cut your own Cloth

If you've ever fancied having a go at making your own clothes or simpler projects like scarves or bags then Cloth Magazine (www.clothmagazine.co.uk) is for you.  This new, handy A5 size mag is packed with lovely ideas to inspire you to design, make and wear your own creations.

I was flattered to be asked to come up with a new design that readers could try for themselves.  The result is my new 'Baby Annie' sundress*.  (Issue 7, spring).  Mum and I put our heads together and I hope we've come up with a design that will encourage you to have a go.  You can download the pattern here. 

If you don't feel up to it, I'm more than happy to make one for you - they are now available online in the Liberty print of your choice for £32.99.  (The 3 original samples are also on sale from £9.99)

* Peak Princess fans will know that all my dresses are named after my friends' children.  This latest one is named in honour of my friend Janneke's little girl.  I thought it was apt as Janneke's a designer too.

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!

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).

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.  

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.  

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.

liberty print bridesmaids

I'm busy working on a new collection of dresses for bridesmaids and flower girls.  Like all my dresses, they will be handmade in your choice of my Liberty prints.  This is 'Mirabelle'. 

Brides Magazine's shopping editor, Astrid Joss, kindly wrote in her Fashion Blog:  "For slightly alternative BOHO but still bridal...I have also just discovered a great new brand Peak Princess who do great dresses in cotton floral liberty prints - seriously cute! They are also good for baby bridesmaids as they start at three months and go up to nine years (www.peakprincess.co.uk). What I love about them is the print gives a different look yet it's still perfect for little girls to walk down the aisle in!"

I was a bit anxious about whether this longer midi length version of my 'Lily May' twirl skirt would work with my Tilly Toadstool pinafore bodice.  But I think the effect's delightful - particularly with the wide satin ribbon round the bodice, tied so it drapes down the back of the dress. 

Now she just needs a name.

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...

grand designs

...well perhaps not grand designs but I'm feeling pretty chuffed after finishing the sample of the last design in my spring/summer collection. It's a floaty, ruffle-top, ribbon-strap pinafore called 'Edie Grace'.

I generally spend a long time mulling ideas over in my mind. 'Edie Grace' was inspired by a pretty dress I saw in a boutique in Paris on a trip just after Christmas with my Mum and sister-in-law.

Then I make a pattern (today I chose bright green card) using my existing designs as basic blocks to get the size right. Ideally every size and style should be in a different colour but the reality is a rainbow mish-mash hanging on a rail in my sewing room). I try and make samples as far as possible in cheaper cottons to avoid using up my precious stock of Liberty prints.

This is Mark One - too blocky with very little movement.


You then have to take the plunge and use the Liberty Tana Lawn because the flow and feel of the fabric transforms a design.

So here's Mark Two in Liberty Nina - but still not enough character.

When the mojo deserts you close the door on the sewing room - a lunch with friends proved the break I needed.

And here's Mark Three - I'm really pleased with this - it floats deliciously.

Look out for my next email newsletter for preview sample offers.

Guardian Buy of the Day

How exciting - after my Anya Rose Liberty print cord shift dress being pick of the Guardian's Liberty floral pops last week, today the editor's made my 'Freya Bean' Liberty print blouse her Buy of the Day.

Kate Carter writes: "Last week's celebration of the iconic Liberty print threw up nothing finer than this gorgeous blouse. Handmade to order (so you can chose other prints if you prefer) for little ones from baby to eight years old. If only it came in adult sizes ..."

Watch this space Kate - I've had so many people ask for grown-up blouses that I might start making them soon.

handmade liberty print blouse 24.99 to 29.99 (sizes 6-12m up to 7-8 years)

Flower power in the Guardian

The Guardian's Life & Style editor's featured Peak Princess among her pick of Liberty prints. Kate Carter writes: "The floral trend is in full bloom this spring, and no florals are more iconic than the classic Liberty print. Few things are guaranteed to induce misty-eyed nostalgia among a certain demographic as a Liberty-print frock. The venerable retailer is launching some interesting new collaborations, from affordable florals at Target to more pricey but beautiful shoes by Repetto. The Liberty site is also replete with items using classic prints from their own range. Other manufacturers are snapping up the material for their own ranges - our favourite being the handmade children's clothes at Peak Princess. Here's our pick of the most fabulous florals on offer. Lissa Cook makes a beautiful range of children's clothes using only Liberty prints. You can choose your favourite pattern and match to a style as all clothes are made to order. They're wonderful clothes to treasure and keep long after your little ones have outgrown them."

barnaby bear

This is Barnaby Bear. He's been staying with my friends for the weekend and they asked if I'd make him a Peak Prince outfit. Here he is looking very swish in his handmade designer jeans with Liberty print cars trim.

