out of a cotton but nothing too outlandish. I do like patterns on dresses but then I find it really difficult to find anything to match them. I’m not a big spender when it comes to clothes (in fact I only buy clothes about twice a year) so if I’m making a new dress I have to at least have some shoes or maybe a cardigan to go with it.
There are some fabulous dresses out there though if you’re not handy with a sewing machine, I found this today and instantly fell in love:
This is the Temporary Secretary dress (one of my favourite McCartney songs as a child!) and it’s on the fabulous Modcloth site.
Laura Lees dresses are another passion of mine, I have a few of the Topshop ones that are machine embroidered but I and am lucky enough to have an original tennis dress too. Here is a recent Laura Lees dress in collaboration with Little Miss Sew, isn’t it adorable?
