Tree Fall

Making a Point

My new 'What's the Point' Dress.

Inspired in particular by the amazing book 'Circus Alphabet' by Patric Hudson and Richard Scarry's circus illustrations, I've been playing with this colour combination and triangles since I got back from doing Country Living, but it didn't fully come together until yesterday, when I finally finished the dress.

 

The main body of the dress is made from natural linen, while the triangles are cut and pieced using plain cottons in the four different colourways.

 

 

Because the linen is light weight, I've fully lined the dress with a pink cotton lawn, which is lovely and soft against the skin and stops the patchwork seams from being all scratchy.

 

As well at the "What's the Point' dress, the new collection includes new 'That's the Point' baby blankets, in two different circus inspired colourways.

 

Hedging my bets

Hedgerow by Angie Lewin. It comes in these three colour ways and I absolutely could not decide which one I wanted, so I ordered swatches of all three.

And now I'm even more confused. They are all incredibly beautiful.

Even Bella agreed that we should have all three....

(I wish).

plain talking

It's not often that I see something that makes me want to go straight out and copy it (if for no other reason than copying is wrong people, don't do it!), but when I saw Kayanna's blocks for the Summer Sampler Series I couldn't stop myself from ordering the exact same fat quarter bundle that she used.

 

 

Kayanna is always so clever and I love all of her designs and her blocks (and quilt) are no exception. The colours are a lot more muted than I usually use but look so beautiful together.

Strangely for me, I've been a bit disappointed with the majority of fabrics I've bought online recently. I seem to have had a major shift in my tastes and not only is my eye being caught more and more by softer colours, I'm also choosing plains over prints a lot more than ever before.

I haven't used this bundle yet, but I was really pleased with it when it arrived and am looking forward to finally making myself a new quilt with it.

Completely deluded

I decided the other day that this spring I want to be Audrey Helpburn. Which is obviously not going to happen, so instead I'm going to wear black cigarette pants with a black polo and pretend that I'm Audrey Hepburn (the fact that I'm blonde really is the least of my problems!).

I tried searching for some black side zip pants, but couldn't find anything I liked, until I discovered that Colette do this pattern for a pair that look perfect. I haven't tried making trousers for myself before and am a little nervous about the fact that I have funny shaped legs, but if they work out then any day now I'll be looking just like this*.....

 

 

 

 

 

*to a blind person, in the dark, looking the other way.

4th

Lily turned 4 today.

Bella has been shaking her head all day at the idea of having such a big little sister. And I completely agree. It's baffling.

The last four years have been so much better for having Lily in them. There have truly been times when sneaking in to her bed for a cuddle has been the only thing that could make me smile.The feel of her hand in mine and the sound of her voice when she whispers that I'm such a good mum can save any bad day.

 

 

Lily has always been a little unusual. She see's the world in her own way. She has had severe speech problems since she started trying to talk at 8 months, which has lead to her being the most beautifully demonstrative girl. She has had to learn patience in a way that most toddlers don't. Where some children would (understandably) turn their frustration at not being understood in to anger, Lily has learned to carefully work out ways to explain her thoughts. And in the process has managed to develop an amazingly strong, funny, clever sense of humour.

The last few months have been tough for Lily. She's had to deal with some issues that I can't protect her from, as much as I truly want to. But she's continued to be the beautiful, amazing, wonderful girl that I am so incredibly proud of.

Lily is hard to describe. You'd have to meet her to know.

She's everything to us. She's clever and funny and cheeky and very, very loving.

 

She's my heart. Walking about, out there, exposed to the world.

I love you Lily. We all do. We fought to have you and we'd do it again a million times over.

Happy 4th Birthday big girl.

And thank you.

xx

Colour!

 

 

 

Influencing me at the moment...

 

1.Anthropologie 2. Jonathan Adler  3. Ara Peterson  4. Anthropologie

5. Julia Kostreva

91 Magazine

There are some really wonderful on line magazines around these days, including the gorgeous 91 Magazine.

If you haven't discovered it yet, you should definitely go and have a read of it!

 

 

It's full of beautiful images and interesting features.

And I'm proud to say that if you turn to page 8 of Issue 2, you'll see one of my cushions!

You can read and enjoy Issue 2 here

 

SEVEN

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bella turned 7 yesterday.

I sat last night and tried to put in to words how I feel about her and who she has become, but I found it impossible.

I just don't know how to capture her spirit in words. Every year I write about how wonderful and funny she is, how proud of her I am and how lucky we are to have her in our lives.

But this year I struggle to sum up such a wonderful, complex, intelligent person.

When I think of Bella I picture her raising her eyebrows and smiling cheekily at me. Imitating a look that I've been giving my mother since I was a child. I picture her dancing with that mix of childish abandon and sophistication that makes me both happy, proud and a little sad, all in one fell swoop.

I see her wrap her arms around Lily and pull her close. Offering to share her new toy, her last chocolate, her special teddy.

I think of all the letters she's left on my pillow, telling me how much she loves me and thanking me for everything I do for her. For no reason other than to make me smile.

When I think of Bella I laugh. At her walking down the street, hunched forward, with a silly look on her face, making Lily laugh so loudly.

When I think of Bella I'm proud. Of how she throws her arms around the people she loves and always makes everyone feel welcome. The way she shouts "Hazel" with real joy when she see's her. The way she hugs her Nana. The way she always goes along with the joke.

I love to hug her. I love her. I love who she is and who she's become. I love the fact that I can see an amazing individual, already making her own way in the world. Making decisions, taking care, looking out for everyone else.

And she's only 7. She's already 7.

Happy Birthday Beautiful Bella.

You're cool.

 

 

 

 

Dressed

 

New New Years Eve dress for Lily. Requested 2 hours before leaving for a party.

 

 

Sewn using a machine embroidered pink cotton with a slight sheen. And lined with grey cotton.

 

 

Quite possibly the first dress I've made for her that was accepted, appreciated and worn immediately.

 

 

 

February

 

Sadly January was not a kind month.

So I'm starting February a fresh, in the hopes that we can turn this year (which hasn't even got off the ground yet) around.