I have now finished the 4 large meadow cushions that a Country Living magazine reader commissioned me to make - this is them in the late evening sunshine yesterday. I have really enjoyed making these and am now working out the logistics of another potential commission - for some curtains in the same design, something that I think will look stunning if I can work out how to do it without the bulk of the material getting in the way.
The poppies in the meadow have begun to bloom.
Each year they seem to come up a different colour - this year they are a pink toned red with a good black splotch.
I shall try to draw them this week I think - before they become seedheads.
It is these poppies, escapees from the cutting garden into what we term (very loosely and somewhat optimistically) the meadow, that are the inspiration for my embroidered meadow cushions.
Since they have been featured in Country Living Magazine's Emporium section I am quickly running through my roll of vintage French hemp - there is perhaps enough for 5 more.
I will do the design in a different fabric but I thought it best to let you know, just in case there is anyone who wants this type of rumply rustic background.
I cannot throw things away. The smallest scraps of beautiful materials are carefully stowed - just in case . . .
I have now found a solution - a simple modification to my button badge maker and I can make hair bobbles out of all the pieces that are too small for anything else.
Katie has been trialling them for me - she has had unusually neat hair this week - her bobbles of choice are made from a 1950s cotton with sugar pink rosebuds.
I shall be at The Green Fair in Dunblane this Saturday (Victoria Halls, 10-3) - come and say Hi if you are passing - it looks like there will be lots of good stalls. I shall be there behind a great heap of bobbles - it turned out to be rather addictive.
J
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There has been a bit more colour creeping into my work recently.
Some of thats down to the design project that is still under wraps. But I also found that I missed it. However, the month of so of monochrome has led to a lot more restraintin the way I work. For the mystery design project (goodness at this rate it is going to be such an anti-climax when I finally reveal the products) I had 6 colours to work with. I couldn't just empty the scrap bag and get stitching, I had to think about it all in a more considered and disciplined way.
I think that this new approach it has carried onto these caravan notebooks which will be going up on the website in the next week or so -
I am really pleased with them - especially the backs.
After a month of so of sunshine we are now deep in drizzle - I need some sunshine to take photos of bunting for my newsletter.
Over the past couple of months I have been working on and off on a proper design project. A design project that has been a bit out of my comfort zone to be honest.
It has had me questioning why I have been asked to do it when I have zilch experience.
It has had me worrying about whether what I am producing is good enough.
It has had me concerned that I don't actually know what colour separation means.
I has however been great fun. The people I have been working with have been enthusiastic and so kind and flattering.
Everything is now approved and hopefully in a few weeks I will be able to show you what I have been doing.
In the meantime - a sneaky peak.
Yesterday was a completely clear day - no meetings, no trips to suppliers, just glorious uncluttered time.
I chose to spend it making up stock, as levels are really low (not that I am complaining - please don't think that!).
I made up some of my mini meadow lavender cushions - sketching away with my sewing machine while gazing out over our meadow which is now dancing with buttercups, sorrel and ragged robin. It was idyllic.
It was also a good choice as this arrived on my doorstep mid afternoon - and there is my meadow cushion featured in the Emporium shopping page - orders started buzzing through last night, I am so glad that I am able to send them out this morning.
Country Living is a magazine which has supported what I am doing from the start - they gave me my first break with an article in 2005 and have really helped me punch above my weight with stalls at their Scottish Fairs in 2006 and 2007.
This year I have been asked to demonstrate how to make things at their Christmas Fair in Glasgow in November. I am so looking forward to it.
The staff - both at the magazine and the Fairs - seem to be genuinely interested in the small and quirky business. They go out of their way to work around people who are just starting out - all my dealings with them have been a pleasure - so a big thank you to Caroline, Ben and Kitty at the magazine; Suzi and Nicola at the Fair.
I am still trying to sort out the problem with the turquoise capital letters.
It is caused by a glitch between typepad and Internet Explorer - which explains why only some people are effected.
I use Firefox to access the Internet and have also checked out Safari and Opera - all are fine. Unfortunately 75% people use Internet Explorer and now think I have odd ideas in graphic design.
Anyway - the notebook giveaway - Diana's name came out of the hat so I made her up a square notebook with a daisy design and shall post it out to her in the next day or 2.
There have been a lot of photos of desks in weblogs recently - and finally I have a desk that can be photographed.
It is very interesting - since I have had a dedicated workspace I have had a character transplant. For the first time in my life I have become house proud - well caravan proud to be accurate.
This morning I got very grumpy when I found biscuit crumbs and abandoned novels in my caravan. Like a vacuum a tidy space seems to attract chaos - children have been there.
It is so wonderful to have my own space and it has encouraged me to become much freer with what I am doing - yesterday I was working on these sketchbooks embroidered with drawings of snakeshead fritillaries. It was one of those days when I felt that I had taken a great step forward . . .
My next newsletter is out, mainly about fritillaries - email me if you want to join the subscription.
J
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