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).

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".

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.

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."

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.)

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.