Open Studio

Fabric Swatches

Stuffies

Our Chaos

I feel a certain melancholy as I acknowledge the end of an era. That does sound somewhat over dramatic but it is time to say good bye to this lovely work space, in doing so we are opening the studio for anyone to come in and have a nose and a chat.

This really is Bethan, my amazing friend and talented artists' studio. Without her I would never have had the courage to return to illustration. She has given me the time, encouragement, cups of tea and lots of laughter, to keep at it until I stumbled upon  my new found passion of fabric design.

Bethan I cannot thank you enough for the last two years!

This is, however, a new beginning despite the fact that we will miss many lovely people who adopted us as the studio was almost a little shop with an open door for friends and the curious. Once I have moved house there will be a new studio in my back garden where there will be space for lots of paint and ink to be splashed around by myself and Bethan (although she will have space for some sanity in a new room in the High Street as well), and we will just have to meet up with old friends in one of the lovely bars or coffee shops in town, hardly a hardship. Plus I will have the new challenge of creating a new home for my boys. Busy times ahead!

Little Boat Upon the Waves

It was so surprised to find a these photos posted by the very talented Anna from Goteborg, Sweden, on my Spoonflower shop. She bought some cotton jersey fabric of my design called 'Little Boat Upon the Waves' and made this lovely child's jacket. Have a look at her blog, lillab-butik.blogspot.com. She makes the most amazingly beautiful kids clothes in fabrics that are fun with stories to tell.  Thank you Anna!

The Finished Campervan Toy

My Campervan Cut and Sew fabric arrived. I'm really pleased with the vibrancy of the colours and the spotty background has worked well.
With trepidation I cut it out and sewed it up today......relief it works as planned. It is a bit fiddly and I would recommend tacking the campervan before sewing on the machine to control the fitting of the curves of the roof and ensuring the pocket is attached. The Surfies are really sweet and fit quite happily in the pockets. As for play potential my smallest has given it the thumbs up 'driving' it off round the house. Now I have to make up a whole load more for my soon to be opening Etsy shop.

Christmas Stockings

Yay! Finished designing my Christmas Stocking cut and sew fabric. Just waiting for the samples, then they will be for sale on my Spoonflower shop.

House move permitting I will sew some up for my etsy shop including the mini stockings(...I just am deciding whether to fill the mini ones with lavender as little stuffed decorations or to leave them open as mini stockings).

edit - here's what the stocking fabric looks like plus one cut and sewn up and hanging on our tree.

Illustration Friday - Mesmerising

I haven't had time to draw something fresh for this weeks topic, as we are still in the throws of moving house (we've been waiting on solicitors for an age!) plus I am trying to sort out my Christmas fabrics (a bit late I know), but I find map contours quite mesmerizing and couldn't resist showing you this fabric design.
You can find it in my Spoonflower shop here.

 'Mapping Contours' on organic quilting weight cotton fabric

A Partridge in a Pear Tree

Partridge in a Pear Tree Fabric

Partridge in a Pear Tree Card

I'm sorry, I know we've only just slipped into Autumn but I've been drawing Christmas cards and festive fabric and I should have been doing this six weeks ago, Ho Hum!
Anyway, I wanted to avoid the obvious festive colours, this year, but still have the Christmassy atmosphere. Have I achieved it? The card and the fabric will be available in both colourways.

Totnes Festival Lantern Procession

The wonderful atmospheric lantern procession marks the end of Totnes Festival and for me it also marks the end of the Summer, the beginning of Autumn with the nights closing in. The procession only happens every other year,  you can make your own lanterns at the work shops and take part. Process up the street to the market square to watch the fire juggling, samba band, dancing and fireworks. I love it!

Utie Scootie

My lovely sister inlaw makes amazing clothes using vintage fabric. She asked me to come up with some illustrations for her cards. I don't know what she'll make of these but I had fun painting them.

Illustration Friday - Mysterious

The mysterious world of school started this week for my little 4 year old. An exciting, mysterious, confusing journey to embark on ........... and he loves it.  PHEW!