bridesmaids galore

 

Somehow I can never quite believe that a roll of fabric in my sewing room can be turned into something as magical as a little girl's dream dress...

...but this week I've had two lovely reminders of the magic of dress-making.

I met Shelley Baker (The Studio, Mickleover, Derby) via twitter & was immediately impressed by her portfolio.  So I was flattered when she asked if she could borrow two of my 'Bella Luella' puff sleeve bridesmaid dresses for a photo shoot at Langley Priory, near Castle Donington in Derbyshire.  These are two of the pics (click here to see more).  Can't wait to see more.   

And the cherry on my beautifully iced cake was opening my copy of Conde Nast Brides magazine to see the exquisite summer garden party fashion shoot, styled by lifestyle ed, Polly Atkinson, featuring two of my new 'Grace Kelly' shirt-waister pleat pinafores.

 

A little bird...

...is one of a handful of websites and newsletters that I swear by to help guide me through the clutter of cyberspace shopping.

Like most people I sigh when another junk mail drops into my inbox but there are a select few that buck the trend - the only downside is being distracted from work while you coo and sigh over the latest delight.

What distinguishes them is a love of what they do, knowledge and passion and a hefty dose of wit and humour.  And though I've not had the pleasure to meet any of them personally, they all engage with their readers with sweet little messages on email or twitter.

My latest pick of the bunch is A Little Bird, set up by Daisy Garnett and a Francesca Martin who met at Vogue.  They describe the site as 'an opinionated guide to what's on'.  As a former BBC Radio 4 producer how could I resist any site described by the Guardian as 'Radio 4 meets Vogue online'?  Being opinionated is key - nothing more dull than the wishy-washy.  Strong editorial opinion makes me trust what they say.

Similarly Kate Carter's Fashion Statement for Guardian Life & Style is a mid-week must read.  Take for example last week's profile of fashion goddess Anna Della Russo.  Though I confess I usually scroll straight down to the faux-pas of Fashion Graveyard.

Another fabulous newcomer is Chic Little Baby blog.  Also formerly of Vogue's parish, Maggie Westhead is Associate Shopping & Style editor of Time Out magazine, London.  She seeks out the best sales, the coolest shops and the most delectable buys.

If you're a print junkie who seems the pleasure of glossy pages, then Angels and Urchins is for you.  Editors Annie Reid and Emily Turner infuse the magazine with their personality.  The quarterly publication's perfectly complemented by Claire Gill's weekly newsletter.  A concise, colourful digest to what's hot in London.

If you want to dress up your home, rather than your children, take a peek at Ellie Tennant's Home Shopping Spy. 

For the man in your life, Oi Polloi can't be beaten.  This Manchester retailer's enews letter is like Saville Row meets Noel Gallagher.  Describing itself as the antidote to stale and uninspired menswear it's also a trail-blazer in how to sell online.

Last but not least word has to go to Times Top 40 blogger Dulwich Mum.  Relentlessly funny, DM has made twittering into an art-form.

My ideal home

A big thank you to Ellie Tennant, Deputy Ed Shopping Ed and Home Shopping Spy at Ideal Home for picking my handmade Liberty print cushion covers for Ideal Home magazine's Christmas Gift Guide. 

There's a certain irony in my being featured as I'm terribly organised when it comes to designing and making gifts for other people to give to each other but I never get round to making clothes, curtains or cushions for myself.

My ideal home would be full of hand-made cushions, upholstered seats and patchwork quilts.  Yet the cushions on our beaten up but beloved Chesterfield are shedding feathers and a desperate for new covers and I haven't had time to buy a single Christmas present - not even the smallest stocking filler. 

And my god-son and god-daughter have only just got their birthday presents (from June and October respectively!). 

Perhaps making more for myself should be my New Year's Resolution!

I promise I will do my best...

...to make a dozen scrunchies simultaneously for a dozen girl guides.

I was a little apprehensive to say the least when Sarah asked if I'd teach 1st Chinley Guides how to sew for their Craft Badge.

