bump to baby

I'm flattered to have been asked to take part in the Bump to Baby Fair at Alexandra Palace in London on 12th September.

It's in aid of Tommy's - a charity which funds scientific research to make sure babies are born healthy.

I'll also be at:

Chilterns Craft Fair, Stonor Park (Henley-on-Thames) from Friday 28 - Monday 31st August.

Hassop Hall Seasonal Fayre, Derbyshire Committee for Macmillan Cancer on Thursday 15th October.

And last but not least Saturday 5th December - We Make London Chelsea Christmas Fair (Chelsea Old Town Hall, London).

Please do come along - it'd be lovely to meet you.

designer chick

I love how Jump magazine have used my 'Izzy Whizzy' top and culottes for their summer 'farmyard fashion' spread under the heading of 'Designer Chick'. The red Liberty floral check (called 'Millie') looks super cute.

I'm now doing this outfit from 6-12m up to 2-3 years. (£34.99-£39.99) The culottes have a comfy elasticated waist and are cut to fit over nappies.

I'll soon be launching a boy's 'Peak Prince' version with a slimmer cut on the leg. They'll be called 'Charlie Mouse' culottes after our friends' Tim and Angela's little boy.

no place like home

How exciting to be featured in this month's issue of Home Business magazine. (P.S. I've just made up a sample for a customer of one of my new autumn/winter long sleeve 'Freya Bean' blouses in this beautiful blue Liberty 'Tatum' print).

new autumn/winter liberty range

In between summer showers my beautiful god-daughter Tilly managed to get out in the garden to model my autumn/winter Liberty print blouses and dresses...This is an 'Anya Rose' shift in Liberty's 'Martha Grace' baby cord with box pleat and velvet trim.

This is my 'Bella Luella' baby dress with long sleeves for colder days in Liberty 'Wiltshire' print.

My new 'Freya Bean' blouses are already proving popular. This is Liberty's 'Little Mari' print with a blue velvet ribbon trimming the hem. (The screwed up nose is a trademark Tilly pose!)

This is a gorgeous autumnal Liberty print called 'Phoebe' - this is a little long on Tilly who's a wee little thing. And below is her Mum's favourite print - a paisley called 'Mark'. Later on I patched Tilly's jeans with this.

...They'll be available online from the end of August but please do email me (mail@peakprincess.co.uk) if you'd like to order samples before then.

new freya bean blouses

My new Peak Princess Liberty prints - Mark, Little Mari, Phoebe, Tatum and Wiltshire

These are the samples of my new Freya Bean blouse which I'll be doing in a long-sleeve version for autumn/winter with velvet ribbon trim and short sleeved for spring.

Fab with jeans when your little princess is in more smock than frock mood.

I love these Liberty Tana Lawn prints. I'm carrying through the Wiltshire Berries as it's so popular and will look gorgeous at Christmas parties. The Tatum is a rich brown/pink version of the blue that's been a big hit this summer.

They'll team up with a denim shift with matching Liberty lining, pocket trim and inverted box pleat. (photos coming soon)

I love the Little Mari but then that might be my Dutch Delft Blue-ness coming through.

Questions - Ric-rac or ribbon? To trim or not to trim? Trim on the neckline/sleeves? Buttons on the neckline? Three-quarter-length sleeves to avoid mucky sleeve ends at dinner time or full length? Please send me your thoughts by blog comment or email (mail@peakprincess.co.uk)

AW 09/10 available from the end of August but do contact me direct if you would like to buy preview samples.

the real bella luella

Here's a sneak preview of my new 'Freya Bean' Liberty blouse.

It's being modelled by Luella. Her Mum Sarah is the design brains behind Nostalchick - sweet as cherry pie greetings cards.

The autumn/winter version will have long sleeves and come in four beautiful Liberty prints including 'Wiltshire' berries and a chocolate brown version of 'Tatum'. Perfect to go with jeans. For special occasions I'm designing a demim dress with matching Liberty print trims and lining.

All of my designs are named after my friend's children. Luella is the inspiration for my 'Bella Luella' Liberty print puff sleeve baby dress (£39.99) which has been a real hit. I'll be continuing the dress with long sleeves for autumn/winter.

The new blouse is named after friend's little girl, Freya, who's patiently helped me with modelling and fittings.

I'm planning a long occasion wear dress called 'Caty Beth' perfect for bridesmaids and confirmations for next year which will be named in honour of her sister Caitlin. The denim shift will be named after their little sister, 'Anya Rose'.

twittering

I've signed up to twitter at last (this is the profile pic I'm using of me hard at work).

And I've been accepted as a seller on notmassproduced.com which is a wonderful gift website for handcrafted goods.

To top it off the website Take Inspiration have published an interview with me about how and why I set Peak Princess up.

buttons and bonne maman

Mum's been up so we've had a sewing fest. I've asked if she will start buying 'Bonne Maman' jam - not just because it's the best jam in the world, in the prettiest red gingam jars but also because the tops are lovely and wide which means that you don't have to tip all of your buttons out every time you want to use them.

It's also a marvellous excuse to buy delicious Wild Blueberry jam. (I prefer the French name of 'myrtilles sauvages' which always makes me laugh as I think the savage berries will jump out and attack.)

I'm also delighted because I've finally found a local button manufacturer & dyer - a family firm called Charles Singleton in Sheffield. I'm very much hoping I'll be able to use some of their lovely buttons on my autumn/winter samples.

Speaking of which...I've just made up an autumn/winter preview sample of my forthcoming pleat shift dress in Liberty baby cord for my friend's little girl Issy (who the 'Izzy Whizzy' top and culottes are named after). Photos to follow...

And thank you to everyone who I met at Thornbridge Hall's Summer Charity Garden Party on Sunday. The sun shone.