The Crouch End Project

Tonight was the shopping evening in Crouch End which was fun apart from the sudden downpours. We were a bit soaked. The Crouch End Project is a collective of independant retailers which was set up to promote local shops and the unique character of the area.

We nosed round the lovely Powder boutique and I almost succumbed to a Orla Kiely stripey top but I stopped myself as the purse strings around littlechook need to be tightened this month as I've had a few unexpected expenses like shipping my heat press off for repair.

We ended up munching some delicious food in Banners which is a real Crouch End institution and great for some people watching.

My etsy shop has been neglected this week so I am going to spend sometime on it this weekend and have decided to have a sale on the vintage fabric cushion covers as I want to begin to move my shop over to be dedicated to my print designs.

Like mother, like daughter

Haven't had a chance to photograph my latest street find which is destined for the seven dials/carnaby street pop up shop but here it is.

I am developing a slight obsession with vintage suitcases and luggage. I already have a lovely silver steamer trunk which is being used to store all my vintage fabric cushion covers. I rescued this little beauty with Katherine's help. The outside is a lovely coloured tweed fabric but when we looked inside and saw the paisley patterned lining fabric we both said 'ooohh' and she was coming home with us.

My long suffering husband says I am corrupting a toddler with my magpie habits. I think it's all in the genes...

Katherine made a little bed for herself inside the suitcase this afternoon. She's been a bit off colour these past few days and possibly has chicken pox. We just have to wait to see whether her rash turns into the actual pox. I have calamine lotion ready.

So no nursery for her today and hence no new designs for littlechook. Hopefully I'll catch up on my new flower circle designs over the weekend.

butterfly prints

Just a short post tonight as I am knackered! Hopefully soon I will be able to put some of my new prints up for sale in my etsy shop in the form of cushion covers and tea towels. For my designs I am using alot of tiny flowers with line drawn butterflies. I'm using alot of muted greens and turquoise with brighter accent colours like fuschia.

I need a new print table though because my current set up is too low and my back is really sore today.

Tomorrow I am going to use my new flock which is done by printing a layer of texiflock glue onto the fabric then heat pressing on the flock layer. Can't wait to see what it looks like!

trapunto cushion

I learned about trapunto from my tutor Debby at Morley College. It's an italian enbroidery technique where sections are stuffed with wadding and then embroidered on top.

I have a couple of works in progress that I will photograph over the weekend and I'll post a step by step 'how to' cos it's a really fun technique that looks very effective.

On this cushion cover I've used a vintage cream cotton backed with a coffee and cream piece of french ticking. The design is called 'walk in the forest' and combines shades of green and brown with corally pinks for the flowers.

It's in my etsy shop as a custom listing at the moment with others ready to buy to be added soon!

new shoes

Katherine's feet have grown half a size in about 6 weeks so I got her new shoes today. She loves them! They are pink with little flowers on the straps. She kept stopping and looking at her feet. She is so funny!

We bought some treats for all the toddlers and mums who are coming to see us tomorrow. It will be great to see all the girls for a catch up.

On the etsy front I have another sale which is fab, more vintage cushion covers. I have listed up some products too on icraft.ca and in my bigcartel shop too. However my latest plan is to start wholesaling and getting my things into shops. My plan is to go through all my back issues of living etc and elle dec and pick out the interiors shops that I think would be good stockists and then contact them for a meeting. Or hopefully my lil sis will do that bit as she is brilliant!