So last week I piled lots of my Peak Princess dresses into a suitcase along with the wedding dress my Mum made me, along with pins, needles & thread.  Sarah brought lots of pretty fabrics, elastic and ribbons.  We had two very old sewing machines that had seen better days.

I think my teaching methods are best described as organised chaos but the girls took to sewing like ducks to water.  A few were even enquiring about the price of sewing machines.  (Personally, I love the fuchsia pink John Lewis mini-machines for just £50).

This evening was part 2 with the second group.  Some of the more adventurous went straight on to hair bands and hanging hearts.  And Caitlin had even made herself a floral mini-tote bag over the weekend.

We started making newspaper patterns - wide and short for fatter, less gathered scrunchies and long and narrow for bunched up, thin ones.  I suspect the scouts might find a few pins on the floor when they are next in.  Next was pinning right-side to right-side (perpendicular to the machine needle); then seaming (a cm from the edge); pulling inside out with a safety pin; sewing ends rs to rs to form a tube; threading elastic and Bob's almost your uncle.  Just a little outside seam and voila!

Thank you girls! 

chic little baby update

Thanks to Maggie at Chic Little Baby for featuring my latest designs for boys and girls up to 8-9 years including my Finley Oskar long-sleeved boy's shirt.  I'm very flattered as Maggie's not just a top blogger but also a top fashion journalist who's worked for Vogue.  She's now the Associate Shopping & Style editor of Time Out magazine, London. Keep an eye on her blog for next month's competition for your choice to win a Peak Prince Liberty print shirt or Peak Princess winter smock frock.

I could do that!

One of the best things about starting my own business has been discovering the wealth of help and support that's out there.

Two key people helped me out in the very early days.  One was Sue Scholes from our local Business Link.  She listened to my plans, made sensible suggestions and was a mine of information about the nitty gritty like Trading Standards.  Regular meetings with her kept me focused and a free marketing course was the source of inspiration for my tagline ...with love sewn in.  My google ranking jumped to page one after I learned the dark arts of Search Engine Optimisation at another of their free courses.  They've just published an interview with me in their quarterly Business Connect magazine.

Another was Emma Jones at Enterprise Nation.  I was totally intimidated by business advice books by Dragons and other city big shots.  Emma's 'Spare Room Start Up' was a breath of fresh air.  Down to earth & full of common sense.  I read it in one sitting (a late night!), took her advice and emailed her.  She kindly interviewed me and posted it on the brilliant Enterprise Nation website.  It was one of my first pieces of PR and a huge confidence boost.  They've just done an updated interview with me (Lissa's Story - I could do that!).

But undoubtedly the biggest source of help and support has been friends and family.  Mum's become my design consultant and quality controller, my in-laws are my graphic design team, my sister-in-law put me in touch with Liberty of London and is always at hand for astute advice on pricing, my older sister taught me to take half-decent photos, my younger sister's retail eye rescued my branding and I've now lost count of all the forebearing friends who've let me use their children for modeling and fitting sessions.  Suffice to say, the biggest thanks has to go to little Tilly Toadstool - my god-daughter.  Without her there would be no Peak Princess.

bye bye Mark

I've just cut this 'Anya Rose' denim shift with Liberty 'Mark' print lining and pleat and realised I only have a metre of Mark left.  How sad.  Mark has a special place in my heart. 

 It was one of my original collection prints and this is the dress that Sunday Times Style magazine featured.  All good things have to come to an end.  So goodbye Mark and hello Felicite, Pep, Lou Lou Isabella, Toria.  (Click here to see the full range of my prints).

couture cock-ups

Sometimes you just can't figure something out - no matter how blindingly obvious.

I've just spent two days trying to figure out how to put a simple welt pocket on my new 'Hugo Alexander' Liberty lined boy's denim jacket - those lovely tailored pocket openings with hidden interiors. 

Yesterday I gave up and called Mum.  She was a couture designer and has the added advantage of being a very modern mother who lives in the centre of London and loves email & texting.  I sent a pic taken on my mobile of my total cock-up.

PS In case you're wondering it helps if you sew the welt fabric on the right side and don't cut a letter box sized hole twice as wide as you were meant to!!

