The birth of Little a

Posted on May 12, 2012 by admin
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This time of year is filled with utter joy and a wee bit of sadness. Five years ago our life changed forever as it does with so many couples expecting the birth of a perfect new baby.

Little a

I was so excited about meeting your new baby, we didn’t know what we were having, and just couldn’t wait for the day to come, I had followed the books and was the ‘perfect’ host, not eating or drinking anything naughty, doing all the exercises, did the nct course and was even giving massage and hypnobirthing a go. I’d done my birth plan but really didn’t mind what happened as long as the baby actually came out because I couldn’t stand being a beached whale for any longer.

The night arrived (8 days late, grrr) and I had had several bouts of false labour so really I was convinced I just had trapped wind and wasn’t in labour, I didn’t think the baby would ever shift. But after trying a bath and some Rennie we gave the hospital a ring and went in. It was strange as I didn’t have the tummy cramps, I, lucky me, had all the pain in my back and from the word go the pain was full on it didn’t get closer together the nearer I was, it didn’t get worse, it was just 24 hours of contractions no rests or breaks. It had begun….

After the birth I wrote everything down that had happened and how I felt and I was looking for it this week, I’ve not seen it since the day I wrote it because I just couldn’t and now I felt it was time to do that but alas it has gone. So this is my account, in a vauge way hoping it is theraputic to get it out of my system but also in the vain hope it may help others that find themseves in that same place.

I can only smile when I see his face

I was very determined to do it all by myself, the labour, and not use pain relief, god knows why, but I wanted to do something I could feel proud of and make my mum proud of, it was a deep need. I’d always felt a bit f a failure at life in general and in the eyes of my parents and thought this would show them I was OK. The labour was intense but very well managed by myself and the midwives, my husband was some for of god, making me laugh (saying I was like Darth ‘Labour’ with the breathing into the gas and air. Death stares from the midwives ensued but it made me laugh). 24 hours of  ’fun’ later and after being prepared for a vontouse Arthur appeared, he obviously didn’t like the idea of the skin unblock-er coming to get him so he popped out before anything needed to be done.

I had done it, a natural birth, just a bit of music and some essential oils, a whole load of noise and he was here.

I knew he was going to be a boy. I just had a feeling, and he was always going to be called Arthur after my wonderful grandpa. So my little Arthur was laid on me whilst I trembled in disbelief. And then all hell brought lose.

Arthur's first day

Arthur has taken to the table beside me with Simon in between us. Arthur wasn’t breathing, he had had the cord around his neck and had swallowed a huge amount of meconium, a dangerous amount, what would normally at the time have been a fatal amount. And while I had to give birth to the placenta my son was lying blue and lifeless on a table next to us while the doctors worked to save him.

My only memory was screaming ‘please don’t let my baby die’ again and again. I knew what it all meant because something very horrible had happened to a work colleague only a month before. His baby was born under the same conditions and so much tar like mechonium had got into her lungs that they just couldn’t get it all out and their dreams were all crushed. So after that tragedy, I had asked all the midwives questions about this situation and was told it was so rare it would not happen to me and it was out of anyone’s control anyway, fate, rubbish, shitty, fate. It’s all so vivid in my head, time doesn’t dull the memory or the pain or the damage. And I wasn’t poor Simon, he was watching his son lifeless on one table and on his other side his wife was screaming, and going into shock whilst still dealing with the third stage of labour.

Anyway, somehow these doctors got the tar out of Arthur’s lungs. The midwives later told me that the doctors had used a new resuscitation technique they’d never seen before. They had performed miracles and saved my baby. I just thought if they can do that everything will definately be ok., I mean come he had totally cheated death.  The doctors took him to the nursery and I was left to ‘clean up’ have some toast and a cup of tea. The nursery sounded nice, ahhh he’d be all snuggled up waiting for me to give him a proper cuddle. I didn’t know or understand that the nursery was neonatal intensive care.

Father and son

I was popped into a wheelchair at last, we were kept waiting for ages I just wanted to see Arthur, then I saw the ward sign…..then I realised something wasn’t quite right, there was silence other than beeping monitors and buzzing machines, people were watching us, it was 3/4am and the ward was empty of anyone other than the staff. Then we were taken to his area. He was in an incubator and was covered with tubes, his face blanked out by a ventilator and a little knitted cap that kept the tubes in the right place. We could touch him briefly through a hole in the side. Then they explained what had happened.

