Catch me here for the next three weeks...

New Folksy shop!

Morning! Aside from enjoying this lovely spell of warm weather, I've been working on lots of little exciting projects and commissions, (which I'll get to in a bit!) and have opened a Folksy shop- just another way of letting people find me. However, there's more available in my Etsy shop in the way of one-off tweed cushions and art pieces so keep having a peek!

I've been cutting out polka dots this morning for an exciting hand-printed collaboration with Maud Lomberg of Beyond France. I will be exposing these dots to a screen and printing them onto her beautiful vintage Hungarian linen, which will be made into gorgeous cushions in time for her fantastic 'open house' tea party which takes place on the 9th & 10th September- pop it in your diary! I'll be selling my bits and bobs there too alongside a few other makers.

The linen flax was all grown and then woven in a 'cottage industry' style from people's homes- so the pressure's on! We've had many a discussion on polka dot forms over the past few weeks- 'diamond' or 'square' repeats and such...and settled on a nice 'niave' looking square layout (more colour, less polka)  which has been inspired from Maud's traditional Hungarian indigo dyed polka dot linens. Beautiful

I've also been doing some branding for a fledgling free range British Salami company based in the Cotswolds (I've asked to be paid in salami-yuuuummmm!!) I love working on different projects with people from time to time, it ups the challenge- and with the Cotswold Sheep Society under my belt too, I'm earning quite an unusual CV! I'll show you what I've come up with soon enough...Have a great week everyone x

Cushion sales...

Cushions bought on-line now come with a nice feather pad included for your convenience! I initially sent just the cover to cut down on postage costs, but decided it's far more exciting for a ready-to-go cushion to arrive on the doorstep. Pop it in your armchair- done! (psst! I've also reduced some bits in my shop and have had a good website sort-out) x

Cotswold Show & few fresh cuts!

I'm doing the last few bits and pieces in ready for the Cotswold Show in Cirencester park this weekend, 2nd & 3rd July...think I'm (almost) there! My last minute flap was finding tables for the occasion; luckily some lovely friends of ours got hold of a key for the church in the village and we snook in after dark and borrowed three! Phew! If you're around, do come and say hello, I love meeting everyone for a good natter at these events- I'll be in the rural craft tent...

I forgot to tell you about my smart new canvas aprons with everyone's favourite little fella hand printed onto, and made in the UK! Get them here in my Etsy store- they make great foodie presents, don't you think?

 www.stephaniecole.co.uk

I also couldn't wait to show you these, I LOVE them! Last weekend I finally got my brushes out and got a little obsessed with painting ships in different glass bottles on lovely tiny 5" canvases...most of my work looks at the seemingly mundane, everyday and (admittedly) a little naff, but still, a little piece of 'Britishness' and totally re-freshed! Hope you like them, I'm planning on getting some archive prints done of these a little bigger ready to pop into some frames. I'll keep you posted, email me if you'd like more details, for now here's a picture!

© Stephanie Cole 2011

I'd also like to leave you with this, found in the countryside lanes on the way back from a Lavinia's tea party-do, it just made us chuckle, what a strange entourage...! Happy weekend! x