my lovely customers

For every new design I offer preview samples at around half price via my email newsletter. (Sign up via my website or mail@peakprincess.co.uk).

The latest newsletter featured my new ruffle top cami, pinafore and maxi dress. I always feel so lucky to have such lovely customers who are so helpful. Brigitte, Catherine and Kath sent me these pics of their Peak Princesses. It's hugely useful for me to get feedback on dress lengths, fit and style before launching a new design to the public.

In this case I've adjusted the fit across the chest as the initial samples were a little roomy under the arms and I've made the adjustable straps even more adjustable to allow for growth.

So a huge thank you to everyone who sends me their thoughts and comments. And a special thanks to all those who send pictures. I'm always bowled over and full of pride to have so many of you who send photos of happy little boys and girls wearing my designs.

the view from my sewing room

This is why I love working from home!

puppy power

This is our new puppy, Otso with our dog Moses. He's named after the Finnish bear spirit because he's a Finnish Lapphund and looks like a little teddy bear. He is terribly cute and a bundle of fun but a terrible distraction from sewing!

Meanwhile, our Norwegian Forest cat Loki's been living up to his namesake (the Norse god of mischief) and fell in a tub of diesel (where & how we don't know) so the poor thing's been washed five times now. After a weekend of him being touch and go he seems to be on the mend thankfully.

peak politico

Some of my customers may already know about my former life as a BBC news journalist and before that a party political press officer (and in the dim and distant past I used to know more than is healthy about the Common Agricultural Policy but that's another story).

Tonight Peak Princess will be taking on her other guise as Peak Politico doing the overnight election coverage for our local radio station, High Peak Radio. Thankfully for me there's no listen back but you can listen online.

So this evening I'm thinking about votes swinging rather than skirts!

mini, midi, maxi

It was supposed to be my last dress for the summer collection, but sitting in the hairdresser waiting for my highlights to take inspiration struck - why not turn the Edie Grace ruffle-top pinafore into a little cami top and a full-length maxi-dress. So Bank Holiday Sunday's been spent in the sewing room. Here are the results...