Arthur, once resuscitated had  been brought to intensive care and on the way he suffered a huge seizure, probably due to the lack of oxygen to the brain whilst being worked on for such a long time. This had caused massive damage, many of his organs weren’t working but most importantly he had suffered brain damage. No one knew how extensive it was yet, but it was big, it was serious. We were then left alone with him and to make the phone calls. Phone calls to tell nearest and dearest to come as soon as they could because otherwise they night not see him. I don’t think anyone but the staff and Simon and I understood quite how bad it was, we knew what had happened previously and the likelihood that the machines would be turned off was high.

It was all a bit surreal, like you were watching someone else’s life, it couldn’t be happening. When we went to see Arthur a few hours later, after trying in vein to rest, he had come out of an incubator and was now on what essentially a cooling table, and had been placed on a medical trial which was hoping that by cooling his whole body to slow down that the rest of his organs his energy would go into healing his brain. I’d rather not think of all the things that weren’t working because they were the least of his problems if the brain didn’t respond.

The wires were terrifying, one went into his head to monitor stuff, he had a feeding tube, drips etc etc etc. We could touch him but not stroke him as that could upset his senses, we still didn’t even know what he looked like. Didn’t know what colour all that gorgeous hair was as it was still thick with the meconium.

Days went by and going to see him terrified me, I was with drawing quickly. I didn’t want to go because I was scared he might not be there, he may have gone, all we felt was huge pain and grief and confusion. We were grieving for a life that we thought would happen that had gone. Our son hadn’t died but the baby I had had inside me had gone somehow and a new one was lying there now. A new one that I needed so badly I thought I would explode. He couldn’t die, he’d never get to feel my hugs, he’d never see us, know us, love us, he’d never know the seaside, feeding the ducks, breath fresh air, blow out a candle on a birthday cake, hold our hand, be swung with laughter in the air and caught by his daddy with the safest arms. But the most important thing of all was he would never know, really properly truly know how much I loved him, unconditionally, instantly, all consumingly. That was terrifying. Those first few days I was preparing myself for his death, every moment waiting for the words.

The first time I held him

Living in the hospital, which both Simon and I did, was strange. I was still a patient as they knew my history with depression and they must have felt I needed observing. Simon was allowed to stay with me and sleep on a reclining chair they wheeled in from a visitors room. We had a side room on the maternity ward away from the mothers who had there babies, but I could still hear them crying every night, those lucky mothers and there crying babies.

Our family

Simon spent a lot of time by Arthur’s bedside, reading to him, speaking with the doctors and understanding all the medications, the latest hourly procedures. He did ‘cares’ mainly I was just to frightened(‘cares’ is where you change your babies nappies, wipe the eyes and mouths with sterilised water). There were so many wires, he was so little, although he was a giant almongst the prem babies that were mainly there, what if I did even more damage. And those noises, the beeping of the machines, there was nowhere to sit apart from two bar stool type things. After ten minutes you felt like you’d been there for hours. Time didn’t mean anything, we forgot when  we were meant to eat so we missed meals and when we got hungry the shops had closed, nothing really made sense and we became institutionalised very quickly. The outside world and what was happening meant nothing.

I went in and out of shock, Simon was there always. We would sit and talk for hours about everything, we stayed strong because he was strong. That kept us together we experienced everything as a team, it was Arthur, Simon and me against the world.

At the end of the first week we sat with one of the main doctors and spoke to him about our fears. It was the first time we were told he was unlikely to die. Then we could breath again. Pretty amazing Doctor really, how many people can tell the parents of a ill child that there child is exceedingly ill with life changing implications but you leave the room feeling happy, excited and positive. Things started to get a bit easier, I wasn’t afraid of every knock on the door any more. I was going to do everything I could to make my son better. Even when I was discharged and had to leave him there, which nearly killed me, I knew we would be together soon. We had to be I wouldn’t allow any other option to enter my head.

There are moments when you go through this sort of thing that you can’t explain to people that are lucky enough to have typical experiences. Things that are easy to take for granted that we celebrated and made us bond with our son more than is humanly possible to explain. The night he had his ventilator taken out and we saw what our son actually looked like. The first time we got to hold him, feel how warm and soft he was. Hearing him cry for the first time, his perfect little voice. I could write a book about those tiny things that made us want to carry on each day. Finding he had a sucking reflex so he may be able t feed with out a tube one day. To be honest I thought it would be easy to write this down and explain what happened. But it isn’t, and I don’t think I can properly. After five years it’s just as raw and painful and vivid.

Arthur's first meal.

