Hello everyone. What a hectic couple of weeks it's been for me. My new cushion is doing very well and I've had a few orders for it. I'm always nervous about selling my work. I hope that people will like it as much in the flesh as they do in the photos. It's always tricky with handmade too. Where do you draw the line when it comes to something that looks handmade and something that looks professional? I'm always being told when I print something that it doesn't have to look perfect. Sometimes, with block printing, there can be slight imperfections. These imperfections can give character to the cushion or bag. And I like that. It doesn't mean that I accept something that is smudged or just looks bad. Also, here I am on the Poppytalk blog!

So, I have a confession. I have not got round to printing most of my orders yet. A day after I listed my new cushion on Etsy, I realised something was wrong with me. I'd been feeling ill for a few days with what felt like a nasty tummy bug. After 3 days, it didn't go away and I joked with my husband Ben that maybe I was pregnant, seeing that it was quite similar to how I felt when I was pregnant with our daughter Jill. He laughed. We have been so exhausted eversince having Jill two and a half years ago and also with trying to have lives of our own, you wouldn't believe we had time for any jiggy stuff. So, we bought a test kit and it came out positive. After me shedding a few tears (well, lots of tears really) and feeling like it could not come at a worse timing than this (we're moving house in 2 weeks and I have just found myself a cool studio space!), we decided, it's probably a really good thing, even though I am feeling totally rubbish and sick at the moment.

So, to all those who have placed orders, please do not panic! I am working on it. ALL orders will be sent out on Monday/Tuesday the latest. My mum is on an aeroplane, on her way to me as we speak. I really need help with turning the press. I can't risk it.... I'm not going to stop printing though. It's what I love to do. It keeps me sane. It makes me happy when I have nice customers.

Here's a pic of my little one and I, last summer.

Hello everyone. I suddenly realised that I have new followers. Before when I looked, there was probably 5 of you and now, there are over 20! Wow! Thank you everyone! To some people, that's not much of an archievement. But to me, that's just brilliant! So, how about each of you, tell me something about you, what you do, what you blog about, your websites etc. If you'd like, I could even come up with a list of questions. I had an interview with the lovely Khristian who has an amazing blog called Parapluies et Soleil . I throughly enjoyed it! So how about something like that? Except, you don't have to be a designer or an artist. Just you. Comment with a 'Yes!!' if you like this idea.

Also.... after awhile, after struglling with planning this design, I finally have a new 2 colour lino cut, printed on a natural unbleached linen cushion cover. I should have it up on my Etsy page soon.

I've printed 2 of my designs in black. I like the results. I'd like to know what you think....

Look what I've got!


This is Jesse's cushion. I was really really happy when it arrived in the post only 4 days after Jesse posted it! I love the colour and I really really admire her printing skill. If you'd like to have a lovely block printed cushion like mine, then visit her Etsy shop!

Hey everyone! It's been awhile since I've updated. It seems, to keep people interested in your blog, one should blog 3 - 4 times a week... (or something like that..) I have to say, that's quite a few days! What does one talk about so often? Tara Gentile, the editor of Scoutie Girl blog has written an ebook called 52 weeks of blogging "52 Weeks of Blogging Your Passion is for crafters, artists, and designers who have been blogging for a bit but aren’t getting the results they’d like and often feel a bit lost with the process." It's definitely on my to read list!

On another note, Inkling Prints has been nominated in the Favourite Handmade Textiles category of the Poppytalk annual awards.


I was SO surprised!!! I mean, to be honest, I haven't really been promoting myself. I'm still waiting for my husband to sort my website out (which he is doing, bless him) and the house move or should I say lack of house move is making me feel really nervous. I'm also in search of a studio space. I'm going to look at something on Thursday, so fingers crossed!

Back to The Poppies , I've probably got no chance of winning. But, if you'd like to vote for me, that would be amazing!!! Being picked and being on that list, though, just makes me feel so happy!

Have a good week everyone!

Tea Towels

Photo by Joanne Withers www.ninephotos.co.uk


I really need to plan my day tomorrow.

• Sort and package stuff that needs to be posted
• Brave the snow and black ice and GO to the post office.
• Set-up scanner
• Think about packaging - I belive less is best. Do you? Which is why I don't want to use plastic bags to package my products in, no matter now professional it may make it look. Do you agree?
• New design. Make a new design tomorrow. Work on it over the weekend.
• Take more photos of my work to put up on Etsy.
• TIDY HOUSE!!!

Pile of cushions.

I have a flickr account! Visit it here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/inklingprints/

Photo by Joanne Withers www.ninephotos.co.uk

New Year

Happy New Year everyone! It's a quiet day here today. The picture above is what we see when we look out the window of our sitting room. I love the colour of the sky and the background it provides the dark trees.

Last night was spent worrying that our dog Daisy was unwell. She started shivering and acting strangely. We were worried she might have eaten something she shouldn't have or perhaps caught some awful virus. Thankfully, she seems fine today.


I also hope everyone had a good Christmas. I made my own cards this year using my orange design.


I had to leave them to dry for a few days. Then I cut round the orange and tied a string to it. So it became a hanging card.

Here are a few pictures of the lead up to Christmas and Christmas day.

What have you got planned for this year? My plans are.....

House: This year, we're moving house. Hopefully, everything will be signed, sealed and agreed in the next couple of weeks. If it does, then it's going to be busy busy busy. So much to do. I'm actually quite frightened of packing up all our stuff. But it's got to be done.

Driving test: I failed my first driving test. My next test is on the 2nd of Feb. So that's another scary thing!

Studio: There isn't really anywhere for me to set up a studio in the new house, so I'm thinking about finding a studio space somewhere.

Printing: Because of the house move, I'm going to be busy busy in Jan/Feb. But I'm looking forward to March! My husband is still working on my website. I really can't wait for him to sort it out. I've ideas coming out of my ears. There are a few new things I want to try and experiment with. New design ideas. I'm thinking about selling fabric by the meter/yard. All sorts of things. Most important thing of all though, is to promote myself.

So those are my plans for the new year.

Here are pin cushions I made recently. Hope the year is good to all. ~kiran

Every year, my mum comes over to Leicester from Singapore. She flies for 12 hours to get here. Then she gets on a bus for 2 hrs and 30 mins. She gets off the bus and gets in a taxi - a 15 minute journey to our house. All that trouble just to see us. This visit, she's stayed for 5 months. I've been so busy trying to set up Inkling Prints, learning to drive and doing everything else that I haven't been able to spend time showing her places. This Saturday, I have my driving test. I can only hope and hope very hard, that for my little kid, my dog and my mum, that I pass, so I can do more for them in future. I am quite happy to sit home all day staring at the wall and doing nothing, but these 2 people + one animal, who are very important to me, are out-going and fun people + animal who would love it if I could drive so they can see more of England. Fields, cows, buildings old and new, people, food. I think It's also time I take a break from printing for the rest of the remaining year, to spend more time with my toddler. Because before I know it, she'll be a stroppy teenager, locked up in her room listening to heavy metal ( I hope!), all day. Then what will I do with myself? Hope my mum will still visit. ;)