I is for Ice Cream

My A-Z Guide to Summer - I is for Ice Cream

Where is summer in the UK??????? I am so fed up of this rain and cold now. All is not lost though I am off to Florence, Italy with work tomorrow and the temperature is a lovely 34c.

I may be there for a trend/yarn fair but I hope I will get to make the most of the weather and the beautiful city. I am lucky enough to get to go twice and year and always see new parts, I love the architecture and hidden gems down little streets.

When I went on holiday as a child no matter what the weather we always had an ice cream, rain or shine it is definitely a part of my summer!.......and Italian ice creams are amazing :)

Ice Cream Collection prints

Surface Pattern Design Blog Feature

Module 1 has finished on the fantastic course I am taking....The Art & Business of Surface Pattern Design, I have learnt so much already and feel so inspired to start designing my own collections - I have so many ideas ( I just need more time to spend on them )!

Yesterday I was so excited to see my design had been featured on Rachael Taylors blog alongside some amazing designs from other students.

This is my first design 'Leafy Foliage'

Module 2 started this week and I love it already, I hope to post some of my designs as the weeks progress.

H is for Home

My A-Z Guide to Summer - H is for Home

I love my home and am so proud of what we have achieved with it, decorating it has over taken my love of shopping for clothes. I love buying new frames, cushions and accessories to make our home reflect our personalities. I could never live in a magnolia house! Far too many amazing things to buy and fill it with.

This room is such a simple concept but the use of such bright colours and a few bold designs make it amazing. I love it, Coral is one of my favourite colours.

Beautiful Coral colour and amazing wall mural

I would love one day to be able to use my pattern designs to decorate my own home.

G is for Green

My A-Z Guide to Summer - G is for Green

Green Door , Ice Lolly , Green Coat , Kiwi , Green Vase , Leaf Pattern , Green Apple Sorbet , Green Grass , Green Stripe & Rose , Green Chevron pattern , Green Pantones

F is for Fruit

My A-Z Guide to Summer - F is for Fruit

Passion Fruit, Mango and Pineapple Smoothie

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 2 passion fruits , pulp only
• 1 small mango , cut into chunks
• 75g pineapples , cut into chunks
• 75ml pineapples juice
• 1 lime , juice only
• 7 ice cubes
• a pinch of ground black pepper
• a pinch of cayenne pepper

1. In a blender combine the pulp of 2 passion fruit, 1 small mango cut into chunks, 75g pineapple cut into chunks, 75ml pineapple juice, juice of 1 lime, 7 ice cubes, a pinch of both ground black pepper and cayenne pepper and whizz until smooth. The cayenne pepper gives the smoothie a little bit of a kick but leave it out if you like. 

warm raspberry cupcakes with orange sugar drizzle

Serves 12

Preparation and cooking times

Prep 10 mins
Cook 25 mins

Ingredients

• 200g self-raising flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 200g unsalted butter , softened
• 4 eggs
• 200g caster sugar
• 3 tbsp milk
• 50g ground almonds
• zest of 1 medium orange
• 150g punnet raspberries , lightly crushed, plus extra to decorate

FOR THE SUGAR CRUST

• juice of 1 medium orange
• 4 tbsp caster sugar 

1. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line a 12-hole muffin tin with paper muffin cases. Tip the first 8 ingredients into a large bowl and beat with electric whisk until smooth. Fold the crushed raspberries through the batter.
2. Divide the batter between the cases (they should be about half full) and bake for 20-25 mins or until golden and just firm. Make the topping by mixing together the orange juice and sugar until well blended.
3. Remove the cupcakes from the oven and allow to cool a little. Drizzle each with the orange and sugar crust mix. Top with the extra raspberries to serve. 

Surface Pattern Design E Course

The Art And Business of Surface Pattern

This week I have started the art and business of surface pattern design e course. I am so excited for everything this course will bring, from the way it will challenge the way that I find inspiration, to the finished designs. And then hopefully selling my designs.

There are people from all over the world taking this course....the UK, USA, New Zealand, South Africa, Indonesia, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Italy.....the list is endless. It is going to be such an amazing group as we are so diverse and have such different influences, backgrounds and cultures. I cannot wait to see everyones work and inspirations.

 'If you have ever dreamt of seeing your designs on stationery, fabric, homewares or other products, sharing your art through pattern, and monetising your designs this groundbreaking course is for you!'

The brilliant people behind this course are Rachael Taylor who is a an extremely successful surface pattern design with a label under her own name and Beth Nichols who is the founder of the life changing do what you love course.

I have signed up to all 3 modules and am all ready with new sketchbooks, pens and a shiny new laptop :) next up is to tidy my spare room which is soon to be my lovely new studio desk area.

I am going to use my blog as I progress through the course to jot down inspirations, ideas, mood boards and show examples of what I am doing.


It is all ready day 2 and I feel very inspired already...lots more to come.

E is for Etsy



My A-Z Guide to Summer - E is for Etsy

Etsy is a website which focuses on selling handmade and vintage items aswell as arts and crafts supplies. You can buy such a fantastic range of handmade products including Art, Photography, Clothing, Jewelery and much more.
It is seen as a crafty cross between Amazon and Ebay.

I have recently opened my own shop on Etsy and am hoping it will be successful for me. I have still got a long way to go to get my listings up as they recommend a minimum of 50, but I am quite happy with the views and favouites I have been getting.

My shop is called Taylor Stitched. I wanted a name that reflects me and the products I make, which is how I came to Taylor Stitched......Taylor for my surname and as in a 'tailor' and stitched becuase I love sewing and want my signature style to include stitched elements.

I have been concentrating on making canvases at the moment for gifts for yourself, loved ones, weddings and children. These are a few examples of lisitings in my shop.

Home is where the Heart is Canvas

 This is a saying that is so true for everyone and looks great to dress up a wall or shelf. There is a 3d heart with vintage union jack papers that brings it to life. I am really pleased with this piece and have one ready to put up on my kitchen wall.

Cute Bunny Rabbit Canvas

 This cute bunny rabbit canvas is a great gift idea to celebrate a birth, christening, birthday or just as a gift to show someone you care. It is a great way to dress up a wall in a nursery and the colour can be personalised to gender, room decor or favourite colour. The pink polka dot paper is a great way of adding detail. I hope you love this too....my friend is pregnant at the minute and I cant wait to find out whether I'm making her a pink or a blue one.

3D Heart Canvas

This is probably one of my favourite canvases, I love the detail but also the simplicity of it. It looks fantastic on your wall and draws you in with the textured look the 3d hearts give. This can also be personalised to give as a gift - especially for weddings as I can personalise the flat hearts with names, dates, places or anything you require. I have given lots of these as gifts and the bride and groom always love it as it is a great keepsake that they can display of their special day.

If you have never visited Etsy it is definitely worth a visit that are so many amazing handmade items that you would never find on the high street. I hope to be listing lots more items soon.