Needless to say my boy lived, he left hospital, and we have enjoyed every single second of his life, we have celebrated every achievement. He has done everything that wasn’t expected. He sat up, he rolled over, he held an object, he ate food, he walked, he recognised us. He was a bloody miracle. Not one moment of Arthur’s life hasn’t been cherished and loved and wanted and remembered. Many children don’t get to leave that ward and we knew some of them and we will never forget them.

Arthur has brain damage, we have recently found out the complex needs he does have and that mentally there are more issues that we realised going on. Life is different for us than for my other friends and family. But that little boy we have is braver and more determined than anyone I know. He is why I will never give up with anything. He is why I’m a better mother than I could have ever dreamed of being. He makes me a better person. And he sister shows me the same strength and power of character that makes me the proudest person alive. My little family, Simon Arthur and Phoebe. It’s not about the devastating things that happen to us all, it’s about how we deal with them.

 

Growing up so quickly

Arthur’s brain is damaged, it won’t get better, what’s done is done. He may look ‘normal’ but that is because every second of every day he is working 500% to be like us. Every day from waking up he has to think about how to move his body to stop accidents happening and keep himself safe, he has to think of a way to communicate with everyone because he has limited speech, he gets tired very easily but he doesn’t know how to sleep without medication. He has epilepsy. He has behavioural issues and probable learning difficulties. He had complex sensory issues. He is constantly misunderstood and talked over. And we have so much more to learn about his needs. But yet he smiles, he laughs to most fantastic giggle you will ever hear, he is kind and so loving and is happy. He rarely complains. He is NOT naughty, he is brave and to be admired. He is a miracle and those people who stare and tut at him when he is frightened and out of control, I pity you because you don’t have an Arthur is your life to make you a better person too.

On top of the world

Writing this has been incredible hard and I’ve avoided going into too much details, but for months I have been having vivid flash backs and finding life difficult. I think I needed to remind myself how wonderful things are and how far we’ve come. The difficulties won’t end but thank god we have them I wouldn’t swap them because then I wouldn’t have him. xxx

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The Westminster Abbey Cushion

Posted on April 8, 2012 by admin
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I was lucky enough last year to be asked to do a wedding cushion for a couple from Durham who wanted a memory of where they were living as well as the details of their wedding, so after a bit of chatting and thinking I came up with the idea of  doing a fabric collage of the Cathedral, the most iconic image of Durham I could think of. I included blues and yellow which were the colours requested and some vintage duck buttons because the bride loved ducks.

Durham Cathedral Cushion

And so when I got an email asking me to make a cushion for a wedding that was happening in Westminster Abbey, the first thing I thought of was doing another collage of a beautiful and iconic building with all the wedding details included as a fab memory of a very special day. I was also asked to include the initials of the couple as they had them on their invitations. And so I got to work.

Firstly I needed to get the picture I wanted to use and chose my fabric.  I had a very clear idea of what I wanted to do and use and so It was a really enjoyable process.

Fabric choice for the cushion all ironed and ready to cut.

Drawing out my design.

So I have my frame work of what I want and then it’s just a matter of cutting the fabric and placing it in the right places. This may all look very simple but I have spent my whole life drawing and painting and studying so I have lots of experience. This is the kind of thing that makes me very excited. It’s also been making me think about my work a lot recently. But more of that later……

Placing the fabric

I have my fabric sorted now and so I just need to give it a good iron to fix everything in place. It takes lots of time, as does each process but in each instance it is important to make the time and effort to do it right, it always pays of in the end.

So now everything is fixed I draw on the details and start my stitching.

Everything stuck, marked and ready for the stitching.

Now the stitching is where everything really starts to come together and this is where the time is mainly spent. It took me 20 hours to hand sew this cushion. Every edge needs to be sewn, then the details of the building, then the writing.

I stitch in my own style, I found the neater I stitched the more people would say ‘why bother you may as well machine stitch as it looks the same’, they had a point. Why would they want to pay more for something hand stitched that looked just like it could have been machine stitched. So my skill at perfect stitching seemed a bit pointless sadly. So now I try to be a bit more quirky with my work. I am freer with my stitches and sew very much like I draw and paint, with feeling, to make you want to touch and be involved with the work, to give it personality and and make it a piece of art, not just a run of the mill appliqué cushion like many available from the high street.

