Laura Strutt's Blog, page 22

The Week That Was: Simple Things

Life feels like it’s slowed down to a much more reasonable pace. I feel like there is breathing room. Once a huge deadline is over it is great to know that you can sleep a little later on Sunday mornings, no having to worry about setting an alarm to get a couple of hours work in before the day starts for real. It is lovely to be able to take things a little slower and not feel like that crazy woman that is perpetually muttering about work and deadlines.

However, in the wake of a huge project there is also that strange feeling of something missing. To go from having a million things to do, to a to do list that is utterly blank feels really strange. Relaxing is not something that comes easily to me. So, finding myself with ‘free time’ on my hands is a pretty weird feeling for a gal like me.

The last week, I’ve been claiming back those hours of the day previously spent doing extra work to get things all done to enjoy some of the simpler things in life. Dog walks, coffee dates, getting stuck in to some renovation projects, arranging my new office space, sock knitting (the socks are for me, not my dog as the photo might suggest!), cooking up a storm and taking time to get things back on track.

Bliss!

The post The Week That Was: Simple Things appeared first on Made Peachy.

Style Sunday: Peter Pan T-Shirt

When you want the perfect smart/causal look I think you should always reach for a Peter Pan T-shirt.

It is just casual enough to look cool, just smart enough to look classic, and never, ever stuffy! You can dress it up, dress it down. Throw it on at the very last minute to look effortlessly put-together and stylish.

I adore the addition of a super sparkling brooch at the neckline of this design, £35, LaRedoute to really fancy things up – but, did you know that making your own Peter Pan T-Shirt isn’t as had as you might think? Check out today’s Style Sunday Peter Pan T-Shirt Moodboard!

The Pattern

Create your own custom fit shirt with peter pan collar with this  Easy T with Peter Pan Collar is a free tutorial on It’s Always Autumn

The Fabrics

1 Grey Stretch Jersey, £4.50 per metre, MyFabrics

2 Hedgehog Print Jersey, £14.50 per metre, StoneFabrics

3 Midnight Blue Bamboo Stretch Knit, £15 per meter, RayStitch

4 Geometric Print Monaluna Organic Fabric, £4 per 1/4 metre, EternalMaker

This cute Peter Pan T-Shirt design looks great stylish solids or fun colourful prints – this is the kind of pattern that you’ll find yourself remaking over and over.

Looking for a super-quick Peter Pan Collar fix?

Check out this easy-to-follow step by step guide for creating your own detachable Peter Pan Collar…what’s more it’s reversible, so pick your two fave prints and get stitching!

Have a rad Sunday, Y’all!

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Practice Makes Pretty

Over the last few days, now that deadlines are out of the way, I have finally found the time to work on some hand lettering practice. It is amazing how much I have missed working with a pen and inks recently.

I know a lot of you have been checking out the Free Resources for Calligraphers that I shared recently, so I thought that share some of my practice work with y’all. The thing about practising is that its not always perfect in every possible way. The second you complete something you see how you should have done it differently, what changes you might make next time – but, I guess that is all part of the process.

Ever since I first picked up a pen and ink I was taken with the magical way the letters took shape (even though most times it really ugly and a little frustrating in those early days – and I’m not too proud to admit it!) I am not naturally artistic – every single commission sketch that I send over to prospective clients comes with a rather bashful disclaimer that, “I am by no means a professional artist”, and hope that they can appreciate the concepts over the style and composition of my ‘sketches.’ So, even though I fell in love hard for hand lettering when I started, I never really believed that elegant, beautiful modern calligraphy would ever be a skill that I would confidently be able to call my own. But, it’s come as a really pleasant surprise to actually see improvements. Be able to note things that are technically correct in terms of penmanship – and on the flip side this, note the things that are way off too! To be able to appreciate the shaping and spacing of the components of letters and words. To begin to get a feel for negative space and word composition. I have by no means mastered this, but being able to appreciate these elements is surely a huge leap in the right direction!

Unlike trying to learn the guitar when I was 12, practicing lettering never feels like a chore. It feels good to slow down, to take some time out and even when I make countless frustrating mistakes, it feels relaxing. Every practice I start out with a few letter forms and simple drills, something of a little warm up. Then I work on words and phrases. However, I had noticed that sometimes my mind goes blank, what should I write? A whole blank work page spread out in front of me and I have no clue what I want to create. It’s frustrating in the extreme!

So, I decided to mix things up a bit.