PPS In my defence I did figure out how to make a lovely placket cuff for my new 'Finley Oskar' Liberty print long-sleeve boy's shirt.

liberty prints for little people

When I quit radio producing and started Peak Princess two years ago I was only going to make clothes for baby girls.  Demand from customers meant that grew to girls up to 9 years old...then boys...then ladies.  Now even my husband's asking for a shirt.

But there's something especially sweet about making clothes for babies.  Today I've sent my new Caty Beth pleat blouse (in Liberty's Paulie Parrot print) to Hokkaido in Japan.  This little 'Freya Bean' long sleeve smock blouse (in the last of my 'Capel' print) and 'Bella Luella' puff sleeve dress are on their way to London.

Talking of London, Gaby Hinsliff's article in Daily Mail (Women being forced to work longer hours) in today's Mail really made me reflect on how much our life has changed since leaving London three years ago.  I had a wonderful time and was terribly lucky to have the chance to be a Radio 4 producer.  I miss the people but not the hours.  

paisley liberty cushion covers

I'm quite green with envy.  Suzi Everall entered Daisy Green magazine's competition to win a pair of my new handmade Liberty print tana lawn cushion covers (£34.99 each for a pair).

I've still not had time to make myself any so she was lucky I managed to overcome the temptation to keep them for myself!

She chose a very sophisticated green paisley print called 'Mark' from my stock of about fifty prints which I teamed with cover buttons and bottle green velvet ribbon.

The Lady

Well, I had thought life was complete yesterday when I got to interview Blue Peter's Janet Ellis for High Peak Radio*.  But I've just seen this week's The Lady magazine and read Bibi Berki's lovely interview with me about women who've as she puts it "bitten the bullet, packed in the job and set out on a re-balanced life where you decide what you do each day and make money at the end of it". 

It also features the terribly talented Angela Armsby who moved to Cairo and set up Angelily making the most gorgeous Egyptian cotton pyjamas which I live in (though I try to have enough discipline not to spend the day sewing in them!).

By the way, I'm terribly impressed with how tech-friendly The Lady are - you can download a digital copy for just £1 - it takes seconds.

*For those who are wondering, in my former life I was a BBC Radio 4 producer and now I read the news for High Peak Radio when the news ed's busy with his weekly evening football programme.  I think of myself as the "half-day, mid-week during the football season substitute".

fashionable add-ons

A double delight today...first UK Handmade featured an interview with me (see below) and then my copy of Angels and Urchins magazine drops through the letter box with my new Liberty print hair accessories in the Fashion News.  

Fabric designer Kate Yorke of Emily Pickle makes them for me.  (She lives in the village down the road so I run down with Liberty offcuts and she cycles back up with gorgeous clips, bobbles, bracelets and bags).

A&U's a must-read, even if you don't live in London.  Editors Annie and Emily always make sure it's packed with great fashion and interesting articles.    The summer edition had me giggling with their review of Brazilian waxing.  This edition's got a great article on buying computer equipment for kids.

And if you get impatient in-between the quarterly editions, then sign up for their colourful, inspiring weekly email newsletter.  I'm doubly impressed that a&u online ed Claire Gill's modelling maternity wear in the mag and looking fabulous.

farewell Millie, Sarah, Tracey, Poppy and Daisy

It's so sad when I get to the end of a roll of fabric.  

The upside is that Liberty of London supply me direct so every few months I have the great pleasure of receiving a box packed with beautiful new prints. 

Over the past few weeks I've used the last of the beautiful red floral check Millie and the delicate Sarah's Secret Garden as well as the bold blue Poppy and Daisy.  I have just enough of Millie and Poppy and Daisy for hair accessories but not enough for clothes.  Tracey's a fabulous 50s style butterfly print that I picked up from the offcuts bin at Liberty just as I was starting out.  She's going to a good home - cushion covers for my sister-in-law, Sophie.

