After the crazy Christmas season stock levels were looking a bit low. That could only mean one thing – time to order more fabric! I always like to spend January designing new prints so once I had a collection ready to go I put in the fabric order. If you don’t know anything about the pattern design and fabric printing process check out the about page. The first new print to be released was the sea turtles design which you can read about here.
With so many new items being made I thought it would be a good idea to make a quick list of what’s coming up in the next month. Lots of items are being restocked too so if there’s anything out of stock on the website don’t forget to sign up for product alerts on the product page. If you spot something on the list that you would like just let me know!
Reusable makeup remover pads
The reusable makeup remover pads were hugely popular over Christmas – I couldn’t make them fast enough! They’re really pretty and they’re kind to the planet too. Here’s a list of the new makeup pads coming soon:
Turtles Houseplants Bluebells Chickens Unicorns Apples Giraffes
Plus lots more extras of the favourites already on the website too!
Pencil cases
The pencil cases were another firm favourite over the festive period. Their handy size means they can be used for all sorts of purposes. A handbag makeup bag, a travel sewing kit, or even a teabag pouch.
If you’ve not heard about beeswax wraps yet check out my post about them here. These are a super easy way to start your journey towards less single use plastic. A lot of the fabric allocated for these was just to make sure stock levels are topped up but there were a few new ones too.
Bluebells Turtles Houseplants
Wash bags
Wash bags are another product that are super versatile. Being made with water resistant fabric means they can be used for a whole host of reasons.
It’s great having the water resistant fabric for the aprons. It’s just so much easier to have a wipe clean apron if you’re a messy chef! A few of these completely sold out over Christmas so it was time for a restock.
“That makeup bag is so pretty but I don’t wear makeup”. I often hear this from customers I meet at markets. If this is you, there’s no need to worry! Yes, the makeup bags are brilliant for storing your cosmetics. However they’re also great as project bags, toiletry bags, or giant pencil cases.
There are many different makeup bag designs to choose from
As for the wash bags, those are made with water resistant fabric so they have all sorts of uses! You could use them as pretty bathroom storage, or as a wipe clean bag to hold your favourite art supplies.
The rubber duck wash bag would be fab as bathroom storage
The difference is in the fabric
Inside, the makeup bags and the wash bags look different too. The makeup bags are made with a tough and durable cotton drill fabric and are lined with a complementary cotton lining. The wash bags are made with a water resistant fabric so aren’t lined. This is because a cotton lining would get damp when exposed to water.
The makeup bag (top) is made with cotton fabric and the wash bag (bottom) is made with water resistant fabric.
As you can see, all the makeup and wash bags feature a zip along the top so whatever you choose to store inside will be safe. Each bag measures approximately 28cm wide x 20cm tall x 9cm deep meaning you can fit loads in. There’s enough space for an expansive makeup collection, or for all your toiletry essentials on holiday.
All the toiletries in the photo fitted in the toiletry bag with lots of room to spare
So many designs to choose from
What’s more, there are loads of designs to choose from! Here’s just a few of the latest prints available right now.
If you’re looking for something fun and fruity, the banana wash bag is the one for you! I love the contrast of the yellow bananas against the aqua blue background – very tropical.
Banana wash bag
If you’re more interested in insects (a big trend for this year by the way) then check out the fab ladybird wash bag. The classic combination of black, white and red will fit in well with any colour scheme.
Ladybird wash bag
Or if you’re looking for something super glam and girly to hold your favourite makeup essentials, look no further than the fabulous flamingo makeup bag.
Flamingo makeup bag
Whatever your taste is I have a design suitable for you! Take a look at the full range here.
If there’s a particular design you would like to see on a makeup bag or wash bag, just let me know! Or if you have any suggestions of what you’d like to see next, such as mini wash bags, jumbo makeup bags… comment below to tell me.
All the drawing, fabric designing, sewing and photographing is done by me in my north east studio.
I’m not a fan of long commutes so I love that my studio is just 10 seconds from my living room. When I moved in, the building in the garden was split down the middle, half a shed and half a playroom. The first thing I did (when it had stopped snowing… remember the glorious beast from the east?) was have the building completely renovated – the middle wall was ripped out, the walls and ceiling were lined with cosy insulation, and proper electricity was wired through to make sure the industrial sewing machine would run properly.
Having the studio in the garden is great!
The studio is the perfect size to fit everything in. Check out the video below for a quick whizz round tour.
So let’s break it down a bit!
The studio drawing table
Every fabric I design starts with my hand drawing which I draw right at this table here (unless it’s absolutely freezing, then I resort to the sitting-by-the-fire-under-several-blankets style of drawing)
This table is where it all begins. I stick photos I’ve taken on the wall as inspiration for my drawings.
As you can see, this is also where I keep all my scissors plus my domestic sewing machine and overlocker. I’ve written a blog post about my top 10 tools and tips for anyone interested in sewing which you can check out here.