Picking out some fancy papers and cool white ink was just the little treat I needed to inject some fun in to my practice.

Suddenly, I feel like switching out the papers give me a “this is for best’ feeling about my lettering, it makes me feel as though it is more important to take is slow and steady and get things just right. Yes, it is all in my head, but it is amazing what a little change scenery (or paper, in this case) can do for a gal!

Because it all feels so fancy and new, I feel like I’ve got a fresh wash of inspiration. Writing out words, and the resulting letter combinations, that I wouldn’t normally have though to write.

Oh yes! And generally having a little more fun with it! For those of you that remember the show Rock Of Love, you’ll recognise this quote, perhaps one of my all time favourite TV Show quotes!

Another place that I like to check out for inspiration is Instagram – be sure to search #ModernCalligraphy and #FlourishForum for some really fantastic hand letting and calligraphy photos! On one such search I came across the super talented KatieMarieKubiak who not only shares some of her amazing letting, but also some really creative ideas for keeping practice fun.

This is one inspiring lady – when I spotted her post of paint swatch card calligraphy, I just knew I had to give this a go myself!

I still have a long way to go with learning this art form, but I sure am having some fun along the way.

Do you love calligraphy and hand lettering? What do you do to keep your practice fresh and fun?

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Fab Fabrics Friday – Art Gallery Fabrics

Oh My! Just when you thought you had found your all time favourite fabrics another bundle arrives and the whole game is changed.

This week three more glorious bundles of new prints from the latest collections from Art Gallery Fabrics arrived at PeachyHQ - and they are (again!) just too good not to share! So, friends check out these amazing new collections!

Indelible – Katarina Roccella

Perhaps the most perfect balance of urban and mystical – this collection brings together newsprint graphites and inky tones with flashes of turquoise and amber. Statement contemporary geometric prints mix with natural imagery of stags and butterflies to breathtaking effect.

Jungle Ave - Sara Lawson

Another astounding part of the AGF Limited Edition Collection – Jungle Ave by Sara Lawson is punchy, bold and makes a real statement in bright pinks, vivid turquoise and dramatic monochrome. Blended with stylised natural and urban jungle imagery this collection is sure to make an impact!

Gleeful – Sew Caroline

This bubbly collection captures the fun feminine personality of Sew Caroline in this AGF Limited Edition Collection. Effortlessly cool doodle-style prints in a host of vivid paintbox shades will have you wanting to hold on to summer just a little longer!

How rad are these prints? I don’t know about you but these bright bold prints of the Gleeful collection are just calling out to be worked up in to cute little girls dresses! If want more inspiration for these (and all the other prints in the Art Gallery Fabrics collections, the be sure to check out the fantastic set of LookBooks!

These fabulous print cottons retail at around £12.50 per metre – check out your local stockist!

Tell me, which of these collections has stolen your heart?

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The Handmade Fair & Handmade 100!

Hey Y’all!

The Handmade Fair is right around the corner, I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!

This event promises to be a craft-lovers dream! You can spent time making gorgeous things, take part in a craft banquet workshop, learn skills from some of the finest craft designer/makers in Britain and spend some of your pennies at a range of divine hand-selected craft retailers! What could be better I ask you!

Book your tickets online today to be sure that your part of this amazing event!

If you’re heading to the show, you’ll find me on the LadySew&Sew  Stand A17 / A25 (East Tent) where I’ll be demonstrating some of the rad things that you can make and do using the Sizzix Big Shot with your favourite fabrics!

Here’s something else quite rad…

The folks at The Handmade Fair have been asking for you to vote for your favourite crafters on Twitter and I can’t begin to tell you just how stoked I am to be included in this list! Thank y’all for voting!

I’m in some pretty rad company on the #Handmade100 List - be sure to check out this awesome crew of artisans!

Roll on the Handmade Fair – are you coming along too? be sure to swing in past and say Hi!

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Pinterest: What The Did With…Succulents

Picture Frame Vertical Succulent Garden Planter, £40.56, SucculentWonderland

Ah Sweet succulents, you have my heart! is there anything more beautiful than these lush little plants?

I am not renowned for having green fingers, in fact houseplants never seem to happy at the prospect at being under my care. This, friends is a changing! I have been making real efforts to nurture our house plants, and not a moment too soon, crispy leaves and wilted bloom are never a good look.

