I’ve been in London for the past week parading my wares at 2 shows Handmade in Britain and MidCentury Modern.  Both shows were OK - not many sales but lots of interest. On a plus point I did meet Rachael from Amelias Magazine who have featured my work in a blog post here

I did see lots of lovely things including the new window displays for Jigsaw

I wonder what happens to the window furniture when the display is finished? I think these would look brilliant in my studio.  I might just go in to the Birmingham branch and find out…

Things are a hotting up here at needlesandhooks.  The house is a hive of activity with the building work in the loft nearly finished and just 2 weeks until my 2 London shows.

As exciting as my new bathroom, bedroom and store room are there is still loads of work to do before I can kick back and relax in my penthouse suite.  For one, I’ve got a really long list of products to complete for the London shows.

I’ll be exhibiting at Handmade in Britain (11 - 14 Nov) which is held at Chelsea Old Town Hall and Mid Century Modern (15 Nov) which is held at Dulwich College.

Am very nervous (and excited) about both shows especially Handmade in Britain.  It will be the 1st time I have exhibited there and I’ve never visited the show either.

It will be the usual mix of accessories and cushions for both shows although I’ll be exhibiting some hand knitted lace cushions at Mid Century Modern which won’t be available at Handmade in Britain.

I’d better get back to work as there’s a lot to do.

Well the weeks have been catching up with me. I’ve been racking my brains about what to make for Mid Century Modern Show.  I’ve made some large heavily embroidered cushions, a few more ‘jigsaw’ cushions and some hand knitted ones (which I really want to keep as they are lovely).

But today inspiration struck - what about some patchwork cushions.  I’ve got loads of small scraps of fabric left over from making other things and a new crop of jeans to recycle.  It all feels like a plan coming together - or to quote properly  ‘I love it when a plan comes together’.

So here’s what I did - first of all I choose three fabrics to work with, denim from old jeans, some 50’s floral cotton and some wool/cotton blend.  I cut them into 10 x 10cm squares - yes cut with scissors!  I don’t have a rotary cutter but if I’m going to do more of these I think I will have to invest in one.

I then laid out the squares of fabric into a 9 patch block.  That’s a fancy quilters term - I bet you didn’t know that I was schooled in the dark arts of quilting.

When the 9 patch block is sewn together I cut it into quarters and arranged into pattern.

I did this with 4 9 patch blocks and ended up with this cushion front.  The pattern is called disappearing nine patch and I think I’ll be making more of these for the show

well things have been busy here at needlesandhooks over the last few weeks.  I walked up a big hill with a tower on top - glastonbury tor and went away for a few days to Burnham Overy Staithe in Norfolk.

I’ve also started working on new items for the MidCentury Modern show on 29 March in London.  It’s the first time that I’m exhibiting at a show in London and I’m really nervous. Nervous about how to price my work, will anyone buy it and do I put zip closures on my cushion covers (not at the moment - can’t seem to find zips in the colours I need).  My haberdashery nightmares aside I’m 50% good nervous about the show - it will be a higher percentage when I finish making everything.

I will be showing mostly homewares with a few accessories.  There will be new designs for cushions (teardrops), some large flight cushions and new bespoke ‘jigsaw’ cushions.

I’ll have some photos up soon