Note the 3 button fly, matching Liberty cars print patch pocket and bear tail hole.

I'm hoping that teacher will be impressed with Barnaby's new wardrobe.

Little boys and bears alike can order their own made-to-order Peak Prince denim shorts from £19.99 to £24.99 (ages 6-12m up to 3-4 years) online.

meadow & menasse

Is there anything nicer than getting 2 new Liberty prints in the post?

These are Meadow & Menasse & I have just a couple of metres of each to make up in your choice of lots of lovely styles for little girls from 3 months to 8 years. And there are dozens more prints to choose from in my online boutique.

you're it!

I've just be tagged by Helen, the creative genius behind Storeyshop who's challenged me to publish a photo from my album and tell the story behind it. It's a great idea - to see other people's random pics and the stories behind them and a wonderful way to discover new blogs.

THE RULES:

1. open you first photo folder
2. scroll to the 10th photo

3. post the photo and tell the story behind it

4. tag 5 or more people

MY PHOTO

Well, this really is random! My husband and I wrote & published a book (using the fab blurb.com) for my god-son, Sam, called "The Growl & The Pussycats go on a big adventure to the top of the hill". The characters are our Finnish Lapphund (Moses), our Streatham street cat (Mr Enos Knibbs) and our Norwegian Forest Kitten (Loki). The sneak out of the house up the hill behind our house (Cracken Edge). I photo-shopped the animals in a rough & ready way and we set the words to the rhythm of Edward Lear's The Owl & The Pussycat.

Subsequent publications have been The "12 Days of Christmas" for our god-daughter Mia ("On the 1st day of Xmas my true love sent to Mia, a Moses in a Pear Tree" etc) and "Tilly Toadstool's Dictionary of Big Words and Little Words" for my other god-daughter.

Peak Princess fans will know my handmade Liberty print clothes are all named after friends' children so "Mia Rose" is my shift dress; "Tilly Toadstool" is my pinafore and "Samuel L" is my shirt.

I'm tagging:

DulwichMum
Domestic Godd-esque
Gossip Mum
Emily Pickle
and Working Mum on the Verge

charity fashion show

I'd decided not to do any fairs or shows this year because I'm so busy making-to-order for my lovely customers, but I've made an exception for the Helen's Trust Fashion Show on March 25th at 6pm.

Helen's Trust is a wonderful local charity which helps people with incurable illnesses or cancer to stay in their own homes. And Thornbridge Hall is an stunning venue. As a privately owned stately home it's a rare chance to see the amazing restoration by owners Emma and Jim Harrison.

They're be food, fizz and fashion and great shopping - all in a good cause.

Call Mandy Brown on 07901 710767 for tickets (£40 per head)

new liberty print smock frock

Fresh from my sewing room - my new Liberty print smock frock with gathered ribbon & bead pockets - 3 samples (£10 off) available on my website now. Your choice of more than 30 Liberty prints. First come first served.

(This is the polka dot sample the little girl in the village who models for me tried on on Sunday.)

twirly whirly

These are the 3 little sisters in my village who model and product test for me dancing in my new Liberty print twirl skirt. Two half price preview samples available on my website now - first come first served.

spring clean

...better late than never.

Six inches of snow outside so more of a winter clean but it's delightful not to be tripping over tissue paper, cellophane bags, patterns & rolls of cloth...not to mention stepping on pins. I've pulled out the sofa bed so friends can come and stay again, created a rack for all my patterns, dusted off Great Aunt Tomasina's bull-nosed rocking chair and rolled or rehung all my gorgeous Liberty prints.

But best of all I've sold nearly all my stock which means lots of space. Following the Sunday Times Style feature (Dec 13th) I've been inundated with requests for dresses so from the New Year I'll be making dresses to order and have a waiting list til the end of January.

as featured in Sunday Times Style

Check out today's issue of Sunday Times Style - Peak Princess' Liberty print romper (in Wiltshire print) and denim dress (in Liberty's paisley Mark print)

"achingly cool" and "ultra-girly"