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.

how to tie a bow

 

 My handmade Liberty print bridesmaid dress collection was inspired by a visit to the V&A Grace Kelly exhibition with my Mum in the summer.  Nearly every dress had a beautiful big bow on it. 

But when it came to actually tying the bows I had a nightmare.  My Mum (a couture dress-maker) reassured me that she used to have exactly the same problem - which used to exasperate her boss who had to tell her over and over again.  She patiently taught me and left me with example bows but every time - ribbon in each hand I'd nearly be in tears.  She lives in London and it's not easy to explain over the phone. 

(I do wonder if it's a dyslexia type thing.  Mum has dyslexia and though I have no problem with my reading I'm terribly in the car with left-right directions, as my husband will testify.)

But by the power of You Tube I've discovered this fabulous video by this American gentleman's outfitters 'How to Tie a Bow Tie'.  It's brilliant and I could listen to his gentle accent forever.

So for any customers - this is how you do it!  Simple.

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.

as featured in Country Living

I'm over the moon that my handmade Liberty print 'Mia Rose' dress (£34.99 to £39.99 sizes 3-6m up to 5-6y) and head scarf (one size) are featured in this month's Country Living magazine fashion spread "The Darling Buds of May", styled by Corinna Kitchen.

win a Peak Prince outfit for your little boy

So many people entered Daisy Green's competition to win a Peak Princess dress that I'm offering another prize - this time your choice from my new range for little boys - called of course 'Peak Prince'. It'll be launched at the end of October. Click here to enter and click here to take advantage of my preview prices on Liberty print culottes, dungarees, shirts and rompers.

Daisy Green is all about sustainable living without preaching. The magazine's staff describe themselves as a cross between The Good Life and Sex in the City! What more could you want? It's all online and well worth signing up to their newsletter.

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

pins and needles

A day that got off to a bad start but ended happily...
This morning at 8am I broke my last size 9 needle. It's the slender size that's perfect for sewing Liberty's Tana Lawn cotton. I was stupidly using it to sewing the inverted box pleat of my new 'Anya Rose' Liberty Kingly cord baby dress. Even though it's super soft, three layers of baby cord was too much and it snapped off. Disaster was averted by a trip to Sew-In in Buxton.

Cake and coffee and my first order from the United States for a 'Tilly Toadstool' pinafore in Liberty's Wiltshire print cheered me up enormously.

There are few greater pleasures in life than sewing on buttons to the gentle rhythm of Test Match Special - especially when Australia's collapsing. I mused about the wonders of my 'no need to thread' needles which have an ingenious little gap through which you snap the thread. It saves endless hours poking ragged ends through tiny holes, giving up, looking for my scissors which are always on the other side of the sewing room. (You can get them at Tesco in Whaley Bridge).

The pinafore has a lovely full gathered skirt which requires lots and lots of pinning. This is a photo of my wrist-band pin cushion. This one broke but I bought a new one from the wonderful Manchester wholesaler, Taylors (who are sending me a supply of Berisfords of Congleton's lovely velvet ribbons for mu autumn/winter collection).

I also have a sweet little iced bun pin cushion that I bought from clever Kitty Eden who makes all sorts of handmade lovelinesses.

PS I'm always slightly wary of swallowing pins so I always have a pin cushion to hand to try and avoid holding them between my lips. We had a lovely golden retriever called Leah when I was a little girl. She swallowed one of Mum's pins. Luckily Mum knew to feed her buttered cotton wool balls which coated the pin long enough for the dog to get to the vets. (The only downside was that from then on Leah used to eat the cotton wool off the Christmas tree every year!)

learn to dress dolly

I borrowed a doll from my friend Hayley's little girls, Caitlin and Freya, after we spent an afternoon making dresses for their Jellycat Liberty Belles.

I was inspired to try and design my own 'Peak Princess' Liberty frocks for dolls - with a little help from Mum (who came up with the great ribbon strap idea).

This is dolly wearing a Liberty 'Phoebe' print tea dress with gold ribbon straps and belt, followed by a Liberty 'Ros' print prom dress with matching pink straps and belt. (Hair cut courtesy of Freya!)

Can't wait to try the new pattern out with the girls, especially as Mum's bought them a mini-sewing machine to practise on.

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.

the real bella luella

Here's a sneak preview of my new 'Freya Bean' Liberty blouse.

It's being modelled by Luella. Her Mum Sarah is the design brains behind Nostalchick - sweet as cherry pie greetings cards.

The autumn/winter version will have long sleeves and come in four beautiful Liberty prints including 'Wiltshire' berries and a chocolate brown version of 'Tatum'. Perfect to go with jeans. For special occasions I'm designing a demim dress with matching Liberty print trims and lining.

All of my designs are named after my friend's children. Luella is the inspiration for my 'Bella Luella' Liberty print puff sleeve baby dress (£39.99) which has been a real hit. I'll be continuing the dress with long sleeves for autumn/winter.

The new blouse is named after friend's little girl, Freya, who's patiently helped me with modelling and fittings.

I'm planning a long occasion wear dress called 'Caty Beth' perfect for bridesmaids and confirmations for next year which will be named in honour of her sister Caitlin. The denim shift will be named after their little sister, 'Anya Rose'.

twittering

I've signed up to twitter at last (this is the profile pic I'm using of me hard at work).

And I've been accepted as a seller on notmassproduced.com which is a wonderful gift website for handcrafted goods.

To top it off the website Take Inspiration have published an interview with me about how and why I set Peak Princess up.