'Seaside Home' Book Giveaway - Now Closed!

So whilst I was away last week, a very exciting parcel arrived for me. It's been something that's been in the pipeline for over 18 months!

Way back in 2010, I was asked to contribute a project to a new seaside sewing book called 'Seaside Home', part of the Design Collective series by Stash Books. My project was to be my Beach Hut cushion (or 'pillow' as it's called in the States!) And finally... after all these month, the book has been published!

I am really quite excited to be part of this book, especially as it is such a lovely book! To be honest, I still am excited whenever and wherever I see my work in print, whether it is for my textiles work or magazine commissions, I don't think it will ever grow old! I would love to write and design my own  sewing/ craft book one day too...

Anyway there are 25 sewing and craft projects in the book, all with a seaside theme, including quilts, cushions, bags, and garlands just to name a few. All the projects are step by step with clear illustrations, beautifully styled photos and templates so it is perfect for both experienced sewers and beginners too, it really is a lovely book.

Anyway here's the best part... I am giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader of my blog!

♥ All you have to do is leave me a comment on this post telling me what you love most above the seaside. You don't have to be a follower of my blog but I would love it if you were!

♥ For a second entry, you can blog about my giveaway. Feel free to use the top image if you want, and please link back to this post and leave me a second comment to let me know you've mentioned it!

 

The giveaway is open internationally, and will end in one weeks time on Easter Monday, 9th April, 7.00pm UK time.

Thanks so much for entering and good luck!

p.s If you can't wait and want to buy your own copy of Seaside Home, you can find it here (US readers) and here (UK readers) xxx

Sunshine

Hello, it's been a while! I've had a lovely time soaking up the sun for the last few weeks but now back in rainy England, with my tan hidden under jeans and a big thick cardie! Not impressed with the weather I've come back to at all!

We went to Lagos again on the Algarve in Portugal like last year but for three whole weeks this time. I totally got into the relaxed, laid back way of living... a little lie in every morning, then a bit of sunbathing, lunch, a potter about, maybe a siesta, beach for a couple of hours, then maybe drinks in town... No real pressure to do anything and time to just sit and chat... lovely!

I also managed to get my tapestry finished - at last - feels like I've been doing it forever! Really pleased with it, just need to get it framed and I will do a little ta-dah post on it :)

The beaches around Lagos are really lovely and there are loads to choose from... we tended to go down in the late afternoon when the sun wasn't quite as hot. Sometimes we would just walk along the shore, other times we would set up camp for a couple of hours. I did go in the sea a few times but it is so COLD being the Atlantic that I really couldn't stand it for more than a few minutes at a time!! 

Picked up loads of shells too... really pretty ones which I just had to bring home in the suitcase. It's funny, out of the two main beaches we went to (only a couple of miles from each other around the headland) one had so many shells you were falling over them - there were literally hundreds and hundreds - and the other had none at all. Quite weird since they are so very close. 

 

Also went out a few times at night into the town for a meal or just drinks... and always passed this old fashioned carousel as we waited for taxis. Sadly I didn't actually get to go on it, (most of the occupants being under five) but I could still admire the pretty lights! Isn't there something so magical about old fashioned fairground rides... Those lights have me captivated!

 

So all in all it was a really lovely break and a much needed one after the stresses of moving...etc. Back home now though and it is really nice to be back, except we currently have a broken boiler which  annoyingly means no hot water :( Hopefully it's being fixed in the morning, fingers crossed! I hate not being able to shower, I feel so grubby even after one day! Urgh... 

Still got lots to do this week around the house too. Because we went away so soon after moving, I've come back to lots of boring paperwork and post which needs to be dealt with. I've also got quite a few pairs of curtains to make this week for the lounge and bathrooms which currently just have temporary hangings up. Hopefully I'll be able to remember how to make them without too much trouble, not made anything more complicated than pencil pleat before!

So anyway what I'm actually getting around to saying with all this is that I'm going to be keeping my shops shut for another week or so just to give me time to get myself sorted before I start thinking about the 'C' word!! Arggh... how on earth are we back here again, feels like I've only just stopped sewing puddings and presents and it's nearly time to get them all back out again. Madness!

Anyway thanks for visiting as always, back soon x

Oh I do like to be beside the seaside...

