I don't think you're ready...

For this Jelly.
So the theme of this months MATS Bootcamp mini assignment is jelly moulds. I own only one vintage glass Jelly mould so grabbed a load of pictures of moulds from ebay and started sketching without much idea of what I was going to do with all these sketches. And I have to admit I wasn't loving the theme initially. The main assignment revealed that the application was bolt fabric - something I feel quite comfortable with so I worked up a jelly mould pattern, giving it a bit of a bold retro feel, again something I feel quite comfortable with:

But the point of me taking the bootcamp is that I push myself creatively, to try things that are not in my comfort zone. I have a whole bunch of other ideas and still a week left before submission deadline so will be working up a few more ideas too. Despite not loving the theme to begin with, I'm really quite enjoying it now, and can't wait to try out a few new (and a bit more uncomfortable) things.

Rain Rain, Go Away

Although this months bootcamp assignment has finished, I'm still playing with my sketches, you know, just to see what happens. I felt my bird needed some wellies and an umbrella to protect against all that flippin' rain.

Bootcamp

I signed up to the Lilla Rogers bootcamp recently, just to give myself a bit of focus and a challenge.
I'm finding it quite difficult to find enough time for me and my work. Whilst being a mummy was the job I most wanted in the world (and incidentally it still is) I've found that I can't really turn off the creative side of me, so the bootcamp works perfectly for me because it's not a full time thing. It's a 6 month online course with assignments and deadlines, but it's not full on - it's enjoyable, and gives me lots of new design work for my portfolio too.

Our first assignment was a cuckoo themed one. Initially to sketch and create lots of hand drawn images and icons - which I don't do enough these days, and then to turn those into a design for a phone case. I've really enjoyed the first assignment, and could run and run with this theme. Bring on assignment 2!

building family traditions

I made an advent calendar for my little chick this year. At 16 months, she is a maybe a little bit too young to fully appreciate it, but she knows what it is and she knows that she gets to open present from it and that sometimes it is something to eat and sometimes it is a toy to play with. I asked her where it was today and she pointed at it. A success then!

We'll keep the stars for next year once all the presents have been opened. A new family tradition in the making.
I love Christmas time. There is just a few more weeks of juggling work and being a mummy and then we can all sit back, relax and enjoy it.
Would a small sprinkling of snow be too much to ask for? Maybe in a few weeks time?

Putting the magic into Christmas

now then, am I going soft? or is this just an amazing bit of wobbly lip, lump in throat advertising that just makes you want to watch it again and again. And with a soundtrack from Lily Allen too. Thank you, thank you, thank you John Lewis.
Meanwhile I'm sat here at my desk sanding a huge pile of painted stars destined to become Christmas decorations. Dare I say it, it's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas.

Getting back in the saddle

Hello. Is there anyone there?
I have been gone an awfully long time haven't I. Being a mummy is an all consuming business. Days, weeks and months just seem to meld into each other and before you know it, 14 months (to the day) have passed since she came along and I wonder where all that time just went, in the blink of an eye.
Luckily I still think being a mummy is the best job in the world, but I do feel a yearning to reconnect with the designer in me, and slowly but surely, I've been getting back into the design saddle.

My NOTHS shop has been open a few months and I'm slowly starting to fill the shelves again. I'm not going to open my Etsy shops for a while yet, but I'm doing a bit of freelance here and there (whilst the little one sleeps, and on the days she is in nursery)

Some stuff that has happened/is happening:
I am published! My designs are featured in the new Print&Pattern kids book - whoop! I love the Print&Pattern books and feel so honoured to be featured amongst some of my favourite designers

My new hand painted hand stamped wooden Christmas star decorations are now available to order here

I now have a facebook page for my business. I finally caved - please do pop along and 'like' me.

Sadly, within the last week, we said a final goodbye to our beautiful Mellie cat. We are saddened about this beyond words. We will miss her with all our hearts.

I'm instagramming! It's kind of been my mini blog whilst I've been away from my big blog. Come and say hello, but be warned, I post lots of pics of my cute little chick  :)

And in the time I have written this, the chick has had her nap and woken up. Time to go and be mummy again.

still here, just ticking along

I didn't really mean for it to be so long between posts. Being a mummy for the first time is an all consuming experience. It's been a great 5 months. It's definitely the hardest job I've ever had but without doubt the most rewarding too.
In one respect, I wish I had found or made some time to continue with my blog, for the sake of documenting 'on paper' the first few months with our lovely little Maisie. In another respect it was nice just to spend the first few months just being a little family of three (+ our 2 moggies) and adjusting to our new way of life.

I probably won't return to regular blogging again until I return to working full time, which won't be for a few more months yet. If you want to get in touch please use the form on the 'contact' tab.

Maisie's first Christmas

introducing...

Maisie!
Who finally made her debut into the big wide world on 11th August - a few days later than expected but well worth the wait.

