Cupcakes for Clara

Feeling blue

Is it acceptable to be a little bit blue when you feel like this...

With only four weeks to go until the big due date, I am beginning to wonder what I have let myself in for. My feet have officially become hippo feet, or maybe elephant feet, I'm not too sure which one is more accurate! But other than feeling huge I'm doing well - no real problems. Finishing work in a few days will be a relief and then maybe I can tackle my ever growing list of 'things to get done before the baby comes'. 

Blue really does seem to have been a theme lately, with...

A bluebird keepsie with ribbon tie instead of a button for The Guardian. And the beginnings of a mobile for the baby. It's going to have four mini fatties - three little birds and a kitten, I think.

A couple of new rattles for the little bambino. I've added tiny loops just in case they are liked so much they can be hung from the pram. Of course they feature my fattie bird designs, and the other one uses some really sweet 'red riding hood' fabric, with a little felt house on. I've been thinking over that house design for quite a while now wondering whether it could work as part of a new range called Petit Rouge.

Of course there are blue gifts too... a hat for me and teeny tiny soft shoes for the baby. And there is also green...

... in the form of a little bird. I like making fattie birds (just in case you hadn't noticed!) 

So, on with my to do list, which has been greatly inspired by a new blog that I discovered a few days ago thanks to Miss Alice of raspberry called cicada daydream. It's just lovely. 

Oh yes, and should you be around Manchester between now and September, and have an equal obsession with Lauren Child's work as me, you really should take a peek at her exhibition: Greendrops and Moonsquirters. It's very extremely wonderful and most exciting. You can see things like this...

Lauren Child's sketchbook

The making of Charlie and Lola

Well, maybe I should stop now and head out into the garden to enjoy some of this beautiful blueness...

... it might just cheer me up.

Patience...

... is a virtue. So I am told. I'm not sure Clara would agree - in fact I know darn well that she wouldn't. But you, my dear friends are indeed virtuous, for the patience you have been forced to show is much appreciated. I on the other hand appear to be virtue-less.

So, after yet another absence - now at least you know why - I really want to say thank you, Thank You, THANK YOU everybody for your wonderful support and encouragement over the past few months.

And look who has fluttered into the shop...

This little sparrow is very pleased to be finally finished. He has been sitting on my desk without wings or a beak for at least six weeks. But now he is done, although he remains nameless because I just can't decide on what he is. Any ideas?

And... he is not the only new addition. Keepsies have landed!

There are eight of them all lined up in the shop waiting for precious and most special things to be kept inside them. Each one is different, fully lined, embroidered, and tagged with a cupcake. And they all come packaged in a handmade cotton bag (very eco-friendly!).

Have a lovely afternoon all, I am going to rest, and eat cherries, and watch my tummy because it looks as though there is an earthquake going on in there! (Although I'm fairly reassured that in actual fact it is just a wriggly baby.)

Keepsies

Keepsies \keep-see-s\ noun:
Lovely little pouches to keep your most special and precious things in.
-
'Aren't keepsies just marvelous for keeping your most special and precious little things in?'
'Oh yes, I just love keepsies.'

Do you remember all those weeks ago when I showed you this and left you guessing for far too long? Well, they are Keepsies. A new Cupcakes for Clara product. They will quite happily hold your mobile phone, digital camera, ipod, credit cards, money, lipstick, anything special and little.

There is going to be a whole range of keepsies. All handmade from wool felt and delicious printed cottons, with fun little embroidery in the Cupcakes for Clara style. A cute little button holds the flap down, and a cupcake label lets you know just exactly where it's from! They will even extend to larger versions soon, to hold your lovely books or notepads.

They aren't quite ready for selling just yet - I'd like to have quite a few made first - but if you are interested do let me know, and I'll send an advanced newsletter to anyone on the mailing list before they hit the store. If you don't receive newsletters but would like to please e-mail me and you'll be added.

p.s. a few extra pages have been added here and there if you fancy a browse... an about page, questions asked a lot, and other bits and bobs.