Succulents are one of my favourite plants, they just look magical, unreal and oh so pretty. I;ve never had much success keeping succulents (well, house plants in general!) so I am frequently found getting my greenery fix by stalking out pictures on Pinterest and it is no surprise that succulents are a big feature. Here are just some of my favourite, imaginative and glorious DIY Succulent Designs…

1 DIY Succulent Planter Tutorial ⇒ CherishedBliss

2 Concrete and Glass Succulent Planters ⇒ VintageRevivals

3 Stacked Crockery Succulent Planter ⇒ CraftberryBush

4 Neon Dipped Succulent Planters ⇒ HelloBee

5 Vintage Book Succulent Planter ⇒ GreenWeddingShoes

6 Gold Leaf Accent Succulent Post ⇒ MissRenaissance

If like me you need a little guidance keeping succulents, then all is not lost…

This easy-follow guide from Mom4Real will keep you on the right tracks!

So lets all fog forth and make our houseplants happy today! 

Y’all know that you can find me over on Pinterest to check out the other things I’m pinning right now!

The post Pinterest: What The Did With…Succulents appeared first on Made Peachy.

Quick Catch Up: Hello September

For me August was all work and barely any play. I feel like I have achieved a huge great deal (even though it is total top secret still!) but I don’t really feel as though I have really lived this month. I don’t really feel like I have a lot to say for myself…other than I have been tucked away in the office with a mountain of yarn and you don’t need to tell me that hearing me say that one more time will be very dull!

This month I did however head over to the NEC, Birmingham for the Festival of Quilts – what an epic and inspiring show! I managed to meet up with lots of my favourite creative folks – and meet a hep of new friends too. There was so much to see this year that no matter what your preferences are when it comes to patchwork and quilting, there was surely something there to get your heart racing! I came away with a notebook jam packed with sketches…I wonder if this is the month where I will find time to work on some of these ideas?

Now that show season is underway, I am really looking forward to the events in the coming months! If you’re heading to any of the textile shows this year, it would be great if you’d swing by and say hello!

Here are my 2014 Diary Dates…

19 – 21 September  The Handmade Fair Hampton Court

9 – 12 October The Knitting & Stitching Show Alexandra Palace, London

30 October – 2 November The Knitting & Stitching Show RDS, Dublin

20 – 23 November The Knitting & Stitching Show HIC, Harrogate

Life of Made Peachy has not been forgotten during these busy few weeks, check out some of this months faves here at PeachyHQ!

Crafts: Cute Owl Plushie

Style: What The Did With…Loom Bands

Skills: How To Sew Flying Geese Blocks

Eats: Hot & Dirty Chai Latte

My other loves on the internet right now are…

My Browser Besties:

LouLovesThis

WhiteFaux Taxidermy

Lush

Skillshare

My Blog Crushes:

HeyLoveDesigns

QualitySewingTutorials

PolkaDotHeart

During these busy times reading has been just about the only recreation that I have had the time (or energy) for, so here are five more books to add to my Reading Challenge in My Months Reads:

31: In The Rosary Garden - Nicola White

Nicola White is a new author to me and this proved a good introduction. A thriller set in 1980′s Ireland there are lots of plot twists and turns that make this quite a page turner. 

32: The Highway – C.J.Box

Excellent, brutal and chilling crime thriller. The essence of the storyline is chilling and it made even more powerful by the characters, disturbing scenarios and graphic imagery. A great choice for horror and crime thriller fans!

33: Larger Than Life - Jodi Picoult

Another delightful short prequel by Jodi Picoult!

A heartwarming and tender, with multifaceted characters and Picoult’s incredible attention to detail. The theme of elephants is both interesting and informative and will make this a hit for those that loved Lone Wolf!

34: The Road - Cormac McCarthy

Perhaps the most haunting book I have ever read. Nameless characters, striking settings and chilling events combine to make this a book that you simply do not want to put down. Despite the unusual writing style – no quotations and clipped dialogue you can’t help but feel compelled to find out what happens to these characters. The only way this book can be improved it so read it in a single sitting. 

35: Silver Linings Playbook - Matthew Quick

Ok – I’ve seen the film, but this book is funny, heartwarming and real. You can’t help but hope for the best for the offbeat hero, Pat Peoples despite the impossible goal of his quest. perhaps a little too heavy on the Football references for my liking, but a great fun, easy read.

PS: I hate when books are re-released with the Movie Tie-In cover!

If you’re looking for ideas for boos to add to your Must Read List be sure to check out my January Reads, February Reads,March Reads, April Reads, May Reads , June Reads and July Reads! If you’re on GoodReads sure to swing over and say Hi!

