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.