PS If you'd like to read more about Peak Princess and have a peek into my sewing room, read my interview with UK Handmade.  

cosmo bride

I'm covered in paint after a traditional British bank holiday weekend of DIY.  So it's a delight to see two of my handmade Liberty print bridesmaid dresses in the Fashion News of the October/November issue of Cosmo Bride (out now). 

"What's hot in the wedding world, right here, right now.  Cutie Pie - We can't resist these handmade Liberty print flowergirl dresses from Peak Princess - choose from 30 prints."

PS One more coat of paint and then I'm back in the sewing room to finish off the collection.  (Do you think Vivienne Westwood does her own painting?)

kitten chaos

Our lovely Norwegian Forest cat has returned or rather been returned.  He disappeared for 3 weeks in May and was found at a farm in Chapel (2 miles away) only to disappear again last week when we went to the Lakes.  This time we knew he'd gone back for a 'farm stay' stay break so we borrowed a cat trap from the lovely people at the Windyway Trust animal rescue centre.  We've now tagged him so he's a proper ASBO cat.  Next time he runs off hopefully we'll be able to hear his collar chip beep!

Meanwhile, our London street cat, Mr Enos Knibbs has been taking part in a feline 'Who Do You Think You Are?' or rather, 'Who Do You Think You Are Named After?'.   

Last week Alan Jackson got in touch because he's writing an article about the real Enos Knibbs for the K/Nibb/S One Name Study and was intrigued how we'd come across the name on my Peak Princess website.

Alan takes up the story on his website:

"A former BBC Radio 4 producer of 'The World at One', and 'PM' its sister programme [me!], 'inherited' from a colleague a cat called Mr Knibbs, named after the Jamaican umpire Enos KNIBBS.   Bloggers of the programmes were effusive when given the news that 'Mr Knibbs is tired of London life so we're moving to the country which means that with great sadness I have to hand in my notice as PM's Blog Editor'.  Eddie MAIR (host of 'The PM Programme - Window on Your World') duly thanked her for her services.

One blogger, who heard an edition of the lunchtime programme on Valentine's Day 2007, posted increduously that the announcer had given a production credit to none other than 'Enos Knibbs'.

The original owners of the cat [our friends Roger and Bibi Sawyer] had heard the cricket commentator Jonathan AGNEW ('Aggers') talking about a notable Test Match in the West Indies.  He ran through the teams and named the umpire.  They decided then and there that their next animal would be called Enos Knibbs" 

(*In case you're wondering Otso is a Finnish Lapphund named after the Finnish Bear spirit.)

PS And this is Moses our older Finnish Lapphund

chic little babies

I've had an afternoon locked in my sewing room with my Mac.  I'm in danger of getting RSI from uploading all my lovely new Liberty prints onto my website.  So it was a lovely end to my day to meet a new customer, Caireen, who came to pick up two baby rompers in Millie and Fairford print, and then to discover that Maggie Westhead (Associate Shopping & Style editor of Time Out magazine, London) has featured my new autumn/winter designs on her Chic Little Baby blog. 

Maggie says:  "My life has changed in the most exciting way since giving birth to Evie last May. I have a book out called '101 Things to Buy Before You Die'. This summer, I officially launch my style blog for babies featuring quirky fashion, cool accessories and baby shopping events. Don't do motherhood without it!"   

roll on autumn

I know it's still July but in my sewing room I'm dreaming of leaves turning golden-brown, conkers, roast chestnuts and dare I say it, even snow.

That's because I've been unfolding and rolling my gorgeous new Liberty prints and started my first design for autumn/winter 10/11.  It's a pleated skirt based on a pattern my Mum used to make for me.
It's called 'Amy Tallulah' - like all my clothes, they are named after friends' children.
  I'll be making it silky soft tana lawn, poplin and cord - this is 'Pep'.  Orangey-red flowers on an almost black/navy background.  

The daisies are called 'Koharu and Miyuki' in pretty and practical 'City Poplin'. 

I'll also be making it in snug & soft Kingly Cord.

Iron in the pleats for a formal preppy look or leave them soft for a floaty feel.  You choose. 

Join my email newsletter list via my website or email me (mail@peakprincess.co.uk) for preview samples which will be coming soon.