Blue and white bunting

I'm loving my new venture into bunting-making and the latest batch to arrive in my Etsy shop is this pleasing blue and white version. It's made from a selection of Indigo-hued cotton fabrics, each with a different print but within the same colour feel.

The bunting consists of eight flags and the length of the bunting is approximately three metres long. It includes a pretty floral vine print that has a block print feel.

Some of the flags have been patchworked together and includes a few solid blue cottons as well as a pretty dragonfly print.

Each of these prints are stylish and would make a great addition to the home. Use this bunting to decorate the living room or kitchen, or save it of a garden party or birthday celebration.

The flags are double-sided and are machine washable too.

Shop all bunting here.

Tracheostomy covers

 I never thought I'd say this, but I have a great line of tracheostomy covers in my store! I first started making them when a customer approached me and asked if I could make some custom covers for her. I'd never heard of them before, but after a bit of research I realised they were pretty simple to make.

I made three for this particular customer and since then I have been adding more to my store.

I try to make the covers quite subtle and tend to use unisex fabrics that are not too bright.

This selection of covers are all made from blue Japanese cotton fabrics.

Each cover has a button and elastic loop closure and each is double sided, with top-stitching to finish it off and keep it neat.

You can find more tracheotomy covers in my store here.

Indigo by Makower UK

I was scrolling through Instagram recently when I came across some fabrics I designed recently for Makower UK! I saw them on the Fabric Worm Instagram page and they were so beautifully presented I just had to share them!

Each design has been created in two colourways, with most on a blue ground or a cream ground. All colours can be intermixed and all compliment each other. I included a mix of Japanese florals as well as a selection of other Japanese images such as koi fish and temples.

I've been a textile designer for many years, but I still get a thrill when I see my designs. I especially like these ones as they are inspired by the indigo fabrics and designs of Japan. I lived in Japan for four years and often found myself gravitating towards the soft, muted blues of the indigo-dyed fabrics there - the older the better!

I have designed a few Japanese-inspired collections for Makower UK over the years (which you can see here) and this time I was excited to use the indigo palette as my starting point.

In conjunction with this collection, Lynne Goldsworthy designed a quilt pattern and I was so pleased with the outcome. It really shows off the Indigo designs well.

Blue and gold

I bought this luscious blue and gold fabric a while ago and have been wondering what to do with it. I love the combination of the indigo blue, mixed with the cream and gold of the bold, stylised chrysanthemums.

 This floral design is a classic Japanese motif, but it has been modernised using scale and colour. I love the colour combination and the touches of teal outline here and there.

 Of course, I knew pretty early on that this fabric would be perfect for making into one of my clutch bags. It fits beautifully with the rest of my collection and really is stunning!

This bag needed a stunning lining to match the exterior and I found the perfect match, a bright acid green cotton that adds a flash of colour when the bag is opened.

This clutch bag can be worn with a little black dress for a glamorous night out or dress it down and wear it with a pair of jeans and a smart jacket.

You can find it in my store here.

Fave fabric Friday

Today's fave fabric is a quilt that I made when I was living in Tokyo. It took many years to complete, but I love the combination of blue and white indigo fabrics that I found on my meanderings round the city. I even managed to create some rather clunky sashiko stitching!

It has now found its new home at the top of the stairs leading to my studio, and sits rather nicely with the Japanese kokeshi doll collection and the Vietnamese wall hanging.

Fave fabric friday

Fave fabric friday continues! This week I have homed in on a lovely Japanese indigo piece that I bought in Tokyo. I love so much about this fabric - the thickness of it, the colour of it and, of course, the beautiful print. I was loathe to cut it up, but have already used some of it to make a small handbag. It went to a good home when I sold it at the International Bazaar in Tokyo in November. I have decided to match it with a magenta pink lining. Watch this space for the next instalment!

Cheeky threesome

Our furniture arrived on Friday! All the way from Tokyo. It was lovely to be reconciled with it all, as well as to be reminded of the infinite amount of fabric I seem to have gathered over my four years in Tokyo! Better get sewing.....

Here are three items I recently added to my Etsy store. A cute polka dot coin purse, a funky VW beetle print glasses case and, my fave, an indigo blue and white patchwork handbag made from fabrics I collected from antique markets around Tokyo. I'm looking forward to sorting through my fabrics now that they are all here and creating some interesting combinations.....

Summer clutch

The weather here in the UK is sublime (if a tad toasty at night time!) and all the summer clothes are coming out.  I'm celebrating the summer with this indigo patchwork clutch. Team it with a crisp white lace top, denim mini and silver flats and you're good to go.

You can find it in my Etsy store here.

Cheeky Leopard patchwork clutch

A burgundy stripe lining for a flash of colour

Team it with a Dolce and Gabbana lace top and denim skirt

Finish it off with some metallic silver flats from Nine West

Indigo blues

Last Wednesday I was very lucky to experience the beautiful art of indigo dyeing from an indigo master. You can see what I got up to here. 

I even got to dye some of my own fabrics, which you can see below. I am now looking forward to making some clutch bags out of them. Watch this space for some new arrivals to my shop very soon!

Magenta and indigo

After selling a lot of bags last week, my stocks are running quite low, so I'm on a mission to add more to my Etsy store. I recently added this clutch bag which I love. I decided to combine two floral kimono fabrics, one of which has a hint of magenta in it. I then picked out the same magenta colour as a lining. You can find it on my Etsy store here.

Indigo and mustard

My blue and white clutch bag was recently featured in this gorgeous 'indigo & mustard' Etsy treasury by FoxandBrie. Click on any image to find out more.

UrbanBirdandCo $28.00	HelloVioleta $40.00	sleepyking $36.00	cheekyleopard $70.00
sweetpeaceandc... $15.00	CoyoteMarmalad... $22.00	SpectrumCosmet... $3.00	FineThreadz $39.00
minthome $325.00	orchideaboutiq... $99.00	JillianReneDec... $38.00	shadowjewels $15.00
branchbound $22.00	auntTeak $29.00	MovieStarMoon $70.00	spectrayarnand... $32.50

Treasury tool supported by the dog house