The crafting cupboard
This big cupboard houses everything I need to get creative.Threads, buttons, ribbons, pens, pencils, paints…
In the big cupboard next to the drawing table, there are all sorts of bits and pieces! I have a drawer for paints, a drawer for pens and pencils, then all the threads, buttons, ribbons and extras that I could possibly need for sewing. The last owners of my house very kindly left this super useful cupboard in the bathroom so I re-purposed it for the studio.
Once I’ve finished my drawing, I then scan it in to the computer and turn it in to a digital print design. This is the only part I don’t do in the studio as my internet doesn’t stretch that far.
The fabric store
This tallboy houses all the lining fabrics and specialist fabrics such as interfacing, towelling, fusible fleecing and insulating fabric.
Once the fabric has returned from the printers it’s time to get making. This is where this cupboard comes in. I bought this tallboy from Oxfam when I moved in to my flat in Southampton and it’s one of those fantastic pieces of furniture that can be used for all sorts of things.
It also holds my stash of wool for when I get a chance to do some crochet.
It’s a bit of an organised chaos situation but it makes sense to me! The top shelf holds any excess printed fabric that I need to get round to making in to something. It also holds the plain cotton lining fabrics that I use for items like the coin purses, makeup bags, and passport covers. (Check them out here) The middle shelf houses all the specialist fabrics like interfacing, towelling, fusible fleecing and insulating fabric. There’s also a stack of printed fabric (not designed by me) that I have bought to make in to clothes. I have about 6 dresses in the pipeline, it’s just finding the time to make them!
Dressmaking in the studio
Speaking of dress making, here’s a quick shot of the corner of the studio. This holds my fabulous dressmaker’s dummy and all my tape measures (forever losing these so you can never have enough)
The adjustable dressmaker’s dummy is so handy for making clothes.
I also have a selection of design books covering everything from creative garment construction and printmaking, to typography and packaging design. When I lived in Southampton I would take a day trip to Salisbury as there is a fantastic bookshop there that sells all sorts of really specialist books really cheaply!
I just love books!
Time to get sewing
After that quick sidetrack it’s back to the making process. I used to use the domestic sewing machine that you saw earlier but, bless its little heart, it was not designed for the volume of sewing I do these days. When my studio was being renovated, I searched high and low for an industrial sewing machine to take over the main sewing duties. I was lucky to find this beauty not too far from me which used to be used in the Barbour factory.
My fabulous industrial sewing machine
This beast powers through everything and never gives up, even when I’m sewing through 8 layers of thick fabric.
An important part of the sewing process is ironing. Pressing seams ensures they lie flat and gives the completed item a better finish.
The final stages
Apologies for the photo quality, it was a super sunny day when I was shooting the studio and the bright light from the windows caused a bit of a problem here.
Once the items are sewn and pressed, it’s time to photograph them.
Most of the items are shot on a light blue background to match my branding.
I’m lucky to have lots of big windows in the studio so the daylight helps a lot. I also use a daylight lamp (the one sat on the industrial sewing machine table) to help on gloomier days.
My photography set up is forever changing but I think I’m slowly getting there…
Just a little side note for eagle-eyed readers; the robin on the notice board was the first thing I ever screen printed when I was at university. It forms the base for the robin print which is still popular to this day!
Tissue paper, paper bags, business cards and mailing boxes are all housed in here.
And just in case you were wondering, the cupboard that I take the photos on holds all my packaging supplies for sending orders out to you lovely people! I recently changed to cardboard mailing boxes to be more eco friendly which fit nicely on this shelf. The bigger ones had to sit next to the cupboard as they are HUGE when they’re not folded in box form. This was another cupboard that was very kindly left by the previous owners in the bathroom. Much more handy in my studio though!
Off to market
Finally when everything is photographed and listed on the website, it’s time to go to market.
Another piece of furniture that was left by the previous owners of the house. A quick clean up and it makes the perfect market prop storage.
This shelving unit here holds all the props and accessories needed for my market stall. It adds up to quite a lot of equipment! This is all carefully planned out before each market to make sure I’m happy with the layout before I go.
With the cow drawing scanned into the computer, it’s time to add colour to the print design.
For this print design, I decided to colour the cow drawing digitally using layers of photographs. I photographed different angles of the cows to get sections of their fur. Next I took a look at the colours of the cow to see which areas needed to be lighter or darker. By doing this I was able to cut different pieces out of the photos to use in different areas. Then it was a case of layering the different pieces and blending them to create a smooth coverage of fur. Take a look at this video to see all the layers that went in to colouring the cow.
I needed lots of layers of different shades to create the beautiful fur of the cow
The final step
Once the cow had its fur it was time to create the print design. I had a vague idea in mind of how I wanted the print to look which really helped. Quite often I’m not sure what I want the finished print to look like so it takes longer to create because I don’t have a base to start from. For this design, I had the idea to have the cows in clusters, as if they were scattered about a field. First of all, the cows were grouped in to small groups of twos and threes. Also some cows were rotated and resized to give some variety to the print.