We'll no doubt have our hands very full over the coming months so I'm not promising any frequent blog posts and my work will be on the back burner for a while whilst we adjust to our new way of life too. We're going to be spending as much time as possible soaking up every ounce of this new little life we have created - our finest design project to date.
I will still be twittering away (very likely to be baby centric!) if you'd like to follow me there

MONSTER SALE

I must apologise for the radio silence here. So much is happening. We're on the home straight now with only 4 weeks left until Baby Boo is due (how did that happen?) and much is being done in preparation of this, as well as plenty of work being done before it's time to give it all up for a while.
I have quite typically gone into a bit of a tidying, sorting and cleaning frenzy and have decided to clear the decks a little when it comes to my wooly stuff etsy shop, so I'm having a MONSTER SALE

Well actually, not just monsters, but everything in my shop is now 50% off - owls, kitties, phone cosies, cards and scrap bags, until further notice or until everything has sold - whichever comes first
Pop over here and have a nosy. I'm sure there will be a bargain to tickle your fancy.
***Edited to add  - you need to use the code Monda50 at the checkout to activate the discount***

Extinct

I've been working on a little collection called 'Extinct' which features dinosaurs and florals (and floral dinosaurs) in a couple of different colour ways:

You can see the entire collection here
They will be available to purchase as fabrics soon. I think I'll order some jersey cotton in the pinky colour ways and make a few baby bits with them, although on that score time is fast running out. I have only 7 weeks left until Boo arrives (all being well).
Business wise, I seem to be busier than I have been in a long time and part of me doesn't want that  momentum to stop but then part of me is just looking forward to the new challenges ahead. I'm mostly excited about meeting this little bundle that seems to have the strength of a kick boxer sometimes (oof!) and then there is a little bit of me that wonders what the heck I am supposed to do with a baby - all normal stuff for a first time mum I suspect (?).

I DO, ME TOO

My personalised framed wedding prints have been selling really well in my NOTHS shop of late, indicating that wedding season is well and truly under way. In particular my papercut style heart print seems to be really well received:

so with this in mind the last couple of days have been spent designing a new print, for the sake of a bit of variety, but still with the same papercut feel (and of course featuring birds!):

I kind of like the matt black frame and charcoal print (although it's not quite as cheery as the other colours). This print comes in 4 colours and 3 frame choices and can be purchased via NOTHS if you live in the UK.

Umbrella Prints Competition

I entered the Umbrella Prints Competition this year. I wanted to enter last year but left it too late to buy my trimmings pack. I almost left it too late to enter this year too - I had my trimmings in good time, but then other things took priority, and well, you know how it gets.
Anyway, this last week I've been spending a bit of time here and there getting my entry together and just managed to finish it in time (deadline is 30th May).
This is my trimmings pack (I went for girly colours again, with the idea that I would make something for Boo):

and this is what I made - a little stitched piece of wall art for the nursery, which I will (eventually) put in a box frame:

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

Fingers crossed that it will be well received in the competition - and if I don't win, then I'm just happy to have made something for Boo anyway.

little dresses

picture via The Lily Bird Studio

I really want to make some little dresses for Boo. I have fabric a plenty in the stash and have found a really cute A-line reversible dress pattern on etsy which is apparently easy to sew (perfect!) but I feel quite daunted by it nonetheless. I've never made any clothing before and I'm sure it's just a case of messing it up and wasting fabric that is putting me off.
I recently asked Amy Neal of CoCo crafts - who makes the sweetest little reversible dresses, if she could make me a couple of dresses from some of the fabric from my stash. I meet Amy a few times a year at local craft events we both sell at and I always love looking at her dresses but have never really had occassion to buy them, until now. I picked out a couple of needle cords and co-ordinating cotton fabrics and Amy made me these little dresses:

I love them. I wish I had made them myself honestly but there is still a bit of time before Boo comes along for me to conquer my fear. I'd love to make some dresses in my own fabric designs too.

Boo's quilt

Here is (finally!) is, my first ever make for Boo - a baby quilt using the cheater panel that I designed.

The last time I made a quilt for a person was in GCSE design (so over 20 years ago) and it was pretty naff, and I had quite a lot of help with it.
I am secretly a bit pleased with myself that I've actually managed to pull this off. I know it's a cheater (so less sewing all round) but I did quilt it and bind it, and the binding looks really professional - much to my amazement and thanks in large part to a video tutorial I watched on YouTube.
This finished quilt is by no means perfect, it's a bit wonky in places, which I suppose you could say adds a bit of character.
It's currently in the washing machine and I'm petrified that I'm going to ruin it. I used natural wool batting and I'm washing it on a cool wool wash with wool detergent in the hope that It doesn't come out all lumpy. eek!

too many teaspoons

Actually, in my experience, there is no such thing as too many teaspoons. They seem to be the most frequently used piece of cutlery in our house - despite the fact that we don't drink that much tea or coffee.

 'Too Many Teaspoons' in the name of my retro themed kitchen design which I entered into this weeks spoonflower contest. The palette was restricted to the 4 colours I've used here, plus white.

It's been a busy week here in Mondaland. There has been some making for Henley Arts Trail, Boo's Quilt (all sewn up now - just need to bind it, when I can find a couple of hours to spare) and some freelance work on the go, plus a few orders from my shops keeping me on my toes.
Today being 8th May means that in 3 months time (if the dates are more of less right, and everything goes according to plan) we'll have a little baby Boo to look after. I still find it hard to believe to be honest - despite the frequent and somewhat hefty kicks I keep getting in my tummy!