A bit of stitching in progress

I am deeply passionate about art, painting in particular, my life before children revolved around visiting art galleries, studying the old masters, life drawing, seeking out inspiration and knowledge that would help me get better and better. After children I found I didn’t have time to draw and I became rusty and frustrated. Once I started sewing I got my creative outlet back but it was never quite the same as the freedom of a canvas and oil paint. But as I have progressed over the last year or so with Little a I have found my way back to drawing and painting, not as I had done before, but in a new and exciting direction. I won’t stop doing what I’ve always done but I will be forming a new side to my business over the next few months and this cushion symbolises the start. So watch this space.

The detail and stitching has been done and now for a few buttons.

Detail of stitching and buttons.

Detail of stitching and buttons.

The Westminster Abbey Cushion (c) Marna Lunt 2012

The cushion is well pressed and vintage buttons are added at the end. Everything is stitched up with my company button added to the back. And it is finished. In total the cushion took 23 hours of work.

23 hours of work at minimum wage (£6.19) = £142.37. The materials cost = £27.50

Remembering I am a business and need to make a profit, there are bills to pay, petrol, electricity of sewing machines, light, paypal charges, general running of a business type stuff. You do the sums, I think you will see why my prices are as they are, and seeing the detail of work that I do, hopefully you will see why my customers pay what they do, because they appreciate the quality and time artisans spend on this sort of thing.

The price I charged for this cushion was under £100. The lovely customer deserved this bargain as she took a chance on me with an important gift. The prices I charge at the start of a piece of work can often reflect if it’s a new idea or product, it can be a shot in the dark not knowing how long it will take and what I will need, so prices can change from the formation of an idea to the time it gets to my website. (Never in the middle of a project you pay what I quote you regardless.)

Project ideas and trial and error are how great things happen and how it leads to new directions and beginnings, I love this process and don’t mind if I under value myself at first because I am also testing myself and getting great delight from doing so. When you ask me to make something for you, you’re not just paying for the time I take or the fabrics and materials I use, they are important and necessary, but what you are paying for is my experience, my thoughts and imagination, my years of training and years of education, my talent.

I encourage people to have a go at sewing their own designs themselves, as it is a wonderful feeling to create something of your very own. I’m making cushion kits for people for that very reason, it’s a wonderful feeling to have accomplished something and have it with you to show off and be proud of in your house. I am here to make something for you if you can’t do that yourself because of time or knowledge, that is my trade, like a plumber or an electrician or builder.

My cushion kits will be a bit special as they will be tailored for you and you only, they will have colours and fabric you chose, buttons and thread that will match perfectly and full instructions. They will be cushions from my mind but with your sewing, so you get that achievement without the worry or need for stockists of each material, the knowledge to put all the elements together.

Anyway back to the Westminster Abbey cushion. It is now compete and I am so utterly thrilled. Cushions like this will be available to order very soon on my website, and later in the year the new designs and ideas will be available. I really hope the bride and groom love this cushion as much as I enjoyed making it.

The completed cushion.

All photos and designs are (c) Marna Lunt 2012.

Posted in Business, Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy, Uncategorized | 9 Comments

J is for Jubilee

Posted on March 29, 2012 by admin
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Well it’s Diamond Jubilee year, and I have to say I am loving the goodies available from the high street as well as us crafters. There’s nothing like feeling proud of where we come from. Some times I think we British seem to apologise about ourselves far to. Why do we have to be negative and gloomy. Britain is totally fab in so many ways, forget about the politics and economics and think of the green fields, the wildlife, the quirky customs, the cakes and most importantly our Royal family. I know so many people hate them nowadays and they are ‘uncool’, but I really like them, always have.

I don’t care about the money and the times, I love the history, the pomp & ceremony, the tradition. I love the amazing art they have secured for our future, the buildings they’ve kept and shared. I love them and I am proud of them and I love that the last few years we’ve celebrated them with the Wedding and now 60 amazing years of the reign of our Queen. Enough said. This is my tribute to them.

We went to London to see the Queen Cushion

God save the Queen Rosette

God Save the Queen Diamond Jubilee Cushion

Bucks House Mini Star

New products including large hearts will be available on Monday. So check out my website and let me know what you think. xx

Professional photography by Lyndsay James 2012

 

Posted in Business, Events/Parties | 1 Comment

Rosette Workshops

Posted on March 29, 2012 by admin
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The first of my rosette workshops was a success and a great learning experience. I had two workshop pros as my guests/guinea pigs, the lovely Rachel and her mum Anne. They are teachers themselves so it was daunting hoping I was as good as they so obviously are at their jobs.

One of the small rosettes that you could make at the workshop.

