Raspberry Rose childs dress

This week I made a baby dress inspired by the colours in my garden at the moment. I so named it Raspberry Rose.

 It’s made with Liberty lawn cotton and has two tiers of what are becoming my signature flounces.

I must admit that I had to put down this project a couple of times and walk away as the fabric was difficult to gather and stay put! I nearly called this post blood, sweat and tears.

I love the end result though and will be making more in a range of fabrics.

During one of my intervals I popped into the garden to feed the chickens and noticed that despite the rain, my garden has begun to yield some delicious looking fruits.

The blueberries, apples, strawberries and raspberries are ripening right up. I’ve been making plenty of smoothies lately.

We’ve also got a beautiful white rose-bush that was so sad-looking last year it didn’t flower. We moved it to a sunnier position and we have some gorgeous blooms this ‘summer’. 

I cut just one to look at in a glass while I made the dress.

Although the weather is driving me crazy it has been fun watching wall to wall Wimbledon with a whole pile of strawberries! I’m liking the patriotic box too. Come on Andy Murray…

 

A walk in the valley

Just a quick post today as I’ve got a mountain of fabric and handbags to pattern up and pin. Everything is slightly behind as I’ve been waiting for a delivery of cottons. As I’m probably the most indecisive person in the world it was too much to choose a small palette of colours. I just went with thirty or so! I know that they won’t last long as there’s only a metre length of each but it’s great to have a rainbow of choice. All of the accessories are limited edition for a reason!

I walked through the valley towards Stogumber yesterday, just managing to avoid the thundery showers. The fields are a magnificent shade of yellow at the moment. An increasing number of farmers are growing rapeseed. The oil is becoming more of a lucrative business. It’s a pretty good alternative to olive oil and from the UK so that’s a bonus. There do seem to be loads of yellow fields dotted around this year and I’m not going to complain about that!

We’ve got a small apple tree in the garden which is basically a branch that the previous owner has planted against the wall and given a bit of support. Although it’s a modest little thing, the blossom is beautiful and promises a fair few apples. I am so inspired to make some garlands and hair bands that echo the gorgeousness of these pink and white buds.

And this was the view from the bedroom window last night. I like how the church spires just reach over the horizon. There was something special about the light which made everything look vivid and clear. If only everyday was like that.

Pattern prints

I hope Easter was as relaxing for you as it was for me this year. For the past few years I have always been rushed off my feet at Easter being the busiest time of year at work. So this time I had time to enjoy the break and enjoy my Guylian egg!

I was reminded this week of the fabulous Scandinavian fabric design house Marimekko. I had a love affair with them during my design degree and would always include a little accent of their bright prints in my interior projects! They translate so well to furnishings and clothing it’s hard to resist the cheerful lure of their psychedelic prints.

It was when Jackie Kennedy popped in and bought seven dresses in the 1960’s that the company was springboarded onto the international arena. Check out their website for a great timeline of their colourful past and evolution. Still as relevent today as they were 50 years ago we still see other designers paying homage to the style. SJP sports a colourful number as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex in the city.

Dolce & Gobbana styled this red flower print dress in 2010 in almost identical fabric to Marimekko’s stand out prints. They settled the dispute in the end but it does highlight how coveted these designs are globally.

 I used some fabric from a market in Holland to create this fun bedside lamp. It’s just a simple little plain shade which I attached the cotton. It looks great at night when the colours really pop with the light illuminating the pattern from behind.

I will be making more of these as it’s always been hard trying to match lights with a particular vintage piece of fabric or DIY upholstery.

At a loose end over the Easter break I fancied making something with Marimekko in mind. The bright fabrics translate well to children’s products and I had a little scandinavian cross-stitch print cotton to use. My little girl isn’t quite at the colouring in stage jet but I saw a tutorial on the Pleated Poppy for a Crayon roll so thought it was worth a go.

I love the folksy print and how cute the crayons look all wrapped up. What a great idea for children’s gifts. Isn’t there something comforting about having an emergency stash of crayons in the car or on the go just in case the little darlings need entertainment… I’m going to make a few more for gifts and will pop one in the shop if anyone would like to buy one.

Hannah x

Alfresco Easter table

I have neglected my blog for the last week only because the sun is out and too irresistable to stay indoors. So the clocks went back and all of a sudden we are plunged into summer. The bbq has been lit and we have sat out eating until 8pm when the sun sets over the Quantocks. It’s still too cold to stay out in the dark.

I have been catching up with some sewing in the garden and re-reading The God of Small Things. I remembered it being a bit controversial, but it’s incredibly evocative and beautifully written. Set in Kerala, the heat of India doesn’t seem too distant a notion this week! Having sat on the bookshelf for ten years it deserved another outing.

As Easter is fast approaching I set out a blue and yellow themed table in readiness for the holiday. Easter is one of my favourite celebrations at it doesn’t have the weight of expectation Christmas does and everyone is more relaxed. The spring flowers are out and of course the chocolate is abundant. I resisted the urge to decorate the table with eggs just yet but they will be there on the day!

These daffodils are everywhere at the moment and I love them with blue table linen and crockery. Sometimes I think simple things look the best.

The crystal vase is antique as is the mini mustard pot and wine glasses. I added these cobalt Bristol blue water glasses to match the china.

The vintage crockery is Royal Doulton and the cutlery is a mixture of new finds and vintage Harrods knives.

These stags head salt and pepper pots were a gift and they add a little humour!

I just need to go and find some matching eggs now. I’m sure Milly, Matilda and Betty will oblige me!

I managed to get a few fabric roses done too.

Birdy iPad case

It’s time I introduced the chickens as they are a constant feature of my day. Two blacks and a white they’re called Milly, Matilda & Betty. We’ve never had such productive hens and the number of eggs is to much to keep up with. I have to say I am pretty tired of eggs for breakfast everyday. There are only so many ways to cook an egg!

