Valentine Special Offer!

I'm staying at home today as my little boy is a bit off colour.  So we made these to cheer us up.
I'm about to have a batch of new shades made up so I thought I'd spread a little love with a pre-order temptaition.

For this week only, I'm offering a 15% discount in my Big Cartel Shop on the new Parade design as I'm rather excited about the colours....available in orange, turquoise, magenta and of course, white.  They should be ready in 4-6 weeks, maybe less! So if you fancy a nice, new sweety lamp by your bedside or glowing in the living room..off you go and order!  Offer ends Friday 20th Feb.  (offer now extended until the 11th March as I'm running a bit behind!)

Clover Lover

I've got a thing about clover.

It pops up in quite a few of my designs and I have plans for more!
Here's something I did over the weekend for my friends 40th birthday (very boozy event in the Cotswolds!)
I have lots of lampshade panels that are over flowing from my plan chest.  The ones that didn't make the grade!  I've been playing around with a few ideas for them as I can't bare to chuck them out!

So, 40 little clovers and just one with four leaves, all cut out from my various patterns and the odd bit of discarded stitchery too.
Had to squash them a bit into this frame, but I think it turned out OK.
I'm slightly worried that they'll all fall off as I stuck them fairly rapidly with a cheap glue stick.  But they went off with a guarantee and a promise to repair if necessary!

Next time I'm round at Richard's for book club, if they're on the wall, I'll feel like I did my job properly!

Thumb Printing Fun!

I really try hard not to force art onto my little boy and occasionally he'll give me a flash of hope that maybe one day he'll want to sit and 'do colouring' with me!
We did have a wonderful time together on the train coming back from Sheffield recently and it was all thanks to Aunty Jacquie and The Small Object.

This was a Christmas present for Stanley and we've both had fun making several cards with it.  The train journey got us working on this biggy, which means we've more or less run out of stickers now.  That's not so bad though, as I'm sure we can get inventive with other stickers from his / my collection, dotted around the house.

It's such a sweet idea and great that the cards in the box are half finished, which just gives enough inspiration for a small boy to add a few more bits without having to work too hard!  He went on to colour in most of his name and the journey time whizzed by.

I love the work of Sarah Neuburger.  Her mini treasures can be found on Etsy and I was very pleased to pick up this eeny teeny Needle Case at The Make Lounge..  I did actually lose it almost straight away, but amazingly it turned up under the sofa!

So thank you, Aunty Jacquie (meant to bring the card on Saturday, but forgot!) and congratulations to The Small Object for creating such a fab project!  Published by the ever wonderful Chronicle Books and available to buy here.

More fabrics in my Etsy Shop

Not parting with my little treasures though, Miffy clock and Frenchy Woof.

Home Day

I've been doing a few customer orders at home today and took a few pics plus some funny 'combinations' as my boy would say.

 Product placement or what!

 Action man hanging out with the cats... Sally Nencini's knitted love and Jane foster's printed meow!

I've also been meaning to post about the fabirc buckets I've been milling around with for a while.  This is the best one so far!  I just put up this new clock too, bought from a cute, new shop in my neighbourhood.

I also got a gorgeous new cushion from my friend Becky Baur.... will post pics when it arrives.

Etsy Open Studio Tour

Just a big thanks for all those happy comments after revealing my wee space on Etsy!

New Colour Lollipop Totes

I've just added a few Lollipop Totes to my Etsy Shop in two new colours.

Making Magazine

 Pleased as punch to be in this month's rather fab Making Magazine.....

 

It's really nice to see my work in print, I was surprised how big and clear they all were and I even don't mind the picture of me, which is a rare occasion!

There are some great articles all about lampshade making and I love this project......

Thanks so much to Clare Kelly for her interview.  You can catch up on all the great articles she has written for the creative makers out there on her website and scroll through her fun blog at Pass the Pattern.
As for my words...I cringed a little at my admittance to listening to Radio One all day!  Even though it's true, I wish I could have thought of something a bit more ecclectic at my age!
Anyway, back to my boring accounts.....hopefully I will be up and running again by next week.

Welcome Back!

Brittany 2011, originally uploaded by Helen Rawlinson.

We've had a long and lovely Christmas break. Time to think things over, list making, planning and making ready for a new year.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Legoland!

OK so while I swan around in my studio all year making pretty things and having a lovely jolly time, my other half is slaving away everyday, going to work in the real world and keeping it all together for our little family.  Occasionally he manages to get the odd precious minute to himself to engage with his mathmatical, musical genius.  Here's what you get when you combine Lego, Christmas festivity and a lots of glue (I stand corrected: No glue!).  It was first tested on our boy and then a group of willing primary school kids in Walthamstow.  It's been tweeked and twiddled and here's the latest version....so without further ado, Happy Christmas to you all.... from our slightly bonkers family!

Just click on the picture to take you to the video