I always like to use a cream background with a brown print designI also wanted to use a green background to symbolise the grass
And here’s the finished print design! What do you think? Do you prefer the cream or the green background?
Earlier this week I sent off the files to the fabric printer so new fabric is imminent! Using the cow fabric I will be making a coin purse, a passport cover and a wash bag. If you would like to reserve any of these items, just let me know!
If money is still a bit tight after Christmas but you’re in need of a treat, how about some hair accessories? At just £3.50 each, they’re the perfect little treat to help with the January blues.
Kingfisher scrunchie
Scrunchies are brilliant for anyone with longer hair. As well as being pretty, they hold your hairstyle in place better than bobbles. They’re also much kinder to your hair so they’re less likely to pull. Available in a wide range of prints, there’s something for everyone! Take a look at all the scrunchies here.
Pineapple hair bow
If scrunchies aren’t your thing, how about hair bows? They measure about 3 inches wide so are the perfect size for any hairstyle. These feature either crocodile clips or barrette clips on the back which are both great at gripping hair. No more bows sliding down and dropping out! These hair bows are great for anyone, no matter how long or short your hair is. Take a look at all the available hair bows here.
Special offer: £3.50 each or 2 for £6
Even better, you can buy any 2 scrunchies or bows for just £6! You can pick 2 scrunchies, 2 bows, or 1 of each! Whether you’re a fan of bees, flamingos or dinosaurs, beach huts, chickens or unicorns, there really is something for everyone. These are just some of the designs available but there are so many more different prints to choose from. Take a look at the full range of hair accessories by clicking here.
So forget about how cold and miserable it is and brighten your day with a super colourful hair accessory. Only 1 of each design available so be quick!Would you like to see more hair accessories? Maybe some headbands? Let me know by leaving a reply at the bottom of the page.
It’s that time again when new fabric is on its way!
After a super fantastic festive period, it’s time to restock on lots of items. New fabric here we come! The beeswax wraps have now completely sold out so I’ll be making a HUGE new batch of those, but what else would you like to see?
Reusable beeswax food wraps fabric
I’ve designed lots of new prints in the new year so I’m really excited to see those on fabric. Have you seen the panda print and banana print yet?
With summer holidays on the horizon I’m planning on making a whole new range of passport covers. What designs would you like to see on the passport covers? So far I have planned bees, blue tits, bananas, sheep, cows, pandas, kingfishers, rabbits, ladybirds and giraffes. Are there any other prints you’d like on them? Let me know by commenting below!
Passport covers are a great way to make your passport stand out from the crowd. What prints would you like to see on the next batch of passport holders?
Another best seller at Christmas was the fabulous reusable makeup remover pads. These completely sold out at the Christmas markets so I’m going to make a big new batch of these too. What designs would you like to see on the makeup pads? Let me know!
With a pretty printed side and a soft towelling side, these reusable makeup remover pads are an essential part of any beauty routine.
And of course there will be more of your favourites like coin purses, makeup bags and aprons. Anything else you’d like to request? Just let me know! New fabric will be ordered on Friday so don’t miss out.
If you want to request any items for the next couple of months, please let me know this week!
We all know how important it is to cut down on plastic waste, and using reusable beeswax wraps is a super easy way to get started.
These little beauties not only look fabulous, they’re also really practical and good news for the environment too. Whenever you would use cling film, just use a beeswax wrap instead.
How to use beeswax wraps
By using the warmth of your hands, the wrap will shape around your food and hold in place just like cling film. You can use them to wrap leftovers or snacks, pans and bowls. Just make sure to avoid wrapping hot foods as the heat can melt the wax. Check them out here.
Once you’re finished with the wrap, simply wash it under tepid water with a mild detergent. Hang to dry, then it’s ready to use again. When it has reached the end of its life, simply cut it in to strips and chuck it in the compost bin.
The benefits of beeswax wraps
It’s amazing how much plastic you save by reusing the wraps instead of using single-use cling film. With proper care, each wrap can last up to a year depending on how often you use it.
What’s more, beeswax is naturally anti-bacterial. This means the wraps actually keep your food fresher for longer which prevents food waste too!
The beeswax wraps are available in so many different print designs so there’s really something for everyone. They’re a great way to make yours or your kids packed lunches more fun, and they’ll add a lovely splash of colour to any kitchen. Take a look at the full range here.
Plastic free packaging
Of course I didn’t want to use plastic to package the wraps as that would really defeat the object of using less plastic… so after a lot of research and experimenting I came up with a completely plastic free, fully recyclable paper packaging solution. Please recycle the packaging with your household paper!
Have you used beeswax food wraps yet? Share your opinions about them in the comments below…
Thanks to all you lovely people who visited the markets before Christmas, the beeswax food wraps sold out! I’m going to be making some more ready for the next market in March but I’d love to get your input on what designs I should make. The bees were the bestseller last year so I’ll definitely be making more of those but what else would you like to see? Any suggestions of new prints I could design to put on the wraps? Let me know by commenting below 🙂