All the workshops are held at my home in my conservatory with all the home comforts around us. This limits the size of the class to a maximum of five but four is better to give everyone the time they need from me. This workshop was held on an evening but in future I will be holding half day courses on the weekend so people have an different payment option as well as something a bit different to make. I felt the evening made the lighting a bit of an issue, especially for those little details and stitches we were making.

Our work table.

First of all we had a chat about what we’d like to make and where for. Because it was just the two people we thought ‘lets go for it’ and made large rosettes. This will not be the case in future because there just isn’t enough time to do it in, another thing learnt, so we will be sticking to small rosettes in future. Then there is no any pressure to do anything too quickly and more fun can be had by all.

A couple of threads for our wording.

After chosing the colours and fabrics we thought we’d like then we got to designing and it isn’t as easy as you’d imagine, but my two little pros got on so well with the task at hand. We had plenty of nibbles, dips, cake, biscuits, by our sides, if only we had more hands to eat and sew at the same time.

My very unruly fabric stash.

We had a lovely glass of wine together and a good natter whilst we made our delights, lots of ideas were exchanged and friends made. And by the end of the evening my lovely guests had created two fabulous hanging rosettes to be very proud of as did I.

A few ribbons and trim to add to our fancy pants rosettes.

I will be planning many more rosettes workshops and day cushion workshops in the future which you will find announced on my website and Facebook page. So I hope you can join me for sewing and gossip very soon. xx

A masterpiece in the making.

Posted in Business, Events/Parties, Gift Ideas, Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Saltburn’s Olympic Yarn Bombing.

Posted on March 11, 2012 by admin
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I’ve jumped on the band wagon and done a blog on the yarn bombing on Saltburn Pier that appeared last week, but after seeing it today in the glorious sunshine it deserves as many mentions as possible. It’s just wonderful to see a community enjoying something so creative together and applauding a talent and taking pride in their town.

I grew up near by on the Moors and went to school for many years in Saltburn and to be honest do not have good memories and have avoided it like the plague for years. But after seeing all the pictures of this fab and fancy ‘scarf’ knitted over the hand rail of the pier I thought ‘I’m not missing that’ lets change some memories and enjoy a  bit of the  glorious freak March weather we’re having, so we were off.

After bringing half our shed with us, fold down chairs, picnic blanket, buckets, spades, balls, kites, not to mention towels, spare clothes, coats, hats, gosh I could go on for some time. Needless to say we were well prepared. Then of course we parked too far away and couldn’t carry everything to the beach as well as the kids. Anyway as soon as foot touched sand I was off, ‘See ya hubby and children, enjoy, I’m off it see some Guerilla knitting’ I have a feeling they were glad to get rid of me.

Saltburn has been the scene of a few yarn bombing incidents over the last six months or so, with a teddy bears picnic as well as figure adorned scarves around lamp posts but this was even more special. A 50 foot stretch of Olympic athletes, from a knocked out boxer, a wheel chair winner, weight lifters, synchronised swimmers with pegs on their noses, hanging medals, cyclists, rowers, the detail was stunning. Such time consuming effort done in secrecy is a credit to them, because I think this was done by a few people not a loner as there were a few different styles of person.

It’s been on the television and in the National papers, a marketing coo for the businesses on the pier, especially with this glorious sunny weekend the cafes and fish and chip shops were heaving. Every one smiling and friendly with a common conversation piece we all seemed to be friends today.

If you live in the area you will have probably have already seen it but if not you need to, it’s fun, it’s something to be proud of  and to take inspiration from. And if you don’t live near by make it an outing, it’s worth it. If only there were more people out there determined to do things randomly and selflessly to make people smile.

My lovely family enjoying some chips, a British seaside must!
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The First Cushion Workshop

Posted on March 10, 2012 by admin
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The day started by what can only be described as a very hot flush! So much excitement and anxiety all rolled into one and it was a mad dash to the finish line of tidying and hoovering and making lunch. I had packed off the cuties to Grannies and lovely hubby was having a well deserved rest and relax in the sunshine of Scaling Dam and some beautiful scenery. Oh god will they like me, will I forget what to say, will we run of time, are they vegetarian, why am I so red, omg omg they’re here!!!!

I greeted the three lovely ladies, Kat, Clare and Claire into my home and the chatting commenced! We had a look at all the designs that were available to have a go at. I spoke to each lady about what they wanted to achieve and what they really fancied seeing in their own homes. We went to my studio and fingered the fabrics and chose our spoils, then snuggled down on the dinning table with a couple of tins of vintage buttons.

My fabulous stitching women! Cor and look at those buttons.

