peak politico

Some of my customers may already know about my former life as a BBC news journalist and before that a party political press officer (and in the dim and distant past I used to know more than is healthy about the Common Agricultural Policy but that's another story).

Tonight Peak Princess will be taking on her other guise as Peak Politico doing the overnight election coverage for our local radio station, High Peak Radio. Thankfully for me there's no listen back but you can listen online.

So this evening I'm thinking about votes swinging rather than skirts!

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.

congratulations...

...to Lucy Pugh from Bristol who entered Daisy Green magazine's competition to win one of my handmade Liberty print 'Freya Bean' girls' blouses. Lucy chose this gorgeous Amber's Rose print for her little girl who's name is Amber!

Thanks to everyone who entered. And check out Daisy Green's excellent online mag for ethical & sustainable fashion & lifestyle features & reviews.

piggy wig wig

I just adore this little knitted pig that Just Herding Cats blogger Amanda Banham sent me that she's made from my offcuts. Piggy's sporting Liberty Tatam print ears. It just goes to show that you can put even the tiniest snippets of Liberty prints to good use.

You can buy Liberty print offcuts from my website in two, four or eight ounce bags.

tilly toadstool in bella luella

Our lovely friends have just sent photos of my little god-daughter Tilly (aka Tilly Toadstool or Tilly Teaspoon) wearing the 'Bella Luella' puff sleeve baby dress that I made for her last year. Isn't she just scrumptious??

Followers of Peak Princess may know that it was a picnic with Tilly in the park two summers back which inspired the whole idea of handmade clothes for little people. That, I suppose, makes her my muse.

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.

spot the difference?

Oops-a-daisy - I was cutting this pair of 12-18m shorts with 2 other pairs on a print which didn't have an up/down direction so without thinking I flipped the pattern. My husband loves them but isn't surprised at the cock-up - he's seen me trying to park our car so no surprise these are upside down!

They are on sale on my website reduced for just £12.99 (normally £19.99-£24.99).

Still it proves they really are handmade!

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

make-do-and-mend

I was flattered this morning to be asked to talk to the Tideswell Business Start-Up group this morning about how I set up Peak Princess.

I also met Fiona Pocock (01629 813 197 / 07821 297 444) who's just started a new business from her home near Bakewell (home of the delicious pudding) doing alterations and repairs. It's a real skill. Despite most of my friends not being able to sew on a button or turn up a hem, they imagine repairs are easy-peasy. The truth is that starting afresh with a blank canvas of a roll of cloth is child's play compared to the dark-art of restoring a much-loved, often expensive, quality garment to its former glory.

Another dark-art is 'search engine optimisation' - aka getting ranked on page 1 of Google. For down-to-earth advice, I'd thoroughly recommend talking to Kathleen Rigg (07768-961971) from Gain Time IT. I followed her no-nonsense 10 step tips and Peak Princess shot up the rankings!

And last-but-not-least, for making you believe you can actually make a go of it, everyone should make their first call their local Business Link. Thanks to Sue Scholes who held my hand through the first year of business.

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.

Domestic Godd-esque

Possibly one of my happiest happy customers! Blogger Domestic Godd-esque sent me this gorgeous photo of her adorable daughter (aka The Pocket Dictator) wearing one of my Liberty 'Freya Bean' blouses (Millie print) that she won in Dulwich Mum's Wordless Wednesday comp.

PD's kindly asked to road-test one of my new Jessica Mae denim Liberty skirts - out soon!

dulwich mum

Top London Mummy blogger, Dulwich Mum, has just sent me this gorgeous photo of her little girl wearing my 'Freya Bean' blouse in Liberty's Wiltshire print. (£24.99-£29.99 + p&p)

She's kindly written a great review: "This simple, perfectly stitched garment is quite beautiful. The detail and obvious care and attention that has gone into its production make it potential heirloom quality. This is most definitely an item to keep forever...It is easy to put on, not an awkward fastening in sight, perfect for determined, independent little people. It is a simple design, easy to wear, easy to care for (still like new after several washes) and very well made...The pretty patterned fabric means that the odd stray bean (organic – clearly!) or jam will not be obvious. My daughter adores it and says she feels “trendy like mummy”bless!""

Her blog is a must-read with laugh-out-loud postings and great competitions. Get the inside track on the life of a Chablis-swilling city Mum. As she says, "It's all going on in Dulwich".

And I'd have to agree given that my beautiful god-daughter, Tilly, is also a Dulwich girl!

my sewing cups

Sewing and drinking tea is a hazardous activity - the obvious risk is spilling tea on a dress. My sister, Emma, bought me this beautiful bone china cup and saucer from Liberty for Christmas & I dropped my pin cushion in it!

So I'm now keeping that for downstairs best and have gone back to the slightly less attractive but eminently more practical insulated mug that our friends Tim and Angela gave me. My tea stays hot for ages and the lid means no spills.

(In case you're wondering about the choice of gift, Tim is a solicitor at Trowers & Hamlins' Cairo office. And his talented wife Angela is the creative force behind the best pyjamas in the world - Angelily)