new year, new liberty prints!

Eliza's Owls - blue

Happy New Year!  It may be grey and dull outside but my sewing room's a cheerful riot of new spring prints.  Liberty's new limited edition Arts Fabric range is inspired by children's literature so there are owls, puppy dogs and enchanted woods - perfect for little boys and girls alike.  There's also a colourful patchwork print in pink or orange as well as good old fashioned sweet peas.

Eliza's Owls - pink

As with all my handmade childrens clothes for girls and boys, it couldn't be simpler.  Browse my online shop, pick the style you like from my range of babywear, dresses, skirts, shirts trousers and tops, and then choose from my range of more than 50 Liberty prints.

Milo - pink

Milo - orange

Mirako - Toyko street scene

Moritz Pea

Plum Dog - green

Plum Dog - pink

Tuesday Trees - blue

Tuesday Trees - pink

Millie

Mirabelle

Tom's Jets - blue

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".

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.

spring/summer liberty pick of the pops

How on earth to choose between a dozen equally gorgeous Liberty prints? I'd love to know your top three choices - all the swatches and blouses can be viewed on my website - then email me to let me know what you think.

thanks! Lissa

buy Liberty offcuts

I've put my snippets of Liberty tana lawn and kingly cord on the website so you can now buy bags of mixed prints from £2.99 plus p&p. Great for craft projects, covering buttons, patchwork and dolly dresses.

Thanks for the feedback from the Northern Belles bloggers!

harvey moonbeam dungarees

I've been putting the finishing touches to my new Peak Prince range this afternoon with the last item in the range. These cute Liberty print dungarees are named after my friend Lisa's little boy Harvey.

I'm also doing short-sleeved shirts (named after my godson Sam) and culottes (named after my friend Angela's little boy Charlie) as well as a cute baby romper.

All soon available online from £19.99 - £34.99

autumn/winter collection now online!

The autumn/winter collection's now available online with lots of lovely new Liberty prints including this golden meadow ('Phoebe') and this hippy chick pink paisley ('Mark').

I'm continuing the 'Wiltshire' berry & leaf as it's been so popular and introducing this lovely Delft blue peacock feather design ('Little Mari') as modelled here by my gorgeous god-daughter.

A divine chocolate brown/pink version of the 'Tatum' print that I used for the spring/summer range is being delivered from Liberty soon. I also have velvety soft Liberty baby cord shifts and denim dresses with Liberty trim.

The Peak Prince collection's coming along with cute little boys' shirts (up to age 7 at the moment) and I'm working on little demin shorts with Liberty trim for baby boys.

And I just have a few Jellycat Belles and Bunnies left in stock.

Either order online or email me direct for discount postage deals for multiple orders. And don't forget to sign up to my newsletter if you'd like to get preview offers and sample sales.

ribbons and bows

Just discovered this gorgeous collection of bows, hairbands, clips and alice bands in every colour of the rainbow...there's loads more on Miss Gracie's site.

I've got ribbons on my mind at the moment and I'm in the middle of matching up sumptuous velvet ribbons to my lovely new Liberty tana lawn and baby cord autumn/winter prints.

I'm buying them from a local firm called Berisfords who've been making ribbons for more than a hundred and fifty years.

The only problem is that my kitten, Loki, runs into my sewing room, steals them and runs downstairs doing a bad impression of the Andrex puppy.

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.