Tree Fall

THE STALLS ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET & POP-UP SHOP

The Stalls is exclusively organising a Pop-Up Shop and Arts and Crafts Market at The Light in Leeds City Centre (from June 1st-8th). Showcasing the work of talented makers both new emerging and established in order to raise funds towards securing our very own shop on Leeds high street.

Playing host to designers specialising in art, ceramics, glass, jewellery, mosaic, knitted crafts and textiles, it's a not to be missed event with must-haves for any occasion.

Event Details:
The Stalls Pop-Up Shop - June 1st - June 8th 2012 from 10am - 6pm
The Stalls Arts & Crafts Market - June 2nd 2012 from 10am-6pm
The Jubilee Tea Party With Craft Stalls - June 4th 2012 from 11am-4pm

Location:
The Light, The Headrow, Leeds, LS1 8TL
(Shop located opposite JOY and next door to THE BODY SHOP)

Boys!

 

(image by Justine Henshaw)

One of the things I'm asked for the most is boys clothes. I'm not sure why it's so much harder to design something basic but fun for a boy, but it really is. Shirts? T Shirts? Trousers? They're all pretty much of a muchness when it comes down to it. Especially if you want to avoid the usual boys stuff of cowboys and cars etc.

I'm still working on it (not actually having boys doesn't help), but in the meantime, I've been making some basic little boys trousers.

This gorgeous boy is called Hunter and I was lucky enough today to see this pic of him wearing a pair of my new gingham trousers that have an appliqued rabbit on.

 I take no credit for how good they look though. I think it's pretty obvious that Hunter would make anything look good!

Right now

I love....

Slinky cushions by Roddy&Ginger.

 

Paisley Crescent wallpaper in Lido by Mini Moderns.

Which is particularly great because the paisley pattern is made up of suburban scenes.

The Plera suspension lamp by DZdesigns.

No. 2

 

I have pretty much lived in this top since I made it. So this weekend, (in the interests of hygiene if nothing else) I made myself two more of them. The first is this one, made in the fabric that I used to make Bella this dress.

Because the fabric is of a slightly heavier weight than the first one, the top doesn't hang quite the same. But I love the woven geometric detail and it's still extremely comfortable to wear.

 

The other one I made was out of jersey. Which I'm slightly less sure about. If only because there was a fair amount of swearing involved with the making of it. Although I have an overlocker now, I still struggle with sewing hems or anything else that needs the equivalent of a straight stitch. Anyone have any advice? It would be much appreciated.

Bella's Race For Life

Anyone that has been reading this blog for a while now will probably know that my 7 year old daughter Bella has pretty bad asthma and has spent a lot of time in hospital because of it.

She also suffers from severe allergies and eczema and has to take 5 medications a day just to keep these 3 problems under control. Her asthma is so bad that when she was 4 she spent a week in hospital very ill and on oxygen the entire time, and even then her oxygen levels were dangerously low. One night, that I will never forget, I honestly thought we might lose her. These days though we're really lucky that her meds stop her from suffering too much and we've just had 6 months clear of hospital for the first time in her entire life.

When my mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer 2 years ago, I struggled for the first year with how to cope and it wasn't until last summer when I decided to start running that I got myself and my life back under control. The act of running (something that I never thought I'd do because I suffer from arthritis and asthma) really did empower me. It allowed me to take control, when so much in my life was out of my control. It also allowed me to feel that I was making a difference because I could raise money for cancer research by running in races.

When I ran 10k last year to raise money for the oncology hospital that manages mums cancer, Bella made me promise that I would let her run the Race For Life this year. It's something that she's kept asking about over the last 8 months and because she's doing so well at the moment I finally gave in.

 

So we're doing the Race For Life 5k together on July 1st. I honestly don't know if Bella can even walk 5k, but we're going to do our best, because Bella loves my mum so, so much and desperately wants to do something to help keep her with us for as long as possible. So we're going to start training this weekend, by walking (and jogging very slowly) for 1k and then spend the next 6 weeks building up her strength.

 

When I told Bella that we were going to try and raise £250 she started crying because she's scared that it's too much and she'll fail. Of course I told her that it doesn't matter, as long as we try, and that we're all proud of her (especially her Nana) but I know that we can do it and I want her to be able to look back and know that she helped. We can't cure mum, but we can help find a cure for others.

There are too many people in the world going through what my family is going through. Please help Bella to make a difference by visiting this page and donating anything you can.

Thank you! xx

 

**** Thank you so much to everyone that has helped us reach our target in just one day! But please don't let it stop you from still donating - it's a truly important cause and we need to raise as much money as we can. Thanks!!****

Stand

I was lucky enough to take part in the Saltaire Arts Trail Makers Fair, at the beginning of the month.

It's one of my favourite maker fairs to do - the standard of exhibitors is always really high and the visitors are all just lovely.

 

 

This year for the first time I didn't use a table as part of my stand, but instead tried to create more of a shop display. I've always struggled with displaying my work on  the traditional table, especially the clothes, so was really pleased when I found out I would be able to replicate my stand from BCTF.

 

The only downside was that I didn't have a table to hide behind!

 

Sunday Best

After the craziness of the last few weeks, I'm trying to claw back Sundays as my fun sewing day. A day for making stuff for me and the girls (and when I can work up the courage to open this pattern , for Jim too).

So yesterday (as well as fitting in a 3 hour nap - don't judge, I've been working many late nights), I made a pair of leggings for Bella and this top for me.

(I don't usually walk around the house in glasses, I took this as I was heading out the door - honest!)

I bought a top from Gap a few years ago that I love because it's both flattering and comfortable and makes me feel good on flabby days and for ages I've wanted to use it as a template to make some more in different fabrics.

 

 

To make this I literally laid the original one on to a roll of paper and traced around the front piece, the back piece and the arms, adding seam allowance and taking in to account the gathering at the neckline. Then I made a trial muslin to check the size, which was pretty spot on apart from lengthening the arms slightly and lowering the hemline.

Then because I still wanted to double check sizes, but was feeling fairly confident I made this one out of a cotton/poly mix that I picked up a few weeks ago because it was cheap and I like the colour.

Although I obviously spend a lot of time making children's clothing at the moment, I'm still always shocked when I manage to make something 'big' that actually works. As well as being shocked by how easy it is.

Bella gave me her approval this morning by giving me a congratulatory hug whilst saying "well done Mum, it's so good it looks like you bought it from a shop"....... sigh.

 

 

 

 

 

Bean Busy

 

One of the new designs that I debuted at BCTF recently, was my beanbag stool.

Part of my Circus range, it's the perfect size to be used as a mini seat or as a foot stool. And because it's stuffed pretty full of beans and holds its shape better than a normal beanbag, it's also perfect as a little side table.

 

Bowling Blouse

Bella surprised me last week by asking if she could have this blouse, that was hanging in the studio, to wear to a friends bowling party.

 

 

I had assumed that the skinny grey jeans and grey jumpers that she lives these days meant that she had outgrown clothes like these.

 

I think this age is quite difficult when it comes to dressing girls. Bella definitely wants to look older and more sophisticated, which I understand, but I try very hard not to buy or make her clothes that are too grown up. So it's nice that she chose something for a party that's not at all grown up or trendy.

 

 

 

Summersville

 

 

 

 

 

The hugely talented Lucie Summers has designed the most amazing fabric collection for Moda.

It's just started appearing in the shops and is available amongst other places here.

I've already ordered mine and can't wait for it to arrive!