Handmade baby skirt + the alphabet

Finally I have a bit of time to post this skirt I made for Lily last weekend. It's made from a lovely striped linen I came across in Battersea fabric shop Fabrics Galore. I realise I've called it a baby skirt yet Lily looks like a toddler already! She just turned 9 months and is starting to stand unaided for a few seconds at a time.

I followed a pattern in one of my Japanese sewing books. The pattern had a pocket which I left off for this attempt but when she is older I may add it. I love my Japanese patterns! The diagrams make them so easy to follow for someone like me. I often get confused with wordy instructions in English patterns but give me a diagram in Japanese and I am fine- go figure!

And look what I stumbled across the other day! A year ago I was playing around with illustrating the alphabet for children's rooms. I eventually shelved it as there were so many great ABC posters around that I decided to do something different. I used a few for Joseph's room and the A4 sized ABC prints in my shop but I'd forgotten all about the others. I can see lots of unfinished bits but looking at them together I still like the overall effect so maybe I can rework it into a poster after all.

Ganbare Nippon: Don't give up Japan!

When I was asked a few weeks ago if I would like to be involved in Illustration Rally's Japan Tsunami appeal I jumped at the chance to contribute a piece or artwork to their Etsy shop with all proceeds going to charity. I wanted to create an exclusive illustration that would be fun whilst also providing a feeling of hope for the Japanese people.

Like others all over the world, my heart broke watching the news coverage of the destruction caused by the earthquake and tsunami. As a mother, I found it particularly heartbreaking to think of all the displaced children, the horrors they have seen and their childhood innocence cruelly taken away along with many family members and their homes. I don't know what will become of these children. I hope once their immediate needs are met that they will get ongoing support to help them through this tragedy.

In the meantime, here is my contribution to Illustration Rally's Ganbare Nippon appeal. Inspired by my son's love of the film Up and one of his favourite toys, I designed a happy turtle bringing the gift of hope to Japan's children. The film Up has a poetic beauty to it with themes of loss, hope and optimism for the future so fitting inspiration in this case.

This print will be available soon in the Ganbare Nippon charity shop. All proceeds go to charity. I will make sure to announce when it's available on the Noisette Kids facebook page and Twitter account so make sure you are following.