Beautiful fabric from Backstitch

I ordered some plain coloured cotton fabric from Backstitch on Friday and it arrived Saturday morning. Not only do Backstitch provide an excellent service and top quality products but their fabric arrives carefully wrapped in tissue paper with a ribbon and a hand written note - such a nice touch! It made my day!

Design Studio

Back before the Easter holidays I handed in my resignation for my teaching job, as it was beginning to take over my life and gave me no time to do my own textiles. This week I started a new part-time job which gives me lots of time to sew and make things, hurray!


I've spent some time sorting out my spare room so that it is a practical studio space. I just love it!

Some of my recent cushion designs on top of a quilt I made a couple of years ago.

My inspiration board

Vintage finds in Dorset

Over the Easter break I had a lovely holiday in Dorset. Whilst in Dorset I visited Bridport and Lyme Regis to hunt for some vintage goodies in the markets and charity shops. My shopping trips were a great success and I found lovely vintage embroidered fabrics, some very sweet tea cups, strips of buttons and a set of floral place mats that match my Royal Albert tea set! I plan to use the fabrics to make bunting and cushions.

In Lyme Regis I spotted this amazing piece of graffiti - an origami heron! So clever!

Beautiful Paintings by Ryoko Oikawa

I recently visited The Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster, Bristol where they had a lovely exhibition of the work of Ryoko Oikawa. This is the second time that the gallery has exhibited Oikawa's work - the first time was just over a year ago at the time of the 2011 Japanese earthquake. The paintings would have almost certainly been destroyed if they had not been in the exhibition as the artist's home was greatly affected by the earthquake. The gallery is exhibiting Ryoko Oikawa's work again to mark the anniversary of the earthquake. Oikawa paints flowers and gardens with thickly applied oil paints creating an almost 3d effect. I just love her use of colour and texture.  

Fabulous Frome

The other weekend I took a trip to the lovely Somerset market town of Frome. I was blown away with a beautiful cobbled street called Catherine Street which is literally a street of vintage and fabric shops - my idea of heaven! A fabric shop called Millie moon had recently opened and was filled with the most beautiful fabrics. I couldn't resist buying a few fat quarters to add to my fabric collection! The street holds a market the first Sunday of the month so I am looking forward to going back to Frome next month to see the market. I also visited Black Swan Arts which was hosting an impressive Open Art Exhibition. I definitely recommend a visit.

Millie Moon Fabric Shop

Black Swan Arts Open Art Competition

Catherine Street

Charity Shop Shopping!

I love having a good rummage round my local charity shops and today I discovered some great vintage buys!

Small dishes with great graphic images of vintage cars on 

Some vintage dressmaking patterns

Vintage blue clutch with detachable strap and scarf with paisley print

Blue scarf with cat print

The Sketchbook Project

I have just sent off my entry for the Sketchbook Project. It was a real rush in the end but I got it posted off just in time. The theme for my sketchbook was Stitches and Folds. After a lot of contemplation of how to translate this theme I decided I would create a series of floral patterns by stitching, folding and cutting paper. The designs are quite simple and I was restricted by the size of the sketchbook as it was rather small but I am pleased with the results and feel it has given me some good ideas that I could develop further and translate into fabric. Take a look and see what you think.