More Bill Gibb...

I adore this woodland inspired dress. the dress itself is perfect, the setting, her hair... its like a glimpse through the trees at a magical realm.

Little bumble bee buttons and a whitework embroidery depicting a bee. At some point I will doubtless steal these bee themed ideas for my own creations. How I love them.

Pretty fabric designed in 1977. I love the stance of these birds, one serene and watching the other startled and about to fly. The thistle there I guess for Gibb's Scottish roots.

I hope our trip to the library tomorrow throws some more unexpected published magic my way.

some powder pink fur & green ribbons

Over the weekend I had some fun making this collar. Its knitted in powder pink Jaegar fur which was on offer at my local yarn store. I bought it in other colours too - woodland green and light fawn. I couldn't resist.

Finished it with thrift shop lace and two vintage button box buttons - one wooden heart, one shiny mother of pearl. It also looks very cute on Baby J , but she wouldn't stand still to have her photo taken ;-)

And a while back I had knitted this lace effect collar in leftover creamy yarn. I finally finished it with a striking greenest green ribbon and some more thrifted lace. It is kind of inspired by the Elizabethian collars in the 16th century. Because I guess Elizabeth I is kind of my favourite historical character. " I may not be a lion but i have a lion's heart"...

Oh I am very pleased with it. x

Lace and tiny footprints in the snow

I am loving lace. I am just home from my local charity shop with arms full of vintage lace. So strange what people will give away. I am delighted with it.



My Snow White bedside journal is finished

Its so dreamy... white vintage fabric and white lace sewn snug with a tiny handmade poison apple button in the centre and a silk ribbon to close.

I have also received a few custom orders this week so I am having fun designing for specific people... and meanwhile baby J has started walking!

impromptu tea party

Everything is colour. the weekend was colourful.

Instead of lunch on Sunday we had a tea party. Me, Mr K & Baby J.

Baby J says 'da da da' to this Lion when he wears her Dad's spectacles. Hilarious.

Meanwhile I posted off a huge package full of hand-me-down baby goodies to a wonderful old friend who I have been getting to know again through the shared recent admission to the 'mummy club'. I love love love putting together little packages, little bundles of bits and bobs all tied up with a ribbon.

On peas and princesses...

I seem to move from obsession to obsession, especially when it comes to reading and fairytales... Whatever the tale, I read every version I can find, I buy the editions I can afford, I read the literary crit on the tale and then come up with my own interpretations too...
This month I have been obsessing over 'The Princess & the Pea'. Its certainly a very pretty tale. I say this because there is so much art work out there, like that above by E. Dulac, which has been inspired by it.

It is a very visual tale. It conjurs up strong images of soft versus hard, little versus big, rich versus poor, lies versus truth and not forgetting a very Royal Pea indeed.
I just love the idea of the tower of mattresses. I wish I could sleep on a bed like that. I also love the idea of the pea itself. Where does this come fom I wonder? I can find so little that attempts to explain any underlying meanings to this tale. Its joy comes from the fact that it is so simple and so short. Perhaps this is why there is so little written about it in response?

I have just finished reading Lauren Child's gorgeous photo art version of the tale. Its such a beautiful book. Oh and also I re-read The Pea and the Princess by Mini Grey, told from the perspective of the pea. ha! I remember reading this for the first time many moons ago when I worked in children's publishing. It made me laugh. It still does.

So of course, this months obsession has influenced some of my new designs.

First I started making peas. There is something entirely satisfying to me about having the ability to sew a sphere. Especially a tiny one.
I wasn't sure exactly why I was making peas, but now I do know. The Princess & the Pea inspired loveliness will be revealed soon.