Last minute cancellation

We've had a last minute cancellation for next Sundays class - August 7th, so get in touch if you'd like to come along...

Before and after

 

Hall before - not quite before before as the vile blue stinky carpet had already been lifted - oh and made us sick for weeks.... what is that black stuff that seeps out of old carpet?????

After. Please admire my hand sanded and waxed floors, my stripped corbels and please note that the hand rail itself is smoother than a babies bottom and rather a pleasure to hold. This was of course the easiest room.......

Charleston course ready and waiting!

I'm teaching again at Charleston (more excited than you can imagine) on Tuesday October 11th. Ring them to book on 01323 811626.

It is just the loveliest day.

Clever Mr Prichard!

 

New website here.  New branding courtesy of here. 

Now I just have to understand the blog/facebook/twitter thing.....

Light

 

Although it is a cloudy, drizzly day today, there is still the most lovely light coming into F's room this morning. Small things.

Collaboration

I use the web a lot (probably slightly too much) to see what's happening, new ideas, new exhibitions, artists, photographers and voices.

Two great ideas I discovered this week: A new bi-annual online mag - Kinfolk. A large group of people who love small gatherings, have curated and produced a beautiful magazine on the art of cooking, sharing and enjoying. You can read the online magazine here. 

It's visually stunning and an even better idea.

Then there is The Makers Project, by Jennifer Causey. She is a fantastic photographer from Brooklyn who gets the most beautiful light and depth into her photographs. In her project she interviews and photographs some of the most interesting and creative people in New York.

It's really exciting seeing these ideas and the quality of work coming from individuals and small groups, in what is meant to be a very difficult time for businesses.

The images above are from three of my favourite creators - Elephant Ceramics, Lena Corwin and Saipua.

How much is enough?

When we bough Chez Peckham Rye, I was super conscious of what we used (and how much) to renovate it. Not perfect but we tried. All the furniture was old, restored and recovered. Paint - no voc, floors hand sanded and waxed, no yucky polyurethane. Bench-tops - old school lab benches sanded and waxed. We won't be knocking down walls, slapping on extensions or pushing up into the loft, as this house is what it was meant to be and is big enough for us (although I wouldn't mind buying the disused garden next door). 

But I could have done better - note to self - no more paint stripper... And this video, although a couple of years old and US based, is a cold reminder of what is happening where you and I live and how we live. E likes our relatively empty attic as full attics physically and mentally weigh him down. Having moved countries several times, I like very much that I have nothing that is extraneous but everything is loved. E left most things behind when he divorced (he kept his guitars, music and books though). His main purchases since have been books - and an Eames chair. 

But how do you live with the stuff that you have, when trends come and go and you realise for example 

"I need pink in my life".

I don't like the term 'make do an mend', because I don't think making something out of stuff you already have should be seen as making do. The quilts I make for people often bring tears of joy - all from scraps of fabric and clothes they have had for years. The classes I teach seem to invigorate people into making something beautiful. So paint a chair pink, or turn your husbands pink shirt into a cushion, but just don't think you're making do - you're not, you're ringing the changes whilst keeping familiar and loved things around you.

So perhaps we could come up with a more uplifting term that means we consume less but create more beauty from what we already have?

Oh - and if you think you have too much stuff, there is bound to be someone down the road who is a little short.

Thought for the week - stimulation

Although cushions, chairs and curtains are all lovely, don't forget the need for books, music and most importantly - conversation.

Shorts and shirts

 

About to commence the biggest quilt ever...

A box of shirts and shorts arrived this morning. Have great design planned for this one - it's going to be a really fun, upbeat number - very much like the owner! 

hhmmm

Not sure which I'm enjoying more - the new projects we're working on, or the new flowers in the garden........

Is that bad? I'm going with 'balanced'.

A new class date

 

We had a beautiful day on Sunday. The sunshine meant we sat outside and created for much of the day. Lovely ladies, lovely food, lovely quilts, lovely day.

We've added a September date - just click here. And there will be new dates in lovely locations coming shortly.

Lovely. 

Some things..

We have just added few things to the store. We are popping in new stock (slowly) as time permits....

But for now we have some very lovely cushions made from vintage kantha quilts, a few lampshades. 

and....

As we are about to embark on a bit of a quilt making frenzy, we need to make room in the studio. I'm letting three of our first ever quilts go - including my favourite...

Yikes.