not happy...

Some things just don't turn out the way you hope...

I have had a commission for some placemats. They have turned out just fine...or they will do when they are finished.

Along with the placemats the customer asked for a couple of centre table mats in blue/red colourways.

Let's face it I have plenty of these colours in my scraps so it should have been pretty straight forward.

It started out well...I was liking the look of the HSTs...

I also was liking the pieces I had added to frame the HSTs...

and I was pretty much in heaven with the little row of dinky sized HSTs...

But then something happened.

I was suddenly not as keen when I had added these rows in.

For some reason that I can't put my finger on it just wasn't working for me.

I am wondering if it was the "make it up as you go along" approach, or the "I really haven't got time for this but I must get it done" pressure or whether it's the buckling on the 4th final side that is annoying me.

Whatever it is, I am not happy.

Not happy that I spent an evening making it only to not feel comfortable including it in the commission.

Not happy that now I have to do the whole process all over again.

Grrr...what to do?

All done and finished...my first set of a new product...

Did you guess right?

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out and can't wait to get into my studio and get more sets made.

I've already picked out a load of fabrics (my favourite bit of any project) that are sitting waiting patiently for a few spare moments.

The first set is in the shop now

We had to say 'a bientot' to some very close friends this weekend. Scarily we worked out that Matthew and Jem have been friends for over 25 years. That made us feel far too old - particularly since this was a University friendship - not just old Primary School friends.

Jem and RD are emigrating to Israel - and taking their new gorgeous baby boys with them. They are in Manchester and we are in Leeds, so we don't see them all that often...but it's a damn site nearer than Jerusalem.

I know with the internet we are all so much closer and more in touch than ever before, so hopefully it won't be too difficult to keep in touch. And hopefully we'll visit one day soon.

And in case you were wondering, although you've probably already guessed...I made these placemats for them to have a little bit of us with them until we do. What do you give people who are moving country? They certainly don't want to have to schlep even more belongings than they already are.