I drew out each design and we got them fixed to the background and then we had to decide on buttons. Ohhhh lovely buttons…………………………….sorry easy to get distracted there. I, hopefully, gave an insight into the choosing of colour and texture to compliment fabrics and designs. And we chatted about little tips to make life easier and again hopefully the girlies saw that what I do is not technical, any one can do it, you just need time. The trick is the grouping and choosing of the fabrics, the thread and buttons and a lot of that is just in my head but by working with you I want to give you confidence that you too can do anything you want. And by spending the day sharing stories and giggling we all discovered how to relax and just enjoy ourselves with strangers who very soon became friends. Which all four of us definately deserved. There are no cleaky groups, you won’t be left out, we’re a team and we’re all in it together.

Kat gets the giggles.

Oh and did I mention lunch…… smoked salmon and asparagus quiche, ‘Marna’s' speciality past salad, squishy bread and lashing of orange cake for afters.

Nom nom, lunch.

I wish I could have taken more fancy photos and clever angles but to be honest I was too busy having fun. Maybe next time but I have a feeling it may be the same. There are lots more workshops on the horizon. Another being in two weeks, which is an evening rosette workshop. More annuncements will be made on my Facebook page and my website.

Clare was very organised and brought with her some silk fabric frm the room she wanted her cushion to be in and her family hand prints. She chose beuatiful mint silf with a mixture of glass vintage buttons, mother of pearl and hints of lilac and deep purple. really stunning, soft and elegant and an heirloom she can treasure forever.

I will leave you with a few shots of the finished products but I have to be honest I don’t think they do them justice they really were stunning, each so different but equally stunning.

This photo doesn't do it justice it's just fab. A gorgeous heart shape out of retro 50's style Japanese linen. Two small birds in red polka fabric kissing a red heart button. Sweet hand stitched underneath and on the back a white linen scroll with made by Claire on it. Heavenly.

It is to be noted that these cushions are not 100% finished as we just ran out of time. We were very ambitious with some very detailed designs which contain a lot of work. But each lady left with thread and the knowledge to finish the small amount of stitching there was left to do. All buttons were stitched, the cushions were finished and sewn with the pom poms and pad in place. All that needs doing is a bit of work around the edges in their own time so they enjoy it and aren’t pressured. I could have very easily given simple designs and completely set out everything they had to do but I feel that this workshop is about going away with something outstanding that you can keep forever and will be special and personal. All my designs are about that, so I think the workshops should be too. I am very happy on future workshops to do a lot simpler designs if requested but hey while you’ve got me for a whole day, use me, pick me brains and my fabrics shelves. Explore, have big dreams, but most of all have fun and be proud. Kat, Clare and Claire accomplished amazing things, beautiful designs that I was genuinely sorry to see go out of my door as I would have been more than happy to have any of them. Well done ladies and thank you for making my first workshop so special. I think we all made some fab friends today and it was a joy to meet you. xx

Kat I think did the most adventurous cushion time wise. God save the Queen in Cath Kidston London print and the Union Jack Japanese linen with hand stitched save the in red and lots of vintage buttons in red white and blue, beautiful stitching and a really splendid choice of fabrics. This design may be appearing in my portfolio very soon.

Oh and here’s a sneak preview of the cushion kit that Kat is going away with to spend some relaxing crafty nights doing. I want to see it Kat, it’s definately one of my favourite fabric combinations. Cushion Kits will be coming soon.

'The cushion Kit Kat made.' They are still in the design stages but Kat has now got the prototype and cushion kits will hopefully being brought to life in the next few months. So you get the Little a look but you've sewn it yourself. x

Posted in Business, Events/Parties, Little A and his Mummy | 7 Comments

Decorating is the new Prozac

Posted on March 8, 2012 by admin
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Well hello all you lovely people out there, the sun is shinning, the days are getting longer and it’s time to get your dusters out and do a bit of spring cleaning and breath in the fresh dewy air.

This is the time of year when all the interior magazines have fresh bright zingy yellows and greens on the cover and you feel like changing your whole surroundings to mirror your bright new self, a rebirth and transformation from the cool winter and blue feeling we all get from the short dark days and horrible weather. We all cheer up once we see yellow trumpeted daffodils and open our windows to air our rooms.

Decorating and my surroundings have always been a very important part of my life. From growing up on the North Yorkshire Moors amongst the sheep & lapwings with the stunning back drop of heathers and peat. To the housing estate where I now find myself, in our little house that we have made into our own little haven of peace and safety.