Quick quick, Blogger is working again... fingers crossed this will post this time, have been trying all day! Anyway is just a flying visit to show you my project this month for Crafts Beautiful magazine (August issue 230) which is out now...

The brief was for a set of summery kids-themed cards with a beach/seaside vibe. 

I really enjoyed doing this project as it's a little different to what I usually do (it's got no sewing in it at all!) Plus I got to delve into my box of sequins and jewels which is always fun, and I discovered the delights of glitter card - oh yes I am easily pleased!

Anyway, hope you're having a great week, will be back soon with a granny square update! xxx

Lucky me!

My recent string of good luck continued this week when I was on twitter late on Tuesday evening. I was about to go to bed when I noticed a retweet saying that the 300th follower of the Janet Bell Gallery page would receive a surprise bag of goodies. I recognised Janet's beautiful work right away as I had been given one of her beach hut cards by a friend a while back (as it was so nice I've kept it and was planning on framing it at some point, just not got around to it yet). Anyway, as luck would have it, when I clicked on to her page, it was on 299 followers. It seemed like fate so I clicked 'follow' and yippee, I was the 300th follower! 

So earlier today the postman comes knocking and he has brought me my parcel! Inside were so many gorgeous things all wrapped up in turquoise tissue paper, including...

...four lovely coasters featuring Janet's paintings

...and a selection of cards featuring Janet's gorgeous seaside designs

There were also lots of other little treats in the package too including...

...this sweet little badge by Stockwell Ceramics

...this little cutie from The Black Rabbit (love the stripes!)

as well as two gorgeous seaside-y teatowels...

 ...the lighthouse one is by Charlotte Fleming and the beach huts one is by The English Seaside company

... and last but not least was this pretty candle in a blue and white spotty cupcake case, so sweet!!

As you may expect, I am delighted with all my goodies and am thanking my lucky stars that I did not go to bed early that night;)
 

If you would like to see more of Janet's lovely work, pop across to her website. I'm sure you will recognise her bright and cheery seaside style and like it as much as I do. You can also follow her on twitter.

Janet's designs have been turned into many different products including cards, prints, coasters, place mats and also these rather wonderful cross stitch kits...

Love them!

The Janet Bell Gallery is located in Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey, and also stocks the work of lots of other talented artists too including Andy Povey and Hannah Nunn, so if you are in the area, definitely pop in for a visit.

Well that's about it from me today, but I hope you are all having a nice weekend despite the super soggy weather! It has been raining here ALL day so I'm looking forward to having a nice cosy evening in (may even get some grannies done!) 

Jenny x

Seaside Inspiration...

It is only a couple of days now until I go on my summer holidays (getting very excited!), so I thought it would be a perfect time to share some of my favourite 'summer' inspired finds...



First up is a lovely print named 'Small Sailor' by illustrator Tutti Shafir, who is currently based in Tel Aviv. With it's beautiful subdued colour palette, it takes me back to the innocence of childhood days, when hours could easily be passed daydreaming and playing in my own little world... very nostalgic! If you want to see a wider selection of Tutti's work, visit her etsy shop, where there are lots more of her charming prints for sale.




Isn't this just the perfect print for summer? This beautiful eco-friendly fabric is named Gwylan (which is Welsh for seagull) in Seafoam blue, and is by Welsh-born designer Jenny Lee-Katz. I love the simplicity and placement of this design, as well as the fun and quirky imagery. Take a look at Jenny's website for more of her gorgeous designs.




Finally, 'Ladies at amusements' is a textile piece by one of my favourite designers at the moment, Laura McCafferty, who documents everyday scenes and ordinary people using a combination of screen print, fabric appliqué and hand stitching. I just love the juxtaposition of all the different prints and patterns she uses, as well as the humour and sincerity she injects into her work with the often personal subjects she depicts. Laura welcomes commissions of all sizes, so if you would like more information, (or just want to see more of her amazing works) check out her website.

Off to the beach...

I was asked a couple of weeks ago by a lovely lady called Calypso at Clippy to customize one of her products. Being a girl who can never have too many bags, I chose her small photobag and set about personalising it's pockets with textiley bits and pieces... and ta da... here is my fab new beach bag!




If you've never heard of Clippy, then I have to say just where have you been?! Celebrities have been spotted carrying their own Clippy products for years and if you pop over to their website, you too can join the club with you're very own customized shoulder bag, wash bag or even a personalised 'dolly brolly'!