Spring has Sprung!

The first blossoms peeking out on this (apple?) tree in my garden, bringing with them feelings of hope, inspiration and anticipation. Spring is very welcome! I love the feeling of a new season beginning.

Doing the dishes is not at all unpleasant when this is on my windowsill!

Isla likes the Blossom Tree as well! This was the first time she ever climbed a tree (I cannot remember when last I was so terrified) They grow up quickly, don't they?

Stripey Quilt

I love this. It's a quilt with a matching bag. My Mum made it in 2005 while I was pregnant with my first child. As it turned out, she was a girl! So I put this away for my next baby. My son, Kyan James, was born 12 weeks ago, and I think it looks great in his room. The matching bag is such a nice touch.

The quilt is simple, just strips or oblongs of fabric, of varying lengths. The effect is lovely. Mum lined it using fabric from the linen that I had on my cot as a baby, so it is very special.

Incidentally, the cot was also mine! It has served my family well.

Wise Owls

My daughter went through a phase of pointing owls out in books whenever she saw them and loudly saying "Tuwoooo! Tuwoooo!" It inspired me to make some out of vintage fabric, with felt and button eyes. This one is my favourite, so much so that I couldn't sell him, and he now belongs to my son.

Later, I was commissioned to make this family of owls in pinks and greens. I adore birds.

An Inspiring Parcel

Oh joyous rapture! My fabrics have arrived! I needed a little shot of inspiration, so I treated myself to some wonderful pieces of Kaffe Fasset fabric, which arrived in today's post.
When I was a little girl, my Mother used to knit the most beautiful cardigans and jumpers, and make the most wonderful needlepoint cushions and quilted bedspreads using Kaffe Fasset patterns. She had a couple of his books and I used to pore over the pictures, drinking in the colours and details. His work continues to inspire me to this day.
I'm not sure yet what I will do with the fabrics. To be honest, they look lovely just sitting on top of my sewing box, and make me smile every time I walk past it!

Love Birds

My latest design is these Love Birds-named for their heart shaped wings. I enjoy making them because they give me the opportunity to use up scraps of fabric, and are a short term project-ideal at the moment as I am so busy with my new baby!

Initially I made them as single birds, and played around with giving them really long legs made of felt, different shaped beaks, and beaded wings. I love to change a design and develop it until I am satisfied (rare occurrence, but a pleasant journey!). I have decided to thread them on a string, with a bell at the end. They make such a sweet little gift, I will add some to my Felt Shop in the next few days.