I suffer from depression and anxiety and have done since being a very little girl. I have had spells of such dark depression I have self harmed and considered ‘my options’. I have been agoraphobic and hidden away from the world for months. I have an had panic attacks which have resulted in many a stay in hospital, the paramedics were a regular visitor to my bedside. I’ve tried all-sorts of drugs and remedies, as well as counselling. And along the way I have learned a lot, and if you don’t mind I’d like to talk to you about it a little. My biggest lesson was that my surroundings can make and break my mental state.

I know that with the current climate there is not much spare cash going around the first thing to go are all those luxuries, a new lick of paint, a pretty vase or picture frame. This makes sense, they are not as important as food and bills of course and many think they are just not important. But you know what, they really are, for people like me who finds getting out of bed some days the biggest achievement in the world. Beauty not only inspires me to create art myself but it also inspires me to breath & to want explore what the world has to offer that day. I go into my living room and cuddle up with my children on our big cosy L shaped sofa underneath my snuggly blue waffle knit habitat throw. The tones and textures of which fill me with peace and warmth. I look around me and I see a wall of photos of my family in frames chosen for their individuality and their charming appearance. They glitter at me and I smile at the thought of those days of glorious happiness which they represent. A flash of hot pink catches my eye from the water colour by Michael Clark that my husband bought me after I had our two children. Everything I have in my house is there and specially thought out to bring strength to my mind and happiness to my heart.

And this doesn’t just affect people with depression and anxiety it effects people like my son. Arthur has a sensory disorder that we are still finding out about all the time. Many children & adults with a brain injury or numerous illnesses, disorders, disabilities really need an environment around them that helps them deal with the immense emotions coursing through them. In the case of Arthur recently we discovered that we had fallen short when decorating his bedroom for his transition to ‘big boy’ (out of his junior bed). We let him chose his bed and the colour and got rid of the womb like little boys room that I had decorated with Toy Story murals. We have found that everything he chose was just too stimulating, what would be fine for a ‘normal’ little boy, Arthur just couldn’t cope with. Resulting in him not being able to sleep, waking with nightmares, refusing to get washed at bath time because it meant bed time, not being able to cope with school because he was tired, and the list goes on. His behaviour has become unmanageable, this is not all due to the decoration of his room, but since making a few changes there has been a marked difference and I know there is no coincidence. We have now changed his bed, the paint colour, the lighting and put lots of floor cushions in (thank god for Ikea and the quick fix). We will eventually put lots of sensory equipment in and make it a completely safe and relaxing room for him.

These decorating changes don’t have to cost the earth, it’s not about the money, it’s about the feeling you create. Your own castle. A place to rule over your little kingdom, where once you close that front door everything is how it should be and makes you a better and brighter person to be around.

Posted in Gift Ideas, Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

A party with a little help from my friends

Posted on February 4, 2012 by admin
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My beautiful girl Phoebe turned two yesterday. We weren’t going to have a party because she doesn’t have many friends, she’s 2! But for Arthur we had a party every year to celebrate his survival and we haven’t for Phoebe, and the guilt has started to set in as it always does with a second child. So Simon (hubby) suggested we have a tea party with a few little friends. Really it’s his own fault giving me the green light for a girly party, it was always going to end in a large amount of pink and very pretty things and ultimately a big bill. Hehehe, he knew what he was getting into when he married me!

So my client brief was ‘tea party’ well actually it was teddy bears picnic but I definately heard girly pink tea party, and I am lucky enough to know a lot of people through Facebookland who I knew could help me make my party, whoops I mean Phoebe’s party, and perfect pink affair. And so I began…….

Firstly the cake. Now I have seen two very different and very incredible cake ladies over the last few weeks and I needed both. So I started with Sugarcube, she does the most amazingly detailed cakes with sugar craft the likes I have never seen before. Phoebe has recently developed a deep love of My Little Pony and since that was my favourite children’s toy I have encouraged it (anything to get her away from scary baby dolls). This made the choice of cake topper easy and look what the genius that is Judith did….

So main cake done but then what about the mummy’s we needed cake and I couldn’t think of a better excuse to get my way and use Daisy Cupcakes, she specialises in vintage style cupcakes. I have been following her page for only a month or two but after seeing her beauties at Christmas  I quickly got on my laptop and ordered the most glorious gingerbread boys and girls to go with her other icing works of art.

So cakes were done but what about the plates to put them on. Since I started my business on Facebook just over a year ago I have been an avid follower and lover of Belle and Boo, how could you not, so when I found out they had started making party goods I was at the front of the queue. Obviously I had already sent out their party invitations and got their thank you notes.