Having said that, I saw ‘The Little Paris Kitchen’ last night and was inspired by Rachael Khoo’s oeufs en cocotte. I think it’s more of a Parisian lunch than breakfast but I will be giving it a go for brunch.  I like her easy style of cooking and she makes French food look accessible. I also admire the honesty about the reality of cooking in a tiny kitchen. Although it appears rather cluttered, she has a place for everything including the essential cocktail shaker. That’s pretty similar to my set up although I am always intending to regiment the cutlery draw…

In homage to my feathery friends I made a case for my iPad. There are loads of boring polypropylene cases on the market and I wanted a quirky homemade one. I had some of this fun birdy cotton hanging around. I lined the sleeve with linen and added a cream button on the front. If you’re making one at home I would advise against zips or poppers as they might damage the screen. I will be making a kindle version too so that all my little gadgets are cosy!

Bad hair days

I think we all have the odd bad hair day from time to time. For the last few months my grooming regime has become limited to say the least. I was having one of my usual ‘casual’ days on Thursday when I decided enough was enough. Looking in the mirror at my ripped jeans, baggy sweater and tousled hair I tried to remember the last time I styled myself in the morning. Truth be told it had been way too long.

At the vintage fair I saw a copy of this 1943 Elizabeth Arden Christmas advert.

The wording goes…

“Beauty is Eternal. It shines like a light through the ages…it survives every trial…it gives men courage and women hope. This then, of all years, is the year to give a gift of beauty to a woman you love…for there is gallantry in the blaze of a lipstick…ardour on the whiff of a perfume… solace in things to make her lovelier.”

Is there really gallantry is the blaze of a lipstick? Is that why I never get a seat on the bus? I was lucky enough to be given a wonderful complete set of Elizabeth Arden make up last Christmas. The rouge is still waiting to be used and perhaps inspire a little courage and hope… The perfect gold compacts are so luxurious I’m almost afraid of getting fingermarks on them! Anyway, after half an hour of playing with the eyeshadow pallete and blushers we were getting there. I decided to also make a hairband to brighten up my face. Needless to say I ended up making three as I couldn’t decide which colour silk to match the liberty fabric bands.

I think the gold number is the one for me but I’m looking forward to wearing the turquoise roses with a yellow dress in the Summer.

 I had a mini model for the bronze roses!

 

There is something to be said for making an effort and styling up in the morning. Even if I am having a day at home, I will be brushing my hair and putting on a slick of mascara just for my own sense of worthiness. Rolling up at the supermarket in pyjamas surely isn’t good for the soul, even if it is comfortable. I think we all need to wear something a little bit special everyday, be it a flower hairband or some red lipstick. It only took me half an hour to feel more in control and it was a welcome distraction from the mundane everyday chores!

Green Day

Everywhere is starting to look lush again and the fields are turning from the dull brown of winter into the gorgeous limes of spring. With green on the brain I finished a couple of new handbags and have put them up in the shop. Everything I make is either a one-off or a limited edition so I can’t guarantee how long they will be available!

The Julia bag is so named in homage to Julie Andrews as the material reminds me of the clothes Maria makes for those noisy kids in the Sound of Music! It’s lined with a green/pink striped cotton and the bow at the front is just for decoration. It measures about 14″ by 8″ although the amount of material used is about three-fold the width! I made the strap long enough to go on the shoulder. I think it’s pretty and would go with nude heels or an outfit with green accents.

This green rose bag is made with Cath Kidston cotton twill and I really love this one. The colours pop and are so fresh for the summer. With this being Jubilee year and all that I am predicting all things retro to be worth investing in. Kidston has a range of Diamond Jubilee products out now which I recon will be a collectable for the future.

I have never been one for buying things to stay in the box but I do think her Pearly Queen bag is one to hang on to.

Rosettes

Wow what a difference a little more light makes! At our 6am feed time we get the sun nearly coming up over the hill. It makes getting out of bed a whole lot easier. With the flush of warmer weather we decided to refresh the conservatory. It’s really just a small extension which needs a splash of paint. The tomato plants from last summer have left not so lovely green marks on the walls. It will also make a good spot for my sewing machine so I can keep an eye on the garden. Not that I’m obsessed with plants or anything but I bought another white Jasmine which has begun to flower on the windowsil and the entire house smells divine. Not entirely sure that it should be indoors but it’s here to stay.

On Sunday I was playing around with some ideas for garlands to add some colour. With Cath Kidston oilcloth in the old english rose pattern I made a few rosettes. I sewed on some random buttons and attached the rosettes onto a plait of cotton fabrics. The idea works quite nicely as the oilcloth will stand its ground when the room gets humid. I’m going to work on a longer one that will go over the french doors. 

When I went out to feed the chickens this morning it was promising to see a few buds on the branches of the hazel tree. Still looks a bit bare though so I decorated… I may just make some more and leave them in the garden until the blossom comes out!

I recently discovered a fab book called The Liberty Book Of Home Sewing. I am hooked already as it is great for people like me who have far too much fabric stashed into corners at home in need of ideas. It would be great to use all the Liberty prints that they suggest in the book but the designs and ideas will work with an array of other pretty prints. I particularly like the book covers and kimono pattern.

First times

There is most definitely a first for everything. First smile, first shoes, first kiss. I could go on. This is an exciting first for me. I am constantly inspired by the simple and grand designs around me but am desperately inept at collating thoughts or collecting my memories. For the first time I have a sketch pad in my handbag and a blog with which to record the gorgeous and profound. I don’t want to make any bold promises to inevitably break, so lets just say that in this blog you might find things that inspire you and ideas that also make you smile.