Distant shores...

Oh dear, my plans to blog regularly haven't quite come off! Nor my best bits of 2012 blog planned for last month.  Instead I have been distracted by thinking about how it all started, this love of pattern and print and junk shop treasure and that DIY ethic that gave me the confidence to do so many things.  After seeing this lovely photo in the Guardian...

 I was taken back to being a teenage home counties girl, discovering a love of post-punk popsters with my lovely friend Gina. We ran a stall together - full of dresses made from curtains...

Dressed ourselves up in more curtains whenever we could!

And had fun being sweet and silly, and making amazing stuff happen!

Bust Craftacular this Sunday

Photo by Martha Loves

Had a fabulous day at Crafty Fox Market last weekend and looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow at the London Bust Craftacular!   Met so many lovely people, including my stall neighbours Custom Made, Justine Ellis, Stuffed Nonsense and Laurie Hastings.

Xmas Fairs

Fabric Nation at Duckie Xmas Market last year

I'm taking part in two Xmas Fairs this year, Crafty Fox Market at the Dogstar in Brixton on Saturday December 8th, and Bust Craftacular in Bethnal Green on Sunday December 16th.  Expect postcard purses from around the coast, fabulous souvenir cushions, bags and bunting, shipshape homewares, take me home pet cushions and vintage xmas textile treats. Come and say hello!

Xmas Pint

Textile treasures

You may have noticed that I like a good tea towel, and these feature heavily in my work. I love the details in them, like these boats, such sweet simple graphics...

And the simple representations of towns and villages, like these Cotswold ones...

Pebble and Dash

Just packed up these lovelies for Pebble and Dash, a new shop opening in Herne Bay. We had a lovely afternoon meeting the Pebble and Dash team at the Points of the Compass show and wish them lots of luck with their lovely seasidey project. I've included a few special Kent Purses in the parcel, so if you hurry, you might be able to snap one up.  Check their blog for details of when the shop pops up later in August. 

And next on my list, is more of these Devon Postcard Purses for the lovely Katie at What Katie Did....

Coast

I've been looking forward to September's Coast magazine, always a lovely read around the British coastline and a celebration of our very special seaside. Taking a peek at the contents page, who do I spy...

Whoop! The edition featuring my souvenir makes with the Seaside Sisters is out at last!

The lovely Clare from Coast magazine contacted us about running a feature on things you can make with tea towel.  This is just the sort of project we like, so we were super chuffed to be invited to share some of our favourite projects with Coast readers.  We are very partial to seaside souvenirs and these projects show you how to make your own holiday souvenirs from the humble tea towel.

Once the final four designs were decided on, we spent a day with the talented Coast team on location shooting our four tea towel projects. The location was a beautiful house filled with rooms adorned with light and texture. Seeing the work that goes into product shots was impressive and we are very grateful to Mel, Joe and Yvonne for the care and creativity that went into the photos. 

All four projects for making a cushion, apron, bunting and bag are in the September issues of Coast magazine.  You can see more of our coastal crafting on the Seaside Sisters website and tea towel souvenir workshops are planned with Crafty Pint in the autumn.  You can even buy the ready made made projects featured in Coast - take a peek here and here.