Why sewing rocks...

Just knocked out two pillow cases for Erin's bed (as she has decided that she wants a pillow or else she'll have to sleep on the sofa) in 45 minutes.

Pretty much instant home made gratification.  Yes!

Buy it Baby Success!

What an awesome day.  Had a very lovely time at the Buy it Baby fair in gorgeous lovely Otford - must go down there for a wander when not heavily pregnant and browse the antiques shops and have a nice pub lunch.

Sales were good, felt brooches are a winner, as are hair clips - must make more for next time.  Lots of interest in the dresses, trousers and skirts and lots of very positive feedback.  I think the trouser and skirt range may well have to extend to 6-9 and 9-12 months so will have to get working on some new patterns.

Here's a rather shaky picture of my loyal friend Jess manning the stall.  She travelled about 100 miles to help me out - what a trouper!

I really must remember to iron the table cloth for next time!

So pleased with the feedback, especially from the lovely lady who bought the 1-2 yrs pinafore there and then.  It's really encouraging to be told you should go on Dragon's Den with your products!

1-2 yrs Pinafore design finalised

Been meaning to get around to this for ages and here it is in a lovely Tanya Whelan French Hatbox wide pink stripe.

Thanks to my mum for donating an old denim skirt.  She's very tiny, so the pocket size worked really well and looks in proportion to the teeny dress.  1-2 years old looks so small now Erin is getting so big.

 

It's teeny!

 

This is such a simple yet gorgeous print.

So there we go, the pinafore range is complete.  I feel a sudden sense of calm and order in my life.  Ahhh.

Cup of tea I think.

Bubble Jet Set

I have discovered a new wonder product!  We have been thinking of an economical way to print labels for WP creations.  We tried screen printing (I have a totally creative husband) but it was just way too fiddly.

Then I heard about freezer paper.  An American invention I think, and used a lot by quilters apparently, in what respect I'm not sure.

Anyway, you iron this stuff onto your fabric, cut the fabric/freezer paper combo to A4 size and then run it through your printer.

Genius!

Or so I thought until I washed it and all the ink came off.

Back to the drawing board (or google search) and we discover this miracle in a bottle:

 

I was very doubtful at first, as it looks like water, but there's formaldehyde in it don't you know. 

So, you soak your fabric in it, dry the fabric and repeat the freezer paper printing process and then when you wash the ink stays.

RESULT!

So I can now print my labels and change them as and when I need to.  Thrifty eh?

Poor neglected blog, again.

I think it's the freelance work that's done it, and perhaps being 34 weeks pregnant during an Indian Summer (29.9 degrees c today apparently), but there hasn't been that much energy left for creating this week.

There was enough for a trip to John Lewis and Ikea in the same morning (why oh why?!) that nearly killed me. 

I'm blaming that on the heat as well - too hot to stay at home or be outside, so the logic was to go to nice big indoor places that have some kind of air conditioning and lots of interesting things for the little person to look at.

Anyway, some creating was done, namely fulfilling a WP order and finessing the pinafore dress design which is now fully lined:

Very pleased with this one.  Lovely Tilda Rosebird fabric in Teal.

Just waiting for my 'Bubble Jet Set' to arrive to use with my freezer paper and I can print up a label and pop this beauty in the post to Penny and Alexa.