September I have big, big plans for you!

I have renovations plans.

I have blog plans – starting with a few exciting updates that will be rolling out next week!

I have hand letter plans.

I have plans for an exciting new venture.

I have plans to keep the life/work balance in better order this month!

September is one of my favourite times of year, our wedding anniversary is approaching, its time to get busy thinking about new season knits and, perhaps most importantly, its the time I start to dream about Pumpkin Spice Latte (yes! I allow myself to hunk of them from this month onwards!)

What are you planning for this month?

The post Quick Catch Up: Hello September appeared first on Made Peachy.

The Week That Was: Deadlines finally over!

Phew! I feel like I can finally breath again…it’s been such an epic few weeks of work, work, work.

The kind of busy where you have to miss out of awesome plans with friends, stay up late finishing pieces, trying, trying, trying to stay sane and remember that in just a few short days the whole thing will be finished.

The kind of busy were you realise that there are lots of ‘tasks” that have been neglected and really need your attention and you simply don’t have the time to give anything your attention. This little place is in dire need of a techie-spring clean…which I’m happy to say is the top of my To Do List for this week coming.

But, for now I want to say thank you for swinging in past, that we will be returning to Business As Usual in the next few days and also…I’m off for a nap!

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Fab Fabric Friday!

Happy Friday Y’all!

What better way to spend a Friday than to share some super cute fabrics that have stolen my heart and a sweet little giveaway!

Recently a couple of beautiful bundles of fabrics arrived at peachy HQ and they just about blew my mind! I adore the ranges from Art Gallery Fabrics – they prints are so vivid, the collections are so varied that there is literally something to suit everyones tastes no mater what project you are working on next!

The two latest bundles that I am lucky enough to get my little mitts on are just too divine not to share.

First up, check out this amazing Emmy Grace collection by Bari J!

This collection was inspired by Bari J’s daughter and is just the right amount of whimsy and nostalgia to take it straight to the top of your wish list. There are bright florals and elegant geometric prints. If  you look closely you can see dainty characters and delicate butterflies, a modern mix of muted pastels and retro shades that make this a wonderful collection for patchwork, dressmaking and home makes – well, pretty much anything you fancy!

One of my very favourite things about Art Gallery Fabrics is their forward thinking approach to fabric designs, working with a collection of the raddest stitchers, bloggers and indie pattern designers to create their own unique Limited Edition AGF Collections.

The collection that I have been anticipating the most is the collection by April Rhodes – Arizona is my dream in fabric.

I may have said this before (I’m almost certain that I have) but this time I mean it. This is my favourite fabric collection ever. Peach and flecks of gold are mixed with sienna and clay tones to create a contemporary nomadic fantasy in fabrics. I am in love.

Love these prints? Want to find some inspiration for these latests designer prints? Then look no further my friends than Art Gallery Fabrics brand new LookBooks!

These fabulous print cottons retail at around £12.50 per metre – check out your local stockist!

So, which is your fave Art Gallery Fabric collection?

 

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Bullet Journaling – a new crush!

I’m a list gal. Always have been, always will be.

I have tried almost every app and tech gadget going to bring my love of lists into the modern era. But, you know what, nothing seems to work quite as well as a good old fashioned paper and pen combo.

SÄRSKILD notebook £1.50 Ikea

I love tick lists, tiny little boxes to check off when they are done. What could be more satisfying than that? Turns out, that this is a thing. This writing organised lists, complete with check boxes is basically a real thing. A thing proving that I’m not alone in my need for lists and organisation.

This thing is called Bullet Journaling. I like that name, that’s a go-getter kind of name, so of course it gets my vote! The basic principle is to use a new sheet of a notebook for each day, write out the tasks in a list format – with the check boxes and then you can work through the list checking them off.

There are additional ways you can organise your Bullet Journal – to make tracking tasks, months and projects much easier. These include creating an index that you set at the start of the notebook and complete as you work through, adding monthly at-a-glance page at the start of each month which can be updated with events, dates to remember and projects.

Find out more about keeping a Bullet Journal – a paper-based organisation system over on the Bullet Journal website there is even a neat video to get you up-to-speed super fast!

September is right around the corner, and I have big plans for the coming months, so I’m planning on this clever analog format to keep (and stay) on top of things. I’m pretty sure that this is a customisable system and I can’t way to see where this takes me! Do you keep a Bullet Journal? Do you love it? Have you customised it? Tell me your Bullet Journal loves!

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