Lastly I had to think of the party bags and many of my lovely Facebook followers gave me a lot of great ideas for fillings. As ever my wonderful friend Margaret from Daisy Dots Boutique came up trumps with some beautiful hair clips for all the girls (and I kept some for myself it would have been rude not to).

And to put these beauties in I used some fab bags from Little Cherub Design. I found her at a designer fair locally and I am so glad I did because she has so many fab printed designs and I’ve got party bags for Arthur’s next ‘do’ too.

And here’s how all those lovely things came together to make my little girls day perfect…..

It’s been wonderful fun playing girly princess parties, but I can’t wait till she starts making her own decisions and showing me what she really loves in her own style and way and seeing what thoughts and pictures are in that beautiful little head. The adventure is just beginning……….buckle up.

Posted in Events/Parties, Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The Manor House to die for.

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin
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This week I was lucky enough to attend a day set up by PhotoStyled at Alstonefield Manor in Derbyshire. Photographer Lyndsey James and stylist Jo Wood have put their very talented heads together and come up with this fantastic idea for all us cottage industries. We get to have the chance of using an incredible venue, with the skills of both a professional photographer and stylist for a fraction of the cost of a normal product shoot.

I have to say I whole heartedly recommend it and this is why.

I travelled three long hours to get to the venue, Alstonefield Manor, and it was worth every second. The village itself was just picture perfect set in incredibly beautiful scenery. It was just the tonic I needed after a week of hospital appointments and horrible decisions to make about Arthur’s future. The night before Arthur had had a melt down so I was battered and bruised and really just wanted to stay with him and make sure he was OK, but so many arrangements had been made for me to go to this day that I longed for, that I couldn’t let people down. So with tired puffy eyes I entered the stunning double doors to the beautiful house, which is also a b&b ( as soon as I save my pennies I’ll be staying, it is incredible). I was greeted by Jo the owner of the house and stylist for the shoot and I felt all my troubles melt away with her wonderful smile and warm greeting.

I was shown into the drawing room to get settled (drawing room pictured above with my stockings gracing the fantastic open fire place). Then we were shown all the rooms in which we were going to be able and I got a bit excited. The rooms were incredible, a dinning room in panelled dark wood with a wood burner and huge table, bedrooms with stunning bed frames and bathrooms adorned with vintage  mirrors and candles. The final room held a tables full of cupcakes, flowers and beautiful vintage tea cups ready for the finest high tea any lunching lady could expect.

Here’s a little of what I came up with from their beautifully styled sets.

Lyndsey was on hand to help with any queries you have with your camera and lighting. And in my case it was heavily needed. I am OK at taking photos with some buttons on my camera but I am a long way off understanding how to play with it in full manual.

I learnt so much from both ladies about how to put a simple photo together and believe me there is nothing simple about it. The shot you see with my stockings took a hour to take in fact it may have been longer. There are so many details to consider and I loved it. It is hard hard work, especially as I seemed to have chosen all the shots next to a roaring fire! I got a bit rosy cheeked to say the least.

I wish I could do it all over again now that I know a bit about what I’m doing. It has inspired me to take better photos and try different views. But mostly it was so nice to spend a day with lovely people, being treated with respect and kindness, and pampered with tea, cakes the most beautiful lunch and wonderful conversation.

Have a look at some more truly fab photos and Lyndsey’s account of the day and how to get yourself booked on one of these fab days! And if you fancy a stay in Derbyshire definately check out the incredible Astonefield Manor you will not be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted in Business, Events/Parties, Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy | 6 Comments

Quack!!

Posted on January 28, 2012 by admin
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I was meant to be showing off a drawing each week as a personal challenge. Well I’ve already missed a week but here’s the drawing I did today after a lovely family walk in Stewart’s Park. There’s nothing quite like spending the weekend cuddling your little ones and one big one (hubby) and going for a lovely walk to feed the quacks, and give carrots to goats and llamas. With a frothy coffee and steaming cup of stew just finishing off the day perfectly.

I think a drawing a week may have been ambitious or maybe this last few weeks have been particularly trying. I’ll pop drawings on as and when I get some good ones done, you might find I do rather a lot of birds. I don’t know why but for some reason I’m really enjoying drawing them at the moment. I’ll try not to be too dull and make them a bit more jazzy than this one. I may even do one tomorrow, well there I go getting carried away. I can see this one with some fab tealy peacock green fabric as the mallards head, oooo…………watch this space. xx

Posted in Inspiration and Dreams, Little A and his Mummy, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment